Edgewood-80 - Edgewood, TX

April 21, 2007

I rode the 49-mile route (ended up with 51 miles) of the Edgewood 80 Tour and had an absolutely wonderful experience and ride. Kudos to the town and good folk of Edgewood! Registration was quick and easy (at least it was shortly after 7 AM), and everyone was so accommodating and enthusiastic that I found it a refreshing change from the more established bike rallies that tend to take our presence for granted. The Edgewood Heritage Park is a museum, a collection of buildings from the old Murchison train depot to a barn full of old farm tools and equipment – even a Model T Ford., which I had plenty of time to browse before the start of the ride. I selected the 49-mile route as there is no 100K (62-mile route) and the next route jumps up to an 80-miler & 100-miler but with the usual Texas south winds (today they ranged from 11 to 21 mph with gusts), the 51 miles I rode were sufficient. The ride began just about on time at 9 AM, and the shotgun (?) blast that signaled the start was preceded by the local Boy Scouts ‘raising the colors’ and the local band director playing The Star-Spangled Banner on his trumpet. Smalltown, USA at its very best. The roads on the 49-mile route were good, older chip and seal, so finding smooth lanes were easy. Hwy. 19, which had the most traffic, had a very wide shoulder. A policeman got us safely across US 69 quickly and safely. There are no major hills to climb on the 49-mile route (some long uphill drags though and on 859 coming in off of 19 you have some rollers). Every rest stop was well-stocked with orange quarters, cut banana pieces, granola bars, quartered PBJ sandwiches, sport drink, and cold bottled water. Again, the rest stops were manned by very enthusiastic and tremendously friendly locals. The sag wagons were always around. A friend I was riding with had a flat, which we fixed without a problem, but two different SAG wagons stopped to check on us. Radio operators and a mobile medical van were at the ready. We were even cheered coming into Edgewood at the finish and served spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and chocolate chip cookies. [And those of you who cringed at the day-glow lime t-shirts last year will be pleased to know they were white this year.] I suppose 400 cyclists were out, maybe 500. This is (at least the shorter distances) a very good rally in only it’s 3rd/4th? year and one I’ve suggest you ride if you haven’t. THANKS, EDGEWOOD!!

This was my first time doing this ride and did the 32 miles. The route was great (very scenic) and so was the friendliness of the volunteers. Lunch after was icing on the cake. The Edgewood 80 goes on my list of must do bike rides of the year.

This is my second time doing the Edgewood 80 rally. I did this ride the very first year and the organizers have done a terrific job of making improvements and fine-tuning their event. For only being a few years old, I would say this is one of the better rallies I have done and very well organized! Registration was a breeze. They offered orange juice and pastries before the start and a nearby organization offered a pancake breakfast across the street from the registration site (wished I had known about this.) The weather was incredible! A little windy, but not much you can do about that. I did the 49 mile route and ended up with 50 miles at the finish. The roads were mostly older chip seal but not bad. A few rolling hills on the 49 mile route but predominately flat for most of the way. I have to say the enthusiastic cheers from the volunteers at the rest stops was very welcoming and refreshing! The boy scouts at the last rest stop also did a great job of attending to our bikes while we took a much needed refuel break. The rest stops were WELL STOCKED with quartered oranges, sliced bananas, granola bars, bottled water, Poweraide, and wonderful peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that hit the spot! The routes were well-marked and easy to follow and the roads seemed generally safe with wide shoulders on the busier roads. Also, the roads seemed to be fairly clean and free of debris. One more thing that was nice to see - the SAG vehicles were very visible! I didn't see very many cyclists with mechanicals, but it was good to know there was plenty of support out on the course. Another nice improvement was the spaghetti lunch at the end! They even offered a meatless version for vegetarians along with garlic bread, salad, cookies and tea. A nice value for the price of registration! The thing that made the biggest and most lasting impression (for me), was the friendliness of the volunteers both at the registration site and at the rest stops. They went out of their way to thank the riders for participating in their event - something you don't often encounter at the more established events. I will definately recommend this rally to my cycling friends and will be back next year. Thanks again for putting on a very well organized event!

This was my first year in this ride. We did the 32-mile route. The best word to describe it was “lovely”. The volunteers were sincerely grateful that we came. Downtown Edgewood has so much character, that was worth the drive alone. Everything was done well – signage, well-stocked rest stops, easy registration, and especially the after-ride lunch. We had a great time and will definitely be back next year.

