Pedal Pushers: Easter Weekend Rides

Friday, April 13, 2012

Easter Weekend Rides

Friday morning ride.

On Easter weekend, many had 3-4 days off from work. Liz was off Friday and invited us for a leisurely ride in the country near her home.

The road called Mineral Wells starts off easily enough. The countryside is still green with plenty of wildflowers still blooming.

Then the roads become a little more interesting. Christine and I are about to tackle this hill.

It was just a 6% grade so we easily (although maybe slowly) made it up.

Christine and Roy. Some of the bluebonnets had just passed their prime. Another rain shower is needed.

Liz posing in the bluebonnets.

Christine enjoying the flowers.

Liz and Christine. I said a LEISURELY ride.

It would seem a shame to ride past such scenery at 20 miles an hour. We can do that AFTER the flowers fade.

The little hills still gave us a workout so we had the best of two worlds.

We came upon a field with about 14 horses in it. This one saw us and started moving toward us and the fence.

He had been there before. He had cleared the wild oats beyond the fence previously.

So Christine decided to help him out.

Liz joined in. The horse did not mind two feeding him.

Time to move on. Not sure if the horse was unhappy to see us go or just inviting us back soon.

Back to the workout part of the ride. Hard to see but the road was still lined with various flowers.

Which enticed us to stop once more. These pom pom-like flowers are called fragrant gaillardia.

Again, hard to see but the green mass at the curve is water lilies covering this part of the South Concho River. I have learned to snap a shot at this spot and then place both hands on the handle bars. The centrifugal force of going downhill on a curve can get interesting if one is not in complete control of one's bike.

Then we went down the way a little to a road called Green Oaks.

Green Oaks was covered with bluebonnets.

Nice views, nice ride. It indeed was a Good Friday.

Friday evening ride.

Friday evening was a completely different ride. Rick was going to lead us on a moonlight ride in the San Angelo State Park.

As this was the first moonlight ride of the season, Rick took us on the paved roads. Only he and Marlon Miller were seasoned night riders so Rick wanted to start us newcomers out easily and to ensure that our various lights would safely guide us. Next ride will be off-road.

Rick's light was a really good one. I may have to invest in one like it. As one can see, my light was about one-fourth the brightness of Rick's.

Shown: David Busker, Rick, and Marlon. We had just come up Wink Hill which is a 12% grade, so Rick was briefing us on going back down it. There is a sharp curve right at the base of this hill. Hit it right or hit the dirt--and mesquite branches and prickly pear cactus and who knows what else.

Saturday morning ride.

Saturday morning a group of us met at the start of Burma Road for a 9 mile out and back. Burma Road is the location for two pre-and-post season time trials. It is just one hill after the other with a 5% and a short breather, 8% and a short breather, then a 13% climb right after the turn-around point.

The majority of the ride is a series of 5-8% grade hills.

The scenery may look bleak to you, but last year it was completely brown or charred from wild fires. We are revelling in our beloved state's verdancy.

I am always leery of organized rides that advertise a series of gently rolling hills. Many times they turn out to be 60 miles of "Burma Road". However, that is just I. The riders on the time trials traverse the 18 miles of hills well under 1 hour. Do the math. That is why so many of my pictures do not show riders in front of me. They are "over the hill."

Monday evening ride.