Lon's Route Description
We continue across the flat Texas Panhandle. In the afternoon we drop off the Caprock and begin to roll along the frontage road of Oklahoma's Route 66. The old remaining cement slabs offer a glimpse of highway travel 60 years ago.
McDonalds Locator
Weather
Hereford Forecast
Elk City Forecast
We continue across the flat Texas Panhandle. In the afternoon we drop off the Caprock and begin to roll along the frontage road of Oklahoma's Route 66. The old remaining cement slabs offer a glimpse of highway travel 60 years ago.
McDonalds Locator
Weather
Hereford Forecast
Elk City Forecast
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Elite Tour
PA Randonneurs
PAC Tour
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Tom Rosenbauer
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Elite Tour
PA Randonneurs
PAC Tour
Contact
Tom Rosenbauer
Ride Recap
Another huge paceline day -- this time, I found one I could live with reasonably comfortably. I say reasonably comfortable, since it takes a lot of concentration to stay safe with so many riders around you. As I often point out to the riders that come out on the brevet events I organize, one of the most dangerous things you might encounter just might be another cyclist. While it's nice to get swept along in the paceline and just expend effort for a short time as you take your turn at the front, there is always the chance of somebody getting too close and crossing wheels. And that's exactly what happened to the 2 riders right in front of me, just as we were nearing the lunch stop: the rider in front of me got his front wheel crossed on the rear wheel he was following. This almost always leads to a crash -- but this time, the rider managed to stay upright. Good thing too, since the riders behind them usually end up as innocent victims in a big pile-up. So while my average speed today got a huge boost from the paceline, I decided to avoid this risk by riding by myself after the lunch. As luck would have it, I met up with Phil Holcomb again towards the end of the day. Phil never pacelines, since he is training for RAAM which does not allow drafting. Again, we shared the final miles enjoying each other's company which was a nice way to end a day generally spent upon rotten roads. One big concern at the end of today is the dead feeling in my legs. As you can see from the profile, we had no major climbs, just some rollers that trended down. But yet, it seemed very difficult to get the bike down the road. It seems I'm not getting enough recovery between days -- and we have a big 200+ mile day lined up for tomorrow. I hope that a massage tonight will help with enough recovery to get through it.
Another huge paceline day -- this time, I found one I could live with reasonably comfortably. I say reasonably comfortable, since it takes a lot of concentration to stay safe with so many riders around you. As I often point out to the riders that come out on the brevet events I organize, one of the most dangerous things you might encounter just might be another cyclist. While it's nice to get swept along in the paceline and just expend effort for a short time as you take your turn at the front, there is always the chance of somebody getting too close and crossing wheels. And that's exactly what happened to the 2 riders right in front of me, just as we were nearing the lunch stop: the rider in front of me got his front wheel crossed on the rear wheel he was following. This almost always leads to a crash -- but this time, the rider managed to stay upright. Good thing too, since the riders behind them usually end up as innocent victims in a big pile-up. So while my average speed today got a huge boost from the paceline, I decided to avoid this risk by riding by myself after the lunch. As luck would have it, I met up with Phil Holcomb again towards the end of the day. Phil never pacelines, since he is training for RAAM which does not allow drafting. Again, we shared the final miles enjoying each other's company which was a nice way to end a day generally spent upon rotten roads. One big concern at the end of today is the dead feeling in my legs. As you can see from the profile, we had no major climbs, just some rollers that trended down. But yet, it seemed very difficult to get the bike down the road. It seems I'm not getting enough recovery between days -- and we have a big 200+ mile day lined up for tomorrow. I hope that a massage tonight will help with enough recovery to get through it.
E Travine (right) and Sandiway Fong (left) at a morning SAG stop.
Below is the view off to the right.
Below is the view off to the right.
We rode on parts of old Route 66 today. Here's the original "U Drop Inn" that's now been converted into a visitors center.
More Route 66 kitsch: "No Place Like Texola"
Above, Old Route 66 -- also known as the Mother Road. Much of it has been surplanted by Interstate 40. Along this stretch of Old Route 66, there is an Older Route 66 alignment on the left in pictures above and right. While it was interesting to see this piece of Americana up close, it was a rotten road to ride upon -- very rough with chipseal
