Sunday, March 4, 2018
It was an unexpected gift. The day had started the way many weekend days have started this winter in Austin – dreary and wet – and there wasn’t much prospect for marked improvement. But after a late afternoon siesta, I woke to partly sunny skies and a drying wind, elements that made the streets just dry enough to venture out on two wheels. I made the most of my opportunity.
I took my usual route south, crossing Parmer, darting through Dorsett Oaks, and taking Duval westbound to the Balcones Woods neighborhood. After crossing under 183, I headed west on Floral Park Dr. and encountered the first hills of the ride – down first, bisecting through a sliver of Great Hills Neighborhood Park; then up a 5 to 10 percent grade half-mile climb before turning southbound on Rain Creek Parkway.
OK, enough about how I got here. In my opinion, this section of Rain Creek Parkway is one of the best residential downhill sections, certainly in north Austin – very light traffic and full right of way! From Floral Park Dr. the road sweeps down past homes and lawns before plunging downhill alongside fairways of the Great Hills Country Club, shooting up a short roller, and back downhill with golf course on both your left and right side. It’s best to keep your eyes and ears open, though, and not get distracted by the beauty of the place. Deer will sometimes pop out onto the road unexpectedly. So do cars.
Riding at speeds in excess of 30 mph, you have the right of way as you approach the intersection where downhill traffic from Lost Horizon must stop before turning onto Rain Creek Parkway. As we know all too well, cars have a tendency to roll through these kinds of stop-and-go intersections, so check the traffic behind you as you start your descent down that last roller and, if you can, stay toward the middle of the street as you approach the intersection. This will give you enough time to react and avoid a car that might not see you. Once you’re past that intersection, the road levels out and you approach a left curve through more golf vistas. Let your momentum carry you, or you might want to resume pedaling. That curve, going in that direction, is gradual enough that you don’t need to slow down to get through safely, and you’ll want as much momentum as you can get for what comes next.
The joy of Rain Creek Parkway soon turns to misery as you climb out of the golf course setting. The first leg of the hill is pretty steep, a good 10 to 13 percent grade, but it’s fairly short; a good time to get out of the saddle as you approach the peak. Someone has been considerate enough to cut back the cedar on the right side of the road, so stick close to the curb as you push your way up. The grade levels out a bit after that but at that point, it’s a good quarter mile pull up Rain Creek Parkway to get to Great Hills Trail, where you turn right to roll down to Loop 360.
Because of its length, the Rain Creek Parkway climb is pretty tough for beginning or occasional cyclists, but because it’s in a hilly, winding residential area and the street is wide, you likely won’t impede the progress of any cars. Once you get to the top, you’ll be huffing and puffing but better for the effort. You can take a right turn into the parking lot of Triumphant Love Lutheran Church if you need to take an air and water break.
A left or right turn onto Great Hills Trail will put you on a four-lane arterial divided by a median, so make sure you know where you want to go and be sure to claim the right lane, which is your right as a cyclist.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Austin Bike Sherpa 