I rode the bike course for the Longhorn Tri this morning. I want to share it with everyone. My ride today started out on 3177 but the course starts off on a 2 lane farm road until it hits 3177 and then you take a right onto 3177. It’s a somewhat busy 4 lane highway, but with decent shoulders. Then, the course takes a right onto 290 and it’s busier than 3177 but with wider shoulders. Then, the course takes a right on Old Kimbro Rd. For the next significant portion of the course, it’s on farm back roads. There are a few patches of rough pavement, but nothing is that bad for that long. The road conditions vary from semismooth chip seal all the way to very smooth asphalt. It is very scenic with lots of farms, ranches, and fields. The course keep changing directions so it does break it up a bit and you aren’t staying on a single road for very long stretches. There is all kinds of terrain. A few small rollers, so nice flat parts, and a few false flats which are somewhat annoying. There is a decent amount of shade along the roads as well but not much prolonged shade. The trees also block the wind a bit. The changing directions also prevents the wind from being a straight headwind or straight tailwind for a long period of time, too. Littig was kind of annoying because I think that was the roughest patch of pavement and it was a lot of false flats. Like I said, all of these roads are very lightly traveled two lane farm roads and there was very little traffic, but if there was traffic, it was big trucks and sometimes they were hauling trailers.
About half way through the course, you turn onto 1704. This stretch of road is very nice in some regards. The pavement is absolutely glassy smooth and it’s fast. There is a pretty good amount of shade and there are some stretches of slight downhills. There are a few rollers, too. Now, the bad part about this road. It’s a two lane highway with no shoulder and a decent amount of traffic. Then, you take a turn onto 969. Once again, a 2 lane highway with little to no shoulder but slightly less traffic. A right onto Blake-Manor leads into a somewhat significant hill. The pavement is mostly smooth for the majority of this road. A left onto Taylor puts you on probably the roughest parts of the course, but it still isn’t too bad. As usual for this course, it’s pretty scenic and you won’t get bored with the course. Very nice Texas farmland. Decker Lake and Nez Pearce have some rough patches as well. Mostly fissures in the pavement and stuff like that, but still very lightly traveled. Gilbert leading up to 973 is nice. It’s a slight uphill, but very fresh asphalt. Then, you take a left onto 973 which is the most dangerous part because it’s a left at a red light and 973 is somewhat busy. It’s a 2 lane highway with no shoulder and I got buzzed once that scared the crap out of me. On this road is a slight hill and then the toughest hill of the entire course. It’s pretty big for Texas standards but not htat bad. It’s maybe a 2-3 minute climb and you have to get in the little chain ring unless you are a beast. Oh, I got in my little chain ring maybe 3-4 times if that gives you any indication of the hilliness of this course, but I also tend to go up hills in the big chain ring, too. Once you crest the hill, you’re about 2 miles from the transition area and there is another slight hill up into the transition area.
Overall, it’s a
very scenic course on either highways with big shoulders or little
traveled farm roads for the most part. Some rolling hills, false flats,
and flat, fast sections with only 2 or 3 moderate hills. Lots of
changing directions as well to keep it interesting. I think Keith
Jordan did a pretty good job selecting this bike course. I’m happy with
it.
It’s gonna be great!
Keep in mind, traffic will be quite a bit different on race day. Getting the Traffic control plan in my hot little hands today:)
3177 will have a coned/closed lane for you, as will 290. It’s early in the race, and you’ll be off of it before it gets busy.
Coming back into the park on 973, you’ll be turning left on at the light. BUT, 973 will be one way traffic to the park, so you’ll have that lane all to yourself. No buzzing of trucks:)
When did you go out? I usually go out there and sit on that road, most weekends, to check traffic. it’s usually very light at the time we’ll be going through there. Cars will be stopped as you make the right onto 1704 from Youngs Prairie, and there will be tons of signage before/after the intersection to persuade motorists to take another road on race morning. It’ll be very well controlled by Police. I’ve had numerous meetings with the Bastrop and Travis County PD’s, and have a lot of confidence in them.
I keep waiting for them to repave Upper Elgin all the way to 969…It’s a great back road, that runs parallel to 1704. It’s beautiful, but in HORRIBLE shape. As soon as they repave it, we’ll use it:) I’d prefer it:)
I started riding at 7:15 so it was close to race conditions. 1704 wasn’t bad, but the traffic on it was going fast especially since there is no shoulder. I agree that Upper Elgin would be a better choice once it gets repaved. We took a scenic detour because we missed the left turn onto Youngs Prairie and went on Upper Elgin a ways. It was kinda rough. As usual, it seems like you are doing a great job about making a great race for all the participants.
But I love 1704 except for the lack of a shoulder.
