Lancaster Country ride, Lancaster, TX

April 12, 2008

I haven't ridden Lancaster in several years. The ride is as good as ever. Great route, good road surfaces and markings. Very scenic countryside. Recommend this ride for anyone.

This ride has gotten better over the years. It was easy to find, fast registration, good road markings & signs, lots of hills, lots of wind, and GREAT muchies at the rest stops. The only improvement is more ride marshalls. Good job GDB!

This is the first time I've ever done this particular ride and thanks to GDB for putting it on. Late registration and parking were a breeze. Riders were segregated by distance and further segregated by speed. What a good idea!! I did the 40 and only stopped at one rest stop that was well stocked with fruit, oreos and fig newtons. The ride was hillier than I expected and the last 20 miles seemed to be uphill and into the wind. Some of the rough road hazards were marked and some weren't and most intersections were controlled. The routes also had low traffic. I'd do this one again in a heartbeat!

Great ride as usual! Did the long option. Registration, early packet-pickup, rest stops and route were outstanding. It seems like the route was changed for a couple years, but now is back to the way it used to be. Not entirely sure, but liked the route the way it was laid out this year. The socks are also a nice change from an event t-shirt. Post-ride food options seemed more limited this year. This would be a nice feature to add if possible. I plan on being back next year.

I did the GDB's Lancaster ride last weekend. Overall, job well done(as usual). I did the 100k route. Great staggered start--keep it up!! Route was great with some chip seal, hills, and rollers. The two rest stops I used were well stocked, friendly volunteers, and plenty of port-o-potties. Overall the signage was good, but there was a stretch outside of Palmer that had a long, long road(after the stadium) where is seemed I missed a turn or was way off base. I almost turned around, but decided to go to the next turn and low and behold there was a turn sign. I would like to have seen some painted arrows on the roadway or a sign of two pointing the correct direction(just as some reassurance). Overall, it is still a great ride and I would do this again in a heartbeat. By the way, LOVE the socks!!!!

April 14, 2007

2007 Lancaster Country Ride sponsored by Greater Dallas Bicycle Club
This is the 2nd time I've done this ride. The only reason I haven't done it four times is because I had a schedule conflict the last two years
I've done a lot of pay rides, Aledo, Peach festival, Paluxy Pedal, Granbury's cruising de hood, and the Burleson honey ride.
This has to be one of the best organized and supported rides I've been on. Very well marked route, lots of visible SAG support, multiple bicycle shops offering technical assistance. I also appreciated having lots of fig newtons and min clif bars at the rest stops. They also had lots of ice! (Wind was 16-23 mph with gusts and temp started out at 44 and got all the way to a balmy 48)
I did the 60 mile route and though it was certainly too cold and too windy, I still had a great time (especially before I turned northwest near Ennis). If I could change one thing about this ride, it would be the weather. They're just lucky I guess.
I've never seen such large fields of bluebonnets as I did today.
I really appreciated getting a pair of socks for a change instead of one more t-shirt. I wish more rides did this, or at least gave a choice.
Even though I'm from Fort Worth, hats off to the Dallas Bike Club for a great ride.

My gosh it was cold… that being said this was a great ride. I truly enjoyed the route (40) and very friendly “frozen” staff helping us all along the way. I had planned to wear the socks that were given to us, but I opted for my WOOL socks instead. Next year, and there will be a next year, I will wear the socks. I didn’t know you had those hills but you also had the most beautiful Blue Bonnet display in the fields right beside them. I forgot to tell my legs that hills were hard when my mind said look at those flowers. And did I mention CHOCOLATE… yes that is right… brownies at the end. Nothing was left out of this ride, well stocked rest areas, friendly staff, brownies, hills, flowers, wind and cold. See you next year for sure. (Note to self, remember where you parked the car.)

If you like riding in the cold and wind than this was the ride for you. I planned to ride the 40mile route and opted for the 20. This was a cold one,but I here there was hot chocolate offered on the longer routes. Great homemade brownies and cookies provided along the route and at the finish. This was a well organized ride. They even pair up the casual riders and the fast riders for each route prio to the start. I don't know if this was really necessary,but it di make for a smooth start without the usual congestion. I would recommend this ride.

