Ride Report: Waco Wild West Century Ride

“Yup! Today was the day for the big ride event here in Waco. Participants could chose to ride 10, 25, 50 62, 100 miles around the Texas countryside.

The highpoint of the ride was the 100 mile route went by the Bush ranch out in Crawford.

I recently rode 10 miles on the road and about an hour in spinning class, so I felt the 25 mile-er was a do-able challenge.

The temps were 60 degrees at race time, 8:15AM, sky clear and bright blue and NO WIND.

I lined up at the start with thousands of other riders all decked out in their fancy Jerseys, toe clip shoes and expenseive road bikes.

Me, I had my TREK hybrid, nylon shorts, sneaks and my double gel seat.

The signal for the start sounded and off I went, crusing over the susepension bridge that is a historical landmark in Waco.

The first few miles were relatively flat and car free as the police had stopped traffic for the riders. It seemed in no time flat I reached the first rest area - about 40 minutes - where I stopped with my 20 year old riding partner, a Georgia Tech Co-op student, Janet. We drank, hit the rest room and were soon on our way.

Shortly after the rest stop we hit a split and a decision had to be made, if we went left we would stay on the 25 mile route and end up back at the start. If we went straight we would be on the 50 mile route that would take us past the M&M/MARS candy factory where candy and M&M Cookie Ice Cream sandwiches awaited.

Would logic and sensibility triumph over candy and ice cream?

No way Jose!! So off we pedaled on the 50 mile route.

'Bout now we started to hit some rolling hils and they started to take their toll on some of the early "sprinters" at the start line. Several miles later we reached Lake Waco and a "nice" headwind caught us coming around the west side.

By now we had passed the 20 mile rest stop and were headed towards Highway 84 and the infamous "Oh, SH!T" hill, (Yes Barb and Joce, we have them in Texas, too!)

Janet had stopped at the 20 mile stop for a drink and I was now trucking along on my own in about 13th gear as I had thru most of the flats. I hit the first hill with the wind blowing in my face, short and steep and had to dig down to 7th gear to make it up. My heart was racing as I crested the hill only to see another, steeper hill ahead of me. "OH, SH!T!!" I said and began to shift up on the downhill to build speed for the climb.

I hit the hill in 19th gear and soon began an agonizing countdown thru gears 18 to 3. Finally winded and with a bad calf cramp, I decided to walk the last part of the hill. It felt good to get off and use a differnt set of muscles for awhile.

At the top, I was amazed to see yet ANOTHER FRIGGIN' HILL!! Now, I know why people talked rather reverently when referring to this particular stretch of the ride.

Once again, I got my money's worth and started downshifting thru all the gears. Then suddenly, I caught sight of the big, red HEB sign (grocery store) at the top of the hill. Realizing I was in the home stretch, like a horse running for the barn, I dug down and cruised over the hill in 5th gear. I hit the top flying and could already smell and taste those luchious icecream sandwiches and Snicker's Bars.

A few more miles, gentle hills and I pulled into the parking lot of M&M/MARS where I was warmly greeted by my fellow Associates at the tables loaded with bananas, sliced oranges, candy, candy, Quik Kick and ICE CREAM!!! It was definately a Kodak moment when Janet came in a few minutes later. One of my friends took digitals of the two of us to permanently etch the moment in history.

I thought about riding to my house from there, but it was another 10 miles and my legs were like (green) jello at this point. So instead, I called my daughter to come get me and run me back downtown to get my car.

My daughter and 2 sons showed up, ate icecream and candy and off we were! Of course, after all those erotic icecream dreams while riding, the thought of eating one about made me puke! I settled for more hydration and waited for the lightheadedness to pass.. Guess I wasn't as well hydrated as I thought I was!

All in all, I was extremely proud of how well I performed for my first ride and suddenly realized how similar riding and backpacking could be.

In both, it's important to pace yourself and ride your own ride (hike your own hike). I passed lots of people who went off like a shot and then faded. Also, I saw lots of fancy gear and gagets, but in the end it was my own muscles and stamina that made the grade, not a shiny jersey or fancy racing bike. Also, it sure helps if you know how to use your gear BEFORE you use it on the trail or ride!!

Gear report:
Bike: Trek MultiTrak 730 - Hybrid Bike
Shoes: Spalding Sneaks from Target
Shirt: Long sleeve coolmax shirt from REI
Shorts: Nylon walking shorts from K-mart
Hydration System - Eddie Bauer Platypus from Target with Camelback bite valve (Thanks again, SKI!!)
Food: Lemon Zest Luna Bars (Alright, Joyce!!)
Undergarments: Sports bra by Brookes and undies by *Hanes*
Seat - Double Gel cover by Bell
Gloves - Crotcheted style by Trek (better than leather coz you can wipe your nose while riding)

If you've read this entire report, hope you found this interesting and thanks for reading!!

Tex”

“Soon as I I saw the thread name I new it had to be you. Wassuupppp sis?”

“Way cool!!! Way to go girl!”

“Sis. biking is the only way that I prepare for hiking in the mountains. It builds stamina and endurance. When we went to the whites, I was'nt the fastest one out of the gate but I didn't have to stop as much to rest.”

