Something over 40 riders left Cleburne at 7:00 am this morning to ride either a 200k, 300k, or 400k brevet. I rode the 200k. As tough as the hills are on this route, I knew that would be all I wanted today. It was 67 degrees with the wind already blowing at start time. I can't remember the last time I started an early morning ride just wearing shorts and a short sleeve jersey. It stayed cloudy all day, and the wind blew harder later in the day.
 
The 200k version of this route is an out and back that goes from Cleburne to Glen Rose, then from Glen Rose to Bluff Dale, then back. It goes down Goatneck Hill early in the ride, then climbs it near the end. It is a hilly route; there aren't many flat miles. I knew from the beginning that I would be riding most of this ride by myself. It was a given that the only way I was getting up all these hills was by spinning my way up them, at a slow pace. With me being the slowest rider up the hills, and probably the fastest down the hills, it was not a day for me to be a social butterfly. I chatted and said hi to everyone the first few miles, then watched them pedal off into the distance on the first hill.
 
Peggy, Steve, and Nelson were still at the Glen Rose control when I arrived, so I left with them. After they all stopped briefly in front of the Dinosaur Valley State Park for Nelson to take a photo, they soon disappeared in the distance ahead of me. This stretch of the ride is the hilliest, with two big climbs just before Bluff Dale. But the hill that was the toughest for me was a short, steep hill just after Dinosaur Valley. As tough as it was going out, it was even tougher coming back. Before I reached the top, I was in my lowest gear, at 4 mph, with a cadence just over 70, and my heart rate was over 170. There's not much left in the well at that point. I definitely need more hill work. But I did pedal up every hill, without stopping. I was thinking that this ride would make a good annual benchmark. As long as I can pedal this route without walking a hill, I haven't slipped into too terrible of a fitness level.
 
Peggy, Steve, and Nelson were still at the Bluff Dale control when I arrived. We left at the same time, they continuing on for their 400k, I turning back for my 200k. With the two climbs near Bluff Dale soon behind me, I was feeling better about my prospects of finishing strong........ until my struggle up the hill near Dinosaur Valley. That was a reminder to save something for Goatneck Hill, near the end.
 
When I arrived back at the Glen Rose control, Jim Rimbey, Cheri Brown, Debbie Breaud, and another rider (who's name escapes me now; he was doing his first 200k) were still there, so I joined them for a good bit of the remaining miles. I fell back enough during the Goatneck climb that I never quite caught up with them again.
 
This was a good training ride for me, and the scenery is really nice, with Brazos and Paluxy river crossings, and great views of the hills and valleys in this area. But it was also a reminder that my hill climbing sucks. I finished in 10:17. My on the bike time was 9:26, so my time spent in controls wasn't bad. I was just slow. My gps showed 6,041 feet of climbing. My heart rate average for the entire ride was 143; that probably explains how tired I am. I ended the day with a great dinner with Mark and Linda Metcalfe, and headed home.
 
Some random thoughts from the ride:

• If you are slow enough, there are plenty of rando droppings on these rides; I never did have to buy water.
  
• I think I could have walked some of these hills faster than I climbed them on the bike, but I just wasn't willing to do it.
  
• At 4 mph climbing these hills, even grazing cattle drop me (but I do reel them in when they run out of fence).
  
• At 4 mph with a 30 mph crosswind, I seem to be a bit wobbly.
  
• While bombing down hills at 40 mph and climbing the next one at 4 mph, it occurred to me that if I had a device installed for counting gear shifts, I would have set a world record for a 200k.
  
• Small chainrings and large cassette cogs are good.
  
• I am more wiped out after this ride than I was after October's 300k.
  
• I wonder if anyone has ever designed a point to point 200k permanent that is all downhill.

Quote from Killer Bee on Mar 8^th, 2009, 1:53pm:

 
 
Now THAT'S one of the funniest typos/misphrasings I've seen on this board....  and I'm sure you meant every word of it, Steve...  