April 8, 2006

As the Director of the Lancaster Country Ride I want to thank all 855 riders for being out there and braving the winds and cool temps. It warmed up as the day went on, but the wind never ceased.
We did a lot of work on marking the courses, sweeping gravel and making sure our rest stops were well stocked, but when it comes to Mother Nature? Well...she does her own thing.
Donations from the proceeds go to the Lancaster Outreach center, as well as the TBC and First Baptist Church. The Church opens up all its parking lots for us and we are truly appreciative.
Thanks for coming out, suggestions are always welcome.
Gail Spann
Lancaster Country Ride rally director, 2006

The Lancaster folks did a fantastic job in staging this ride. The course was well marked and support was always present. The one rest stop I stopped at was well stocked and manned by friendly folks despite the cold wind. Flower Mound and a few others could learn a thing or two from the Lancaster and Aledo ride directors, they definitely know what they're doing. Thanks.

My second year for this ride. Did the 24-miler with my son, and was very impressed with the entire event. We pre-registered, so packet pickup was painless. Nice job with the staggered start. Roads were good and I didn't see any gravel ANYWHERE!! Great rest stops, SAG support, and very enthusiastic volunteers. Overall, ride support was terrific, and the home-made goodies at the finish line were the best! To top it all off, high quality bike socks were again a great change from the usual t-shirt. Thanks for a great ride, GDB-we'll be back again next year!

This was a great ride. The course was well marked and the roads were some of the best surfaces you can find for a rally. There were many wildflowers and was fun to ride over the bridges – which I think was just a detour for this year only. Well stocked rest stops. It was a little cool and the wind was brutal this year, but everything they could control was great. It is nice to save a little money and get socks instead of another t-shirt. GDB puts on a great rally.

This was a very well-organized ride with surprisingly pretty scenery. Parts of it felt like a hill country ride with one section passing through winding country lanes lined with trees, horse farms, and a one lane bridge. Although it started out cold, it turned hot in the afternoon. A few people going too fast off the front crashed and needed medical assistance (Reminder - it is a ride, not a race). SAG support was available, but it took quite a while to find me (Plano Fitness and Cycling van was great!). I think they need a couple of more folks helping with this--nothing technical, just a guy in a truck with more tubes and a pump like those at HH100. The big headwinds kept us well ventilated and slowed the pace for most of the second half of the ride. I did the 100k. The volunteers were friendly, and the rest stops were well-stocked. There were also volunteers at many questionable intersections. There was also a go od finish line with people clapping and plenty of snacks. Parking was extremely convenient. I will definitely do it again. But take note, they give out a pair of socks rather than a t-shirt.

April 9, 2005

This is my 3rd Lancaster ride and each year, the Greater Dallas Bicyclists made a change that improved the ride. This year, they slotted the starts depending on distance and speed and staggered the starts where the fast 100K group starts first and go down the line to the 25 milers. This alone greatly improved the safety of the ride significantly. The route was excellent and for the first 35 or so miles quite challenging with both the hills and the very strong south wind. The strong south wind also makes things a lot easier going back. The bluebonnets and Indian paint brushes were in full bloom in places which makes the climbs up some of the big hills worth while. A fellow PBA club member and I wound up following up the 100K loop with a 44 miler to complete a century. The routes were so well marked that we did not need a map to do this. I would like to see GDB add a century to this ride. That would be just enough to make Lancaster a premier early season rally.

This was a great ride! It was my third time and it seems to improve with each year. The wind was a little strong but manageable since we didn't head directly into it for any long stretches. The south wind on our tail was wonderful coming back! I did the 57 miler in Aledo, and Lancaster's 62 miler was much easier in my opinion. It has hilly parts but not relentless. There are flat stretches to give you a break. The bluebonnets were plentiful, and traffic was very light. Traffic control was sufficient at big intersections. The rest stops had nice people, were well stocked with cut up bananas, fig newtons (yum), orange slices, water and Gatorade. I especially liked the staggered start. It went very smoothly as far as I could see, and I was running my average speed a couple miles in. What a great deal! It only cost $20, and they give you some cool socks instead of the typical t-shirt. I really have no gripes about this one. They did a great job, and I can't wait for next year.

