100 miles and 4,288 feet of elevation.

Yesterday, Sunday July 14, 2013, I proved to myself that you can ride around Austin and get a great ride without going far.  I started out early in the morning before daylight.  I rode north to the little town of Bertram 10 miles from Liberty Hill.

I then returned to Liberty Hill and ode to Leander and Cedar Park following the bike commuter route that I used when I lived in Cedar Parked and worked near down town Austin. I got to South Austin and stopped at P. Terry's and had a grass fed beef hamburger with all organic extras.

At mile 56 I decided to ride up what I consider the steepest roads in Austin, Stafford Lane and red Bud Lane.  I have not done this in a while and I have never done this route with a double.  I was riding a rented Trek Domane 4.7 and it was a nice adventure.  The seat post dampening works great.  I intentionally selected a route that took me over some good old chip seal and the bike performed beyond what I expected.

After the decent down red bud I road up the super cycle highway Loop 360.  there are some good descents and climbs on loop 360.  I can go down a hill at 45 MPH only to go up the next hill at 15 MPH or slower if it is hot outside. I tried to keep pace with a young thirty something male across the 360 Lake Austin bridge up to HWY 183.  This quick pace and after riding Red Bud really wore me out so the last 20 miles were a real effort to complete.  I had a slight headwind riding to Austin in the morning and then when I was really tried there were storm clouds and high winds going back to Liberty Hill.

I am happy to know that I did a 100 mile self supported ride in Texas.  I have a new respect for the Trek Domane 4.7.  The Bicycle Sport Shop did a perfect fitting on the bike based on my email measurements from my Serotta.  I was riding a 58 CM frame so I am glad that my next bike will not have to be a custom frame.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

1999 Serotta Rapid Tour

Image
I wanted to capture some of the information on the Internet written about my bike, a custom 1999 Serotta Rapid Tour (SRT).  I have about 10,000 miles on this bike.  This year alone I have 2,500 miles on it.  I have 1,000 miles so fare in April on this bike.  I have can only remember one major tune up done on this bike. Here is an interesting discussion that I found about my bike on the Pace Line Forum .  Here is a quote about the bike that I own and love "Rapid Tour was Serotta's version of a bike that would fit reasonably sized tires with fenders, and could carry light luggage for credit card touring. In a word, "sensible" and not just a fair weather toy for let's play racer. There's nothing "low end" about that." ~ palincss 05-01-2010 03:33 PM I think that I have upgraded my components from what was on the stock SRT.  My SRT has Shimano Ultegra derailleur and the stock SRT has a Shimano 105 derailleur.  Here a photo of a stock SRT.
Read more

Go to a whole new level

Image
Cycle Thunder II I am recovering from a near death experience that happened on March 17, 2014.  I was hit from behind on my way to work and could have died, but I did not.  I could make up all sorts of excuses of why I should never get on a bike again, but that is not who I am. Cycle Thunder I was sitting in my living room this past week in front of the TV and my wife was napping beside me.  Out of nowhere I starting sobbing and tears flowed freely from my eyes.  Was I mourning the lost of a bicycle?  I went to work for two days this week and I carried my bike in the back of my truck.  I have not had the heart to take it out since getting it from the Dougerty Police Department.  I guess I am having a hard time of letting it go. Before I had this accident I had already made up in my mind that this 1999 Serotta Rapid Tour was the last bicycle that I would ever buy.  I had already decided that I would only ride just so fast and that I would never be able to keep up with
Read more

Strava Segment Madness

Image
I did not set up the segment.  I did not want to participate in the segment.  I found myself looking at my results and wondering who was number on on the segment leader board list and then I was hooked. There are not too many hills in here in SW Georgia, but one of them is near my job.  This segment is on the final approach to the ASU campus.  The grade is a measly .7% to 1.4% (54M to 64M) over a distance of about 2 KM.  The record was held by  Edward Picolo  at 4 minutes and 3 seconds.  When I started bike commuting in September 2012 I was generally tired at this point of my commute.  When I started using Strava in January 2013 I discovered the segment and I was a bit stronger in my endurance and I was always making an effort to finish strong up this hill. Only 5 riders appear on the leader board since 2012.  I have been competing against my best efforts for a few months until yesterday when I decided that I was going to beat 4:03 on the segment. I finished at 3:48 and I was am
Read more