BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

i would be but i have to work for my boss SO HE CAN... i guess there are worse problems in the workplace.

I'll be there, riding with team thick! Squirrel skull!

ACORN~!

count me in.

Rick and I will be there on the tandem. We're on the Thick Bikes team too. This is our first MS150!

Does anyone need or care to carpool? We might be able to fit one more person in our vehicle. We don't have a rack for the tandem so we're throwing it in the car. It's a Volvo XC90--think it will fit? We have never put it in there before but hope to make it work. I imagine we could lay another bike on top of the tandem and we would still have room to have one seat up. (Any comments Ricky??)

Also..

We will be doing the outdoor camping Saturday night. Will we get to pitch our tent wherever we choose or will it be assigned? It would be nice to be in a tent-village of Bike-Pgh friends

Also riding with Team Thick.

There is still carpooling room in my car. If you happen to have a bike rack for 3+ bikes, that would be awesome, but I can try to borrow from a friend too.

Driving up Friday afternoon/night, camping out, and then coming back whenever we get back Sunday. If you're interested, just let me know.

I'm riding, I have a team that unfortunately turned out to be size 1 So, I'm definitely looking for something to do on Saturday night (I'm a wuss, staying in the dorms) and interested in carpooling from Sq. Hill if anyone is interested. I could take one other person and bike if I drive.

skipdip: Thick camps together, just look for the van in the field

I should also mention that Chris is planning on doing another dinner type thing the night before this year, so keep your schedule open.

Should also also mention that the team carpools up together, we meet at thick the morning of.

I'm in (Team G.A.S.P. a small 2 man team). This will be my 2nd year. I remember seeing the Thick Team camp/van last year. I'm tent camping again(an old Eureka Backcountry 2)

Team U.S.Steel! I'm camping again. In previous years I camped solo because I didn't know anyone. This year I'll camp with Thick. -> http://bit.ly/8xCxb4

Is there any interest in a ride to Coopers on Friday?

I just signed up on the Thick Team tonight. I thought I did back in February, but i couldn't find any confirmation, so if I did, I am now signed up twice.

If I can get a tensioner hanger on the blood bike I was thinking about riding it....

Century on a tall bike??

I will be riding with flys564 and we're with Thick as well. (Although this is our first time with Thick, and a little bit nervous, I am sure it will be great) Any info about Thick Team activities before and during (were camping) would be awesome. Can't wait!

If someone has room, I'd love to bum a ride.

i'm doing it with thick bikes again this year!

Come to think of it, if anyone is driving from lawrenceville to thick and can give me a ride, that'd be swell. Otherwise I'm carrying my gear on my back and riding there in the morning.

No interest in riding out on Friday? Map: http://bit.ly/ad172u

i'll be at Thick early that Saturday morning with my pickup truck, anything that doesn't fit in the van i'll gladly have room for, gear and bikes out to the start point, and back Sunday.

a tad hesitant to offer this on a bike board, but... if there are people who rrreally need gear hauled to Thick from around town, set up a drop somewhere central to several and i'll come grab your stuff, you can pedal to Thick. i only have room for 1 passenger.

My girlfriend and I are also signed up with team thick. We have been on a few different fun events with the thick guys such as "the punk bike endure" and trips to rays mtnbike park. It has always been a blast and even tho we where the new people in the group they always made us feel welcome.

I'm riding with Thick, as Jane (skipdip) already mentioned. We will probably have some room for carpooling if anyone is coming, in addition to the bikes in the back of the car I also have a rack that can probably be thrown on the back of the car, if i can figure a way to put a trunk rack on an SUV. I've done it on a hatchback before, maybe it will work on the SC90 too. We'll be leaving from Bloomfield if anybody is interested.

Ndromb, I'll give you a tensioner if you'll use that bike. and a ride too.

I have a two-bike car rack available for borrowing. I'm not driving, so let me know if you want to use it.

Rick, you think it may be a bit too ridiculous? If I ride it, I'm gonna go for the century.

Do you have a plain tensioner? I was going to hack up a derailleur

also, if my trucking your stuff makes more room in your passenger vehicle for, well, passengers, consider the option available

you MUST ride the tall bike. i will buy you a tensioner if needed.

