Texas Bicycling News Digest April 22nd 2018

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Volunteer: St. Jude North Texas Bicycle Rally- Volunteers needed

www.linkedin.com

… We are looking for volunteers to help us execute the St. Jude North Texas Bicycle Rally on October 13 that begins at the Byron Nelson High School in Trophy Club.
Leadership positions available to serve on event Committee such as
Volunteer coordinator
Securing Nutrition/Hydration needs
Medical Liaison
The following opportunities are for Day of event …

Cruising Route 66

By Janice Branham and Barry Branham | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 19: Amarillo to Adrian TX: Cadillac Mud Ranch

Saturday April 21, 2018, 45 miles (72 km) – Total so far: 977 miles (1,572 km)
Slow start today. Camping adds time to the departing process in the morning, and packing up in a cold foggy drizzle after a night of rain is a bigger production. Then we had some navigation challenges to find the Cadillac Ranch. The Adventure Cycling Route is north of I-40 but the ranch is on the south side, which was a little confusing.
Barry and I pulled up to the ranch to see a 50 yard field of mud between us and the Cadillacs. After 200+ days without rain, Amarillo got almost a half inch during the thunderstorm the night before. Walk it we did, in our bike shoes, to get the essential photo op. …

Two Timing Texas Tour

By Richard Hoeg | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 19: Crockett to Madisonville: Sunday Solitude (and birds)

Sunday April 22, 2018, 40 miles (64 km) – Total so far: 783 miles (1,260 km)
Sunday is always a great day to get an early start. Until approximately 10:30 am most of the rest of the world is relaxing at home. The end result is the roads are almost devoid of traffic! We took Texas #21 SW to Madisonville. Cars were not around till late morning. Most of our company was wildflowers and birds … great solitude on a Sunday morning. Our route had good shoulders almost the entire route which made for a nice ride. …

The Southern Tier: San Diego to St. Augustine (and further?)

By Susanne Holste | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 40. Austin to Buescher State Park

Sunday April 22, 2018, 81 km (50 miles) – Total so far: 2,805 km (1,743 miles)
The forecast had been for rain in the morning and heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon. We were happy to set off with cool and overcast weather but no rain. The ride out of Austin was better than the highway coming in. On the outskirts we cycled through Monopolis which looked like a poor and depressed town but there was a smart cafe, restaurant, and a couple of gated communities. There were also several churches and a colorful smoke shop. This side of Austin looks …

Day 41. Buescher State Park to Carmine

Monday April 23, 2018, 58 km (36 miles) – Total so far: 2,863 km (1,779 miles)
When we woke up, the humidity inside the shelter was gone and our things we drier than I had hoped for. We stopped at the park’s office to thank the staff for their great help. If it hadn’t been for a cancellation and Kathy’s suggestion, we’d have had a miserable night. The morning was sunny and cool and we had a nice ride through pretty countryside. We might as well be in another state with all the greenery and lushness around us. The cattle looked content as they were …

Erik Bikes Across America (Southern Tier)

By Erik Soballe | www.crazyguyonabike.com

El Paso to Van Horn: A century full of dust devils and honeybees

Friday April 20, 2018, 115 miles (185 km) – Total so far: 1,031 miles (1,659 km)
Since there weren’t a lot of good options out of El Paso, I decided to push into Van Horn. It’s mostly flat ~ 2000 feet of elevation gain over 115 miles. For the first 60 miles or so, I either had a side wind or a headwind, it was slow going. As I got closer to the interstate, my luck changed and I was met by a strong tailwind. This made the afternoon go much faster. …

Van Horn to Fort Davis: 200 Miles in 2 days! Hills

Saturday April 21, 2018, 84 miles (134 km) – Total so far: 1,114 miles (1,793 km)
I thought I was done with the mountains. Today, I was planning on an 85 miler with 3500 ft of climb. Somehow the GPS route and Google Maps let me down. My GPS clocked around 4200 feet of climb. It was easier than the Emory Pass, but not by a ton. …

