I just received a job offer in Fort Worth and I plan on moving there late summer. I was born in Colorado, but I have lived most of my life in Michigan. I was wondering if someone could give me a quick tour of cycling in the area. A few questions I have:
How are cyclist treated down there? (Up here you are run off the road a lot)
How is the Cyclocross scene?
What about the climate? Strong winds, etc. (pretty much anything is better than living in a place where you can ride for 4 months out of the year)
what about terrain for both roads and trails?
I am a Cat 3 racer, but I'm not totally sure I'll continue racing as much after my move, but I usually ride about 300-400 a week during the good months here in Michigan, so I want to make sure that I can keep up my passion to ride.
This is sort of a big move for me and I want to make sure that I have some type of support system when I get there, it sounds like I will a little bit with my new job, but I would also like to meet some cyclist in the area.
Thanks for any responses
Dan
The BikeForums Team
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Biggest factor coming from out of state is likely the heat- be prepared to do a lot of sweating! And welcome to the area.
jsharr
Very active cycling scene. Never been run off the road in 20+ years of riding. Been honked at, yelled at, ect, but never confrontational.
Tons of good shops and clubs in the area.
www.dorba.org (http://www.dorba.org) is a great mtb group and might be able to point you towards some cross events.
jsharr
Oh and we are windier than Chicago on average,IIRC.
Welcome to Texas.
Chipracer
Oh and we are windier than Chicago on average,IIRC.
Well that's it, I'll have to break the bad news to my fiance that I have to get a TT bike.....
Hobartlemagne
Everyone will tell you to go to Joe T Garcias' Mexican Retaurant.
Visit soon after the move, so people will stop hassling you about it.
Chipracer
Are we talking like serious wind?, because we get steady 20-30 mph winds quite a bit where I am in Michigan. Is it like that every day? because that would blow (no pun intended)
jsharr
No, not like that. I just recall reading somewhere that Dallas/Fort Worth on average is windier than Chicago. Spring can be windy, summer not so much. And winters are mild enough that you can ride year round pretty easily.
Hobartlemagne
Oh- when we get bad rain storms, you'd think the world is about to end.
Don't worry about it- it's normal for the area.
Chipracer
This may sound like a stupid question....But how is the vegetation down there? lots of grass and trees? or is it dusty and rocky?
J.W.
Plenty of trees and grass, bluebonnets or whatever. You only have to worry about dusty once you get past Abilene...out towards Lubbock..no trees and lots of dirt and cotton. But around the Ft. Worth area it is beautiful (i was born and raised there so i am partial)
HAMMER MAN
great riding areas,strong winds,100+ degree's in the summer..
winters pretty mild compared to colo,and michigan
dosen't get mich better than that.
Biggest problems are crap roads and rude drivers
Chipracer
Biggest problems are crap roads and rude drivers
There is no way that the roads are worse than Michigan.... We have potholes that will eat your car
By rude drivers do you mean someone will honk every so often? because we get fist fights and clips with side-view mirrors
aikigreg
Actually I've found the drivers here to be impatient, but vey few issues compared to a lot of other places.
As a cyclist you'll love it, Dan. Year round riding. And I'll be happy to lend a hand in any way I can to make things better. Most of the folks here are Dallas-way but I'm in Ft. Worth. If you need help with real estate or advice or anything, give me a shout.
Greg
evblazer
I see your potholes and raise you miles and miles of endless bone jarring chip seal.
http://www.ci.olympia.wa.us/NR/rdonlyres/97CEEAC7-DDC1-4817-AC6A-4BC6F8122BDD/0/chipweb2.jpg
And watch out for those expansion joints ;)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/2176862392_7d2de71b4b_m.jpg
There are alot of nice places to ride though and mostly drivers are pretty friendly or just don't care as long as you aren't trying to hold up traffic or make their life miserable.
The weather can be really fun down here and may interrupt your riding routine due to severe storms. Nothing like car denting hail with 10ft visibility to put a halt to your ride :D
Chipracer
Yeah, we get the chip-seal here as well. I can deal....I just pretend I'm in the Paris-Roubaix
I think I've pretty much made up my mind and I'm going to move down, I figure 30-40 days of rain is easier to deal with than 4 months of snow and below zero temps
J.W.
Hahaha, dont forget about the heat...well dont worry, if you do forget about it...you wont for long.
lotek
30 - 40 days of rain? hell you say, maybe in Houston but not DFW area.
wind? 30 to 35mph today and chance of Thunderstorms.
Like we say, if you don't like the weather, wait an hour, it will change, that is
except for summer when it's just hot.
for the most part our rude drivers are just the loudmouth type. We don't get a lot of
intentional mirror clips, etc. We do seem to have a plethora of Soccer moms in SUVs on
cell phones who are less than attentive.
Marty
truman
The Fort Worth area has the nicest drivers in any urban area of Texas I've ridden in. East of SH 360 - not so much.
tate65
As a former Michigander I can say for sure there is much more wind here than in Mi, I really enjoy the riding here and it is truly year around, once you get used to the summer heat. The winters are easy to ride through. FW is much better than Dallas, but I would suggest a mid cities, or mid north locations for full usage of all the cycling advantages of the metromess. FW is a forward looking cycling city, they have made some changes on the roads, and for future roads specifically addressing cycling issues, and have an extensive bike trail system they plan to keep adding on to. Mountain biking is a little sparse on the west side, but growing fast. Lots of good LBS's and some good clubs as well.
MMACH 5
Get yourself a few extra bottle cages or an aquarack to throw on during the summer. Staying hydrated is the best way to deal with the mid to late summer heat.
Will G
Check out the Fort Worth Bicycling Association (fwbaclub.org). There isn't much information on racing but lots on local rides and routes plus contacts.
Chipracer
Get yourself a few extra bottle cages or an aquarack to throw on during the summer. Staying hydrated is the best way to deal with the mid to late summer heat.
Well, I am a teacher, so I also plan on doing my summer riding early mornings, and then laying by the pool the rest of the day:)
aikigreg
I'm a teacher as well, and I'll be about ten miles away from you. We'll have to make sure to latch onto some rides together.
geminicricket
Welcome to Texas. Ft. Worth people love their town. You chose well.
Chipracer
I'm a teacher as well, and I'll be about ten miles away from you. We'll have to make sure to latch onto some rides together.
Do you work for FWISD? If so, how do you like it?
keithm0
Welcome to Texas. Ft. Worth people love their town. You chose well.
Ahh... you made my day. I grew up in Fort Worth (in the Wedgwood and Candleridge areas); my family is still there. I hope to move back in a year or two.
Yes, Chipracer, you chose wisely. Good luck!
aikigreg
Do you work for FWISD? If so, how do you like it?
FWISD is known to be a little......disorganized. It's more about which school you'll be teaching at - have any idea?
I taught in Arlington ISD for a while, but now teach south of Ft Worth in Godley. Small AA school. Very strict so I get a lot of great kids. I got tired of the big district stuff long ago!
keithm0
I taught in Arlington ISD for a while, but now teach south of Ft Worth in Godley.
Wow, small world! Both of my parents are from Godley. My mom now lives in Covington (on the other side of Cleburne).
aikigreg
Funny! I don't know how long it's been sincve you've been home, but I bet it looks different now! Godley now has a stoplight and everything!