Texas - Help on setting up a biking date with boyfriend.

Hey all,
Needed some help setting up a cool date with boyfriend. I am looking for a place somewhere around the Houston area or surrounding. What I want to do is bike on a highway, kinda out in the country or maybe in Houston if I cant find anything. Anyway, I would drive out to the biking area, bike, stop at a nice restaurant and bike back. I know Houston now has trails on rails, but I want to make that my last resort. I was also thinking of going out to Galveston, biking down seawall, and stop at a restaurant. Of course I would rather bike out in the country.

How many miles do you want to ride?

How many miles do you want to ride?
The issue would be me. I am in pretty good health, but I don't bike often. I would like do 15-20. Each way. He is a marathon/triathlon runner. So yeah the limit would be in me.

The issue would be me. I am in pretty good health, but I don't bike often. I would like do 15-20. Each way. He is a marathon/triathlon runner. So yeah the limit would be in me.

There are several ways you could ride from Katy to Fulshear and eat, then ride back. You could also drive to Fulshear and do some loops and eat on one of the legs back through town.

If West Houston is of intrest, I can offer some of the roads cyclists generally stick to.

Is there any good riding to be had out around Brazos Bend State Park? I've been through there, but was in a car.

Galveston would be nice IF the weather was nice and it wasn't too windy and it wasn't too crowded, etc. Parking down there somewhere then riding up to the ferries and going across would be kind of neat, not sure how they work bikes on the ferries.

I'll have to check mileage when I get home, but I parked at the south west end of the seawall, and rode to the ferry... we crossed on the ferry, and road maybe a mile or two, then turned around.
On a busy day, the seawall is definitely a slow cruise because of the crowd... but the restaraunts and view are nice. The slowness might be better since you aren't a distance biker. I wouldn't ride in the road headed North East because of the traffic, parallel parkers, and people running out into the street jaywalking.

The far end isn't nearly as busy mid morning
http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs163.snc1/6095_652702786596_37505218_37656328_2975664_n.jpg
Biking onto Ferry is just like a pedestrian. You get to skip the long car line too ;)
http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs183.snc1/6095_652751384206_37505218_37658090_2410113_n.jpg


As far as west of katy... I don't off hand know of any restaruants... but that doesn't mean there aren't.
I think ROUGHLY katy mills to Brookshire is 20mi round trip.... and that's straight boring hwy 90. I can get the exact mileage once i get home on that one too.
http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs206.snc1/7319_667184475176_37505218_38218886_4087440_n.jpg


Maybe a ride through Terry Hershey park and a picnic? I've been meaning to take a gal on that trip for awhile, but never got the timing down. Depending on the restaruant you want, maybe head up hwy6? Briarforest is a good parallel alternate if the park is crowded. Nothing really pretty though.

I'd suggest driving to Fulshear and ride the Pool Hill loop or the Winne-Foster loop see map licked below. Park in the car-pool parking lot.

http://bikebarn.com/articles/katy-ride-maps-ig792/pool-hill-out-n-back-2298.htm

There a couple of nice restaruants in Fulshear.

Galveston: bring a picnic and a kite!

Regaurding the rides I mentioned above....
Grand Parkway/kingsland to Brookshire and back is 23mi
Grand Parlway/kingsland to Stephen F Austin Park and back is 48mi.
West end of Galveston Seawall, across ferry, and uturn after a mile or so was 21mi

A lot of great ideas already in this thread. I've got to add mine in.

There's a great BBQ restaurant in Richmond on FM359 called Swinging Door (http://www.swingingdoor.com/). It's very good BBQ and a relaxed atmosphere. I wouldn't feel odd at all coming in there in riding clothes. The roads around this area are very cyclist friendly with wide shoulders, plenty of cyclists on the weekends, and patient drivers.

I've attached a route covering about 20 miles, Swinging door is at mile 20. Foster High School on the corner of FM723 and 359 is a great place to park and very close to the restaurant.

wow those are all great great ideas. thank you guys so much for the help. I am going to give Galveston another try.

I like the Coldspring area. It has a Historical feel without all the commericalism. A ride over to the dam and the Livingston State Park is nice. A big biking area and easy to get to from 59

Have you considered The Woodlands? Over 120 miles of bike trails. With the new riverwalk by the mall it would be great place for lunch.