Looks like I'm riding a bloody century (horrible pun intended)...

I just ordered a new kit (someone stole two kits from the line in my back yard last week). Hopefully they will be here by next week. I am going to look RIDICULOUS in a Nissan/Radio Shack kit on a tall bike.

i think we are giving jerseys to all the new team members like we did last year? check with chris though, he had a couple ideas and im not sure what he decided on. also we have SOCKS now...

yes blue monster socks, i knew the world needed them, so i stepped up. you're welcome world.

I will also do the century if you ride a tall bike.

Alright. Well, it looks like tomorrow I'm taking it apart to go out to weld a tab on to get a tensioner between the two cranks...

Bummer I was registered for this but can't make it due to a personal conflict, so I will be doing the keystone ride instead.

Nick, I do have a plain old singlespeed tensioner not being used, and would gladly donate it to a cause as awesome as riding the century course on a tall bike. I think we're going for it on the tandem as well.

I'm headed to thick today for my inspection, socks and some new brake pads. Stoked.

I'm riding, registered under Thick when I signed up and it looks like the team is loaded now.. was Chris expecting that?

I need to get two bikes inspected, one is brand new. Appears that my only option is to leave the bikes for a few days after a couple phone calls...

Yeah, looks like they're backed up with inspections. Had to leave my bike there.

Awesome socks though, be sure to ask for the 'demonstration'.

Rick, when can I get that off you?

Rob, are we all supposed to get our bikes inspected? I don't really know what is going on with the team since i just joined yesterday.

All bikes that ride in the ms150 have to be inspected- you get an inspection tag once completed. SAG vehicles aren't supposed to support un-inspected bikes, ideally they don't want any un-inspected bikes on the road.

Looks like my best option is to drop the bike I'm riding off at Scholls in westview since my office is only mile away, they said I can have it by tomorrow.

Off to "lunch" -- quick bike ride and a 30 minute walk back to my office, followed by a 4 mile walk home unless I find a lift.

Crap. What does inspection require? Is Thick the only place that does inspection?

page 2: http://bikepax.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/MANDATORY_BICYCLE_CHECK_UP.pdf?docID=40545

BIKE MS: OFFICIAL BIKE SHOPS

Name of Shop Address City State Zip Phone Number

Bicycles & More 1097 W. State Street New Castle PA 16101 724-652-3434

Bikes Unlimited 503 West Crawford Avenue Connellsville PA 15425 724-628-2453

Coraopolis Bicycle

Shop 938 5th Ave Coraopolis PA 15108 412-264-0982

Dapper Bicycle 219 S. Main St. Zelienople PA 16063 724-452-0556

Dirty Harry's Bicycles 730 Allegheny River Blvd Verona PA 15147 412-828-2667

Emigs Bicycle Shop 596 State St. Meadville PA 16335 814-333-1235

Gatto Cycle Shop 117 East 7th Ave Tarentum PA 15084 724-224-0500

Golden Triangle Bike

and Blade 600 First Ave Pittsburgh PA 15219 412-600-0675

Green Country

Cycling 23641 North Hickernell Rd Springboro PA 16435 814-587-3858

Immel Bicycle Center,

Inc. 5477 Route 8 Gibsonia PA 15044 724-443-6340

Jim's Sports Center 26 North 2nd Street Clearfield PA 16830 814-765-3582,

John Adams Cycling &

Fitness 2774 W 12th St Erie PA 16505 814-833-0430

Linesville Bike Shop 156 Erie Street Linesville PA 16424 814-683-2365

M&C Cyclery 987 5th Ave

East

McKeesport PA 15035 412-825-0448

Pedal Power 2501 Union Ave Altoona PA 16602 814-942-4537

Pro Bikes 5876 Forbes Ave Pittsburgh PA 15217 412-586-5497

Pro Bikes 4203 William Penn Hwy Monroeville PA 15146 412-229-8473.

