On Friday for my commute home I decided to take a different route. I had the bright idea of going home via Bluegrass. I had ridden up it the week before so going home on this new route shouldn't be a problem. In fact mileage wise it is the shortest distance from my house to the office on Far West at 15 miles. There was one thing I didn't count on, 100 degree weather!
When I started my climb up Bluegrass I noticed that this time it was a bit more difficult than on Saturday mornings ride up it. I made it up and at the top grabbed my water bottle only to find it was already hot. So I grabbed my second one that I had frozen in the freezer, not only had it melted but it too was teetering on the warm to hot level, it was not going to provide the cool thirst quenching hydration that I longed for. I pulled out my directions that I had on my iPhone and pushed on. I started to notice every so often that I'd hear a clicking sound, more like a sticky sound like I'd rolled through gum or tar. I kept weaving through the neighborhoods, stopping for water and to check my directions and noticing that there was tar or hot asphalt in sections of the road. Unfortunately, I missed a turn and once again rolled through the black sticky substance. This time some of the road debris stuck to my front tire. I couldn't get it off quick enough and the damage was done, I got a flat. As I was changing the flat it finally dawned on this Northern boy that the road was melting from the heat!
I liked this alternative route and I'll through it into my commute every so often. It offers about 1000 feet more climbing compared to my other route. It is a little over a mile shorter and has less traffic for the most part as well.
Now that I've been riding in 100+ degree heat I think it's safe to say I'm getting acclimated to the Texas heat. Hopefully when winter rolls around I'll still have thick enough skin so I can still ride in shorts and short sleeve jerseys when it drops into the 40s (If you can call that winter). Last winter everybody thought I was crazy when I'd show up for group rides dressed in shorts and a short sleeve jersey.
Aug 4, 2008 at 8:54 AM You gotta love the melting roads. That's awesome. That's a good looking hill too. How long is it?
Aug 4, 2008 at 1:45 PM Bluegrass is fairly short, it's only about .3 miles from the base to the main crest. The average gradient is 13.5% and the Max gradient is 20.5%. The picture is taken down at the base, the real steepness happens as you turn around the corner (which is not pictured), next time I'll try to get a picture at that point, I think it will better capture it's steepness.