I'm getting back into riding and plan to ride in a couple of big rides around Dallas this spring and summer. I was looking at the Tour de Goatneck....a 100K ride that I did about 15-16 years ago. I ran across this comment by someone on a review page of the ride.

" With respect to the prior comment about the 40 mile rest stop closing at 11:30 almost 4 hours into ride, that individual has no business riding that distance if he cant get 40 miles in nearly 4 hours."

I had that same experience when I rode that particular ride long ago. Closed rest stops after the first couple. My finish found me in an empty parking lot. My bike is a big box sporting goods store Iron Horse hybrid/city bike. My average pace, if I recall correctly, was 9-10 mph on the rural, hilly course.

Could I have pushed myself harder and finished a little faster. Yes. But why? I had plenty of water and lunch in a cooler strapped to my rear rack, but I would have liked some camaraderie. Perhaps organized rides should consider posting a schedule of closing times for the rest stops/finish area to allow leisure riders to see what they are up against.

I can understand that volunteers are awesome people that have other plans for the weekend. But at best I ride about a 13 mph pace on my bike for a ride of an hour or so in length. Do I really have "no business riding that distance" of 100K at something billed as a bike ride, not a bike race? I can't see driving somewhere to ride only in the shortest rides offered at the event.

Brian