Texas - Arlington Texas where to ride

Can someone please tell me where some good spots are to ride in the area, I have been told Joe pool lake but am not sure where exactly people go. I would like something with at least a 10 mile loop. I have been going over to White Rock but am really sick of the long drive over there. Anything with in around 10 miles of 360 and I-20 would be great.


Thanks
Ryan

check www.dorba.org

Should have said this is for my road bike.

On tues and thursday nights the Texas wheels ride out from the joe pool lake marina off lake ridge parkway at 6pm. You're welcome to join us there - it's a 30 mile route. Otherwise, you can take a shorter trip up to the trinity trail at beach street and I-30 in Ft. Worth. North arlington also has park with a 14 mile out and back, but I can't think of the name at the moment.

What part of Arlington?

I live right by 360 and I-20. I would love to do a group ride but im pretty sure I would get left in the dust. I am still recovering from ACl and meniscus surgery. If their is any way you could tell me the route yall take that would be awesome.

Thanks guys

If I knew the names of all the streets I would be able to help you out on that one. Sorry!

Since you're already in Arlington, you might want to go to the Trinity River trail (http://www.trinityrivervision.org/). I want to take the TRE from Dallas there and get on that thing. MUCH nicer than what Dallas has to offer so far.

REds - go up to the Bikes Inc Arlington store....they have a slower ride on Thur nights and also a good group ride on Sunday's. You don't need to go to Dallas to ride, there is some great riding in your area. Just go up to Bikes inc and talk to Eddie or Mike and they could probably help you out....or just get on the bike and start exploring. That's what I did when I moved to Keller.

River Legacy Park on Green Oaks is nice. I just rode there yesterday! There is also a nice path in western Arlington, but I can't think of the name. Sorry.

Fish Creek Trail is in south Arlington. (360 and I-20) The trail is located in between Green Oaks & Sublett/Camp Wisdom. It runs from Matlock in Arlington and goes all the way into Grand Prairie about 1/2 mile past Great Southwest Pkwy. It's a nice trail and I ride it often. A really good place to get on the trail if you want to drive your car and ride your bike is the parking lot just south of the Walgreens at Green Oaks & New York Ave. Park your car and get on the trail right there. You can also park there and ride on the street up New York Ave. and turn left on Sublett, go across 360 and turn right on Lake Ridge. Go on Lake Ridge across both bridges across Joe Pool to the first place you can turn around and then ride back to where your car was parked. That will be about 15 - 16 miles and a nice ride.

I'm also wanting to find more routes I can ride in south Arlington.

Thanks alot Im gonna go check that out today. :D

For a nice 23 mile route, drive up Green Oaks (will turn into Dottie Lynn), like you are going to Eastchase and I-30. Once you pass over Pioneer (303, by Lake Arlington Golf Course), look for a park entrance to your right (it is small and is named Village Creek or something similar). The trailhead (concrete) is right there, and you can take this trail head all the way to River Legacy.

Here are full instructions:

1. Stay on the main trail, and after about a mile or two through the park and a neighborhood, it will put you onto Eastchase (still on the trail)...continue on riding past the Shell station on your left. After a few more miles (about 5), you will come to a massive park entrance. That is River Legacy.

2. Turn Left into the park, and continue on straight until you are in the very back parking lot (you will see a Port-O-John at the dead end)

3. Right in front of the port-o-john, hop on the trail, and immediately after the port-o-john, take a right and go over the little wooden bridge. Now you are on the main 7 mile park trail that will take you to the turnaround point.

4. You will see that the trail is newer about a mile in, and there is a fork in the trail. Stay to the left, and go over the big iron bridge.

5. Then you are home free to the mile 7 marker (Which for you is about mile 11.5). The trail dead ends here, and you can turn around and go back the way you came. Once you get back to the car, you will have completed about 23 or 24 miles. (I am not sure about the total because I ride from home to that park and it is about 30 miles in total for me).

