Labor Day On Allen Lane

 On Labor Day a group of us met at Christoval for a ride on Allen Lane. Pictured are Rick Ogan, David Busker, Dan Willson, Eddie Trevino, Loyd Evans, Brian Backlund, George, and Dorothy Langdon. Unable to be seen include Christine Jones, Liz Rappe, Stephen Langdon, John Dampier, and Tate Drysdale.

 Allen Lane starts with a long climb. At the top, on the horizon, the road curves and goes up again. It peaks at 11%.

 Unofficial stop at the top of the hill to re-group. From back, Rick, Liz, Brian, Eddie, John, and Tate.

 After the downhill, it planes out for a while before we approach more 10, 11, 12% grades.

 Liz and Eddie about to crest the last hill before the end of the road. There is a great downhill just beyond the horizon. Problem is, on the return, it becomes a 10% grade uphill.  

 Regroup time after the long hill(s) from the turn-around point. Liz, Brian, Rick, John, Dan, Stephen, and Tate watch as Fernando Coronado does something to his bike. Fernando arrived late but caught up to us at the turn-around point.

 Meanwhile, Dorothy, George, and Eddie found a shady spot. However, we had lost two riders on the way up. David and Loyd turned around at some point, and Christine had arrived just as we left the turn-around point.

 The return trip is always a lot of fun. Since the lane is a steady increase in elevation, going back seems downhill (even though we still had to crest four 10+ grades on the return). It still felt downhill.

 And then, six of us did a repeat; with the same ups

and downs.

 

Will this ride help me at the Fort Davis Cyclefest? To be continued.