Riding Along The Rio Grande

By shary koenig | www.crazyguyonabike.com

INTRODUCTION: RIDING ALONG THE RIO GRANDE

Sunday April 1, 2018
Luke Dittrich is one of the best writers/reporters in our country. Even before reading Luke’s story about “Walking The Border” I had the idea of riding as close to the Texas/Mexican Border as I could. Before doing any research I didn’t know how many parts of Donald Trump’s Wall were already constructed, or how many sections of the wall had been built by previous administrations, or what the people living in the area felt about having a wall built. I knew from past …

El Paso to Clint: FIRST DAY OF RIDING

Friday April 6, 2018
It’s an easy and very satisfying day. Moderate temperature, somewhat overcast, and the route has delighted me taking us for 36miles through El Paso neighborhoods, getting glimpses of the Rio Grande and the Wall. The Wall in El Paso was constructed under prior administrations. It is see through chain linked fencing. …

Clint to Fort Handcock: Met other Touring Cyclists

Saturday April 7, 2018, 36 miles (58 km) – Total so far: 36 miles (58 km)
I’m giving myself 10 days to get stronger. Right now riding a 35 mile day is near impossible. Today twice I got off my bike to walk a minute to give sore spots a moment of rest. …

Fort Handcock to Sierra Bianco: Riding Through The Pass

Sunday April 8, 2018, 42 miles (68 km) – Total so far: 78 miles (126 km)
It’s Sunday and we’ve reached the first place where food was available, a huge Truck Stop, lots of colorful Mexican imports , and a rather cold air conditioned restaurant. To get here was mostly a fun ride with just us and the Texas landscape. Not a single car passed us for 2 hours as we rolled along FM 192. The last two miles were up and hard pedaling into the wind, so by the time we reached the restaurant I was sincerely wishing the waitress would let …

Sierra Blanca To Van Horn: A Jubilant Day

Monday April 9, 2018, 31 miles (50 km) – Total so far: 109 miles (175 km)
Cause to celebrate!!! We are on our 3rd day of riding, statistically the hardest day when beginning a tour. Instead, we finished riding by 2:00 and I’m not even exhausted. It would actually be 1:00 except that we crossed back into Central Time a few miles back. I am jubilant that we rode through our second Mountain Pass and I was able to endure the hour and a half climb without feeling like we’d have to quit the tour. Yeah , Mom! This tour is a present to myself for …

Van Horn to Valentine: The Sweetest Couple in Valentine

Tuesday April 10, 2018, 43 miles (69 km) – Total so far: 152 miles (245 km)
The Prada building is a joke, an art form, a totally amusing and successful art concept. Perfect location. Imagine us riding for 5 hours not seeing a single gas station, or sign, or anything but the far stretching desert and distant mountains. Then Prada pops up in the ultimate of unlikely places! …

Marfa: Visiting Amazing Marfa

Wednesday April 11, 2018
OK , I’m a three napkin girl.. one to set under my sweaty drink, one to wipe my mouth and nose, and one more to finish up.! Oh my gosh, these are by far the best Margarita we’ve had since April 1st. IMm not an alcoholic..a light weight drinker actually, but I like purity in …

Valentine to Ruidosa: Chinati Hot Springs

Thursday April 12, 2018
Chinati Hot Springs show up in Google Maps on a dirt road somewhere outside of Marfa close to Ruidosa. We saw the springs on the map but would have had difficulty finding the place if Evin and Sam hadn’t driven us there. The road surface of caliche was much too soft for us to have been able to reach the springs by pedal power. …

Riudosa To Presidio: A Perfect Ride

Friday April 13, 2018, 30 miles (48 km) – Total so far: 182 miles (293 km)
Up before first light. We watched the colors emerge on the distant mountains, the softly defined edges changing from barely gray to softest pink, changing in slow motion as we pushed our bikes up the first mile of loose caliche. I didn’t mind pushing as I watched the world waking up over West Texas. A man who was doing dozer work at the hot springs picked us up after we had covered 2 1/2 miles of the exit road and …