Bud I walked up that last steep part on the hill you were spinning up. I think it was the first hill I have had to walk up with the Hurricane.  
Those hills really took a lot out of my legs dragging a combined 300+ of weight up those endless slopes.  
18:11 ride time
3 hours stopped (4 chain jams  )
10,275 total ascent (I probably misread 10,080 as 10,800)
13,944 calories per my wifes polar (reset for my weight before ride)
123 average hr
 
No bonking, no weakness just my weight and the hills beating up my connective tissue problems.
Hm I think I ate a Banana, 2x paydays, 28 scoops of perp, 7 servings of hammer gel, 32 oz v8 fusion, 1 cherry 7up, 5 luna bars, 2 sports beans and 2 reeses fast breaks. I also took two advil (only thing I can take) which I haven't taken in years so maybe it was extra effective for those last 37 miles.
 
Thank you all for waiting up on and after that 24 mile climb fest and riding into the last control. I'll see in the next few days if I recover enough to be able to do the 600k in late April.
 
When we initially went out I had stayed with one of the lead groups up to the first control which based on the ride home was probably all downhill. Then they blew through there while I was in the restroom and I was solo except for a few miles here and there all the way to the turn around. At the turnaround I caught up to Edward who had blown past me up Cherry Pie hill and we waited a bit and I pumped up some local kids BMX tire for him so he could ride with his homeys. A few minutes Nelson, Steve and Peggy rolled in. I left first because I wanted to make sure I hit cherry pie before dark and before I was much past the bottom Nelson had already caught me.
 
Note: On the drive home I spied Angie and Ray (on his Aero) heading up 377 with a few uprights. I wasn't really all there but it looked like Ray was riding well.
 
 
 

   I had a great time, Bud and I were near each other much of the outgoing 100K and he looked like he was doing great, and a 10hr 200K on this course is an awesome time.  Especially given the 20mph winds, which never give as much as they take!  I played cabbose much of the day so got to see all the other riders it being an out and back course.  Heading into Bluffdale I saw a bunch of 200Kers including Dan and Pam climbing out.  Saw Linda and Mark at the control before they left to head back.  After Lipan we saw Jeff Elmer's bright yellow coat, and managed to hook up with him and heard the bad news that George Evans wasn't feeling well and had decided to turn around after recovering in Lipan.  
 
    So now Peggy, Steve and I were four.  Saw Bryan flying back on the return trip as the only 300Ker.  After a stop in Santo, where surprisingly I hit 45mph on the descent because of the nice tailwind, we headed out to climb Cherry Pie Hill which is better during the day I think for the really nice views.  We turned on 180 to head into Mineral Wells, and about 7 miles from the control saw the lead 400Kers heading back (wow 14 miles and a control in arears!).  But it looked smaller, and definitely didn't feature EV on the hurricane.  So when we pulled up to the control EV was there waiting for us, along with Edward Robinson.  Great to see Edward and he would join us, and we headed out to catch EV who left a few minutes before us.  The return wind wasn't really all that bad being mostly a side wind or blocked by whatever climb we were on.  
 
    Disaster was narrowly averted on the tricky descent down Cherry Pie, as Steve did a little fishtailing at one point but managed to real it in.  Then the real trouble started after Santo.  I led the Petty's astray enjoying a nice hot ham&cheese from the grill, but theirs made them sick and just a few miles later in Lipan they were both feeling poorly.  The ride for them to Bluffdale was tough on Peggy especially, but she perked up after managing to unload the offending item.  A recharge in Bluffdale where despite missing the closing time by a minute we were well taken care of by Vickie Tyer who had all kinds of goodies!
 
    We climbed out of Bluffdale, and I felt good and pulled ahead a bit, and waited at the turn back onto 205 to take some night time pictures as folks came up.  The course from there back to Glen Rose trends downhill and my well padded self enjoyed that a great deal.  Good to have an open control in Glen Rose and a final top off for the almost 35 mile final run.  Goat Neck was quite a bit easier than expected on the return, as we had a nice tailwind from that point to finish up.  I'd been a bit off the front with Edward, but started to drop back after Goat Neck until I could pick up headlights in the mirror.  Mark's I presume, since he looked like aircraft on final approach!  
 
    Everybody finished strong around a post time change 5am.  I'm so proud of our bent family.  Peggy and Steve overcame a severe food problem, which can end a ride in a heartbeat, and sound ready to take on the 600K next month.  Mark looked strong, and despite having to work through some knee pain.  Thanks so much for the memorable ride and great company!
 