This was my first Lancaster Country Ride, and definitely not my last. the 42 mile route which, according to my cyclometer, was actually a little over 43 miles. The roads for a majority of the ride were great, and the hills in the middle portion were a good challenge. Loved seeing all the bluebonnets in bloom. I stopped at two rest stops, and they were well stocked with water, Gatorade, fruit and cookies. Now, I do have one  very important suggestion for next year. Please, please, please sweep away  the gravel on turns. At one intersection, about 4 miles from the end, I hit a patch of gravel and went down. Thanks to driver of the truck I was trying to avoid, and all the riders who stopped to see if I was okay. A special thanks to the gentleman who rode with me the rest of the way in. I also want to thank the great volunteers who helped clean and bandage my various wounds. So I'll be back next year.

This was my first Lancaster Country Ride. Kudos to GDB for a well-organized ride. The routes and hazards were clearly marked. Rest stops were great with a wide variety of goodies and the staff were friendly and helpful. SAG support was very visible and all of the major intersection were  controlled. The hills were challenging, as was the wind in the first half of the ride. The views were (as advertised) outstanding! 

This was my first time at this event and I did the 42 miler. Great support, well marked, nice route, and constant SAG support! I also liked the way the riders were staged at the start. Thanks to all of the sponsors, businesses and churches that helped out.

What a well planned out and executed ride. If you missed this one...shame on you. Registration was smooth, volunteers were everywhere and the start...well there is one suggestion. You had the cohorts sectioned off as to distances. 24-42-62. One problem: You need a special area for" fast riders 18+ mph average." Without that the fast riders are having to fight their way up through a solid wall of slow riding road kill. Bad Mojo. Dangerous, frustrating. It causes too many riders to swing out into the oncoming traffic lane to pass the slow riders. So next time...put the 18+ riders out in front and start them first. They will disappear in a cloud of testosterone and won't be bothering any other riders. Much safer. Road markings were excellent. The police protection at crossings was truly awesome. At least three policemen at every crossing where protection was needed. The roads were excellent and beautiful to ride. Congrats on a job well done. I'm definitely putting this one on next years "must ride" list. - Norm Weatherby

Fantastic ride. This was my first year at this event and I was thoroughly pleased. The climbs were an interesting change but were not long enough to bog a little over-weight guy (me) down too much. I really liked the tail-wind finish. Thank you to all the support (volunteers, police, and organizers). Great job!

My husband and I are riding the MS150 and chose the Lancaster Ride over the Tour Dallas. Besides why pay for riding in Dallas when we do that every weekend for free? We also needed the distance so we both did the 62 route. This was our first ride in Lancaster. What a fantastic day - sunny, windy, beautiful scenery! The flowers were in bloom and all the animals were out. The breakpoints were fully stocked and I had no complaints. It does seem that there are never enough portables though for those that really have to use one. It is difficult for me to keep up with the fast people and it is difficult for me to go slow enough for the slower people. I am somewhere in between so I usually end up riding by myself. The route was very well marked so I had no problems getting from beginning to end. I didn't even use the map. I think this was well organized and worth the money. The ride identified and sorted  riders by route. I saw a review where someone suggested having the 18+ riders identified and out first. I don't know what the proper rally etiquette is, but  couldn't this person get in the front of the group that will head out first regardless of the distance? This way there would be no worries about having the  pass "the slow riding road kill". From what I saw not only were the starting  areas marked by route, but the 62 route had two sections - moderate and fast

This was the first time we did this ride (42-mile). We chose it over Tour Dallas as we're getting ready for the MS150 Frisco - Ft Worth. We needed something longer than Tour Dallas' longest (only 30 miles). We also were interested in seeing all the bluebonnets, and we weren't disappointed! It was a beautiful day with beautiful scenery. The miniature horses at the one farm were really cute too. The wind was a bit tough but that's just Texas for ya! The route was very well marked, they even have wrong way markings if you miss a turn, which isn't possible. The route was supurb with little traffic, smooth roads (except a couple miles at the end). The rest stops were good too (thanks for having pretzels!). There was a good variety of snacks and Gatorade, which kept our taste buds from being bored as well! I have to say I did not expect the series of big hills, and enjoyed them (even if I did walk up one of them Very Happy ). Thanks, GDB, for a great ride. I expect we'll be back but with a camera next time!

April 10, 2004

Every year, this ride gets better and better and draws more and more folks (I think we probably had over 1,000 rider show up). There were some minor changes in the route that eliminated a few of the wood bridges that were potential hazards. The roads were in good condition with few rough spots and the rest stops were well stocked and well managed. The threat of rain never materialized. Unfortunately, the cold front blew through about an hour into the ride, which made the last 35 to 40 miles pure torture (that is where the well stocked and well managed rest stops really helped). I bet as a whole, most of the 62 mile riders probably finished this years ride with averages 1 to 2 miles an hour lower than they normally would. Thank god the bluebonnets were out in force, this made the battle against the howling north wind much more bearable.

