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General Category >> Ride Reports >> Texas Hill Country
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Message started by catroad254 on Apr 23^rd, 2007, 9:28pm

Title: Texas Hill Country
Post by catroad254 on Apr 23^rd, 2007, 9:28pm

I had a wonderful time last week on a bike tour through the hill country. I rode a wandering loop from Austin to Fredericksburg and back. The total mileage was 343 with 23,000 ft of climbing over 5 days of riding. I don't think there was a flat stretch anywhere on the route. The worst climb was 15% immediately followed by a 12% from a standing start - there was a stream crossing right before the climb. After this trip the hills around here look a lot smaller.

From what I've seen of Texas this may be the most beautiful area - particularly this time of year with all of the wildflowers blooming. If you haven't done any riding in the hill country, you owe it to yourself to add it to your gotta do its.

Ken

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by aikigreg on Apr 23^rd, 2007, 10:07pm

It is wonderful riding down there. That much climbing in the morning without a warm-up makes me puke, but after that it's a wonderful time!

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by Bud_Bent on Apr 24^th, 2007, 6:21am

You didn't bring back photos? Who put on the tour?

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by terranimo on Apr 24^th, 2007, 2:04pm

Give us more info about this hill-country tour. Was it a group tour? Who sponsored it? Or was it something you did on your own?

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by catroad254 on Apr 24^th, 2007, 9:03pm

This was a group tour put on by Adventure Cycling Association. The route was laid out by the Austin Cycling Association. The tour is supported as far as carrying luggage and providing meals with camping at night. The attached picture tells the story of some of the climbs (assuming I've figured out how to attach pictures).

Ken

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by aikigreg on Apr 25^th, 2007, 9:04am

Sounds like a blast to me! Post a link or let us know when this is coming up next year - I'd love to go!

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by terranimo on Apr 25^th, 2007, 9:23am

Ken what recumbent model are you riding? How did you fair on all that climbing? I agree with Greg, this would be a good ride. I really enjoy those up-down roller coaster hills like the one in the photo. You blast down hill and build up a 35-40mph speed, then charge up the next hill! Sometimes you can maintain enough speed and avoid having to drop into a lower chain ring.

I found the link for this years ride: http://www.adv-cycling.org/tours/2007texashillcountry.cfm

Terry

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by catroad254 on Apr 25^th, 2007, 9:04pm

I'm riding a Bacchetta Cafe. I made it up all but two hills on the last day. I just didn't have much left in the tank on the last day. I have an 11-34 cassette and can climb OK in the lower gears. The tough part about the hill in the picture is that there is a stream crossing at the bottom that is deep enough and slimy enough that you really do want to stop and wade through. The climb is much harder from a standing stop. Where I took the picture is only a quarter of the way up the hill. There were some good stretchs of rollers that you could blast down and get most of the way up the next hill - those are the most fun.

Ken

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by FooRider on May 31^st, 2007, 7:05am

A fellow recumbent rider from Midland, TX, posted a nice review (http://www.ericsiegmund.com/fireant/archivesmt/003435.html) of the hill country ride on his blog, The Fire Ant Gazette. Check it out.

Title: Re: Texas Hill Country
Post by FireAnt on May 31^st, 2007, 9:03am

Foo, thanks for the link. The Easter Hill Country Tour has been a regular part of our cycling calendar for 20+ years (the past 8 or 9 on a 'bent tandem – a Ryan Duplex).

A lot of those hills look alike, but the photo posted above very much resembles the big downhill (well, uphill, in this case) on Lower Crabapple Road, a few miles north of F'burg.

Eric