Texas - Houston "Free Agent" Ride

All y'all Houstonians out there:

What do you think about a "free agent" ride some weekend (this weekend?) for all of us who aren't members of a cycling group. It might be a good opportunity to ride with other people (for free), or for those of us who are members of cycling groups, a chance to ride with a different group of people. What do you think?

What do you have in mind for Where and When?

i'm interested as well. But I only have a single speed!

i'm interested as well. But I only have a single speed!

What kind of distance and average speed are you comfy with?

i was thinking 15-17 mph, anywhere from 25 to 50 miles, depending on who is interested.

Well. the weathermen are all showing this weekend would make for some wet riding. AAARRRGGGHHH. At least I was able to finally mow my yard yesterday.

We have a starting distance/avg speed down. Do we go with the "no man left behind", or "keep up or your on yoru own"? Prior to start, would be when/if we would break into smaller groups to like abilities.

As for where, that got me thinking. Look up the word sprawl in the dictionary and you will see a map of Houston. What would y'all say to alternating routes. example... Katy one week, Clear Lake/"Ptown" next, Tomball, Lake Jackson, whatever, pub crawl downtown, whereever....etc etc. That way it evens things out. The week it is Katy, those on the North side, and I in Pasadena, have to get up at 5 to get there at 7. The next week it is pasadena/clear lake, somebody else gets to wake up at 5. and then next week everybody gets up at 4 to make it to Tomball by 7.... so and so on. Other than waking up earlier than one has to, gas is another reason for this recommendation.

I like the rotation idea... my impetus for starting this thread was: a) to ride with different people; and b) to get the heck out of Humble every once in a while. I was also a bit jealous of the Northern California regional forum people, who seem to go on rides all the time.

I would also go for "keep up or you are on your own." Mostly because I wouldn't want to hold anyone back myself.

I may be interested in tagging along some times and will pass the word to some other guys that I ride with... we aren't a club... just 4 guys who generally ride together.

Although honestly, one of the reasons for cycling is the low cost and local no gas required part.

Chinotex, just trying to ask the questions that would put people over the fence and join in.

I too am tired of just riding around Stink-adena. Personally, I would be up for a once a month thing. With a kid on the way change the finish time on remodeling two bedrooms in my house.

Once a month sounds like a good schedule to me, just to change things up every once in a while and keep it interesting (Stink-adena? Sounds more interesting than humble Humble! Although I can now tell the difference between Lannar, Villagebuilder and KB homes while riding past at 15 mph!). We can also schedule around organized rides, so we don't mess up anyone's ability to attend those.

So at this point we have once-a-month rides of ~25-50 miles at various locations around Houston, at 15-17 mph.

Chevy42083, one other guy, and I are meeting up at 0800 Saturday in Katy. Wemeet at the park-in-ride located at Fry pnd I-10.

One of our guys rides a fixie too.

I would be down for a Pasadena ride, as I work in the area (next to Bayshore) and shift ends at 0600 (we work 24's).

-Nate

I'm going to try to be there tomorrow, if the weather holds. Don't wait up, however; it's a heck of a drive from Humble.

It seems the three guys I ride with have backed out, so no go for tomorrow. We can try again for next week.

-Nate

Thanks for posting that, I was just checking before going to bed if there were any updates. Let's check in again next week, hopefully the weather will be better.

It was raining on my way home from the station, but it stopped as I was exiting in Katy (0700). However, the roads were still a little wet.

-Nate

this rain sucks.

So lets shoot for this Saturday in Katy with an 0800 start time? I'll work on a route and post it up for those who are interested. I really think that 15 mph is going to be slow...and I think someone who rides a 16/17 mph average shouldn't have a hard time keeping up with a 18 to 20 mph pace line.

-Nate

This sounds like a great idea. Too bad Katy was picked this weekend. While it's not exactly my neck of the woods it's pretty close, but I will be out of town this weekend. I will have to organize a ride in Cypress for one of the later rides.

I'lll be out of town this weekend too. I'll be in the hill country, much of it at Septic-Bahn, wishing I was riding.

