Ladies, gentlemen and resident aliens, a word from my esteemed brother:

Valued Contributors,

First and foremost, thank you all so much for your support! 9 days ago marked the completion of the 2006 MS 150. The question I am most asked after the MS 150 is whether or not I survived the ride. I am happy to report that I made it all 175 miles without major incident.

Some recollections from the ride:

Friday afternoon found me running around Austin dropping bike off, picking up jersey et al., and bussing it to Houston. One hour and a half (+ a 30 minute I-10 jam) later I met up with the Pfizer team reps, checked my Saturday night gear in with the bellhop so I wouldn’t have to ride the mile from my folks house with it the next morning (good idea dad), had a quick Parmesan Chicken dinner (extra pasta), then settled down to a night of intermittent sleep before waking up before the sun.

Saturday morning started with two oranges, one cup of tea, three cigarettes, and one bowl of oatmeal. Most of those anyway. I then rode a mile to the starting point, hopped on the bike at quarter to seven, and began the ride. The ride out of Houston is fast and flat and on nice, smooth roads. I was averaging about 20 miles an hour, which is faster than many but still slower than a bunch. I was not drinking enough water.

At mile 70 my too-low H20 consumption made itself known through my calves’ twingy threats to seize in a tight and painful bunch somewhere much further North than their assigned anatomical outpost. Needless to say, I was not enthusiastic about one seizing up and the crash I feared would result. My preventative measures consisted of slowing down, lessening the workload on the testier right calf, and drinking more water, all of which seemed to be working until mile 90, at which point there was serious rebellion from the calf contingent. I rode the next 10 miles with a whimpering soundtrack in my head. But I made it, even turning around for 1.1 miles to ensure the day would be a true century (100 miler). I strongly resolved not to put myself behind the agua 8-ball the next day.

Saturday night involved a bus ride to La Grange HS for a most cool and welcome shower, tons of food, a glass of red wine, an inspirational viewing “Best Crashes of the Tour de France”, and the prospect of a hot and humid night outside. I turned in at nine and woke up at midnight to a soaked sleeping bag–half condensation, half sweat. I’d like to extend a special thanks to team Lyondell for ordering too many cots and silently approving of my midnight move into one.

Sunday is the shorter of the two days (75 vs. 100). It’s a lot more hilly though and the more challenging of the two. I woke up at 5ish. Please believe me when I say more sleep was desired, drenched sleeping bag and all. Keeping to my intensified hydration plan, I drank 2 parts water, 2 parts scotch.

Sunday’s ride contains the feather in the MS-150′s cap, a twelve mile ride through the piney woods of Buescher State Park. It’s up and down and tough, but beautiful and certainly the most challenging, dangerous, and interesting stretch of the weekend. I made it through there with a smile on my face and rolled smoothly ’til about t-minus 20 miles, at which point the kids in the back seat start asking “are we there yet?”

Saturday’s special thanks goes to the provider of what goes down as by far the best MS 150 spectator comment I’ve heard, a young black man’s observation of us “bunch a mashed patatas” riding through.

The full ride was 175 miles, which I completed at an average speed of about 16 miles per hour. No flats, no sunburns, no wrecks. The finish line is always a great feeling–lots of people cheering, the realization that you’ve made it and, of course, the welcome prospect of getting off that seat!

The 2006 MS 150 has raised $6.5 million so far, with the goal of $10 million perhaps still attainable as donations continue to trickle in. Anyone who has not contributed (or has) can do so by following the link below or by asking me to pick up your check:

http://ms150.org/edon.cfm?id=187320

My greatest of thanks goes out to all of my generous contributors for helping me to raise somewhere in excess of $1,000 so far!

Yours truly,

Pete Winckler