The wind was stiff during today’s bike ride on the “Atascocita South – Walden – Huffman” route. I thought it was stronger than it turned out to be but the 25 mph gusts made pedaling into the headwind a challenge. Trying to make for missed riding I biked 37.35 miles boosting April to 268.5 miles, 45% of the way to my goal of 600 miles. So far I biked three days this week for a total of 110.07 miles.
I started the bike ride at 11:05 am a little earlier than usual in order to try to beat the rain forecast for this afternoon. I still rode into some sprinkles a few times, mostly in Kingwood. The weather during the bike ride: start 77 (89% humidity), overcast, wind S 20 mph, gusts 25 mph. Finish 82 (78% humidity), overcast, wind S 10 mph gusts 25 mph. I chose not to wear a thermal long sleeve jersey opting for a regular long sleeve jersey topped with a short sleeve jersey. There were a few times I felt over dressed once I was warmed up but sweating extra didn’t hurt me.
Riding over Lake Houston both east and west on FM 1960 was the hardest part of the bike ride. The wind kept trying to push the bike sideways requiring a firm grip and steering correction. The Canyon Endurace Wheelset (Reynolds Assault LE Disc Carbon Rim height: 41 mm) catches the wind but not quite as much as the rims on my Stradalli Red Pro 14 which had 55 mm rim height.
Watching the sky for rain I was concerned a few times but nothing materialized. I finished the ride at 1:45 pm.
Friday evening a cool front passes through dropping the temperature and maybe some rain. Not sure what Saturday will be like. I hope to ride some to improve my April miles.
Join the City of Irving for a free fun and educational family event:
2018 Bicycle Fest
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 | North Lake College, 2000 W. Walnut Hill Lane
Bicycle Fest focuses on providing a free opportunity for event attendees to learn more about bicycling in and around the Irving area. Attendees receive general bicycling information, safe routes for commuter bicycling, transit options for commuting throughout DFW, basic on-the-spot bicycle checks and information about bicycling gear.
In addition, the day is filled with entertainment and activities, including: …
Texas A&M’s campus has been taken over by yellow bikes. KAGS Kacey Bowen shows us what these yellow bikes are doing in what is normally a sea of maroon. …
Arlington
Lone Star Cyclists
Bike Friendly Arlington
Carrollton
Carrollton Cycling Club
Dallas
Greater Dallas Bicyclists
Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association (DORBA) …
PAYDIRT – ARR Trail Crew / NEW Roy G Kid’s Trail!
Thursday, Apr 19, 2018, 4:00 PM
Roy G Guerrero Colorado River Park 400 Grove Blvd Austin, TX
9 Mountain Bikers Went
We will be doing tread clearing and other touch ups for the NEW Roy Guerrero Park Kid’s Trail! This trail will be a great destination for kids to learn mountain biking skills on a short trail with varied beginner level terrain. Meet along Grove Blvd. just north of the ACC Campus before the gate entrance to the park. Look for an opening in the barbe…
We’re riding out at 9 AM for spring! A moderate C-pace ride (roughly 11 to 14 mph) on The Southern Walnut Creek Trail from the trailhead at Govalle Park to the Abrupt End and return. Round trip is about 20 miles. The trail is paved for the entire distance, with a 1/2 mile hill on the outbound. We’ll regroup at the top of the hill on the outbound an…
Day 9: Hondo to Pleasanton: Wildflowers and Oil Workers!
Thursday April 12, 2018, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 376 miles (605 km)
Some days have unexpected pleasures! Although we had a significantly longer distance to bike today, the ride was much more satisfying. Tx #173 provided us with a HUGE shoulder and phenomenal wildflowers. Although we never saw a …
Friday April 13, 2018, 88 km (55 miles) – Total so far: 2,142 km (1,331 miles)
Day 31. Last night was perfect for camping: windstill and cool. If only it hadn’t been for the trains which ran by so close it felt as if they were coming through the tent. We stopped at the Gage coffee shop and they had two different kind of oats! Totally unexpected in Far West Texas. About an hour after Marathon the wind picked up and it was in our favor. Plus it was slightly downhill and we had a good trip to Sanderson. It was beautiful to see the Woods Hollow Mountains which …
Improve walking and biking in Precinct 1 by taking the Parks & Trails Survey or attending one of the scheduled community workshops!https://t.co/8gsEzWhUlN
Kudos to @HoustonBCycle on the great strides made in 2017 and to the City's program operator/partner Houston Bike Share for a job well done! The annual report is available here. https://t.co/BBy7oQyBFX
I got my rear derailleur replaced by a mechanic in Del Rio (locally pronounced “Del Ree-uhâ€) and finally bought new tubes. My plan was to leave the highway behind and take Old Mines road to Laredo, a 114-mile gravel stretch that cuts right along the Rio Grande, and I couldn’t afford to take any mechanical chances.
