Triumphrat

Panthers_Den · 07-30-2005

I'm gonna be riding an 02 sprint st from Colorado Springs, CO to Austin, TX. Can anyone recommend a nice route to take or a route to avoid?

This will also be my first long distance ride on a bike, does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations on how best to tackle this trip? ^_^

Diderich · 07-31-2005

I don't know that area all that well. Hill country around austin toward the west is supposed to be pretty awesome. www.twtex.com might have some good ride routes posted

mouse · 08-01-2005

It kinda depends on the type of scenery you like or how fast you want to get there.

I go thru that area every summer & we always go thru the DFW area and take US 287 to Dumas, then US 87 to Raton, then Interstate all the way to Colorado Springs. This is not a very scenic route, but the fastest from where I am (east Texas). The best part of the whole ride is from Clayton, NM to Raton...wide open & peacefull.

From where you are you might look at taking US 183 all the way to Vernon, then the 287 route. A third choice would be Brownwood to Abilene to Sweetwater, north to Lubbock thru Amarillo to Dumas, etc.

Whatever route, it's a lot of Texas to get out of. The interstate routes are definately the fastest...the down side is the traffic (trucks mostly). If you're not in a hurry, going thru the smaller towns will give you a break from the monotony.

good luck, ride safe
TM

Paul-K · 08-01-2005

I would suggest that you just suck it up and take 25 south
until you get to 160 (Walsinburg) and go west to Pagosa Springs and pick up 84. @5 is not awsome scenery, but it isn't awful either and it is fast. 160 over Wolf creek pass is great if there isn't too much construction on it this time of year. 84 south from Pagosa Springs is Great until you hit Santa Fe. Things will be warming up and looking more like desert from then on. Then stay on 84 south to I-20. You could take a side jaunt on 180 as an alternate. Anyway, pick up 183 and head on home! Wish I had some time, I'd come out and ride with you. :-D

Panthers_Den · 08-01-2005

well my ride isn't by choice ^_^ I'm flying up there to pick up the 02 sprint then riding it back home. Depending on the time of day, i'm thinking of making a stop at Eurosport on the way home and checking that place out. ^_^

Myrddraal · 08-01-2005

If you need anything in or around Albuquerque, let me know

I have a pretty well-stocked garage.

mouse · 08-02-2005

Oops...didn't read your post correctly...just call me wrong-way. Since you're going south, I agree w/ Paul-K. Temp. shouldn't be too bad 'til you hit the panhandle.

Panthers_Den · 08-02-2005

Well my first plan was to go from colorado springs to OK till i hit IH 35 then take 35 south all the ways to austin. But I completely forgot that is the NAFTA cooridoor and I really hate being surrounded by 18 wheelers when I'm on a motorcycle. So I'll either take the squiggly route directly to Austin and avoiding the major highways, or go straight south till i hit el paso then go east to SA then north to Austin, though that'll add a heck of a lot more miles to the trip.

PaloAlto · 08-02-2005

You might also want to plan your trip so you're traveling in the (very) early morning and avoiding the hot afternoon as well as traffic.

Panthers_Den · 08-02-2005

yea, that was downside to going via el paso -> San Antonio.