Presidio To Big Bend National Park: Madeira Camp Grounds

Saturday April 14, 2018
We’ll be exploring Big Bend and the State Park next to it for the next week. Fred is taking a Grayhound Bus from Prisidio to Alpine to rent a vehicle. The only one he could get was a 10’ U Haul truck. We’lldrive On 170 through Big Bend to the primitive campground. We think that with the vehicle we’ll be able to …

Marathon to Sanderson: Our First Easy Day

Saturday April 21, 2018, 56 miles (90 km) – Total so far: 238 miles (383 km)
Photos

Joe’s Southern Tier Adventure

By Joe Athas | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 40:El Paso-San Eliziario
Friday March 23, 2018, 23 miles (37 km) – Total so far: 997 miles (1,605 km)
Friday in El Paso started pretty quiet. I said goodbye to Enrique around 6am, then persisted to sleep for an additional 3 hours. We shared a bathroom with the adjacent suite, so I had to wait for an opening to use the facilities. I checked out around 10:30 and headed to a local cafe/bike shop: Podium Finish. This place was really unique, it has a full espresso bar, as well as healthy breakfast/lunch options. Oh yeah, it’s a bike shop too. My kickstand broke off awkwardly and …

Day 41: San Eliziario-Sierra Blanca
Day 42: Sierra Blanca-Van horn
Day 43: Van Horn-Marfa
Day 44: Marfa-Marathon
Day 45: Marathon-Sanderson
Day 46: Sanderson-Langtry
Day 47: Langtry-Del Rio: John+Joe’s last ride
Day 48:Del Rio: Rest Day
Day 49: Del Rio-East of Bracketville
Day 50: Road 334-Wes Cooksey park.: Rough start to a good finish 🙂
Day 51: Wes Cooksey-Ingram TX
Day 52: Ingram-Johnson City
Day 53: Johnson City-Austin
Day 54: Austin
Day 55: Austin Day 2
Day 56: Austin-Lexington
Day 57: Lexington-College Station
Day 58: College Station-New Waverly/Waverly
Day 59: Waverly-Sour Lake
Day 60: Sour Lake-Walter Umphrey State park
Day 61: Texas/Louisiana Boarder-Gran Chanier: Life at “Easy Chanier”

Video: Cyclists say dangerous debris a problem in bike lanes

By: Arezow Doost | www.kxan.com

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Vince Marotte rides his bike up to five times a week. His trips can go from 20 miles to 120 miles. The cyclist says lately the bike lanes he travels on are a mess.

“Watch out for those barrels,” he yells out to his group of cyclists Sunday afternoon.

“I think one of the bigger issues we’re seeing lately — especially in Austin because of all the growth — there’s a lot of debris in bike lanes because of construction,” said Marotte. “We have pretty skinny …

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Texas Bicycling News Digest April 21st 2018

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Child on bike struck by vehicle in NE Austin

cbsaustin.com


AUSTIN, Texas — A child was transported to the hospital after being struck while riding their bike Saturday afternoon, authorities say.

Austin-Travis County EMS received a call around 3:15 p.m. of the collision. Medics responded to the 1000 block of East Rundberg, just east of I-35. …

Video: Stolen bike has sentimental meaning for North Dallas man

Author: Demond Fernandez | www.wfaa.com

“It’s not just some bike,” Harper explained. “It means a good bit more to me than that.”

DALLAS — It’s been a tough week for Stiles Harper. Some unidentified thief stole a bike that was mounted and locked on the back of Harper’s SUV on Tuesday.

”It’s not just some bike,” Harper explained. “It means a good bit more to me than that.”

The bike belonged to Harper’s dad. The man owned it for more than 15 years and rode the …

Concerns over Stanton bike lanes

www.kvia.com


EL PASO, Texas – The Camino Real Regional Mobile Authority is adding the region’s first two-way bike lane, as part of the ongoing El Paso Streetcar project. As the project is closer to becoming finalized, drivers are learning to adjust to the change in traffic and so are bicyclists. …

Out on bicycle ride built for two

Melissa McCaghren | www.brenhambanner.com


Tandem bike riders enjoy a trip through Independence Friday afternoon during the Southwest Tandem Rally. The event, hosted by Houstonians on Tandems Together, will also do rides in Burton and Chappell Hill this weekend.

