After last weekend’s reality check, I figured I’d be better off riding with the B riders in our club. Just a reminder — we consider A’s to be able to ride decent distances at a fast pace. B’s are slower, and don’t go as far. I know many other clubs break down riders into more classifications than we do.
Anyhow, since our B’s haven’t been very active lately, I guessed that if we were going to have a B ride, I would have to organize it. But whadya know, another guy beat me to it.
The A’s had an ambitious and difficult route planned for today. The B organizer picked a route that would follow them for a ways, then head back to our starting spot. We’d be in for some hills, but the ride itself would be relatively short.
The route on Map My Ride. The tough hill is at the top of the twisty part at the upper left.
Ride elevation. The hill most of us had to walk is at the 10-mile point.
The morning was perfect. Sunny, warm but not hot, not much wind. We set off with the A riders, so about 17 of us cut a fine figure pedaling through the neighborhood. We turned onto Barton Creek Blvd., which winds through a swanky neighborhood by a nationally-famous golf resort. I hadn’t ridden this road before, and I knew it was hilly. But the hills weren’t too much of a problem, until the last one before reaching Ranch Road 2244. That forced most of us to get off and walk.
At 2244, the A riders turned west, and we turned east for the ride home. The rest of the route was on shoulders of sometimes busy highways. Plenty of hills through here as well, as seen by this cell phone camera shot along Loop 360, but these were not difficult.
We got back to our Starbucks starting point for some FrappaMochaCappucinoLattes, or whatever, and some chit chat. Ride time: about 23 miles in 1 hour 43 minutes, avg speed: 14.7 mph. None of us could have kept up with the A group, and none of us cared. It was the kind of ride I’ve been looking for since joining the club. I’m looking forward to many more of the same, now that the B’s seem to be up and running again.
I absolutely hate the final hill on Barton Creek Blvd. right before Bee Cave. Not that it’s difficult, but it’s steep enough and the road is so narrow that I have visions that I’m going to get hit from behind by a car as they come flying up that last curve. I’d much rather go down Lost Creek and contend with the bigger hills than go up that portion. Have you rode Lost Creek before? If not it’s quite fun and challenging.
Glad I’m not in your club because I would be with the D or E riders!
You can go here http://www.bikepptc.org/ride_class_table to see how our club classifies rides. There are generally some A-C rides each week. I very seldom see D rides. I have also been on rides that were much faster than the classification.
I don’t ride as often as I should. I would like to get on more B and BB rides. But I have this thing about driving to a ride and most of them are out in the country. That makes sense. I find the C rides are nice recovery and social rides. It’s more about just relaxing and putzing along and socializing.
Mike, I haven’t done the Lost Creek hills yet, but they’re in my future. I am not the grimpeur you are.
Red, we don’t get that involved with ride classifications. Perhaps that’s due to the size of the club. Altho we have about 90 members, only 15-20 show up for the Sunday rides. Today, only four of us were in the B group. However, driving to the ride is not an issue for most of us, since they always start at the neighborhood Starbucks and most folks just ride over.
Dara, come on out anyway. We are (allegedly) a no-drop club!
Did I just get a nickname (grimpeur)?
French for “climber.” (It’s a compliment.)