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rbent Forum
https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl General Category >> Ride Reports >> TTTT course ride https://rbentonline.org/YaBB.pl?num=1250980266 Message started by Bud_Bent on Aug 22nd, 2009, 5:31pm |
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Title: TTTT course ride Post by Bud_Bent on Aug 22nd, 2009, 5:31pm There were riders from all over on the course today, including Dexter and company from Del Rio, and an Austin rider. LSR upright rider Todd M also rode. I did two laps, starting shortly after 8:00, with a nice break between laps. It had come an early morning downpour at Glen Rose, and a lot of the course was still wet, even with puddles in places. When the sun got high, the water on the ground made the humidity high, and it was a much hotter day than I was expecting. I had planned on riding three laps, but between the heat and the hills on this loop, I was done after two. Randonneurs Steve, Peggy, Paul, Bryan, and Shellene were there, as were riders I see less often, Thomas, Robert, and Brian. Great seeing y'all! It was also nice meeting Frank, who rode on his P-38. Some came early and did extra laps and some settled for one lap. Those of us who were still there at noon headed to the Pasta Fina in Granbury for an excellent lunch. I ended up with 53.0 miles at a slower pace than I'm going to post here. I had a great time; thanks for putting this together, Paul! |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Killer Bee on Aug 22nd, 2009, 6:00pm Agreed, it was nice to see the usual suspects & new faces or people I haven't seen in a very long while . Peggy & I got caught in an early morning shower(on hwy 56) for about 5-10 minutes. Then ,as bud said, the sun & humidity made an appearance & made for an uncomfortable ride. Peggy & I ended up with 3 laps(which about 8/9 laps over the past 3 weekends). Every time I ride the course, I learn something new. Thanks Paul for making this ride come together. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Aug 22nd, 2009, 6:38pm Thanks all for coming out, especially the ones who braved something new!!! Riding this course is definitely a mental adjustment after the familiarity of the old one -- not only is it 30% longer, it's also got significantly more rollers and longer climbs out of the rollers. There's a fairly long climb after only three miles, and at least three other climbs along the way that brought me down to 8 mph... but also some fairly nice (albeit too short) 40mph downhills! Special thanks go to Rodney, who agreed to let me borrow his Xstream for the weekend's fun. I just got this itch to try to make some comparisons to last year's course on a similar bike to last year... On my first lap, after starting with the main group, I hung back with Thomas and Frank for a while, using some caution on the still-wet road surface. Then confirming that they were going to stay together, I caught up with Robert and Bryan and rode the middle third with them, then did my own pace for the last third, fnishing the first lap in 1:45 overall. As Bud said, we took a long break, and waited for Robert, Brian, Frank, and Thomas to roll in, figuring that they might not be up for a second lap. Thanks to Steve for driving a few miles back out the course to make sure Thomas and Frank were making their way in all right!!!! And thanks to you four for coming out, and good to meet you, Frank!! Bud, Steve, Peggy, and I went out for a second lap, and it was already getting kinda toasty. I decided to try a "relay race" lap pace calibration, and the others were going to take it at a slower pace, so right off the start, I was off on my own. On last year's course, my approximate average lap speed was 22.5 mph for the 20 miles, typically finishing in 53 minutes and change. On this course, with the caveat of being a few pounds heavier and not having ridden an Xstream for 6 months, I averaged 19.5 mph, finishing in 1:22. I took some "benchmark" time readings at various landmarks, which I'll compile and list later, for anyone who's interested. I've also got lots of photos to compile, showing some of the great downhills and nasty climb sections, that I'll probably have up tomorrow. This course is definitely tougher than the old one, and not just because of the distance. I really missed that wonderful (comparatively speaking) last 5 miles of the old course, that was mostly a downhill ending with Goatneck Hill. None of that silliness, here, although the three miles going in to Glen Rose is pretty sweet -- I was typically rolling at ~35 through this section. http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT045.jpg More to come... PB |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by aikigreg on Aug 22nd, 2009, 11:13pm Sorry I missed it. I'm afraid my body just wasn't up to it. I'm out of my sleepy-pills, and insomnia made sure that the 3 hous of sleep I got made me ill and unable to wake up this morning. I'm probably headed out there tomorrow. