|
rbent Forum
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl General Category >> Ride Reports >> Paluxy Pedal 2014 https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl?num=1412519189 Message started by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 5th, 2014, 9:26am |
|
Title: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 5th, 2014, 9:26am 'Twas a beautiful day for a bike ride, temps in the 60s-70s with minimal wind... too bad it had to be on the chipseal of the Paluxy Pedal... I was the only recumbent out there, as far as I could tell... anticipating the chipseal and having to climb The Wall, I rode the Rocket with the Hoagie seat, with 1.3" front and back tires at 85psi... Did the 65-mile route -- I was riding with some other GDB folks, so was with 3-4 others pretty much the whole way, just cruising along and occasionally regrouping after climbs. The CONS: 1) Only one porta potty at each rest stop... (at least the ones we stopped at) ... ridiculous... 2) Brand new boulder seal AT COUNTY LINE HILL... nasty, nasty... 3) Somervell County roads have nasty chip seal 4) The Wall was at MILE 50 of this year's route -- and there was a LOT of climbing to do before you got there 5) There was a cattle grate at a right turn after a fast downhill, not well marked... hope nobody crashed! 6) The last part of the route went through road construction on Hwy 67 -- definitely a dangerous stretch The PROS: 1) Lotsa calories burned, climbing hills; 2) Friendly folks, and good police/traffic control 3) Well marked route, for the most part, with minimal car traffic; 4) No dogs out 5) The Wall is climbable on a 'bent [smiley=pepper.gif] if you have the right gearing (28/32) and can keep it steady -- I was at 3.5 - 4 mph the whole way up. This is why I rode the Rocket instead of the Xstream! Fun note -- I passed three guys who were all walking their bikes up The Wall... hearing several "No Way!"s... [smiley=runover.gif] http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PaluxyPB3.jpg (http://s977.photobucket.com/user/pbrown8js/media/PaluxyPB3.jpg.html) We finished in 5 hours, which included at least 30 minutes waiting in portapotty lines... Doing this rally pretty much convinced me to never do the Texas Time Trials ever again, however... at least until they find better roads... even with the 1.3" tires, the chipseal got old... But I'm glad I was finally able to do the rally! |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 5th, 2014, 9:33am A couple other shots from The Wall The warning sign... uh, oh... http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/108_9814.jpg (http://s977.photobucket.com/user/pbrown8js/media/108_9814.jpg.html) The start of The Wall... this guy got off his bike about three seconds after I took the pic http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/108_9815.jpg (http://s977.photobucket.com/user/pbrown8js/media/108_9815.jpg.html) The view back down the last curve http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/108_9820.jpg (http://s977.photobucket.com/user/pbrown8js/media/108_9820.jpg.html) |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by jayg on Oct 5th, 2014, 10:07am FlyingLaZBoy wrote:
legs that can generate Hemi V8 power. :D |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by Phantom Rider on Oct 5th, 2014, 10:20am jayg wrote:
legs that can generate Hemi V8 power. :D[/quote] Man that looks like fun! |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by reever on Oct 5th, 2014, 7:12pm Hey LaZBoy--you have my vote for the tough guy club. It's not too many recumbents that seek out a hilly course, let alone THE COURSE known for the toughest hill in Texas. Way to go, man!!! |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by diannalightning on Oct 6th, 2014, 3:14pm Hey Paul, if you weren't liking the chip seal at 85psi, can you imagine what the upwrongs were thinking with the 700C wheels at 110psi. I barely remember those days but I do remember being shaken to death on some roads. Congrats on conquering "The Wall". I knew you were going to like that Rocket. My V-Rex handles low speeds up a hill also---it has to because that's the only way I can get up a hill ---SLOW. |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by mleuck on Oct 8th, 2014, 12:11am I was never able to take the wall and always ended up walking most of it up. What I never liked about that ride was the last 12 miles was nothing but chip seal |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 8th, 2014, 9:12am They've modified the course from before - now it follows the TTTT course for the first 14+ miles, then taking a left on 56. So there's chipseal to be had all over the place. County Line Hill was especially ugly... The anticipated slow climb (~ 3-4mph) was why I rode the Rocket with the 28/32 low gear combo-- I probably wouldn't have made it on the Xstream. |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 9th, 2014, 10:48am Just got this email from the event photographer... LOL [smiley=dbanana.gif] I can't remember the last time I saw anyone on a recumbent go up The Wall. You looked strong. I don't remember ever thinking you were going to fall over. Felix |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by kenbent6 on Oct 9th, 2014, 9:41pm Paul, I rode down the WALL last year, can I get some points for that? If not I should get points for all the hills I went up just getting there!!!! [smiley=deadhorsebeat.gif] |
|
Title: Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 10th, 2014, 4:22pm I would definitely not let it coast going down The Wall....!!!!! |
|
rbent Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.1! YaBB © 2000-2005. All Rights Reserved. |