Great 80 mile route, well marked at critical areas except for the right hand turn shortly after rest stop #2, sign only had the red arrow for the 100 mile route, but both the 80 and 100 turned right there. The start was about 5 minutes late, but otherwise went smoothly. I didn't make any stops but all the rest stops were visible with cheering volunteers. I'm not much on spagetti after a long ride, so didn't sample it, they had plenty of iced downed bottled water so I was happy. This is one of my favorite rides due to the nice small town atmosphere with great volunteers and good routes. Only way to improve this is to somehow work in a 60-65 mile route for those not wanting a full 80 but looking for more than 50. Making the left turn off of hwy 80 onto FM 1253 is always a little tricky. The motorcyle support along the route is always nice to see.

This was my third year for the Edgewood 80, and not only do they ask how they can approve the ride, they actually listen and use some suggestions from the riders. Just read some of the complaints from last years reviews and you will see that they improved on them all. This is a great small town ride. Well organized and enthusiastic. The check in was smooth, there seemed to be plenty of parking, and the only snag was my own fault as I left home without my helmet. But many, many thanks to the wonderful people of Mad Duck Adventures, as they were kind enough to lend me a helmet for the ride (I hope you found it hanging on the side view mirror). I did the 49 mile route, which actually turned out to be 51 miles. The first part of the ride was great, thanks to the strong tailwinds. Unfortunately, we had had to head back into that wind, which made for some tired legs at the end. Thanks to all involved, will be back again next year.

I did this ride for the first time this year. I was compelled to do it because of the brochure that I saw that was written in a way that you could tell that this ride had some problems last year and these good people were determined to fix them. I read the review from the ride last year and almost every "negative" comment was addressed in the brochure, so I had to ride to see how they did. To my delight, they did great!! It was a great ride with a lot of support and participation. This being my first "ride" for the year I did the 32 mile route. I was really pleased with it. The rest stops were well manned and stocked with great food and drinks. The lunch afterwards, of spaghetti, was a treat and helped me continue on with my day. My only concern about the ride was the lack of signs along the roads. After the second rest stop we proceeded to get on to Hwy. 19. There were no cyclists in front or behind me and I went a long way wondering if I had taken a wrong turn. One little sign with an orange arrow on it would have helped my mental state a whole lot. I finally stopped and looked at my map, I just hate having to stop if I really don't have to. Luckily, I saw I was on the right route and finished up my ride. Thanks, again Edgewood for the ride and I will definitely be back next year.

Congrats to the Edgewood Historical Society and Lions Club for a wonderful response to the bike tour. I am proud of you.

April 15, 2006

I was totally taken off guard at the lack of support this year, especially after reading last years' reviews. On the 50 mile route, there was NO gatorade or powerade available till ten miles before the finish line. Fruit was scarce, sometimes not available at all. One portable toilet at each rest stop for way too many riders made for very long lines. At one rest stop NO toilet was available! "Go to the taco bell four miles down the road" was what we were told. Also, in all of the 50 miles, only one intersection had an officer directing traffic. There were about 5 other intersections that really needed to be controlled, especially the intersection of I-20 and Hwy 19. At the end, food was served. One cyclist said he was a vegetarian and asked if there was any food for vegens. The volunteers made a joke of his request. Again, I was unprepared for this lack of support, especially after the glowing reports of previous years. What happened, Edgewood?! More importantly, what will happen next year?!

This ride is in its third year. First, the good stuff. Edgewood is a charming town with wonderful, disarming townspeople volunteering for the registration and post-ride cookout. The start/finish area is the town’s historic park with buildings depicting what the town was like back in the early 1900s. They even had an old-fashioned “gunfight” before the start, and, of course, the same gunfighters started the race off by shooting off their pistols. The cookout afterwards was great – chili dogs and beans. Now for the bad stuff. They had rides of 15, 30, 50, 80 and 100 miles. Too many for a ride of this size. I rode the 50 mile ride, which the vast majority of riders did. Note to organizers, since the ride is held so early in the season, most riders aren’t ready for the 80 or 100 mile distances, so either change the featured ride to be one of the shorter distances, or hold the ride later in the season, like July or August, when riders are ready for the longer distances. Next, I didn’t see the need for the staggered start. There weren’t enough riders to justify it, and it strung out the riders too quickly. Part of the fun of the rallies is having everyone start out together. Also, traffic control along the course was seriously lacking. There were many unmanned intersections. Finally, there is no reason to cross over I-20 and go into Canton. Canton has way too much traffic, and again, without traffic control, it creates a potentially dangerous situation. Cut off the route before I-20/Canton and keep to the smaller roads. If race organizers make some of these changes, I’ll most certainly be back to ride it again next year.

