Anyone want to show me around Houston?

[ergott]

I'll be in town on Monday for 11 days. Bringing my road bike. Any riders want to roll?

you can email me or PM me.

ergottwheels@gmail.com

[Kevan]

Make sure you visit:

West Alabama Ice House - terrific, grungy outdoor bar

The Ginger Man - near Rice, neat spot inside and out and many different suds

Goode & Company- Look for the taqueria: http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurant.aspx

Houston is butt ugly mostly, but tucked away, there some gems.

[cadence90]

Make sure you visit:

West Alabama Ice House - terrific, grungy outdoor bar

The Ginger Man - near Rice, neat spot inside and out and many different suds

Goode & Company- Look for the taqueria: http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurant.aspx

Houston is butt ugly mostly, but tucked away, there some gems.
Kevan must know better, but I think 11 days is 12 too many. I taught at Rice and UofH (unfortunately always in humid-time) and I thought it completely sucked. The non-zoning is interesting, there's some good Vietnamese seafood up from Galveston, the Cy Twombly Pavilion at the De Menil is spectacular, and the Cullen Sculpture Garden at the Houston MFA is good. But too much big hair and polyester cowboy oufits at the Warwick Hotel and all around town (and too few pedestrians) for me.

Plus, the ride in from George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (is that a give-away or what?) is hours long, past lots of sad second-hand car dealerships and porn shops.

Have fun!!!!

[LegendRider]

Houston is butt ugly mostly, but tucked away, there some gems.

very true. i never lived in houston, but i did a long consulting engagement there. lots of good food.

i rode at the alkek velodrome on a borrowed romic track bike. perhaps an option.

[Lovingttu]

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[cadence90]

very true. i never lived in houston, but i did a long consulting engagement there. lots of good food.

i rode at the alkek velodrome on a borrowed romic track bike. perhaps an option.
I'd try to get away with Hakeem Olajuwan and Clyde the Glide...for the whole time. :cool:

[ergott]

I'm in on family business. Food suggestions are great and more are welcome.

[malcolm]

I'll preface this with, I've not spent any significant time in Houston in over 15 years. Houston is like any other large city it has nice and not so nice places. You don't see the best of any city I've been to from the interstate. Summer in Houston in only surpassed in heat and humidity by New Orleans or possibly southeast asia. Houston used to have many good places to eat and lots to do if you look.

Cycling and remember this was many years ago, was somewhat limited in Houston proper although there was a fairly good loop along buffalo bayou that meandered through several neighboor hoods. There was also lots of good low traffic rides in the Spring and Katy areas. I'm not sure if these still exist or not, if they do it will be pancake flat and will have little protection from the sun so hydrate well. We also used to ride along the coast from Galveston to south of Freeport, it did have several stretches with little to no shoulder and high speed traffic but we were young, don't think I would do it now. I would get in touch with some local shops and see what they recommend as far as routes and coming from New York be sure and respect the heat and humidity. If you do go down by the coast there is usually a brutal southwest wind that can make getting back to the Galveston area interesting and painful.

[fmbp]

Hey ergott,

I live in Houston and would be willing to meet up for a ride. I'm a grad student, and my schedule sucks right now, but I could take some time out for a ride next weekend. I'll PM you to set up details.

fmbp

[RPS]

Plus, the ride in from George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (is that a give-away or what?) is hours long, past lots of sad second-hand car dealerships and porn shops.

Have fun!!!! :confused: What does that mean?

BTW, if you want to get back to Italy you can probably get a direct flight from Bush. I doubt the polyester cowboys will stop you. :rolleyes:

And hours? I live north of Bush and can meet my wife in downtown in about 40 minutes. I'm guessing you haven't been to Houston in a long time.

[texbike]

Hey Eric,

I'm in Houston just about every week on business and will be there this week Monday-Wednesday. Houston isn't exactly my favorite place on the planet, but it does have its charms.

What part of town will you be staying in?

Let me know if you would like to meet up on Monday or Tuesday Night for a couple of drinks and hit a couple of the gems in the Rice U/Kirby area.

By the way, there should be a crit on Wednesday Night in Memorial Park if you are interested in seeing a race while you're in town.

If you have a chance, you should drive a couple of hours West to Austin for the weekend and pick up a couple of the Austin rides on Saturday and/or Sunday.

Austin may not have the restaraunt selection that Houston has, but I'm willing to bet that you would enjoy the riding more. :)

I'll send you a PM with my contact info.

Texbike

[RPS]

Eric, Houston is a very big place that covers about 600 square miles; and much of it is not suitable for riding IMHO. I live about 20 miles north of downtown and can ride from home, although for now some of the better route options to the north require a little driving due to construction.

If you are going to be staying or riding on the northeast end of town, please let me know. I ride with a small group a few mornings a week (typically Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, and Sun) before it gets too hot.

And as others have said, be careful if you are not used to it as the heat index can exceed 100 F.

