Tour de Cypress or Ride With the Eagles

[cuda2k]

Next weekend I plan to either head for Mt. Vernon or Mt. Pleasant for one of these two rides. Has anyone done either and recommend one over the other? Tour de Cypress is currently #1 on my list as my family used to have a home on the lake and know how beautiful it is out there this time of year.

Also, anyone else going to either of these two? The way the wind has been recently getting a small organized group may be beneficial.

[jim10040]

Yeah, I'm in for the TdCypress! I'm thinking I'm in shape to do the 45...with the stinking wind these days, I'm getting stronger than my normal (for these days) 12 mph avg speed. Yay Me!

[cuda2k]

I'm going to try to twist Hobartlemagne's arm tonight to get him in on one or the other with me. Still leaning towards TdC. Just before you cross the lake on the bridge (as opposed to the dam), there is a turn off that leads to the development where my parent's old lake home is. I remember tearing up and down those back roads.

[forensicchemist]

I'll be at one of them....I've got business out in that neck of the woods Friday, so I'm planning on just spending the night out there somewhere. Jon, let me know which ride you plan on doing, and I'll do that one too.

mark

[crdean1]

Cuda, I'm about 82.687% in on the ride of your choosing with you. Are you planning on driving out Saturday morning?

[cuda2k]

Yes, I'll be driving out Saturday morning.

[cuda2k]

Here's the long (and short) of it.

1) The rides are within like 20 miles of each other.

2) Tour de Cypress doesn't have a 60 mi route, it jumps from 45 to 80 miles. I'd like to do more than 45, but not sure if I'm up for 80 (need to go look at the elevation)

3) Ride with Eagles is slightly further (again bout 20 miles at most, I'm amazed they don't cross paths at some point), but has a Metric Century distance.

So it comes down to do I drive all the way out there for a pretty but short 45mi route near my old stomping grounds, do the 60mi route just a little further east which will likely be just as scenic, or go for a personal best distance for 80 miles.

[cuda2k]

Anyone want to do the 80 miles at Tour de Cypress at a relaxed tempo (16 avg or so)?? Looking for one or two riders to work with through the day.

[crdean1]

I am seriously thinking about that ride. What time would we have to leave, expected return, etc.

Edit: the reason I might not go is because I think I'm coming down with a sinus infection...and I can't be sick for the MS 150.

[cuda2k]

80mi route starts at 8:45am. From my zipcode, the drive is 1 hr, 50 minutes. So it would make for a very early start to get out there. I'm considering driving out the night before so I don't have the drive both ways and an 80mi ride to contend with all in one day. 80 miles at 16mph, is a 5 hr ride time, so with rest stops I'm guessing not being finished till mid afternoon. :eek:

[crdean1]

I'll pm you to discuss.

[cuda2k]

crdean, how you feeling? I'm going to drive out Friday evening and stay the night in the area.

[crdean1]

Not good, just got back from the Dr. My wife has the sinus crud too. I sent you a pm. Against my better judgement, I'm going to be out for this one.

[cuda2k]

Rest up and you'll be good for the MS150. I'm bringing the camera, so there will be photos!

[StephenH]

So how'd it go?

[forensicchemist]

Cuda2K DOES have the photos....but in a word: windy. And to add few more words....the 80 mile group started out with about 50 riders.....probably 40 were racers. The 80 miler ride was a race/ride. That left about 10 (generous estimate by the way)....of us who were there just to ride....sadly, due to riding differences, the 10 quickly split in smaller groups....that with the added bonus of wind made for a long, lonely day. I rode with afew folks and had a nice time actually, but since the halfway point brought us back to the start area, we just called it a day, grabbed some lunch and headed home. All in all, I'd do it agian, but next year I probably will do one of the other routes....they had more riders there just to ride....

mark

[cuda2k]

^ ^ what Mark said. I wasn't even estimating 50 at the start total, probably closer to 30, with 8 or so non-racers. It was a cool start and I attempted to get warmed up on the first stretch. One other rider, a lady from New Orleans, was keeping pace with me. After the first rest stop we turned into that brutal wind. I knew it was going to be a long battle into the wind. I tried to stay with the group of 5 we had collected after the first rest stop, but my left sit bone and hip area were not very happy with the slow speed putting additional weight on them. So, I picked up the pace and the same female rider and I once again were out solo trying to trade pulls into the wind. Road conditions were over all pretty good for rural Texas. I'll be contacting the ride organizer suggesting they try to find a 60 mi route, or at the very least start the 80mi ride with the southern loop around the lake first. Here's the photos:


http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0932.jpg
Serotta loaded up and ready to head east.

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0937.jpg
Small town square, and the Franklin County court house.

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0943.jpg
Serotta rigged and ready to roll

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0944.jpg
Umm... carbon frames, carbon wheels, full kit, small group, yup, these are the racers.

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0945.jpg
And here's about half of those who weren't interested in racing on the 80 mile route.

(photos on the ride next post...)[/QUOTE]

[cuda2k]

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0947.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0948.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0950.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0951.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0955.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0958.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0961.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0962.jpg

http://jonpfischer.com/thecuda/photos/upload/08RidePhotos/TourdeCypress08/tn_IMG_0964.jpg

[StephenH]

Sure looks like a good time for the flowers. I had obligations inside, or might have been out doing more- will probably head over to White Rock Lake tomorrow.

[forensicchemist]

ok....I was being generous with the head count....30 is probably a better number. But it was still fun. Nice pics Jon!

[chacomax]

i just joined the forum, and look forward to some good threads. I got frustrated when I started reading this, as it meant I had missed the Tour de Cypress yesterday, and I would have loved to do that ride; but then I realized ya'll are up in the Dallas area.

"Our" T d Cypress down here in Houston was back on April 7. I missed that too, but did a good club training ride anyway, as I worked on getting ready for the Houston to Austin MS weekend.

Jim