August 2nd:

As in years past, Sara and I take the bus on Friday from the Alliant Center in Madison and spend the night at a hotel near the starting line. We have always liked to get in a full night sleep with a good breakfast and not have to get up at 4:00am to catch the Saturday morning "team" bus. In addition to us, our bike was placed in a truck as well and transported to the starting line by the very competent volunteers that help with so many facets of the event. To say that the event's volunteers are important is an understatement; they really make the ride enjoyable and safe. Thanks everyone!!

Our bus picked us up at our hotel in the morning and took us to the Waukesha County Technical College where we start the ride. Unfortunately for us, this did not work so well. The bus drivers were confused as to where to go as they had not been properly briefed and as a result we were dropped off about 200 yards from the starting area. For most this is nothing to sweat, but for us this is just the kind of thing we work so hard to avoid. When people ask me; what is it like living with a person with MS? My answer is that for us; "it's all about reducing the number of steps". For Sara to walk 200 yards with bike shoes on and all her bags, was the equivalent of us riding 10 miles on the bike. She arrived at the starting line already limping from just the walk. (We need to find a way for the bus to be able to drop us off at the start).

After getting Sara on a bench at the starting line to recover from our walk, I proceeded to drop off our bags at the Sonic Streamers luggage truck for transport to Whitewater. Then it was up the hill to look through the sea of bikes for ours. Not to worry however, when you ride a recumbent tandem like we did this year, it's very easy to find. Our bike is the one that looks closest to a limo. Bike found, nothing broken, bent, scratched, or out of place. A quick trip to the bike doctor for a top off of air and I pushed the bike to the starting line. Because our team raised the most money last year, we got the honor of starting 1st. With 1600+ riders all wanting to leave at the same time, this is a nice perk.

Just prior to the start, Colleen Kalt (President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the MS-Society) gave us some words of encouragement as she does so well. This was followed up by Wendy Machi and her husband from Team Wendy. She was diagnosed with MS some 25 years ago. When she and her husband told their story, it might as well have been Sara and I up there. Our stories are so similar it is almost scary. This was just what everyone needed to remind us why we were all there and why our efforts are so important to people who live with this disease. Everyone pushed off with a lump in their throat and a new sense of purpose for what we were about to do.

The 1st half of the day was fairly flat so that was nice. The afternoon proved more challenging however. One problem with 1600+ riders all starting at the same time is that we are all bunched up for quite a while. This unfortunately led to a lot of unsafe riding by many cyclists. It was common to see 3 to 6 people riding abreast holding up traffic. At each rest stop we would receive reports that complaints were being filed with police by many motorists. Threats were made by law enforcement to shut down the ride and that tickets would be issued. But still it continued. Sara and I witnessed a woman getting hit by a car right in front of us. The driver had no sympathy for cyclists and hated the fact that we use the same roads. It's not hard to see why a driver might hate us bikers when we ride like idiots. I suspect that if we showed more respect for the laws and others, we may get more respect as well.

We arrived at Whitewater tired but still smiling. Our computer said 80+ miles and this was confirmed by others later that night. It was a long day in the saddle, but no sore butt thanks to our new recumbent tandem which worked flawlessly. (Thanks Dave & Rosalee) We crossed the finish line and steered for the team tent to rest, relax and drink Shandies' with our fellow team-mates. After some drink, and a little food, we made our way to our dorm room to get cleaned up. This is were being part of the Sonic Streamers really pays off. While everyone else has to pick up their bags at the transport trucks and haul them back and forth to the room, our bags were neatly placed in front of our dorm room door waiting for us to arrive. When we leave, we take our bags to the 1st floor, drop them on the floor and do not have to do anything further. They will be waiting for us at Madison.

Saturday night's celebration is a great yet humbling experience. We partied with our team and other fellow cyclists and renewed friendships made in past years. The beer flowed freely as we all relaxed and enjoyed the night's festivities. The party is also time for the MS-Society to recognize and honor special individuals/teams as well as the volunteers that help to make this event happen. We have the best volunteers and they work tirelessly so we can concentrate on riding. Sara and I make a point to thank each and everyone that we meet along the way.

