(HOU) George Bush Park -> Terry Hershey Park
 

I live in the medical center area and am really tiring of riding the Braes Bayou paths. I heard about a bike path that is in george bush park and connects to terry hershy park, but I have no idea where it is or where I'd park. Can anyone give me a heads up on this?

Also if anyone could recommend any 30-60 mile rides within an hours drive from the middle of town I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

Chris

I found this on it, but I haven't been there.

http://www.houston365.com/2005/11/13...ke-bike-trail/

There are a few routes up on www.bikely.com
Do a search for Dayton, Texas or La Porte, Texas
These are probably about an hour east on I10.

Regards, Jerry

There are a bunch of rides from the Cypress area (about 30 miles from you) out 290. Check out NorthWest Cycling Club website and click on Saturday or Sunday rides for maps and info.
http://www.northwestcyclingclub.com/

I was in this same boat about a month ago. Braes Bayou trail is not that great for cycling. Terry Hershey/George Bush is much better as you have to cross zero roads, although I imagine on a weekend, like any hike & bike trail, it can get pretty crowded (so far I have only ridden it on Fridays). Caution: George Bush trail floods after a moderate rainfall.

Here is one website which has basic info including this map of the Terry Hershey trail:

PDF of Terry Hershey Park

What it does NOT show is the connection to the George Bush trail, which is west of HWY 6. To get to the George Bush Trail, once you cross HWY 6 and come back up to street level, you will soon come across a north-south path. Take that north, which after a quarter mile or so will then curve west. Once you hit a road, then take that road south, which after half a mile or so will dead end into the start of George Bush trail. All total I think the round trip is 36 miles.

I live at the west end of the Braes Bayou trail, and to get to Terry Hershey Park trail I drive Beechnut west to Beltway 8, then travel north on the Beltway 8 feeder roads to a parking lot for the trail. The lot is north of Briar Forrest Drive and Beltway 8, and just north of Briar Hill Drive (a smaller street). Red arrow shows turn into the parking lot. Green shows the bike path. It follows the Buffalo Bayou.

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6905/maphg3.th.jpg

As for other routes around Houston, click the "Training" tab in the left column of my cycling team's website for other cycling routes around Houston.

PM me if you have other questions.

Stay off the Terry Hershey/George Bush Park trail on the weekends!

I came across a family having a picnic ON the path! I used some not so nice words telling them to get off the path! Weekend riders have no idea they need to move over to the side when a faster person is coming up behind them.

Terry Hirshey/George Bush is a great route, but as another poster said, not on the weekends! Too many families, too many little kids. It's good on a hybrid or MTB, but the last time I rode out there on a weekend, I got a fractured elbow for my troubles.

That said, if you can get out during the week, it's great. Parking is on the access road to the Sam Houston Tollway. It's actually an illegal turn into the parking lot if you're headed north, so try to take it from the south. There's a good sized parking lot and you can go all the way out to Fry Road without going back up to street level. Definitely a nice ride when it's not crowded.

Great Ride
 

Every Saturday morning at about 7:30 there is the Northwest Cycle Club Ride. Assuming you have a road bike, you can do a 25, 38, 60 mile (approx) ride. (not for mtb's) They start at either at Zube Park (off 290 in Hockley) or at the Hockley Community Center. Check their web site. They send you off by distance / avg speed so you will always be with some one. Great people, good route, nice time. Highly recommend it.

woah
 

hey, thanks for the much needed info!

I should add the Terry Hershey bike trail is VERY bumpy. I don't think I'll ever take my road bike on it again. I do plan on trying a lot of the off-road trails though.


also check out my website below!

??? Seriously? The wodden bridges are somewhat bumpy to ride over, and you have an occasional tree root in a few sections buckling the trail, but for the most part I would rate the Terry Hershey as a smooth path. You are staying on the paved sections, right? ;) I'm just saying I have never considered the Terry Hershey to be that bumpy of a trail and I have no problems taking my steel road bike on it. Come ride the Braes Bayou trail between Stella Link and Buffalo Speedway and you'll get an idea what a bumpy trail can be like. :(

I don't know that I'd call it all that bumpy either, but I still don't take my roadie on it. There are a couple of fairly severe twists and turns that I wouldn't want to try on my roadie, and my hybrid is just more comfortable on it, anyway. That said, I really don't get the chance to ride that trail anymore these days. :(