The Iceman’s Challenge

December 3, 2016, marked the third running of the Iceman's Challenge, a gravel race and endurance ride from the Talbert Ranch in China Spring, Texas. This year, the ride consisted of an 82 mile race and 82, 61, 48 and 31 mile non-competitive "pursuits." I completed the 82-mile pursuit event. The ride organizers bill the …

This . . .

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you …

Tour das Hugel (or Now is the Time on Sprockets When we Climb)

I first heard about Austin's Tour das Hugel from friends in 2015. Joyce said that she heard it was incredibly difficult. Mike said that he only rode a portion of the route and that he had horrible leg cramps afterward. I'd been to Austin many times but I didn't remember seeing any hills or even noticing …