Quote from aikigreg on Apr 22nd, 2008, 11:35pm:.... and that final one with me in front just rocked.
Well, ALMOST in front....
Greg pretty much told the tale already, but a few notes from my perspective:
* It was DEFINITELY colder than I expected at the start -- I hadn't planned to wear my windbreaker, but I was glad I had it in the car.
* The group (of 10) stayed together the first 35 miles to the first stop in Ferris. Then Todd got impatient, and broke a group off the front shortly after that. From Ferris, we followed the Lancaster Rally 40 mile route, and were surprised at the lack of bluebonnets around -- I had no idea they were so sparse this year, and basically got no good photos of them.
* At one point, a large dog started chasing us -- we looked over, and it was CARRYING A FUZZY BEDROOM SLIPPER IN ITS MOUTH as it ran... I missed the photo op, dangit... but it was VERY funny....
* Turning south instead of north on Novy Road took us across the wooden bridges that the Lancaster Rally had to deal with the last couple of years. Those things are definitely a hazard to cyclists! The semi-natural tendency is to ride along the boards paralleling your travel instead of riding on the crossboards -- but the parallel boards will catch your wheel in a crack, so stay on the crossboards!
* After 55 miles of steadily increasing headwinds, the left turn onto Hwy 34 was a VERY welcome change -- giving us a tailwind on a road with a very nice shoulder for most of the way to the next stop. Here is where Greg and I cranked it up to 25+, with Sonny (DF) working hard, but keeping pace.
We probably averaged 23-24 mph for this stretch of 16 miles. It was definitely getting sunny out, so I put on the SPF 50 at the rest stop...
* The next stop was Crandall, only 11 miles up, but it was starting to get warm, so it was a welcome pause. Here's where we started to get disbelieving questions from people going in and out of the convenience store! One guy weighing about 350 and carrying 3 cases of Dr Pepper out of the store, asked, "
So, how far you guys riding?" "About 130 miles..."
"Whooo, SH*T!!!" and left without another word... Then a family with ~13yr old girls was next to us in the checkout line, and Mom said: "
My daughter wanted to know how far you're riding today.." "We're doing a 200 kilometer ride, about 130 miles..." The daughter just got this confused look on her face -- Mom just smiled, and said, "
I don't think she can comprehend riding that far...." I thought to myself, "Neither can we...!"
* Leaving Crandall, it got hilly -- Unfortunately, I had seen Shellene down a Monster caffeine drink, so I figured we were in trouble -- and I was right. She and her pal cranked it up to 20 and wouldn't let it go. The rest of the group (including Greg, tailing a bit) basically did their best to keep up, and I fell back, mentally deciding to let 'em go and see 'em at the next stop -- but then, we came out of that section back into flats, and I caught up. Fortunately, the pace stayed at 20-22 (we still had a decent tailwind/crosswind) instead of moving to 25... I cruised up front and said, "Our Motto: No More Caffeine for Shellene!" to much laughter.
* Entering Poetry, I could see a good-sized climb crossing the highway, so I backed it down (with Greg) and cruised on in to the rest stop -- George, Sharon, and a couple others had fallen back leaving Crandall (no fools, they), so we had a decent rest while they caught up.
* The pace didn't slow MUCH, but a bit later on along this leg, when Greg happened to be up front, I heard him say "Take a picture!" "What?" "Take a picture -- I want proof I was up front!"
Thus, this pic, and I won't say how long he was up there
:
* We had an "informational stop" at mile 115, where we had to stop at a particular location and read a sign (and write down what was on it, on our cue card).
While we were stopped here, a large herd of cows across the road started coming toward us, apparently thinking it was either feeding time, or I don't know what --- but the ENTIRE HERD was coming over! We left before they could stampede...
(The pic only shows HALF of them!)
* We finally got to I-30 for the last stretch, and Shellene cranked it up again -- into a headwind, this time, since we were headed back Southwest. I still had enough in the tank to stay with 'em, but Greg dropped off. We basically held 18-20 mph the last 8 miles back into Rockwall. I saw this billboard, and started laughing - because it was SO true! (I don't think the other riders saw it)
All in all, an excellent ride, finishing at 4:45pm.. Overall average 17 mph, which I'm sure I would not have held if not trying to keep pace with Shellene and Co.! Definitely a flatter route than Italy, and very nice with a southerly wind!
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Ferris Wheel 200k (Read 645 times)