You are on a concrete trail separate from the road the entire time, and will not incur any car traffic. Also, the trail is in excellent condition, and is well travelled by cyclists, runners, and roller bladers at all times.

Warning: If you see a Bobcat on the latter part of the trail (back in the park), it is no big deal. I see one about every other time I ride (3x per week, for about 4 years). They have been out there for years and won't bother you in the least.

Enjoy, and pm me if you want someone to ride with.

Thanks for the great post. I keep meaning to make it up there but just haven't. I would like to have someone to ride with but im sure your way above my level right now.

I have been alternating between hard and easy rides, as I damaged my knees running (tendonitis). They are on the mend, but I am trying not to overdo it. In other words, I would enjoy a slow paced ride. Just let me know what days are best for you. I typically ride three to four times per week.

Maybe we could put together a ride at this park for new, recovering, and intermediate cyclists who want to explore the trail. Anyone interested? I don't mind leading it and making sure no one is dropped.

I have been alternating between hard and easy rides, as I damaged my knees running (tendonitis). They are on the mend, but I am trying not to overdue it. In other words, I would enjoy a slow paced ride. Just let me know what days are best for you. I typically ride three to four times per week.

Maybe we could put together a ride at this park for new, recovering, and intermediate cyclists who want to explore the trail. Anyone interested? I don't mind leading it and making sure no one is dropped.

I would be interested. I'm a very new-again rider, though, so be warned :D

That sounds cool to me, right now my schedule is clear except for mon and wed. after 4. Tore up knee's suck. I still cant stand on the bike for climbs or anything.

The nice thing about this trail is that it is entirely flat. Let me visit with my wife/boss/person that keeps our calendar, and see what a good day next week would be for me. I'm thinking Tuesday or Thursday at 5:30 or 6pm. I have a couple of riding buddies that would come as well.

cool just let me know.

If it's during the week, I don't get off work till 5:30. 6 might be doable.

Have y'all done any of the local rides? I just started riding about 2 months ago and have done 2 of the organized rides. My first was the North Texas Classic in Saginaw. I rode 26 miles, avg. spd.13.1 mph, time was 2:00 hrs.

My second organized ride was the Collin Classic in McKinney. I rode 31.3 miles, avg. spd. 14.6 mph, time was 2:09 hrs.

I'm sure this sounds SLOW to most of you, but I just started riding in April. It's been encouraging to see my stats getting better between these 2 rides and with my training rides.

Mike
R900 Cannondale Road Bike

Welcome Mike, I am looking at putting together a ride this or next week for some other newbies (and some recovering from injuries) in Arlington (East Fort Worth, off of Eastchase). I'll post some more info here when I figure out what is up with the weather.

Looking at the weather I don't think any riding is going to happen this week.:mad:

Yeah, I'm thinking we may not be able to organize anything this week. I'm not giving up hope for a nice Thursday night ride though, but we may have to change locations as the park I ride will be flooded for sure.(we have to cross two spillways).

http://bicyclesinc.com/page.cfm?PageID=16

You guys may want to check this out for this week, be sure and call first in the event of rain. Maybe we can shoot for July 5th, a Thursday night. Let's see how it plays out.

Yea, I was planning to ride this evening with a friend of mine out across Joe Pool but not sure that's going to happen now. Might have to bust out the trainer tonight. Ha!

Do y'all ride road or mountain bikes? I ride road. How long have you been riding? And where do I compare to your riding levels? I just rode out near where my parents live in NE Texas this weekend and rode 24.75 miles in 1 hr 39 mins and averaged 14.9 mph. Very little wind, probably 50% flat and 50% little rollers.

Mike
R900 Cannondale Road Bike

I ride... ummm... *cough* an x-mart mountain bike. It's all I could afford at the moment, but once I get my credit card paid off next year, I will start saving for a decent bike.

I honestly have no idea how fast I can ride or how far - I've gone riding for upwards of 2 hours on paved trails in parks, but I stop frequently to look at butterflies, turtles, and pretty flowers, and other nature-y things :)

edit: Oh, and I've only been riding (again) since last month. I had bikes when I was a kid, but haven't had one for, oh, maybe 12 years or so now. Maybe 15.

