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Oklahoma Bicycle Society Streak

September 2005

The Oklahoma Bicycle Society heavily promoted this year's Streak at the Hotter Than Hell 100. I decided to ride the Streak along with my daughter and future son-in-law while on a weekend visit to see them at college. With a wide list of sponsors and a nicely packaged set of promotional materials, I expected a large well supported ride. In reality, the Streak is an overgrown club ride with about 600 riders scattered over 4 courses. Traffic control was provided only on the ride out and from then on riders were on their own at intersections. I rode the 100K route and there were long stretches of the course where I couldn't see another rider for miles. The ride back was downright scary as the course route took us along a very busy set of narrow 2 lane roads with no shoulders and 2 left turns across wide highways. We encountered several very busy urban intersections where your only option was to clip out, stop, pray and wait 2 to 3 minutes for the light change. On the positive side, the course passed through some pretty rural countryside (with plenty of hills, one after another, after another, after another) and the OBS did a good job with the rest stops and sag support. This was my first 100K and I've pretty much vowed to stick to the well supported big boys (HHH100, Goatneck, etc.) for future longer rides. I really appreciate the efforts of the OBS organizers, but this ride was a little scary for my conservative tastes.

 I not being a member of the Oklahoma Bicycle Society first of all so I am not up on all the politics associated with this group. However, I do know this, the 2005 Streak Route is a newly selected route. I’m sure it has a few problems much like any other ride in it’s infancy. This route as I understand it rivals the Hotter than Hell route as far as weather conditions and route. Were there some areas that could have been better selected?? Probably. Everyone should realize this ride is put on by all volunteers. There are no paid positions for this ride or the OBS unlike HHH.
This was the first year the Streak has been routed through the east side of the county. In years past it was routed through the west side and across the wind blown plains. It is very difficult to come up with a 100 mile route on the west side of town as there just isn’t that many paved roads out that way. So the Eastern route was selected.
I would expect this ride to become better with time so don’t give up on it yet.