Pro Bikes 102 Fort Couch Rd Bethel Park PA 15241 412-851-1109

Rapp's Bicycle Center 179 New Castle Rd. Butler PA 16001 724-287-8048

REI: Pittsburgh 412 S. 27th Street Pittsburgh PA 15203 (412) 488-9410

REI: Settlers Ridge

600 Settlers Ridge Center

Drive Pittsburgh PA 15205 (412) 747-1180

Scholl's 649 Center Ave West View PA 15229 412-931-6711

Scholl's 17015 Perry Hwy Warrendale PA 15086 724-935-1750

Snitger's Bicycle Shop 399 Third St. Beaver PA 15009 724-774-5905

Spokes and Skiis 315 S. Logan Blv Altoona PA 16602 814-941-3888

The Bicycle Shop 441 West College Ave State College PA 16801 814-238-9422

The Bicycle Shop 1779 E. State Street Hermitage PA 1614 724-342-2031

Thick Bikes 62 South 15th St., Pittsburgh PA 15203 412-390-3590

Trek of Pittsburgh 6514 Steubenville Pike Pittsburgh PA 15205 412-788-8735

Trek of Pittsburgh 5956 Penn Circle Street Pittsburgh PA 15206 412-362-8735

Trek of Pittsburgh 4100 Library Road Castle Shannon pa 15264 412-343-6885

Trek of Pittsburgh 1694 Route 228 Cranberry Twp PA 16066 724-779-8735

West Newton Bike

Shop 106 West Main Street West Newton PA 15089 724-872-2185

Anyone know if the tall bike will pass?

This makes me wonder if they will pass a tallbike on the inspection. I think the only criteria on the sheet were little things like inflated tires and working brakes, but a bike thats WAY bigger than a normal one, and homemade at that might not be allowed to ride.

Nick, I can bring that tensioner to midnight mass tonight if I end up coming. If not, I'll PM you my number and maybe we can meet up tomorrow?

Never mind, just read it.

Sounds good, Rick.

They've let home-brew bikes ride in the past, as long as everything works it shouldn't be a problem. You can always call Lauren if you want to double check - for an organisation so big, they're pretty good about picking up the phone/answering email. Her number is 412-261-6347

The inspection sheet covers:

Tires: good tread, proper inflation, no dry rot

Brakes: function properly, pads contact rim properly, wheels true and not rubbing brakes

Chain / Gears: lubed and functioning, chain is rust free

Handlebars: tight and not slipping

Saddle: proper height

Bearings: all bearings properly adjusted

From what I can tell there is no dictation as to what sort of bike you can ride, as long as it works its fine.

I'm kind of worried to even take the bike to get inspected....

EDIT: Just talked to nick at REI. After laughing, he said it would probably be fine--I'm on my way down now.

The highlight of the conversation:

"I mean, people ride recumbents, so I don't know why you can't ride a tall bike"

I was gonna ride. Now I can't. But I'm gonna volunteer at the halfway. Anyone want to drive with me there to edinborough?

Don't forget your form for the inspection..

Just road up hill to Scholls in work attire, they couldn't do it without the form. Didn't think to call Lauren to fax one over if she could have...

The tall blood bike is inspected.

Nic at REI was great. Very friendly, humorous attitude towards it (I was afraid bike shops wouldn't be too into it). Though, he didn't have the tags, so I road down to Thick and Chris tagged it for me.

He also said we will be having dinner at Olive Garden the night before, so keep an eye out for an email.

Team Thick...woo!

Team thick is gonna have a bajillion people. Awesome! Who is camping with us?

camping!

Camping! Wouldn't have it any other way.

Camping also!

I'll be camping too. Dorms are for sissies.

I will be camping

CAMPING!!!!!! YAY!!!!!

Saddle: proper height

Dunno, if they were looking for a way to disqualify you, this might be enough.

as long as the saddle is the proper height from the pedals he's cool. i've seen bents, tandems, unis and penny farthings doing the 150. as long as the bike is in proper working order they dont really care what kind of bike it is.

Two of us will be camping as well.. One bike inspected, the other needs a couple adjustments.

Is there enough room for everyone in Thick to have bikes taken up to the starting point? When and where do we have to drop them off? Otherwise we have to drive two cars to get 2 bikes up. I think this is the last piece of weight on my shoulders before spending hundreds of dollars on a roof rack or something.

