Thirty Degrees to Thirty Miles Tailwind: Conquering Texas to Van Horn

March 15, 2025 - 99 miles, 2200 ft elevation, Fabens, TX to Van Horn, TX

With Suzzy and 3 kids visiting and Joe joining for a few days, the routine was knocked off kilter a bit.  We had 100 miles to do and had to get up early to from the family to the hotel in Fabens where the bike group was staying.

Suzzy dropped us and we started off at 7:45. It was in the 30s, the coolest start that we've had.

Joe and Terry enjoying the 100 miler

After several downhill miles into the wind getting through Fabens, we turned left and got the light winds largely to our backs for a few dozen miles.  It was a generous start for Joe’s first 100 mile day.  Then at mile 45, we turned directly into the wind for a nice 5 mile uphill stretch.  Maybe it was just the headwind but it seemed like the wind was picking up.  Then, we got on I-10 for a few miles before taking a strange gravel path off the interstate to a Frontage Road.  We had a nice 10 miles uphill for about 1000 ft to make sure Joe earned his lunch.  It was so cold at lunch we had to eat inside the van.

After lunch, we cruised downhill and turned onto an amazing 30 mile stretch of 20+ mph sustained winds with larger gusts.  After having done our uphill, much of this was a slight downhill where going 25 was easy without peddling.  Joe’s first 100-miler was in the bag as the tailwind carried us to 90 miles without a fight.  Then, we had to get on I-10 again to get us into Van Horn for the last 10 miles.  To no big surprise, I got flat number 5 at mile 93, this time a slow leak that was able to pump up 4x between mile 93 and the finish.  For sake of good order, Joe added a mile at the end to officially put 100 miles in the record books.  Great job Joe!

Arriving into Van Horn, TX, a defunct Flea Market