This is hilarious.

A new year, new ride and plans to make it greater

Let’s say I got hooked to the ride. What started as a few unsure steps, was one of the greatest journeys when I completed the MS150 last year and that included the Bechtel challenge route on day 2. Any first time rider could not have asked for a better weekend to ride. It was a cool 40 degrees F with a slight tail wind. The ride itself was transformational. The ride and the preparation that led to it, helped me learn about MS and see the daily struggles of the people living with it.Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, and blindness and more. MS is not considered a fatal disease as the vast majority of people with it live a normal life-span. But they may struggle to live as productively as they desire, often facing increasing limitations.

But more importantly it showed me the hope that a ride like the BP MS150 brings in the people living with MS, riders supporting the cause and spectators who cheer them on.  

Last year’s MS150 introduced me to many joys of bike riding - wildflowers, spandex, rolling rural roads and most importantly Pickle Juice. You can read all about it and other new stuff here. I will update it with this year’s training (I am training with the Ready2Roll team this year) and other stories.

I am doing the ride again because Approximately 400,000 Americans have MS, and every week about 200 people are diagnosed. World-wide, MS affects about 2.5 million people. And there is no cure yet.

This year too I am riding with the Direct Energy team (who are the greatest team on the road!). I am fundraising for the National MS Society and I would request you to kindly donate to this great cause. Every small donation counts and I thank you for helping me with this great cause.

My Donation Page.

Thank you for your support.

The second skin feel

I actually waited for these ever since Nike came with the FlyKnit upper. I am already a big fan of the Free midsole having gone through two of them (both 3.0) putting around 400 miles on each. I was disappointed that Nike did not launch the Free FlyKnit on the 3.0 midsole and 5.0 was the only option but I pre-ordered and it came promptly a week before the store launch... so kind of special. And the free sock kind of helped with the sticker shock of $160. First some facts - I have narrow feet and hence Nike works for me since they come with narrower toe boxes. I run neutral and have built mileage on the Free over a period of time. I have midfoot strike.

It does indeed look like a sock and works like one. Though the Free 3.0 was conceptually not very far from the Free FlyKnit, the later has a very different ride feel. Over the last couple of days, I ran a 5K on a treadmill, and a 10K mostly on trails. It does not look it but the shoe does provide a lot a upper support but fits like a second skin. The 5.0 midsole is slightly thicker than the 3.0 but I did not feel the difference much. Throughout my runs on the treadmill and the trail I stayed on my midfoot strike. It runs better on a trail but collects stones in the waffle grooves. The green color is vividly bright, and I think I may have like a blue or the red and blue better. The upper grasps your ankle with a stretchy band which felt great even on the 10K but I am not sure how it will work for someone with a wider ankle. The shoe breaths much better than the current 3.0. which is great for Houston, TX where humidity makes it feel as if you are running your mouth full of GU. 

Overall I like it more than the present 3.0. and I feel it will work for people who are comfortable with a narrow toe box, a minimalist ride and really bright colors.