201k RUSA Brevet, 114k RUSA Populaire, Italy, TX; August 1, 2026
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StephenH
Jul 23, 2026, 10:22:00 PM (13 days ago) Jul 23
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
On the schedule for August 1st we have
-201k RUSA brevet, "Italy- La Bella Cindita Duecento 201kl"
-114k RUSA Populaire, "La Bella Cindita Cento"
RWGPS links are on the LSR calendar.
Current posting below, check back for updates! See the forecast notes below!
Both routes start in Italy, Texas, and go down to Dawson. The 114 circles back up through Blooming Grove and Avalon. The 201k continues down to Mexia, then comes back in via Mt Calm and Malone.
Start time: Tentatively 7:00 AM for both rides, to be confirmed. If any of y'all are interested in starting early early, or even doing a night ride, let me know, and we can discuss our options with all attendees. My experience: Night rides are cooler, but tend to have high humidity, so you can still ride around and sweat all night. If you do the 201k at night, Google shows that the Prairie Hill store is 24 hours, but then there's nothing for the last 50 miles.
Start location: Exxon Tiger Mart/ Pilot Truck stop at the corner of I-35E and Hwy 34, in Italy, Texas. Park out behind the Denny's.
RUSA membership is required. See the RUSA website for details.
Lone Star Randonneur membership is required. See the LSR website. Get the money and form to Dan prior to the ride.
If we start before dawn or do any night riding, lights and reflective gear meeting RUSA rules will be required.
Waivers are attached. Please complete, print, sign, scan, and email to both me and Dan, and bring the original to the ride start. If you're not sure which route, send in both and you can decide later.
If you've already sent Dan a waiver, you don't need to duplicate it.
Route notes:
The 201k is a RUSA brevet, so does not qualify for certain ACP awards but you do get extra milage credit for that extra 1k.
The 201k has stores at 10.8 miles, 21.7 miles, Dawson at 28.2 miles, Mexia at 54.5 miles, Prairie Hill store about 1/2 mile off-route at 75.9, Restaurant at Mt Calm at 86.5, convenience store about 2 miles offroute at 86.5, Malone at 102.5, Milford at 118.7. We have generally stopped at the restaurant at Mt Calm and picked up water. Milford is almost at the end, but I have spent a good bit of time cooling off with ice cream there.
The 114k has stores at 10.8 miles, 21.7 miles, Dawson at 28.2 miles, Blooming Grove at 54, Avalon at 63.3. The restaurant at the corner in Avalon does in fact have store shelves with a full stock of drinks plus a lot of snacks, so it's not a bad stop.
There has been road construction at about Mile 7 on both routes, so expect some gravel there, exact conditions unknown.
There have been some dog issues at around Mile 50 on the 200k. When Amy and I rode through a few weeks ago, they ran out in the road, but we were already 100 yards past, so no problem. Dan reports a brisk pursuit last week, though.
You can go the "old way" via Hwy 171 (which is rough) but note, this short-cuts the route, and you'll need to tack on a mile or so to hit your 125.0 miles (consider hitting the Prairie Hill store..).
Or, you can take CR 238 on east to CR 244. I can't tell for sure from Streetview, but I think CR 238 is gravel in that extra section, then CR 244 is poor pavement. Regardless, be prepared for whatever you find in the way of paving or lack thereof. This adds about a mile. You avoid one set of dogs, but could very well find some others, too, so no guarantees there.
On the 114k, it goes out of Dawson the "old way". There have been dog problems in the past right near town, around 29.3, then again out around 31.9 to 32.6. I think either Tibor or Joe were the last ones to ride out there, so we'll check if they have any recent input.
Long range forecast: HOT. Specifically, low of 80F Friday night, high of 103 Saturday, partly cloudy (ha!), 9% chance of rain (ha!), winds from SSW at 9 mph. Observation: If you are riding with a hot hot 9 mph tail wind, either stop or ride 18 mph, but do NOT ride 9 mph or you will bake in the stillness. Obviously, Camelbaks +ice + water bottles are recommended.
Rider list:
201k:
Stephen
114k:
Stephen
-201k RUSA brevet, "Italy- La Bella Cindita Duecento 201kl"
-114k RUSA Populaire, "La Bella Cindita Cento"
RWGPS links are on the LSR calendar.
Current posting below, check back for updates! See the forecast notes below!
Both routes start in Italy, Texas, and go down to Dawson. The 114 circles back up through Blooming Grove and Avalon. The 201k continues down to Mexia, then comes back in via Mt Calm and Malone.
Start time: Tentatively 7:00 AM for both rides, to be confirmed. If any of y'all are interested in starting early early, or even doing a night ride, let me know, and we can discuss our options with all attendees. My experience: Night rides are cooler, but tend to have high humidity, so you can still ride around and sweat all night. If you do the 201k at night, Google shows that the Prairie Hill store is 24 hours, but then there's nothing for the last 50 miles.
Start location: Exxon Tiger Mart/ Pilot Truck stop at the corner of I-35E and Hwy 34, in Italy, Texas. Park out behind the Denny's.
RUSA membership is required. See the RUSA website for details.
Lone Star Randonneur membership is required. See the LSR website. Get the money and form to Dan prior to the ride.
If we start before dawn or do any night riding, lights and reflective gear meeting RUSA rules will be required.
Waivers are attached. Please complete, print, sign, scan, and email to both me and Dan, and bring the original to the ride start. If you're not sure which route, send in both and you can decide later.
If you've already sent Dan a waiver, you don't need to duplicate it.
Route notes:
The 201k is a RUSA brevet, so does not qualify for certain ACP awards but you do get extra milage credit for that extra 1k.
The 201k has stores at 10.8 miles, 21.7 miles, Dawson at 28.2 miles, Mexia at 54.5 miles, Prairie Hill store about 1/2 mile off-route at 75.9, Restaurant at Mt Calm at 86.5, convenience store about 2 miles offroute at 86.5, Malone at 102.5, Milford at 118.7. We have generally stopped at the restaurant at Mt Calm and picked up water. Milford is almost at the end, but I have spent a good bit of time cooling off with ice cream there.
The 114k has stores at 10.8 miles, 21.7 miles, Dawson at 28.2 miles, Blooming Grove at 54, Avalon at 63.3. The restaurant at the corner in Avalon does in fact have store shelves with a full stock of drinks plus a lot of snacks, so it's not a bad stop.
There has been road construction at about Mile 7 on both routes, so expect some gravel there, exact conditions unknown.
There have been some dog issues at around Mile 50 on the 200k. When Amy and I rode through a few weeks ago, they ran out in the road, but we were already 100 yards past, so no problem. Dan reports a brisk pursuit last week, though.
You can go the "old way" via Hwy 171 (which is rough) but note, this short-cuts the route, and you'll need to tack on a mile or so to hit your 125.0 miles (consider hitting the Prairie Hill store..).
Or, you can take CR 238 on east to CR 244. I can't tell for sure from Streetview, but I think CR 238 is gravel in that extra section, then CR 244 is poor pavement. Regardless, be prepared for whatever you find in the way of paving or lack thereof. This adds about a mile. You avoid one set of dogs, but could very well find some others, too, so no guarantees there.
On the 114k, it goes out of Dawson the "old way". There have been dog problems in the past right near town, around 29.3, then again out around 31.9 to 32.6. I think either Tibor or Joe were the last ones to ride out there, so we'll check if they have any recent input.
Long range forecast: HOT. Specifically, low of 80F Friday night, high of 103 Saturday, partly cloudy (ha!), 9% chance of rain (ha!), winds from SSW at 9 mph. Observation: If you are riding with a hot hot 9 mph tail wind, either stop or ride 18 mph, but do NOT ride 9 mph or you will bake in the stillness. Obviously, Camelbaks +ice + water bottles are recommended.
Rider list:
201k:
Stephen
114k:
Stephen
StephenH
Jul 27, 2026, 5:57:23 PM (9 days ago) Jul 27
to Lone * Star * Randonneurs
Update:
Start time: Still pending, sounds like there is interest in an earlier start, but not necessarily early enough to hit the 7-mile road construction in the dark. To be confirmed. Sunrise is 6:42.
The forecast has been shifting around some, and is currently showing winds from WSW, shifting to NNE; ie, potentially a double-headwind or double-quartering headwind ride. High is 101, shown as "sunny".
Riders:
114k:
Sue
Stephen
Amy
Dan
Possibly Ben
200k:
Stephen
Amy
Dan
Possibly Ben
Route notes:
On the 114k, there is some gravel/rough pavement at mile 58-60 in addition to that at Mile 7.
Apparently, no dog issues at the "old" dog-spots near Dawson. Amy said there was a solo dog back up around Mile 20 or 24 or so.
Check back for updates.
Start time: Still pending, sounds like there is interest in an earlier start, but not necessarily early enough to hit the 7-mile road construction in the dark. To be confirmed. Sunrise is 6:42.
The forecast has been shifting around some, and is currently showing winds from WSW, shifting to NNE; ie, potentially a double-headwind or double-quartering headwind ride. High is 101, shown as "sunny".
Riders:
114k:
Sue
Stephen
Amy
Dan
Possibly Ben
200k:
Stephen
Amy
Dan
Possibly Ben
Route notes:
On the 114k, there is some gravel/rough pavement at mile 58-60 in addition to that at Mile 7.
Apparently, no dog issues at the "old" dog-spots near Dawson. Amy said there was a solo dog back up around Mile 20 or 24 or so.
Check back for updates.
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