| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
54.61 miles
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Altitude Gain:
2,047 ft
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Avg Speed:
15.95 mph
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Route:
South of Paris
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Rolling
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Bright sunshine 70 F SSW wind at 16MPH |
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The sunny 70+ temperatures convinced me to leave work early and get a ride in. Picked some roads off the map - plotted a course and set off to the south of Paris. It soon became evident that the route I had selected was less than optimal, as the roads had recently been oiled and stoned. Over the course of a few miles I experienced four punctures of the front tire. I rarely get flats as I am running tubeless tires, but I was getting a coating of Stan's sealant on my bike and face as the sealant tends to fountain for a few rotations until the hole seals. I wasn't sure how many times the tire would continue to seal nor how much pressure I was losing with each event. I decided I might be better off leaving the course and doing a little exploring. I reasoned that if I became lost I would seek help as I have been conditioned to do by watching television. Being in a rural area of Texas I began to look for dilapidated farmhouses with lawn furniture made from human bones. Having a beat up 50's vintage van truck with "IEATU" plates would be a plus. After pushing a stiff headwind for several miles, I turned out of the wind onto a smooth road without yet sighting any houses that even came close to what I was seeking. As I neared a small settlement, I heard and felt a tremendous clatter and was amazed.It seems that a local garage band was playing a very good and extremely loud instumental cover of Black Sabbath's Paranoid actually in thier garage. I turned around and rode back and forth up the road to take in more of the experience. The chance encounter is just one of the many reasons I love Texas. Would have loved to stop and soak in some more of the culture but still had to find my way back to Paris. Another hour of fine riding had me back in Paris taking some pictures of the Eiffel tower.
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