Hill Country Century Challenge

[Ironic Mullet]

Saturday 9/15 in Burnet (http://www.bikehccc.org/)

I just signed up today as this is my last chance to log meaningful miles before my upcoming tour. I managed to meet up with a couple of folks from the board last month in Copperas Cove, so I thought I'd see who was heading out to this one.

[Ironic Mullet]

Bump.

[phazer08]

I'll be there with a friend but not sure how far we'll ride. I've ridden once since HHH so I'm going to play it by rear.

[phazer08]

So...what did you think, Mullet?

[Ironic Mullet]

I had a really good time. Much easier than the ACA century I did in the same area last year (earlier start, cooler weather, slightly flatter). Rest stops were well spaced and very friendly.

I wish I hadn't forgotten my jersey at the house though, because I think I would have been able to ride with more groups if I hadn't started 10-15 minutes late.

[phazer08]

If you started late, you probably saw me and my friend at about 1.5 miles out trying to figure out why my chain kept screwing up when I shifted on the big ring. Got it fixed, but I only did 24. He was going for 64 but blew a sidewall out of a tire on one of the cattle guards after about 34. I give them high marks for SAG, lunch, friendliness, scenery. He would add low marks for all the cattle guards.

[Ironic Mullet]

I did see a group pulled off to the side just out of the start. Glad you got it fixed, at least.

There was someone ahead of me that appeared to have gone down hard at a cattle guard - never got the full story, as he was being tended to by the time I got there. They're definitely a challenge.

[aikigreg]

I love the hill country but hate cattleguards. They are just too slippery!

[uncaboos]

I love the hill country but hate cattleguards. They are just too slippery!


I couldn't agree with you more, and the 2"-4" gaps in the center tubes on some of the crossings was a little disconcerting also. I had a sidewall failure on the rear tire just after the turn toward the 64 mile loop (less than 100 yards past the 7th or 8th cattle guard crossing), and was not real happy. The ride would be more appropriately named "Cattle Guard Challenge" or "Tour d'Cattle Guard". But like Phazer mentioned, everything else about the ride was very nice. (But the quantity of cattle guards really did suck).