McLennan County law enforcement officials prepare for statewide memorial ride

By KRISTIN HOPPA | www.wacotrib.com


With 150 miles in front of them, a group of McLennan County law enforcement officials and supporters will pedal with cause May 4 and 5 for the fourth annual Texas Police Officers Memorial Ride.

The local group will join dozens of departments for the annual memorial bicycle ride between San Antonio and Austin in support of the Concerns of Police Survivors nonprofit. The nationwide organization …

Cruising Route 66

By Janice Branham and Barry Branham | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 18: Groom to Amarillo TX: Flying across the Panhandle

Friday April 20, 2018, 64 miles (103 km) – Total so far: 932 miles (1,500 km)
Justin, our host in Groom, has a side gig at Outdoor Element, a bike shop in Amarillo. He was kind enough to haul our panniers in to the shop today so we could ride unfettered of the load. What fun! We sailed on tailwinds up to 32 mph, coasting along with no traffic on straight roads. Our average reached 15.8 over the first 40 miles.
Riding closer to the city was less fun on …

Two Timing Texas Tour

By Richard Hoeg | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 18: Crockett Loop: Smart at Age 62

Saturday April 21, 2018, 36 miles (58 km) – Total so far: 743 miles (1,196 km)
Us old folks can learn how to use this new fangled technology. When the weather app my smartphone indicated possible heavy rain today, we monitored the situation. When yesterday the weather forecast for today still showed extremely wet, we decided let’s do Crockett! Thus, we are hunkered down for two nights in the …

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Flowers, Bridge of Doom 2nd Fast Time Bike Ride

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Today’s bike ride involved perseverance. Within a few hundred feet of beginning the bike ride (11:42 am) I started seeing and feeling some very light mist. Riding the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route to the south I could see dark clouds to the south and east. The light mist stayed with me for the first mile or so and disappeared to only return around mile 2 or 3. I thought since the mist was light and intermittent maybe the wind would move it away. Pedaling south the dark cloud in front about 3 or 4 miles away looking threatening but I didn’t let that shorten the bike ride. I did not ride on Friday because the temperature took too long to get above 60 and I didn’t want to miss another day.

After riding over the San Jacinto River on W. Lake Houston Parkway the dark clouds moved to the east and I thought the ride would stay dry and not stop me. It did that. The weather during the bike ride: start 71 (79% humidity), overcast, wind E 13 mph. Finish 74 (81% humidity), overcast, wind E 12 mph. With the low temperature (for me anyway) I decided to wear shorts, long sleeve thermal jersey and a short sleeve jersey. The first few miles were chilly before I warmed up and rode in the light mist at times. From the time I warmed up I didn’t really think about the temperature but shifted to the wind.

As I rode I decided to stop on Old Atascocita Road at the railroad tracks and take these pictures. On an earlier ride I saw the pink wildflowers and thought they would make a nice backdrop.

With the pair of private property signs I hoped leaning my bike against the gate was not a threat. After taking the photos I started walking back up to the road. Looking both ways I hurried across the road to resume the ride to the east. Usually this road is light with traffic but two vehicles approached, one from each direction causing me to hurry and get on the bike. Looking forward to making the left turn onto FM 2100 I pedaled hard. At FM 2100 the wind shifted to my right side and wasn’t trying to slow me down.

When I got to FM 1960 there was no need to stop for a rest break and after making the u-turn east of FM 2100 I rolled up to the traffic light to wait for the green light. Starting up I could feel the tailwind and decided after getting up to speed to shift into a gear I don’t use very often: 52 x 17. Normally the headwind and my legs would thwart using this gear combo but not today. I kept riding those gears until I came to the traffic light on the west of Lake Houston at Atascocita Shores Drive. My average speed had jumped from 14.6 mph to 15.0 mph over the 3 miles and Strava told me that was my 2nd fastest time on Bridge of death 

Making my way through Atascocita back to W. Lake Houston Parkway I saw some more dark clouds and hoped I could finish the bike ride and not get wet. The rain stayed away until I was almost at the finish of the ride. As I rolled to a stop the rain picked up some as I pushed the stop button the Elemnt computer. Walking up the driveway the rain continued as I opened the gate and got under the roof I heard the rain hitting the patio cover. Just in time to not get too wet. It was 2:08 pm.

