Riding in the Texas hill country

[marni]

I am on the fourth day of a 6 day riding jaunt in the Texas Hill Country. The bluebonnets, indian paintbrush, goat weed and other wild flowers are lovely, there is still a lot of green spring grass and the trees are all almost fully leafed out. The weather has been in the high 70's and low 80's with a mix of overcast and sun. That's the nice part.

The bad part is the headwinds which started out on day one in the 15 mph range and topped out yesterday with 25 mph with gusts up to 35. I am here to say that riding a 12% grade uphill, no matter how short is a *****. Yesterday was another 60 mile day with two fierce climbs one a long 8% grade going into Enchanted rock from the willow city loop and the other was a shorter 9-10% grade leaving Enchanted rock followed by a 20 mile stretch of rollers into the headwinds. How bad were the headwinds? can you say pedaling downhill to maintain momentum?

All the moaning aside, if you are ever in Fredricksburg, Texas, take the time to drive the 20 miles north to willow city and drive or ride the willow city loop. It is incredibly gorgeous. It is a cut between two sets of hills almost like mesa lands or plateaus with deep gullies coming down filled with scattered juniper trees and range grass. This year we have had a lot of rain and so the gullies and fields are filled with bluebonnets, as far as the eye can see. in the distance it looks like a blue haze on the ground and they are solid blocks of blooms along the roadside. The perfume in delicious and the sight is incredible. Your ride will be enlivened by the occasional herd of range cattle or the vagrant road runner.

So far we have ridden 56 miles of hills between boerne and waverly, 60 miles of hills between waverly and fredricksburg, 66 miles on the fredricksburg, willow city, enchanted rock fredricksburg loop, 36 miles between fredricksburg and kerrville. The last two days of the ride will be some easier although we have at least one more hill that is rated at a 12-15 % grade, at least the distances are shorter at 42 and 35 miles from kerrville to bandera and then back to boerne.

Maybe there will be some tailwinds one of those days.

Much as I don't llike the Houston area where I live, I have to admit spring in the texas hills when the wildflowers are blooming isn't half bad.

marni

[tulip]

I was just there last week for riding! Yes, those headwinds are fierce, but if you get it right, you'll have amazing tailwinds, too. I removed my bike computer so as to not get discouraged at my slowness. It doesn't matter.

The bluebonnets were blooming, and the paintbrushes were just starting. We rode in Fredericksburg, Spicewood, Wimberly, and to the east out around New Sweden. And some great city riding in Austin. I decided that the winds were too much the day I was planning to go out to Bee Cave. It was a great trip, and I got over 200 miles in. And I came home to springtime.

Enjoy your trip, and don't let the headwinds get you down. If you go out against them, you will likely end the ride with them at your back, and all that effort will be worth it.

[bmccasland]

but no pictures??

A nice photo of your bike posing with the posies?

[Aggie_Ama]

The wildflowers are spectactular this year thanks to the wet winter, I can't remember ever seeing them this dense. Willow City is a great ride, you can get lost in the beauty! I am loving the mountain laurels blooming too, it is the most wonderful smell. I noticed here in central Texas the winds seem extremely strong this year, I think the local weather guy even mentioned they are measuring higher than normal. Glad you had a great time riding!

[AnnieBikes]

Tulip, my DH called me from Wimberly this morning! He was about to chow down on a mountain man, no holds barred, lumberjack breakfast!! He and his group of five are riding the Southern Tier, and even though he weighs 125, he eats like a horse!!! They, too, have had big headwinds lately. Is this an excuse to eat more??!

[tulip]

Tulip, my DH called me from Wimberly this morning! He was about to chow down on a mountain man, no holds barred, lumberjack breakfast!! He and his group of five are riding the Southern Tier, and even though he weighs 125, he eats like a horse!!! They, too, have had big headwinds lately. Is this an excuse to eat more??!

Well I ate heartily in Texas, and I came back a tad trimmer, so I guess it's okay. Sounds like he can eat whatever he wants. I mostly rode loops out there, with the headwind at the beginning of the ride and a strong tailwind at the end.

[marni]

haven't figured how to post pictures yet.

Today's ride from Kerrville to Bandera was a much shorter easier ride with the exception off the Eagle's Nest pass near Medina. Fortunately, although it was a 12 % grade, the raod was barely two lanes wide, and there were 4 or 5 hairpin turns, it was only about 1/2 a mile. The downhill was equally steep, narrow and curvy and a bit scary because I started hallucinating about "what if my brakes fail?" But the rest of the day was perfect, started out cold and clear in the 40's but was up to 60 by 10:00 AM and the headwinds were only at 5-10 mph. Gorgeous small country roads with ponds , creeks and moderate rools and not a cloud to be seen. Doesn't get much better than that.

marni

[marni]

I'm back from the 5 days ride in the Hill country- a total of 325 miles, mostly nice weather with the exception of one slight rain shower. The headwinds were pretty horrific on two days, and of course these were the two days with the most climbing. You know it's a fierce headwind when you are pedaling hard down a 10% grade to make 16 mph. Sigh...but the scenery and wildflowers were beautiful and I made it over the Eagles Nest Pass (.3 miles of narrow 1 1/2 lane switchbacks with lots of traffic and a 12% grade ) without having to get off my bike and walk . That was a treat because last year on the cross country I wimped out because of the headwinds.

To quote the oldest (78 years old) woman on the ride " hounds, hills, headwinds, and chip seal paving, what's not to love?"

