Texas Bicycling News Digest May 19th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Real ale with my pops, Scott and other old guys!

Chris Craigo- Blitz Racing | www.strava.com

BSS Saturday Morning Ride

Neal McCoy | www.strava.com

42 miles to the gas station!

Brian Cho | www.strava.com

Texas Heat , Hills & Gravel on 40 psi

J. Ramsey | www.strava.com

Great ride with my brothers/sisters in green! Until next time.

Greg Gregory | www.strava.com

The Cyclist Who Won When She Stopped Racing

By Jen Murphy | www.wsj.com

Medals and finish times drive some athletes. Deb Matz finds more satisfaction in her path to the starting line. Ms. Matz, 57, was one spot away from the podium in three events at the 2017 UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships. “My reflection afterwards was that the event itself isn’t what motivates me,” she says. “I love the training much more than actually competing.”

So Ms. Matz, a hair stylist based in Plano, Texas, has decided to step away from track racing. She says she completed 80% of her race training alone. She missed …

7 things to do in Conroe and Montgomery this weekend, May 18-20

By Kelly Schafler | communityimpact.com

  1. Grand opening of locally-owned bike shop
    May 19

Owner Gary Rogers hosts the grand opening of his bicycle shop, Race Ready Repair Custom Bicycle Shop, on Saturday. The grand opening features raffle prize drawings every hour and complementary beer. The shop, which operates within Conroe Coffee, sells Salsa, Surly, All-City and Orbea brand bikes, as well as offers repairs and custom builds. At this time, the services are by appointment only. 4 p.m. Free (admission). Inside Conroe Coffee, 206 N. Main St., Conroe. 936-443-3835. www.racereadyrepair.com …

Area bike safety events are next week

DEB GAU | www.marshallindependent.com

MARSHALL — A warm spring day is the perfect time to go for a bike ride — and it’s also the perfect time to make sure you’re riding safely. That’s where local bike safety events come in. Marshall’s annual Bicycle Safety Extravaganza is coming up on Monday afternoon at the Marshall Area YMCA. In Walnut Grove, a bike safety rodeo will also be held on Wednesday at Walnut Grove Elementary. …

May is National Bike Month

www.garlandtx.gov

he Garland City Council proclaimed May as National Bike Month at its May 15 meeting. (See bike trail map at bottom of page.)

For more than a century, the bicycle has been a utilitarian, economical, environmentally sound and effective means of personal transportation, recreation and fitness. The City of Garland encourages the use of bicycles as a means of transportation and recognizes bicyclists as legitimate roadway users entitled to legal and responsible use of all public roadway facilities in Texas except …

Bid on Construction of Bay Area Hike and Bike Trail Segment 1 (Phase 1) in Houston

www.texasbids.net

Prebid: 05/29/18 9:00 AM
Solicitation Title: Construction of Bay Area Hike and Bike Trail Segment 1 (Phase 1)
Owner Solic Number: 18/0154 Status: bidding Report: 8656509
Country : United States State: TX County: Harris Location: Houston
Est. Low Value: $3,700,000 Est. High Value: $3,700,000
Scope: Construction of bay area hike and bike trail segment.
Notes: There will be a PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE on May 29, 2018, 9:00 a.m. CST in the conference room of the Office of the Purchasing Agent, 1001 Preston, Suite #670, Houston, TX 77002. The deadline for submission of questions relating to this CSP is June 1, 2018, no later than 12:00 p.m. CST.This project has a “prevailing wage” requirement.
Plans: From CivCast USA / Amtek Information Service, Inc., 4001 Sherwood Lane, PO Box 692303, Houston, Texas, 77092, 281-376-4577, See attached file.
Outside Link: …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tavola, Pool Party Iced This Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Yesterday’s bike ride was slow on purpose but today’s wasn’t supposed to be. Biking the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route went north with the wind to Tavola but the return leg wasn’t so easy. Weather during the bike ride: start 86 (58% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 20 mph, gusts 24 mph. Finish 91 (49% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 13 mph, gusts 21 mph. I really could feel the gusts when they hit.

At the new entrance to Tavola I stopped and took these photos after crossing the railroad tracks.

The dirt is where the sediment barriers were in place. On my previous bike ride to Tavola a company was removing them. The first photo gives a hint of how the land looked before Tavola came into being.

Making my way to Roman Forest Blvd. through Tavola I stopped at the Shell station to refill my water bottle with ice and water. The wind wasn’t too bad riding west on Roman Forest Blvd. but I knew the headwind was waiting for me atI-69/US59 as the route turns to the south. I managed to maintain my speed at 16 mph biking south with the wind held in check by trees and the roadway but once I was south of Walmart the trees went away and I-69/US59 didn’t offer much blocking as it got flatter. Thankfully I made the right turn onto Valley Ranch Parkway and the wind now was from my left side. This lasted until the Grand Parkway overpass with the road going south.

From there to the finish the wind was always in my face slowing me down.

The Hunters Ridge Village pool opened today and they were having a pool party with free Kona ice cones. I was looking forward to the ice and stopped to get one. This photo shows the pool crowd as I sat on a bench outside the pool area.

After eating most of the ice I was back on the bike to finish the ride about half a mile away at 2:30 pm. The ride began at 11:32 am.

With today’s bike ride I rode 224.25 miles this week and 626.67 miles for May. Fourth week in a row with over 200 miles biked.