I'll start working on a Pasadena/Clear Lake route for an upcoming meet up. :beer:

18-20 sounds about right for a group... when i had suggested 15-17, i think I had just straggled home from a long ride;) I'm up for Katy this weekend, 8AM (Rain or shine! We rode in rain at the Katy Flatlands and that was fine, and you know it won't rain the entire time)

Seems like I'm the only one from my little group riding this Saturday. I think it would be better if we find another weekend when the two posters above will be back in town...that way we can have more than two people. So sleep in Saturday morning chinotex.

-Nate

How bout this... Let's post what weekends we're each free for the next four weeks, and we'll find what works best for the most of us? I'm free the weekends of Aug 4 (this weekend), Aug 11, Aug 18th, Sept. 1 (Labor Day).

This Saturday I am obligated to be available for work.

The 11th is the Woodlands midnight ride, which I am already signed up for. I don't think I'll be doing a fast run, and it's only 20miles, but I'd still prefer to not do a ride that morning, and won't want to wake up early for a sunday ride.


What about sunday this weekend? The 5th.

I can't really plan any farther in advance than that for saturdays. Now sundays are always free.

I can do Sundays as well, including this Sunday the 5th.

I posted on the forum that my group is on to see if they can ride sunday.

I'm a no go, have to work at the station on Sunday. I am free August 18 (Saturday) and August 19 (Sunday).

-Nate

I am in San Antonio this weekend. The rest of the month except for the weekend of the HHH is open. At some point a date will have to be picked and those who can make it will ride and those who can't will have to wait for another get together. If we wait until everyone can make a certain ride then it will never happen.

I agree... I just hate to have someone come out if there isn't going to be much of a gathering. This sunday I am a definate, there's only one other who says he'll ride, but has had numbness problems, and we are banking on figuring it out on Sat. Don't want chinotex to make a long drive just to meet 1.5 people :(
I could convince my girl to ride too, but then the pace would drop significantly, and the distance would be cut in half :(

Chinotex, Dr Nate, chevy42083, and Bluechip - we are all available the 18 & 19.... someone claim a day. I'll ride either. Nate and I can also try to get the other 2 in our small group to ride.

Spidermike - you available that weekend? If everything went well, we could have these names listed, plus some others I could call and we have the possibility of 8 riders.

I also will ride this sunday... but be warned, might only be 2 or 3 of us :(

Well HHH is August 25, Woodlands is August 11, so lets shoot for August 18 or 19.

I will drive to Katy this Sunday, no problem with 2-3 people... that's 2 or 3 times my normal pace line!

Let's call the 18th firm for the next one? Anyone want to pick a location?

What's in the woodlands on the 11th? Is there an event?

I'll prolly be down for some of these. I'll be moving to the woodlands later this month... havnt lived in houston since I was a kid. would be good to meet up with some people.

http://www.midnightbikeride.com/ - woodlands on the 11th. It's at midnight, I understand there's tailgating before hand, and generally a good route. 10 and 20 miles routes. Never done this ride before, but it comes with good recomendation.
Nate, 3 or 4 others, and I have already registered. Some are slow-pokes, some of us ride fast.

18/19th I'm in.

Sweet. Now we just need a location for the 18/19th :D , and a decision on sat or sun.


I could do this with a PM, but just incase someone else wants to meet up....

Sunday 8/5/07 - 8:00am. Katy. Take I-10 west, exit Fry road, at the fry road light, take a left. You go under the overpass, and the park and ride parking lot will be on your right. I'll be there... probably on bike with no vehicle.
Fry road is west of HWY 6 by about 3 or 4 exits.
One of my friends is gonna come out, and I'm gonna call another 1 or 2 to see if I can convince them also.

Lets do Saturday August 18.

-Nate

Ended up with a small group on sunday, but was fun. Chinotex, a friend of mine (not registered here yet), and I.
Roughly 35 miles, started with a 20ish mph pace, and slowed later in the ride.