Colleen does such a great job with all the awards and special recognitions and is a wonderful speaker whose passion and motivation for the cause is infectious. One moment that puts a lump in my throat is when she asks for all the people who have MS to take the stage and be recognized. This is a very emotional walk for Sara. It's hard to hide her emotions when 1600+ people are on their feet for 5 minutes straight giving a standing ovation. Her gratitude for the efforts of all these people that she has never met before,all there to raise money to cure her disease, is overwhelming. This is when all of us see for whom and why we ride. Sara is one of the few still able to ride the MS-150 although on a tandem. I am so proud of her to challenge herself for the cause. We remain ever hopeful that a cure for this disease is near.

August 3rd:

The dorm rooms are cramped and hot with no air conditioning. Everyone who has done this ride in the past has brought a fan along to help. The beds are like a rock and no-one ever gets in a "good" night sleep. Sunday morning we try to get up early and get going. We munch on the continental breakfast put on by our team and head to the bike lock-up area to retrieve our ride. An early start is critical for Sara. Heat brings on symptoms. Every mile we can get in before it gets hot is the difference between finishing and not. For the first 10 miles or so our legs let us know this is not a good idea. After that things seem to get better and the body adjusts to another day in the saddle. One thing we find particularly nice on the recumbent is that you seem to see more of the surrounding scenery. On a normal bike you are positioned to effectively look at the ground most of the time. On a recumbent, you get the big picture. It is almost like sitting in the car with the arm out the window checking out the sights. The beautiful countryside, small towns, people out of their houses waving and cheering us on really makes this a wonderful ride. As you can see from the photo below, Sara's ability to ride without holding on makes her our official waver, turn signaler, and map reader; and how about that smile!!

If there is one other thing that makes this ride so great it's the rest stops. Each stop revolves around a different theme and the snacks and drinks are always tasty. The lunch stop is my favorite. The MS-Society along with all the volunteers do such a wonderful job of taking care of all our needs with a big smile and a "good job, you are almost there" thrown in to keep us pushing on.

This year we did something new for the MS-150. Instead of coming into Madison from the South, we came in from the East. Our last rest stop was across from Olbrich Gardens and then it was on and off the bike path, through town, around the square, and then back on the bike path to the Alliant Center. To say the least the route thru Madison sucked. If you have ever ridden that part of the "lake loop" bike path you know the amount of roads, turns, intersections, etc. that must be navigated. Now do this on a bike that is as big as a limo and add a dash of 1600+ riders and you have a recipe for disaster. We all made it unscathed albeit some close calls, but I think a new route is needed for next year to keep things safe. The absence of any traffic police made every intersection a free-for-all. We need a biker to come up with an alternate route and more support from the city.

As we approached the Alliant Center we met up with our team-mate Dan Lautenschleger who was riding his new solo recumbent (Cinnamon Girl). We made a point to ride in toward the finish line together in celebration of our safe arrival into Madison. Dan is one of our favorites for his always upbeat attitude and his big smile. Dan has no-one close to him with MS, but rides because it makes him feel good to help others less fortunate. He dedicated this years ride to Sara as well as some others. Dan, we are forever grateful for yours and everybody's efforts on behalf of MS.

The finish line is an experience that is hard to describe. The emotions that come after a long ride and then seeing all the people at the finish is difficult to put into words. Seeing and hearing all the cheering from the crowd welcoming us as we crossed the finish line is just simply the best reward we could ever get for our efforts. Mom, Dad, Duane, Gary, Colleen thanks for being there at the finish line it means so much to us to have your support. Rosie, thanks for giving up some of your time so generously to support this fight for your sister. To all of you, your support and love ride with us always.

Heading for home - finish line is only 100 feet away and always a joyous site!

Well, time to load up the bike and make our way home. The ride home is always a quiet one as we reflect on our sore legs, our fellow cyclists, and the accomplishment of what we have just done.

Thanks again to all our supporters and sponsors. Sara and I raised a total of $4,400.00 and our team the Sonic Streamers totaled $116,439.57 to put toward MS research and support programs right here in Wisconsin. We couldn't have done it without you!

MS-150 Best Dam Bike Ride - 2009 is August 1st & 2nd. See you all there!

Mike & Sara Olah