I ride to Elgin every weekend.
Head out Loyola lane, cross Cross 3177 and it becomes
Decker Lake Road.
At 973 take a left. Unfortunately your shoulder runs
out after a quarter mile or so, but you'll be taking a
right on Hog Eye Rd about half a mile later.
Hog Eye becomes Nez Perce Trace, abd will take you to
Taylor Ln. You can cut back though most any of these
streets but this
route is what I take:
Right now the new SH130 is a big pain in planning
cycling routes out East as it's not on any maps yet. But
the route above will take you there just fine.
One problem (I have) with Eastern routes is getting
back INTO Austin. Loyola sucks westbound, as you're
going up a hill at a long light, in a single lane, with a
long line of cars trying to do the same thing. My new
favorite way back in it to catch Blue Goose road, Palmer,
or Yager and take the popular Sprinke-Rd to Ferguson,
then Wall St. through the industrial park. A short stint
on Cameron (go under 183) and you can take Berkman (under
290). You can also take Springdale all the back if
desired. I've found 51st street the best I35
crossing.
For a round trip, this
works fairly well.
Austin to Elgin is one of the last truly
enjoyable rural rides left in this area; soon to be
ruined by SH130. The ride described below includes
three SH130 crossings, hence might very well be in
shambles at this point. But if not:
Starting at the intersection of 183 and MLK (how you
get there depends on where you're starting from):
1. MLK east to Johnny Morris Rd. -- TURN LEFT on
Johnny Morris
2. Johnny Morris north to Decker Lake Rd -- TURN RIGHT
on Decker Lake
3. Decker Lake Rd east to FM-973N -- TURN LEFT on
973
4. FM-973N north to Hog Eye Rd -- TURN RIGHT on Hog
Eye
(This will be the second place you can make a
right turn, the first will be just prior, and both after
a loooong downhill)
5. For this stretch, there aren't really any street
signs, just follow your nose. For the record, Hog Eye to
Gilbert Ln to Decker Lake Rd. Now you're out in the
country. Yay! Decker Lake will end at Taylor Lane, so
you can't miss the left turn.
6. Decker Lake Rd to Taylor Ln. -- TURN LEFT on
Taylor
7. Taylor Ln. to Lockwood Rd. -- TURN RIGHT
(Taylor will basically turn into Lockwood Rd., so
nothing to worry about here.)
8. Lockwood Rd turns into Hog Eye Rd.
9. Hog Eye Rd to Bitting School Rd. -- TURN LEFT on
Bitting School Rd.
(it will be near the top of a hill with a fake
flower covered mailbox on the right side of the
street)
10. Bitting School Rd. to Littig Rd -- TURN RIGHT on
Littig
11. Ride Littig Rd until it ends at Upper Elgin River
Rd. --
TURN LEFT on Upper Elgin River
12. Ride about another mile underneath 290 and you're
in Elgin, hoss.
On the way back I like to mix things up a bit by going
further north on FM-973N to Bloor Rd. (TURN LEFT on
Bloor) and then completing the loop around Walter E. Long
Lake back to Decker Ln., Decker to Daffin Ln, Daffin to
Daffan Gin Road, Daffan Gin to Old Manor Rd., and then
Old Manor down the hill until it runs into the
intersection of Springdale/Manor/183. Where you go from
here depends on where you're going.
This is my favorite ride in Austin. Don't ruin it by
littering, blocking the road, or otherwise annoying the
kindly folks who live out there.
If you look at a map, you can see there are a lot of
alternative routes once you get on Hog Eye after
Lockwood. I'm partial to the monster thigh-killing hill
on Bitting School Rd.; your tastes may vary.