This was my first time for this ride and I will be back.  The course was great, the people friendly, the scenery very nice. The WIND ... THAT is a different issue. I rode the 50 mile loop and 20 miles of it was directly INTO the wind. But, that is not the organizers fault ... so just have to grin and bear it and gear down.  The last 10 miles
with a tail wind was a great way to finish. All in is it was a nice ride.

Awesome Event! Rode the 50 mile route. We had challenging/brutal head winds, but otherwise wonderful weather. Course is a teeth chatterer(chip seal), but not much could be done about that. Course is hilly and challenging (especially into a headwind). Pre and post race were fabulous. Lions club (I think) did a great job. Friendly people, well organized, good support, signage, food, etc. Route along highway was slightly concerning, but shoulder were adequate. One recommendation- have someone drive and sweep dangerous debris from the course before hand. Saw a ton of flats and was surprised I made it through with the highway debris I encountered. Also, t-shirt (too be polite) needs to be redesigned. Overall great ride, will be back next year.

Great ride with very friendly volunteers. I have to disagree with a previous review regarding the route distances. 50 is too short, even though there were alot of Mirage racers there taking part in that route simply to hone their racing tactics. I think that when one does a rally from a small town such as Edgewood that one should be prepared to be more "self sufficient" and not have to depend upon the rest stops. Portapots, if not provided at every stop, should then be listed as to which ones they are provided at on the route map. The 80 mile route was very scenic. I do agree with the review that mentioned the problem with going thru Canton. Regarding the finish line. The finish line needs to be moved to the south side of hwy 80. We were running hard towards the finish only to be greated by a red light, which against my principals, we had to run, once we verified it was safe to do so, but still setting a bad example. The road signs were highly visible throughtout the 80 mile route and managed to withstand the strong wind. Signs could be improved by including the route distance along side the colored arrow. I'll definitely return to do the 80 route simply because I like the area/route. Maybe the 50 could be increased to 60 to make it more worthwhile for the middle distance riders.

This was the first year I rode the Edgewood 80. It looked like there were about 500 total riders at the start. Our club rode the 100 mile route. The rally was well organized and everyone was very friendly and helpful. Because we had a group of over ten people, we were able to register for half-off. The weather was warm and windy, which combined with occasional rolling hills made for a challenging, but very fun ride. The route was marked very clearly and each of the rest stops was well stocked and usually situated in a shady area. Road conditions were good, though there was some chip-seal in a few places. Police support was great, we even had our own police escort for the last forty miles. The registration fee included a lunch after the rally which was very welcomed. My only suggestion to the rally organizers is to increase the restroom facilities at the registration area. This event is highly recommended!

I _tried_ to ride the 80 mile course, but had to be SAGed out at 50 miles with a blown back tire. Registration was smooth. The T-shirt was a gaudy lime green. (Yuk! Hey, brother, look what you’re getting for Xmas.) I’m guessing attendance was about 250 riders. After the Star-spangled Banner and flag raising, race starts were staggered with police escort out of town. Colored arrow signs at all turns, but easy to miss if you’re not looking or your glass are thoroughly coated with sweat like mine. One cycle cop helped heavy traffic past slow riders, but didn’t see much control at most intersections. Majority of roads were chip and seal with enough climbs and descents to wear a person out. Wind was tolerable with lots of high trees lining most roads. I think I passed the first rest stop before they were set up. I saw two guys frantically unloading coolers but I wasn’t ready to stop. Ten miles into the course someone let ALL the dogs out. I was chased or confronted by at least 6 loose dogs. Twice I was forced into oncoming traffic trying to keep one eye on the dog and one eye on the road without getting bit. Once I had to lock tread to avoid going into the ditch. (Probably the fatal coup-de-gras for my back tire.) I stopped at the 30 mile rest stop and ate my own banana. They had some bottled juice, water and some whole oranges still in the crate. Some one else had a banana, but I couldn’t find them on the tables. There was one toilet at the stop which everyone made a bee line for so it didn’t help much. After a long, exhausting uphill I was faced with two more dogs (Doberman and German Sheppard) just waiting beside the road for me. I was too tired fight them off it I had to do it and was resigned to my fate as dog kibble. Fortunately, they were either tired from chasing previous riders or just wanted to see how pale my face would go upon seeing them because they didn’t pursue. Finally I get to a downhill for as far as the eye could see. I gear up approaching 30 mph when POP….out goes my back tire. I manage to stop and get off the road safely. Nothing for a mile ahead or behind me so walking is out. One rider stopped 5 mins later and I requested he notify the next rest stop I was stuck. Ten minutes later a roving car pulls up and tries to call for SAG. No cell signal. They go down the road to call. 15 more minutes pass and roving car shows up again. SAG didn’t answer so they left a voicemail. 30 more mins go by. I seek shade, rehydrate, munch a Clif bar. 1 hour after blowing tire SAG truck shows up and gives me ride back to Edgewood. Good thing I wasn’t hurt. This is a decent ride if they can get better control of the dogs, provide better SAG support and do a better job on the rest stops. They were trying hard to look after the cyclists, but it seemed a little understaffed for all the miles they had to cover (15, 30, 50, 80, 100) and under-supported in terms of facilities and food/drink. If you ride this ride, I recommend going prepared to be more self-sufficient than other rides like Spring Fever (Sulphur Springs) or Ride for Heroes (Aledo). Plan to carry things like a cell phone, first aid kit, spare tire/tubes, extra food and keep your water bottles full.

