North Central Texas Gravel Cycling: Gainesville, Texas & Beyond!

[@dubbya57]

As a native N.Texan of 65 years and avid roadie, I'm looking forward to starting my gravel experience because I'm so tired of rude drivers. My coworker has got me interested so I outfitted my secondary bike, a 2017 Roubaix with some 35 mm Conti for hard packed roads like Hico. Infact my friend wants me to go to this year's Gravel Locos. That's how all of this has begun. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful video of the state that I love. Good job. Keep it up.

[@bjdavis9785]

I grew up east of there, between Whitesboro and Sherman. Rode the area's gravel roads in the mid-70's on my Schwinn bike. Never thought it would become a thing....

[@philmcaleer6289]

I enjoy your stuff. I live north of Houston and get to travel this great state every month. Awesome to see place# I usually do get around to.

[@GravelCyclist]

Thanks Phil!

[@marklenarc]

Thanks for the video! I live in Arlington and might do this someday. I've done a few rides with The Spinistry in Sanger (goes through Valleyview) and Muenster.

[@LagunaRider1961]

That Ritchey is pretty awesome!

[@GravelCyclist]

Thank you, I love that bike.

[@stevenlevitz8895]

The Ritchey is nicknamed the “Travel Gravel,” as I remember. What wheels do you ride? I love the cantilever brakes.

[@GravelCyclist]

I have two pairs to choose from. American Classic Argent (used in this video), or a pair of handbuilt Dura-Ace 9000 series hubs, 32 spokes, laced to NoTubes Alpha 340 rims.

[@ZenEndurance]

lol. That ain't no bike lane at 8:18. It's just extra wide shoulder for vehicles to pull over on if they need to get passed. Texas is awesome, but don't give us too much credit. They don't care about cyclists on most roads. BUT, those shoulders are awesome to ride on even though they weren't made for us. So cool to see you riding around here! I've ridden up there a bunch near a great German town called Muenster.

[@rudyelizondo1935]

Nice ride, I gotta go up there

[@GravelCyclist]

Do it!

[@rudyelizondo1935]

There’s a lot of good riding hill country roads by Columbus and Ellington texas too. We do our MS 150 training rides in that area

[@GravelCyclist]

Thanks Rudy, I definitely scratched the surface of this area. Bad weather followed two days later, which curtailed me from exploring further. I plan to return.

[@stevenlevitz8895]

Jom, Have you ever ridden the Des Plaines River Trail (DPRT) just outside Chicago? It’s a 60-mile trail spanning two Chicago counties.

[@GravelCyclist]

Negative.

[@Hintonbro.]

How about a video about dogs? It is one of the hazards of riding on rural gravel roads - especially helpful for those who don’t own dogs.

[@aaroncitius11]

Here are Gainesville, TX area gravel dogs and here's how I deal with them. The dogs that attacked him are included in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sImQoHpvgbSIo9E

[@icebug]

@@aaroncitius11 Watched a couple of your videos, helpful tips here and there. Unfortunately didn't watch until AFTER my first emergency room visit due to some over eager pups on a gravel ride.

[@GravelCyclist]

I have a video all about dogs coming soon... I have at least 15 dog encounters captured on video.

[@GravelCyclist]

I wouldn't say those dogs attacked me, rather, messing with me, mostly because they are bored. I haven't seen your video, but it sounds like your experience may have been different to mine.

[@aaroncitius11]

@@GravelCyclist they were a bit close for comfort by my standards. You are welcome to watch my "dog attack 101" videos and see that they do act similarly with me. You might like to watch just to get a feel for the other dogs in the region too. Of course, it's always a dynamic situation with new ones constantly arriving and old ones leaving. Happy riding and thanks for sharing your video!

[@rickyodom8189]

so he's close to walnut bend

[@aaroncitius11]

I live in Gainesville, TX and I ride gravel too. Not knowing the area, you planned a pretty good route. But, you could have avoided those busy intersections and done even more gravel and less pavement. Gainesville has several gravel options depending on what direction you go... Those are not the worst dogs in that area that you chose But, they are annoying. They have been chasing me like that for years. That black one will bite you. Plan to defend yourself next time.

[@GravelCyclist]

I certainly plan to return to the area to ride in the future, I was sure I only scratched the surface of what is out there! Thanks for your helpful words.

[@hansschotterradler3772]

Who would've known about all those nice gravelly roads and lonely paved roads in that area.

[@GravelCyclist]

I was totally blown away after poking around on Google maps, a county map or too, satellite and so on. All a little over an hour north of DFW. DFW has certainly sprawled since my first visit when I was a wee young lad, way back in 1995!

[@hansschotterradler3772]

@@GravelCyclist I was in DFW in 1994, and they were building houses all over the place. Haven't been back since.

[@GravelCyclist]

@@gravelwildnorthtexas3801 I'm more interested in riding and exploring, not too interested in the pro riders whose perspective is totally different to most of us who ride. But, thanks anyway!

[@lukeholloway7836]

I bet lance Armstrong did riding like this

[@rickyodom8189]

should ride thourgh at nite there wild pigs and deer

[@tedjohnson64]

Surprised there weren’t more aggressive dogs, as well as locals throwing beer bottles at you from their pickup truck. That’s how the rural people entertain themselves in my part of the country, unfortunately.

[@GravelCyclist]

May I ask which part of the country this is?

[@tedjohnson64]

@@GravelCyclist Washington state. Carnation, Monroe, and Duvall area. Which isn't too far from Seattle.