blwells

Just wondering if anyone else is heading up to Blanco to do this ride. Sounds pretty challenging...I just read this review of it...

Sunday October 29, 2006
About 200 riders showed up on a crisp clear morning with temperatures in the low 50's at the scheduled start time of 8:30 am. (Temps later climbed to 80 by midday).
Prior to start, check in was smooth with plentiful parking as club members directed traffic to ensure an safe flow of pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles. For well hydrated registrants, spacious and clean rest rooms were available across the street at the football stadium (100 yard walk/ride over flat ground).
Distances ranged from 10-80 miles (10, 25, 45, 80). The ride web site said it all when it mentioned challenging hills. I elected to take on the 80 miler, intent on using my 'normal' approach of 'slacking' it for the first half of the ride and picking up the pace in the second, using up everything I had left to burn. The abundance of hills threw that plan out the window in short order as the first significant upwards slope occurred around 3 miles into the course. The upwards slopes were punctuated with impressive straight line downhill runs with good traffic lines of sight. These were great for turning on the speed or enjoying a low stress downhill run with the wind going through your helmet (at one point, I got up to 44 MPH and was comfortable given the layout of the stretch). Bottom line though, climbing was the order of the day for the first 50 miles of the course. Not that the climbs didn't have their payoffs. Riders were rewarded with great views of the hill country in pastoral settings with horses and cattle in high pastures alongside precious few stretches of level ground.
Being a hack, I used my small chain ring a good deal of the time (which I never use on my training rides, even on hill intervals.) The hills stayed fairly persistent until the 65 file mark (they seemed to ease off slightly between Luckenback at 52 miles and the 65-mile rest stop but they were still definitely a factor for those intent on finishing the ride). The last 15 miles were more of the rolling hill variety, which were welcome after a few hours of cranking. Motorcycle traffic was abundant in the last 30 miles of the ride -- apparently Luckenbach is a popular motorcyclist destination ; we must've looked like people from Mars at the Luckenback rest stop , circulating around a good number of folks sporting chrome on their bikes, leather on their backs, and doo-rags on their heads. Enjoyed some friendly banter on a sunny afternoon before heading out again. Rest stops were situated every 12-15 miles with the routes branching out at the first rest stop. All were equipped with sliced fruit, bananas, animal crackers, granola bars (chewey and crunchy varieties), Accelerate drink and water.
The first and second rest stops were appointed with porta-potties; the 3rd was on an isolated stretch of road without porta-potty support (didn't hear anybody complaining about it though) ; the 4th was in the midst of Luckenbach (which may have been equipped; I didn't notice) and the 5th was on an isolated stretch of road, again without porta-potty support. (By that time, who had any extra fluids to dispose of anyway!?)
All in all, one challenging ride. And I'll be back.


Anyway, here's the link:

https://www.texascycling.org/sbobt

Ironic Mullet

I'm not going to be able to ride it this year, but I did the 45 each of the last two years. I'm disappointed to miss it; I'm finally in shape to do the 80 and I've already missed one opportunity to do so (the canceled Real Ale Ride in March).

I would describe the course as outstanding and the support as adequate.

Stray Cat

I've got a wedding this weekend in Blanco, but I think my date would kill me if I left her Sunday morning. We'll see.