Texas sprawls across the southern heart of the country, stretching from the Piney Woods of the east to the rugged Big Bend mountains and desert along the Rio Grande. It’s a state defined by vast horizons, shifting light, and the kind of open road that stirs exploration. With nearly 270,000 square miles, Texas holds multitudes — rolling Hill Country limestone, Gulf Coast marshlands, high plains and canyon breaks — each with its own character and riding terrain. Long before ranches and railroads carved their paths, these lands were home to Indigenous nations whose trails still shape modern routes. Over time, the state grew through frontier outposts, oil booms, and the steady rhythm of small towns built around cotton, cattle, and rail lines. For cyclists, Texas offers a frontier of its own: quiet farm-to-market roads, historic byways, and sprawling state parks that capture the state’s rugged independence and boundless scale. Every ride here tells a different Texas story — shaped by weather, land, and wide-open sky.
The Fat Tire Nomad 