I rode this year's GDB Lancaster Country Ride and have a few comments. First the route, rest stops, and organization exhibit all the hallmarks of a premium ride. However, for an early season ride, I was completely unprepared for the hilly start of the rally. I'm certain that I hammered these hills too hard which I paid for dearly when the cold front and strong headwinds blew through. I eventually sagged at the last rest stop and missed riding the awesome looking last stretch. So, future riders take note: *this ride has a hilly start*. My only other comment is that the quality of the map could be better. I got off the course on one stretch and found the map of very little use to find my way back. On the whole Lancaster is a very nice ride--the bluebonnets and country route were exceptional. This year the wind and cold conspired against me, but I will be back next year to ride that last stretch into town.

The GDBClub along with Lancaster and the other supporting communities are a Class Act!!! and simply put FANTASTICO!
The GDBC folks were very well organized with everything, the ride was great heading out of town, and for the first 35 or so miles, after that the north winds hit and well, it was really ugly in some spots.
The one rest stop I picked to stop at was great, lots of stuff. The cost of the rally is just right, Don't get me wrong I'll always donate to a worthy cause, But some of the rides are tapping the 30.00 dollar price and that's just unrealistic for what it is. And of course GDBC provided some great socks!
Thanks to all who had their hand in this rally it was great.

As a novice, this rally was recommended to me to "get my feet wet" as a relaxing flat ride....I found it to be a perfect first rally...beautiful road scenery, great food at the rest stops, and friendly people...including this guy named John on a recumbant who was gonna take my picture.(!)...I lost him on the hill....I did the 62 mile route the longest I have done so far and was a bit taken back by my 6 hour time...but I have been through winds before and they do slow down the mph....they also have a way of bringing out the resolve in me tho,,,,as well as the hills....I felt they were just right...a challenge but not heartbreaking. I was rescued by Kevin on the Richardson Bike Mart Van...who fell in right behind me when I got a flat.. (boy ..someone really was watching over me!) changed my tire...adjusted my gears...and off I went...WOW! and a friendly wave throughout the rest of the course....My final burst came toward the end when a sag wagon rode by with about 3 or 4 on it and I was determined not to let the wind beat me....the sign to Lancaster city limits made me let out a scream.....good thing I was alone....I made it!

I did the GDB ride in Lancaster this past Saturday. The day started out picture perfect, warm and humid, just like summer. The organization was very good and registration went very smoothly. The first portion of the ride was very flat until about 15 miles in. It then wove it's way through some terrain that was a little tough on the old bones. About half way through the twists and turns, I just had to stop and take in the view from atop one of the hills. The view was spectacular. The bluebonnets and what seemed to be a view from a perch high above anything else. You could see for miles. The only rest stop for me came at a "necessary" time. The rest area was well stocked but it seemed that those volunteers knew what was going to happen next. They chuckled as they mentioned the wind shift. Well, the wind shifted. The rest of the ride was relatively flat but the wind provided the challenge for the rest of the ride. I am afraid that there isn't much the GDB could have done about that. The wind brought a much cooler finish than many had hoped but most of us finished well before the rain. This is a ride I will try to do again. I really enjoyed it. This was the 3rd ride I have done this year. Every one of them has been wonderful. It seems that most of the ride organizers appear to be on the same page . Great going folks.

First time to ride this route. All I can say is "give me more." I loved the hills and the challenge that the course offers. Very few routes will let you go 35+ mph and slow you down to 10 mph. Great rest stops, great start, great course marking, and I loved getting socks...can't ever have too many of those. I will be making this one of the top "must rides" of the season.
The best thing I have seen in years...course was marked so well. Someone even marked hazard spots and potholes in the road. You guys are really
looking out for everyone!

Great event! Being able to pick up the packets before the ride was very much appreciated. The course was excellent with some good hills, but not killer. The ride provided great scenery, there course was well-marked, rest stops were well-spaced will with lots of goodies and the roads were also as good as one could ever expect. The socks look good and really help distinguish this ride. Also, the availability of a variety food and massages at the end of the ride were outstanding. This is my second time to do the 62-miler, and I plan on this one again next year. I'm just happy it didn't rain.