weisan
04-09-2013, 09:35 PM
Had a really nice time this morning re-visiting probably my all-time favorite route around Austin. I picked up a start point further down along Fitzugh road and rode west towards Johnson City. Did about 40 miles with the temperature stayed around 70, great views of the hill country, encountered a couple of sharp drops through river crossings that pushes the speed into the low 30s, could go faster if I don't brake but decided not going to take any chances and cut short my beautiful ride. The creek beds are mostly dry due to the extended Texas drought. Below is a snapshot from my Garmin.
Turned back the same way I came after a 20 mins pitstop at Johnson City, met a bunch of cyclists dressed to kill riding on pro bikes, they passed me later on the way back. I saw Texas Cyclesports on the side of the Fitzugh road as I was driving to my start point, wonder whether those cyclists are store employees or started from there.
Anyway, the highlight of the day has got to be the pleasure of meeting a young man named Caleb James Taylor. I saw him bobbling on a bike from the horizon in the opposite direction and waited for him to come up to me. We both stopped for a chat at the road side. It turned out that this very nice and brave 23 year-old is heading towards his home far out in Oregon, on a bike nevertheless. He built it up using free parts offered by Austin Yellow Bike Project, take a look of the pictures, pretty interesting especially his hydration unit and home-made panniers :p He is hoping to complete the whole trek in 1.5 months if possible as he has a fire-fighting volunteer job waiting for him there. I asked him how the bike is performing so far and he said the brakes were not working that well, so I took a look at it, made some adjustments and they are good to go. :) He is aware that he might be over-geared, having a hard time getting up some of the steeper hills, that's nothing I can do for him there, just counsel him to go easy, don't take any unnecessary risks, and remember to eat and drink, and take as many rest stops along the way as needed. Before we parted, I took out my ziploc bag, took out my phone, and emptied all its contents and asked if he will accept my modest contribution ($$) to his trip, at first he was real reluctant, said he "felt weird taking money from strangers as he comes from a poor family", I told him no such thing, we are friends and brothers, and I am just trying to take care of one of my own, think of it as food money, that makes it easier on him. I told him when he gets to Johnson City, to stop by the Exxon gas station, the lady at the counter is real nice and before I left her, she was cooking some hot wings in the oven, too bad I couldn't wait for them to be done, but he should have some on my behalf, he agreed, what a pal! hello:
To be honest, I am kinda worried for my new-found pal Caleb but I know this builds character and it's once-a-lifetime kinda experience so I am not going to stop him or be overly protective. It's good for him...compared to his peers who are glued to their iphones, FBs, twitters, X-box etc. :no:
Tailwind, my friend Caleb, be safe....
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2535.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2536.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2537.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2542.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2543.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2544.JPG
Turned back the same way I came after a 20 mins pitstop at Johnson City, met a bunch of cyclists dressed to kill riding on pro bikes, they passed me later on the way back. I saw Texas Cyclesports on the side of the Fitzugh road as I was driving to my start point, wonder whether those cyclists are store employees or started from there.
Anyway, the highlight of the day has got to be the pleasure of meeting a young man named Caleb James Taylor. I saw him bobbling on a bike from the horizon in the opposite direction and waited for him to come up to me. We both stopped for a chat at the road side. It turned out that this very nice and brave 23 year-old is heading towards his home far out in Oregon, on a bike nevertheless. He built it up using free parts offered by Austin Yellow Bike Project, take a look of the pictures, pretty interesting especially his hydration unit and home-made panniers :p He is hoping to complete the whole trek in 1.5 months if possible as he has a fire-fighting volunteer job waiting for him there. I asked him how the bike is performing so far and he said the brakes were not working that well, so I took a look at it, made some adjustments and they are good to go. :) He is aware that he might be over-geared, having a hard time getting up some of the steeper hills, that's nothing I can do for him there, just counsel him to go easy, don't take any unnecessary risks, and remember to eat and drink, and take as many rest stops along the way as needed. Before we parted, I took out my ziploc bag, took out my phone, and emptied all its contents and asked if he will accept my modest contribution ($$) to his trip, at first he was real reluctant, said he "felt weird taking money from strangers as he comes from a poor family", I told him no such thing, we are friends and brothers, and I am just trying to take care of one of my own, think of it as food money, that makes it easier on him. I told him when he gets to Johnson City, to stop by the Exxon gas station, the lady at the counter is real nice and before I left her, she was cooking some hot wings in the oven, too bad I couldn't wait for them to be done, but he should have some on my behalf, he agreed, what a pal! hello:
To be honest, I am kinda worried for my new-found pal Caleb but I know this builds character and it's once-a-lifetime kinda experience so I am not going to stop him or be overly protective. It's good for him...compared to his peers who are glued to their iphones, FBs, twitters, X-box etc. :no:
Tailwind, my friend Caleb, be safe....
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2535.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2536.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2537.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2542.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2543.JPG
http://alicehui.com/paceline/fitzugh/mini-IMG_2544.JPG