This is the first time I've been to Bastrop State Park. It really is a beautiful stretch of road (well, for Texas -- the average wooded North Bay road gives it a run for its money, although even then it holds up well.)

I had intended to get out early enough to do the route out-and-back twice, for 50 miles, but I was lazy getting it together today so I just did it once. None of the hills are long, at all, but many of them are steep enough that I was standing. Never for more than 20-30 seconds at a time, but frequently. My thighs were definitely burning by the end. In fact, my right calf started to cramp fairly aggressively by the end, even drinking some half-strength Clif drink that had more sodium than most.

Apparently 15.4 is my magic average speed, which is kind of too bad because it's not very fast. I'd love something more like 17+. I wonder if I'm training optimally, or if I should really be working in different ways to be a faster cyclist.