Day 31: Monday 04/04/16, LaGrange, TX to Mexican Hill Ranch, Richards, TX

 

Day 31 distance: 89 miles

Total miles:  1767 miles

Elevation gain: 1825 feet

Map of today's ride:

The weather for today's 89 mile ride from LaGrange, Texas, to the Mexican Hill Ranch, right outside of Richards, Texas, was great. The sun was out and when the wind came up, it was a moderate tailwind. However, the ride for me was not without an issue. About 45 miles into the ride, an unfamiliar squeak was heard coming from the rear wheel which turned out to be a cracked rear rim. In fact, an inspection revealed there were 14 cracks next to spoke holes. The following is a picture of the worst crack:

This shows the worst of the 14 rear wheel rim cracks, next to the spoke openings, on my Velocity A23 rim. The tire set was custom built at a cost of $740 for a cross country ride such as I am on. Velocity has been notified of the problem which could be due to a metallurgic failure, or, I am surmising, Velocity will say that someone over tightened the spokes either during their installation or during a routine truing of the rim. The wheels probably had over 6000 miles on them at the time of failure.

Fortunately, John Murphy with SAG support had a spare rear wheel along, and within an hour of the failure, our traveling bicycle mechanic had transferred my cassette to John's spare wheel, and I continued the ride from the point I had stopped. Amazing staff efficiency!

The rest of the ride was pleasant without incident. The ride was pretty with a very "Midwestern" look. I believe there were more flowers the past two days, but that will vary from day to day. We are in the process of leaving the flat ground of Central Texas and are beginning to get into the hills of East Texas, although according to Texans, we are still about 20 miles from "official" East Texas.

This photo with heavy shadows was taken a little before 8:00 am, a couple miles out of LaGrange, Texas.

We rode on almost all types of roads today, from farm roads like above, to a 6 mile stretch on a busy 4 lane highway.

About 5 years ago, C2C bicycle mechanic Chandler Otis, while riding his mechanic's vehicle on that day's C2C route through Carmine, Texas, stopped to help this man, Gene Goodsley, repair a flat tire on his bicycle. Chandler also trued his tires and adjusted his shifting. When completed, Gene asked Chandler what he could do for him, Chandler told him he would like a cup of coffee. Gene told Chandler that there was no coffee available in Carmine, so he went home and made Chandler a cup. Ever since then, Gene has been waiting for each year's coasters with a pot of coffee for all the riders. This year Bubba also bought donuts for everyone to have with the coffee. It was a real treat about 20 miles into the ride!

Burton, Texas, small town, USA.

The only field of flowers picture today. In this field, there were small yellow daisies mixed with the Indian Paintbrush. It was quite a sight!

An old log cabin in the Independence, Texas area, an area of significant Texas history.

This was a 44 mile lunch stop. Everyone made sandwiches in the morning at breakfast for their lunch. Note the four white columns thru the trees and followup in the next picture.

This monument is to mark the location of the original Baylor University site, the oldest University in the state of Texas, formed on February 1, 1845. Baylor apparently operated at this site until 1886.

A simple but clean entrance to this ranch site.

Your blogger in Navasota, Texas, next to the statue of  Frank Hamer, a famous Texas Ranger. At the age of 24, over a 4 year period, Hamer cleaned up the crime and corruption in Navasota. He went on to become, perhaps the most famous Texas Ranger of them all, culminating his career in leading the posse that tracked and killed Bonnie and Clyde in Louisiana.

Whoops! With the hills ahead it looks like we are getting close to East Texas!

At last, Indian Hills Ranch is in site. We are all ready for a day off tomorrow!

Tonight's menu.