Texas MS 150 Bike Ride

On April 27th and 28th, 12 Reynolds & Reynolds riders and a host of volunteers set out on a mission to raise money to combat the effects of MS by completing a 2 day 181 mile bike ride. The route consisted of a day one 100 mile trek to Lagrange Tx followed by a day two 81 mile ride to Kyle Field in College Station. How did it go? I’m glad you asked.

On a mild Saturday morning riders and volunteers met at the Hollister location at 5:30am. There was a mix of anticipation and terror in the air due to the fact that the team consisted of both veterans and first timers. Never the less, we loaded up and drove to our designated start line ready to take on whatever the day presented. A few minutes before the 7am start, there was a lot of picture taking and last minute filling up of tires. Bike pumps were everywhere, family members were giving last minute encouragements   and suddenly all the talk of “the ride” turned into the actual ride itself. Final instructions to be safe and have fun were given and Team Reyrey was off into the great unknown.

Day one on the road was a pleasant surprise of tailwinds and clouds which made for a more enjoyable experience. Unfortunately we didn’t stay together as a group for very long due to the different levels of experience and training. Some like Jim, Beth, Matt and Emmanuel moved at a very brisk pace while the rest of us worked a strategic plan to feel as good as we could for as long as we could. Breakpoints were about every 10-13 miles apart and it was nice to see members of the team leaving or arriving as we leap frogged each other at the various stops. Before we knew it we were at the midway lunch stop at Bellville Tx. Again friendly faces from the team greeted us there and we in turn greeted those who followed behind us. Lunch was an all you care to eat meal consisting of deli sandwiches, fruit, water and the ever so popular “pickle juice”. Following lunch and  back on the road it was evident that the days of flat roads were long gone. Before us lay the consistent hill country rollers that are a joy to drive but can only truly be appreciated on a bike. As we pressed on to LaGrange the precious “pickle juice” changed from novelty to necessity as the temperatures slowly moved from comfortable to warm. Our last breakpoint before our endpoint for the day was 15 miles out. Most of the team gathered themselves for the final push and it was there that we came across Anthony Davalos. He was the only team member riding a single speed bike. Without the aid of gears, he made his way up every hill utilizing technique and proper power management. Very impressive.  Together we rode into LaGrange in triumphant victory. As we crossed the line we heard the announcer say, “Team Reyrey welcome to Lagrange!! You’ve made it to the halfway point..Congratulations!!” That was one of the best feeling in the world and the exhaustion was quickly replaced by immense satisfaction.  We were met at the finish by Terrence and Courtney, two of the many wonderful volunteers who helped that weekend. They guided us to our campsite and after falling into our tents and stumbling into the shower truck to wash off the road grime, we were led back to the campsite by the wonderful aroma of Chef Carlos’s street tacos, nachos, homemade tortillas and grilled corn. One of the volunteers, a licensed massage therapist, provided massages to all the riders further adding to the incredible support given by these associates and family members. Full and tired, it didn’t take long for the Reynolds campsite to “go dark” and each rider retired to their tent for a well deserved nights sleep.

Day two greeted the riders at 5am with a wakeup call over the fairground public address system and Chef Carlos’s incredible breakfast.  Bacon, sausage, eggs, grilled potatoes, and pancakes started the day for Team Reyrey. The smell of fresh brewed coffee filled the air as one by one riders emerged from their tents and prepared themselves for the final push into College Station. The campsite was completely packed up and loaded by 6:30am as the last of the team made their way to the starting chute. Over 5500 riders gathered there to ride the remaining 81 miles to Kyle field. This time the team felt less anxious and more confident in knowing that the hardest part of the ride was behind them. A few announcements, the Star Spangled Banner, and a prayer later and we were off to conquer day two. The second day was truly an enjoyable ride. The hills were not too daunting although there were two that will not be easily forgotten. The stops, while depleted of “pickle juice” still provided a host of other treats to enjoy. One even had a snow cone and ice cream truck which was a huge hit to all the riders. Our final 10 or so miles into College Station put us on the longest hill I’ve ever seen. It was basically one long incline into the city limits. It was gradual but it was still an incline. Fortunately it didn’t take long to settle into a rhythm and Team Reyrey one by one leveled the incline and took yet another step toward completing this event.

The finish line was amazing. This wasn’t my first MS150 but it was my first time going into College Station and as such I wasn’t sure what to expect. It definitely did not disappoint!! The finishers chute was wide and lined with cheering spectators holding signs and encouraging the riders. Music was blasting and the announcer was world class never missing a beat and acknowledging the teams as they crossed. Kyle field loomed like a giant on one side further giving the event a larger than life feel. Once again volunteers, Lauren, Terrence, and Courtney met us at the finish to escort us to our team tent where Mrs. Gonzalez was once again hard at work providing much needed massages. Tears were hard to contain and all of the hard work and preparation that was put into this event made it a memory that will last for a lifetime.

The team also met its fundraising goal, bringing in $5,560 to benefit the National MS Society, whose mission is to help people affected by MS live their best lives as it works to end MS forever. Walking around the “Finishers Village” and talking with those afflicted with MS was truly inspiring and reinforced the fact that this is more than just a bike ride. Every rider from Reynolds crossed the finish line that day under their own power. Jim, Beth and Matt who crossed first for the team. Followed by the rest of us Gerry Sr. Gerry Jr. Anthony Davalos, Anthony Gonzalez, Emmanuel, Emani, Carl and Alejandra, and Corey Chen. The rain held back just long enough for even the last person on the course to finish…..Then it poured!! We were well into our packing up phase so even the rain didn’t….well…rain on our parade. A special thanks to all of our volunteers. They are the backbone of this team and without them this would not have been possible. Chef Carlos and his assistant, Christina Coleman, Lauren Craig, Christina Froehlich, Caroline , Anthony, and Alejandro Gonzalez, Courtney Guster Terrence Jones, Phillip Meyers, Nicole Pollick, “Little” Pollick, Sherita Thompson. A special thanks to Paul Powell for allowing us to take on this challenge. Thank you all for supporting us in the 2024 Texas MS150.