Jailhouse 104k RUSA Populaire, 216k RUSA Brevet, 300k ACP Brevet, July 6, 2024
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StephenH
Jun 30, 2024, 10:54:34 AMJun 30
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
Join us Saturday, July 6, 2024, for the Jailhouse routes: 104k RUSA Populaire, 216k RUSA Brevet, and 300k ACP Brevet.
These routes go south from Italy to Abbott, where the 104k turns around. The 216k and 300k continue on to Valley Mills, where the 216k turns around. The 300k continues on to Gatesville. There are a number of state prisons around Gatesville, and that's where the route names come from. You won't see any prisons on the two shorter routes.
Start location is the Tiger Mart/ Pilot on the northwest corner of the intersection of I-35E and Hwy 34 in Italy, Texas. Park out behind the Dennys.
Start time for all rides is currently 7:00 AM. Start time for the 300k may be updated later in the week.
RUSA membership is required, see the RUSA website for details.
Lone Star Randonneurs membership is required, see the LSR website for details. Please get money and the form in to Dan prior to the ride.
106k Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38849098 (this is actually the perm cue sheet but routes are the same.)
218k Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38777940
300k Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43342679
Waivers are attached for all three routes. Please print, fill out the waiver, sign it, scan it, and email back to both me and Dan, then bring the original to the ride start. If you're not sure which route you're doing, fill out both and you can decide at the start of the ride.
Sunrise is 6:27 AM. Sunset is 8:37 PM. The allowed time for the 216k extends past sunset. Lights and reflective gear meeting RUSA standards are required for the 300k and are recommended for the 216k "just in case".
Ride Notes:
The 216k is a RUSA brevet, which means you get extra time and extra mileage credit for that odd 16k, but it doesn't qualify for certain ACP awards or events.
Between Abbott and Valle Mills, there are zero services in a gap of about 35 miles. Make sure you have plenty of fluids and supplies for that gap.
There are two fairly new stores in Abbott. Our controls are set up for the new store on the west side of the freeway. I think the one on the east side of the freeway is the better store- good stock, and it's cheaper. Plus, they have Diet Mt Dew in the soda machines. Anyway, stop wherever you like, and use the store on the west side for a photo control if you like. Note that on the return on the 218k and 300k, you can come back under the overpass, go east maybe 50 yards, and there's a driveway into that store on the east, so you can hit it both ways and not go much out of the way.
On the 216k route, in Valley Mills, you come up to Hwy 6, then sit there forever waiting for a break in traffic. Once that happens, you turn left on Hwy 6, and that traffic is not an issue.
You are permitted to turn left on Avenue A or Avenue B instead, go down to 7th Street, turn right, then cross Hwy 6 there. That's not shown on the RWGPS route, and it's not always clear if that's an improvement to do it that way. But you can.
On the 300k route, as you come back through Valley Mills, the store on-route may or may not be open so be sure you know where the "other store" is.
The turn-around store in Gatesville on the 300k is an unimpressive convenience store. But, there is an HEB grocery store right there in the same parking lot, and some folks prefer to head over there.
About 7 miles before you get to Valley Mills, there is a spot north of the highway where they normally have camels. They are visible from the highway if you think to look for them, but easy to ride past otherwise.
The current long-range forecast for Saturday shows a low of 75, a high of 96, 57% humidity, a 24% chance of rain, and winds from the north at 5-10 mph. Yesterday, the forecast was showing cooler and thunderstorms, earlier than that it was showing hotter, like 102. Anyway, expect heat and humidity and if it's anything different, be thankful. The ride is on, hot or not, rain or shine, but check the forecast and conditions prior to committing yourself. There have been a few randonneurs known to get baked on that long return stretch from Valley Mills to Abbott. If you have a tailwind, you get baked, if you have a headwind, it takes forever. Make sure you are completely loaded up on fluids before leaving Valley Mills, and if doubt, tote an extra bottle or two.
Check back for updates.
Stephen H
stephen...@yahoo.com
These routes go south from Italy to Abbott, where the 104k turns around. The 216k and 300k continue on to Valley Mills, where the 216k turns around. The 300k continues on to Gatesville. There are a number of state prisons around Gatesville, and that's where the route names come from. You won't see any prisons on the two shorter routes.
Start location is the Tiger Mart/ Pilot on the northwest corner of the intersection of I-35E and Hwy 34 in Italy, Texas. Park out behind the Dennys.
Start time for all rides is currently 7:00 AM. Start time for the 300k may be updated later in the week.
RUSA membership is required, see the RUSA website for details.
Lone Star Randonneurs membership is required, see the LSR website for details. Please get money and the form in to Dan prior to the ride.
106k Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38849098 (this is actually the perm cue sheet but routes are the same.)