My second year for this ride-decided to ride the 80 miler despite the southerly wind. Great job on ride packets-all nicely done up in advance in ziploc's that included a map and a GREEN t-shirt-it's nice to have a color other than the plain old white ones we usually get! Support was wonderful at all the rest stops on the 80 mile route-all the stops I visited were manned by the friendliest folks and nicely stocked with bananas, oranges, granola bars, sports drink, and water. Thanks again for the PB&J you all made for me at the rest stop before Canton-it was just what the doctor ordered! Didn't see many dogs this year, which was a relief. Didn't see much traffic control, but it wasn't a problem because there was very little vehicle traffic all day. Overall, excellent signage (with signs before AND after all turns), great volunteer support, and a delicious post-ride meal made for a pleasant day. I'll definitely be back again next year! Thanks.

I too could not understand the lack of support. I rode the 80 mile route and between rest stop 4 and 5 it was 15 miles and then no porta pot at rest stop 5. Intersections with no support and especially at the finish when I had to cross 80 and could see the finish line but could not get the light to change for me. There was no police, no button on the traffic light to push for pedestrians and too much cross traffic. I had to wait for a car to pull up to the intersection and then I still didn’t get a green light. I’ll have to think hard before I do this one again.

This is the first time that I have participated in this ride. I rode the 80 mile route. I knew the day would be challenging due to the forecast of strong winds. However, the CHIP SEAL made it a difficult ride. All day on Chip Seal. I hardly had time to think of the wind. That could be a good thing I guess.
Lack of port-a-potties at the rest stops were an issue. Some of the rest stops had none at all. If you had to go to the restroom at one of the rest stops you had to go across the street to a restaurant and go inside. Another rest stop you had to walk up a hill to a church to use the rest room. Maybe in the future more port-a-potties at each rest stop would be a good idea. I also noted that many of the rest stops didn't have enough food items or gatorade. The meal of hot dogs, chili, beans and homemade cornbread was really good! A big thanks to the people of Edgewood for putting the ride on. All of the volunteers seemed really friendly. Maybe next year they can work out the rest of the kinks. Thanks Edgewood. Keep working on it.

What a great ride. I did the 100 mile this year and have only praise for the organizers. I think there were about 50 or more riders doing the 100 mile. This was my 9nth century overall and 3rd one this year. Clear markings and rest stops were great. Even had pickles to get your salt fix on. I expecially love the variety of distances you could do. One of the other postings said they should have longer distances like the 80 and 100. I could recommend training harder and dont take off 3 to 4 months in the winter and expect to ride a long distance. They offer the 15 and 30 mile for you. This was my second year to do this ride and I will definatly be back. The course is beaitiful with all the trees, scenery and low traffice roads. Keep the 100 mile, its probably the best of the year. I love centuries, it separates the men from the boys.

