Anybody here from way North Texas, like Denton or even Gainesville? Lots of two-lane country roads up there, how is the riding? Safe? Or are you just target practice for the Fords and Chevys? My family has a place just outside of Gainesville, but I’ve only been there once. Any pools anywhere up there?
a good friend used to live in denton (and run the UNT team)…
we used to ride all the time up there (beautiful, 5 mins and you are in the middle of nowhere)…
PM me and I will put you in touch with him (he would remember better than me).
Also, we used to ride from the RBM to the red river and back a couple of times a year with Carlson and the EDS crew…
consider it, a big day but F U N…besides, you have a head start!
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Not so much looking for routes or groups to ride with, just wondering if it was dangerous. Sometimes, the ranchers and cowboys don’t take too kindly to those skinny girlie-men in their tight shorts and fancy bikes ; ) Is that the case up there, or was it ok? I just want to ride w/o fear of getting run off the road.
I never had much problems… but I tend to have a different take than most - I don’t ride on the shoulder but about 2-3ft to the LEFT of the right line…
on the country roads this is important since there is little to no shoulder and the shoulder that is there is usually dirty with rocks and glass…
I get honked at a lot, but I figure, if they honked, they saw me and slowed down…
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Thanks, I would really like to ride out there. Like you said, it’s absolutely beautiful country. It is so much different than I’m used to, so I get a little anxious.
My In-Laws have a lake house at Lake Kiowa (just south of Gainesville) and I have done some riding around there. Mostly I ride around Lake Ray Roberts. Nearly all of the route has a good size shoulder and I usually see other cyclists out.
Don’t get out on the other roads too much as I don’t like to ride roads with no shoulder by myself, especially ones I don’t know very well, so can’t comment on the safety there but I have not had any issues on the roads around the lake.
Lake Kiowa?! That’s where are family’s house is, as well. Just bought it last year. Tear down and building on the new ‘compound’ starts in the Spring. Do you visit there much? I’ve only been there once, over 4th of July this year. Just swam and ran while I was there. Next time I want to bring my bike and ride.
In-Laws bought a cabin (no tear down in their budget) a couple of years ago and we get up there from Austin 3-4 times a year. In fact we were there over the fourth also. My wife and I really like it, wish it were a little closer and we’d be up there once or twice a month. In-Laws live in Dallas so it is perfect for them.
I really like it for training. Riding is definitely good. Even riding around Lake Kiowa is a nice 9-mile circuit. I do most of my running up there at the various state parks on Lake Ray Roberts. There are some really good trails for running and mountain biking. There is even a 20 mile multi-use greenbelt trail that runs from the south side of Ray Roberts (about a 30 min drive from Kiowa) all the way to Lake Lewisville that is also great for running. For swimming I just jump in the lake. In-Law’s house is in a little cove near the dam so there is not much boat traffic. Have not looked for any pools but I doubt there is much to offer. Maybe some community pools in gainesville but that would be about it.
Our house is at the other end across from the island green (10th hole, I think). We did our running through Kiowa. Before our next trip there, I will definitely be PMing you to get some more details on the trails and such. Thanks for all the great leads.
The red river shootout is a great football game
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