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jmccain
03-12-07, 06:44 AM
Has anyone done this in the past? I'm planning on riding it this month, but I'm curious if the event is well-run, what the course is like (the longer distances), etc.?

Thanks, John
forensicchemist
03-12-07, 07:35 AM
Yea I've done it the last few years. Well run in my opinion......rest stops are well stocked, VERY NICE people to help. Fresh grilled burgers at the end of the ride. The course is scenic with rolling hills. There are a few steep ones, but nothing too bad......
jmccain
03-13-07, 02:07 PM
Thanks for the info!
Monoborracho
03-13-07, 03:41 PM
My wife and I both plan on it. She'll do a short ride and I'll do probably the 52 or 64. Haven't registed yet.
txtricrossryder
03-14-07, 08:32 AM
Anyone have a link to more info?
Pharmr
03-14-07, 09:06 AM
http://www.rideforheroes.org/
aikigreg
03-18-07, 11:37 AM
My wife and I are both in on this one. She'll be doing the 52, and I' going for the 75.
txtricrossryder
03-19-07, 10:57 AM
Thanks so what routes are everyone doing?
forensicchemist
03-20-07, 03:01 PM
52 for me....
Hobartlemagne
03-20-07, 03:18 PM
Im planning on going
jmccain
03-21-07, 06:37 AM
52 for me also. I'll be on an old white Peugeot Super Competition with an odd mix of parts.
Monoborracho
03-22-07, 08:35 AM
Probably 52 for me. I'll be on a flat bar Fuji with a sprung Brooks saddle and bright blue bar tape. (say..."bright blue bar tape" real fast five times)
c_m_shooter
03-22-07, 03:42 PM
I'll probably do the 64 on my old Trek.
forensicchemist
03-22-07, 06:23 PM
Haven't decided....Red kestrel or blue colnago for me....
All1NTao
03-23-07, 12:38 PM
I am doing this one as well. The 75 mile on my Ti rode rig.
aikigreg
03-24-07, 07:08 PM
Well, I bopped out to aledo today and did 66 miles. This is a pretty darned difficult and hilly ride! Please make sure you don't base how far you do on how far you can go on the flat stuff. There were some monster climbs. The wind was also howling today. I was having to downshift to go DOWN hills when I turned into the wind. It as just WOW. A bit grueling, but I' confident I'll be able to do the 75 with a little less wind.

If anyone wants to hook up at the start, I'll be on a red lightning p-38 recumbent with a red bag on the back of the seat.
forensicchemist
03-24-07, 08:13 PM
Well, I bopped out to aledo today and did 66 miles. This is a pretty darned difficult and hilly ride! Please make sure you don't base how far you do on how far you can go on the flat stuff. There were some monster climbs. The wind was also howling today. I was having to downshift to go DOWN hills when I turned into the wind. It as just WOW. A bit grueling, but I' confident I'll be able to do the 75 with a little less wind.

If anyone wants to hook up at the start, I'll be on a red lightning p-38 recumbent with a red bag on the back of the seat.


Yea, thats the way it was last year too...windy! And yea, there are plenty of nice rolling hills:) :) Time to pull out the 12-27 cassette.......
aikigreg
03-24-07, 11:46 PM
might want to go 12-34 on this one! :)
forensicchemist
03-30-07, 07:22 PM
might want to go 12-34 on this one! :)

with all the rain the last 2 days, I'm wondering if I can do the 52 mile route in my bass boat??;)
aikigreg
03-30-07, 07:52 PM
No joke! It's POURING. The last thing I want to do is try to do a fast 75 on wet pavement. Hopefully it'll clear in the next couple hours and then we'll be good.

However, my wife is dropping out of the ride due to knee pain, so if anyone hasn't pre-registered and wants her spot, give me a ring tomorrow at 682-465-5424 and we'll meet at registration. It's paid for, so someone might as well get to use it.

Greg
Pharmr
03-30-07, 10:18 PM
However, my wife is dropping out of the ride due to knee pain, so if anyone hasn't pre-registered and wants her spot, give me a ring tomorrow at 682-465-5424 and we'll meet at registration. It's paid for, so someone might as well get to use it.
Greg


that's a very nice offer...I hope someone has an opportunity to take you up on it.:D
forensicchemist
03-31-07, 04:02 AM
No joke! It's POURING. The last thing I want to do is try to do a fast 75 on wet pavement. Hopefully it'll clear in the next couple hours and then we'll be good.

