The Wheelmen route today is the Bullis Park ride. I have yet to do this popular ride and have heard from a lot of people that it's one of their favorites (although Pete isn't fond of it) so I'm curious to try it. After the popularity of last week's stay together ride, J.D. decided to offer a stay together option for this ride also. Perfect!
We show up, sign in and I highlight my map for the 21 mile option. I assumed the stay together would be the shortest distance. Erica is there so we chat a bit and catch up. Becky, from the Thursday ride came up and said hello and confirmed we'd be doing the 21 mile route for our stay together. Keep in mind, my legs are still aching from yesterday's ride. A slow and steady short ride is about all I think I can do.
The ride leader gives the briefing and starts the ride based on distance rather than speed. This is the old way of starting the Wheelmen rides and I'm a bit confused. Sometimes I'm a bit more of a follower than a leader. J. D. rolls in and says "Stay together 34 mile route, follow me." So Pete and I begin to roll out. Becky says "Alison, you're doing 21 right?" I say, "Apparently not, no one rides slower than me though. You can do it. Come on."
I hear some confusion behind me, but I don't want to fall behind this early, so I keep rolling. Becky and group did not feel ready to try a 34 mile route. Erica stayed back and took the group on a 14 mile loop option.
As we hit the road, there are eight riders in front of us in two colums. J.D. and I are riding side-by-side and we're keeping up with the men in front of us. I look down and we're doing 16 mph and I'm keeping up with them. This is exciting (yes, it's a downhill, but don't tell that part). There is some debris on the shoulder and it's cool to watch the group point it out for everyone to see. This is my first time riding as part of a pack and I'm really enjoying it. J.D. coaches me as we approach a bend in the road that hides a short uphill and talks me through the shifting. It's nice riding with a personal coach and I'm lucky enough to have two!
Then we turn onto the next road and I slow down and see the other riders pulling ahead. Finally I turn to Pete, "why did I slow down so much as we got on this road?" He points out that it's a bit of a long, slow hill. Darn these hills and slowing me down! About then three riders pass us. I look and one of them is a kid, probably about nine or ten. Good grief! Now I'm getting smoked on the hills by a kid. Oh well, he has a road bike, he's a lot lighter than I, and he's probably been training longer too.
We get to the first meet-up point and J.D. and John are waiting for us. We talk through the rest of the route, and I'm not thrilled around the discussion of the big hill right after the next meet-up point. Apparently it's one you just have to motor up and you have no momentum to get you started. As we pedal on, I start to think through my options and my physical ability to motor up that kind of a hill today. We seem to be doing a non-stop slow and constant climb today and I'm getting worn out! I tell Pete I need another break, so we pause in some shade. I keep thinking we should get a downhill reward, but I don't know when or where! He talks me through the next few turns of the route and then gives me the option to cut the ride short and only do the 21 mile route. I truly think this is the smart option today.
J.D. and John waited for us at the next major turn. They had a much better pace than I did today and we tell them to go on and not worry about us, plus we think we're going to cut it short. Our route turns onto highway 46 at the bottom of a downhill. Sadly, that means you don't really get to enjoy the downhill and you have to watch as you come down and make it a tight right turn so you don't turn into a traffic lane, or cause an accident with a car that doesn't know what you're doing. There is little to no shoulder on this highway and there is a guardrail part of the way truly keeping our travel path narrow. Pete rides wide behind me to keep the cars a bit further from me so I don't get spooked by a car.
We turn onto Bulverde Road (or Bulvedeer as Mom calls it) and I'm beginning to enjoy the ride. It's flat and there are some nice yards and green scenery to enjoy. We've been passed by bikes and come across bikes going the other way almost all morning. The "morning!" and smiles and waves has been non-stop it seems. We pause for another break in the shade and some Gu and a couple cyclists pedal by and confirm we're okay as they pass. I tell you, it's a community. Everyone looks out for one another. It's the coolest thing.
We turn off Bulverde Road way too early, it seems to me and now we're on the dreaded Amman Road. I should mention this road is kind of fun to drive. You get to drive 50 mph and a couple of the hills feel like you're on a roller coaster as you leave your stomach at the top of the drop. That means it's a lot of rolling hills. Unfortunately, for a novice, exahusted cyclist like me, it's one giant uphill that just won't stop. I make it though and finally get to enjoy a bit of a downhill ride on the road that slowed me down earlier this morning.
As I enjoy this part of the trip, I know that I have to save some energy for the last bit of the ride. There is a bit of a climb to get back to the parking lot. Pete tells me to just maintain my cadence and I'll make it. Sure enough, it is a bit of a long hill, but watching my cadence, smarter shifting, and remembering to pull up on my pedals not just push them down, I make it. I maintain my cadence to catch my breath and make my way back to the parking lot.
We roll in and Erica is there waiting for us. We gab for a bit in the parking lot and then invite her over for lunch. I quickly call Mom to say there will be another mouth for lunch and let her know we finished a bit earlier than expected. Funny how that happens when you do a shorter route and the route is much closer to home.
I'd like to try this route again when I'm not so sore, tired, and exhausted from hills. But, it is close to work, so it's an easy evening ride.
Goals
Today's Miles: 21
Total Miles Achieved: 350.1
Financial Investment: $972.39
Total Weight Loss: -0.2
Support My Trek to Find a Cause, Treatment and Cure for MS
If you've been following my training progress, you know that I'm not just doing this for me. I'm training this hard and riding in the Bike MS to support the research efforts to find the cause, a treatment, and ultimately a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.
Please support me and this cause by making a donation. No matter how small, every little bit will help. If your employer matches, I'd be happy to take care of the matching paperwork for you too.
You can donate online or mail a check to:
Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I can't wait to share the success of this year's ride!
Please support me and this cause by making a donation. No matter how small, every little bit will help. If your employer matches, I'd be happy to take care of the matching paperwork for you too.
You can donate online or mail a check to:
Bike MS: Valero Bike to the BeachTo ensure proper credit to my fundraising, please be sure to print my name on your check.
National MS Society
P.O. Box 4125
Houston, TX 77210
Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I can't wait to share the success of this year's ride!
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