218k Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38777940
300k Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43342679
Waivers are attached for all three routes. Please print, fill out the waiver, sign it, scan it, and email back to both me and Dan, then bring the original to the ride start. If you're not sure which route you're doing, fill out both and you can decide at the start of the ride.
Sunrise is 6:27 AM. Sunset is 8:37 PM. The allowed time for the 216k extends past sunset. Lights and reflective gear meeting RUSA standards are required for the 300k and are recommended for the 216k "just in case".
Ride Notes:
The 216k is a RUSA brevet, which means you get extra time and extra mileage credit for that odd 16k, but it doesn't qualify for certain ACP awards or events.
Between Abbott and Valle Mills, there are zero services in a gap of about 35 miles. Make sure you have plenty of fluids and supplies for that gap.
There are two fairly new stores in Abbott. Our controls are set up for the new store on the west side of the freeway. I think the one on the east side of the freeway is the better store- good stock, and it's cheaper. Plus, they have Diet Mt Dew in the soda machines. Anyway, stop wherever you like, and use the store on the west side for a photo control if you like. Note that on the return on the 218k and 300k, you can come back under the overpass, go east maybe 50 yards, and there's a driveway into that store on the east, so you can hit it both ways and not go much out of the way.
On the 216k route, in Valley Mills, you come up to Hwy 6, then sit there forever waiting for a break in traffic. Once that happens, you turn left on Hwy 6, and that traffic is not an issue.
You are permitted to turn left on Avenue A or Avenue B instead, go down to 7th Street, turn right, then cross Hwy 6 there. That's not shown on the RWGPS route, and it's not always clear if that's an improvement to do it that way. But you can.
On the 300k route, as you come back through Valley Mills, the store on-route may or may not be open so be sure you know where the "other store" is.
The turn-around store in Gatesville on the 300k is an unimpressive convenience store. But, there is an HEB grocery store right there in the same parking lot, and some folks prefer to head over there.
About 7 miles before you get to Valley Mills, there is a spot north of the highway where they normally have camels. They are visible from the highway if you think to look for them, but easy to ride past otherwise.
The current long-range forecast for Saturday shows a low of 75, a high of 96, 57% humidity, a 24% chance of rain, and winds from the north at 5-10 mph. Yesterday, the forecast was showing cooler and thunderstorms, earlier than that it was showing hotter, like 102. Anyway, expect heat and humidity and if it's anything different, be thankful. The ride is on, hot or not, rain or shine, but check the forecast and conditions prior to committing yourself. There have been a few randonneurs known to get baked on that long return stretch from Valley Mills to Abbott. If you have a tailwind, you get baked, if you have a headwind, it takes forever. Make sure you are completely loaded up on fluids before leaving Valley Mills, and if doubt, tote an extra bottle or two.
Check back for updates.
Stephen H
stephen...@yahoo.com
StephenH
Jul 3, 2024, 10:31:03 PMJul 3
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
Update:
216k:
Gary
Dana
Pam (maybe)
Debbie
Stephen (maybe)
104k:
Tom Faulkenberry (maybe)
Stephen (maybe)
I'll ride either the 104k or the 216k.\
Riders:
300k-
216k:
Gary
Dana
Pam (maybe)
Debbie
Stephen (maybe)
104k:
Tom Faulkenberry (maybe)
Stephen (maybe)
I'll ride either the 104k or the 216k.\
If you're riding, and haven't sent in the waiver, please email that to me and to Dan and bring the original to the ride start.
If you're riding and not on the list, let me know.
If you're riding and not on the list, let me know.
Current forecast: High of 92, low of 74, "a mix of clouds and sun with the chance an isolated thunderstorm in the afternoon". Chance of rain 3%, humidity 65%. Check the forecast right before the ride and be prepared for whatever it is. Expect sweaty conditions regardless.
StephenH
Jul 5, 2024, 1:11:36 AMJul 5
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
Update:
Riders:
300k-
216k:
Gary
Dana
Pam
DebbieRiders:
300k-
216k:
Gary
Dana
Pam
Stephen
104k:
Weather (as of midnight Thursday night)- 75 degrees and "showers" (43% chance of rain) at ride start, dropping to 15% most of the day, high of 92, partly cloudy, winds 4-7 mph.
StephenH
Jul 5, 2024, 3:22:40 PMJul 5
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
Update:
Riders:
300k-
216k:
Gary
Dana
Pam
Debbie
Stephen
MikeRiders:
300k-
216k:
Gary
Dana
Pam
Debbie
Stephen
104k:
Weather (as of 2:20 PM Friday)- 73 degrees, party cloudy and 19% chance of rain at the ride start, with winds at 4 mph. High of 91, rain chance 15-23% all days, winds 4-7 mph all day.
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