choteau

Hello, I will be visiting my sister in April and am bringing a bike along. Any suggestions for low traffic routes to ride, and things to see?
Tim

Bandera

S on Ralph Fair Rd
Cross IH-10
S on Access Rd.
R on Cielo Vista
R on Babcock Rd
R on Scenic Loop
Cross IH-10
R on Cascade Caverns Rd.
R on Kendall Ridge Rd
R on Old Fred-burg Rd
R on Dietz Elkhorn to FOR

choteau

Hey Bandara, Thank you
Google mapped the route and works out to be 29.9 miles round trip to / from sisters house. looks like fun and a reasonable ride.

Bandera

Watch the construction from Ralph Fair South through Boerne Stage Rd, it's a major project with TXDOT doing as much as possible to confuse everyone.
Don't get caught in the big ring as you enter Cielo Vista from the access road....

Enjoy.

-Bandera

txags92

I don't like riding on Ralph Fair. It is not what I would consider low traffic at all. High speed limit and little or no shoulder. I would instead ride out the north end onto Ammann Road, then ride east over to Blanco Rd. Head south to Specht, cross to Bulverde Ln then north up to Bulverde Rd, back west to Ammann and back across Ammann Rd. Much quieter roads for the most part.

Bandera

Fixed that for you.

-Bandera

txags92

I have never ridden my bike south of I-10 in that area, so I wouldn't know. I am from Houston, so W and E Ammann Road and Blanco are plenty hilly for me.

Bandera

When a cyclist is planning on a visit to the edge of the Hill Country recommending that they avoid the local's Hill Country routes misses the experience of actually being there. That would be like advising a visitor to Leon Springs to eat at Mc Donald's instead of Rudy's.

As always, suit yourself.

-Bandera

txags92

Well, in my defense, he didn't ask for "insanely hilly", he asked for "low traffic" routes. Not everybody looking for a place to ride is looking to punish themselves...

Bandera

One can find much more challenging routes in the HC but none of what I have recommended is "insanely hilly" or punishing for a cyclist of modest ability and conditioning with an appropriate range of gearing for the terrain. Scenic Loop Rd. is not a spur of the Pyrenees and although Cielo Vista has some nice pitches it is not quite Hors Catégorie by any means. The East side of the route is fixed gear territory w/o any real challenges or particular interest.

If "low traffic" is the primary consideration from FOR South through Boerne Stage Rd. one can choose between Ralph Fair Rd. and the IH-10 access road. Easy choice, and neither are Houston congested, as always ride a straight line.

Welcome to the edge of the Hill Country.

-Bandera

choteau

Thank you, Bandera and txags92. I will try riding both suggested routes ( not on the same day tho ) My sister has plans to drive me several places, and the bro in law has ideas too. I might be too busy to ride much! Tim