rbent Forum - Cross Timbers

FlyingLaZBoy

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Cross Timbers
May 17^th, 2008, 4:05pm

...and a good time was had by...... .....some, at least....

My pics and videos are here:

Slideshow and individual photos of the morning's ride (with all the gory details):

http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/CrossTimbers08/

Video clips of the start, and a downhill

http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g73/flyinglazboy/CrossTimbers08Videos/

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« Last Edit: May 17^th, 2008, 4:06pm by FlyingLaZBoy »

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s_a_switzer rbent member Posts: 13	Re: Cross Timbers Reply #1 - May 17^th, 2008, 5:40pm looks like there was a nice bent turnout I did the 40 mile route in Richardson today met turtle and mike steve
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evblazer

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Re: Cross Timbers
Reply #2 - May 17^th, 2008, 7:41pm

Well the missus and I did the 100 miles which ended up being shorter then 100 miles. From what I gather my very own town of double oak didn't allow the ride through because "negotiations failed" so that cut off a few miles. Although there was a double oak PD car up on 377 doing well nothing at all so I'm not sure what the deal was. At the end we opted out of the lap around the parking lot at TMS and went straight to the car which shortened it a little but I was in a world of hurt by then.

I wasn't doing too well before drop (the last pit stop) and Christine (Mrs EV) was doing little circles up ahead to get some bonus miles and check on me. Drop unfortunately only had warm bananas and nothing else. Then we had two escorts for about 5-6 miles one in front and one behind. Then the one in front took off and we had one for the rest of the ride. Yup nothing like a normal car and truck with flashing strobe lights escorting you around while you are riding a bike we must be really important or something.

It was a long ride but I'd think over 14mph average wouldn't have been everyone packed up and leave time. I think we were the last ones in because as we came down 156 they were pulling up the cones and moving on and when we got into the infield it was empty except for a few road bikers racking up their bikes and chatting like they had been there a good while.

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« Last Edit: May 17^th, 2008, 7:59pm by evblazer »

Mark Hastings
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robert.j

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Re: Cross Timbers
Reply #3 - May 17^th, 2008, 8:51pm

Other than Greg and Bud's mishap, I thought it was a nice ride. Not too crowded and decent track, little wind and cool. It was really cool having all the bents there. A LOT of people asked questions about our bikes so I think the flag was well shown. I started tightening up some before rest stop 4, stopped there and stretched a lot, but decided I'd have more fun if opted for the 50 mile route but set a strong pace, That I did the rest of the way in, staying up around 24 entering the TMS grounds and around to the infield.
Before we turned off the track at the start I realized I'd forgotten my water bottle so instead of following after Greg and Bud I hung a left back to my truck, unknowingly choosing what turned out to be the correct route. About the time I turned left I heard a loud "BANG", sounded like a gunshot or something exploding. I glanced back over my shoulder and saw a disk wheel sticking up in the air, obviously from some type of wreck, but couldn't watch long enough to see what had happened or who was involved. I knew some of our guys were up there but hoped no one was involved. I grabbed the water bottle and hurried off hoping to catch up to the rbent gang. About the time I exited the TMS I caught up to Peggy, obviously not in a big hurry. We talked a while and speculated whether everyone was in front of us or behind us. The longer we went the more concerned I was that we had guys involved in that wreck. I asked some DFs going by if they'd seen a bunch of bents behind us and they said yes, so I was pretty sure then that everyone execpt Mark, who passed us, was behind. Not long after that, Paul caught up with the news of what had happened to Greg and Bud.
Bud and Greg, I'm sorry about your bikes, but thankful no one was hurt seriously. Not very good ride management by the organizers. They should have had someone directing traffic when we got off the track. Hopefully you can get your steeds put back together and get back on the road.
And Paul, you got some great pictures!

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« Last Edit: May 17^th, 2008, 8:53pm by robert.j »

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jman

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Re: Cross Timbers
Reply #4 - May 17^th, 2008, 10:22pm

Good photos Paul, I have abt 30 more I'll have ready tomorrow most of them from from the pre ride. Dianna, Johnathan and I pretty much stayed together and wound up riding the 30 mile route. The three of us saw Bud and Greg walking back from their crash but weren't sure exactly what had happened. I am surprised at not having that area coned off for our event, lips sealed

words dont come close to my thoughts on that flub up.
There were several criticle turns that didn't have good markings for us and of course those were the ones one or more of us had a problem with but not with the bad results of the start.
There were some road sections I think the county was asleep at the wheel when it came to good repair but that isn't unusual for outlying areas. I will say that the best country coarse I have ridden so far in my whole 3 years of riding has been the Denton Turkey Roll. Good news was that only saw 2 flats in the group we pretty much traveled with.
The weather was custom made for the day, so that made up for a lot of the little stuff and the group we rode with all had a good time. We got to visit with hubsband and wife on their trikes that Paul has photo of. Very nice and hope they join us in the group. And the coold tap stuff at the end of the ride was a real treat. Were we supposed to pay for that Grin

?

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FlyingLaZBoy

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Re: Cross Timbers
Reply #5 - May 17^th, 2008, 10:58pm

After the start fiasco, I rode with Steve and Peggy consistently, and Nelson, Ray, Ken, and Robert sporadically... We stopped at the 2nd rest stop, and Ray didn't, so it was bye-bye, Ray.... A few miles before the 100 mile / 100K split, the Stradas and I decided to bag the 100 miler in favor of the 100K, thinking nobody else was doing it (Sorry, Blazers!). Meanwhile, we were hitting basically every other rest stop. After the 40 mile point, for some reason I got the bug to hit it hard, so Steve and I left Peggy and Nelson behind, still planning to do 100K.

