Tex and Louise 205K RUSA Brevet, Gilmer, TX, 9/20/25
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StephenH
Sep 6, 2025, 6:50:56 PMSep 6
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
Hey Folks,
For September 20th, 2025, we have the "Tex and Louise" 205k RUSA brevet on the calendar. This is just the eastern half of George Evans' 400k "Fleas and Trees" brevet.
Parking: Intended parking is at the Upshur County Courthouse, Gilmer, Texas, just a block west of the ride start. The last time I was out there, they had a bunch of scaffolding and construction occurring on the courthouse itself. So park at the courthouse if possible, or at your motel, or any good spot you can find where you won't get towed away.
Start point: Gilmer, Texas. Start control is the LaMa 105 gas station on the northeast corner of Hwy 271 and Hwy 154 in the middle of Gilmer (Used to be "Lone Star No. 5" or something, this is the control on the 400k).
Start time: Tentative 7:15 AM, just after sunrise, so this is a daylight start.
The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26928341
I've updated this file, so if you've downloaded it, download it fresh to get additional cues, etc.
This is a RUSA brevet. That means you get extra time and mileage credit for the odd 5 km of distance, but it doesn't qualify for certain ACP awards. You do pick up both Texas and Louisiana from riding it (thus the name). Probably an Explorer Point for everyone, too.
Lone Star Randonneurs membership is required for riding. See the website for the form, get that and the money in to Dan prior to the ride.
RUSA membership is required for riding. See the RUSA website for details.
Sunset is shown as 7:18, which gives you right at 12 hours of daylight for riding. If there is any doubt about making it in before then, be sure and have lights and reflective gear.
This route is hilly. The link above shows 4,751' of climbing. Replotting it fresh shows 5,675'. With the current plotting, between Gilmer and Jefferson is 50' of climbing per mile; between Jefferson and Vivian is 37' per mile. Jefferson-to-Vivian seems flatter than that. I suspect the discrepancy in the climbing numbers is due to how the algorithms are figuring in the "old" vs "new" plot, and the discrepancy is likely on that flatter part.
The first two miles out of Gilmer can be trafficky, but hopefully, with an early start, this can be avoided.
There are stores at Mile 27, Mile 35, and multiple stores at Mile 39 (Jefferson), plus the turnaround. I've never been in the store at Mile 27, but Google says it's there and open, so it must be. The only controls are the start, finish, and turn-around, so you can pick your stores to stop at. The route is an out-and-back.
Gilmer is a long drive, so I'll assume to head out Friday night and spend the night. There are two motels in town, and I remember hearing long ago that both were owned by the same people. I've stayed in the Executive Inn, and had some hiccups checking in, but the room was fine.
In Gilmer, there is a Walmart, a grocery store, and lots of eating places, and most of those are on the north end of town. The two motels are on the south end.
At the turn-around, there is a casino, a restaurant, and a convenience store, and the convenience store is at the far end of the buildings.
The turn-around has an address of Vivian, but the main town of Vivian is actually a couple miles north of the turn-around, so don't assume you've seen Vivian just riding this route.
A little ways past the state line, you'll pass a "Trees" Baptist Church; this is the unincorporated community of Trees and I've assumed that's where the Fleas and Trees route name comes from.
Jefferson has an interesting history, but you don't see much of that just riding through. Jefferson is also the Bigfoot Capital of Texas.
As you approach the turn-around, you'll note you're in a little oilfield there.
Riders: I'm planning to ride if the weather is decent. The ride is technically "on" rain or shine. If it's pouring down rain, I'll make other plans. The more the merrier on riders, so if you can come on out, go for it.
A waiver is attached. Print, sign, scan, and email to both Dan and myself, and bring the original to the ride start.
Some of y'all may be riding closer to home. If you come up with something interesting, post a note; I'd rather have people out riding in DFW than have them sit around the house thinking it's Gilmer or nothing.
Stephen H
stephen...@yahoo.com
For September 20th, 2025, we have the "Tex and Louise" 205k RUSA brevet on the calendar. This is just the eastern half of George Evans' 400k "Fleas and Trees" brevet.
Parking: Intended parking is at the Upshur County Courthouse, Gilmer, Texas, just a block west of the ride start. The last time I was out there, they had a bunch of scaffolding and construction occurring on the courthouse itself. So park at the courthouse if possible, or at your motel, or any good spot you can find where you won't get towed away.
Start point: Gilmer, Texas. Start control is the LaMa 105 gas station on the northeast corner of Hwy 271 and Hwy 154 in the middle of Gilmer (Used to be "Lone Star No. 5" or something, this is the control on the 400k).
Start time: Tentative 7:15 AM, just after sunrise, so this is a daylight start.
The route is here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26928341
I've updated this file, so if you've downloaded it, download it fresh to get additional cues, etc.
This is a RUSA brevet. That means you get extra time and mileage credit for the odd 5 km of distance, but it doesn't qualify for certain ACP awards. You do pick up both Texas and Louisiana from riding it (thus the name). Probably an Explorer Point for everyone, too.
Lone Star Randonneurs membership is required for riding. See the website for the form, get that and the money in to Dan prior to the ride.
RUSA membership is required for riding. See the RUSA website for details.
Sunset is shown as 7:18, which gives you right at 12 hours of daylight for riding. If there is any doubt about making it in before then, be sure and have lights and reflective gear.
This route is hilly. The link above shows 4,751' of climbing. Replotting it fresh shows 5,675'. With the current plotting, between Gilmer and Jefferson is 50' of climbing per mile; between Jefferson and Vivian is 37' per mile. Jefferson-to-Vivian seems flatter than that. I suspect the discrepancy in the climbing numbers is due to how the algorithms are figuring in the "old" vs "new" plot, and the discrepancy is likely on that flatter part.
The first two miles out of Gilmer can be trafficky, but hopefully, with an early start, this can be avoided.
There are stores at Mile 27, Mile 35, and multiple stores at Mile 39 (Jefferson), plus the turnaround. I've never been in the store at Mile 27, but Google says it's there and open, so it must be. The only controls are the start, finish, and turn-around, so you can pick your stores to stop at. The route is an out-and-back.
Gilmer is a long drive, so I'll assume to head out Friday night and spend the night. There are two motels in town, and I remember hearing long ago that both were owned by the same people. I've stayed in the Executive Inn, and had some hiccups checking in, but the room was fine.
In Gilmer, there is a Walmart, a grocery store, and lots of eating places, and most of those are on the north end of town. The two motels are on the south end.
At the turn-around, there is a casino, a restaurant, and a convenience store, and the convenience store is at the far end of the buildings.
The turn-around has an address of Vivian, but the main town of Vivian is actually a couple miles north of the turn-around, so don't assume you've seen Vivian just riding this route.
A little ways past the state line, you'll pass a "Trees" Baptist Church; this is the unincorporated community of Trees and I've assumed that's where the Fleas and Trees route name comes from.
Jefferson has an interesting history, but you don't see much of that just riding through. Jefferson is also the Bigfoot Capital of Texas.
As you approach the turn-around, you'll note you're in a little oilfield there.
Riders: I'm planning to ride if the weather is decent. The ride is technically "on" rain or shine. If it's pouring down rain, I'll make other plans. The more the merrier on riders, so if you can come on out, go for it.
A waiver is attached. Print, sign, scan, and email to both Dan and myself, and bring the original to the ride start.
Some of y'all may be riding closer to home. If you come up with something interesting, post a note; I'd rather have people out riding in DFW than have them sit around the house thinking it's Gilmer or nothing.
Stephen H
stephen...@yahoo.com
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