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Paluxy Pedal 2014 (Read 3895 times)

FlyingLaZBoy

Moderator

'16 ICE SprintX fs,
'16 Rocket, '12 KHS
Mocha

Posts: 5803

Paluxy Pedal 2014
Oct 5^th, 2014, 9:26am

'Twas a beautiful day for a bike ride, temps in the 60s-70s with minimal wind... too bad it had to be on the chipseal of the Paluxy Pedal...

I was the only recumbent out there, as far as I could tell... anticipating the chipseal and having to climb The Wall, I rode the Rocket with the Hoagie seat, with 1.3" front and back tires at 85psi... Did the 65-mile route -- I was riding with some other GDB folks, so was with 3-4 others pretty much the whole way, just cruising along and occasionally regrouping after climbs.

The CONS:

1) Only one porta potty at each rest stop... (at least the ones we stopped at) ... ridiculous...
2) Brand new boulder seal AT COUNTY LINE HILL... nasty, nasty...
3) Somervell County roads have nasty chip seal
4) The Wall was at MILE 50 of this year's route -- and there was a LOT of climbing to do before you got there
5) There was a cattle grate at a right turn after a fast downhill, not well marked... hope nobody crashed!
6) The last part of the route went through road construction on Hwy 67 -- definitely a dangerous stretch

The PROS:

1) Lotsa calories burned, climbing hills;
2) Friendly folks, and good police/traffic control
3) Well marked route, for the most part, with minimal car traffic;
4) No dogs out
5) The Wall is climbable on a 'bent Smiley

if you have the right gearing (28/32) and can keep it steady -- I was at 3.5 - 4 mph the whole way up. This is why I rode the Rocket instead of the Xstream!

Fun note -- I passed three guys who were all walking their bikes up The Wall... hearing several "No Way!"s... Smiley

We finished in 5 hours, which included at least 30 minutes waiting in portapotty lines... Doing this rally pretty much convinced me to never do the Texas Time Trials ever again, however... at least until they find better roads... even with the 1.3" tires, the chipseal got old... But I'm glad I was finally able to do the rally!

« Last Edit: Oct 5^th, 2014, 9:30am by FlyingLaZBoy »

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"A hundred miles on a bike? How many
days does that take you?"

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FlyingLaZBoy Moderator '16 ICE SprintX fs, '16 Rocket, '12 KHS Mocha Posts: 5803	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #1 - Oct 5^th, 2014, 9:33am A couple other shots from The Wall The warning sign... uh, oh... The start of The Wall... this guy got off his bike about three seconds after I took the pic The view back down the last curve
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jayg Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 4204	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #2 - Oct 5^th, 2014, 10:07am Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 5^th, 2014, 9:26am: "The Wall is climbable on a 'bent if you have the right gearing (28/32) and...." legs that can generate Hemi V8 power.
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Phantom Rider Five Star Member Posts: 1056	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #3 - Oct 5^th, 2014, 10:20am Quote from jayg on Oct 5^th, 2014, 10:07am: Quote from FlyingLaZBoy on Oct 5^th, 2014, 9:26am: "The Wall is climbable on a 'bent if you have the right gearing (28/32) and...." legs that can generate Hemi V8 power. Man that looks like fun!
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reever rbent member Posts: 459	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #4 - Oct 5^th, 2014, 7:12pm Hey LaZBoy--you have my vote for the tough guy club. It's not too many recumbents that seek out a hilly course, let alone THE COURSE known for the toughest hill in Texas. Way to go, man!!!
Back to top	Adults should have fun so kids will want to grow up! For every mile of road there's two miles of ditch. I'd rather be sorry for something I did than for something I didn't do. IP Logged

diannalightning

Five Star Member

rbent member

Posts: 522

Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014
Reply #5 - Oct 6^th, 2014, 3:14pm

Hey Paul, if you weren't liking the chip seal at 85psi, can you imagine what the upwrongs were thinking with the 700C wheels at 110psi. I barely remember those days but I do remember being shaken to death on some roads. Congrats on conquering "The Wall". I knew you were going to like that Rocket. My V-Rex handles low speeds up a hill also---it has to because that's the only way I can get up a hill ---SLOW.

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mleuck Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 1105	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #6 - Oct 8^th, 2014, 12:11am I was never able to take the wall and always ended up walking most of it up. What I never liked about that ride was the last 12 miles was nothing but chip seal
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FlyingLaZBoy

Moderator

'16 ICE SprintX fs,
'16 Rocket, '12 KHS
Mocha

Posts: 5803

Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014
Reply #7 - Oct 8^th, 2014, 9:12am

They've modified the course from before - now it follows the TTTT course for the first 14+ miles, then taking a left on 56. So there's chipseal to be had all over the place. County Line Hill was especially ugly...

The anticipated slow climb (~ 3-4mph) was why I rode the Rocket with the 28/32 low gear combo-- I probably wouldn't have made it on the Xstream.

« Last Edit: Oct 8^th, 2014, 9:24am by FlyingLaZBoy »

******************
"A hundred miles on a bike? How many
days does that take you?"

******************

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FlyingLaZBoy Moderator '16 ICE SprintX fs, '16 Rocket, '12 KHS Mocha Posts: 5803	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #8 - Oct 9^th, 2014, 10:48am Just got this email from the event photographer... LOL I can't remember the last time I saw anyone on a recumbent go up The Wall. You looked strong. I don't remember ever thinking you were going to fall over. Felix
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kenbent6 Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 660	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #9 - Oct 9^th, 2014, 9:41pm Paul, I rode down the WALL last year, can I get some points for that? If not I should get points for all the hills I went up just getting there!!!!
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FlyingLaZBoy Moderator '16 ICE SprintX fs, '16 Rocket, '12 KHS Mocha Posts: 5803	Re: Paluxy Pedal 2014 Reply #10 - Oct 10^th, 2014, 4:22pm I would definitely not let it coast going down The Wall....!!!!!
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