Unfortunately, we weren't trying to follow maps, we were following police traffic control direction -- and the guy in Justin waved us to the left, so we went, instead of making the right turn we were apparently supposed to out to PS #6 (I'll bet the people working that rest stop were wondering, "Where the heck IS everybody????") . We then proceeded to also miss the right turn on to 407 -- I don't know how... So, suddenly, we were approaching the TMS, and our 'puters only said 47 miles... And Steve and I finished with basically 50. I believe Peggy continued to do laps around the outside of TMS, to get her 100K.

Then when we got back inside, nobody appeared to be directing us back onto the track for the last couple laps... THEN I saw/heard the race cars going around on the track!!! No track laps for US!!!

On a fun note, we kept encountering this group of six or so riders (triathletes? two men, four women) along the way... we'd either pass them on the flats, or pass them on the hills (as they were standing up), over and over again... So eventually we started trading good-natured verbal jabs... As Steve and I started going around the outer TMS loop, he was on the phone with Peggy -- and the group passed US, obviously doing a "final sprint". I waited about 15 seconds, and told Steve, "OK, let's burn these guys one last time..." And we did, passing them up at about 30mph. "ding, ding!" Cheesy

'preciate the company out there, my friends!!!!!! Good show... But I'll agree, the organizers definiitely left a few ragged edges on the event.

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« Last Edit: May 17^th, 2008, 10:59pm by FlyingLaZBoy »

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"A hundred miles on a bike? How many
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FooRider

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Re: Cross Timbers
Reply #6 - May 18^th, 2008, 7:00am

As ykswodaS nhoJ observed when we were visiting before yesterday's Richardson Wild Ride, the Cross Timbers rally seems to have good years and not-so-good years. I did that ride twice before I moved to Allen and the ride moved to... Elizabeth (or whatever town is closest to Texas Motor Speedway), and they were both mediocre but in different respects. The fact that no one thought to direct riders away from that bike-killing grate doesn't come as much of a surprise.

Awesome group picture, though. If I see many more like that, I may collapse under the peer pressure and spend money I can't afford for a Killer Bs jersey. Wink

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jman Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 644	Re: Cross Timbers Reply #7 - May 18^th, 2008, 7:36am I took most of my photos before the ride, once on the road, I tend to need both hands at the controls . Here is the link to my offering. (http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm179/jman7659/)
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Killer Bee

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Re: Cross Timbers
Reply #8 - May 18^th, 2008, 7:52am

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on May 17^th, 2008, 10:58pm:

After the start fiasco, I rode with Steve and Peggy consistently, and Nelson, Ray, Ken, and Robert sporadically... We stopped at the 2nd rest stop, and Ray didn't, so it was bye-bye, Ray.... A few miles before the 100 mile / 100K split, the Stradas and I decided to bag the 100 miler in favor of the 100K, thinking nobody else was doing it (Sorry, Blazers!). Meanwhile, we were hitting basically every other rest stop. After the 40 mile point, for some reason I got the bug to hit it hard, so Steve and I left Peggy and Nelson behind, still planning to do 100K.

Unfortunately, we weren't trying to follow maps, we were following police traffic control direction -- and the guy in Justin waved us to the left, so we went, instead of making the right turn we were apparently supposed to out to PS #6 (I'll bet the people working that rest stop were wondering, "Where the heck IS everybody????") . We then proceeded to also miss the right turn on to 407 -- I don't know how... So, suddenly, we were approaching the TMS, and our 'puters only said 47 miles... And Steve and I finished with basically 50. I believe Peggy continued to do laps around the outside of TMS, to get her 100K.

Then when we got back inside, nobody appeared to be directing us back onto the track for the last couple laps... THEN I saw/heard the race cars going around on the track!!! No track laps for US!!!

On a fun note, we kept encountering this group of six or so riders (triathletes? two men, four women) along the way... we'd either pass them on the flats, or pass them on the hills (as they were standing up), over and over again... So eventually we started trading good-natured verbal jabs... As Steve and I started going around the outer TMS loop, he was on the phone with Peggy -- and the group passed US, obviously doing a "final sprint". I waited about 15 seconds, and told Steve, "OK, let's burn these guys one last time..." And we did, passing them up at about 30mph. "ding, ding!" Cheesy

'preciate the company out there, my friends!!!!!! Good show... But I'll agree, the organizers definiitely left a few ragged edges on the event.

Paul...It was fun((although the day didn't get off to a good start with Bud & Greg's incidents) to tide together again(and great to see such a very good 'bent turnout) . As punishment to myself for not making the right turn in Justin, I came home & rode an additional 25 miles(with a 17.6 mph avg-which is what I had for the 50 miles at Cross timbers). I ended up 75.28 miles for the day.

Mikley ,I have a different opinion on Cross Timbers vs. Wild Ride. Having ridden both rally's ,I prefer the Cross Timbers-better roads(less traffic than Richardson). The acident with Greg/Bud shouldn't have happened-agreed. A barricade/person should have provided to direct rider traffic in the the proper direction. As far as not making the 100K distance ,that was my fault for not looking at the route map.

If the Cross Timber's ride is held again next year(there was rumor that this may be the last year for the ride due to lack of sponsors),I would opt to ride this rally instead of the Wild Ride(based on the busy roads in Richardson). Besides ,riding at TMS was very COOL. AND no restrictions like the MS had as far where you could ride your bike on the track(like Greg & Ray did going up high).

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