We started out nice and strong at 20miles an hour. Took a short rest at 10miles. Road more took a rest at ~20miles. Then another rest at 21miles for my blown front tube :( . The previous night I had used my spare tube on my fixed gear bike, so I didn't have one with me.. bonehead move. Thanks Chinotex... I'll definatly get you a replacement.
At mile 26ish we were back in George Bush park... land of headwinds, and nothing to block them (before this, our average was about 17mph i think). Chino and I rode a slow pace through there while our other rider left us behind (he's riding fixed, so slow puts him WAY below his prefered cadence). We stopped at the end of the park to rest a second, and refill on water/gatorade at the CVS, on for the last stretch to the finish... with a tailwind :D. We cut it a little shorter than we had planned because of the pace and the headwinds. I think my final average was 15.8.

We have 3 possible sets of scenery with a start point in Katy. We chose the city with bikelane route... basically Katy in towards the city (couple miles inside the beltway), then cut south, and head back down richmond out to Katy. Other options are suburban 2lanes-on-each-side-of-median roads, or the open country roads the Katy Flatland uses.

The 18th sounds good for me too. Do we want to try the Katy area again or a new area? I could come up with any length of ride in the Cypress area.

At mile 26ish we were back in George Bush park... land of headwinds, and nothing to block them (before this, our average was about 17mph i think). Chino and I rode a slow pace through there while our other rider left us behind (he's riding fixed, so slow puts him WAY below his prefered cadence). We stopped at the end of the park to rest a second, and refill on water/gatorade at the CVS, on for the last stretch to the finish... with a tailwind . We cut it a little shorter than we had planned because of the pace and the headwinds. I think my final average was 15.8.

That wind was RIDICULOUS.

Since its been nominated, I'll second Cypress, I've never ridden up there.

I'll third it for the 18th in Cypress.

-Nate

OK, so Sat. the 18th in Cypress. Give us some directions and a meeting place and we'll be set.

Distance? I vote atleast 30. Mid 30's is the highest I've done in quite awhile, but I'll do further if we want to... just might be more sore later. :)

30's would work for me.

I've got some 30+mile routes but the best is 46 if anyone is interested in a little longer ride. The pace can be whatever everyone is comfortable with. The 46 has fast food or conveinience stores at the 17 and 31 mile markers. I guess I could shorten the 46 by leaving someplace other than my house if need be. Give me a few days to go over some older routes and I can figure out something that will work for everyone.

I live way out in Fairfield which is 290 at Mason Rd. For those coming from the I-10 West area, Mason Rd doesn't go through to 290 but Fry and Katy-Hockley do.

I guess I could shorten the 46 by leaving someplace other than my house if need be.

The benefit of hosting these rides is you not having to travel to get there, I say let's do the 46 and leave from wherever the heck you want.

Here is a link to the 46 mile route. As you can see it would be easy to drop 9 miles if we left from somewhere on the loop instead of my house. If most want to keep it under 40 I am fine with that.

How early does everyone want to start? Who needs the most time to get out to Cypress?

Here is a link to the 46 mile route. As you can see it would be easy to drop 9 miles if we left from somewhere on the loop instead of my house. If most want to keep it under 40 I am fine with that.

How early does everyone want to start? Who needs the most time to get out to Cypress?

you forgot the link;)

http://www.toporoute.com/cgi-bin/getSavedRoute.cgi?routeKey=EYAARMDJSAHQCXS

46 is fine with me... although I will definatly be dropping the pace from my normal. As much as I really enjoy the fast paced 1 or 2 hour rides, I really enjoy the distance rides too.

Besides, once I ride 35miles... I can't feel the last 10 anyways :D

That sounds good, looks like it is going to be fun.

-Nate

It' looks like everyone is OK with 46 miles so that will be the plan. So far we have me (Bluechip), chinotex, chevy42083, and dr. nate. Anyone else interested? Is anyone bringing other riders? You can PM me closer to the date for directions to my house. Is a 8 AM start time good for everyone or should we push it back to 9 AM?