April 16, 2005

This was the second year for the Edgewood 80, and the wonderfully kind and warm hearted volunteers were as happy and friendly as one could wish for. The home cooked beans were delightful, as was the cook ;) They learned from last year and improved by removing the long stretch of Hwy 80 from the end of the route. They had additional restroom facilities, and added port-o-lets at some of the rest stops that did not have them last year. Many rest stops are quite scenic. The roads are a bit rough, but that is TxDOT, and there aren't many roads to choose from,  so the road selection is about as good as it can be. Bring your 25C or other large tires and you won't notice the chip & seal as much. The route is scenic with close to a dozen varieties of wild flowers and everything from stampeding cattle and pastureland to piney woods. Some ideas for next year: add a sign at the 1253/1805 intersection to clarify that the route veers left to stay on 1253 (I found myself
stopping and checking my map just like last year), give the "Caution: Bikes Ahead" crew weedwackers to chop down the tall grass for at least 30 feet in front of the sign, or use taller signs (the yellow signs on 80 were all but invisible to high speed cars), add "Caution: Bikes Ahead" signs to the short section of 314 (the only other busy road that did not have a shoulder), add a few "reminder: you are still on course" paint arrows on the long sections of the route that aren't otherwise marked (due to the spread out/lower volume of riders on the long route, we often wonder if we dozed off and rode past a turn since we haven't seen any other bikes in a while. Also at some rallies signs blow down or are vandalized, so reinforcing that riders are still on the route is a nice touch. A marking every 3-5 miles would be great), consider adding a route closure time to the flyer (I heard 5pm being discussed for shutting down the kitchen which is a reasonable time for a century rally given the 9am start) so that slower riders can plan accordingly  in advance, and the volunteers will know how long they are going to work.
This suggestion is a little tougher, and not as concrete. I noticed that at many intersections, there were one or two emergency vehicles, but no one directing traffic (given that it might be 15+ minutes between riders, it is tough to stand outside for hours at a time). The thing to consider is that cars tend to focus on the emergency vehicles ("Gee, what happened here?") and not see the cyclists, and the cyclists, who sometimes get complacent about being directed through intersections elsewhere may not stop to look at the cars (I stop and look even when
people are present, but many others just cruise on through stop signs even when no one is directing traffic). Also, later in the ride, there were police out and about getting the dogs off the course in response to rider complaints (there tend to be a lot of loose dogs around the small towns in the area). However, this was too late for some of us (I pole vaulted over a suicidal dog early on. This comes with the territory so I am not blaming anyone; it was just my time to fly). If it is not too troublesome, you might consider posting some signs along the route within 5 miles of the towns (especially heading out of Edgewood; I was chased by something like 8 dogs in the first 5 miles, and maybe 15 for the day) a few days early asking people to contain their dogs from say 6am to 6pm on the day of the ride. Post on both sides of the roads, and that way the local residents will be reminded to keep their dogs in. Most dog owners are quite cooperative if they are reminded how to be polite; they just don't think about how their friendly, playful pets can cause problems. I measured a bit under 102 miles for the 104 mile route.

Last year I gave this ride a good review. This year it was a mixed bag. I rode the 50 mile route. My guess is about 500 riders or so which I think was a similar number of riders that attended last year. The positives were easy parking, registration and the lunch after the ride. The route was also very clearly marked, good job there. The negatives were that the brochure advertised roads with light vehicular traffic but that was not the case on the 50 mile ride. However, the 50 mile route did have wide shoulders where the traffic was heaviest (Highway 19, I believe). Also prior to the ride they announced there would be a prize for the fastest rider for each distance. That means you should expect a sprint to the finish and it doesn't matter what the prize is either. There were six of us leading the 50 mile ride and we started sprinting and then had to slam on the brakes to stop at a red light because there was no traffic control at the last intersection right before the finish. And then after the light turned green, the guy who was winning the sprint, after we re-started from a dead stop, almost got hit by a car that swerved into the road at the finish. Next year, if the routes are the same, traffic control is definitely needed at the finish.

Great weather for a ride. The turnout seemed low (especially on the 73 and 100 mile ride), after the 100 mile turn off did not see another rider until the loop rejoined the main route. I stopped at the 72 mile rest stop refilled my camel back and drank a Coke there were also oranges and cookies. More arrows or better maps were needed on the 100 mille loop (Hwy 80 was marked on the map but not I-20) a few main interceptions were not marked. There were no major hills and I ran a fixed gear ratio of 48x16 for the entire course. Most of the roads were lightly traveled except for several high speed pickups. Dogs were plentiful and did not hesitate to greet riders as they passed. It was a fun ride and the best part...at least 90 miles of "chip and seal" I'll be back next year.

