| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
45.62 miles
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Altitude Gain:
1,648 ft
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Avg Speed:
15.40 mph
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Route:
Post Oak
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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: Sunny 85 F S wind @ 13 MPH |
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Haven’t had much time to think about cycling much less ride in the last few weeks but got back in the saddle today. First mile wasn’t promising as my bike no longer seemed to fit and I was struggling to just get keep moving. After a couple miles the muscle memory kicked in and my body settled in and my spin returned. . Mind wasn’t fully on cycling yet and missed a turn early and ended up on the highway rather than my intended back road route. Couldn’t complain though as traffic was light and pavement felt super smooth compared with the shake and bake of the Texas Farm to Market roads. A few miles latter I was back on target and found myself riding a few scant feet from a hundred plus cattle stampede. Not sure what spooked them and it might even have been me. The sound of the tightly packed hooves from the bovine was indeed thunderous and very thrilling. I was close enough that I could feel the heat and hear the breath of the running animals. A couple of times I thought they might crash through the two strands of barbed wire that separated us as the huge charging mass could easily do without much more than drifting a little. These weren’t the waddling dairy cows of the north but open range black angus steer and they seemed very powerful and couldn’t really believe these animals could be easily panicked into running. I soon was able to work my way to the front of the herd as they had peaked at eighteen and I am still capable of exceeding that on a flat road. The leaders took note of me and turned away and headed off into the prairie with the herd in tow. In the excitement I had missed another turn and soon noticed that I was lost. My Garmin indicated that I was going opposite the direction I thought I was going. Explored a few miles then started taking small roads that appeared to head back toward town. Next adventure happened in a heavily wooded section that is uncommon for this area. I found myself being pursued by what sounded like a large pack of baying dogs paralleling me through the woods. I started my sprint anticipating vicious beasts leaping out of the woods in front and around me but they weren’t able to get by me and they never broke cover . They persisted for a while but they soon gave up the chase. The surface of my route continually deteriorated until the pavement was gone and road had become a goat trail that was nothing more than loose sand and large sharp looking rocks. Challenge now was not to dump it in the sand nor slash a tire on the rocks and have to hoof it back into town. Still found it to be a good ride and enjoyed on weaving through the peril in the hot sun. Road eventually started getting better and found myself on a familiar highway and peddled back into town and my motel on the range. Doesn’t get much better than today’s ride.
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