Texas Bicycling News Digest May 31st 2018

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Williamson County Reminds Residents Of ‘National Trails Day’

By Tony Cantu | patch.com


Officials say county’s 27-plus miles of trails through the county’s parks, trails and preserve system can do wonders for mental health.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — With National Trails Day just around the corner, Williamson County officials remind residents of the abundance of natural areas in the area that can relieve stress, depression or lethargy.

National Trails Day is June 2. Williamson County officials point to studies suggesting the natural environment improves mental health conditions by alleviating stress, depression, and fatigue. It also supports …

All Along the Rio Grande

Grant Wishard | www.weeklystandard.com


Our southern border is safe. It’s secure. And the region has far bigger problems than people trying to get across the river to find work.
Brownsville, Texas
Marta Todd lives happily with her husband and an adopted stray dog on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. They are content with their small town, Zapata (pop. 5,089), their RV home on the edge of Falcon Lake, and the eBay business they run out of a nearby storage container. A cool breeze is always blowing off the water, rustling the tall grass and the palm trees that shade the trailer park. Weekend campers and anglers flock in and out, but the Todd family stays put. …

… I started my second trip in the westernmost corner of Texas, where El Paso and its Mexican counterpart, Juárez, are straining toward each other with the wave force of concrete and urban sprawl. Similar to the like poles of two magnets, they are kept just apart by the force of the Rio Grande. I pedaled southeast, sticking as close as I could to the river. It was a civilized country at first. High peaks in nearly every …

Hiking, biking bonanza: Rockport community showcases up-close views of nature

By Ralph Winingham | www.expressnews.com


ROCKPORT — Saltwater fishing, boating and beach time are typical attractions for visitors to the Texas coastal community, although taking a stroll or biking across this wildlife wonderland are rapidly gaining in popularity.

Designed to attract foot and bike traffic across the area, the Aransas Pathways project is helping to offer locals and visitors alike free access to a variety of hiking and biking trails carefully carved through areas of …

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjcb3qvhZ7_/

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Big Mean Offroad Machines Bike Ride

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Previously when I rode the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route I saw some heavy equipment and dust kicking up at the north end of Kelley Street along the railroad tracks. Today I decided to ride to see what was happening. The road is bumpy from all of the big dump trucks coming and going but I saw the land cleared but nothing gives an idea what will be coming. Turning around I rode back to Knox St. to cross the railroad tracks and continue the bike ride. At first I went past these two “mean” machines but I circled back and took these photos.

I am not sure what they do but getting in the woods and working seems to be the main purpose. Those tires are big. The bag on the ground is ready mix concrete partially used. Just after I took these photos a big dump truck passed with a full load of dirt kicking up lots of dust that thankfully the wind blew away before he got to me. Then a Union Pacific Railroad truck driving on the tracks pulled up causing the crossing arms to go done and stopping the big dump truck. The driver of the UP truck got out and went into a little house to look at the controls and the crossing arms went back up allowing the dump truck to go and then me.

From there the ride to Tavola went smoothly with the help of the brisk wind. The weather during the bike ride: start 86 (65% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind S 15 mph, gusts 20 mph. Finish 92 (53% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 15 mph, gusts 20 mph.

I didn’t start the ride as early as I wanted leaving at 10:19 am but I made good time to Tavola. The ride back to Kingwood required a lot more effort with the headwind. I built my average speed up to 14.3 mph getting to Tavola but the bike ride into the wind slowly ground it down to 14.0 mph when I entered Kings Manor with about 4 1/2 miles left.

While riding south on Valley Ranch Parkway around the Azalea District another cyclist on a mountain bike was riding to the north. I waved and he waved back.

Finishing the bike ride at 12:58 pm this wrapped my May bicycling. I rode 916.1 miles during May, the most miles since August 2015 when I rode 1002.31 miles. A summary image is below the Strava summary for today’s bike ride below.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

The two “workouts” with no data are maintenance entries.

May Biking Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest May 30th 2018

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Pineywoods Purgatory canceled

By MICHAEL HERRINGTON | lufkindailynews.com


The Pineywoods Purgatory, an annual premier cycling event that began in 1992, will no longer be held, according to a post on the event’s Facebook page.

“It is with regret we announce that the Garland L. Parise Pineywoods Purgatory Bike Ride will no longer be held,” the post reads. “We enjoyed meeting riders from across the region and having them enjoy the hills and scenery Lufkin has to offer.” …

Summertime fun is easy to find in area

By David A. Bryant | kdhnews.com

For most kids in the area, school is out this week and it’s time for summer break. For the troops on Fort Hood, it marks the beginning of permanent change of station season. …

… Fort Hood is the home of Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area (BLORA), a park situated on 2,000 acres of land that provides a variety of activities for everyone. While there is a $3 per vehicle gate fee, there are a lot of free activities, such as fishing, swimming, boating and a 26-mile long walking and mountain biking trail. …

Evening Ride

John Kite | www.strava.com/activities/1604856897

Evening Ride

J. Ramsey | www.strava.com

Bike theft ring busted in Midtown area, deputies say

www.click2houston.com


HOUSTON – A bicycle theft ring was busted Wednesday in the Midtown area, according to deputies.

The Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office said 64 bicycles were recovered from a residence in the 1500 block of Truxillo between La Branch Street and Almeda Road.

KPRC2 Investigates’ Joel Eisenbaum was on the scene and went live on Facebook. You can watch it below.

The bikes were stolen, then …

64 stolen bikes recovered from theft ring in Houston’s Midtown

By Jay R. Jordan | www.chron.com


If your bicycle’s been stolen recently, police might have solved the case.

One stolen bicycle case snowballed into a discovery of two-wheeled proportions Wednesday morning when Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office Deputy Joe Bowden found 64 bikes stashed behind a residence along Truxilo Street in Houston’s Midtown. …

Greater Houston athletic activities listings: June 1-3

Terry St. John | www.chron.com

CYCLING
Spring Creek Greenway Nature Trail opens at 9 a.m. Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony orchestrated by Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association. Light refreshments will be served, and RSVPs are required. Visit ghorba.org.

Let’s Do This Houston will ride to Janet Jackson music Friday, meeting at Third Ward Tours, 2301 Elgin St., at 7:30 p.m. for a two-hour trip. On Saturday, the Hennything Fest Bike Tour gathers at Jones Plaza, 600 Louisiana St., at 5 p.m. Visit Let’s Do This Houston on Facebook.

Houston Bicycle Club members tour the Columbus-Weimar North Loop area Saturday morning. Distance options range from 24 to 58 miles on flat to rolling hills, open fields, good roads and little traffic. Visit houstonbicycleclub.org.

Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association and REI plan a work session from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday to repair the River Bend Trail section of the Sugar Land trails, which were hard hit during Hurricane Harvey. Visit ghorba.org.

Urban Bicycle Gallery offers two weekend rides. Both the Saturday and Sunday rides begin at 8 a.m. at 4814 Nett St. Visit urbanbicyclegallery.com.

Welcome to the Addiction! Rediscovering or Beginning Cycling As An Adult

www.wheelbrothers.com


May is Bike Month and in north-central Texas, cyclists have enjoyed ideal pedaling weather to celebrate! The area rallies have seen strong or record attendance, the area group rides are consistently collecting new members, and trails have been bustling with fitness enthusiasts and families alike.

As a new sales employee in a bike shop, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the steady stream of new riders, young and old, male and female, fit and unfit, both excited and petrified, come in to find their new ride. In many cases, friends or family are already riding, and these …

Dallas Bike Share

by Daniel Day | bikesanantonio.blogspot.com


I have come across stories about the problems of Dallas Bike Share system (video above) and have read many stories about the failures about it. But that’s not what I’ve observed when I was in Dallas. What’s actually happening is that it’s serving a transportation purpose and making up for the failures of Dallas city leaders and people are enjoying the service.

Unlike San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Fort Worth, Dallas has no Bike Share System that was initiated by the local government. The only reason why that this could be …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/tourdegap/status/1001953464690380802

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Chevron Ice, Dainty Tire Bike Ride

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I didn’t think today was going to be a recovery ride but my legs did. Starting out at 10:15 am on the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route I pedaled but the energy wasn’t there. So I settled into a steady pace and biked 34.51 miles. This put May at 881.73 miles, the most miles in a month since July 2017 and I still have one day to ride.

The refrigerator icemaker died last night so I put my water bottle in the freezer hoping for some ice to form before the ride. The water got cold and a little ice appeared but not enough to standup to the late May heat. I stopped at the Chevron at Atascocita Shores Drive and FM 1960 got some “real” ice. Cold water felt and tasted good for the rest of the bike ride. Before I left I put a cup cake pan filed with water in the freezer. Maybe this will make ice. The replacement refrigerator should arrive by June 7th.

Weather during the bike ride: start 88 (62% humidity), partly cloudy, wind SE 9 mph. Finish 90 (55% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 9 mph.

When I arrived in Huffman I stopped at the Chevron for more ice (I have a thing for Chevron ice?) to carry me home and maybe last awhile afterwards. I didn’t stay long but I took this photo before leaving the Chevron station. You might notice that both tires now match after I replaced the front tire on Monday for a small piece of wire flat. Maybe the Continental 4000S II are dainty for the roads I bike?

Bike Ride Huffman Chevron

Biking west on FM 1960 the legs did a little better lifting my average speed to 14.0 mph. Later as I rode through Atascocita Shores and Kings River I improved it to 14.1 mph.

As I neared the finish of the ride another cyclist rode toward me on Woodbridge Drive, the first one during the ride. We exchanged hellos as we passed. I finished the bike ride at 12:53 pm ready to go indoors and cool down.

More heat on Thursday but if I can leave before 10 am it isn’t too bad.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Bike Ride Summary