Spencer has been itching to ride some of the LIVESTRONG Challenge 45 mile course. We wanted to do it to build confidence, ease fears, and find any rough spots. I had high confidence based on our past rides that he has the stamina and will to do the course, so we went ahead and picked what I think are the hardest 25 miles of the 45 mile course.
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Rachel and Jacob were driving SAG for us with plans to meet on Creek Rd after they stopped for lunch and played at a playground in Dripping Springs. The wind was from the SSW so it was helpful during the first part of the ride (Pump Station Rd, Mt. Sharp Rd, Mt. Gainor Rd), a little challenging when we turned west (Creek Rd), but almost irrelevant as we slogged up the hills heading to the south (Pursley Rd) since we were going so slow. On the way up Pump Station and Mt. Sharp, passed a pair on tandem and two solo riders. Spencer was strong and maintaining a good pace (about 12 MPH rolling average). No problems as we continued along Mt. Gainor Rd so I called Rachel and told her to skip the planned stop and meet us on Mt. Gainor Rd near the end of Pursley (about 22 miles into the ride, just to replenish food and liquid and consider how far we could keep going.
Spencer was nervous about all of the cattle guards on Pursley Rd (I lost count, but it’s around 10), but after he did a couple he started loving them and did a great job making a controlled approach without slowing down too much and avoiding torquing while going over the metal. He’ll do fine on ride day, probably better than most of the adults. He attacked the hills on Pursley and, although I heard occasional whines and grunts, he stayed ahead of me until the last few hills. At that point, I decided to rabbit for him and stayed ahead right at the edge of his doable pace.
By the time we got to Rachel, he was jazzed again and we rode 3 more miles along Mt. Sharp so we could go past where rest stop 2 will be on the Challenge and take the first turn after it. He wanted to keep going, but Jacob was bored out of his skull in the SAG vehicle so we called it quits.
After today’s performance, we don’t need to ride the course again, but we agreed to head out Friday or Monday (school closed for teacher work days) and ride the rest of Mt. Sharp Rd and all of Jacob’s Well Rd (which Jacob tells us he built all by himself - he’s quite proud of how smooth it is and how good the low water crossings are).
Please donate to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support Spencer’s ride.
