As we ALL know by now, it has been a rather HOT cycling season in North Texas. Being Texans, many of us did not stop riding bikes. While some surrendered to the heat - some of us adjusted our pace and distance so that we could still enjoy our favorite hobby - riding bikes with our families and friends.

It appears that we have a few options as we enter September, including riding in the early morning hours. I have the luxury of riding from home at 6am during the week - and the mornings have been cooler (than the afternoons and evenings) and very enjoyable.

I still plan to get out there and ride a couple of rallies. I'll make ride day decisions about distance and pace depending upon the prevailing temperatures. One great thing about riding in the heat is that when the weather cools down, you will find that it is easier to ride longer and faster due to the conditioning/training impact of the heat. Enjoy!

This September has just 2 weekends with rides and both of those dates have a number of rides to choose from. As you look them over, it brings a few questions to mind: Do you want to stay close to home, drive a little further or have a long weekend? There are a few road trip rides in the calendar.

Some of these ride ideas may be new to you, but you can find even more ride ideas at Wheelbrothers. Just click the link below and check it out. Ride On!

This ride has been around a long time. The ride director is an avid cyclist who has made sure that taking care of the riders is Job #1. Routes of 10, 25, 50 and 67 miles all roll out at 8am. Along with the rest stops stocked with snacks and fluids, there is a "Candy Station" stocked by ride sponsor Skittles where you can grab some sweet goodies.

Visit their website for all the details

September 16 in Fort Davis TX

If you want a climbing challenge for your legs and lungs, drive out to West Texas and try this ride in the Texas Alps. If you are not ready for the 76 mile Davis Mountains Loop, they also offer routes of 27 and 55 miles as an option. All routes start at the famous Prude Ranch at 8am. Make sure you go by Balmorhea State Park after the ride for a refreshing swim in a crystal clear, spring fed swimming pool.

Get all the information here

Playing Together

I have been reading some recent posts and discussions about the challenges of riding at large events, including the Hotter'N Hell. Some behaviors are more easily overlooked at smaller rides, but the differences and challenges are ALWAYS there. Big rides just make the issues more visible.

I rode bikes mostly on my own from 1974 until 1987 when I participated in my first organized group ride. I was surprised by the differences in riders and styles of riding. The I went to the Hotter'N Hell. I was providing tech support, so I was not riding, but I immediately noticed that this ride had a different "feel" to it. Then I met "Team Quack" (photo above) - a group that was distinctly different from the other HHH riders. They told me about a ride called RAGBRAI - and I was captivated by the stories.

The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa at that time attracted some 10,000 cyclists from all over the USA and beyond. I went to RAGBRAI in 1992, 1993 and 1996 and WOW - it was very different from every ride I had attended in Texas.

It seems that everyone in the Texas rides is "in a hurry" to get to the finish line while everyone at RAGBRAI was doing everything they could to enjoy the route and journey along the way. Beyond that, there were lots of teams with silly names and costumes. Several of the teams had special stickers and every roadkill that I passed was covered with team stickers. I can entertain people for hours with stories from RAGBRAI.

Back in the 70s, the founder of RAGBRAI developed a program called "Ride Right" and began a relentless campaign teaching cyclists how to ride safely and respectfully during the event. It helped a great deal by reducing the number of safety issues - like the ones mentioned in those posts that I referenced earlier.

The ride organizers at the HHH and all the other Texas cycling events have their hands full. Putting together what needs to be in place so that hundreds or thousands of cyclists can just show up and ride takes a LOT of work. Since the behavior out on the route is OUR behavior, how about WE provide the solution.

Let's Lok at what's already out there and develop an educational program that will teach people how to ride together safely. For now, let's call it "Roll Models".

If you would like to join me in this effort, simply reply to this message and type Roll Models in the message.

Thanks for playing!

Bikin' Mike

So, what will it be? Take a road trip to a distant location for a new ride and adventure? Stay close to home? Do a ride that you enjoy every year? No matter which choice you make, I hope that you ride somewhere.

Bicycle!

Bikin' Mike