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Aug 23rd, 2009, 7:54am OK, I mentioned making some time references along the course, for a "relay sprint" (YMMV)... Here are some relative markers to use, if you like, based upon my one hour 22 minute lap time: Location and Distance Time Nemo (6 milies) 20 min Johnson Cty Line and nasty climb 30 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT032.jpg Brazos Crossing Bridge (11.6 mi) 37 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT036.jpg Halfway Point onto Hwy 56 (13.4 mi) 42 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT039.jpg Nice Hwy 56 downhill 51 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT042.jpg Somervell County Line ( 19.25 mi) 60 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT070.jpg Glen Rose City Limit (24.25 mi) 75 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT048.jpg The Finish (26.4 mi) 82 min http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae256/pbrown8js/PBT055.jpg |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by robert.j on Aug 23rd, 2009, 8:24am Good to meet up with everyone and ride some new (to me) territory. I think it had been over a year since seeing Steve and Peggy, and it was the first time to meet Bryan, Shellene, Frank and Thomas. I appreciated getting to roll along with Paul for a while and catch up and of course it's always good to see Bud out there. Of course, most of that is just at the start as they dissappear over the horizon pretty quickly! Mostly Brian and I stayed fairly close throughout the route. When loading up the truck that morning I could see significant lightning off in the distance to the west. I thought "just my luck. Finally get out of town for a ride with some other rbenters and there's a storm when none were predicted." I checked the radar around 6:00 AM and sure enough, there's a cell right over Glen Rose. Fortunately it pooped out before we arrived, but as others have mentioned, did leave the road wet in a few places. I never rode last years TTT course, so don't have a point of comparison, but this seems like a pretty tough layout. Almost no flat spots, either ascending or descending almost everywhere. I didn't think there were any particularly daunting hills (maybe only four or five times I had to go to the middle chainring) but lots of them. I think I averaged a little under 15 but didn't push at all. Knowing what to expect on the course now, I think I could have been in the 16s without too much trouble. I wish you guys that are doing this race the best. It will be a challenge! |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by goatstick on Aug 23rd, 2009, 10:03am FlyingLaZBoy wrote:
Thanks for the pics and notes. Is this climb representative of the harder climbs? From the picture, it looks like you could hit around 40 on the downhill and power about 2/3rds the way up to that last little flair so that shouldn't be a big problem, but of course photographs tend to distort reality.... How many more climbs like this one are there? |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Killer Bee on Aug 23rd, 2009, 11:11am Paul ,nice disclaimer. Your times/markers are good, but as you said vary depending on on the event. For a single lap/6 hr event those times would fine, but not on any of the longer distances, IMO. "This course is definitely tougher than the old one, and not just because of the distance. I really missed that wonderful (comparatively speaking) last 5 miles of the old course, that was mostly a downhill ending with Goatneck Hill. None of that silliness, here, although the three miles going in to Glen Rose is pretty sweet -- I was typically rolling at ~35 through this section." Paul, not you don't. Go ride the old course now & tell me you miss it. I dare you. http://rbentonline.org/Smilies/smiley.gif |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Killer Bee on Aug 23rd, 2009, 11:26am goatstick wrote:
Thanks for the pics and notes. Is this climb representative of the harder climbs? From the picture, it looks like you could hit around 40 on the downhill and power about 2/3rds the way up to that last little flair so that shouldn't be a big problem, but of course photographs tend to distort reality.... How many more climbs like this one are there? [/quote] Kent, County line hill is probably the steepest climb on the course.There are 3 or 4 climbs on the back side of the course, at mile 15 which is around 8-9%, then a smaller roller short after at mile 15.3 at 5% ,then some more rollers. Mile 21-22(?) has a longer slow grade 1-2% for 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile ,then down hill to the finish. Sometimes, it's not the biggest hill the kicks your butt, but some of the smaller ones depending on where they are on the course. The wind always seems to play a factor at TT's. Hwy 56 was pretty much into the wind yesterday(or so it seemed). |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by goatstick on Aug 23rd, 2009, 11:46am Killer Bee wrote:
Ok. Almost every route we have around here has several climbs longer and steeper but usually at the end of a long, shallow climb instead of a descent, plus lots of wind here too, so I feel a lot better about the course now. :^) (We don't mind hills so much, as they block the wind :^) Several of use plan on checking the course out on Sunday on the way back from HHH, so I'll have a much better idea after that. Thanks!!! I suspect this course might be easier than one of our flattest rides - the 50 miles of Loop 1604 access road from Hwy 16 up to Green Mtn and back, especially since you don't have to stop at a stoplight every mile or so. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Aug 23rd, 2009, 12:51pm Quote:
