Thirty Out Of a 100 is Not Bad

Saturday (5/2/2009) Olive-R, V and I participated in the Shiner GASP (Greater Austin Shiner Pedal), a 100 mile cycling event from Austin to the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX, benefiting the American Cancer Foundation. Man, it was a though day. The day was a warm, cloudy and very humid. Keep in mind that I had not touch a bicycle since the 24 miles in the Spoke N Spurs event last March.

The day started with my knee being really tight and turning into a slight pain after a few miles into the event. And what was suppose to be a fairly flat road turn out to be quite hilly. The first rest stop, came 17 miles into the ride and when I got there the stop was already packing up to close. At that point I was ready to get on the van and go to the finish line. Sadly, the van available was the turtle van, which follows the last rider. A bit too slow considering the 83 miles left to go, so I figured continuing to the next rest stop at mile 33 and catching a faster van on the way would be best. Somewhere around mile 29 I saw a van passing by and I waved it down. Turning out to be one my best ideas ever.

About a mile down the road I waved down V and she decided to get in as well, and then convinced the driver, Matt, to go back for Olive-R. At that point we were three out of 4 in the van, but the following 70 miles would proof how valuable our seats were. On the way to Shiner, we stopped to aid a rider that had fallen off his bike, we picked up a number of people and squished in a few more bikes in.

During the van ride we stop countless of times to find people that wanted a ride and there were no vans available to help. That was a common complaint, they only had 3 regular side vans covering the hundred mile stretch; while doing double duty, mechanical help as well as picking up people. The vans didn’t have any bike racks, so the bikes would take valuable space within the van. A fully loaded van could only carry 7 people at a time. Not good!

The stops offered cookies, PowerAde Bars and oranges not much compared to the Spoke N Spurs ride which had PB&J sandwiches, cookies, an assortment of fruits, candies and cakes. The Spoetzl Brewery was cool and we each got an option of Bratwurst or Shiner Sausage, I as most people chose one of each. I found it to be not enough food, specially for someone who just finished a 100 mile ride. We also got to try a number of their beers, but my favorite was their 100 years commemorative beer, a doppelbock called the ‘Shiner 100 Commemorator.’

Overall it was an eventful ride, but one I would not do again. I would also like to thank Olive-R dad’s for waiting for us at the finish line, even if we were too blind to find him when we got there.