Conquer(ed) the Coast 2023
Took a while but I managed the 66 miles for the fifth year. May just enter for the 20 miler next time depending on how my training program goes in 2024!
Conquer(ed) The Coast 2022
Five and a half hours and 66.5 miles later I completed my 4th Conquer the Coast event.
Training for the 5th event starts now!
On to the next adventure
“There’s no fool like an old fool”
An old English proverb generally meaning:
“People of mature years, who are expected to know better, often do outrageously foolish things, especially regarding romantic liaisons.”
John Heywood’s 1546 glossary of proverbs in the English tongue.
In my case, I hasten to add, it is relevant related to the “romantic notion” that I can continue to cycle as if I am still 24 years old!
Notwithstanding the rather obvious fact that I am NOT 24 years old I have nevertheless gone ahead and registered for the 2022 Conquer the Coast 66-mile bike ride.
This is the 5th time I’ve registered for this particular event:
- 2018 – cancelled due to weather – no ride, no medal.
- 2019 – successfully completed – I have the medal.
- 2020 – COVID “Virtual CTC”. I rode 66 miles round Copano Bay and have the medal.
- 2021 – successfully completed – I have the medal.
- 2022 – we shall see.
It seems I’ve been doing this for some time
Memories
Back in the Saddle Again
I’m back in the saddle again
Gene Autry – 1947
Out where a friend is a friend
Where the longhorn cattle feed
On the lowly gypsum weed
Back in the saddle again
First outing on the bicycle since Kansas.
The stationary bike in the garage just doesn’t cut it for me; I need to be out where the F150’s roam and the wildflowers grow (so to speak) on familiar territory.
Not the way I had intended to fly across Kansas!
No point in crying over spilt milk. We did our best and enjoyed a few days participation in BAK 2022 but now it’s time to go home.
The bikes and gear will return when Marc is able to drive. In the meantime, it’s “United” for me.
149 Miles and Done
Well the heat index of 105F seriously messed with our attempt to Conquer the Kansas plains. I just managed to make the 77 miles for the day although it was touch and go when I encountered the rollercoaster that was Dodge City. My buddy made it 50 miles but we realized at that point that he had to call for a SAG pickup and be driven to Spearville. That was it for our grand plans. Once “Sagged” you’re off the ride and we had agreed to do this together.
We were not the only riders to leave early but we are grateful for our personal best mileages and for the fact that we did not leave after arguments with angry dogs or 18 wheelers like some folks!
Sunday – Officially Day 2 of BAK
Day 3 for us.
Today is the longest stage of the week – 77 miles from Garden City to Spearville.
There is a decided lack of trees, or any shade for that matter, in West Kansas which means that we are cycling in 105F for most of the day!
That’s why we left at 6:26AM to get some miles in before the temperature rose to those heights.
Saturday – Officially Day 1 of BAK
Day 2 for us because we did the Colorado border to Syracuse yesterday.
Today is 55 miles from Syracuse to Garden City.
BTW Kansas is not flat and the roads are not paved in yellow brick!
Friday Travels on my Trek
We drove to the Colorado/Kansas border, took a photo, and then cycled the 16.2 miles to our hotel in Syracuse (First day cheat – hotel, the rest of the trip we’ll be camping)
