This morning I was going to head over to Georgetown and ride with a group of Cyclopaths training for the Hotter than Hell 100. However, at 6 a.m. Jack was sick and that threw my schedule out of whack. I still had a small chance to get out to Georgetown for the 7 am start and try to catch up with them, but I needed to download the route to my Garmin. For some reason I couldn't get it to download to the device. After several attempts and no success. I set off for a local ride. I started rolling with no route plan, just knowing that I needed to get 4 hours in on the bike. As I headed south a plan started to develop. I thought maybe the Dam Loop would be good. Most Austin riders are aware of the Dam Loop route, it's an Austin favorite. I wasn't satisfied with just the plain jane Dam loop route. So submitted for your approval, I give you the Gawd Dam Loop.
My version for the most part is the same, at least all the major roads are the same. On the Gawd Dam Loop it also includes the following hills that are accessible right from 360. First on the list is Bluegrass. Bluegrass is across from Spicewood Springs road.
Up next is a right turn on Lakewood and then a left on Beauford. This is one steep hill, to top it off the road has a weird groove. This made for a bumpy ride. I tried to ride in the gutter, it was smooth there, but that was a bad move. As the hill got steeper it was a bit harder to stay in the 6 inch lane. At one point I almost ran into the curb. I ventured back on the the pavement up to the top. Beauford is an exceptional hill. It's hard to say how it compares to Jester as by the time I went up Jester I'd already climbed to difficult hills.
Once I got up Beauford I bombed down the other side (Jester). And then proceeded back up. Going up my legs sure stung. Once I got to the top it was back down again to 2222 and pick up 360 to Courtyard. Yeah you read ride, next up was Courtyard.
My first time up Courtyard was pure misery. Of course it was at the end of a hill ride. This time was much better. I felt good going up it and was quite pleased to have conquered 4 of Austin's better known quad busters.
The excitement didn't last long once I got down Courtyard and headed back on 360. I realized I still had the uphill portion of 360 left along with Bee Caves and lastly the Dam hills on 620.
As best as I can tell by adding the hills to the route it increases the ascent from 2789 to 4000 feet. If you want a different variation of the Dam Loop than throw in any of these hills for your own Gawd Dam Loop.
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