OUTSTANDING rally..The scenery makes the mileage go quickly. Everything was organized, friendly, and just about perfect. The chase dogs (10-15 along the route) made for good interval work. The signs and arrows worked very well, and the turns were easy to make. I did the century just about solo (less joining the 70 milers near the end of the ride), and had only one minor suggestion. Use painted arrows every 3-5 miles to let the participants know that they are on route. There was only one section of the ride when I wondered if I was on track (Hwy 314) as the traffic picked up, and I had not seen sign or arrow in awhile. This is now one of my favorite centuries on the Texas rally schedule. I will be back every year. Don't change the 105 mile route - it had just enough hills, scenery and dogs.

Great ride! I rode the 34 mile route; it was scenic and had lots of  rolling hills. Most of the route was chip seal, but they didn't seem too  horribly rough. There were 3 rest stops on this route, all with fruit, cookies, water and Gatorade. The volunteers were very friendly. Afterwards,  they served hot dogs, pinto beans, cornbread, brownies and drinks. The ride  was well organized. I enjoyed myself and plan on riding it again next year!

This was my first time at Edgewood and it was a great ride. Things did not start out well when I was informed that my entry fee of $25 gave me the opportunity to buy a t-shirt for an additional $8. But I spoke to one of the organizers after the ride and he assured me t-shirts would be available, at no extra cost, next year. I thought the roads were pretty good, much better that Sulpur Springs, and that long stretch on Hwy 19 was wonderful. Not only was it nice and smooth, but there was plenty of shoulder room  so we didn't have to worry about the traffic. The volunteers were friendly,  and the food after the ride was good. Suggestions for next year: More warning where the shorter routes split off from the longer routes. I saw a lot  of riders stopping because they had gone the wrong way. Also, it can be very dangerous when riders are crossing in front of each other. And to echo what was stated in other reviews, you need to have police presence at the last intersection before the finish.

We rode the 74 mile route. Wildflowers were beautiful and terrific variety, the countryside was beautiful, the rest stops were close and manned (womaned?) by the nicest people ever. Not a cross face in the entire bunch. My riding buddy said everyone must have been trained as Wallyworld greeters. Seriously, a really well organized ride with NICE people everywhere. Some of the roads were pretty rough, creating a persistent buzz in most folks' handlebars (but gave my new Pantour front hub a good test - it works very well, thank you), the turns were well marked with both signage and painted arrows (color coded), and maybe for the first time this year, the wind wasn't a real factor. It picked up from the south for the last 10 or so miles into Canton, then the route turned back north toward Edgewood and the tailwind was appreciated. The only negative was the feeling of seeing a 104 mile rider joining back up with the main route and knowing they had done an extra 30 miles in the time it took us to get to the same point! Even that might not have been so bad if they hadn't run off and left us...
Definitely a two thumbs up ride. We'll be back.

I too rode, except that it was the 34 mile route as my handler would only let me out for so long.
Very minimal traffic was the first thing that caught my attention. I only had to yell "car back" about 3 times. The roads were as expected, not too terribly rough and no dogs chasing me.
Friendly folks at registration and rest stops. And who among us doesn't like a few shotguns and peacemakers blowing off after the National Anthem?
I'll be back.

I rode the 100 mile route and found the ride to be very enjoyable. The scenery was excellent, the volunteers were friendly, and the 'killer hills' were pretty tame.
I'd like to thank the organizers for making the 100 mile route available. Few rides in the area do full centuries so it's nice to have the option. I heard there were less than 40 of us signed up for the long ride so the extra commitment needed to support us was certainly 'above and beyond'. There was even plenty of food (good food too!) left when we finally finished at 4:30.
Great job, Edgewood! I'll be back.

This was one of the best rides I have done in the last three years. These folks really make you feel welcome and take care of the riders. I did the 54 mile route and had a great time. I will be back!!