It was a great ride with 20 other great women. Now if I could just figure out how to post some photos, I would be all set. Information would be most welcome.

marni

[Aggie_Ama]

One of our best friends is from Wimberly, gorgeous area and they are peacefully resisting growth and Austin swallowing them. I hate Austin and living here but I love the Texas hill country.

[tulip]

Aggie, why do you hate Austin (I mean aside from the UT-A&M thing)? I found it to be a vibrant and interesting city, both when I lived there 20 years ago and during my recent visit. It seemed to be very livable and relatively bicycle-friendly. In fact, I found mysef wondering why I moved away in the first place.

I'm just wondering if I'm missing something. I'd like to know because it's on my list of future places to consider moving to.

[Aggie_Ama]

Mostly it is the urban sprawl. The city didn't have a very good plan in place for the explosion of growth and now it is congested and doesn't really have the infrastructure. The vibe has changed a lot since I grew up here, so some of my displeasure is that the personality has become less Austin. There are still pockets (Barton Creek, Zilker area) that are trying to keep the life blood but Austin is just another town to me. So mostly it is probably sadness for what has been lost since Dell and the tech companies tried to make it the next coming of Silicon Valley. We have boring strip malls with the same boring chains almost every 10 miles. I try to avoid those chains and shop locally for cycling, running, food (when I can). I do LOVE the abundance of mountain bike trails and the state parks outside the city. I just wish it was the way it was. To take a liberty with the song: they paved paradise and put up a condo here.

[lo123]

All the talk of indian paintbrushes and Texas wildflowers is making me homesick! Sounds like an awesome ride. I have fond memories of spending summers in Bandera at camps and dude ranches. I may not have been born in Texas or live in Texas anymore, but my heart is still there.

Those gusts will get you. I'll take hills over strong headwinds any day. I live in the foothills of the Appalachians, so I can do hills. 12% sucks, but I did a ride last night with several climbs over 20% (worst was 29%!!! ). Been riding with a girl who just moved from Austin and she said, "I thought I could climb until I moved here!!"

I was in Houston visiting family back in February, and went riding out around West Ft. Bend Country (Richmond/Fulshear area). Had a crosswind going out and MASSIVE headwind coming home. I wanted to die the last 25 miles in. I would've killed to climb a giant hill instead. On the plus side, it was way warmer than home! I was wearing short sleeves and shorts while the natives were wearing long sleeves and tights. I got some funny looks


ETA:
You can add pictures by scrolling down below the post area to the "Attach files" section (You may have to click 'Go Advanced' to see the option).
Pics please!

[marni]

I was in Houston visiting family back in February, and went riding out around West Ft. Bend Country (Richmond/Fulshear area). Had a crosswind going out and MASSIVE headwind coming home. I wanted to die the last 25 miles in. I would've killed to climb a giant hill instead. On the plus side, it was way warmer than home! I was wearing short sleeves and shorts while the natives were wearing long sleeves and tights. I got some funny looks


Well ,you were riding in my area around Richmond Fulshear and enjoying my type of wind and riding conditions. We had, for us, an exceptionally cold winter up until about three weeks ago. I rode most of the winter in wool undershirt, long sleeved jersey, arm warmers, wind vest, glove liners, cold weather gloves, wool shorts and thermal tights along with wool socks. In the six years I have lived here, that's the most clothing I have ever ridden in consistently. When we first arrived here from northern Europe- the Netherlands- I used to wish I could ride nude because the heat about killed me.Since then, my blood has thinned and I find it too cool to ride without light weight arm warmers or a long sleeved lightweight jersey about 6 weeks out of the summer in late July and August. I always ride with a wicking under layer and put my wool undershirt back on as soon as it drops below 60 in the mornings.

Low how the mighty have fallen.

thanks for the info on posting photos. I will give it a try. fingers crossed.

marni

[bmccasland]

Thanks for the photos! The bluebonnets really are pretty! Nice brahma cow too (I think she's a brahma).

And I have to admit my blood has thinned after living in southern latitudes. Anything lower than 50 degrees F, is too chilly!

[lo123]

Well ,you were riding in my area around Richmond Fulshear and enjoying my type of wind and riding conditions. We had, for us, an exceptionally cold winter up until about three weeks ago. I rode most of the winter in wool undershirt, long sleeved jersey, arm warmers, wind vest, glove liners, cold weather gloves, wool shorts and thermal tights along with wool socks. In the six years I have lived here, that's the most clothing I have ever ridden in consistently. When we first arrived here from northern Europe- the Netherlands- I used to wish I could ride nude because the heat about killed me.Since then, my blood has thinned and I find it too cool to ride without light weight arm warmers or a long sleeved lightweight jersey about 6 weeks out of the summer in late July and August. I always ride with a wicking under layer and put my wool undershirt back on as soon as it drops below 60 in the mornings.

Low how the mighty have fallen.

LOL. I grew up out there--went to high school at Lamar, and I distinctly remember playing tennis in July/August in preparation for the Fall season and my shoes sticking to the court. I have also literally fried an egg on the sidewalk.
I moved away, and I've gradually gotten better with cold weather. Though this year's winter was a bit too much for me--just glad I don't live in the DC area anymore! I think I would melt in a Houston summer now.

Great pics! Love the Bluebonnets. We have lots of wildflowers in Alabama this year, but nothing beats a field of Bluebonnets.