Please support my 2015 BP MS150 ride!

Please support my 2015 BP MS150 ride!
click on the pic to donate to Andy

Credit

Although this blog was originally created by Andy Brickell and continues to be updated by him, the design and layout of the page is credited to his daughter, Mary-Claire Brickell. She's pretty awesome.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

The best laid plans...

Last weekend before the big ride, and both Kevin and I wanted to get some miles in, but he was playing with both his bands at the Wirt Road UU Church music fest and needed to be back in town by noon.  So the plan: an early start at Zube, the standard 45 mile loop and if there was time and inclination a few bonus miles at the end.

Came the morning (way too early), Kevin rolled up at 6.15 and off we went.  I usually take it upon myself to provide an "ear-worm" - a catchy piece of music that sticks in your ear during the ride, and today's choice was Jethro Tull's flute-heavy version of Bouree (on their Stand Up album).   Courtesy of Wikipedia I now know that this piece was written by Bach as Bouree in E minor for Lute, and a bouree is a french dance.  Anyway, Kevin was pleased with the choice - turns out he's a Tull fan, having seen them live twice in the 70's.

Sadly we got to listen to most of the album, because 290 was closed for construction at Bauer, about two exits before Zube, and we found ourselves on the access road going nowhere fast.  We finally got to Zube at about 7.00am, about 5 minutes before Paddy pulled up with the Mules trailer.  A quick hand-shake and then we were off, on a beautiful, if cool morning.

Kevin was clearly feeling his oats and pushed the pace early on.  With the benefit of my GPS I could see just  how fast we were going and was able to rein him back to 18 mph, already a hot average for me.

An uneventful run out to the gas station, although the NWCC fast group caught us at about mile 20, and the gas station got very busy with bikes while we refuelled.

Back at it and Kevin was charging again.  Rule number one for a domestique - don't drop the team leader!  We were at Waller in no time, and I took Kevin onto the Old Houston Highway, a two-lane blacktop that runs parallel to Business 290 but has almost no traffic.  He took to it like a duck to water, despite the strong headwind we were now feeling, and set a steady 18mph pace.  I velcro'ed myself to his back wheel and was amazed at how quickly we got back to Hockley.

Despite the late start we were back in very good time.  Kevin was up for more but I was blown and cried off.  Against all odds we got lucky with traffic on the way home and were back by 11.30.

I enjoyed a nap after lunch and then Susan and I drove out to watch the first set - the Western Sky trio with Kevin on bass and backing vocals -great fun and a pleasant reminder that Houston isn't all suburbs, SUV's and strip malls.

10 comments:

suzdor said...

Andy! Here's a Kurmudgeon wishing you good luck on the bike ride. Which is a great thing to do, thank you.
Enjoy and know it's much appriciated,. Go for it!

jobe said...

And here is another Kurmudgeon also wishing you a great ride and many thanks.

Lynn said...

A big cheer from a Washington state Kurmudgeon. Thanks Andy.

Unknown said...

Thanks Kurmudgeons! Looking like great weather for the ride so no excuses for me, sadly. I go through some discomfort getting ready for this ride and actually doing it but I know it's nothing compared to what MS people deal with every day.

ANdy

Unknown said...

Discomfort in getting ready for the ride? I'm sorry to hear that and hope it doesn't include waxing nether regions. C'mon we're all behind you! On yer bike now. I shall be silently cheering you on while sipping on long cool cocktails from the comfort of my recliner. Good luck!

Pete said...

Andy! Here's an Aussie Kurmudgeon wishing you the best of luck on the bike ride!

Thanks so much for raising money for this cause :)

DBNO said...

well you are underway but wishing you a great ride from a kurmudgeon in sunny California!! ...as they say in the classics "..On yer bike!"

Spooky said...

Ride it like you stole it? I love it!!! Go, go, GO Andy!

Midgecat said...

Another Kurmudgeon stupidi love with you for doing this ride.

Pedal, fatboy, pedal!

Unknown said...

Thanks to the additional Kurmudgeons! Roz, we pro-cyclist wannabes don't wax, we shave...

Bear Creek - Terry Hershey loop

Bear Creek - Terry Hershey loop

Daily commute to work

Daily commute to work
This isn't quite right but it's close. 9.5 miles, about 40 minutes.

Terry Hershey Park

Terry Hershey Park
10 miles of safe, paved cycling bliss - except for all the foot traffic

The Sealy ride

The Sealy ride
45 miles through very pretty Texas countryside. Looks benign but there's a very hilly section at mile 35.

The Katy ride

The Katy ride
It's on the Katy prairie - flat, flat, flat