Two of my friends met me in Mineral Wells, Texas, this morning for a training ride in the beautiful countryside west of Fort Worth. It was windy and overcast, but the temperature was good and there was no rain. Our goal was to put in a few miles in preparation for the upcoming rallies. Randy had a problem with a broken spoke (as I did two weeks ago), but Phil and I killed time by talking until he arrived. I chose a course from many years ago, which I call "Palo Pinto 58." Unfortunately, I forgot that it was 58 miles. I thought it was 48. By the time I realized this, we were well into the ride. Oh well, every bit of suffering now means less suffering later.
Ever heard of chip seal? It's a type of road surface. Cyclists hate it, because it makes for a rough ride and keeps one's speed down. Here are Phil (left) and Randy (right), waiting for me to finish taking a "natural break" alongside the fence. You can see how rough the road is. Here is the view from where I was doing my business. Here are Phil and Randy at the finish. They are leashed to their wives. It's disgraceful. They weren't off their bikes for five seconds before checking in.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 
