Oh, and one thing has always cracked me up about the GDB club...  THIS is their rider logo
 

 
 
Doesn't that look COMFY??     On the other hand, RBENTer Lynn Morrow designed it...  (!)

Last chance for discounted entry fee -- $20 if postmarked by Wednesday, $25 thereafter.   I'll be working Rest Stop #4, in Palmer....
 
 
Make plans to enjoy a fabulous day of Texas springtime cycling in the luscious and calm countryside south of Dallas! For the 10th consecutive year, the Greater Dallas Bicyclists, together with the City of Lancaster, is staging the Lancaster Country Ride on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 9 am. Lancaster is a mere 15 minutes from downtown Dallas.
 
Join us as we cycle through the scenic countryside of Lancaster and surrounding areas. The routes traverse a variety of terrain, from flats to rolling hills, with a few challenging climbs. Rest stops every 10 or 12 miles with water, sports drink and fruit. The wildflowers are in full bloom in April and our routes feature picturesque meadows with dense concentrations of Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, and other colorful spring flowers.
 
Lancaster GDB socks for the first 1,000 registered riders!  
 
Start/Finish: On-site registration and breakfast begins at 7 am. Ride starts at 9 am from the gazebo in the historic Lancaster town square off Main Street and Dallas Avenue. After the ride, stick around with other cyclists to enjoy the festivities on the square.
 
Mileage options: 23, 42 and 63 miles staggered start for safety. We have scouted and ridden the routes to ensure smooth roads and scenic countryside for all bicyclists to enjoy. The 42 and 63 mile options take you directly through the Bluebonnet Trial on beautiful and hilly Sugar Ridge Road. GDB requires helmets to be worn during the ride.
 
Price: $20 for pre-registration (postmarked by March 26th or through active.com by March 31st), and $25 thereafter  
 
Registration: Pick up a rally flyer at most area bicycle shops, or register on-line at active.com
 
 
 
 

 
Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Mar 7^th, 2008, 7:17pm:

 
Not to disparage Lynn's efforts, but every time I see that my brain interprets the rider's arm as a left leg and the leg as the right leg. To me, it appears as a rider dislodged from the saddle with both legs flopping on the left side of the top tube. A crash in progress.
 
Rorschach would be so proud.

Ok, ok I went to Active.com and put down my bucks. I hope I get my new socks  
Dianna and I are riding down together and doing the 42 miler. So if their are any other 12mph avg riders who want to ride with Dianna and I we'll be there hanging around the Gazebo  
I plan to take my ham 2mtr radio with me also and work a bit with the com crew that is from several local Ham Radio clubs.
73 de KM5CW dit dit  

Excellent, it'll be good to see the gang along the way, in Palmer...
 
One comment on the course -- there's a short tough hill about 5 miles in, then from miles 15-19 there are a bunch of rollers -- but that's pretty much it as far as challenging climbing.  The rest of it is just wind-related, either southbound or northbound.  Hope for a south wind this year!!!
 
The GDB crew is riding the course this coming Saturday, to doublecheck conditions -- I'll be doing the 60 mile version, so I'll post an update.

Both the 60 and 40 mile routes are very nice, and in good shape.  We had several dog encounters today, but our "road painters" plan to stop by the offenders' houses to remind them to keep the dogs in that day.
 
As stated before, there's one tough hill at mile 5, then a series of rollers on Sugar Ridge Road from mile 16-20 -- beyond that, nothing really serious.  The route is a little different than in previous years, but I consider it improved.  They've created a reasonably nice, complete shoulder on 660 out of Ferris, that goes for several miles.  Most of the route is non-chipseal, in general.
 
A few miles past Palmer, you will pass an exotic animal farm, that appears to have camels, llamas, and other interesting creatures...
 
If the wind isn't stupid like it was the last couple years, this is a GREAT scenic ride...  and there are several very nice downhills along the way.
 
Enjoy,
Paul

Weather forecast is looking EXCELLENT at the moment, comparatively speaking... sunny and a high of 71....