April 17, 2004

Edgewood, Texas deserves high praise for its first rally. I think the Edgewood Backroads 80 is among the prettiest rides I have ever ridden. The route is spectacular. I rode the 71 mile route (which I showed to be 73.75). The roads were almost exclusively on lightly traveled county "backroads." While there were a fair amount hills they were mostly of the "easy rolling" variety. A good portion of the ride was on the lovely chip seal surfaces we all have come to know and love, but what made this ride exceptional, for me, was its simple rural beauty. The wooded route wove its way through a tapestry of spectacular little vistas and rural vignettes dappled with the vivid-multicolored-hues of Texas wildflowers. I simple have to get me a digital camera. While the route of the Backwoods 80 will be enough to beckon my return to Edgewood next year, the friendliness of the volunteers and organizers was downright charming. These folks put a lot of effort to organize their ride and the genuine appreciation they showed us riders was nothing if not refreshing. If you missed the Edgewood Backroads 80 you missed a nearly perfect bicycle ride. I rate it tops among the rides I have done and I will be back every year until I can no longer spin my pedals. --Jerry

Really a good ride... the 73 mile route was plenty tough with most of the hills being in the section heading into a very strong south wind that day. My only complaint was how we were directed off the main route just so we passed by rest stop #3... this was unnecessary... all that was needed here was a sign for the rest stop... signage was good but in addition to the colored arrows, the route length should have been included for those not knowing which color their route was or if they were colored blind.

Edgewood, population 1,200, put on their first bike rally. As experienced riders know, first time rallys can be a problem. However, Edgewood did pretty darn good.
They had a century route, 72 mile, 49 mile and something shorter. Registration was a little hectic, but it was their first time.
Rest stops: I did 72 mile and only stopped at the 52 mile and it was great.
The ride is at least an hour from Dallas, but it didn't start till 9:30. The last 10 miles was on HWY 80 and some said the traffic was a little heavy.
But over all the comments I heard were positive. Edgewood folks proficed some free, hot food, soft drinks and water at the end and . . . a live band.
The atmosphere with the historical section and the decked out western guys with their six-shooters to start the ride was unique to say the least.
Intersections had police.
What more could you ask for a mid-April Rally?
Thanks Edgewood. Let's do it again next year!

Bottom line for this ride - OUTSTANDING Job. It is hard to believe this is the first time for this ride, it was organized that well. The volunteers were very friendly as they typically are on all the area rallies. Looks like about 500 riders participated. A starting time of 9:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. such as this ride had is a good idea for rides this far east of Dallas to allow more people to attend without having to get up so early to travel to the ride. I second a previous review that the best part of the ride is the rural scenery and lightly traveled roads. I rode the 73 mile route. The route was well marked with huge arrows painted on the road (reminded me of the markings at the Goatneck Ride). The wind made this course very difficult (wind S 20 - 25 mph I think). After starting north with a tailwind, we turned south and mostly had headwinds for about 30 - 40 miles. The climbing on this route was moderate (about 1900 ft total climbing by my Polar bike computer) but the roller hills at the end on Highway 80 were hard because I was so tired from riding into the headwinds. I didn't think that stretch would ever end. This route had the most dogs by the side of the road that I had seen on a rally, but thankfully none of them seemed interested in the chase. I only stopped at one rest stop and it was well stocked with the usual supplies. The band and the free food and drink at the end of the ride were a welcome bonus. Some of the rides east of Metroplex such as the Sulpher Springs ride in March, the Greenville ride in September, the Bonham ride in October and now the Edgewood 80 don't get as many riders as some of the other area rallies yet they are all extremely well organized with great routes. I would encourage more riders to participate in all these rides. You won't be disappointed.

This was a great rally with nice rolling hills, scenic countryside and good roads for most of the 50-mile route that I rode. Rest stop workers were very friendly and welcoming. The rest stop food was good, and the food and refreshments at the end of the ride - a nice touch!
Only one negative - the last several miles back to the finish was along busy Hwy. 80. While there is a slight shoulder on that road, there was gravel and debris which would cause one to ride closer to the "white line". One truck came dangerously (and purposely) close to those of us who were riding on that stretch when there were no other vehicles anywhere in site and he could've easily moved to the other lane. Mostly I fear for the parents I passed who were hauling kids behind them on this same route.
I would definitely recommend this rally and will ride it again next year, but hope that an alternate route off Hwy 80 can be devised.

I agree with the other reviews...this ride was fantastic. Free pancake, sausage and fruit breakfast before the race, free hotdogs, beans and cornbread after. The thing that impressed me the most was how concerned the folks were who organized this ride. They were asking me and others what they could do to improve for next year. I couldn't really think of anything! By the way, the official count was 285 riders

Edgewood was a real joy. This is there first year and they did make a few minor mistakes but they went above and beyond to make it a wonderful day. The cowboy band under the tent with free lunch after the ride was a real delite. Kudos to Edgewood... I would definitely recommend it.