“I hear ya bro, as Joyce and Barb will attest from the Spring WWW hike..I may not be fast, but I don't stop that often..especially on hills. I may slow down to a pounding plod, but I hate to stop. I'm afraid I will never get started again!”

“Do you use one of those sissy helmets? I never have. I figure if I get tagged by a car I'm messed up any way. Not much a funny lookin' hat is gonna do to protect me.

Congrats on your ride!

Pete ain't kiddin about his stamina & endurance in the Whites. He kicked my ass. Makes me wanna knock all the spiders & webs off my bike and go for a ride.”

“Way to go, Tex!!

Next stop: RAGBRAI (the Des Moines Register's Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Held late each July it travels a different route across Iowa each year. Not a race, it's a party on wheels! Thousands and thousands ride in this, the "granddaddy" of all state rides.

Here's a page on it. However, I see it is currently a salute to NY firefighters who rode in RAGBRAI each year. Very sad.

RAGBRAI page/salue to NYC firefighters

As for you, Tex, greaaaaaaaat job!! I think you should hit RAGBRAI!!”

“Great report, TX, great job! Are you hooked now? I call the terry pad on my gloves the "sweat, spit, snot pad" a multi purpose necessity that only a biker understands, lol.

Dude, to wear a helmet or not is controversial, but I always wear one. I did an endo a couple of years ago (no car involved, just nasty 'ole railroad tracks and slick rain) and my head - or I should say my helmet - hit the tar first. I walked away, tried to ride my bike away but it was a twisted mess. The helmet cracked, but based on the rest of my scrapes, road rash and the distance my butt skidded on the tar, I don't think I'd be here today if my head had been bare.

Also was handy the first time I forgot to clip out at a stop sign, lol.”

“Dude, I pretty much always wear a helmet, too. An endo on frozen asphalt -- going around 25 MPH and hitting a pothole (I shouldn't gawk around so much!! LOL) -- saw me take a three-point landing on left knee, end of right collar bone (was OK though) and right temple of my head. Helmet had a crack. BUT.....head was OK. (Back slightly screwed up. The big disk midway down my spine sometimes aches and bothers me.)

LOL, Twig, on the attempted clip-out. I still haven't braved clip-in pedals!”

“One thing I learned from the endo, other than how important my helmet is, is that falling off my bike is not as bad as I expected. I did relay the incident to my sisters to make sure their kids wear helmets while riding AND to please not tell my mother.

lizs, as far as the clipless pedals go, I'd had them for a year or so before I forgot to clip out. When I got 'em, the guys at the bike shop told me it happens to everyone and it did - I rolled up to a stop sign and just flopped over - didn't attempt to clip out, didn't put my hand down to stop the fall (thankfully), and almost gave a woman in a car a heart attack. Red-faced and assuring her that I was ok, I picked my fool self up and finished my ride.

In the beginning while practicing on my trainer, I found that I clipped out with my right foot first when I normally step down with my left foot first. Cute if I'd tried that on the road! Definately worth it though - there are issues but ya don't even have to think about your feet - well, except when ya stop!”

“Good going, TX.

Walkindude, I always wear a helmet whether mountain biking on single track, riding on greenways or riding on the road. It's just too easy to hit a slippery root, gravel or anything and lose it. I've done plenty of endos on the singletrack and I'm glad to be wearing a brain bucket every time. I even use a helmet to ski with.

Twigeater, everyone goes through some trials will using clipless pedals. I love mine. They're great for pulling on the upstroke. Only once have I really wished I weren't clipped in...I was fooling around waiting for some slower riders in the group and pulling wheelies. A little too hard on one pedal stroke sent me up and over onto my back, my feet still attached to the bike. Ouch! Glad I was wearing a helmet, too.”

“I love to sing the RAWHIDE song. Thanks Buddur!!”

“Twig - I hear you on the helmet! In this particular ride helmets are required or you can't ride and no head phones.

I had a teacher in high school that biked everywhere and he had a bad accident on his bike..I think it involved a meeting with a car? Sir Pete, help me out here? Anyway, he did not have a helmet on and he got a nasty head injury..it took years for him to learn to walk and feed himself, but he was never right after that due to the brain damage. He never could go back to teaching History. I remember when his son who was in my class was talking about whether to take him off life support..what a rough time that family had...

I always wear a helemt, as do my boys and I really think wearing headphones while riding is quite silly and dangerous. I did see one guy attempt it on this ride (the headphones) and he was politely asked to put them away or not participate. Who knows what he did when he rounded the next corner though, eh?

Have not braved strapless pedals yet..more techie gear and then I couldn't make fun of the other riders as well then, could I? *smile*

Ski - I applaud you wearing a helmet when skiing, that takes guts, because I am sure you are in the VAST minority even though there were all those celebrity deaths that one year...

Thanks for all the support..Liz, that ride sounds like it'd be fun? When are we going? LOL

Tex”

“You done good girl--I enjoyed reading it.”

“Heheheee.......... skiracer said "upstroke"......... hehehee”

“That's must have been a sight skiracer, taking a flip and your feet still attached to your bike...ouch!
The bike shop guy told me clipless pedals would be love and it is, I've only had that one incident in the 3 years I've had 'em.

TX, make fun of 'em while you can - before you join their ranks, lol!”

“great report, Tex! I enjoyed reading it. Congrats on your accomplishment! you da wo-man!
:o)”