Sunday, March 22, 2009

Tour De Houston 2009

A clear and relatively warm morning - It was dark before we started and the sun started to rise as we set off down the Elysian Way...on the 2009 Tour De Houston. This years route was changed - we didn't do the Hardy Toll Road, instead headed out from Elysian to the Houston Heights - an older neighbourhood where time just seemed to slow down - both the older style houses, and the people too. I did 40 miles on a loop ride and on the way back people were out exercising, but no ipods here - more like Sony Walkmans...several of the churches were filled and the congregation singing added to the serenity of the neighbourhoods we were riding through. Rest stop 1 was at Regan High School at the 10 mile mark.
The KJSB Christian Van was playing music, and loading up supplies - Though it wasn't hot, I was drinking a lot of water! The sun was already out and I wanted to try to go at a decent pace. Volunteers were hard at work as the first riders rolled in. There was a 70 mile loop which the Mayor was doing, he had kicked the ride off in the morning and was enroute but we shortly after split off from the main group into 3 directions depending on distance cycled. Weather was supberb.
Not to hot until about 10 really and even then there was a cool breeze blowing which provided some headwind on the way back into the downtown area. After the second stop at the 20 mile mark, I skipped the 3rd and rode the last 20 back to the finish line getting in about 10.15 am. I had a pleasant surprise halfway when I met up with my family who had come out to meet me with some extra breakfast. A good excuse to pull up and rest for a few minutes as well as I spotted them on the side of the road. Discovery Green was pumping away with the riders who had made it back to the finish line.
All in a great ride - about 3,300 cyclists - a little crowed at the start but okay once we were off...Discovery Green making a great location for it. There was a band playing the old Men at Work song "Who can it be now"...and for a minute I thought I was back in Melbourne!
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