Sat. Ride Jim K?

[dan]

Hey, Jim, we talked about riding tomorrow. I'm game. Wassup???

[Weegster]

Time?

Route?

Meeting Place?

[dan]

Originally posted by Weegster
Time?

Route?

Meeting Place?

Around 9:00 a.m.

I'd like to try the 26 mile Helotes Loop (Helotes, FM 1560, FM 411, Hwy 211, Hwy 16 back to Helotes), as this looks to be my primary future fitness route, but Hell, I'm game for anything that you think a newbie beginner on a new bike can handle. No Bataan death climbs, please!

Meet across from Hank's Helotes Bicycle.

Let me know what you're up for riding. It's gotta be a morning ride for me due to P.M. commitments.

[Weegster]

Originally posted by dan
Meet across from Hank's Helotes Bicycle.

Where is Hanks Bike Shop?

[dan]

Originally posted by Weegster


Where is Hanks Bike Shop?

Downtown Old Helotes, next to Floore's Country Store. You've never been out to see Hank at Helotes Bicycle and all his old bikes? :D

[dan]

Finally got in a good road ride on the road bike by riding the Helotes Loop. The weather was excellent; however, the freakin wind absolutely sucked! Plenty o calories burned riding in the face of Ma Nature. One thing learned: That stealth fighter gimicky-looking POS Body Geometry saddle has got to go. I could have attached one of Jimmy's flat rocks to the seat post and been more comfortable. :eek: Before the next ride I'll swap the Selle Italia gel flite from the mtb and give it a try.

[George]

The deal with the body geometry or any other "happy johnson" saddle isn't that they are supposed to be more comfortable- IMO they're not. It's that they are supposed to displace the discomfort to a more durable region (i.e. from soft tissue to the 'sit bones' a.k.a. ischial tuberosities).

Marketing fluff or not, speaking as someone who experienced a similar situation two years ago and warned by my urologist that "cycling might no longer be for me," I switched to the Body Geometry saddle after consulting with him and was eventually able to continue cycling. (I have since switched to the Terry Fly and find it a bit more comfortable.)

Granted, my situation wasn't the norm (I am a heavier rider with less than Tour de France quality pedal technique and therefore, place more weight on the saddle rather than pedals and handlebar) but I don't think its totally extraordinary.

TMI dictates I not get into details, but if you really wanna know, all sense of modesty, humility and decorum were lost during diagnosis and treatment and I have no hesitations sharing my misery, hehehe.

In short, I would gladly pay even $200 for a good body geometry-type saddle than go through what I went through.

[Jim_K]

Sorry I am just now getting back to you on this. Had a bad cold last week and didn't get out to ride or to work for that matter. I'll be able to get out next weekend if you're up to it...

[dan]

Originally posted by Jim_K
Sorry I am just now getting back to you on this. Had a bad cold last week and didn't get out to ride or to work for that matter. I'll be able to get out next weekend if you're up to it...

I was wondering what happened to you! Next weekend looks possible right now. Let's talk it up next week! :cool:

[Jim_K]

Roger that...

[Weegster]

KOOBI!!!!!

Koobi Saddles are IT!!!!

www.koobi.com

I have on both MTB, and Road Missile...:D

[dan]

Originally posted by Weegster
KOOBI!!!!!

Koobi Saddles are IT!!!!

www.koobi.com

I have on both MTB, and Road Missile...:D

What model are you using on the road? Who sells em? Thanks!

[Weegster]

Dan,

Go to www.koobi.com

They ONLY sell over the web...I have the "Silver" on both the "Battle Axe" (AKA: MTB), and my Road Missile...

They are SCHWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

Also, their Customer Service ROCKS!

[data]

They are also a Platinum level sponsor of the TMBRA spring and fall series, they give out the seats in the beginner raffles! Think I saw some as sport prizes last fall also.

[TXRAiDR]

Where's Helotes in relation to Marion?

[Jeff]

Helotes is about five minutes N.W of San Antonio on Bandera highway 16.

[TXRAiDR]

That's right, I remember now. HWY 16, isn't that also the Poteet Hwy? I always remember Helotes being farther away fro some reason. Guess San Antone is growing up.....

[George]

Don't get the wrong idea.... though Helotes is in fact only 5 minutes from San Antonio, that's assuming you are already up at 1604 and Hwy 16. From downtown SA, the drive will take a cool 30 to 45 minutes to navigate through traffic-- longer during rush hour.

Technically speaking, yes, it is the same Hwy 16 that takes you down to Poteet but the two stretches of road essentially just share the same name. If you ever tried to follow the route from Helotes to Poteet via "Hwy 16," you will probably get totally confused, if not lost as its all bass-ackward and there are much faster, more direct routes.

[Jim_K]

OK Dan,
Watcha wanna do? You up for a Saturday AM ride?
Anyone else?

[TXRAiDR]

When and where are you guys rolling out from? I'll be in SA this weekend.

Ruben

[dan]

Originally posted by Jim_K
OK Dan,
Watcha wanna do? You up for a Saturday AM ride?
Anyone else?

Damn my right shoulder! I think it's tendonitis that's flared way up since last weekend, and I'm taking prescribed Mobic to make it go away. Feels like it's starting to kick in but I don't want to push my luck.

[Jim_K]

Sorry to hear that Dan, hope you're feeling better soon..
I'm still up for a ride if anyone else wants to go.
Jeff? Ruben? George?

