I live in South Austin (Mopac and William Cannon/ Davis area) and am looking for some decent bike routes. I’ve done the Mopac tt loop, Southwest Pkwy, the Veloway, 290 to Mopac to Barton Springs to blah blah blah and return, up 360 to spicewood springs and back down. But I’m looking for some more options.
I’d like to find a decent 3.5 hour (50-60 miles changing terrain. Not a total suffer fest training ride, but not coasting either) route that is safe on a weekday afternoon.
And, more importantly, for this Sunday, a really fun and scenic 2 hour ride. For this ride I’m not concerned with getting in the car and driving out to our ride spot. This one is mainly about having a great time on our bikes before indulging in Easter dinner and baskets full of chocolate bad ideas. Bear in mind that I’ll be dragging S. Pinkfontaine and another slowtwitcher around on my back wheel! Hahahahahaha!!
Thanks for your suggestions!! I can’t wait to see what you come up with and where you guys ride!
What’s wrong with 360 to 2244/Bee Caves Road, then right to the Dam and back (or is that all developed now?) When I lived there a while back this had a super wide shoulder for the entire length of the ride.
Personally, I like riding on 360. I like the wide shoulders, the rolling hills, and it’s a good view. But, to my training partner, that much traffic for a sustained period of time tends to freak her out. It’s not fun for anyone if one person spends the entire ride feeling shell-shocked.
I meant turn onto Bee Cave Road out to Bee Cave. Then turn right onto 620 (or for lots of adventure, go west on 71 and continue or go onto Hamilton Pool Road). But after reviewing a little bit on Google Streetviews realize the shoulder is quite a bit narrower on 620 so probably a no go with your partner.
Thanks though! I may check it out if I get to head out on a solo ride one of these days. We are getting ready for the Gulf Coast 70.3 in May, so our training protocols are fairly specific right now. I’m really looking forward to easing back on the throttle a bit, enjoying the early Austin summer on my bike, and exploring new rides once this race is done. Although, I’m gonna find that the Rev3 Cedar Point 140.6 is gonna be looming on the schedule…
Fitzhugh Flog is a great one. it’s off SW Pkwy and Travis Country. Light traffic and good hills but nothing crazy.
The Austin Cycling Assoc. has a bunch of mapped rides.
San Marcos Route is fun and the distance you are looking for, finishes near a loop you can rock some TT’s in.
It’s been a while since I have done it (2 years+), Austin was growing quite a bit even 2 years ago, so it may be a bit developed.
It’s a fun Sunday morning ride though, fast and flat.
Thanks guys! I’ll check out a couple of those suggestions.
Does anyone know what the Austin IM 70.3 TT loop out by the Travis County Expo Center looks like with traffic on the roads? Is it safe? Does anyone bother riding it from time to time?
Thanks guys! I’ll check out a couple of those suggestions.
Does anyone know what the Austin IM 70.3 TT loop out by the Travis County Expo Center looks like with traffic on the roads? Is it safe? Does anyone bother riding it from time to time?
The roads aren’t closed to traffic for the race, but when I raced it there didn’t seem to be too much traffic for it to not be a decent bike route. Of course, that was on a Sunday morning.
There are a number of decent rides out by you. Yes the ever popular dam! loop is out there and fun occasionally but it gets old. The Ftizthugh loop that was mentioned is nice. I would howwever try and avoid the portion of Hamilton Pool Rd from 71 to Fitzhugh as there are minimal shoulders and angry cars.
If you can get to the north side of the lake the Volente/2769/Anderson Mill/Lime Creek loop is pretty nice. It is about 17-18 miles and you could add on easily with 620 etc.
Also there are a number of flattish loops that head out east as well.