For the week I am at 182.53 miles. I hope to get to 200+ if Sunday’s weather goes per the forecast: early morning showers and clearing by mid-morning. I only need 120 miles to hit my 600 mile goal for the month.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest April 20th 2018

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FrankenBike #87 EaDo Bicycle Co. ~ May 12th ~ 9am till 5pm

houston.craigslist.org


FrankenBike #87 EaDo Bicycle Co. ~ May 12th ~ 9am till 5pm
912 St. Charles St. 77003
Emancipation Ave. at Southeast corner of the soccer stadium
On the Eastside bicycle path

No hero left behind – Ride 2 Recovery made pit stop at Fort Hood

By Lisa Davidson | kdhnews.com


FORT HOOD — III Corps and Fort Hood welcomed over 150 cyclists from the United Health Care Texas Challenge 2018 at the III Corps headquarters Thursday morning.

The United Health Care Texas Challenge is part of the national nonprofit organization Project Hero, which is dedicated to help veterans and first responders affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries and other injuries. …

Ride to Recovery makes Fort Hood pit stop

BY LISA DAVIDSON | www.tdtnews.com


FORT HOOD — III Corps and Fort Hood welcomed more than 150 cyclists from the United Health Care Texas Challenge 2018 on Thursday morning at the III Corps headquarters.

The United Health Care Texas Challenge is part of the national nonprofit organization Project Hero, which is dedicated to help veterans and emergency responders affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, brain injuries and other injuries. …

Video: Hundreds attend Veterans Ride Challenge

By: Colby Kirk | www.centexproud.com

More than 150 veterans are in Central Texas for a 400-mile bike ride from San Antonio to Dallas.

The proceeds raised from this event will help vets and first responders affected by injury and PTSD.

FOX44 Photojournalist Colby Kirk was there to capture the action, and you can see it all in the video above.

Mountain Bike Trails near San Antonio, TX bike trails

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Texas A&M System regents approve $85M ’21st Century Classroom’ for flagship campus

By CAITLIN CLARK | www.theeagle.com

The $85 million “21st Century Classroom Building” approved Thursday by the Texas A&M University Board of Regents will bring needed instructional space to Texas A&M’s flagship campus in College Station. …

… Plans presented to the regents during their regular meeting Thursday showed site development work will also include walkways, landscaping, bicycle parking, a student activity area and a covered outdoor plaza. …

Bike The Woodlands Month kicks off in May with activities and workshops

fatcatwebproductions.com


THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (April 19, 2018) – May is recognized as National Bike Month, and for the sixth consecutive year The Woodlands will host a number of activities celebrating the event. The Woodlands Township is a supporter of Bike The Woodlands Coalition’s efforts to create a better community through bicycling, and the events in May offer a prime opportunity for residents to get involved. …

THINGS I’VE LEARNED: HILL ABELL

BY SARAH THURMOND | www.austinmonthly.com


HOW THE BRAINS BEHIND BICYCLE SPORT SHOP WENT FROM BEING A CYCLING ENTHUSIAST TO OWNING AN AUSTIN INSTITUTION

For almost 30 years, Wichita Falls native Hill Abell has been a cycling advocate. When he’s not riding the trails of the Barton Creek Greenbelt, he serves on the boards of Bike Austin and the city’s B-Cycle bike share program, working to increase ridership and bike facilities throughout the community. This National Bicycle Month, he’s encouraging all Austinites to take part in Bike to Work Day on May 18. …

US 183 South toll project about 50% complete, first nontolled section opening to traffic

By Amy Denney | communityimpact.com

Work has finished on the first stretch of nontolled lanes on the US 183 South toll road in East Austin, as construction hits a major milestone at the halfway point.