Yea, I was planning to ride this evening with a friend of mine out across Joe Pool but not sure that's going to happen now. Might have to bust out the trainer tonight. Ha!

Do y'all ride road or mountain bikes? I ride road. How long have you been riding? And where do I compare to your riding levels? I just rode out near where my parents live in NE Texas this weekend and rode 24.75 miles in 1 hr 39 mins and averaged 14.9 mph. Very little wind, probably 50% flat and 50% little rollers.

Mike
R900 Cannondale Road Bike

I used to ride mountain for a while. I was not so good at it, crashed way too much. Tore my ACL last year and was un able to do anything for around 8 months. Gained 40 pounds, so I went out and bought a road bike, since running is out of the question for a while. Well I fell in love with the road bike. So I have been riding my road bike for only a few months. Out at white rock on a flat trail with no wind or little, I averaged 17 MPH on 20 miles. dropped down to 15 after that. Hills kill me because of my weight. (trying to work on that) and the wind kills me because im like a sail. :p

Yea, I was planning to ride this evening with a friend of mine out across Joe Pool but not sure that's going to happen now. Might have to bust out the trainer tonight. Ha!



Are they allowing bikes over the bridges at Joe Pool? I thought it was restricted because of the road work they are doing. I live about 1-2 miles from the first bridge by the marina and just got a bike last week. The first thing I thought was it would be cool to cut across the lake to that HUGE hill leading into cedar hill. But the guy at the LBS said they are not allowing bicycles across right now.

Are they allowing bikes over the bridges at Joe Pool? I thought it was restricted because of the road work they are doing. I live about 1-2 miles from the first bridge by the marina and just got a bike last week. The first thing I thought was it would be cool to cut across the lake to that HUGE hill leading into cedar hill. But the guy at the LBS said they are not allowing bicycles across right now.

Since when? 3 weeks ago I was riding all over that sucker. I ride with the Texas wheels up and down the Plume (that big honking hill) every Tues and Thurs...

I ride... ummm... *cough* an x-mart mountain bike. It's all I could afford at the moment, but once I get my credit card paid off next year, I will start saving for a decent bike.

I honestly have no idea how fast I can ride or how far - I've gone riding for upwards of 2 hours on paved trails in parks, but I stop frequently to look at butterflies, turtles, and pretty flowers, and other nature-y things :)

edit: Oh, and I've only been riding (again) since last month. I had bikes when I was a kid, but haven't had one for, oh, maybe 12 years or so now. Maybe 15.

Paperspirit, an x-mart mountain bike is good enough for me. The fact that you are riding is the important part. Also, the upside is that you have much to look forward to as you progress in your familarity with biking, and as your fitness level increases. Keep in mind that there are many great used bikes in the metroplex that you can save for that don't hurt the pocketbook as much. But at least for now you have something to ride.

Since when? 3 weeks ago I was riding all over that sucker. I ride with the Texas wheels up and down the Plume (that big honking hill) every Tues and Thurs...


I am not sure as this was second hand from the LBS. I doubted it when he told me. I could have sworn I seen bikes recently crossing the bridges.

So what is Texas wheels? And when on Tuesday and Thursday do you ride that hill? I am just starting out and don't think I am quite ready for that yet but would love to try in a few weeks or so.

On tuesdays we ride it twice, actually. And after that we ride two more even steeper hills...:)

Texas wheels is a small local club, it's star member being Mark Metcalf, who is a solid RAAM competitor and an animal. We ride Tues and Thurs at 6 leaving promptly from the Joe Pool Marina parking lot. I'll be there tonight on either a blue trk pilot if it's threatening rain, or my lowracer recumbent if it's not.

I may join you guys tonight aikigreg, what's the mileage/pace. I really need some hills!

mileage is 32 and the pace is around 22. If I ride my upright though I'll likely be around 17. Although I see massive storm cells surrounding mansfield and ceder hills, so I'll likely be going to the gym.

