yeamac 

Hmmm ... probably gone by some of you on the Braes Bayou before if you ride it so much, as I do too. I ride at various times, also usually picking less crowded times. However, since school has been out, I have been riding from about 6:30-8:00 AM, either on my red bianchi or blue Cannondale tandem with my 8 yr old daughter (latter bike is easier to spot). Seem to be a lot less people exercising in the mornings on the Bayou this year compared to last summer.

tzarbomba

Usually in the morning during weekends and in the evening (start around 6 or 7 pm) on weekdays, if I'm back at the apartment early enough. I start near the Holcombe/Cambridge entrance and turn around near that Fiesta on the other side...end up with around 25 miles.

Just send me PM if you're able to ride whenever....

tzarbomba

I've only seen one or two tandems there...may've been you.

kwrides

I ride the bayou quite a bit too, but it's not exactly the best place for a group ride

I find it very frustrating watching 2 or 3 riders buzzing walkers, not calling "on your left", etc., as they try to squeeze the holes between people.

I have done a few group rides along the side of the bayou (on Braeswood, McGregor, etc.) early Sat and Sun mornings. The roads are pretty clear at 7am, but by 10, they're packed. The only problem with this is all the lights between Kirby and the museums.

If you see a fat 40 year old on an Orbea, say hi

Engyo

Another Braes Bayou rider. I live near MacGregor park. Has anyone else taken the new Columbia TAP trail north from Braes just east of 288 into downtown? It ends up at Dowling and McKinney, a couple of blocks from the ballpark, Toyota Center, George R. Brown and Discovery Green. Pretty nice pathway; all concrete, and adds another 6 miles (1 way) to your ride.

kwrides

Have they fixed the section at 45 yet? I tried this one day and had to hike it under 45 in my Keo's because there was no bike path there.

jehan60188

so, I want to ride on westheimer pkwy, but i can't figure out the best (if any) place to park my car at george bush park
any opinions?

Tex_Arcana

There are 2 or 3 places to park at George Bush Park. The safest might be at the gun range since theives might actually avoid that area. Then there is the parking area inside the park where cyclists and equestrians tend to park and near S. Fry there is a park with a bunch of soccer fields and such you can park at too.

I dredged up an old map I did on Map My Ride when I was doing my Half Century Half Century last August just before my 50th birthday ( when I rode with CPBlue and had my left crank fall off). It starts out from a Library near my home and goes my preferred route to THP ( though at the time they were working on the bridge over the bayou and you had to go past the main entrance and enter the park from Boheme, the main entrance is open now ). The map also follows Briar Forest for a bit because I had planned a stop at Bull and Bear Pub for a Guiness.

Here's the URL : https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...ston/304110994

If you go to the turn around part of the ride and use hybrid mode you can see the parking areas.

jehan60188

it sounds like you can use any of the parking lots, even if you aren't going to that particular place.
good deal, except now i'm worried about my car being broken in to! eh, i'm sure it'll be fine!

thanks everyone for all your input!

Tex_Arcana

Like I said before, "The safest might be at the gun range since theives might actually avoid that area."

aggarcia

With all of these people riding Braes Bayou trail I am surprised some of use have not run into each other. Yes, the bike path is not ideal for a group ride. I have ridden east to the TMC. There is construction and a detour that I could never find the next section. I read about the TAP Columbia trail and would like try it, but I am not sure how to get to it from the Braes trail once I get to the TMC area.

My road bike ( Trek 2.1 ) is going into the shop Friday afternoon for servicing, so next week I will be back to the Trek 7.2FX. I am open for a ride after 6pm ride next week in anyone is interested.

kwrides

At the detour (by Hermann Park), get on Braeswood heading east. You have to ride the actual road. Take it to just before 288 (Almeda?) and on the north side of the road, you will see a sidewalk. Take it east and it quickly becomes a path that will take you under 288. You can then stay on the newly paved path all the way to McGregor Park.


