Don't look twice but we have 10 or so cyclists joining the 200km out of Bastrop on Saturday!
Very quiet roads, some interspersed gravel and great towns will make it a blast. Not to mention, we have a balanced group of those who have never ridden a 200k and others who have ridden more than their fair share.
Important notes:
-WEATHER: There will be gusty headwinds to get to Lexington, with hopeful tailwinds to bring us home from Elgin. I would recommend good layers to protect you from the wind chill including knee warmers, neck buff and wind breaker at least, good socks and gloves, if not more layers. Wind chill factor will have it feeling like low-mid 30s. More detail below [1].
-LIGHTS and REFLECTIVE: As we will leave prior to sunrise and perhaps finish after sunset, you should ensure you have good lighting and safety measures to make sure drivers can see you.
-PARKING: The start is at Gracie's downtown Bastrop. There is free street parking as far as I recall, however, there is also the Bastrop Public Library with a free parking lot nearby which may be a good option. Hopefully we can eat downtown together after the ride at Gracie's if not another option nearby.
-RESUPPLY: There is Paige at around mile 20, if early resupply is needed. The c-store in Paige is slightly off route on Hwy 290. The best mid-way resupply is Herk's in Lexington. This is at the left turn onto the main street taking you into Lexington, just as you approach town. They are nice to cyclists and good seating indoors and out with lots of hot food for vegans and heathens alike. Definitely resupply by Lexington as its ~40 miles with some gravel sections to get to Elgin, the next town with supplies.
-TERRAIN: Allow yourself to warm up and not be deterred in the state park. The climbs in the park are much steeper than the remainder of the route. Once out of the park, the gravel can be chunky at times, so be prepared for pinch flats if you have inner tubes. Please bring enough spare tubes to get yourself at least to the nearest town of Lexington/Elgin/Bastrop as there is a fat chance of catching an Uber in Wendish country.
-BUDDY SYSTEM: When in doubt, stick with a buddy and we will work together!
Please reach out to me at
512 964 4480 or email with any concerns or to better coordinate.
Kind regards,
Russ Dorobek
[1] Ride forecast for Jan 17, 2026 at 7:00 AM:
Temperature: 42.9°F to 53.2°F, feels like 31.8°F to 41.9°F
Wind: 10.9 to 15.9 mph, with gusts up to 25.9 mph
Probability of precipitation: 0%