Paperspirit, an x-mart mountain bike is good enough for me. The fact that you are riding is the important part. Also, the upside is that you have much to look forward to as you progress in your familarity with biking, and as your fitness level increases. Keep in mind that there are many great used bikes in the metroplex that you can save for that don't hurt the pocketbook as much. But at least for now you have something to ride.
Thanks :) That was pretty much my philosophy going in - just get something to ride, worry about the rest later.

My big challenge right now is figuring out what to do with all these gears. It's a 15-speed, but right now I never change gear. If I do, the pedals feel... too loose? Like I'd have pedal about a million times to go an inch. I really wish there'd been a single speed available when I bought it - that's all I've ever had except a brief stint on a 3 speed once. That I could handle :)

Trust me you will appreciate a few of them gears when you hit an incline 3/4's of the way into the ride. I am a noob myself but find myself switching between the 2 outer front cogs and most if not all of the 9 on the rear throughout my first couple of rides of about 17-20 miles each. If I am on the smaller 4 in the rear I am on the big front and anything above that in the rear I am on the middle front one. Most of the time (80-90%) I am on the large one in the front.

And if I ever tackle that huge hill leading into cedar hill at the lake I may even find a use for that front small inside one :)

I'm sure I will, Madmos :) Right now I've been mostly in my flat neighborhood. The one "hill" I've caught was a zig zaggy wooden walkway in a park in Grapevine, but I walked most of it since visibility wasn't very good - I didn't want to run over a pedestrian.

I used to live in Florida when I biked before - it was completely flat, so no gear changes were really needed back then :)

And if I ever tackle that huge hill leading into cedar hill at the lake I may even find a use for that front small inside one :)

Oh, and I know just what hill you're talking about! That will be nice ride someday - there's such a wonderful view from the top of that hill!

I used to live in Florida when I biked before - it was completely flat, so no gear changes were really needed back then :)

Ironic, I moved here from FL myself just 2 years ago. I was living in Port St Lucie and working in Jupiter.

I was not riding bikes at the time though...

Yeah, I just thought I was going to ride last night. I really need a trainer. This rain is ridiculous. Madmos, perhaps I could join you guys after the 4th sometime. That is a perfect mileage and pace for me, and my training route doesn't have any hills, so it would be great for me.

Yeah, I just thought I was going to ride last night. I really need a trainer. This rain is ridiculous. Madmos, perhaps I could join you guys after the 4th sometime. That is a perfect mileage and pace for me, and my training route doesn't have any hills, so it would be great for me.

I would love to get together with others for some rides. I am just starting out right now and would probably hold most of you guys back. Once I get my times down and I am confident I could keep up I will join in the fun :)

crdean1 just wanted to say thanks, finally made it out to that trail. I liked it a lot and it is so much closer for me. Got in a great ride. Probably going to go out there again on thur.

Awesome! What did you think of the trail. I was thinking about doing it yesterday, is the spillway still under water? I'd like to start going that route again.

I rode out in Mansfield, it was a nice little ride.

It was clear as could be. No water on the trail at all. I liked the last part of the trail a lot, kind of a different scenery than im used to.

I may be riding that trail on Thurs also. What time will you be out there. Did you do the full 25 miles? That last part of the trail is very nice (last 7 miles before the turnaround.)

Ill probably be out there around 1 or 2. Trying to get my body used to the heat before HH. And it kicked my butt on tue. Yes I did the full 25. Im just glad you told me about the place, I would have never found it my self.

I am going to check the trail out tomorrow/ today after work. I had been riding it from starting inside the park. I will try the extra mileage.

I'll probably be riding the Arlington trail early in the morning. Let me know if anyone wants to meet. I am thinking I'll leave my house (2 miles from trail head) at daybreak.

I tried out the extra 5 miles starting at the park on gran oaks just past pioneer. It was very fun. I was worried it was going to rain. It sprinkeled a few times but never got bad. Will definatly do it again.