swinney20

Hi. I'm from the DFW area and would like to take a trip where the wife and I drive somewhere to stay the weekend and do a bike ride event. What's everyone's thoughts on the best ones to go to outside the DFW area for that purpose?

Thanks for your help,
Ben

Werkin

https://www.fwbaclub.org/ehct/index.php

clarkgriswold

Hotter N Hell is the big one, 14,000 or so cyclists. But it can be hot (duh) and the route isn't particularly scenic.
Houston's biggest rides are the BlueBonnet Express and the Katy Flatland
Austin has the Austin Armadillo
I also enjoy the Goatneck which is in Cleburne.

Those are some of the bigger ones I am aware of. There is a Tour de Houston this year (they skipped last year) and a ton of smaller rides.

rmr1923

BlueBonnet Express is set for March 25 (weekend of my sister's wedding so i'll have to skip it this time around). the Tour de Houston is the sunday before (March 18) and offers some shorter routes than most other rides (20/40/60 mile routes). looks like the Katy Flatland is set for July 22.

StephenH

Good question.
For me, it's generally randonneuring events.
I hear good things about the Ft Davis Cyclefest, about the Leakey Death Ride (FWBA event), about the Hell Week whatever-it-is. But I've never done any of the 3.
You can ride a bike through Vicksburg National Military Park, around 20 miles with some steep little hills, mostly deserted on weekdays.
The Talimena Scenic Byway is a another option.
It helps if you like hills. It's flattish around here, so peole think "more hills = more scenic". If you hate hills, then look at other options.

Yo Spiff

Beat me to that one. I've haven't done Easter hill before, and I'm looking forward to it. I'll be driving sag on Saturday & Sunday, riding on Friday. Wife is coming as well, she doesn't ride, but she's one of those people for whom there are no strangers, just friends she hasn't met yet. She'll have fun. She's already busy telling all her family & friends what we are doing in April.

Creakyknees

So many great events... Livestrong in Austin, Tour de Gruene in New Braunfels, Easter Hill Country weekend, various bike club outings, rallies all over...

swinney20

Thank you. Looks nice!

swinney20

Thank you Werkin. Looks like a nice one.

swinney20

Thanks clarkgriswold! If anyone knows about vacation road trips, it should be you!!!

swinney20

Thanks rmr1923. It's good to get the dates. I appreciate your post.

swinney20

Thanks StephenH. Great suggestions. I love scenery and can tolerate hills! I need to train a bit more to become better friends with them.

swinney20

Thanks Yo Spiff. Easter Hill is popping up a lot from everyone. Sounds like it may be a winner! P.S. I like your profile pic. It looks like you're hanging on by your nose the way it cuts it off right though! HAH!!! Looks cool and funny!

swinney20

Thanks Creakyknees (great nickname. I think I need to be creakyknees2!). I was thinking Hill County too so News Braunsfels and Greune sound good. I don't think the wife wlll want to hang around the race waiting for me to ride so other things to do like shopping or somesuch will be good. I think New Braunsfels and Greune would have things to occupy her time probably.

texbiker

Depending on how far you are willing to travel there are a multitude of rides. Look at the event calendar at Texbiker.net.
https://www.texbiker.net/blog/calendar/

tate65

Are you only talking road or is mountain biking an option? DORBA's camp clearfork is one of the best cycling events period. Held each memorial day weekend in Mt Ida Arkansas, Some of the best mountain biking in the country along with some great folks...Registration will be on the front page in March.
www.dorba.org

Werkin

https://www.active.com/cycling/selma-...ower-ride-2012

trophyoftexas

Easter Hill Country is a great ride if for no other reason than the location! Another event in that same area is Texas Hellweek....8 days of riding but you can choose to to all or some, and while not as organized as EHC it offers a great chance to see a lot more of the Hill Country. I've done them both and enjoyed them both....but then I also enjoy just going to Fredericksburg and doing my own thing on the same roads!

Yo Spiff

It sounds like a few of us are going to be at Easter Hill. Might be nice to have some way of identifying other BF members at these large events.

RayM

Later in the year (October), The Pineywoods Purgatory starting in Lufkin is a great ride.

hrt4me

we just registered for this today and hope to still get into one of the cabins

Dolamite02

Bike Around the Bay has for the last two years been my favorite ride of the year. The 2012 edition will complete the route making 100miles the first day and 80ish the second with an overnight at Moody Gardens. Extremely well organized, and still small enough that the crowds aren't overwhelming like they are for HHH.

Yo Spiff

Oh, that looks like a good one. I immediately recognized the location in the pic. Explored port bolivar late last year. A big group ride there would be fun.

Dolamite02

It's really a lot of fun. The second day you get to ride the rolling bridges heading north on I-45, and later climb the Fred Heartman Bridge.

Yo Spiff

It's now been added to my mental "must do this ride" list.