At this point, considering how many people we have on the team, were certainly going to need more than justnthe thick van and a pickup truck to carry 49 bikes up. I'm thinking I'll just drive up and do long term parking, I've got a rack for three bikes.

I'm thinking we'll finalize all this at dinner.

@justinc - glad you're still gonna be a part of this thing.

---

we're gonna need all the hauling capacity we can manage to wrangle up. if you've got a cargo vehicle, your services are definitely needed. the word is out.

We may have room for some bikes in our vehicle. Its a Volvo XC90 so its got room for some bikes in the back with seats folded down and such. I'm not even sure if our tandem is going to fit at all though. If I can fenangle some way to strap it to the roof without boogering up the paint, we will have room for some bikes.

i want to say "some bikes" for the fourth time.

I have two, you think they will fit?

I'm guessing you mean the blood bike? Can you give some measurements so I can make sure?

Yeah, I can.

I was just joking though. I figured the easiest way to haul it would be in a pick-up (someone mentioned they had one?).

Folding tall bike. Make it happen.

if you figure almost every person will have 3 pieces with them - bike, bag, tent - that's a lot of stuff.

moving 49+ people's gear is totally doable, let's just not underestimate what we'll need to get it done. all hands.

ndromb, i've got you covered on the tall bike haul.

Awesome, spinballer.

For those of you on Team Thick, Rick (RickyTickyTac)and I have 5 extra spots in our car to take anyone to the Olive Garden on Friday night. Send either of us a message and let us know if you'd like a ride. It would be silly for us not to carpool.

And like Rick said, we can pile some bikes in the back of the car for the trip up to Cooper's Lake assuming we find somewhere else to put the tandem.

robjdlc: thank you for that info for MS150 newbies--it was helpful! It seems as if this will be a pretty care free trip, but will it be so care-free that we don't need to worry about bringing bike locks? I can't think of any situation where I would need one, but maybe it's one of those things one should always have. Let me know!

Was there a time announced for Olive Garden?

Skipdip: Glad to help! There is no time during the weekend when you will need a bike lock

Nick, afaik chris hasn't set a time or decided which olive garden yet, but I've got room for three if anyone needs a ride as well.

I needed one last year. There are people on the Edinboro campus who aren't with the MS150, and if you have your bike with you sometime when it isn't the gymnasium, you might want to go inside for a few minutes or hours for some reason. Certainly, if you don't have a lock, you can deposit your bike and won't need it, but if you've got a light cable lock in your usual on-bike kit, it might come in handy.

Hoping the forecast changes. 40% chance of rain, 86 degrees. Guess it could be worse. At least not 95 degrees.

I have a small cabrio and a rack that can hold two bikes. However I'm not sure I can drive in my condition. I've yet to try. Might try this week to see. I have to figure out a way to get to the halfway point eiter way as I've volunteeredto be one of the people who tells y'all where to park your bikes once at halfway.

Gotta earn my sweet thick jersey!

The chain tensioner is on!

I am going to experiment with the bar/shifter setup and then repaint where I welded the mounting tab and the blood bike will be ready.

Tall bike century here I come!

as far as bike locks go you might want it to ride around town as lyle stated, but you dont need to carry it during the day. just toss it in your luggage and pick it up in edinboro. during the rides there are literally hundreds of bikes lying on the ground basically unattended at every rest stop and i have never heard of anyone screwing with any of them, ever.

That's a fact. I think that messing with someone's bike on the MS150 would get you drawn and quartered by bicycle.

As for rain, look, you're riding to Erie. Of course it's going to rain.

Really? It's supposed to rain? That sucks. Every time I've done it it's been sunny and clear!

Did you ride it last year?

It rained for a bit the second day last year, maybe like an hour total, a lady I talked to was asking me how team thick looked so dry, I told her it was because of how awesome we are. Honestly I just don't think the jerseys looked wet when we were soaked.

the jerseys being almost entirely darker and heavily saturated colors made a huge difference in how they looked when wet. hot shoppe did a greta job making them.

rob, it rained on YOU for an hour. I soaked it up for a lot more than that I think it was following me.

@skipdip, got you on the tandem.

---

worst part about the rain last year was the wet Amish horse poop all over the road, absolutely unavoidable.