I may take a rest day on Sunday.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest May 18th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Houston officials to find, fix most dangerous intersections after several fatal bike crashes

By Samantha Ketterer | www.chron.com


Rice University Bioengineering graduate student Trenton Piepergerdes, 24, holds up a sign toward a motorist that inched to the crosswalk while the pedestrian light was on at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Main Street Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Houston. BikeHouston, and university students, faculty, and staff gathered to call attention to the dangerous intersection. A woman was fatally struck by a dump truck at the intersection last week. ( Godofredo A. Vasquez / Houston Chronicle )

Houston officials will find the 10 most dangerous intersections in the city and make safety adjustments where possible following a series of fatal bicycle crashes in 2018.

Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the initiative on Bike to Work Day, noting that streets need to be safer for bicyclists if the city expects to promote cycling. …

LETTER: On Ride of Silence

K.C. Fletcher | www.themonitor.com


Bicyclist ride up Col. Rowe Boulevard during the Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, in McAllen

I read with great interest Thursday’s front page story, “A solemn tour,” on Wednesday’s Ride of Silence held in McAllen to honor cyclists killed on Valley roadways. The Opinion page also had an editorial on Wednesday detailing the depressing, senseless cycling accident accounts.

I fear another bicycle or motorcycle senseless tragedy could easily reoccur in Pharr, yet despite my repeated numerous and unanswered complaints, Pharr City Commissioners and their staff don’t seem to care or act. …

Video: Friday is Bike to Work Day

By Ben Russell | www.nbcdfw.com

There are four “bicycle friendly” cities in North Texas, according to BikeDFW
Friday is National Bike to Work Day, an annual event aimed at promoting the bicycle as a viable option for the morning commute. And depending upon where you live in North Texas, that can be easier said than done.

BikeDFW, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, support and promotion of safe bicycle use, recognizes four local cities as being “bicycle friendly” …

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi62kkRh3mw/

Central Texas Digest for May 18

www.tdtnews.com

Safe Kids Day event planned for Saturday at Miller Park

On Saturday, Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center will hold Safe Kids Day 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Miller Park, 1919 N. First St., in Temple.

This free event is for the family and will have information on safety and wellness.

Activities include bicycle safety, including helmet fitting; Safe Kids Day education; carnival games; nutrition and wellness education; concussion education; face painting; science, technology, engineering and math activities; water safety; fire safety; Teddy Bear clinic; bounce house; arts and crafts; and more.

Bike Share Program in Lubbock

www.texasbids.net

RFP – Bike Share Program
Owner Solic Number: 2018-862 Status: bidding Report: 8653676
Country : United States State: TX County: Lubbock ocation: Lubbock
Scope: Campus bike share program.
Plans: From Owner. See attached file.
Owner Type: Public
Buyer: Texas Tech University, Purchasing & Contracting
Address: PO Box 41094 15th St. & University, 361 Drane Hall
City: Lubbock State: TX Zip/Postal Code: 79409-1094
TEL: 806-742-3844 FAX: 806-742-3820
Contact: Teri Floyd
TEL: 806-834-0283 FAX: 806-742-3820
Bid Pkg Source: Texas Tech University, Purchasing & Contracting
Address: PO Box 41094 15th St. & University, 361 Drane Hall
City: Lubbock State: TX Zip/Postal Code: 79409-1094 …

Ride of Silence in The Woodlands honors bicyclists injured or killed by motorists

By Patricia Dillon | www.yourconroenews.com


Two dozen bicyclists gathered in the parking lot of Rob Fleming Park for a solemn ride last week.

Some in attendance were there to remember those they had lost while others were simply offering moral support.

Pam Meaux, organizer of the Ride of Silence and a Bike The Woodlands Coalition member, explained to the gathered crowd that they were not alone. Thousands across the globe also were riding in remembrance on Wednesday, May 16.

“This ride is to honor cyclists that have been injured or killed on public highways,” Meaux said. “We also want to promote …

This weekend’s rides: Walnut Creek Epic! Lamppost!

by Thomas | steinerranchcycling.com

Saturday we will head out for something a little different and potentially more epic! I created a new route that combines the Walnut Creek bike trail (roughly 13 miles of no cars!) and a shot by McKinney Falls State Park which used to be famous for road racing many years ago The whole route is a full century, but there are options for 50 and 70 miles too. Note that several of us will …

North Texas celebrates National Bike to Work Day

www.fox4news.com


DALLAS – It’s National Bike to Work Day, a day to encourage people to find another way to get where they are going.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit is offering free bike safety checks as well as refreshments at several stations starting at 7 a.m. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/bicyclesplus/status/997585588327997440

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Recovery and Easy Effort Bike Ride

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After watching the Giro d’Italia today I left on the bike ride at 11:27 am. The plan was for an easy ride on the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route so I didn’t push hard and the wind helped me with that decision. Weather during the bike ride: start 88 (55% humidity), partly cloudy, wind SW 15 mph, gusts 20 mph. Finish 94 (43% humidity), a few clouds, wind S 10, gusts 20 mph.

I was okay as long as I didn’t have a headwind, nothing unusual about that. The rest stop at the Huffman Chevron was about 25 minutes as I ate some snack bars, drank cold water and checked email on my phone. Not in a hurry was the plan. Earlier I saw another cyclist on Pinehurst Trail and waved. He was in a bigger hurry than I was, My 13.5 mph average speed speaks to how easy I rode.

The weather is more like July than May but I don’t mind. As I tell people who ask how I ride in the heat, it is not hot as long as I am moving.

Mileage standings: 190 miles this week, 592.49 miles for May, 67.5 miles away from my goal.

Finished the ride at 2:11 pm.

No change in the weather for Saturday. More biking on tap.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Bike Ride Summary