Tour de Cure 2014

What a difference a year makes!!
At first I thought this year was going to go the same as last year - washed out
Thankfully after a week of rain, Saturday's weather was nice

This year's Rider's Village was as it should be - filled with sponsors and riders

Text my folks to let them know I was there and ready - Mom & Dad weren't going to make it out this year as Mom was still recovering from her surgery *sad face* We came up with a plan tho - thanks to Road ID I could send a link that enabled my folks to monitor my progress along the route - gotta love technology!!

Got myself situated, MapMyRide started, playlist pulled up, link to RoadID eCrumbs sent to Mom
We were taking off from a different spot, no idea why - didn't really matter to me, I was just excited to get going

This year I was on a bike that weighed 15lbs less than last year, I also had several group rides of various lengths under my belt - my confidence was high.  The miles flew by and suddenly it was time to turn into rest stop #1  What?!  That was SO easy!  Checked in with the folks, refueled, rested, got back on the bike and headed out.

NO WAY!  I'm at the second rest stop already?!  The miles were melting away - challenges I faced on the ride last year weren't even close to an issue this year!  I was feeling very much like a rock star!!
Checked in with Mom & Dad then chatted with some nice folks while we all refueled and rested.

I was so hopeful the last leg wasn't going to be as windy as it was last year - wind sucks the fun out of stuff!  It was OK for a while, then wind *sigh*  There goes my amazing stats, thank you wind...not.  This year I knew when the "homestretch turn" was coming up so as mile 27 ticked by I wasn't all freaked out like I was last year. Mile 30 ticked by - I wasn't at the finish, what?!  Man!  How much further?!  Finally I saw the big red arch over the finish - don't think I've ever been so excited to see an inflatable in my life  LOL  I'm riding in, crowd is cheering...WAIT!  OMG!  MOM & DAD ARE HERE!! They said they weren't coming, but they came!  I was so excited I cried.  What a great way to finish a great ride!

While on today's TdC ride I set multiple personal bests (and blew last year's ride out of the water!)
GO ME!!
Ride Time - 2:35:15 (31 minutes less than last year)
Miles ridden - 31.03 (1.01 further than last year)
Average Pace (min/mi) - 5.00 (1.13 faster than last year)
Average Speed (mph) - 12.01 (2.22 faster than last year)
Highest speed maintained for a mile or longer - 15.5 mph (3.8mph faster than last year)

Park to Port

The ride day started with me and my new socks oversleeping!

Yup, woke up at the time I had planned to be arriving at the park!  Thankfully the start time was a two hour window from 7a-9a so I didn't have to race down the foggy mist covered highway to get there.

Time to check in - volunteer directed me to go straight then to the right - I did this and ended up nowhere near anything resembling a check in station!  Now I was a bit panicked, time was ticking! Went back to where I started and asked a different volunteer this time - same directions except this time I saw the right I was sposed to take the first time (sharp right, not the curve right - makes a world of difference!)

Rolling up to the check-in station the drizzling rain got a bit heavier, still not a full on rain, but wet enough!

All set, rolled out and straight up a hill! A really BIG hill!  Got to the top but it was a true struggle. The drizzling rain continued.  The ride was pretty but would have been even better with some sun.

We arrived at the rest stop (Houston Ship Channel) soaked to the bone

Bike was tired...of being wet.  She prefers dry riding conditions, that's why we get along so well - we think alike 

After a snack and some rest it was time to head back.  The rain had finally stopped but by now we were all so wet, who cared? **note to self - never never never buy white bike shorts - that sight can not been unseen and you would never want to be responsible for doing that to anyone, ever!** 

With the exception of the rain (an that guy in the wet white bike shorts) it was a very enjoyable ride, and hey who wouldn't like a ride that ends with an offering of 

bananas...

breakfast burritos...

and beer!  LOL

Time to head home (a view from the top of the hill we faced at the start of the ride and again to get back to our cars!) 

End to End and Back!

It all started when Rex woke us up at 4a because he had to go outside. I appreciate him giving us the heads up but what a pain not being able to fall back to sleep!  At 5a I finally gave up and got back out of bed. As I piddled around I started thinking about a bike ride at the park, I mean as long as I was up I may as well.  Got dressed, gathered my gear, filled my Camelbak and my two water bottles, grabbed my bike and out the door I went...before sunrise!
As I was driving to the park I started getting frustrated with all the traffic...until I realized it was Monday (teacher vacation brain has a tight grip on me!)

As I was driving to the park I finished talking myself into riding the trail end to end and back. I failed last time but I also wasn't as prepared.  Finally at the park, gear on, time to roll out.

 The fog was thick and plentiful, the sun was struggling to break through, made me wonder if I was going to be able to see more than a few feet ahead of me once on the trail.

I rode my least favorite part of the route first - my glasses fogging over, hoards of gnats flying in my face, up my nose, and in my mouth (OK maybe not hoards but there sure were a lot!) did not help me like it any better.  I arrived at the Hwy 6 end of the route in good time, now to head back.

8 miles completed - worst part over - Score!  I rested at my starting point (Sheriff's Dept on I-10). Looked at my tracking app, I was makin pretty good time!  Rested and hydrated I headed out to ride my favorite part of George Bush Park - the 7 miles between me and the other end of the route.

Action shot LOL

So calm and quiet

The heavy dew made it look like some of these plants were floating on water

I get relaxed just thinking about this part of the park (a reward for pedaling that far)

Playin with my glasses while taking a break and enjoying the quiet

Back on the trail and I saw this - does that mean it's only going to be a small construction project?

