Fitzhugh

I spent seven hours on the same road yesterday. Riding for the majority of it. Running for the rest. A necessary long day, goes by quickly at first, then drags on until it seems like it will never end. An exercise for mind and body.

Fitzhugh road is a rather insignificant two-lane road southwest of Austin. About a 20 minute drive outside the city itself. Quiet. Full of churches. Looks as I imagine much of Texas was like in the 1930's. Sprawling. Animals grazing. Trucks parked in driveways. A fair amount of roadkill. Perfect for riding.

Unlike the Dam Loop, or many of the other rides I do around Austin, cars and traffic lights aren't an issue on Fitzhugh road, because there simply aren't any of them. Instead, you just deal with hills [lots of them] and the wind [lots of that, too]. Dealing with the latter makes you a better rider. Dealing with the former make you pissed off and nothing more.

The ride on Fitzhugh is simple. The way I like rides. Out and back. 30 miles one way. Stop at a gas station. Turn around. 30 miles back the other way. Stop at the other gas station. So simple that even I can't mess it up and get lost.

As you can see [courtesy of mapmyride.com], stunningly simple. You'll notice a little red dot on the course, at about halfway. Those are the real treats of the ride. Climbs that force you into the small chain ring, get your heart rate high, legs burning. Like any out-and-back course, you know that any hill you climb you get to go down, and that any hill you go down, you get to climb. Fun.

That's about it. Just a nice ride, that takes you by ranches [Wright ranch is my favorite. Because then I know I'm five minutes from being done], and past donkeys and goats. You also see cool street signs. Pioneer Trail. Trail Driver. Silver Fox road.

Wish more of my rides took place on roads like this.