Texas - Texas east to west...

Purely out curiosity, would anybody be interested in a self supported race/tour from Beaumont to El Paso? Kinda in the AZT 300 fashion but on the road and about 500 miles longer.

Are there any long cross Texas races currently in play?

actually, more like a long rando.

You do realize you may want to wait until the fall to do this, right? The West Texas temps and the great distances between civilization can get kind of dicey this time of year.

You do realize you may want to wait until the fall to do this, right? The West Texas temps and the great distances between civilization can get kind of dicey this time of year.

Actually east Texas is probably worse because of the humidity and the temps have been higher. But yeah, that would be a rough ride during the summer.

Just so you know, Beaumont is not on the TX/LA border. Orange is right at the border, if you want I-10 to be your route, but I certainly would not pick I-10, even if riding in the shoulder/emergency lane. Last time I passed through there, construction was ongoing, and there were places with no emergency lane or shoulder. US 190 might be a better alternative, and more scenic, and there are probably other good routes.

Ok, this ride is just an idea and having lived in Texas I know that slogging this distance, in the summer, in Texas would be brutal. I just wanted to see what people thought about the idea. I see this as a race from, I suppose Orange, to El Paso. No defined route. You pick your way there.

Ok, i-10 is off limits.

The race is on the honor system there would be no prizes.

Like I said it's kinda a-la Great Divide or AZT 300...but on the road.

I know some folks that did El Paso to Orange in a group of tandems, but that was a few years ago. They made some good time across the state, something like 700 miles in 5 or 6 days.

Interesting idea. It will be a while before I am in any shape to be competitive, and I may have to retire first to have the time to train to do it all at once.

According to ultracycling.com the long east-west would start at the junction of US 67/71 at TX/LA state line in Texarkana, TX and end at the TX/NM state line on Paisano Drive, El Paso, TX (817mi). The short route would start at I-20 at TX/LA state line east of Waskom, TX and end at US 62/180 at TX/NM state line east of Hobbs, NM (574mi).