TTC Global Participates in its First Texas MS 150 Charity Ride
A team from TTC Houston participated in the MS 150 charity bike ride to help raise awareness about Multiple Sclerosis
- Colin Mason
- 29 April 2024
Four employees of TTC Global, a leading provider of software quality assurance services, participated in the 40th
anniversary Texas MS 150, a two-day charity bicycle ride between Houston and College Station supporting the Texas MS Society for Multiple Sclerosis.
Team TTC riders Julia Golovko, Humza Rashid, Andrei Sames, and team captain Colin Mason completed 132 miles or more over the course of the two-day weekend event April 27th and 28th. This was the first MS 150 for Colin, Andrei, and Humza and the second for Julia.
Figure 1 TTC Global 2024 MS 150 Cycling Team (left to right) Andrei Sames, Julia Golovko, Humza Rashid, Colin Mason
Day One
The team elected to start at the 72-mile starting area at Royal High School in Brookshire, TX on Saturday morning. The long ride is really a series of rides between rest stops every 10-15 miles heavily supported by local organizations. Each rest stop had ice, cold water and Gatorade to refill drink bottles, salty snacks, fruit, restrooms, pickle juice (for muscle cramps and not particularly delicious), and a bike repair tent to handle any adjustments, tire issues, etc. Two rest stops in and Andrei had an irreparable mechanical failure with his bike and had to retire from the event. Down to three.
The lunch stop was at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville, TX where we dined on sandwiches from Jason’s Deli.
After lunch, we hit the foothills of the Texas Hill Country, where the real pain begins. We did preserver and the remaining three made it to the overnight stop in La Grange, TX. The team had rented a charming Airbnb farmhouse just a few miles from the overnight stop, which was located in the Fayette County Fairgrounds. Most teams and riders ate and slept in large or small tents on the fairgrounds. The TTC Team, however, dined on a potluck meal of several items provided by some of our TTC colleagues. We certainly had it good. We were also supported by some of the family of the riders to pick us up from the overnight stop and transport us to the farmhouse.
Day Two
The team got an early start and was up, breakfasted, suited up, and on the road by 6:30 am. The support staff drove us a few miles ahead to miss the crowds and, to be honest, some of the worst hills. Julia, the most accomplished of the teammates, elected for more miles than newbies Humza and Colin and by the lunch stop, she had caught them up. They didn’t skip all the hills, however, and they encounter some brutal ones on their journey this day. They also had to endure a rainstorm for a few minutes in the morning hours. It sounds miserable, but they handled the adverse conditions well and it invigorated them.
Lunch was provided at the beautiful Lake Somerville Park near Beeville, TX where the team gathered and refilled their energy while looking over the lake and beautiful scenery.
The three members of the team had different levels of experience riding bicycles long distances, but they were fortunate to have been able to meet up at almost every rest stop, each just a few minutes behind the other.
Once the team arrived in College Station, TX for the big finish, the team reassembled to cross the finish line together for the perfect photo-finish.
Thousands of supporters and onlookers lined the streets in front of Kyle Stadium, where the Texas Aggie football team plays, to cheer on each and every rider as they crossed the finish line. This makes for a very emotional experience for the riders and makes the grueling 130+ miles completely worth it.
Figure 2 Team TTC at the finish line in College Station, TX (left to right) Coin Mason, Humza Rashid, Julia Golovko
Fundraising Still Open
There is still time to donate to the Bike MS charity through July 31st and you can do so through the Bike MS TTC Global Team page. Funds go directly to the MS Society, but count towards our goal if you use the following link:
https://events.nationalmssocie...
About the Bike MS Program
In the course of its history, Bike MS has raised $1.4 billion for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s mission to cure MS and find better ways of managing the disease for those suffering from its effects.
The Texas MS 150 2024 had 5,471 riders and raised $7,629,314.00 for the MS Society.