Nelson, I didn't ride down Grace Street, but I definitely think having riders going through downtown Glen Rose at that intersection of Barnard is going to be a problem. Not only is the four-way stop relatively blind as to what is approaching from the left, but your descending a hill approaching the intersection, which makes you want to blow through it. But you've also got a bunch of parked cars along Barnard directly after turning right at that intersection, and somebody could get doored. If Grace Street is in good shape, I think it'll be safer, but they will also have to be careful re-entering Barnard at the end of Grace -- they may need a spotter there full time. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Aug 23rd, 2009, 1:01pm Killer Bee wrote:
No, No, No, I didn't say I miss the old course... I said I miss the LAST FIVE MILES of it, from the Retreat to the finish.... ;) If I saw a taillight anywhere along this stretch, I was gonna catch it quickly, including speedy Dallas Morris on our first lap. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Aug 23rd, 2009, 1:06pm goatstick wrote:
To a certain extent, yes. There were three or four climbs, this one included, that I wound up powering up while I could, but eventually settling in at an ~8.5mph pace at to finish them, despite going into them at 30+. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by power_bent on Aug 23rd, 2009, 1:41pm Hey guys, it was great riding and meeting you guys. That was a great experiencse ride and climbing those hills. I was glad that I didn't have to walk any.To tell you the truth, I want to ride it again. As soon as I get my truck legal, I will be going down there for training.I know my bike is heavy, but think what it will do when i get a new bike that only weigh in 25 LBs and myself lighter.. I didn't have my computer on my bike, that one hill going down I was flying.See you guys soon again. Later Thomas J [smiley=dbanana.gif] |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Killer Bee on Aug 23rd, 2009, 3:26pm FlyingLaZBoy wrote:
I disagree. Ray, Peggy, Nelson & myself have already Grace street. We all favor Barnard street. To begin with, Grace is easy to miss as you're quickly descending on 144 into town, & there's not much room to make that turn. #2-Grace street has several speed bumps with reflective tape(which can become slippery in the evening/morning dew/rain), #3, Grace St dead-ends into Barnard. That intersection involves looking left to Barnard for on coming traffic. It's essential a blind corner. In addition, you have several drive-ways on Grace street. You would essential be restricting vehicle traffic on Grace street from Thursday to late Saturday evening. Glen Rose is not going to want to do that ,& if I lived on Grace street, I would want to dodge cyclists for 3 days as I pulled in/out of my driveway. So you have to stop at the flashing light. All participants would have to stop there too. So no one would have an advantage. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Pedalin` Peggy on Aug 23rd, 2009, 4:07pm The laws/rules state that you are to stop at all stop signs, stop lights. So how is the fact that we have 4 stops, one yield and one stop light a problem? All riders will have to endure the same things. In comparing the 2 courses, my best time on the old course was 1hour 4 mins( 19.Mph). Most of my runs were 1hour 7 mins(18.4MPH). Yesterday I had an early morning ride in the rain, at 17.1MPh on fresh legs. My second lap was 18.7 MPH .That was a pace I could have had done 4 or 5 times,like on a team or 6 hour event. So with that being said, maybe the training is paying off a little being a little faster on a longer harder course :D. What ever the course ends up being I will do. But mostly I like not be dodging the big big trucks. AND to have a hotel(and other lodging close by), food, real bathroom, & convenience store close by is a huge improvement from the previous TT course. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by bikerteam on Aug 24th, 2009, 5:52am Pedalin` Peggy wrote:
Peggy - OMG, your 2nd lap was 18.7! IMHO, that's absolutely awesome. I doubt many will be able to average 18.7, even on relay teams. CONGRATULATIONS [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif] |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by AustinSkater on Aug 24th, 2009, 8:39pm That was a fun ride, I am looking forward to the Tejas 500. However, I am not looking forward to that 4-way stop 19 times :-) Is it possible to do a track stand on a Corsa? I rode an 18 mile warmup, and then 3 laps on the course. Lap 1: 1:22, 19.1 MPH, 116 BPM, 84 RPM, 2 Sonic Bacon Cheeseburgers Lap 2: 1:19, 19.9 MPH, 130 BPM, 88 RPM, 3 Sonic Burgers Lap 3: 1:26, 18.4 MPH, 125 BPM, 83 RPM, 2 Sonic Bacon Cheeseburgers Hopefully the Sonic is open 24 hours, or I may have a problem around 2 AM Saturday. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Kwijybow on Aug 24th, 2009, 9:21pm Unfortunately I have to report that the Sonic is not 24hr, I checked this very important piece of information and was quite disappointed to discover that they close at 10pm. Take Care, Nelson. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by power_bent on Aug 24th, 2009, 9:41pm Hey , a guy like me that like cheeseburger. Can you say cheeseburger cheeseburger cheeseburger.. ;D ;D ;D Later Thomas J [smiley=dbanana.gif] |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by aikigreg on Aug 30th, 2009, 6:59pm Kent, gary, and I rode the course today. It's an order of magnitutde harder than last year's course. It's like the extra 7 miles are all climbing. Some of that chipseal is nasty, and the start is an immediate climb and bumpy bumpy. It was straight into the wind today as well. About 4 miles in we were quickly passed by an SUV with a corsa on the back. Turned out to be Dennis Johnson from Houston. He came in last night to do a night loop and a morning one. We took it easy, only hammering if there was a downhill before a big climb. Just recovering from yesterday and taking good notes on the loop. We finished in 1:40. Should be about the pace for the last couple loops for me I bet, but we're hoping to maintain a 17mph average through the event. I think that'll mean Kent with a 20 and me with a 14 :). He just rocketed up the climbc at an easy pace for him, as he always does, waiting for me at the next intersection. Great BBQ afterwards and it's all good! |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by goatstick on Aug 31st, 2009, 9:09am :^) I wish I could average 20 on that course during the race! I think that will be a pretty good race course though. Maybe around mile 18-20 or so there might be a little problem with car traffic but overall I think it will be pretty decent. Will have to take notes on the bridge descent for nighttime if I decide to go hard on that one. Appeared to be a couple of small holes that might get a little exciting. Maybe we could go back and take a closer look and maybe mark them with spray paint to make it easier to see at night. The big hill with the descent just before it was precisely what I expected from the picture that was posted last week. I hit exactly 40mph at the bottom without hammering too hard - about what I think I'd do during the race - and held it above 25mph to about 2/3rds up where the little flare and left bend is I finally had to gear down to 4th or maybe 3rd gear and start spinning, so I won't need the little ring on this course and I think I'll swap out for an 11-28 instead of my 11-32 that I have to run around here. Unfortunately it's not a fast course where a bent will shine like the HHH was, but it's not a killer course like the roads around here would be. And I'm really glad I won't have to use my little ring. That got really old on the HC600 last spring. I get pretty conflicted as to what cranks to use on the CA2. Unless I race in a mountain range or the HC600 again, OR I want to ride home... I won't need a triple. And if I jump up to a 170 double I could get a decent power meter for a decent price... Thinking I'll end up having to swap cranks like swapping rear wheels that way though. Maybe I just need to get used to walking the bike up my hill and get a power meter on a double... :^( But don't worry, I'm not changing this soon before the TTTT. :^) |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by Kwijybow on Sep 1st, 2009, 2:26pm My daughter and I will be out marking the course Sunday the 20th before the week of the race. In addition to marking the turns, I will try to mark potholes like the one after the bridge on Brazos Point Rd. In addition to my smaller arrow, and TT lettering I have a nice big arrow template now - bought especially for the turn onto Brazos Point Rd. (seems everybody is missing this one!). Hopefully this will help folks stay on course. Hopefully also I will not get arrested for painting up the roadway. Take Care, Nelson. |
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Title: Re: TTTT course ride Post by goatstick on Sep 1st, 2009, 3:02pm Bless You, Nelson! That is fabulous. Thank you so much for taking care of that. That turn in the pitch dark would be iffy enough at speed and with what looked like potholes (not sure if that's what they actually were) that could spell disaster during the race. If they arrest you, tell them they should be arresting TxDOT and their contractors first for destruction of public property and criminal endangerment for destroying tx roads as they have been doing. You are trying to make the roads safer. TxDot just destroyed Hwy 16 that I live off of this weekend. 4 lane divided highway with a wide shoulder and now boulder seal with an inch or two of loose gravel everywhere. The road is down to one lane each direction from the cars throwing the loose gravel out of that one path. Of course, you can't ride a road bike in that stuff so I had to ride into town today in the left-hand lane as that's the only place I could ride, backing up traffic for quite a ways. Surprisingly the drivers actually got it and didn't crowd or honk or anything. I noticed that TTTT director said they were donating the proceeds to the Texas Bicycle Coalition. When I register I'll be asking them to donate my part of it to some other bicycle charity as the T.B.C not only refused to help us fight TxDOT from removing shoulders in order to get cyclists off public roads, but went ballistic when I asked them why they were refusing. Sounds more like they've been infiltrated by developers only wanting to build bike lanes and bike paths as I've seen so many other places. If I'm wrong, I'll certainly apologize... after they actually get serious about stopping TxDot. |
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