msd3075

I was out there yesterday. I was in a tie-dyed St. Arnold jersey with grey long-sleeves under it. Had my speakers mounted on the bike with music playing the entire ride.

We left toward the end of the 60-mile start but only ended up doing 40 miles. It started to rain on us at the elementary school rest stop, so we said screw it and headed back toward the finish instead.

There were quite a few crashes, especially on the last 10-15 miles for us. I'm sure a lot of it had to do not just with the roads being wet but that the painted lines on the road get extremely slippery when wet. I'm sure people were changing direction on them and their bike went out from underneath them. I almost lost it a couple mile from the start because of exactly that. Going down one of the underpasses on Allen Parkway, I tried to move left around slower traffic and my rear wheel almost slid out from underneath me. Luckily I caught it, but it could have been nasty if I hadn't (I was going 25+mph at that spot).

We did notice a ton of flats, many more than typical rides and way more than what I remember from the MS150. I'm sure the cold weather (i.e. lower pressures) coupled with the crappy roads caused quite a few pinch flats.

One thing we did notice too was that the faster riders seems a lot more aggressive that other rides I'm used to. The vast majority of riders would just silently come up closely on your left without any notice and then just cut right back in front of you. Maybe we just were around a bunch of dumbfarts, I don't know. It just wasn't anywhere near as orderly as I'm used to.

Also, there were parts of the course that weren't marked all that well. We ended up going around the roundabout on Washington at least 3 or 4 times before we figured out where to turn off. I even joked to by buddy, "Hey Rusty and Audrey, there's Big Ben!" We even ended up riding the wrong way through the finish line because there wasn't anything stopping us from turning down Smith. I understand we have a map with directions, so part of it is our own fault.

txags92

Seems like there are always more flats on rides when it is raining. The explanation I have always heard is that the rain floats all the detritus over to the side of the road where we end up riding and piles it up a little. The last two weekends I have ridden in the rain and got flats from small thorns or slivers of gravel both rides.

txags92

We will be doing the 62 mile route on the Head for the Hills ride up in Chappell Hill next weekend. Good luck to those doing the Bluebonnet Express as well.

bkj

I'll be at Chappell Hill for the 62 on my YETI cross bike with fenders and new tires. I had a sidewall blowout at the Smithville ride (another rainy ride). That wasn't fun! I don't know if I ran over something or if it was just time. I got through the ride with the dollar bill trick.

aaronreyna

Yeah I agree with MSD3075, there were tons of flats. On the way back on the 60 mile route I wasn't comfortable doing anything over 18/19 mph because I could feel my tires slipping. LOLS We were riding with a guy who said turn abouts were stupid and should only be in Europe.

We took a wrong turn on Post Oak and headed back to that rest stop instead of going down to 610 and heading north to Memorial. Not marked very well.

I don't consider myself a fast rider, but we passed quit a few other riders. But the guys I was riding with, we were getting passed by some real jerks... Doing exactly what was mentioned. Well I guess that is just part of it. Don't know what we can do to change that.

the sci guy 

Yeah I also noticed there were a lot of hardcore roadies speeding by me. Most of them usually ended up veering into the other lane in front of cars. And most of them never announce, which has always been a pet peeve of mine.

I agree about the poor markings toward the end. Luckily I was following a group when we reached Post Oak, because I stayed with them and cross the street left, instead of turning right like a lot did. But the cop told us which way to go. Then at the very end near the finish line there was no arrow telling us to go left.

The rest was pretty good though.

Bluebonnet Express has some hills, too. Anyone else going? I'm going alone :sadface

rpecot

I am definitely not a hardcore roadie, but there sure were a ton of slower riders taking up a lot of the road. It was very frustrating to see (on more than one occasion) two riders (and sometimes only one) riding on the left, effectively taking up the entire lane of traffic. Now, later on in the day with all the rain, I can understand, with puddles forming along the roadway, etc. But early on, it was a free for all. Riders everywhere.

And yes, a ton of flats early on. Weird.

I saw one guy go down right in front of me. Got his front wheel caught in a rut between concrete segments. He recovered on the front, but then his rear wheel slid out and he flopped down on the road. He was ok. Ugly looking fall though.

msd3075

We noticed this too, especially early in the ride.