Later that day I received an email from Keith Bowden, the guy who canoed the entire Rio Grande river several years back and who I recently met by chance in the small town of …
I’m in America, but it feels like Mexico. Laredo is unique among border towns because it has always had a majority Latino population. Biking into the city you pass rows and rows and rows of warehouses, distribution centers, and yards full of semi-truck trailers before you hit this horrible commercial strip crammed full of every road-side corporate brand imaginable—McDonald’s, Starbucks, Burger King, Walmart, IHOP, Applebee’s—on and on, mile after mile.
It’s an awful stretch of road to confront as a “cyclist,†as we like to call ourselves in the …
Sixteenth Annual Katy Ram Challenge on Saturday morning, benefiting the Mayde Creek Mighty Ram Band, begins at Paetow High School in Katy for 38-, 49-, 65- and 77-mile options through parts of Katy, Brookshire and Waller. A family ride of nine miles is also offered.. Visit katyramchallenge.org.
Paddle N Pedal Fest, sponsored by the Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, is from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event operates from two adjacent locations — at the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve, 20215 Chasewood Park Dr., and the festival site at CHI St. Luke’s Hospital – The Vintage, 20171 Chasewood Park Dr. Contact 281-440-4160.
RBC Gran Fondo Texas on Sunday begins at Montgomery ISD stadium and offers riders options of 44, 65, 87 and 101 routes through Sam Houston National Forest to the towns of Richards and Anderson. Lunch is served at Montgomery High School after the rides. Net proceeds are donated to National MS Society, Texas Medical Center Orchestra and Montgomery Food Bank. Visit granfondotexas.org.
The Houston Bike Summit on Monday, April 16, at 5 p.m. at Saint Arnold Brewing Company will honor the people who are making a difference in transforming Houston into a more people and bike-friendly city. Mayor Sylvester Turner is the honoree for his leadership in passing the Houston Bike Plan. The evening features a Bike and Ride Expo, food and beer provided by the brewery and an awards ceremony with keynote speaker County Commissioner Rodney Ellis. Visit bikehouston.org.
COLLEGE STATION, Tex. Bright yellow Ofo bikes can be spotted all throughout Texas A&M University’s campus as well as College Station. Either being ridden by students, at bike racks, or sometimes abandoned on campus or around town.
“It makes us look kind of junky,” says College Station council member Linda Harvell. “The’y are parked in yards they are parked in streets or parked across sidewalks, crosswalks, everywhere but where they should be.” …
City Council members voted Tuesday night 5-2 to approve the use of $8,000 from Greenville’s Hotel Occupancy Tax funds to help finance the Cotton Patch Classic bicycle ride scheduled in September.
When councilmembers approved the list of events that would receive funding from revenue generated through the city’s hotel occupancy tax in December 2017, $5,000 was appropriated for use by the YMCA for the bicycle ride.
When Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast in late August, longtime Spring residents Ric and Marcia Becker not only received 9 inches of water in their home, but also in their business.
The Beckers have owned and operated House of Tandems out of a showroom in their home’s converted three-car garage off Rayford Road since 2007. The bike shop is only one of four shops in the U.S. that specializes in customized tandem bicycles, which can seat two to three riders, Ric said. …
Expected to bring in more than 1,700 people this year, the 34th annual Tour de Paris is set for July 21.
The rally begins at 8 a.m. on Jefferson Road, just west of Love Civic Center. There are routes for anyone interested ranging from 14 miles up to 80 miles (see maps below). …
A bicyclist is dead after being struck by a driver in a Jeep in south Houston on Wednesday night, police said.
The crash was reported around 9:40 p.m. A Jeep Grand Cherokee slammed into the female bicyclist on the South Beltway 8 frontage road near Dickinson Road, near the Beltway’s intersection with the Gulf Freeway, police said.
Bicycling has become the thing to do in Houston. There are clubs all over the city, and two are BikeHouston and Tour de Hood. They’ve teamed up and now they’re giving back to hel cyclists who are caught when the sun goes down.