Even worse in a pace line. Ewwwwwwwwww.

cburch - yeah definitely, the team got non-stop comments on the jerseys last year (mostly thanks to you) and a few people I've met looking to get jerseys made went to hot shoppe after seeing my thick jersey.

Last year I missed it. I hadn't heard about the rain

if you're riding with team thick, check your email. chris, the team captain, sent out a time to meet at the green tree olive garden friday night. he wants for you to RSVP by tomorrow though so that he can let them know the size of the party.

Thank you, spinballer! Will you be attending the dinner on Friday night? Maybe we can figure out details there.

Again, if anyone on team Thick Bikes would like a ride to the Olive Garden on Friday night please let me know. Rick and I now have room for 4 more people.

Ditto on rides for dinner Friday night. I've got room for three.

make sure you guys all rsvp to chris today if you are coming!

Ill be there. Thick Monster!

Yeah last year rolling into erie realizing that I beat my warm and dry clothes by hours was just about the most miserable thing ever.

FYI Dinner at 7:30 Olive Garden call chris and let him know your coming.

and we have over 50 members and one of the largest teams this year. .

i tried a little test drive round my block and determined that i can't safely drive a car in my current condition. need to fig out another way to the overnight else sit this year out.

Justin, doesn't someone drive the Thick van up? Maybe call to see if you can hop in with them?

the thick van won't get me there early enough, unfort.

Everyone should have received an email from Lauren with info on what happens if the rain gets really bad.

Also looks like Team Thick will be one of the first out of the gate shortly after 7am, because we were one of the top 20 teams last year

i didn't get that email. what does it say?

The important bits:

2010 Bike MS Safety Update, Brought to you by U.S. Steel

Hello Bike MS Participants & Volunteers!

The 25th Anniversary Ride is almost here! We hope this year’s event is a milestone for you, just as it is for us! As we get ready for the event on Saturday, we want to give you some final tips and information to make sure you arrive safely at the Finish Line.

WEATHER UPDATE: In typical ‘Western PA’ fashion, we are currently expecting scattered showers along with heat & humidity this weekend. Please make sure you come prepared with appropriate attire to ride in this weather and two water bottles filled with water and a sports drink. WE WILL RIDE IF IT RAINS! However, if there are electrical storms, there are a couple things to keep in mind. First, if you are on the route between rest stops, seek cover to the best of your ability. If you are at a rest stop, please follow the direction of event personnel and do not leave until the lightening has stopped. If the bad weather persists and we decide that conditions are becoming dangerous, we will activate our contingency plan and will sweep the route with buses and SAG vehicles. We will transport people first bikes second! Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that we get the ‘partly cloudy’ weather instead (and a nice, cool breeze wouldn’t hurt either!).

ROUTE UPDATE: If starting in Coopers Lake, please keep in mind that we are using a ‘chute’ system this year in order to release riders in smaller groups. Starting at 7 am with our 2009 top 20 teams, we will release about 250 riders approximately every 15 minutes. The regular start time is 7:30. Please be patient during this process! Our goal is to get you on to the route quickly, but also safely. The first four miles through Worth Twp will be heavily supported and you will be asked to quickly spread out and keep to the right of the road. These routes are country roads, are narrow, and are NOT closed to vehicle traffic it is imperative that you ride safely, predictably, and stay alert for traffic! Please respect the local community and your fellow participants by riding safely!

Make sure you listen for announcements at the Start Line for any final updates on the route or the weather. *REGISTRATION DOES NOT OPEN UNTIL 6AM **WE WILL DELAY THE START IN THE CASE OF FOG OR STORMS FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY!

MEDICAL UPDATE: Please make sure you complete the medical info section on the back of your rider number when you receive it! We will have medical volunteers at rest stops and local EMT services on call throughout the event. There will also be a Medical Room on campus open until 7:00 pm in the University Center. If you have any concerns or injuries, please see these volunteers! Please make sure you have a route cue sheet with at all times (available at the start line if you did not get one at early packet pick-up) this sheet has phone numbers in case of an emergency.

Thank you U.S. Steel.