I had 17:18 ride time, and 20:56 overall and felt pretty good all day.  As usual I had my low period around 90 miles in the hot part of the day, and felt great at night and near the end.  I had more issues with being sleepy this time, which I attribute to starting this one not as well rested as my previous ones.  A bit tired and sore, but ready I think for the 600K next month.  Hope to see everyone there.
 
 Take Care,
Nelson.

Some of the more memorable moments of the ride were watching Nelson come to the rescue of a baby goat who managed to get his stuck in between sections of the fence(somewhere Bluffdale & Lipan). Nelson the "goat whisperer".  
 
Nelson ,in retrospect ,it was not the grilled sandwich that did me in(not sure about Peggy). To deal with the inflammation of Achilles ,I took some Excedrin &  then a Celebrex-BIG NO ,NO! It was Achilles pain vs. stomach issues...AND both did me in.
 
I was almost mortally wounded by a unknown weed(my Neil Sperry knowledge escapes me) with wicked thorns...while visiting a man about a horse. The thorns cut my upper thigh & then I couldn't get the bleeding to stop. Oh well, gotta catch Pedalin' Peggy & Nelson the goat whisperer.  
 
I caught them with a nice 27 mph sprint outside of Lipan.We see Bryan heading back to Cleburne on the 300k route. Onto Santos, where a grouchy grill cook decided to take forever with Nelson's food. Onto Cherry Pie hill...5-6 mph climb ,right curve,left curve ,right curve,left curve...FOREVER.
 
Then onto Mineral Wells ,where the stomach issues started after the Mineral Wells control. The climb out of Mineral Wells into the wind was a struggle. Approaching Cherry Pie hill for a descent ,I had a the brilliant notion to "fly" down the twisting curves that we climbed not long ago at 5-6 mph. About 1/2 way down ,the bike took an abrupt left turn onto the oncoming lame of traffic...at 40 mph.
 
The bike went sideways & the rear end was violently fish-tailing. I touched the breaks & rode out the descent...at a much slower pace. An accident that didn't happen. I'm not sure I hit a rut or pothole or both.
 
Next stop, Santos. With the stomach upset in high gear,we arrive at the Santos control. As I go inside, I see both bathrooms are "out of order"  OK,that's not even remotely funny when battling stomach issues.
 
We head out(Nelson ,EV,Peggy ,& Edward Robinson-LSR events co-coordinator), to Bluffdale. A few miles outside of Lipan ,I asked Nelson if we can make an unscheduled in Lipan. Nelson took a picture of Peggy & I swiggin' a Pepto bottle like is was a beer.
 
By stopping in Lipan ,we put the group behind a few minutes. We arrived at Bluffdale ONE minute after 10:00pm(closing time). Vickie Tyler(a LSR rider) met us there(after riding a very tough 200K earlier in the day) with all kinds of food, water ,& cookies. What a godsend. She's a real sweetheart & awesome rider.
 
The climb from Bluffdale to Glen Rose starts with a series of 3/4 hills for 6.5 miles. Then it's pretty much downhill to Glen Rose(by Glen Rose dinosaur park). Oh,& dinosaur hill is a tougher climb on the return trip(especially after 199 miles in the saddle).
 
Glen Rose is close by. Refuel & hang on the final 38 miles(the Goatneck 100k course from Glen Rose to Cleburne. AND it's a long 38 miles. Pedlain' Peggy was doing her best imitation of riding while trying to sleep.  We kicked it up on the time trial course. Like Bud said, climbing goatneck hill was not much at all.
 
The final 11 miles...past the Retreat & the rollers on the back side of the TT course. Turning the pedals. Peggy & Jeff Elmer sprint  the last 1.5 miles to the finish. EV & I just look at one another & just cruise to the finish.  
 
21 hours ,15 minutes , battered and bruised.  249.5 miles.We overcame a lot on this ride. Thanks to Nelson,& EV for the company.
 
Congratulations to all that rode.  
 
 
 

Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Mar 8^th, 2009, 5:47pm:

 
I was on my designated rando bike, the Corsa. I do plan on trying the Roadster on a 200k later, but I haven't done a century on it yet.
 
Great job on the 400k and 300k, y'all!

Quote from evblazer on Mar 10^th, 2009, 12:50pm:

 
When did you fall?

dude, you really are a manimal!
 
 
I swear, if we don't go as a big group to Sebring next year and whip some tail, it'll be a crying shame!