Here are some of the things we remember about 2026's Bike The Bluebonnets.

==> The RideWithGPS Track With Embedded Photos

==> Here are some Movies!

50.9 miles
2:59 hrs on bike (3:39 hrs total)
Max speed: 30.4 mph
Avg speed: 17.0 mph
Calories: 1070

• The ride started at the Junior High School in Ferris, TX.

• We left the house at 7:15am, a 50-60 minute drive. The ride started at 8:45-9:15am, a staggered, open start.

• So we arrived quite early. There was modest traffic, easy parking on the left across from the registration desk and starting line.

• Bathrooms were easy access.

• We saw fun kit. At registration a woman was wearing cowboy boots that matched her biking gear. Then we found out that she was parked right beside us in the parking lot and had been admiring Anne's bike!

• We started the ride slow and easy, not trying to stay with the fast riders. Then as the ride progressed (and the wind and rain increased) we picked up the pace.

• There were fields full of bluebonnets, with primrose along the edge of the road.

• Horses were waiting for us at the "regular spot" in the bluebonnets.

• There was a lot of rain. It was never very hard, but we encountered many short showers that made the roads dangerous in spots.

• At one point at about mile 40 there was a long downhill with a sharp left turn at the bottom. The rain had slicked the roads and Stewart was fish-tailing trying to slow at the bottom. People had already crashed down there and it looked like he would run into them, but didn't. Anne was right behind him also fish-tailing. Neither of us crashed.

• Anne stopped and talked with an organizer that was directing traffic about a mile down the road to tell him about the problem road surface. He said others had told him about it and he got on his cell phone to get somebody out there to flag people down.

• At one point, biking north along the I-45 access road, we hit 30 mph! That was e-bike and strong south wind, as well as us having held back early in the ride.

• They had to reroute the 36 mile ride because of road construction. This meant that the decision, 36 vs 50, had to be made at about mile 20, instead of at the Palmer pavilion at about 30. We both felt good so we opted for the 50 miler.

• The rest stops were well stocked with friendly people. They had fresh bananas, oranges, fig bars, chocolate wafers, Karrs mixed nuts, water, port-a-potties, etc.

• We met several riders on "Team Ugly". An MS support team with great jerseys. Many of them were on Trek Domane+ bikes so we rode with them a little.

• After the ride, when we got back to the car, we starting putting all our gear away. Anne discovered that she had a "line of mud" that ran down her front and another down her back. Helmet, sunglasses, jersey, pants, socks, shoes, all had mud. Before getting in the car she took a towel and wiped it all off (as much as possible!), then inspected Stewart. Yep. Lines of mud. We ended up getting more towels out and lining the car seats.

• On the drive home it rained hard at times. On I-45 as we got into Dallas we noticed that it was raining hard on the other side of the road, the southbound side! The northbound side did not have any rain, but it was pouring over there. Never saw anything like it.