Monday April 9, 2018, 57 miles (92 km) – Total so far: 1,803 miles (2,902 km)
Today I woke up in the Lexington park to two of their finest asking me what I was doing. They told me they got a call, but I could tell they were relieved I wasn’t just some homeless guy. I told them a bit about my adventure and they sent me on my way with a …
Day 58: College Station-New Waverly/Waverly
Tuesday April 10, 2018, 63 miles (101 km) – Total so far: 1,866 miles (3,003 km)
My morning at Jason+Alyson’s was a long one. I made my self a big breakfast of eggs and cheese with coffee. I didn’t leave til noon since I was enjoying their place so much.
I made my way through the Sam Houston national Forrest which was …
Day 59: Waverly-Sour Lake
Wednesday April 11, 2018, 72 miles (116 km) – Total so far: 1,938 miles (3,119 km)
Today I slept til 8:30-9 or so. I’m getting real lazy about waking up early. Fortunately the afternoon warmth hasn’t been too bad lately. I got coffee at the grocery/convenience store in Waverly (not the New one, not the Old one, cuz apparently there’s all three within 10 miles of one another)
I turned on the Ben Folds today being my …
Thursday April 12, 2018, 88 km (55 miles) – Total so far: 1,966 km (1,222 miles)
Today was another busy day on the Southern Tier in both directions. It was a nice ride from Marfa to Alpine, slight incline, and a good shoulder. We stopped at Marfa Lights for photos and then enjoyed the wide open space that we cycled through. There was a small Baptist settlement and ranch houses in the far distance. We saw one sign that read 77 Ranches and I wondered if that was the name of one ranch or the gateway to 77 ranches. Alpine is a larger town and …
Day 8: Bandera to Hondo: Road Surface Roulette Strike Out
Wednesday April 11, 2018, 31 miles (50 km) – Total so far: 322 miles (518 km)
Lousy web connection. Just adding basics right now. Lost shoulder on Tx 173. Bad Chip Seal. Headwind. 2 Flats. Saw Crested Caracara loving pair. Got pics. Hope to add much more including images tomorrow.
Walmart has road bike presta valve inner tubes. Who knew?! Google suggested. Needed more tubes.
We're thrilled to help sponsor this year's Houston Bike Summit! Join us on Monday to celebrate the year's accomplishments and prepare for the challenges ahead. @SaintArnold's will be providing the food and bevs. https://t.co/R5YucA6354
Pick up your packet on Wednesday, April 18 from 11am to 7pm at Wortham Insurance Terrace located at Buffalo Bayou on the Sabine Street Bridge. Food courtesy of Goya & beer generously provided by Michelob Ultra while supplies last. You must raise at least $400 to get your packet. pic.twitter.com/zS8cNQ6k1H
New Event World Without Orphans Palo Duro Canyon Cruise & BBQ – Canyon, TX World Without Orphans Palo Duro Canyon Cruise & BBQ at Canyon, TXhttps://t.co/Dq235s87Hlhttps://t.co/55nMjvrjGj
Join us for a 19, 36 or 50 mile loop ride through the beautiful Piney Woods of Northeast Texas. All routes are supported and have multiple rest stops. Registr… https://t.co/sxiNdlPhoI
For a change the wind speed was in the single digits for today’s bike ride. I rode out at 11:31 am heading to the “Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood” route. I added a few side streets to get to 37.53 miles in a gesture to recoup some of the miles not ridden Saturday through Monday. I am at the 39% point (231.1 miles) in reaching my 600 mile goal for April so there are a number of days left but I would like to reach the goal with days to spare.
Wildflowers bloomed along the I-69/US59 service road and I debated about stopping to take pictures but the traffic changed my mind. The traffic wasn’t that heavy but standing in the road just didn’t seem to make sense.
Weather during the bike ride: start 76 (55% humidity), clear, wind S 9 mph. Finish 79 (52% humidity), clear, wind variable 5 mph. Lots of sunshine but I still dressed like it was in the low 70’s: shorts, long sleeve thermal jersey topped with a regular long sleeve jersey. I was comfortable and didn’t sweat too much. The extra layer felt good a couple of time when riding in extended sections in the shade.
On the way to SH 242 I built the average speed to 15.3 mph and after making the turn back to the south I got it up to 15.5 mph and held it there even with the slight headwind.
No biking on Thursday. Friday the weather will change again but it looks like the potential for rain will be in the late afternoon so I should ride. Need those miles to reach my goal.
