Shiner BASH/GASP

[Banzai]

I just moved to TX, and I was looking forward to the Shiner BASH while I'm here in San Antonio (only one more month...)

Only I just read that they intend to do a "retro" ride of some kind, and they're ONLY running the route from Austin to Shiner, to include return service. I'm not thrilled about that, and may not be able to do it right now.

On they're website, they proudly proclaim that they believe this will be one of the biggest Shiner rides ever, and yet they've eliminated 2 out of 3 participating starting cities! WTFO!?

Just thought I'd rant about that, and put out the FYI for anyone in San Antonio or Houston who was planning on doing this ride. Now I'll have to find something else I guess.

[Morgie]

I rode the shiner bash once and told myself I would never do it again, and I have told everyone I can since not to do that ride...

The year I did it (2003 or 04 I can't remember) the distances between checkpoint and the distance of the actual ride itself was much longer than they advertised it to be and than the maps handed out at registration said. One checkpoint was completely closed because they didn't have enough people to work it (I only found that out afterwards), so people ended up stopping in a buying up all the water from a local gas station because the riders believed there was a checkpoint soon and drank accordingly... when I adressed an event organizer about the distance discripancies and explained that it was dangerous to have people believe there would be water where there wasn't I was treating rudely..

[bluebottle1]

I rode the BASH from Houston in 2003. Put bluntly, it was awful. Boring route, lousy food at the finish, and the same distance issues mentioned by the previous poster. I haven't done it since. Frankly, there are FAR better bike rides in the area during the late spring/early summer months. I have thought it might be fun to do the ride from Austin (perhaps the route is a bit less tedious), but I'm less than inclined to go through the logistical exercise, given the poor quality of the ride administration I experienced in past.

[froggmann]

I rode the BASH in 05', same issues. I assumed that they put the same effort for this event that they do for the Bocktober Fest, they don't. The jersey is cool though.

[Banzai]

Wow...

Thanks for the info, guys. Maybe I'm not so upset about this after all. Where's a good place to find out about Texas century rides?

[Ironic Mullet]

I was hoping to do it this year to see what it was like without being rained on for the first 40 miles, but I think Cinco de Mayo parties have me otherwise occupied.

Here's a big list of rides in Texas (http://www.bicycletexas.com/tx_bike_rides.htm).

The ACA Armadillo ride (http://www.austincycling.org/2007_ahcc/) was my first century and is a pretty nice ride.

[Bluechip]

Wow...

Thanks for the info, guys. Maybe I'm not so upset about this after all. Where's a good place to find out about Texas century rides?

http://www.bicycletexas.com/

[mike9903]

I think that I am gong to get stuck doing this ride with a buddy that really wants to do it, I would rather not. I did the ride last year for my first century and it was great, I had no issues like the above mentioned issues.

If you are looking for a good local group to ride with on Saturdays and Sundays check out the SA Wheelman. Typically they have 40-50 riders show up on saturdays and they have seperate routs for all fitness levels, that is where I started and have found a few really good trianing buddys that I ride with every weekend now.

http://www.sawheelmen.com/

[Banzai]

Thanks for the websites by the way...I've been perusing those.

I was VERY disappointed to see that I had missed that Wildflower ride...

[aikigreg]

In spite of the bad press, I'm going to do this ride anyway. I always carry enough gel and accellerade to get me through aa century anyhow, so I don't see a lack of support as such a big deal. Plus, with the route being only austin to shiner, I bet they'll have everything in order.

[Ironic Mullet]

Any ride reports?

[doggerham]

This was my first Shiner Bash. Also my first century-ish mileage. Also, I live in flat flat Houston, so the hills were tough.

The route was challenging for me, but a pretty ride. The toughest part was that it was very windy. Also much of TX-95 is rough and hard on the butt and hands. I know my DH won't do the ride again if we spend that much time on TX-95. Two out of three would have been OK, but rough road, lots of hills and a constant headwind just made it not much fun for some people.

The rest stops were all very adequate. I'll admit I wasn't at them at peak times, as we were bringing up the rear, but I never saw much of a line for the potties, water or food. The best food was usually gone by the time we arrived, but it was fine. We even had one volunteer offer to run to the store for oranges if we wanted them!

The worst part was that by the time we arrived in Shiner, and we weren't the last to arrive, they were shutting down the beer and the food was gone. My friend and I managed to talk a brewery employee out of some beers using the logic of that the folks who were on the road the longest really needed the beer the most!

Also, there was no music. The lady who owns the Antiques, Art & Beer joint in Shiner says that the Bash was scaled back because there has been fighting between the catholic church and the brewery about the Bash and Bocktoberfest, and that's why the whole thing was scaled back. Scandal in a small town!

[pwherman512]

Just did this years ride last weekend. While I love the ride, and I will probably do it again, there were some problems! First was the head winds. After mile 50 they were 35mphs in our faces! Went from 18.5 mphs to 8!! Second problem was support. Last year Bicycle Sport Shop ran support. They did a great job. Saw the vans all day long. Also, they were @ every rest stop. This year Jack & Adams ran support. At least I was told they did. Never saw them on the ride, and never at a rest stop! I did see them at the end. Several people had issues and were asking for help at the rest stops- tubes, tires, etc. There were not any pumps even at the rest stops. Oh well, free beer is worth a few hours on the bike.