Brought to you by the corporation that requires employees to read a bajillion standard safety procedures every month such as Stapler and Staple Remover Usage, and Check Under and Around Your Car Before You Get In and Don't Hit Your Head On The Coat Rack.

so hopefully we can get our team pic early and get on the road around 7. if it's gonna be hot and humid, i would rather start as early as possible to get as much riding done in cooler weather. i got heat stroke 2 years ago and had to bail towards the end of the first day. not fun. everyone make sure you stay hydrated.

Good luck guys!!

It's looking like I'm gonna be stuck here in pgh but I hope everyone has a great ride! Don't get too wet and say hi to the lake for me!

WTF!!! I've been too busy with work to check this message board and the Thick website as well as the team page said nothing about starting at 7! Last year we got on the road to Moraine between 6-6:30 (from what I remember). I got dropped off at Thick with all of my gear at 5:40 this morning and there was no one there. By 6:45 I realized something was wrong and had to call to get a ride home. I missed the ms150! What time did you guys leave? Why didn't anyone mention that the team was going to be leaving before 5:40 am? Oh I am sooooo pissed!

Riding the bus back and debating whether to snap unflaterring pics of all the messageboarders sleeping around me since I seem to be the only one who can't get to sleep on the bus... but, it was definitely a fun ride - a little hot yesterday, a little wet today but pretty cool overall.

do it.

Are there any 'flaterring' pictures? Didn't think so from this group

I've got some really flattering photos of team members doing yoga at an intersection.

Chef john: the 7am start time was sent out in an email you should've gotten, and we decided when to leave thick at dinner the night before. We met at 5:30 last year, but we had to leave earlier this year because we were one of the starting teams. We probably rolled out ten minutes before you got there.

post pics please.

http://buckeyes.smugmug.com/Events/2010-Escape-to-the-Lake-MS-150/12544410_EQMDD#899947995_dyKVc

It just hit me how absolutely insane it is that I road the century on the tall bike yesterday.

Thanks for all the support guys!

how did your drivetrain treat ya?

Fine the first day- I did the century with 3 mid-range gears, and road most of today with 2 but finished with 1.

I was up until 4a getting it setup/testing it, so the century was rough, but all it all the bike held up pretty well.

wow so did you sleep at all on friday then? rough...

yeah, I slept for about an hour and a half after dinner and then a good 5 hours that night. I felt fine this morning--at a big breakfast, and then pushed past as many people as I could to get away from the head winding bouncing off their heads.

or you just wanted to finish first... BUT YOU DIDN'T!

that was really impressive on that bike. if you rode a nice carbon fiber bike, you would destroy everyone.

Thanks, Stef.

My only goal was to finish in front of you...

i did finish first on saturday. i'll get you both days next year. maybe on a single speed. but probably not.

I've never felt so good after such a long ride! I'm not sore, not (really) tired, life is good.

I had some doubts about sleeping in a bivy without a pad, but it worked out alright.

Stef, I'd be perfectly happy with swapping bike next year.

OR MAYBE- we put all of Team Thick in tall bikes!

Group pic!

Team Thick

nick, i would have fallen off of your tall bike.

hey, if anyone else has pics, please post them. there was a guy on our team that carried his camera. not sure of his name, but i would like to see his pics.

That was Robjdlc. We are all waiting on him!

I think my bike ruined that picture.

whats up with the second team photo? i ran over from the bathroom line to get in it, then when i went back to the bathroom line someone was taking ANOTHER team photo and I missed it.

The first team photo was taken by a volunteer with Rob's camera because they couldn't find the photographer. When they found him, he took a second team picture.

Stef - I'm that guy.

I've got like 400 photos to spin through, I'm trying to sort them out tonight. You can tell when the pain in my knee got worse, because the photos follow suit in quality, haha. Camera set up worked out super nice though.

i did see you limping from afar on day 2. hope your knee gets better. ps - i work in orthopaedics and can refer you to someone good if needed

Thanks for the offer, but I already had Matt at UPMC cycling fitness check me out, its just my IT band, the stretches I had done to prevent it (same thing happened last year) weren't doing enough, so now I'm looking into yoga.

welli hope it works for you

Photos are up!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjdlc/sets/72157624299452934

great pics!

Thanks