No blogging this weekend, as I’m on my way to Houston to ride in the BP MS 150 Charity bike ride from Houston to Austin.
Here’ a great story for your reading pleasure about 10-year old Cian McConnell, who is riding in the MS 150 this weekend. He’s dedicating his ride to his mother, who has MS.
More than 13,000 cyclists will be pedaling from Houston to Austin this weekend, raising money for the fight against multiple sclerosis. They will come in all colors, ages and sizes, with myriad sources of motivation.
In the truly Texas-sized peloton the BP MS 150 has become, it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Still, one tiny rider wearing an ExxonMobil jersey might be conspicuous. But don’t let Cian McConnell’s 4-3 3/4 , 60-pound frame fool you. This young fellow has been around the block a few times.
“I’m grown up in age,” he said, “just not in size.”
Indeed, Cian (pronounced Key-an) recently turned the big one-oh. And, at 10, they let you try the MS 150 as long as a parent rides along. So he and his father Doug, an ExxonMobil engineer, will set out together Saturday morning on a bonding adventure neither will forget.
It’s still not too late to sponsor me and help raise money for multiple sclerosis and for families like the McConnells.
I’ll be back Sunday night to post some pics and and a recap of the ride.
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UPDATE
I had the pleasure of pedaling alongside of Cian and his father for a few miles on Day 2 (between the start and Pit Stop 1). Cian was fearless, riding between riders 4 times his size and racing down huge hills. It seemed at times that his dad was trying to keep up with Cian.
