Hi {{contact.first_name}},
November is some of the best riding of the year in the Hill Country. The heat is long gone, the ranch roads are quiet, and the bald cypress along the rivers turn rust and gold. The clocks went back on Sunday, November 1, so the evenings come quick now, but the days are still made for riding. A norther can drop the temperature fast, so check the forecast, pack a layer, and get out there.
Ride of the Month: River Road on the Guadalupe
Cypress trees, limestone bluffs and a run of river crossings on the Guadalupe
Run south on I-35 to New Braunfels, stop in Gruene if you like, then pick up River Road as it follows the Guadalupe River northwest toward Canyon Lake. The road winds under big bald cypress trees and limestone bluffs and crosses the river several times on low-water crossings. In summer it is packed with tubers and kayakers. In November it is quiet, and the cypress turn a deep rust color along the water. At the far end, pick up FM 306 along Canyon Lake for some open hills and lake views before you head back.
The low-water crossings are the part to respect. Never ride into water running over the road, and check the river levels after any rain. Watch for gravel and leaves on the crossings, and give the deer room in the cedar breaks. Grab lunch in Gruene or around the lake, and time the run home up I-35 so you are not in the evening rush after dark.
For a shorter afternoon, take US-290 west to Johnson City and on to Stonewall, past the LBJ Ranch, and ride the open Hill Country back. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, take a minute to thank the veterans in your riding crew. Plenty of them are the reason this community exists.
Late-Fall Safety: Texas Edition
November is prime riding in Central Texas, and the season brings its own hazards.
- The rut is on. November is peak deer season in the Hill Country, and the ranch roads are full of deer at dawn and dusk. With the time change, dusk now hits right on the ride home. Scan the fence lines, cover your brakes, and never swerve across the center line.
- You are riding home in the dark. Since the clocks went back, the evening commute on I-35 and MoPac ends after sunset. Drivers are not looking for a single headlight. Run your lights, wear something reflective, and leave yourself an out.
- Northers bring wind and cold. A November front can drop the temperature twenty degrees or more and kick up strong gusts in an hour. Check the forecast, carry a warm layer, and expect crosswinds on the open ridges and the lake bridges.
- 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, ride early in the day and stay off the road that night.
Know Your Texas Law
- More than half the blame and you are out. Texas uses modified comparative fault, which it calls proportionate responsibility. Your recovery goes down by your share of the blame, and if you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you get nothing. How the crash gets documented decides the number.
- 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 wreck. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is what protects you when the driver who hit you carries the bare minimum or nothing at all.
- Helmet rules turn on age and coverage. Riders under 21 must wear a DOT helmet. If you are 21 or older, you can legally ride without one only if you 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. Evidence and witnesses fade fast, so do not sit on it.
Ride Nation Austin
Fall is when the Austin riding community really gets rolling. Post your best November ride, tell other riders which river crossings are running high and where the gravel and deer are on the ranch roads, and share the photos worth seeing. 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 on MoPac after dark. A deer on a ranch road out past Dripping Springs. A pickup drifting across the line on a windy lake bridge. If you ever go down, you want a lawyer who rides these roads and knows how Texas fault rules get used against riders.