Touring - Looking for a short trip near Dallas or Austin

Hi y'all! I new to the boards. I have recently moved from Austin to Dallas. I know, that wasn't the best move as far as cycling goes, but I had to follow the job.

I had a job that didn't allow me much free time and so I didn't do much riding the last couple of years. Now I have a much better job and I'm getting back into riding and I'm shopping around for a touring bike and might plan a few small adventures in the near future.

I have a mountain bike with 1.25 slick tires on it for riding on the road. I'd like to test the touring waters by renting a BOB and doing a couple of weekend trips out of either Austin or Dallas. Preferably somewhere at least halfway scenic and with a swimming hole at the destination, as the temperature has now officially passed 100 degrees. Ouch!

Near Austin, I was thinking about some of the local state parks, like Bastop/Buescher, Pedernales, Inks Lake, Enchanted rock.
I'm so new to Dallas that I have no clue where to go up there.

Any ideas???

If I decide that this touring idea isn't just a phase, then I'll probably shop for a better bike in a couple of months. I test rode a 520 the other day, but I'm going to check out the Volpe too (I have an old Biachi roadie). I've tried finding a shop with the Volpe, but no luck so far.

Also, if anyone has some good spots to ride in Dallas (besides White Rock, that's the only place I've ridden since I moved here) let me know. I usually ride during the weekdays, because I work nights.

Cheers.

Try hooking up with the Bike Club in Plano / Richardson.

Matt

http://www.planobicycle.org/

Why not ride from Dallas to Austin and back?

BTW, I just moved 2 years ago from a town south of Dallas called Cedar Hill if you know where that is.

If you want to do a state park type thing, there is Cedar Hill (or is it Grand Prarie?) State Park right on Lake Joe Pool that's nice, but not a very far ride.

Thanks for the responses. I have checked out several local cycling clubs, but their group rides are mostly in the evenings, when I go to work.

I'll check out Cedar Hill.

Cool, just take Highway 67 (which become I-35 near Dallas, so hop on to 35 and follow the signs pointing to 67) South past Duncanville and Desoto to get to Cedar Hill. Some of the exits in Cedar Hill are FM1382, Beltline Road, Lake Ridge Drive, and Kingswood Drive. I would recommend taking a right on to Beltline and riding down that across Joe Pool Lake. If you exit on to FM1382 and head right for a few miles, you'll hit the state park.