mikeb748

Will be in DFW for the weekend and wanted to catch a Saturday am RBM ride. I found a map and will probably do the "Tour de Lucas" route: https://bikemart.com/merchant/395/fil..._061609_sm.pdf

I am having a difficult time understanding this map. I guess these rides start at RBM? I am used to the East Texas hills so a normal ride for me is 18+mph. Is this route relatively flat? If for some reason I get dropped, is there a slower group behind this group? Stops or all out?

Creakyknees

I guess these rides start at RBM? - correct, the shop will be open and there's usually an employee standing out front to answer any questions. Make sure you know which group you're riding with, they go by their start time - e.g. "I'm with the 9:05 group"

It's pretty flat, lots of stoplights, and the route is well-traveled by lots of riders on a nice Saturday. The Lucas / 50 mile group gets going pretty fast once they get out to open roads, this time of year it's not race pace but it can get brisk. However it usually regroups on the way back in.

StephenH

I'm thinking that map is not to scale, if that helps. Look at the map on Google or search for it on mapmyride. There are some hills scattered around here, but usually not that big, and this time of year, you're likely to have more problem with wind than hills.

It does look like the ride starts at RBM down at the bottom left. That one little cut-through may be on a multi-use-path, rather than the road, I can't tell for sure, but there are some bike paths down around the college there. Can't help you on the other questions; I haven't ridden with this group.

ppena

I've never been on the Lucas one but I have ridden on the Allen one. There are 2 pace groups on the Allen ride one 19+ and one 18+. The 50 mile ride is said to be the pro ride and only about 10-15 people take off for that one.

They all start at RBM and I've noticed that the group likes to pickup the pace on the way home.

mikeb748

Anyone of you all going to be there? I may do the 19. I "think" the 20 speed is okay but I have no idea what the route is except what's on the map.

ppena

On the 18+ pace my computer avg had 19. So the pace is a suggestion but isn't always followed. If I didn't have to work I'd be there.

cuda2k

As an alternative, I welcome you to come out to the PBA rides (we leave from the NW corner of Coit & Spring Creek, just a little to the north. More rides to pick from, and more people who actually will be willing to tell you what the actual traveling and avg paces are going to be for any given ride.