Oh, to everyone else out there, it seemed like all the corners were fairly gravel free. I’ll be taking them pretty aggressively as well. There were bits of gravel around Old Kimbro and Littig but that’s about it as far as I can remember. I’ll probably do another test ride on the course before the race and fine tune my scouting report a bit better.
I’d agree, although 1704 will be managed during the race…Upper Elgin actually gets really bad as you go further down it, to the point where it’d be tough to ride a bike on it…
I too rode this course this past weekend minus the stretch on 290 from Decker Lane to ShadowGlen Blvd. A few things I noticed as well. The turn onto Old Kimbro road does have some gravel like they said, is fairly rough right now, but once you get off that, the back roads until you turn on Littig Road are pretty new and some of them are like riding on glass!! I ride out here all the time and Littig Road is one of the roughest part of the course (along with Nez Pierce). The rest of the roads are in great condition for the most part and as stated…mainly rollers and flat. I think most people will be really happy with 1704 b/c it was rollers, but they were fast as they went slightly downhill and you could hit some top speeds without much effort. I’d also suggest keeping your momentum on 969 turning onto Blake Manor…a good 1/2 mile climb or so. Not huge, but if you aren’t expecting it, it will slow you down a bit. Taylor Road is pretty fast as well, although short. As the other person stated, the 2 hardest climbs are at the very end on 973 but they are nothing really. I was riding small ring and about midway through my cog and was just taking it easy. I wasn’t trying to push it. They are short and pretty standard “texas hills”. I agreee…great bike route!!! I am pumped as this is so close to my home and i am used to these roads and hills east of Austin. I am looking forward to what KJ has put together for us!
for those of us who live in truly the flatlands. (south of houston near galveston) how do the hills compare to Buffalo Springs? more worried about fast descents, those are my biggest fear since i never get to train on them.
i rode on hwy 360 and bees cave road once and that was scary to me. how does the half course compare>?? be honest with me. no sugar coating please.
thanks, Jana
I live in Houston as well and was in Clear Lake for several years. Know what you mean about the Flatlands.
I rode parts of this course 2 weeks ago with some friends. Never rode Buffalo Springs but the descents are not particulary challenging on this course. I am more concerned about one of the last climbs and the Sunday traffic than anything. Since then have been some hill work at Eisenhower Park!!
Jana,
You shouldn’t worry, the descents are nothing like BSLT. I did that one last year and some of those are comparable to 360 and Bee Caves area in Austin, but you won’t find anything near that long East of Austin. The hills out here are usually much shorter and aren’t as steep as what you will find in West Austin area. I have several friends in Houston, so I understand, but you really shouldn’t worry. I wouldn’t worry too much about traffic either b/c as KJ said, most of the main roads that have the potential for high volume traffic are going to have one lane closed for the cyclist. The only roads you should really think about with high volume and no shoulder are 290, 1704, 969, and 973. Most of those roads will be fine, especially on Sunday AM. I rode them on a Saturday morning and did see descent amount of traffic, but my riding partner and I did just fine so i have no doubt on race day that KJ will take care of us and we won’t have traffic issues.
The hills in East Austin are more rollers than long ascents and descents like 360…so don’t worry.
tc
Course is nothing like what it’d be like in West Austin/Hill Country. That’d be TOUGH…There are rollers, and not really any major descents that I can think of…
3177 will have a closed/coned lane for you, up to 290. 290 will also have a closed/coned lane for the whole portion, I believe. If not, it’ll be for most of it, then there is a large shoulder for you to bike in. After that, it’s quiet for most of the course. 1704 would be the other issue, I’d say, but you’re on it for only 5 miles. We’ll work with the police closely, to control it. Traffic should be very light that early in the am on Sunday. On the return trip, when you turn back onto 973, the police are going to do 1-way traffic for that short stretch. I’m guessing that traffic will avoid 973 as well…
We’ll take good care of you. I don’t really see traffic being an issue. We expect it to be safe, and a great bike course, with great support. It’s a unique course, as it’s a 1 loop 56 mile course. It’s not a 56 mile out and back, even. Each part of the course will be unique, as you won’t be biking the same area twice. That’ll make it safer as well, as there won’t be bikes on both sides of the road, especially on the narrow roads.
Being 1 loop, it’s also logistically difficult for us to control it. We’ll have plenty of mechanical support, as well as a motorcycle medical team patrolling the course. Plus, there will be police at all turns, as well as volunteers. Mavic will be out there, as will Jack and Adam’s Bicycles, to help out. We’ll take good care of you:)
K
There aren’t any serious descents on this course. Like I said, there are 2 “significant” hills but it’s nothing like Buffalo Springs by any means. They could be annoying if you live in the flatlands though, but I’m used to riding in west Austin so I think this course is fairly flat though.
Keith, one question came up today. Do you have the train schedule for that day? I know there is at least one railroad crossing on the course and I’m wondering if you have that covered as well.