 I made it! The S.Fry end of the route! To celebrate I rode on for another 1.5 miles down Highland Knolls before turning around and heading back

Cruisin back toward the truck I notice something in the middle of the path. Whatisthatohshit! A snake! And it was alive! Right there in the middle of the path! Head up and poised for battle! YIKES! You're darn right I came to a screeching halt!  No really, my brakes actually screeched...and apparently that was enough to scare the snake. He moved with the quickness into the bushes - once his head was covered he stopped. Guess he figured since he couldn't see me I couldn't see him LOL

The rest of my ride was uneventful - no more snakes, no gators like the signs kept warning me about, just the park's yard crew and an occasional jogger or a fellow cyclist.

Last year when I attempted this particular route I fell short and had to call my husband to come pick me up and drive me and my bike back to my truck. Not one of my finer moments.  This year was much better - route completed!  While this was not my longest ride it still gets marked as a big victory.  

Summer 2013	Summer 2014
Incomplete ride	Complete ride
20 miles	25 miles
2 hrs 20 min	2 hrs 5 min
Averaged 9.3 mph   (6.5 min/mile)	Averaged 12 mph  (5 min/mile)

Neighborhood Ride

Due to last night's rain I didn't bother going to the park to ride this morning as planned cuz I knew a lot of the route I wanted to ride would be washed out
However, early morning rides on the main streets of the neighborhood do have their advantages
- you can ride at whatever speed you want and not be in anybody's way
- you have to follow traffic laws but don't have to use your bicycle manners
- you can stop and take a picture without getting that "OMG you are SO annoying" look

- you can explore new routes cuz there is always another side street to turn down
- you can get lost while exploring
- you can ride for a few miles before realizing you are more lost than you thought
- you get all excited when that last right turn puts you on a street you recognize
- you get amused by the odd wildlife you see in the suburban neighborhood

but best of all
- you don't get strange looks as you do Wii Dance dance moves to the songs on your playlist
- you can sing along to your eclectic playlist as loud as you want and nobody hears how off key you are...well maybe that one guy walking his dog did...

Tour de Cure Kick-Off Ride

We met at Memorial Bicycle World  - I was almost as excited for this ride as I am for the actual charity ride

I checked in and received my TdC Halo headband - of course I put it on right away.  Now my helmet felt different, wasn't being held up by a bandanna anymore since I had a "real" sweatband now  LOL
We rolled out and headed through Terry Hershey Park, suddenly we were all stopped - a rider had fallen off the path into a rocky area - while waiting to be sure help was on the way the rest of the 25 mile group had gone on (unaware there was an injured rider) and now they were long gone, leaving a lot of us with zero idea where to go next.  We knew we needed to go over to George Bush Park but after that...
Shortly after getting to the GBP side we ran into some of the 10 mile group, we were informed a ride marshal was at the police station (4 miles ahead).  We were off again.  We found the rest of the 10 mile group and spoke with their ride marshal who gave directions to the rest stop - I was the only one who was familiar with the area and the group nominated me the leader.  What?!  Ummm, OK.
We made it to the rest stop and none too soon - it was getting hot hot hot outside - the AC in the Katy Bicycle World store was a welcomed relief.  I sat, ate a snack, drank more water, and sucked up their AC for a good 20 minutes.
Time to head back.  As we got closer to the rides end I was feeling weaker and weaker from the heat, this had me wondering about September - if 27 miles was bothering me like this, what was 30 miles gonna do to me?  Made it back to my truck and sat in the AC for a bit before taking off - felt worlds better - and hey how wouldn't feel better when you're rockin this look?  LOL

Bikin' It Out

Ever have one of those days where life has gotten you so knotted up you don't know which way to turn?
That was my friend and I today so we decided to bike it out together.  The catch - she lives way up north in Canada and of course I'm here in Texas.
It was decided since we couldn't bike it out together in person we'd take a few pics of our rides to share with each other.

My ride went something like this...

If ever there was an intersection that needed a traffic light this is the one!  Four way stop, two lanes each, complete with turn lanes at all four stops.  I come upon this lovely bit of road shortly after exiting my subdivision and getting on Burney Rd - it's the least favorite part of my ride.

Further down Burney at Voss we find Sugar Land's surface water treatment plant dressed up to look like resort.

Turning off  Burney onto Stadium Dr, around the traffic circle, and up to the Skeeters' stadium - it's now time to enjoy the two childlike moments of my ride.  The first one - down the hill & over the bridge at top speed! Yeah, I have to ride back up the hill but it's not bad and well worth it for that downhill ride.

The second one takes place once I'm back up the hill - I get to ride like a swerving lunatic down the main parking lot and back out onto Stadium Dr.  Don't worry, I watch for traffic.

I don't normally take a real rest break but today it was too hot not to!  So at the eight mile mark I sat in the shade and watched the wildlife flit around until I had cooled off enough to continue.

Back on the road I swung by and checked on "my" turtles. Poor fellas have lost most of their sunning branches.  Thanks to all the rain we've been having almost all the branches are under water and all kinds of debris has been churned up. (this was the clean area - one lone turtle sunning himself on the middle branch)

In an effort to stay in the shade as long as possible I did something I never do - rode on the sidewalk.  Along the way this inviting scene made me want to climb the fence and take a cool refreshing dip.

During my entire ride the sky was filled with fluffy clouds and not one of them ever blocked the sun! Rude!

After my ride I came to a few conclusions

1. I need to leave the house earlier

2. I need a white helmet

3. I enjoy morning rides way more then evening rides

4. I must remember sunblock

5. Bikin' it out really does help