Sunday, November 13, 2011

A mixture of scenic, rolling hills and mild weather make the Hill Country perfect for winter biking excursions.  With a bounty of ranch roads and back roads to travel, the possibilities for routes are endless--it’s just a matter of a good map and knowing where to look!  Luckily the Hill Country is fast becoming a Mecca of biking enthusiasts.  Routes around Kerrville and Fredericksburg are plentiful, but if you want to venture to less-often charted territory, head to Comfort.  
        For the road warriors among you,  there are plenty of roads with little traffic, challenging hills, and remote, beautiful views, minimally touched by man, if only to fence off the land. Ride out Highway 473 to Old Number 9 to see a creek cut into the native limestone, and cut huge jutting rocks out of the creekside.  Old Number 9 cuts through rolling hills and still operational ranches on its way up to Fredericksburg.  Or ride up Skyline Drive to the gates of what locals have dubbed “The Mansion.”  Skyline will take you to grueling back roads, up and down countless hills.  You may want to stop at Singing Water Vineyard for a break when Skyline intersects with Mill Dam Road.  There really are an endless number of meandering roads to take to test your skill and endurance or just to enjoy the scenery.
        You can’t mention biking in Comfort without mentioning Flat Rock Ranch.  For the mountain biking enthusiast, this may be a familiar name in your circle.  The ranch consists of 1,300 rugged acres that have been family owned for over 100 years and parts of the ranch are still used to raise Black Angus cattle and Angora goats.  There are 27 miles of single track trails and some Jeep trails here and there as well. Standouts with this ride include spectacular views, hill climbs and long downhill sections. Unfortunately the Ranch is closed for hunting season but will reopen to bikers starting January 1st.  For more information, please visit www.flatrockranch.net.

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