Hi {{contact.first_name}},
While riders up north are putting their bikes away, November is still great riding in North Texas. The days are cool and dry, the wind settles down between fronts, and the post oaks and cedar elms finally turn color. The clocks went back on November 1, so the sun is down by about 5:20, but a sunny 60-degree afternoon this month is some of the best riding of the year. Just plan to be home before dark.
Ride of the Month: Glen Rose and the Paluxy River
Limestone hills, a clear river and dinosaur tracks, an hour from the Metroplex
Head southwest on US-67 through Cleburne and into the hills of Somervell County, where the road starts to roll and the limestone shows through the cedar and oak. In Glen Rose, stop at Dinosaur Valley State Park, where real dinosaur tracks are set in the bed of the Paluxy River, then grab lunch on the town square.
For the ride home, take TX-144 north along the Brazos country into Granbury and its historic courthouse square, then follow US-377 back to Fort Worth. The fall color in these hills peaks in mid to late November. Fuel up before you leave Cleburne and watch for gravel on the shaded corners.
Short on time? Loop Lake Grapevine and the quiet roads through Southlake and Roanoke for an easy afternoon run. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, thank the veterans in your riding group. A lot of this community was built by them.
Late-Fall Safety: Texas Edition
November is good riding in North Texas, but it brings a few hazards of its own.
- Deer season is in full swing. The rut peaks this month across North Texas, and general deer season opens Saturday, November 7. Expect deer on the move at dawn and dusk, and hunters' trucks pulling on and off rural roads. Slow down near fields and tree lines and never swerve across the center line.
- You are riding home in the dark. With the time change, the evening commute is now after sunset. Drivers on I-35, I-30 and LBJ are not looking for a single headlight. Run your lights, wear something reflective, and leave extra room at intersections.
- Cold fronts bring wind and a quick drop in temperature. A November front can drop the temperature 20 degrees in an hour and push strong gusts across open highway and lake bridges. Check the forecast and carry a warm layer.
- Thanksgiving week traffic. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. The Wednesday night before is one of the worst nights of the year for drunk driving. If you ride that week, go early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your Texas Law
- Fault gets split, and there is a cutoff. Texas uses modified comparative fault. Your recovery goes down by your share of the blame, and if you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing. Insurers often try to push blame onto riders, so how the crash is documented matters.
- The minimums are low, so check your UM/UIM. Texas requires only 30/60/25 in liability coverage, which does not go far after a serious motorcycle crash. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the other driver has little or no insurance.
- Helmet rules depend on age and coverage. Riders under 21 must wear a helmet. Riders 21 and older can ride without one only if they have completed an approved safety course or carry at least 10,000 dollars in medical coverage for crash injuries.
- You have two years. Texas gives you two years from the crash to file an injury claim, and much shorter notice deadlines apply when a city, county or state vehicle or road is involved. Do not wait.
Ride Nation Dallas Fort Worth
The local riding community is where Metroplex riders share their weekend routes, warn each other about construction and debris on I-35 and LBJ, and post the photos that make you want to ride. Share where you rode this month and tag us. This is your scene, run by riders who ride these roads.
Final Weeks for the $20,000 BikeWin Giveaway
You are already entered for a chance at 20,000 dollars toward any motorcycle you want, and the winner is drawn December 10. That is only a few weeks away. Know a riding buddy who has not entered yet? Entry is free, so send them the link before it closes.
Enter the giveaway
A driver who never saw your headlight after dark on the LBJ. A deer on a county road out past Cleburne. A pickup pulling off the shoulder during hunting season. If you go down in Texas, you want a lawyer who rides these roads and knows how the fault rules get used against riders.