[ergott]

Latest is that I will be in Conroe. I don't know how that fits in with everyone's plans, but thanks to all for the tips. I might be able to get a couple of rides in with some of you.

[clweed]

Latest is that I will be in Conroe. I don't know how that fits in with everyone's plans, but thanks to all for the tips. I might be able to get a couple of rides in with some of you.

Burn your Buns (http://web.bridgewoodfarms.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=9) is Friday in Conroe.

I'm doing the 62 if I don't go out of town.

[RPS]

Latest is that I will be in Conroe. I don't know how that fits in with everyone's plans, but thanks to all for the tips. I might be able to get a couple of rides in with some of you.Eric, that's a good area for riding. Conroe is in Montgomery County and not the more congested Harris County (Houston). The terrain also has a few rollers rather than being perfectly flat. The area is about 30 miles from home, so I only hit it on longer rides unless I drive there first (which I can).

That area is growing a lot, but IMO once away from Conroe or the Woodlands there are still many country roads that are better to ride than close to the City of Houston.

[texbike]

Eric,

I'll be in the center of Houston so Conroe will be out for me with my schedule this week.

However, congrats on staying in that area. There is alot of great riding just North and Northwest of Conroe. If you drive about 15 minutes North, you will be in a town called New Waverly. That's a good drop off point for a bunch of riding on empty country roads through National Logging, I mean Forest Land.

A little bit further North and you will be in Huntsville (about 15 miles). It's the home of our State Prison system and where they carry out our state executions. There is a ton of great riding in the area. You can also have one of the best Chicken Fried Steaks in the country at the Texan Cafe on the square. Huntsville is also home to one of the State's best frame builders and all around nice guy, Hans Schneider. Be careful not to get whacked by "Big Sam" as you drive past him on I-45 (you'll know what I mean if you see it).

If you head Northwest of Conroe, you will bump into a little town called Anderson. Anderson sits on the Western edge of the East Texas pine forests and opens up to beautiful pasture land. It is rather hilly in the area and quite picturesque.

Whichever area you decide to ride in, be sure to get an early start. It's very humid in the area and it heats up quick this time of year.

Enjoy your stay in the Houston area! Let me know if you decide to visit Austin while you're in the State.

Texbike

[ergott]

Thanks guys! Sounds like I'm in for some good riding. When I go out it will probably be around 6-7AM. I hope that's early enough.

[Birddog]

What blows most people's mind is not the high temps, they are prepared for that. It's how high the low temps are. Next week's forecast calls for lows at 70 or above. It's pretty weird for a northerner to wake up to temps in the 70's with high humidity.

Birddog

[Cdub]

Thanks guys! Sounds like I'm in for some good riding. When I go out it will probably be around 6-7AM. I hope that's early enough.


Eric, I have family in that area and work near by in the Woodlands. If you plan on rdiding, be aware that there are a lot of pick up trucks. Most of the area is used to cyclists, but some of the country folk still don't like us. be ready for 95 and humid! If you ride early, it iwll be 80 and humid!

Take a look at Woodlands Cycling web page (http://www.woodlandscycling.org/). They have two mid week rides that are about 1.5-2.0 hours in duration. The rides can have cat1 (Travis Burandt, 4th GC tour PA in under 21 class) to rec riders. Rolling to flat.

There are many routes in the area that you are staying. PM if you want to hook up!

Cdub

[little.man]

For eating, I would recommend Pappasitos for Mexican. Just love their beef fajitas. Have not been up to Conroe, but should be one in that area. Taste of Texas is a great Steak House, but it's in Houston - I-10 and Beltway 8. That area is a disaster right now from road construction. Fogo de Charo is a "Brazilian" style steak/meat house that offers all you can eat for a hefty price. The salad bar is huge and the meats are great - they bring it to your table and cut you off a piece, over and over again - until you turn that little green tab to red. It's located even deeper in Houston, on Westheimer.

Mark

[RPS]

Huntsville is also home to one of the State's best frame builders and all around nice guy, Hans Schneider.I’ll second that. Hans is a very nice guy and great builder who puts on the Memorial Park Criterium Series on Wednesdays with all proceeds benefiting the Rita B. Huff Humane Society Located in Huntsville, TX.

I use to think my wife was the world’s greatest dog lover until I met Hans. I doubt he has ever seen a stray dog he didn’t help.

http://www.txbra.org/events/event.asp?EventID=1348

[Cdub]

Hans is a great guy and has been putting on the crits forever. Fun times.

Since you will be in Conroe, come down IH45 toward the Woodlands and try Chuwys Mexican. Good stuff.

[ergott]

clweed, you still doing the Friday ride? I will probably register for that ride.

-

[djg]

Just a few days experience from a conference a couple of years ago, but I'll second the Goode's suggestion -- good brisket and, easy to mess up, good bbq turkey.

Also the (De)Menil is worth a look if you have time.

I came from Virginia so I was used to hot and humid in the summer . . . or so I thought until I stepped out of the airport in Houston.