Is the Longhorn course safe to ride....

I don't think I'd do it anywhere near rush hour, as the crazies get even crazier. Should be OK later in the evening as traffic dies down. Here's another thread with a little more info.

If you don't know the area, I would not advise riding the course in the evening. While parts are in moderate traffic areas, other parts are quite rural (i.e. BFE) and you don't want to get lost out there with the sun going down. I think you would be fine in the afternoon, but I wouldn't start riding much past 3-4 p.m. or so. Take extra fluids and food with you since there are really not many stores out there. Keep your eyes on the road because most of the turns are marked. Bring a map as well.

There are groups that ride the course most every Saturday morning if that accomodates your schedule at all. Good luck!

Thanks for all the advise.  I rode it tonight and I hate to be picky bit those roads were not good at all!!!  Lots of  chip seal and very bumpy(Like a wash board).  I am used to chip seal up in Dallas for training rides but this was some of the worst roads I have ridden.  I know they can't fix it but I was very disappointed in the road quality.  The  course was great other than the roads.  Just my 2 cents.

There are groups that ride the course most every Saturday morning if that accomodates your schedule at all. Good luck!

 Do those Saturday morning groups meet at the park and ride the whole course?  If so, is it usually at a specific time or just random?

Edited by TeeCris 2008-08-15 9:41 AM

The Austin Area Triathlon Meetup Group:
http://triathlon.meetup.com/105/

There is a group meeting tomorrow morning at 7:30am to ride the entire course and run afterwards. They start in the parking lot behind the convenience store at Decker Lake Rd. and Decker Lane. From what I can tell, there is a large group of the Meetup group doing the OWS on Sunday, so the ride will be smaller than usual. They meet most every Saturday to ride the course, so check the calendar on their website frequently as they add new sessions.

I wish I could ride it this weekend, but football for 1 kid and cheerleading for another makes Saturday long workouts pretty obsolete in the fall.

BUT......if anyone wants to ride the course on a WEEKDAY after Aug. 25, LET ME KNOW!!!!!! I would LOVE a riding partner for weekdays!!!! Avg. 17-18mph, but I can go faster or slower if need be.