However, my wife is dropping out of the ride due to knee pain, so if anyone hasn't pre-registered and wants her spot, give me a ring tomorrow at 682-465-5424 and we'll meet at registration. It's paid for, so someone might as well get to use it.

Greg


Greg,

I'll call you once I get out there.....

mark
cuda2k
03-31-07, 12:52 PM
Hope you all had a good time, weather turned out to be great for it, other than that WIND!
forensicchemist
03-31-07, 06:40 PM
Well it started off as a great day thanks to "aikigreg" who offered me the registration from his wife who couldn't make the ride....."Thanks Greg"!! Although the morning was a bit cool, I felt great riding.....I climbed the hills during the first 20 miles or so effortlessly, but then as I was descending a hill on the back side of the lake, I snapped a spoke in the rear wheel!:eek: I pulled over to inspect the damage. From where I was I didn't have much choice but to continue on, wobbly wheel and all.....Luckily I came up on a rest stop within a mile or so and was able to catch a ride back to finish line.....no sense tearing up the wheel any more.

From that unfortunate start to the day, I've since run out to Texarkana and back this afternoon! So all in all, its been a rather interesting day....

mark
aikigreg
03-31-07, 08:00 PM
Well, crap! I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to catch you when the ride started, Mark. There were a ton of people who had a mechanical the first few miles - some didn't even make it out of the parking lot - it was very strange. Is your wheel alright?

I took it easy most of the way - 16mph average - because I knew how hilly Aledo is and didn't want to overextend myself on the 75 miles. I got to the vaunted cattle barron road and though "gee, this wasn't much of anything - someof the other roads had much toughter hills." Nope, Cb road wasn't the problem, it was the next 10 miles of solid moderate incline AFTER you'd already fried yourself that really just demoralized the spirit. Still I finished in around 4:30, which was pretty good considering all the hills and the wind. I need to get out there more often and ride - should make my flatter routes pieces of cake.

It was a beautiful day and a great event. The burgers and vitamin water at the end were certainly welcome. If you've never done this ride, it's fantastic - put it on the calendar for next year.
forensicchemist
03-31-07, 08:14 PM
The wheel will be fine....I'll drop it off at the LBS next week and let them put a new spoke in, and then re-tension the remaining ones. I've got other bikes to ride, so its not a big deal. Oddly enough, this is the first time in 20 some years that I've broken a spoke.....I guess I was due.

I've done this ride the last 3 years, and think its one of the best! The folks in Aledo are GREAT! Food at conclusion of the ride is a nice touch....for those who missed it, you need to think about this one next year. Its a nice hilly route that will let you know how good your winter training program is......I know I've changed my winter program as a result of this ride, and it's become easier since those changes.....
Hobartlemagne
04-01-07, 06:42 AM
Wow- that ride was tough. Ive never done so many hills. The wind was quite brisk too, especially out on the highway. It was the longest ride Ive done so far. 75 miles in a very slow 6:30 (stops included). I probably saw 20 riders on the side of the road with technical problems- flats, chain issues, etc. There was a guy near the front as we started who had a blow out in probably less than one minute after starting.
All1NTao
04-02-07, 12:41 PM
Turned out to be perfect riding weather. A little cool to help keep your core temp down, light winds and light sunshine. The course was very hilly I would have to say it was harder than Muensterfest. It was a fun course with a good choice of roads that were in good shape with light traffic. This was the first 75 I had done since last fall, but I found some people to work with and came up with a good time. 75 miles in 4 hours flat with an 18.5 MPH average.
cuda2k
04-02-07, 03:21 PM
Wow- that ride was tough. Ive never done so many hills. The wind was quite brisk too, especially out on the highway. It was the longest ride Ive done so far. 75 miles in a very slow 6:30 (stops included). I probably saw 20 riders on the side of the road with technical problems- flats, chain issues, etc. There was a guy near the front as we started who had a blow out in probably less than one minute after starting.

Been there, stopped for something simular last year at Cotton Patch. My ride partner flatted on the rear less than a half mile out of the start. Watched the whole pack go by as we repaired the flat and then headed on. I knew then it was going to be a long ride, and it was.