Author Topic: Texas roads on Southern Tier  (Read 12179 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline aggie

Texas roads on Southern Tier
« on: May 12, 2009, 05:27:33 pm »
The Texas highway department must love chip seal.  It seemed that 95% of the roads were paved with it and it was rough.  The worst seemed to be between Sanderson and Langtry.  It was like riding a rumble strip for 60 miles. 

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2009, 04:38:09 am »
I was cycling in eastern Texas between Louisiana and San Antonio. I don't remember exactly which roads I was on, but most likely combinations of 90, Alt. 90, 190, and Alt. 190. The roads were shaking me all over. A constant vibration caused by the road surface went through the bike, to my hands, and up my arms. By the time I got to San Antonio I abandoned my plan of going farther west via 90 and alternates and such, and took highway 46 that looped around north of the city, and made my way onto interstate 10 to El Paso. West of Van Horn I had to exit 10 to El Paso, but the roadways were smoother.

Offline litespeed

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2009, 11:56:43 am »
I have bicycle toured all over Texas. Most of the highways in the western 3/4 of the state have wide, smooth shoulders for slow moving farm equipment. US70 across the panhandle, for example, has smooth shoulders that are wider than the traffic lanes and have a nice little rumble strip to protect the cyclist. I don't ever recall suffering from rough pavement.

I consider it one of the top bicycling states along with New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Oregon, Montana, etc. My candidates for worst cycling states are Louisiana, Virginia and Iowa.

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2009, 05:23:19 pm »
Iowa as one of the worst states to ride in?!  As a Montana resident, I'm throwing Iowa way up near the top.  You can ride endless routes and loops through low traffic roads on pavement, gravel, and dirt.  With tons of river valleys throughout the state, there is plenty of varying terrain.  As far as rumble strips are concerned, they are fine if you're rolling solo, but in a group of riders they are the bane of my existence.

In addition to nice roadways, Iowa also boasts 1200 miles of multi-use trails, which doesn't even include the mountain bike trails.  You will also have a hard time convincing the hoards of 10,000+ RAGBRAI riders that Iowa is a poor state to ride in.

 

Offline litespeed

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2009, 05:45:21 pm »
My complaint about Iowa is that the main highways have no paved shoulders. US34 in particular is as bad as it gets - narrow two lane, gravel shoulders and heavy traffic. Also, the secondary roads are continually making right turns and are poorly marked if at all. And, frankly, RAGBRAI isn't for me - too hectic and just too many people. I'm probably in the minority there, though. Cyclists are certainly fighting to get in on it. I talked to a number of Iowans who have sworn to leave town the next time RAGBRAI descends "Like a horde of locusts".
« Last Edit: May 20, 2009, 05:46:58 pm by litespeed »

Offline Westinghouse

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2009, 11:32:24 am »
Louisiana must have the worst roads in the union for bikes, cars, trucks, tanks, whatever. Mississippi's roads are no great gifts from god for cycling either.

On a map for cycling paths I saw a series of paths running roughly north and south in Ohio. Does anybody know anything about them? They stretch pretty much the length of the state, and seemed to be separated by quite a bit of distance.

Offline tonythomson

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2009, 01:18:27 pm »
I took the 190 from the Texas border all the way to I10 near Kent and thought it was a great ride. (Bit dodgey around the place just north of Austin)Certainly fared better than some of the guys taking the more southerly ACA route.  Look out for Red Chilies best burgers in Texas!!! Tony
Just starting to record my trips  www.tonystravels.com

Offline billy50

Re: Texas roads on Southern Tier
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2009, 10:47:40 pm »
The Texas roads were rough, but the worst section I encountered on the S-tier is Seely to Occitillo CA.  Makes Texas tar and chip seem extra smooth.  Take the Interstate instead.