Hell Week starts on the same weekend of the Texas Hill Country 600km. Last year I spent a couple days of recovery with my crew that was staying on for Hell Week in Fredericksburg TX. I did a little eighty mile recovery spin with them one day and thought this is kind of cool.
For 2010 my crew from last years Hill Country 600km, Peggy and Steve Petty with the addition of Sara Kay Carrell rode a mixed four person relay team. The plan was to stay the week following in Fredericksburg for Hell Week. We stayed in a rented home with Linda and Mark Metcalf traditional rider. Mark has been long time Lone Star Randonneur and has done RAAM solo and team a few times. Mark also raced to third place overall in the solo THC600km this year.
Monday was a scheduled 200km brevet that Sara Kay really wanted to do to help fill out her quest for a Super rando series (200, 300, 400 and 600km brevets). Shellene Foster LSR rider and second place this year at Sebring 24 hour women’s race planned to do an easy 200km with us.
The 200km turned into a long day on the bike due to high head winds on the return, Shellene had a knee issue and I towed her as she one legged pedaled into the next to last control. Shellene had to throw in the towel at 100 miles while SK and I finished out the 200km at 10:24 minutes total time and 6900 feet of climbing. Peggy and Steve along with Linda took a more leisurely ride of 34 miles, a much better idea then the 200km.
Tuesday was forecasted cold, wet and windy. The crew opted to drive out to Enchanted Rock State Park and climb up one of the granite domes. We had a lot of fun climbing all over the dome but once again we did not gain very much recovery. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/enchanted_rock/
Wednesday’s weather brought nicer weather so we headed out to do the Stonewalled loop, a fun 58 mile ride with 2737 ft of climbing. We hooked up with Pat Diztler of Kansas City KS. Pat has a Bacchetta Strada that he failed to bring down with him but enjoyed visiting and getting the many questions he had answered while cruising thought the beautiful Hill Country.
Another great day of weather for riding greeted us for Thursday ride. The crew opted to do the Tunnel/Bach loop. This 50 mile loop took us up to 2042 of climbing with three very nice points of interest. First was the Old Bat Tunnel, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=17.
BAT TUNNEL
Second stop was the Alamo Springs Café, http://www.alamospringscafe.com/, this place has one of the best hamburgers I have ever had and has been voted one of the best in Texas. They also had a special parking spot for Bacchetta’s!
Next stop was Luckenbach, TX to see Willie, Waylon and the boys. We hung around for a bit and enjoyed a cold Shiner beer. Then we rolled back into Fredericksburg glowing from another great ride on our Bacchetta’s.
Friday brought the last days of good weather for Hell Week and a ride out to the LBJ state park. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lyndon_b_johnson/
The wind did come up and convinced us not to push as our legs were still not recovered and we called it a day with 59 miles and 2705 feet of climbing.
It was a great week of recovery riding and sight seeing. Fredericksburg and Hell Week provide a great riding combination with good friends. I would highly recommend putting Hell Week on a ride vacation schedule.
ttp://www.raceacrossoregon.com/hillcountry/.
Originally posted on bacchettabikes.com on March 29, 2010.