[TXRAiDR]

I'm game. Are you all riding in Helotes? If so, I'll scan the thread for directions. Also, is the 9:00 roll out still the time?

[Jim_K]

We're thinking the Mission Trails, I'll keep you posted...

[Scott Mc.]

Ya know Jim K I can remember a day when you would ride the trails with me at Mc. Now you bag my team at the 12 hr, and then you won't ride on any dirt with me on saturday? What is up???
:D:D:D:D:D:D

PS -- I hope to get my road bike this week and will definitely want to ride with you guys next saturday or so.

[Jim_K]

Damnit Scott, bitchin' again I see...(hehe)
Actually I've been riding Mac during the week in the mornings and road riding on Monday mornings with Jeff usually. This weekend I was trying to hook up with Dan.
Cathy decided she wants to road ride now so she's getting my new bike and my newer bike should be ready by next Friday. I'm going to try and get her out on the road bike tomorrow weather permitting.

Soooooo, I'll be looking for you next weekend on the road...

[TXRAiDR]

Sounds good. Let me know what you all decide. I'll bring both the skinny tire bike and the fat tire bike home this weekend.

[Jim_K]

OK I'll send you a PM later, I'm thinking about 10AM for the ride start. do you know where mission park is?

[Jim_K]

Map (http://www.teamcure.org/MtMmapstart.jpg)

Here's a map showing directions to the park. I would like to do this ride tomorrow. Sound good??

[TXRAiDR]

Yeah, I'm familiar with where the park is at. I've printed out the map too. If I'm reading this right, and let me know if I am or not, we'll be riding out from White Rd & Padre. Near Mission San Jose. Is there a preferred type of bike on this ride, or can I get by on my road bike? The 10:00AM roll out is good for me. I'll be driving to SA in about 2-3 hours once I get off of work.

[Jim_K]

I'd base the bike on the weather, if it's wet, take the mtb. If it's dry, bring the road bike or whatever you prefer. I just heard from George, he will be there too and knows that side of town better than I. I'll most likely be on the mtb since Cathy will be riding the road bike (unless it's wet)

[Jim_K]

Oh yeah,
Actually the park is right on the other side of the river as you're going south on White road. The way I go is:
Take the Southcross exit off IH37 South
Go south on Southcross to Presa and make a left
Make a right on to White Rd. and the park is on the left after you cross over the SA River.
You actually have to go down the street a little bit after you cross the river and turn left, the park entrance is right there...
See ya' manana!

[dan]

[sniff....sniff] Have a great ride guys (and gal)! I hope to be fit for Flat Rock trail work next weekend - and then primed and ready for LAJITAS!!! :D

[TXRAiDR]

Good deal. See ya there!

[Jim_K]

Hey Dan,
Let's try again maybe next weekend if you're up to it. If not the next weekend for sure!!:cool:

[George]

Cool deal... I'll be there!

While most of the trail south of the park is really nice for a road bike, I honestly think a roadbike is overkill. There are good stretches of road where a roadbike could really earn it's keep, but other trail users and street crossings can inhibit speed, making a mountain bike more ideal for it. Also, I have had the worst luck the last couple of months with flats on my skinny tires.

Don't get me wrong though, any bike will work fine out there. The whole Mission Trail system is only 12-13 miles long beginning at the Alamo downtown all the way to Mission Espada so a full loop is roughly 24 miles. But if we start at Mission County Park and just limit ourselves to points south, then we are looking at only 15 or so miles unless we add some detours in around Mission Espada south of 410 (a must do if we are on roadies).

I would definitely recommend not going any further north than Mission Concepcion though (about 2-3 miles north of Mission County Park) if you are on a road bike. The roads after that are pretty rough and, IMO, do the entire Mission Trail system a great disservice (not to mention, the dedicated trail is replaced by regular traffic-laden roadways).

In any case, because I live on that side of town, the Mission trail is where I proverbialy cut my teeth riding bikes, hence I know it and the surrounding area pretty well. I'd be glad to give y'all the tour.

[Jim_K]

Awesome George,
Let's maybe do some southward exploration...
I think if we go by the Aquaduct, we can catch Old Corpus Christi Hwy and can do 181 or 37S if everyones up to it.:cool:

[Scott Mc.]

You guys are great! Since I am getting a new road bike this week, I want to get a few trail miles before the road comes and I forget to ride the mtb.

Put me down for your next sat. ride though!

I will keep checking the boards for your schedules.:D

[George]

Originally posted by Jim_K
Awesome George,
Let's maybe do some southward exploration...
I think if we go by the Aquaduct, we can catch Old Corpus Christi Hwy and can do 181 or 37S if everyones up to it.:cool:

Sure, I usually include the aquaduct bypass into the "loop" down to Espada. The 181 and 37S sections are fine too, but a roadbike would be best for those parts as it's more monotonous road mileage.


Originally posted by Scott Mc.
You guys are great! Since I am getting a new road bike this week, I want to get a few trail miles before the road comes and I forget to ride the mtb.

Put me down for your next sat. ride though!

I will keep checking the boards for your schedules.


Excellent Scott, would love to have you join us.

[TXRAiDR]

Okay, I'm going to bring the skinny bike (road bike). Seeing as how I have a race the next day, I'll use this as my time ride. See you all there!