Texas - Paluxy Pedal Anyone?

Anyone going to ride the Paluxy Pedal?
Saturday, October 13, 2007 - Glen Rose, Texas

I'll be there with my wife and two friends. I drove part of the route when in the area a month ago. And it is going to be a very nice scenic ride.

Here's the website for more info:

http://www.paluxypedal.com/

I'd like to do that ride. I'll see what's up with family and post back when I know something. That's a cool area.

Steve

I'm going.

Anybody have any experience with this monster hill they call "The Wall" on this ride? I've searched online and have only found some reviews of the ride that talk about it (everyone seems to love this ride). However, the description of this hill has reached mythical proportions! I would love to see a picture of it, though pictures usually don't do steep hills justice...

Anybody have any experience with this monster hill they call "The Wall" on this ride? I've searched online and have only found some reviews of the ride that talk about it (everyone seems to love this ride). However, the description of this hill has reached mythical proportions! I would love to see a picture of it, though pictures usually don't do steep hills justice...

It's overrated. Maybe 12% at the steepest, but it's very short.

Anybody have any experience with this monster hill they call "The Wall" on this ride? I've searched online and have only found some reviews of the ride that talk about it (everyone seems to love this ride). However, the description of this hill has reached mythical proportions! I would love to see a picture of it, though pictures usually don't do steep hills justice...

I rode this route earlier this summer, and my Garmin and Motionbased reported it as 19%, which is about the same as publicized. About 200+ ft elevation. It is a nice ride and more hilly than most rides in the area.

As long as I don't have to go out of town for work, I plan on being there.

I did a routeslip map (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/64876) which shows the elevation from the route on their website (not sure how accurate it is - I only get 56 miles). I don't know where in the ride 'the wall' is though. It's an interesting elevation - the tough stuff looks to be in the first half. That will enable me to decide whether to do 60 or add the 20-mile loop (http://www.routeslip.com/routes/64878).

That elevation profile is really cool. Is there a way to do one for the main loop to see how "The Wall" stacks up? Curious. Part of me is hoping the above description of a 12% grade is more accurate, but my legs will be on fire regardless!

To those that have done this tour before, how many people usually show up?

Wondering how long the line is going to be to check in and pick up my packet...

look a fine ride to bring the bent on. I think I'll be there.

The ride was a fun, very scenic ride. Well worth putting on your schedule next year.

Hope everyone that attended had a good ride.

While it was fun and scenic, I'm not sure it deserves all the rave reviews it got over at bicycle-stuff (http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/reviews/10_october/glen_rose_paluxy_pedal.htm). I'm new to biking this year and have kind of gotten carried away and this was my 8th organized ride. Maybe I'm just getting tired of the same-old rest stops with cookies, oranges, bananas. I didn't stop at the first stop (it was only 7 miles out), but here is rest stop #2:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/1564191617_2fe898f7ae.jpg
By the way, the cooler was empty. What she didn't mention was that just up the (really big) hill was a full rest stop with porta-potties and food. So people rested here and ate and drank their own stuff. Would have been nice to know.

And here's the wall. By the time I got there, the serious riders had long-since conquered it:
The point where I gave out:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/1565072662_205c4df7fe.jpg

A little further up looking down:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/1565071966_46fc2aecbd.jpg

From that same point looking up:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/1565071592_18c03b04fb.jpg


Not that they can do anything about this, but the chip seal in the last 10 miles was wicked and made that last big hill even harder.


I'm not saying this is a bad ride, but having lots to compare it to I'd rate it "OK". And where it falls in the year is good - you've got time to work on your conditioning for the hills and the weather is mild.

From what I understand the state started some road construction unannounced, which really screwed up a part of the planned routes. Kind of threw the organization off a bit...

I didn't stop at that rest stop so it wasn't me that ate your cookie...:D

It's kind of hard to find a ride in the area with this type of terrain - so I really liked it.

PS. Nice Pics!

I'd have to agree. I hate to be negative, but I always hate it when the announcer smugly states: oh, by the way, the last 10 freakin' miles is fresh chip seal....

Several people who started late got lost on the way out of town and lost some time. Also, they didn't have enough T-shirts in XL. The one they gave me said 2004 and their explanation was basically...too bad. I'm not a hard charger, just did the 45 miler. There were not enough men's bathroom facilities at the start of the ride. I'd give this ride a 5 out of 10, as far as organization and support.

Here's the patch:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/1573086059_b312a61dcf_o.jpg

While it was fun and scenic, I'm not sure it deserves all the rave reviews it got over at bicycle-stuff (http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/reviews/10_october/glen_rose_paluxy_pedal.htm). I'm new to biking this year and have kind of gotten carried away and this was my 8th organized ride. Maybe I'm just getting tired of the same-old rest stops with cookies, oranges, bananas. I didn't stop at the first stop (it was only 7 miles out), but here is rest stop #2:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/1564191617_2fe898f7ae.jpg
By the way, the cooler was empty. What she didn't mention was that just up the (really big) hill was a full rest stop with porta-potties and food. So people rested here and ate and drank their own stuff. Would have been nice to know.

And here's the wall. By the time I got there, the serious riders had long-since conquered it:
The point where I gave out:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/1565072662_205c4df7fe.jpg

A little further up looking down:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2377/1565071966_46fc2aecbd.jpg

From that same point looking up:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/1565071592_18c03b04fb.jpg


Not that they can do anything about this, but the chip seal in the last 10 miles was wicked and made that last big hill even harder.


I'm not saying this is a bad ride, but having lots to compare it to I'd rate it "OK". And where it falls in the year is good - you've got time to work on your conditioning for the hills and the weather is mild.

I did the 60 mile route. The pickle juice at the rest stops was a nice touch. That chipseal during the last 10 miles in addition to the wind sucked, though.