rbent Forum - Print Page

rbent Forum
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Ride Reports >> Blue Ridge Boogie 117K
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl?num=1233439963

Message started by Killer Bee on Jan 31^st, 2009, 4:12pm

Title: Blue Ridge Boogie 117K
Post by Killer Bee on Jan 31^st, 2009, 4:12pm

This ride came up last minute ,so Peggy & I joined Nelson(Val & Robin Phelps-LSR regulars)& their friends from Colorado on a tandem. The ride leaves from Plano(Independence & McDermott)7-11. For the first ever ,Peggy & I rode to the start(granted it was only 4.60 miles), but we have to cross SR 121 in Frisco.

The ride started promptly at 8:00am(chop-chop)heads east into Allen,Fairview & then Princeton on some really nice roads. At the first control(in Princeton) we noticed the wind was stating to increase(no bad in comparison to other rides this winter). I pulled into the first control with a 17.0 mph avg & maintained that average for almost the entire ride. Out from Princeton to Blue Ridge(a short jaunt with a nice tailwind & good roads.

Shortly thereafter, Peggy runs over a dogs tail (while on FM 546)& then the couple form Colorado run over & kill a squirrel(death by tandem)on FM 1377.

Val & I sprinted off for approx. 4/5 miles easily hitting speeds between 24-31 mph. Time to regroup. We ride into our control in Blue Ridge long enough to get refreshments & head back out the way we came.

By this time,the wind had really picked up out of the south(headwind,of course). Again ,compared to other rides this winter ,the wind was pretty tamed(but noticeable). Nelson & I are chatting ,only to see a dog on the side of the road charging us,all of a sudden an on-coming truck's bumper grazes the dog(down he goes...temporarily) & comes back after Nelson. He circles Nelsona few times & we leave him behind. Onto Princeton(short jaunt).

This was NOT a "chop-chop" stop. But we had fun clowning around & telling stories.OK, now the final 23.85 miles to Plano,via Fairfield & ,Allen. Allen had some traffic( it was approx. 1:00pm on Sat)., but Angel/Exchange Parkways are 4 lane roads ,so it wasn't that bad(did I just say that? Nelson is a bad influence on me).

We had to regroup on Exchange Pkwy as part of our group got stuck by a fire station traffic light(emergency runs). ,the rest of waited & rode back to the 7-11. Total bike time was 4hrs,55min.06 secs. ,with total ride time of 5hrs 25 mins.I ended up with a 16.8 mph avg.Total mileage-72.84 miles.(for the route).

Then Peggy & I rode back to our house(using a different route based on the time of day & vehicle traffic). Total mileage ridden for the day was 83.95 miles.

For those that have NOT ridden this route(and even those that have),it is a MUST. Great roads ,not a lot of turns,good scenery. Easily in the top 5 of my LSR routes. Thanks to Nelson,Val & Robin.

It was a beautiful day & we had FUN!

Title: Re: Blue Ridge Boogie 117K
Post by Kwijybow on Jan 31^st, 2009, 6:34pm

Great Job today Steve, riding to the ride, I'm very proud! I had a really enjoyable time, I hurt a little bit being back on the Corsa for the first time since Honey Do at the first of December, but not too bad. Definitely feeling my increased poundage, got lay off the afternoon snacking! Steve and Peggy are showing off the results of their new training program and were in fine form!

Val (Monkey Man) Phelps was in good form as usual keeping us entertained, and Robin rode strong despite being grounded from the bike for a time with her still undiagnosed medical incident. It was nice to meet Brent and Beth even if they did come all that way just to hunt Texas squirrel.

The main attraction of this ride for me is that it starts a block from my house. So for starting intown I would say its not too bad. Coming back in Saturday mid day and early afternoon there is no way to avoid some traffic coming through Allen, but it wasn't *too* bad like Steve says. I won;t be able to make the Populaire tomorrow so good to get one in today. I'm not likely to make it to Houston for the 300K, so will be looking for a Feb. R12 permanent in the next couple of weeks. I'll post it here as soon as I figure out what I'm going to do, unless someone beats me to one.

If you're shopping for a perm, be sure to check the RUSA site, as there are some new ones that haven't made it onto the LSR perm site yet.

Take Care,
Nelson.

Title: Re: Blue Ridge Boogie 117K
Post by Mrs Strada on Jan 31^st, 2009, 7:07pm

Today was a great day, cool in the morning(so I needed leg warmers tights shoe covers , toe warmers short sleeve jersey with arm warmers then long sleeve jersey, with a wind shell jacket),by the first control I was striping off layers. Ended the day in shorts and short sleeve jersey, You got to love Texas.

About the dog, I tried to miss him ,but he darted right in front of me. I felt a bump then I heard the dog yipe as it ran across the road. I think he was "OK".

...and Nelson you rode very strong today as always.

I don't do this often enough ,I was so very proud of Steve's riding today. I know that 16.8 is not setting any land speed record, but that's not the whole picture. He could and did ride out front most of the day and he could ride at any speed. Steve I,m so proud of you. ;)

It was fun riding with Val and Robin and their friends.

I had fallen off the pace a little at one point so Val rode back to pick me up, I was swept up at 20MPH . Val was helping me work on drifting, I still think its cheating. I would rather be able to hold those kind of speeds for long periods on my own.

This is a great route. Thanks Nelson & the Phelps'.

Title: Re: Blue Ridge Boogie 117K
Post by Killer Bee on Jan 31^st, 2009, 8:18pm

Hey Nelson,I had no idea that it had almost been 2 months since you had ridden the Corsa. Wow, you rode well all day,as did Peggy & the entire group of us. You would not have know that it's been that long since you were on the Corsa. We had a blast today. That was a good ,fun group.

Oh ,you can't ride Cheeseburger without Peggy & I. We OWE that route!! Other than next Saturday(Houston 300K) ,we'll be around in Feb. to get some revenge on your route! We really enjoy your company on these adventures(we'll miss you in Houston).