Fitness Monday - Hill Country Ride for AIDS report

So, I've talked to lots of folks here about the Hill Country Ride for AIDS, and I thought y'all would like to know how it turned out.

Friday night, we had the kickoff dinner, which was fun. We check in or register, catch with people, and celebrate the Ride. Congressman Lloyd Doggett usually speaks at this dinner, but was not able to attend, because he broke his leg last weekend, ironicaly, while out bicycling. He did send a message, but I was sorry not to see him. We had some rain Friday night, but not a ton, and Saturday dawned clear & bright.

So, here's my "before the ride" picture

The Ride is out & back from Krause Springs, which is a little ways outside of Austin. Here's a link to a site with pictures of the springs - I didn't think to take pictures while I was soaking my feet:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/...

I got there early, because that's what I do. All the riders checked in - we had close to 500 this year - and we got out wristbands for food, and started getting ready to ride.

We started out a little after 8:30. Right at the start, there's a turn & a slight uphill, which I'm never ready for, so I got off it & walked, but then I hopped back on. And I rode. I rode up hills I don't think I've ever ridden up before. I was taking hills in 3rd gear that I know I walked last year. I actually accelerated up some hills! It was wonderful! I rode all the way into pit 1 without needing a ride from the SAG vehicles. I don't think I've ever done that (hey, 9 years of rides, I can't remember everything)

And here's a picture at Pit 1 (it had a disco theme):

I rode out of pit 1, and got 7 /2 miles before I cried "uncle". I got picked up by a SAG vehicle themed after the TV show Reno 911 - they were sweet & funny. So, they caried me & 3 other riders in to lunch. Pic from the lunch stop:

After lunch, I rode out, and the real hills started. I made it up the hill we call the "ski slope" under my own power & without stopping. It was pretty funny - they had it all done up as Mount Everest. I walked down the other side, because it was so steep that I really didn't want to go that fast. I thing that 25 miles an hour is plenty fast without a metal box between me & the road. And the ski slope is followed by another hill that looks just as bad, so I walked up it as well. But I rode all the way from lunch to the Springs. As best I can figure, I rode around 29 miles. Woo Hoo!

Signs leadig up to that hill:

And the Hill from Hell itself

and after the ride, all nice & cleaned up (the person who invented the shower truck is definitely going to heaven):

and a picture from the award ceremony (I don't do well in front of crowds):

me with David, the best Ride Director in the world: