Arden

Destination for a group of 10 riders Saturday, April 3.

After last Saturday's ride, it was time to ride a reasonable distance, with reasonalble hills, and with a reasonable wind. The distance was a mere 30 miles, the hills on Arden Road are rollers, and the max wind was forecast for 16 mph. At the start line were Brian Backlund, Christine Buckstead, David and Donna Durbin, Ty Johnson, Christine and Roy Jones, Rick and Velma Ogan, and Kevin Thorton. 

The wind at the start of the ride was about 12 mph and at an angle that makes it nearly impossible to find the draft. Velma jumped out into the lead, and she is so small and low to the ground that she never makes a good wind blocker even on the Monday or Wednesday rides with the wind straight in your face. Many times I have encouraged her to gain weight and grow taller but to no avail. Then Christine Buckstead came up to lead, but she is not a good wind blocker either. Rick came up and is tall enough to provide wind blockage most of the time, but he was going to rein in Velma, and soon I lagged. Back to resistance training even with a carefully chosen route.

                                   

Example of the Arden Road rollers.

Eventually Rick stopped to take some action shot pictures of some of the other riders, and that left me trying to catch up to Christine and Velma to announce a re-group stop at the S. Burma intersection.  

                                      

I barely had time to dismount before Donna rolled in.

Brian at the Arden-Burma Intersection.

Part of the group approaching the intersection. Pictured are David, Christine J., Kevin, Rick, and Ty.

Christine J., Rick, David, Brian, Kevin, Donna, Ty, Velma (almost hidden), and Christine B.

After a short break, all headed off to the big city of Arden.

About the only original structure left at Arden.

Click on the image to enlarge. Good synopsis of Arden history.

Christine B., Kevin, Donna, David, and Brian taking a break at Arden.

Chris announced that she had a flat, and once again Rick finds himself showing me how to fix a flat with no tools but a pump.

With the crisis of the flat over, Christine gives the pointer of the day: Don't over-mix the zinc in the sun screen lotion. Put in a moderate amount and look in the mirrow before going in public.

'Nuff said.

Velma (lead) and Christine B. heading home. About the time they dropped out of sight, Rick came up and pulled me all the way to the parking lot.

Brian, Kevin, and Ty pulling into the parking lot. Kevin had an outstanding ride considering the ride was his third time out this season.

Donna demonstrating leg stretches to Christine J. Christine B. is doing some kind of stretch. This photographer was just not on the ball when the three ladies were on the pavement doing their leg stretches.

  

 

Susan Peak

Saturday March 27, 2010

Walling Pecan to end of Susan Peak and Back

Six dedicated San Angelo Bicycling Assn. members participated in what turned out to be an overall training ride. Actually, there were eight. Christine Buckstead turned around after about 25 minutes as she had some auditions to judge at ASU. The eighth and probably most appreciated was David Durbin. He came out to SAG and brought bananas, oranges, and Gatorade for the weary. The six who will be applauded include Anda Greeney, Ty Johnson, Christine & Roy Jones, Velma & Rick Ogan.

Early line up. Roy Jones, Christine Jones, Velma Ogan, and Anda Greeney.

Of the many reasons for the kudos, the forecast was a 25 MPH wind and as we later found out, with gusts of 31. That was what the Weather Channel said. Many times I think the gusts were more than 31.

The first leg of the ride was great. The 25 MPH pushed us along at a nice clip. The next leg, into the hills, slowed some of us down even with the help of the wind. Therefore, the trip out to the end of Susan Peak was a training ride of hill climbing.

As I was doing my best to keep Velma in sight--unsuccessfully most of the time--I was not taking pictures of the ride. Anda was not in sight after the first hill. David was dutifully waiting at the top of ever major hill offering us liquids or treats. Near the end of Susan Peak, I thought to pass the camera off to David, and he was kind enough to take some action shots. 

At the turn around point, Ty who had started a little late, caught up to us and joined the group. 

 

Turn around point rest stop--courtesy of David. Enjoying his hospitality: Roy, Ty, Anda, Christine J., and Velma.

Then the fun began. Remember the saying "for every downhill there is an uphill?" The return route was almost as bad as going out. And remember the wind? For the next 18.89643724 miles, the 25 gusting to 31 wind was either in our face or a forward, angled cross wind. So began the rest of the training ride. Wind resistance and hill climbing. At the beginning of the return trip, I accepted Velma's assistance and drafted.

 

Thank you Velma, but the hosting was too short. As we were going down a little decline, my front wheel shimmied dangerously. I almost lost control. It stopped for about 5 seconds and then shimmied again. I just knew I had a flat. I stopped and checked my tires. They were fine. David stopped for me but I didn't have to SAG yet. Christine stopped to see what was going on. The only thing we could figure out is that a cross wind gust hit me and put my bike into an unstable condition. I was happy not to have had a flat, but by this time Velma was a small dot on the horizon, and that is the way she stayed until we got out of the hills. Then she just took off.

Speaking of taking off, Anda and Ty were leading us by decameters.

Anda and Ty taking turns at pulling.

Anda and Ty taking one of the turns that went from cross wind to in your face.

Velma. Same curve. I would have been happy to pull 100 yards or so IF SHE WOULD HAVE WAITED FOR ME!!

Chris. You can see on her face the Computrainer mantra; relax, keep those rpms up, light pedals, focus. 

 

Roy. And on my face, a complete blank.

Would you believe we still had to pedal down parts of this?

And speaking of pedaling, on a slight decline of 1 or 2%, I stopped pedaling. The wind slowly but surely stopped me cold. That was part of the reason we had to pedal down even steeper declines. 

Remember, I had mentioned that Rick Ogan was on this ride also. He had completed his previous engagement, changed, rode from his house, and met up with the group. He kept going until he reached Christine and me just past Rocking Chair Ranch . He had come to pull us to the finish line.

But first we had to stop and watch the turtles sunning themselves at Lipan Creek.

And we had to watch the cows watching us.

Time to head out again.

Christine's 15 seconds of glory and fame leading Rick and me. Then we got behind Rick like little ducklings behind their mother and arrived with everyone patiently waiting for us. Thank you Rick. It would have seemed much longer had you not pulled us in.

Happiness is the completion of a hard training ride.

Celebrating victory over the elements.

Thank you David Durbin for riding SAG for us.

Last but not least. Christine showing off her new equipment. After almost 10,000 miles of cross-chaining, her chain, chain rings, and cogs said enough is enough.

Steam-N-Wheels

A few cyclists from San Angelo and we were scheduled to go to Abilene Saturday March 20, to participate in the Steam-N-Wheels bicycle race/tour. The ever changable Texas weather modified the event director's and our plans somewhat. A cold front moved in early Saturday morning. The high that day was to be 36 degrees with winds out of the north at 23-36. The Weather Channel reported light snow. The event was cancelled. Hopefully the event will be re-scheduled on a weekend when we do not have another ride lined up.

I know we will not receive sympathy or pity from Steve or Mama Nikki from Vancouver, or Trudi from Calgary, nor Jill from Juneau. But in Texas 36 degrees F. with 23 mph winds is COLD. We do not have Parka cycling jackets, thermal tights, or battery warmed booties.

Soon all this will pass, and I will be complaining about 100+ degree weather, but our Texas events are not cancelled due to heat.

Hope to report on Steam-N-Wheels soon.

Post script: The event has been cancelled this year. The next Steam-N-Wheels is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, 2011.