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-   -   Texas area D/FW, Grand Prairie. Need routes (https://www.bikeforums.net/texas/576080-texas-area-d-fw-grand-prairie-need-routes.html)

WalksOn2Wheels 08-19-09 01:46 PM

Texas area D/FW, Grand Prairie. Need routes
 
Ok, So I currently live on the north end of Denton, which is right next to a lot of great rural roads for cycling. However, my wife just got a job in Duncanville and we're looking at moving closer to there, probably in the Grand Prairie area.

I've been looking online, but haven't had much luck finding any good training/exercise routes. Does anyone have any tips on places to live or rides in that area? I'd really like to be somewhere I can just leave the apartment/house on a bicycle rather than drive somewhere and ride. Also, I like roads with shoulders.

Creakyknees 08-19-09 02:12 PM

it's pretty built-up there, you're surrounded by metroplex.

but Duncanville... you can go South from there and get to the country... is that a possibility?

StephenH 08-19-09 05:18 PM

Several of the randonneuring routes start at Lynn Creek Marina on Joe Pool Lake, if that's anywhere near where you'll be. And they do triathlon training in that area. So yes, there's riding to be done.

There's also some charity rides in the area, check on their routes.

tate65 08-19-09 05:56 PM

Bluebonnet bike shop in cedar hill has a few good routes.

Griffin2020 08-20-09 06:04 AM

I live in Arlington, and ride in the Duncanville/Cedar Hill/Joe Pool area all the time.
Chalk Ridge is in that area, so there is some climbing to be done, but it is not severe.

Check Roadbikerides.com

WalksOn2Wheels 08-20-09 07:29 AM

Thanks for all the tips so far.

tate, did you mean B&B cycles? The only Bluebonnet I can find online is in Lewisville.

Also, we looked at some apartments online last night and will drive out to check some out this weekend, but from what I could see on google earth, it looks like if I could live in the south end of Grand Prairie near the intersection of Beltline and I-20, I could roll out south down Beltline. It appears that there is a good shoulder on that road going south. Has anyone here gone down that road?

WalksOn2Wheels 08-20-09 07:34 AM

It looks like I can hoof it down Belt Line and hit the Joe Pool loop. Sounds kickin'.

Though I did look at some of those roads and am a little worried about some of those roads that cross the lake with no shoulder. What is the car speed limit on those roads?

crdean1 08-20-09 07:50 AM

Rode the Red Hot Chili Pepper ride last Saturday, and the route goes through Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Joe Pool area, etc. Also, there are some nice rides through the country roads of Mansfield, and you could easily start in Grand Prairie. Most roads don't have shoulders out there. Just country roads, but they are used to cyclists.

Check out Texas Plume Road for a nice 1.5 mile hill to add to the route...

Red Hot Chili Pepper ride (found one from 2008, their website is down for some reason):
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...llas/909973499

Grand Prairie, Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Arlington, Joe Pool, etc. (166 Routes):
http://www.mapmyride.com/search?txtL...rch=SEARCH+%3E

Griffin2020 08-20-09 08:31 AM

MOST motorists in that area are used to seeing cyclists and give us a wide berth. There is the occasional jagoff.

The only road across the lake with no shoulder (that I know of) is Lake Ridge Parkway. It is 2 lane divided, and I ride it several times per week, in each direction. Actually, the bridge sections are the only places I have had motorists buzz and honk as if I have no right to be there (and it is also the road with signage stating "Cyclists on roadway"). Of course, there have been fewer than 5 incidents in all of my rides over there.

WalksOn2Wheels 08-20-09 08:44 AM

As popular as the route seems to be, I assumed that cars there would be used to seeing bikes out there. It also helps that it's a pretty straight road with no blind spots so you know cars -should- see you ahead. I also like the fact that there is some warning signage out there as well. What is the speed limit there? 35? 45?

H-Bear 08-20-09 10:49 AM

I rode the RHCP rally as well and it was a challenging +/- 64 mile ride.

http://www.redhotrally.org/coursemap_072809.pdf

Griffin2020 08-20-09 11:23 AM


Originally Posted by WalksOn2Wheels (Post 9524083)
As popular as the route seems to be, I assumed that cars there would be used to seeing bikes out there. It also helps that it's a pretty straight road with no blind spots so you know cars -should- see you ahead. I also like the fact that there is some warning signage out there as well. What is the speed limit there? 35? 45?

