[Bvc-chat] Georgetown to Bryan - route critique?

[Philip Lawrence]

This is one of those tough routes to get back from. I've been looking at
doing something similar as I have a lot of family in that area.It really
depends on the amount of trade-off you want to have with safety comfort vs
distance.

My notes:

   1. Highway 29 from FM 1660 has no shoulder, 60mph speed limit and
   numerous curves. You should be fine, but just be cautious. On a Saturday
   you shouldn't have as many farm trucks as during the week. I would suggest
   going down to CR 101, but it is currently under construction.
   2. FM 1331 is a good choice. That's a great road to ride on (at least it
   was when I went on it last year)
   3. FM 908 from Rockdale to Caldwell is pretty risky on a bike. 70mph
   speed limit, no shoulder, and a lot blind hills/corners. I drive this
   pretty much every other weekend now, and I've only seen 1 bike on it in the
   past 2 years. And even so, that was a group of about 10-12 recumbents.
   There isn't too much traffic on this road as compared to the highway 79 ->
   highway 36 route. The 79 -> 36 route includes a nice wide shoulder the
   whole way (even though most drivers still drive on it.) It's a trade-off
   between a shoulder with a lot of traffic, or no shoulder with less traffic
   on a windier road.
   4. The rest is OK, but I'd prefer the Flagpole route as well. Highway 47
   from Highway 21 to your turn off recently got more chipseal about a month
   ago. However, they only did some sections and only within the lanes. You'll
   likely run across loose gravel on the shoulder, but it wouldn't be terrible.

I'll actually be coming back from that area on Saturday afternoon - so if
you need a SAG, feel free to call!

---
Philip Lawrence
Web Developer & Web Analytics Engineer
misterphilip.com<http://misterphilip.com/?utm_source=gmail&utm_medium=signature&utm_campaign=normal>
 :: @_MisterPhilip <https://twitter.com/#!/_MisterPhilip>



On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 3:29 PM, Chris Roscoe <c.roscoe at tamu.edu> wrote:

> Hwy 21 is also quite busy and has lots of crap on the shoulder east of
> Caldwell. And, as Frank mentioned, chipseal that feels like you are riding
> on boulders. 47 is similarly crappy, although the shoulder is at least
> wider (in most places).****
>
> ** **
>
> I would also recommend taking the Flagpole route back:****
>
> http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/49869972 (return leg along 166)****
>
> ** **
>
> It looks like it has many turns, but they’re all pretty obvious (just
> follow 166 until it ends, then jog right to 60). The stretch on 60 just
> before and after 47 town has lots of debris and traffic but it is very
> short.****
>
> ** **
>
> Your hands and gluteus maximus will thank you.****
>
> ** **
>
> Chris****
>
> **
>
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