Inside one of North America’s largest charity endurance rides—and the weather platform that makes it possible
“Perry Weather allows us to have a single source of truth. And it’s how we stay consistent and make the right decisions.”
Perry Weather joined Cadence Sports on the ground for one of the most adrenaline-fueled, purpose-driven endurance events in the country: the Bike MS ACC Texas 150.
The Bike MS ACC Texas 150 is the eight-largest cause-based endurance ride in North America. Nearly 6,000 riders travel over 75 miles a day to raise millions for multiple sclerosis research—$8 to $10 million in 2025 alone.
It’s a ride powered by purpose, but it also comes with serious operational complexity.
Stretching from Houston to the finish line at Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M University, the course winds through backroads, open countryside, and pockets of small-town Texas. It’s scenic. It’s grueling. And it’s a logistical and safety challenge unlike any other.
For Cadence Sports, the team behind the event, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
“We’re responsible for 6,000 riders, 1,000 volunteers, and about 300 outdoor staff, all across 75 miles of course,” says Gary Metcalf, Co-founder and President of Cadence Sports. “That’s a lot of people to keep safe, and a lot of sky to watch.”
We caught up with the Cadence team to see how Perry Weather helps them do just that, with real-time alerts, lightning detection, 24/7 meteorologist support, and a single source of weather truth everyone on the route can trust.
Before Perry Weather: Multiple Apps, Zero Agreement
The weather doesn’t care about your route. A storm could be building at the starting line in La Grange while the finish line at Kyle Field stays sun-soaked.
Before Perry Weather, Gary and his team were stuck in the same place many athletic and event organizations are today:
- Conflicting radar maps from WeatherBug, AccuWeather, and NOAA
- Dozens of opinions, no shared data
- Delays, second-guessing, and safety calls based on instinct over insight
Different staff used different apps—and none of them told the same story. There was no shared playbook. No confidence in the data. No single voice to trust.
“That might work if you’re deciding whether to go out for lunch,” Gary says. “But not when you’re trying to make the right call for thousands of people out there on a route with a huge footprint.”
The problem wasn’t just uncertainty: it was inconsistency. Without a central weather platform, every decision came with second-guessing, delays, and sometimes conflicting directions.
In endurance events like the MS 150, the weather can vary dramatically across the route. A thunderstorm might be moving in at the starting line, while skies stay sunny at the finish. Making the wrong call isn’t just inconvenient, it’s potentially dangerous.
Split-Second Decisions, Now Made with Confidence
With Perry Weather, that’s changed. Now Cadence Sports operates with a single source of truth—one dashboard, one alerting system, one shared set of data.
Unified Safety Decisions
- One dashboard for all staff, clients, and local agencies
- Pre-set safety thresholds for lightning, wind, and heat
- Real-time alerts based on location—not guesswork
Now, with Perry Weather, the entire team, Cadence staff, local emergency management, even event volunteers, uses one source for real-time weather decisions.
“It’s our single source of truth,” Gary says. “We’re all on the same page and can make informed decisions together—quickly and confidently.”
Here’s what that looks like in action:
| Perry Weather Feature | Why It Matters on Race Day |
| Centralized, Unified Dashboard | Every decision‑maker (Cadence staff, Texas A&M EM, medical team) sees the same live weather data. |
| Advanced Lightning Detection from the National Lightning Detection Network | Monitors lightning strikes anywhere along the 75‑mile course. |
| 30-minute Lightning Countdown Timer | Ends debate on when to resume; system resets with every new strike. |
| Custom weather policy thresholds and alerts | Triggers instant, location‑based alerts to riders and volunteers. |
| 24/7 Live Meteorologist Support | Expert advice when the radar picture doesn’t line up with the forecast. |
Every Second Counts When Lightning Strikes
Lightning can strike anywhere along the 75-mile course. Perry Weather closely tracks lightning strikes, alerting staff instantly when thresholds are met. The system automatically starts a 30-minute countdown clock for the all-clear, ensuring no one reopens prematurely.
“We used to argue over when it was safe to resume. Now Perry Weather starts the timer for us,” Gary says. “That clarity keeps everyone calm and safe.”
⚡ Lightning Safety Made Simple
- Automatic alerts the moment lightning is detected near the course
- Built-in 30-minute all-clear timers reset with every new strike
- Staff, volunteers, and partners all receive synchronized alerts
No Conflicting Calls. No Missed Alerts. No Wasted Time.
Perry Weather allows Cadence to customize alerts for lightning, wind, or rain. Everyone with access, from emergency personnel, to team leads, receives the notifications at the same time.
“But what the Perry Weather app allows us to do is we provide administrative rights to our clients, to the Texas A&M emergency management folks, to our staff so we can all be on the same page. And we can make informed decisions based on that.”
Multi-User Access and Custom Notifications
- Emergency managers, venue ops, and Cadence staff all use the same live dashboard
- Set wind, rain, and heat thresholds with automated alerts
- Eliminate manual coordination and last-minute texts
And when the weather looks unpredictable?
24/7 Meteorologist Support on Standby
“We saw a front from Mexico all the way up to Canada that was all red,” Gary recalls. “It looked like the whole event would get rained out. But the Perry Weather forecast said we’d stay clear.”
“I looked at that radar. I was like, no way could it potentially be OK.” Skeptical, Gary picked up the phone. Within minutes, a Perry Weather meteorologist walked him through the radar.
“They said, ‘Trust the forecast. You might not believe us.’ And they were right. It skirted around our event. It was amazing to watch. Without that call, we would’ve shut down early.”
Since adopting Perry Weather:
- Cadence has eliminated conflicting weather calls
- Event staff responds faster and with consistency
- Riders stay safer — and on course — even as conditions evolve
When the Stakes Are This High, Confidence Is Non-Negotiable
For Cadence Sports, Perry Weather offers more than just precise data: it delivers trust. Trust in the alerts. Trust in the forecast. And trust that every decision made on race day puts safety first.
Events like the Texas Bike MS 150 are more than logistical feats. They’re powered by grit, heart, and community. When thousands of riders push toward the finish line for a cause that matters, they deserve clarity and safety—not chaos, delays, and confusion.
With Perry Weather, Cadence isn’t scrambling to keep up with the weather. They’re leading decisively, confidently, and without hesitation.
“With Perry Weather, we make decisions based on data, not guesswork,” Gary says. “That means our riders can focus on the mission. And we can focus on delivering a safe, successful event.
Perry Weather gives you the confidence to move forward—so your team can focus on the finish line, not the forecast.
Want to make better weather decisions—faster?
Try Perry Weather for free and see why event organizers and athletic programs nationwide are making the switch.
