Anyone from the FtW / Dallas area riding in this event, or rode in the one last year? This will likely be my first organized road event, and I'm curious as to the level of support, course, and overall enjoyment factor. Since it is sponsored by the Ticket, it should be entertaining at least.


Tour de Pants link (http://www.theticket.com/tourdepants.htm)

Anyone from the FtW / Dallas area riding in this event, or rode in the one last year? This will likely be my first organized road event, and I'm curious as to the level of support, course, and overall enjoyment factor. Since it is sponsored by the Ticket, it should be entertaining at least.


Tour de Pants link (http://www.theticket.com/tourdepants.htm)

I intend to ride this ride this year. I did not ride it last year because it was on the same weekend as the Goatneck in Cleburne last year. They changed the ride to the first weekend of August this year and it clashes with the ride in Deleon. I did that one last year but if I had to compare reviews and choose between the two, I would opt for the more challenging course and that is the one at PK.

For reviews of this ride...and others in North Texas try http://www.bicycle-stuff.com

That's the same weekend as the Melon Patch Tour. I went last year and enjoyed it a lot.

That's the same weekend as the Melon Patch Tour. I went last year and enjoyed it a lot.

I did it (The Melon Patch Tour) last year year too. Somewhere around 25 miles, me and another rider followed the other riders. The other riders were funneled from a shorter route earlier and were turning right at a rest stop. As I approached the rest stop, we were waved to go right. We did and found out at the next rest stop that we took the shorter course. Instead of turning around and instead of turning right and heading back into town, me and the other rider headed down the highway the wrong way back to the town of Carbon. While riding through town, we encountered the lead pack, who didn't turn right earlier, let them pass and we turned around. It started to rain as we approached the finish.

Generally it (The Melon Patch Tour) was a fiasco for me. It wasn't their fault, if I would have looked at the map, I would have known better. I just chose the more challenging ride this year so I am doing TDP that weekend instead.

[QUOTE=frogsuit]Anyone from the FtW / Dallas area riding in this event, or rode in the one last year? This will likely be my first organized road event, and I'm curious as to the level of support, course, and overall enjoyment factor. Since it is sponsored by the Ticket, it should be entertaining at least.
Tour de Pants link (http://www.theticket.com/tourdepants.htm)[/QUOTE

I'm planning on doing this ride as a tune up for the HH100. It's a bit far from my house (130 miles one way), but I've missed a few rides due to illness in my family. Looks like it might be a fun ride and I'm looking forward to it.

How challenging is "challenging"? I keep seeing this description of the TdPK route. The reason why I ask is that with this being my first road rally in all, I'm not so confident in my abilities, esp. on long climbs. Reading the reviews has spooked me a little. Plus, although I am confident I have the aerobic fitness level and the leg strength to do the 42 mi., I've never spent more than 2 hrs. on the bike, and my typical rides are on the flats of the Trinity River trail. I will also note that I've spent the last week riding in Colorado hi country... no passes, but I did pull myself up and down some pretty fair climbs, although it was ugly. In the opinion of those who've done the PK route: will this be too trying for my first long group ride? Another tidbit: I ride a MTB frame with slicks on it, so I'm pulling a bit more weight with more work than someone with an ultralite road bike.

Someone talk me off of the ledge here....

Just do it. These road rallies are for pushing yourself a little. There's a bit of momentum created by the crowd that helps push you along. There will be plenty of well stocked rest stops. Five minutes of rest can really do a lot for you if you are getting tired. Your mountain bike gearing will get you up any hill you come across with ease. 42 miles is a real fun distance. Have fun!

Just do it.


Cue the Nike commercial music.....

http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/reviews/index.htm

I will be there. Not looking forward to having to get up at 4:30 to get way the heck out there on time, but it should be fun. I don't think it is supposed to be as challenging as the Goatneck 100K, which I just completed this past weekend, so I am looking forward to it.

Has anyone else done both that can compare the two?