I believe that the speed limit is 45, but traffic travels around 60.
Yes, most people do see riders (and are used to seeing riders), but there are a few imbeciles that are completely oblivious.

WalksOn2Wheels 08-21-09 08:15 PM

Just so everybody knows (the tension was killing you, admit it), I ended up finding a place today that it just off of Robinson Road south of I-20. Looks like it's about as good as I could get location wise and the apartment management said that they indeed see a lot of cyclists in the area. This means people are paying -some- attention. Just a few miles off from the Joe Pool Lake area. I shall be hitting up the loop in a month or so here.

Thanks for all the tips.

Paratrooper 08-21-09 09:34 PM

I rode up Robinson last week. It's a short but decent ride. I'm South of 20 in Arlington on 157.

Edited to add:

The route I took last Wednesday was pretty good but likely to be considered unsafe. I rode the I-20 service road E to SH360 S. I went down through Johnson and Ellis counties then turned around and came back up 287.

The wind kicked my butt on the way down but it was a snap heading back North.

Griffin2020 08-22-09 06:30 PM


Originally Posted by Paratrooper (Post 9535182)
Edited to add:

The route I took last Wednesday was pretty good but likely to be considered unsafe. I rode the I-20 service road E to SH360 S. I went down through Johnson and Ellis counties then turned around and came back up 287.

The shoulders on 360 are pretty good. Wide and relatively clean.

Have never tried riding 287, but there are some great surface streets out to Venus and it is relatively easy to get to Midlothian and Waxahachie from Arlington/Grand Prairie.

Paratrooper 08-22-09 07:48 PM

I assume you take Lone Star Rd. out to Venus. I was looking at 917 to Keene but I'm pretty certain the speed limit gets up to 55 MPH with no shoulders and lots of turns to suddenly encounter vehicular traffic. I could be recalling the route incorrectly though. It's been 10 years. I last drove it on a brief commute back in 1999. Things may have changed.

`

bjtesch 08-30-09 09:39 PM

There are some good hills south of Joe Pool lake. The loop that goes west along the south side of the like and leads to the bridges has a 50mph downhill. Just south of there you can find the steepest hill I've tried to climb- Robin Lane I think it is called. Once you get south of the city there are plenty of places to ride.

I live in Irving and used to ride south through Grand Prairie, go clockwise around the lake and back for a total of 55 miles. For more mileage I could go from Cedar Hill south through Ovilla to Waxahachie and back around the lake for a total of 95 miles.

LJ325 08-31-09 05:45 PM

Thanks to the above suggestions, I included the Joe Pool route on my 100k ride today. I took Lake Ridge south from Camp Wisdom east (coming off SH360). I did a back and forth down Mansfield Rd where it turns into Beltline. There are two decent sized hills to get your heart rate up a little. I checked the elevation - it said 992 ft and 876 ft. Good enough. I backtracked over to Lake Ridge again and followed it to 67. 67S to 287W to 360N then back home. Nice weather today. The ride was perfect and the traffic was friendly.

I didn't ride on 287, I followed Old Fort Worth Rd then jumped on 287 for a brief time until I hit Davis. Davis took me to 360 but I wouldn't recommend that route for a road bike since the paved road turns into an unimproved surface.

bjtesch 08-31-09 08:42 PM

I would go south through Irving and work my way over to BeltLine going south through Grand Prairie and follow that past Joe Pool Lake to Marvin D Love freeway. Then down the access road to where W. Beltline goes west and then turns into Mansfield Rd. and then Lake Ridge Parkway. Midway along Mansfield Rd. is where the 50mph downhill is. Follow Lake Ridge across both bridges, then turn right on Camp Wisdom, L. on Matthew, R. on Polo. I'd end up going north on Carrier Parkway. I haven't done this in over 10 years though so I can't vouch for how cycle-friendly the roads are now.

From that point where S. Beltline, W. Beltline and MarvinDLove meet, there are a variety of roads going to the southeast that get you out in the country and will take you to Ovilla and then to Waxahachie.

LJ325 08-31-09 09:07 PM

The area looks great and as I said, the traffic was friendly. I noticed a sign on Lake Ridge warning drivers to share the road with cyclists. :D

apacherider 08-31-09 10:14 PM

Lots of good riding out that way!

Lots of nice hills and good roads to train on.


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