That being said, with this being a charity ride meant for all levels, I'd be much more lenient on the slower riders that don't know any better than on the hardcore roadies that don't call out when they are passing you inches from your side. They should know better.

rpecot

Absolutely. Safety applies to everyone.

txags92

I agree. While it is uncumbent upon all riders not to make ourselves into obstacles on the road any more than necessary, it is always the responsibility of the rider (or vehicle) overtaking a slower rider to make the pass safely.

the sci guy 

Alright last call for the Bluebonnet Express tomorrow morning. Looks like it might be wet and cold again. (That makes 3 weekend rides in a row like that). Grrr.

If anyone is going, I'll be the guy in a black and green jersey, with a green surly cross-check with orange bar tape.

the sci guy 

I cannot convey how absolutely brutal the ride was today. The wind was relentless. Like, Jason Voorhees relentless. It was a strong 20+ mph wind out of the NNW and NNE with gusts up to 30+, that did not let up for a single second. The GPS says I rode 55 miles, it felt more like 100. Lots of people ended up bailing on the longer rides, but I stuck it out. But, on the plus side, it didn't rain.

big_heineken

The wind was brutal. When we turned the corner into the wind, I joined up with a group of older women, and we took turns pulling at about 12 mph. Of course my turns pulling were about 10 minutes, and theirs were about 2. I was going to do the 55 mile route, but I changed my mind and only did 45.

txags92

Hearing that makes me really glad I rode saturday up in Chappell Hill instead. Weather was great, wind was light, and the sun even came out for us around noon. We ended up doing the 63 mile route, and it was a really pleasant ride.

the sci guy 

yeah after rest area 1 i struggled on my own for a while, then picked up a pace line of about 10-12 people and we rocked at about 12mph all the way to the 2nd rest area. i did the 55 mile route. the whole part after the 2nd rest stop was just terrible since there were only a few of us sticking it out there were no riders to make a paceline. there were only a handful of people at the final rest stop.

George

Anytime it's wet you'll get more flats, because of the soft rubber of the tires. That's why the tires don't have treads, they use the coarseness of the road for traction. When the roads are wet your tires will pickup everything on the road. Even the real small pebble's, will work there way through the tire an give you a flat. That's why I try not to ride in the rain. If I get caught out in it that's another story, but if there a good chance of rain I'll take a day off. Ride safe and have fun.

the sci guy 

so what you're saying is tires with treads are the way to go

Hairy Hands

No Disrespect intended here but, I 100% disagree with this statement above. If this was the case cyclists in Seattle and Portland where it rains constantly would have a much higher rate of flats, and they Don't!!! Treads on bicycle tires are useless for displacing water or stopping hydroplaning, it's strictly a marketing gimmick. Uninformed cyclists think since their car tires have treads then their bike tires need them too, therefore bicycle tire manufacturers make them with treads to sell more. Several articles have been written and testing that shows treads are not useful on a bicycle.

I ride between 12 to 15k miles per year and my incidents of flats is no different rain or shine. I do events all over the country and some outside this country and never once has anyone mentioned that they get more flats when it's raining.

txags92

It is commonly accepted dogma around here and it has been my personal experience as well, that after heavier rains, I get more flats. Light rain or drizzle doesn't seem to make much difference (perhaps why it isn't an issue in Seattle/Portland?), but my theory has always been that on chip-seal roads, heavier rain tends to wash all the grit and fine particles off the road surface and onto the shoulder where we end up riding. Nearly every flat I have gotten during or just after rainy conditions has been from a small sliver of gravel embedded in the tire.

George

+1 when it rains I don't ride, but if I do ride 90% of the times I'll get a flat. I know about the treaded tires as well, but you don't see many road bikes with treaded tires.

big_heineken

Anyone riding the Gran Fondo on Sunday? The weather looks perfect, it should be a good ride.

the sci guy 

I wanted to but sister-in-law is in town this weekend.

going to do the katy ram challenge next weekend though i think.

Hairy Hands

Thanks for reminding me of this ride. I completely forgot about it. The ride start is 10 minutes from my house. I just registered for the 100 mile route. By the way, seeing your avitar are you a UT graduate? Although this dates me a bit I graduated in 84

big_heineken

Yes, I am. I graduated in 2006 with a BSME. I'm planning on riding the 74 mile route.

Hairy Hands

Nice to see a fellow UT guy around here. Every where I go I seem to be surrounded by Aggies, kids school, parties, bike rides, church, etc. Guess that's a downside to living so close to Aggieland. See u on Sunday