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Message started by Bud_Bent on Sep 16^th, 2009, 9:56pm

Title: Sometimes there is justice
Post by Bud_Bent on Sep 16^th, 2009, 9:56pm

Between my move and the rain, my total riding mileage for the first 14 days of September was less than 60 miles. It was raining when I got home today, but I decided to ride anyway. If it's never going to stop raining, I'll ride in the rain. So I hopped on the SXP and took off.

I can get out of town quickly from my new place in Crowley, and I have worked out a 25 mile route for evening rides that I like (Greg, you'll be happy to know that there are, indeed, some trailer houses on the route). You can see it on bikely here (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Crowley-24-7-Mile-Loop). It has a little over 800 feet of climbing, quite a bit more than the flat 25 mile Arlington route that I'm used to, but it's not like I couldn't use the extra hill work. It has even more blind turns than the new TTTT course, so it's not a great speed route, but I still like the small county roads better than anything else. It's going to be exactly 25 miles, if I can get to the point where I quit missing turns (got .2 in bonus miles today).

It starts with a mostly gentle incline for 5 miles, then has rolling hills until mile 18, then finishes with a long mostly downhill run. The elevation profile is shown below. Do you ever ride these county roads west of Burleson, DJ?

The rain was light, and on and off, for the first 12 miles, and the roads were wet enough in a few places to bother me a bit, but not too bad. Then the rain quit, and the pavement dried out very quickly. I thought I was going to get home dry, but it wasn't to be. With 4 miles left, I was hit by sheets of rain while riding against a 30 mph north wind. I was drenched when I got home. If this had been the usual rain coming from the south and west, this route would have had me moving away from it at the end, but this strange backing in system had a howling NNE wind in my face at the end of the ride.

Why the title of this thread? At mile 14.6, I hit a rock that squirted out to the side in such a way that it loudly hit the side of a pickup that had just passed by, coming from the opposite direction. I figure that's revenge for all the rocks that trucks have hit me with over the years.

http://i.imgur.com/qSz5U9v.jpg

Title: Re: Sometimes there is justice
Post by aikigreg on Sep 16^th, 2009, 10:17pm

[smiley=cheers.gif] Score one for the bike!

Sounds like a perfect route - sign me up. Besides, i *LOVE* trailer home routes. They're good for at least another 2mph average just based on the dogs per square mile factor!

Title: Re: Sometimes there is justice
Post by Rawhide on Sep 17^th, 2009, 5:57pm

Yes Bud, that's part of my local turf. Looking at your map, if you look down to the lower right you'll spot Mountain Valley Country Club. Right above that you see SW Wilshire Blvd. My house is right below Wilshire. I will a lot of times go north on Wilshire then go west on Shaffstall to W. Cleburne, then north to 1187. Take 1187 east to I-35 then I'll swing through Burleson different ways back to the house. That stretch of 1187 is really sweet. Big ole wide shoulder and smooooth and fast [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

If you want to stretch it out some on routes, there are lots of ways to get out to Godley and Cleburne. I haven't been on 2331 in some time but a guy I work with lives on it so I'll check with him about it's current condition. We gotta hook up soon, you're not far away at all. I've been tied up with audits the past 3 weeks. Haven't been able to ride in more than a week & I'm about to go insane. It all ends tomorrow! DJ

Title: Re: Sometimes there is justice
Post by Killer Bee on Sep 17^th, 2009, 10:35pm

Ha, way to go Bud! [smiley=lolk.gif] I'm jealous, good roads close by, without getting crushed by vehicle traffic, what's that?!

It sounds like you needed one of these [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif] on your ride. How's the damaged toe?