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Tour De Gap, Buffalo Gap, TX

July 28, 2007

Yesterday was the 2007 running of the Tour De Gap and I was told by a volunteer sitting at a laptop in the finishing area that close to 300 riders participated. Goldilocks would have loved the weather as it was not to hot and not to cold...just right. The course is run south from Buffalo Gap and is on roads that are either remote country farm roads or roads with very wide shoulders. On the way back north you go through one of the biggest windmill farms in the world on hwy 277. Very scenic and nice. A sheriff's vehicle was on patrol for the riders the entire day with a flashing light. Stops are staffed by friendly volunteers and provide the needed fruit, fig newtons, and cold water. At the finish you could have all the barbeque brisket, hotdogs, corn on the cob and watermelon you could eat. This is a great ride; the best I've done this year, and I've done Peach Pedal, Stephensville, Commanche, and a few others.

July 2006

I’d ridden Stephenville recently and a lot of Abilene cyclists were telling me how great the roads were in their area and I should come ride Tour de Gap in a couple of weeks.
So I did.
Just over three hour drive from Dallas and got a room in Abilene and had a pasta carb load at a nice, quaint local Italian food restaurant that night. The next morning checked out and drove 10 miles south to Buffalo Gap (pop. 450) which is where the ride starts/ends.
This was the 23rd Tour de Gap the announcer said. There were maybe 200 riders. It was a prize money race so it had a fast front group. The 70 mile (one I rode) route is down south and then back north. Going south is descending and coming back on the second half is to the north and uphill. Good layout since that time of year wind should be out of the south. (As it turned out we had a strong north wind and 40 miles uphill into the wind was tough).
On the second half you are climbing toward a ridge with hundreds of high-tech 3 propeller windmills. In the entire 70 mile course (except in the last few miles of the end) I don’t remember seeing any building – house our store.
Rest stops were every 30 miles apart and supplied with just the very basics. They ran out of bananas fast. Bring a camel back and water bottles and food/shots.
But it was a very friendly ride. Pace lines formed up and fell apart due to the conditions of wind and hills. It was one of those rides where everyone seemed to be a stranger to each other but giving a hand (pulling, offering a water bottle, handing a bonker a shot) as best as each could to just get through it. Toward the end there was much conversation and acknowledging a tough, but good ride.
Afterwards there was barbeque and socializing under big trees and tables.
The buzz was that Landis had won the time trial and had the yellow jersey.
I can definitely recommend Tour de Gap. But be ready for a tough one.