Right after you go under 288, you will see a big church on your left. The trail is right next to the church.

I would offer to show you all this, but I ride early in the morning on weekends. It's wayyyy too hot at night.


BTW, just in case you prefer riding roads to riding paths, I never get back on the path after the detour. I ride the path all the way from Fondren or Gessner (or wherever it starts) all the way to Hermann Park, but then I just get on Braeswood and follow the street all the way to McGregor Park. You get a nice little climb in at 288, and after 288, there is almost no traffic and very wide roads to ride with some interesting huge homes to check out.

Hope all that helps.

Engyo

No worries. It's complete. My only complaint is that heading back south there were some bushes that made it hard to see oncoming traffic on the 45 South feeder. Otherwise it was great.

jehan60188

can i take my hybrid bike on the hike/bike trail, or is it better suited for more rugged bikes?

Engyo

Hi, Jehan -

The hike/bike trails are all paved. Some of it is worn, (like older road surface) but a hybrid should have no real troubles. There is a mountain bike trail in Memorial Park that might give you some real grief, but not any of the bikeways. BTW, here is the latest city Bikeways map......it's a huge PDF file, but you can zoom in on your desired piece and then print it out.

jehan60188

thanks!

Anyways, if anyone shows up to the equestrian park, today around 4:15-4:20, and you see an inept looking bald guy wrestling a bike out of the back of a VW rabbit, he probably wouldn't mind some company for a short/slow ride!

aggarcia

Kwrides - well I see I was almost there. I made it to Almeda, but did not ride far enough to hit Dixie road before I turned around.

That ride to MacGregor park looks interesting. I actually prefer the roads over bike paths as long a the roads are not too busy.

The Braes Bayou path starts in my subdivision on Braeburn Glen, but once you get past Gessner, the path is really beaten up and not very good. I do not advise people ridding that far. I ride that far only to get home.

At times on Sat morining I have ridden the bayou early imn the morning, but lately too many other tasks keep me from riding at all on the weekends. Lately even riding in the afternoon's is rough with the heat.

yeamac 

Earlier this year I crossed Gessner and started riding on that narrow part going West and there was so much broken glass that I stopped, turned around and walked my bike past the glass and decided what was past that wasn't worth looking into.

I'd like to go down to McGregor sometime in the AM if someone wants to meet. I always stop when the trail pops up by the Med Center and have never tried to look for the route past that.

kwrides

I'd be happy to give you the tour. I'll ride both days this weekend, starting at about 630am. What's your avg mph on the bayou?

jehan60188

omg, i need a better helmet

i rode about 40 minutes today, but the last 15 were brutal- my head just got way way to hot!
i guess that's what i deserve for riding at 4:30 in the texas afternoon

kwrides

buy a Halo headband. you won't be sorry.

yeamac 

I am out of town this weekend but either next week or next Sat should work. 6:30 is my normal weekday start time. Computer avg is 18ish when riding for fitness.

kwrides

Glad we didn't pick this morning to ride. I had a mechanical and ended up turning around.

I would say to just PM me, but let's keep this in the thread in case others want to join.

Where do you start out on the Bayou. I am by the JCC. If I get on the bayou there and ride west until the pavement ends, then turn around and ride to McGregor Park and then back to the JCC, it's about 27 miles round trip. We can get in more miles if you want by doing loops at McGregor and UH.

The "wind in your face in both directions" effect of the bayou usually means I only average around 17mph. However, I'm fine with slowing it down a little if that's too fast for others that want to join in the "tour de east of 288".

jehan60188

i actually have one (bald- keeps the sweat out of my eyes when i'm climbing/running/etc), and used it, but it didn't really help with ventilation (if anything, it traps in the heat)

kwrides

yeah, my head gets really hot in this heat too. I didn't mean the whole bandana/skull cap thingee, just the headband



Does this make you feel hotter too?