Coming Soon to a Bike Path or Public Street Near You: FALL!
It’s true. It’s not some sick joke. It really is about to cool off. Manana? No. Tomorrow it will be 105 degrees F. You’ll need to bring any paper products indoors, because that is the temperature at which such things spontaneously combust.
But soon. And what does that mean? It means that we go into the best time of the year in North Texas: our lovely extended fall followed by our very nice temperate winter and a lovely spring. Months and months of weather that are usually perfect for riding. People that live in very cold northern climes, in cities like Minneapolis or Boston or Chicago, those people think of spring as this wonderful time of rebirth, renewal, emergence. The release from a tomb of ice.
Not me, man. Fall means that to me in North Texas: it is the time of our emergence from the grip of the inferno of heat. Renaisssance! Rebirth. Renewal.
Sweaters! Jackets! That stylish long-sleeved shirt that you forgot about.
The Great State Fair of Texas! Group rides (that would be you, Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, and all of the other Bike Friendly groups that have spun off from you across the Metroplex).
It really is truly all going to happen. And I’m glad, because I’m sick of this heat. I haven’t been riding much, save for short rides in the morning, maybe five miles or so.
Friday I forced myself to get out and commute to my office, about a 15 mile round trip. Riding home with a heat index of 108 wasn’t as bad as you might think: I’m not a complete baby. I grew up here.
But it’s August 22. I’m tired of it. I get the joke. Next stop: Fall.
-H
Will there be a bike corral at the State Fair? Inquiring minds want to know!
Steve,
I don’t know about a bike corral, but I say that a group ride down there is a YES! I love the Fair, and I buy a pass every year so that I can go many times. My office is in Lakewood, an easy ride to Fair Park via either Swiss Ave. or the Katy Trail, and I always ride down a few times.
I’m going to figure out a good day to do a group ride and promote it here.
-H
The Fair email is pr@bigtex.com. The info phone number is 214.565.9931 (press O). I just sent off an email inquiry, namely:
“Will there be a bike corral or other place to park a group of bikes? Please advise. Thanks, Steve A”
I suggest that numerous other inquiries will result in improved bike accommodations.
If you go via the Katy Trail, a meetup at the AA Center parking lot would work well for people comming in from Tarrant County via the TRE.
Steve-
I’m glad that you bring this issue up. In years past, I was always able to simply lock my bike to the front gate there at Parry and Exposition. However, that plaza is now the property of DART due to their light rail station being there. Last year, they wouldn’t let me lock up my bike there. I used one of the bike racks there on Exposition, but obviously the issue needs to be raised with both DART and the people from the Fair. I have a friend at DART, and I’ll see what kind of answer that I can get.
-H
When we rode home on Thursday, all we could talk about was how nice the ride was going to be in the fall.
I am very interested in a fair ride – please keep us updated.
I called the people at the State Fair today and they said that there were bike racks at the train stations down there. I’m gonna scout it out. I’m friends with the owners of two of the bars across from the State Fair, and I could probably talk them into letting us lock up the bikes in their courtyards.
I’m thinking about a weekday “bail out of work” group fair ride. It’s usually cheaper, and it’s less crowded. I’ll be posting about it here soon.
-H
Steve-I’ll send them an email regarding the bike racks, too, as you suggest. I’d like to propose for a group State Fair ride either Friday Oct. 8, 2010, or the previous Monday Oct. 4, 2010. That’s assuming that neither of those dates is “Dallas Public Schools’ Gang Appreciation Day”. I’ll check that out tomorrow.
I plan on beginning at the Mockingbird Station and coming down the Katy Trail to hook up with anyone coming in on the TRE. Dealey Plaza or that park in front of Union Station might be more interesting than the AAC. Doesn’t the TRE put you out at Union Station?
-H