The $743 million toll project—the largest transportation project underway in the region—includes adding six tolled lanes on US 183 between Hwy. 290 and Hwy. 71 near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Construction began May 2016 and the project is 50 percent complete and on track to fully open in 2020, said …

… The project also includes 9 miles of new sidewalks and 16 miles of new bike facilities along the nontolled lanes. These new facilities will also connect to shared-use paths on the 290 Toll and SH 71 Toll projects and the Lance Armstrong Bikeway. …

Bike share is everywhere. Is that a good thing?

Douglas Johnson | www.houstonchronicle.com


Residents of major U.S. cities are becoming used to seeing docks for bike sharing programs nestled into parking spaces or next to subway station entrances. Adorned with stylish branding and corporate sponsors’ logos, these facilities are transforming transportation in cities across the country.

McClain’s crystal ball: Predicting the Texans’ 2018 schedule Johnny Manziel: ‘I’ll find a place to play football somewhere’ Former Maxwell House coffee plant to close Barbara Bush, wife and mother of presidents, dies at 92 Starbucks protest boosts indie coffee shop in Third Ward Annoyed by robocalls to your cell phone? You can fight back Barbara Bush’s personal pastor reflects on former first lady
The modern concept of bike sharing – offering bikes for short-term public rental from multiple stations in cities – was launched in …

The Build 50 Challenge

bikehouston.org


The Build 50 Challenge is a campaign developed by BikeHouston and issued to the City of Houston, Harris County, Metro, Houston Parks Board, and others to build 50 miles of on and off street bikeways in 12 months.

The goal of the Build 50 Challenge is to build 50 miles of high-comfort bikeways in the City of Houston by April 16, 2019. This is no easy goal and will require the continued advocacy and …

This weekend’s rides: Doh! Red Horn!

by Thomas | steinerranchcycling.com

Note: Next Saturday, April 28, we will have a farewell ride for Bob Brown. Be sure to join us for that and allow some time to hang out after.

Saturday’s weather looks like a no-starter. If by some chance we do have an opening, just show up at the start and we will figure it out. After the ride we meet up at Lakeside for some discounted burgers and beer!

Sunday is …

Cruising Route 66

By Janice Branham and Barry Branham | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 17: Shamrock to Groom TX: Cruising the Interstate

Thursday April 19, 2018, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 868 miles (1,397 km)
It was a fun day to ride with tailwinds in the 20s. In Oklahoma we were usually far enough from the interstate to not hear the noise. Route 66 through Texas is mostly on I-40 service roads, and today we had our first taste of riding on the Interstate.
From Shamrock we rode the interstate south service road 21 miles straight west to the McLean post office to mail home some excess baggage. Could not resist the Deviil’s Rope museum of barbed wire. Its free! Cool displays of every imaginable type of wire fence, the history of farming and ranching in the west and rooms devoted to Route 66, the Dust Bowl and the migration of desperate people west on the Mother Road. …

The Southern Tier: San Diego to St. Augustine (and further?)

By Susanne Holste | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 38. Austin

Saturday April 21, 2018, 15 km (9 miles) – Total so far: 2,724 km (1,693 miles)
Day 39. We’re having a wonderful cool rest day in Austin. We had made up a little plan of what we wanted and needed to do and Google Maps took us again on a great tour around town. We came across a couple interesting murals and art installations, including wonderful bike art, Forever Bicycles, by Ai Weiwei which creates a …

Two Timing Texas Tour

By Richard Hoeg | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 17: Huntsville to Crockett: Wildflower Tour!?

Friday April 20, 2018, 49 miles (79 km) – Total so far: 707 miles (1,138 km)
Perhaps we should have named this trip the Texas Wildflower Tour! The flowers continue mile after mile along the roadsides. Texas #19 was a dramatic difference from yesterday. We always had a HUGE shoulder and the traffic was not bad. Unlike yesterday the 10 foot wide shoulders encouraged us to stop and enjoy the countryside. I documented many …

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