How safe is the Longhorn bike course for a weekday solo ride?

PM Tommy (ziacyclist).  I think he rode it last weekend.  Sounds like fun!  Wait...are you picking her up on Friday??  Does that mean you will be in Shreveport on Saturday?

Nope; I pick her up Saturday morning, but since I have to drive down there on Friday (or get up at 2 a.m. Saturday to drive...no thanks) I figured I might try to check out the course and ease my fears a bit.

My husband and I rode it last Friday afternoon at 1pm. I think you would be fine. Take your map from the EndorFun website, but pay more attention to the markings on the roads. Some of the street signs are missing, so it's sometimes hard to tell where to turn just by following the map. Some parts of the course have you out in the middle of nowhere, but you are in civilized parts for a lot of it. There are a few stores that you pass by, so bring money if you think you need to replenish drink or food.

We parked behind the convenience store at the corner of Decker Lake and Decker Lane. There's a night club and a laundry place in the strip center where we parked. Our car was fine and we didn't have to pay to park at the expo center.

We didn't see anyone else riding the course last week when we were out, but there may be some on a weekday morning. I guess 'normal' people try to avoid riding on Friday afternoons in 100* heat!

Have fun!

Couple of things to watch for (if I remember this right):

The "turn" from Blue Bluff to Bloor is really the road taking a hard left and changing names. Then you'll come up to 130, and you take the access road to get to 973. Oh, and when you turn onto Blue Bluff from Lindell it is a hard right and goes immediately into a little hill.

973 had a bit of traffic, so just keep your eyes and ears open.

Watch closely for the turn off Littig onto Monkey. I think that's one with missing street sign, very easy to miss. We did, and added about 4 miles to our ride...

Save some energy for that last hill before the park

I would personally not want to ride it anywhere near rush hour, but in the off hours you should be OK.

 

Edited by PLMsbr 2008-07-31 6:04 PM