Zube Park to Hempstead and back

You arrive in Zube park.  Use last entrace as it is bigger and less cars.  There are bathrooms here.  Try to arrive before 0700 as most cyclist meet there by then.  Safety in numbers and plenty begin their ride here.  The first rest stop is mile 15 at the Convenience store/meat market.  Excellent turkey jerky can be found here, most cyclist stop here rest and continue. Round trip from here is easy 30mi.  Al the way to Hempstead and back 40mi.

• Route Directions:

• Zube Park, Roberts Rd

(HWY 290, exit Roberts, turn right)

• R. Roberts Rd. (exit parking lot and turn right)
• R. Zube Rd (at stop sign, you will merge with feeder rd, watch your left.)
• L. Hegar Rd. (cross under overpass)
• R. Hempstead Rd (Old Hwy 290)
• At this intersection you can either continue on Hempstead Rd, using a traffic lane or the emergency lane, which is very wide.  Or you can go across the Hwy and turn right onto Old Washington Rd. which runs parallel to Hempstead Hwy but does not have the hills.  It does however have more stops with tall grass/crops.
• Rest Stop at Mile 15, is convinience store with bathrooms, turkey jerky and the owners are nice!  Most cyclist stop here.
• R. 2nd St. in Hempstead
• R. FM 1488 (will become FM1488 from 2nd St.)
• R. FM 1098 (will be heading towards Prairie View, but will go around it.)
• R. Wyatt Chapel Rd. (Still on FM 1098, but name changes for while and the turn is gradual)
• L. FM 1098 (Wyatt Chapel Rd. continues straight, while FM 1098 goes left.
• State Loop 1098 (will take you around Prairie View)
• R. University Dr. (in Prairie View, tree lined drive, and 2nd stop at any location of choice.)<br />
• L. Old Hwy 290, <br />
• Again, you can use Old Hwy 290 or cross over and use Old Houston Hwy. The return trip will be flat and shadeless and will appear to be never ending.  If you turn left before this road, you will have to ride the feeder and in parts the emergency lane of the highway as the feeder will feed in and out automatically.)<br />
• L. Katy-Hockley Rd. (this will become Roberts Rd. as you cross Hwy 290)
• R. Zube Park...the end.

Note:

Instead of turning onto 2nd st. in Hempstead, you can continue Old 290, this will become Hwy 6 and lead you towards Navasota.  You will cross under Hwy 290 (new). There are many combinations to follow here and the hills do get higher, longer as you go on.  For a more challenging and technical ride. Keep in mind though, you will be on the emergency lane, which is very generous, of a 2 lane highway. Safety is paramount, and there is safety in numbers as well.  2 or more riders is best. Always tell someone your intended route and carry your ICE information on you and on your bike.