Kent - for the Centerpoint loop, do you go up through Bandera, north to Centerpoint, back around to the west on 16, then back to Heletos?  You live in one of the best places in the state to ride.  Thousands of miles of lightly traveled roads.  Where are the longest, thoughest climbs?
 
Are you coming to race in TTTT?

I know those roads well.  I've done the Sisterdale route many times, looping down, then climbing Old #9 to the Bat Tunnel and enjoying a good lunch at the top.  Then descending slightly, and going East to Luckenbach, then north to Willow City and Back to Fredericksburg.  
 
Wonderful route!  And to make a little longer, extend it by going up 16, and cutting over on 965 to "the rock" then riding some of the upper and lower Crabapple roads heading south to Fredericksburg.

I'm so glad I decided not to ride Sunday and just recover, because I would have been TOAST.   The routes Kent chose were great, with some beautiful scenery.  Unfortuantely the chipseal fairy has visited a while back.  No boulder seal thankfully, but bmpy enough to do the trick on my feet.
  I'm still not used to th heat and it nearly did me in as well.
 
For the Fredericksburg loop we started with 2 upright riders.  Kent and I would hammer up the hills, then rest and wait for the others to catch up.  At mile 30 I was already tired and wanting a nap.  There's very little flat, all up and down - mostly up with little bumps to be able to get some speed.  It was very much like RAO in that respect.  The uprights turned around and we kept going up up up.  Climbing the batcave was a slightly tougher Cherry Pie hill, and the view was amazing.  
 
Lunch at a biergarten in F-burg woud have been better but I had some massive heartburn and it took a while to go away so I could eat.  We shopped around at a new bike/tri shop.   The last 30 miles went by fast with some good rollers and descents that lets us hang out near 30mph for miles and miles.
 
Kent is a beast of a rider.  He reminds me very much of Steve - fast as hell and a great climber. We averaged 17.5 for 115 miles with likely 9000 feet of climbing and I was SLOWING HIM DOWN.  I even tried my best to drop him on the last rollers section.  I can throw down some speed when I'm in the 53x11 and jamming the gears hard, but Kent stayed on my tail for the whole time.  
 
Yesterday we went to tackly the center point loop but I was nowhere close to recovered and ready.  In spite of miles of continuous climbing the first 15 mile stretch, my heart rate refused to go above 130 and it would normally be 160+ at least.  My cruising heartrate is 135-145 and instead I couldn't get it above 115.  I made it 60 miles before giving up.  Beautiful loop, though - hit 48mph.  We rode with Gary, a recent bent convert riding a Corsa.  He's a darned strong rider too.
 
Wish I could ride every weekend downb there - Id be fit in no time.  We took a couple pics and I'll post them soon as I can.  Thanks for the hospitality, Kent!

Greg & Kent, great reports ,& good job both of you, you'll make a helluva team at the TT's. Good for you guys. That's very cool. It sounds like you both had a great time. More strong 'bent riders is a good thing.
 
Agreed, the Hill country area has to be one of my favorite spots to ride. That's what made Hellweek so memorable for me this year.
 
Greg, thanks for the "shout-out", but Kent is a much stronger rider than myself. I remember Kent from the Hill Country 600K race this year. Although I've not met him, I've seen him in action...YIKES!
 
But, I do look forward to meeting him at the TT's this year.

Steve, thanks for the compliment but I really think you have me confused with someone else in that race. But yes, we need to get together and ride. Maybe do our own 'Bent FUN Week (not 'Hell' Week) down here sometime... Maybe when it's a little cooler. See if we can draw some of the local bent riders out of hiding to ride with us. Some roads I have in mind for a great high-racer paceline.
 
Hmmm.  One thing a number of people have been telling me I need to do is the annual Loop 410 speed ride around San Antonio. Police escort for a high-speed run around the city. You get dropped, you sag, and it's very, very fast. I'd feel a little hesitant doing this thing as the only 'bent, somewhat due to speed and paceline issues, etc. but maybe we could hang out just off the back with our own little paceline and see how it goes? I'm not even sure how to get invited to the thing but could make some inquiries. I have a suspicion that I'm starting to get known a little around here but I still don't have a good handle on how well I'd do in something of this sort. I suspect that I haven't come up against the really fast guys and I'd get completely blown away, which is why I really appreciate the encouragement all of you have provided to help me to get involved with racing. Gives me a chance to slide in the backdoor to get a better view of the real world without looking like a complete fool. Having a couple of decent ultra races under the belt to point to should make it easier to get accepted in the local TTs also.
 
I'm also really hoping my new CA frame (which didn't arrive today but which JS said has been shipped) will add another couple mph to my speed. One can dream, Right? :^)

Kent, I dunno, there were 2 Bacchetta's at the 600k race, I was one of the crew members for one of them(Schlitter). So that leaves you as the other 'bent rider.  We were worried about you for a while(and the DF guy, what his name...Mark Metcalfe).
 
I would love to come down & ride with you & other Rbenters. We should/need to make this trip! I don't mind the heat,but others may not want to ride when it's toasty outside. September is bad because of the TT's and I need a 200k to finish up my R-12.
 
The Mrs & I are working to complete our 2nd RUSA series(we need a 400 & 600K), we should be done with that in mid-October. The temperature should be cooled off of by then.
 
'Bent Fun Week, I like it.