Big Ride of the Year - SB250
07-01-13 | 04:57 PM
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From: Harlingen, TX Warmshowers Host
Bikes: Fuji, Specialized, Surly, BMC
Big Ride of the Year - SB250
Sorry, long post.
For the second year I did the SB250 ride over a two day period in South TX to help raise money for Spina Bifida of Texas. This year the ride raised over $20,000 dollars with around 55 cyclists participating. This amount was up from $15,000 last year.
Ride Details:
McAllen, TX to San Antonio, TX - approx 245 miles. First day, 140 miles and the rest of the miles starting at dawn the next morning
Road conditions: Mainly flat with 500 elevation gain for first 100 miles, then rolling climbers for the last 140 miles. Lots and lots of chip/seal, black asphalt and heavy truck traffic. Total elevation gain of about 3,000’. Shade trees, are you kidding! This is South Texas, brush county, just mesquites and cacti.
Weather conditions: Can you say HOT. Lows in the pre-dawn hours of 82-85F with official high temps of 111-108 both days. Registered high temps on the road on day one of 121F and day two of 116F, via multiple sources. Wind, not much, which is why it was so hot. I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and I don’t think I’ve ever been this hot!
Riding Groups, supplies and SAG: At least two vehicles with trailers with each group: A (18-22+), B (16-20) and C (14-18) groups (all MPH). Our SAG vehicles never ran out of water, Gatorade or ice! I used a ton of sunscreen also. Lots of ICE and water to the body over the last 30 miles every time we stopped.
Last year I did the ride with the B group and decided to be crazy and ride with the A group this year. I was the only rider in the group over 48…I’m almost 60. Initial group size was 17….ended with 8.
Things I’m proud of:
I finished the ride again and survived the heat without any ill effects or major issues. All that training paid off, but the pace was a bit too much for me.
My first 100 miles averaged out to be 21.7 MPH. This easily stripped almost an hour off my PR. Temps during that 100 miles went from 85-102F. Don’t know if I can ever do that again.
I was able to hang with the A group until mile 185 on day two. Average up to the point was 20.3 MPH. After that I rode the rest of the ride with the B group….did not care about my average anymore…just survival at that point...get to the finish
No one was hurt during the ride and everyone had a great time....really!
End result:
Would I do it again, yes!
And the most important part:
The look of those children with big smiles on their faces, cheering, waiting at the park when we arrived in their wheelchairs or on crutches was PRICELESS
Call it bragging, but for a guy who will turn 60 in September and first got on a road bike in May 2011 I think I might have earned it. It just amazes me what we can all accomplish.
I have some PICS I can post when time permits if anyone is interested.
Onward to more rides this year.
For the second year I did the SB250 ride over a two day period in South TX to help raise money for Spina Bifida of Texas. This year the ride raised over $20,000 dollars with around 55 cyclists participating. This amount was up from $15,000 last year.
Ride Details:
McAllen, TX to San Antonio, TX - approx 245 miles. First day, 140 miles and the rest of the miles starting at dawn the next morning
Road conditions: Mainly flat with 500 elevation gain for first 100 miles, then rolling climbers for the last 140 miles. Lots and lots of chip/seal, black asphalt and heavy truck traffic. Total elevation gain of about 3,000’. Shade trees, are you kidding! This is South Texas, brush county, just mesquites and cacti.
Weather conditions: Can you say HOT. Lows in the pre-dawn hours of 82-85F with official high temps of 111-108 both days. Registered high temps on the road on day one of 121F and day two of 116F, via multiple sources. Wind, not much, which is why it was so hot. I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and I don’t think I’ve ever been this hot!
Riding Groups, supplies and SAG: At least two vehicles with trailers with each group: A (18-22+), B (16-20) and C (14-18) groups (all MPH). Our SAG vehicles never ran out of water, Gatorade or ice! I used a ton of sunscreen also. Lots of ICE and water to the body over the last 30 miles every time we stopped.
Last year I did the ride with the B group and decided to be crazy and ride with the A group this year. I was the only rider in the group over 48…I’m almost 60. Initial group size was 17….ended with 8.
Things I’m proud of:
I finished the ride again and survived the heat without any ill effects or major issues. All that training paid off, but the pace was a bit too much for me.
My first 100 miles averaged out to be 21.7 MPH. This easily stripped almost an hour off my PR. Temps during that 100 miles went from 85-102F. Don’t know if I can ever do that again.
I was able to hang with the A group until mile 185 on day two. Average up to the point was 20.3 MPH. After that I rode the rest of the ride with the B group….did not care about my average anymore…just survival at that point...get to the finish
No one was hurt during the ride and everyone had a great time....really!
End result:
Would I do it again, yes!
And the most important part:
The look of those children with big smiles on their faces, cheering, waiting at the park when we arrived in their wheelchairs or on crutches was PRICELESS
Call it bragging, but for a guy who will turn 60 in September and first got on a road bike in May 2011 I think I might have earned it. It just amazes me what we can all accomplish.
I have some PICS I can post when time permits if anyone is interested.
Onward to more rides this year.
07-02-13 | 04:51 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: SW Fl.
Bikes: 1999 DAHON Mariner, Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
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