KSH & others in Dallas area

[pooks]

Where do you ride, other than White Rock?

I'm ready to bust out of the local area/neighborhood but don't know where to begin!

[TexasMermaid]

Hey there, I usually ride with Carrollton Cycling Club (http://www.carrolltoncycling.com/) on Mon and Wed nights in Irving/Las Colinas. Monday night there is a no-drop ride but on Wednesday it is every cyclist for her/himself. Usually on Wednesday the big group breaks into smaller groups of varying speeds. I am usually in the group averaging 15-18 mph but that also depends on how windy it is (wind = Texas hills)! Come out on a Monday for the no-drop until you get to know the area (unless you already feel comforable with the area). The folks are very nice and Irving Bible Church is especially nice to allow us to park in the far side of their parking lot.

Richardson Bike Mart (http://bikemart.com/page.cfm?PageID=461) has some group rides as well. I've not ridden with them before, so have no idea what their rides are like.

Right now I'm preparing to ride in the Muenster Germanfest ride (http://www.nortexinfo.net/gfest/bike.htm) on April 28th in Muenster, TX. It is up north near Gainesville and a ton of fun, with rolling hills that we don't see much up here in North TX. After all the hills, you can stay for Germanfest and the wonderful food and not feel guilty about eating it! :D

I hope it's ok to post the links above - I have no relationship with any of the groups or store other than knowledge of them and the activities. I just wanna ride and have fun. :) - Jennifer

[KSH]

Thanks for the reminder about the Carrollton Cycling Club. I need to check out the no drop on Mondays, when the weather is bad on Tuesdays (as it has been).

Pooks, I ride with the Greater Dallas Bicyclists. http://www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/

They have MANY rides to choose from. Depending on your average, you will typically always find someone to ride with at any given ride.

RBM does have rides, but honestly... I wasn't too keen on them. Most of the people were too fast and no one cared if someone got dropped. With the GDB people know me and typically notice if I'm not around. I know I can count on my cycling club buddies to keep an eye out for me, which is nice.

I ususally ride all weekend long, but it changes up where I ride depending what I have scheduled that day.

For example, last Sunday I had to ride 20 miles and run 3 miles, so I headed out to WRL and skipped cycling with the club.

This coming Sunday, I'll be out volunteering at the Play Tri from 6-10 AM. Once that's done, I am going to ride around Las Colinas with a friend for 25-30 miles and then head back to cheer on some buddies crossing the finish line.

If you ever want to ride, shoot me an IM. I will give you my phone number.

[KSH]

Right now I'm preparing to ride in the Muenster Germanfest ride on April 28th in Muenster, TX. It is up north near Gainesville and a ton of fun, with rolling hills that we don't see much up here in North TX. After all the hills, you can stay for Germanfest and the wonderful food and not feel guilty about eating it!


Oh yea, I remember this ride from last year. I had thought about it, but passed because of the HORRIBLE weather that day.

I'm going to put this on my calendar. 11:00 AM start time.. I'm SOLD!

Thanks for the reminder.

[pooks]

Thanks, both of you! Great info!

I also found this link which was pretty helpful:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/trails/more.html

It shows many bike trails in the Dallas area.

Also, even though I have yet to get to actually ride any of them, I'm loving this book:

Best Bike Rides in Texas. (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Bike-Rides-Texas-2nd/dp/0762701668/ref=sr_1_1/103-1320337-9715045?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176935377&sr=8-1)

There are some great sounding ones. I'd particularly love to do the Autumn Trails in Winnsboro or the Glen Rose ride (complete with dinosaur tracks -- we camp down there at Dinosaur Valley a lot so that would be a great weekend).

Oh yeah, KSH -- let me get a road bike and see where I stand. Right now I'm way too slow for you. But give me a little time and maybe I'll be able to give you that call!

[crazybikinchic]

I didn't actually do the Muenster ride a few years ago, but I rode with a group along that route. It was my first time on my road bike, with 20-30 mph wind. The first 20 of it in a head wind. Once we got to the cross wind, we went down this steep hill. I would have normally loved it, but 20-30 mph cross wind. I was afraid that I was going to fall and bust it. Unfortunately, my Mom if having a heart cath on the 27 and I will not be attending this year. Maybe next.

[cosc]

Pooks, I would like to go with you on the Glen Rose ride. I went to church camp there as a youngin. Beautiful country.