Has anyone else done both that can compare the two?
OK, now I have done both, so I can answer my own question. The TDP was by far more challenging. Maybe because it rained for about 2 hours of the ride, or maybe because there was a 20 mile stretch of the roughest road surface I have ever ridden on. But in terms of staging an event, the Goatneck is far and away the best. At the TDP, the rest stops were all out of food by the time a slow guy like me got to them. I bonked with about 15 miles to go because I had not taken enough food along and the rest stops were out. I know it is my fault for not being prepared, but I have been spoiled by great rides such as the Collin Classic and the Goatneck having well-stocked rest stops. Anyway, it will probably be my last TDP. It is a long way to drive to get the crap beat out of you by those roads.

OK, now I have done both, so I can answer my own question. The TDP was by far more challenging. Maybe because it rained for about 2 hours of the ride, or maybe because there was a 20 mile stretch of the roughest road surface I have ever ridden on. But in terms of staging an event, the Goatneck is far and away the best. At the TDP, the rest stops were all out of food by the time a slow guy like me got to them. I bonked with about 15 miles to go because I had not taken enough food along and the rest stops were out. I know it is my fault for not being prepared, but I have been spoiled by great rides such as the Collin Classic and the Goatneck having well-stocked rest stops. Anyway, it will probably be my last TDP. It is a long way to drive to get the crap beat out of you by those roads.

Good to know. Please post a review on that site I linked above, so that others can see that as they decide what rides to do. Sorry it didn't go well for you.

But as noted above, I've never done any other organized ride, so nothing really to compare it to. I will admit that the road was pretty bad in spots, the rest stops didn't have a great deal of variety, and the start was delayed for 30 mins. But all in all, I found it very enjoyable. I did the 41 mi route, which was different than the 75 mi (which I assume you did based on your time/mileage discussion below), and I guess the rain was hit and miss, b/c I just got a light rain, only enough to cool things off. The weather was fantastic for riding (overcast, 70's), which is unheard of for Texas in August. I thought the hills were extremely challenging, but nothing that I couldn't overcome. Part of the problem with the amount of food was probably due to the large amount of walkups they had for the event. On the radio this AM they said they had 350 preregistered, but ended up with about 650 total riders.

For my first experience, it was definitely a good time for me, and I will probably do it again. And if this was a poorly organized compared to others, then I look forward to other rides that may even be more enjoyable!

Yes, I did the 75 mile route. I never saw a map so I don't know where the 41 mile route went, but I don't think you hit the road that people were so upset about. And the drenching rain was on the west side of the lake. so you probably avoided that too.

To be fair, there were good things about it. The party after the ride was great, and you can't complain about free food and beer. The Ticket does know how to throw a party, I'll give them that. Maybe next year I will go out and do the 41 mile route and spend more time sitting around and drinking beer. :)

I found this to be a ride that in the future will be amongst the most popular in north Texas. I have done 15 tours this year and found this ride to be right up there with the Goatneck. It is a ways out to make the drive from DFW but I will do this ride again as long as I am able.

I was very certain this would be a challenging ride and I was not dissapointed. The terrain was wonderful with the many climbs. The weather, although a little wet, was just right and the wind was light and didn't present any great challenge.(In June, the Cow Country 100 had 55 miles of drenching rain, nothing like the drizzle in the early sections of the TDP)

This ride had a lot of very fast riders so I wasn't able to keep up for very long once hit the "good" road after the opening stretch. I found the that all the climbs made me focus on the ride rather than the conditions because I was having so much fun negotiating the terrain. There was one hill about halfway that just shot up about 150 feet straight up that looked intimidating as hell but with the right gear, it was not too hard. I had some some good folks to ride with after 35 miles and that helped to ease the burden and really helped me maintain a good pace.

The hills were just right to be a big confidence builder for me. A little patience goes a long way. Maybe next year, I will try the Meunster ride and The Beauty & The Beast rides. It poured on both of those rides this year so I didn't do them.

I thought this was the best ride of the year.

I did the 40 mile ride. It was very challenging. There is no way to simulate some of those hills where I live. The last climb going back into The Cliffs was pure torture. I was disappointed in the rest stops. Only 2 for 40 miles. The first stop was okay with cookies, oranges, bananas and powerade to drink. By the time I got to the 2nd stop all that was left was semi-cold water. I was not at the end of the pack either. The festivities after the ride were great! Chopped beef sandwiches,bar-b-qd chicken, potato salad and cole slaw to eat and free beer and soft drinks. I will definitely do it again next year.