Texas Bicycling News Digest October 21st 2017

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Cycling should be encouraged

By Tristan Hienen | www.dailytexanonline.com


The Texan’s 10/12 piece “Cyclists Don’t Often Follow Rules of Road” misstates rules of the road. Despite certain UTPD officer’s progressive stance to allow cyclists to roll through intersections on their turn, Officer Moore critically misstates the Texas Transportation Code Ann. §551.103.
Bicycle riders are encouraged to take the …

Video: BMX racing is rad and totally back from the ’80s

Article by David Allan | www.cnn.com


DeSoto, Texas (CNN)The 1980s are alive and well in the heartland of America. BMX. Three letters that evoke — for anyone Generation X and older — a cultural Trapper Keeper of desirable possessions including Nike Air, Atari, Walkmans, Vans, MTV and of course that conduit of childhood freedom and rebellion, the Bicycle Motorcross. …

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Unexpected Bike Ride Ending in Rain

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I didn’t expect to ride today but my Saturday morning project ended in time. I planned on biking to E. Lake Houston Parkway and FM 1960 but as I came to FM 1960 from Walden I saw dark clouds gathering to the west so I changed to the “Atascocita – Walden” route to try and beat the rain back home. As I pulled up to finish the ride the rain started but I didn’t get much wetter than I was from the perspiration.

When I started at 11:53 AM the overcast sky looked like it might break up some but that didn’t happen. It was 86 degrees with 75% humidity making for a muggy ride. At the 1:37 PM finish in the rain it was a few degrees cooler. Along with this the wind was from the SE at 13 mph.

One other cyclist crossed my path as I approached Farmington Road he was going west and I rode south on Pinehurst Trail.

Yesterday afternoon I received the three warranty replacement Bellwether Endurance Gel Shorts letting ride with a new pair today. The short sleeve jersey was just right for the weather.

I need 158 miles to reach 6,800 miles YTD by the end of October.

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Texas Bicycling News Digest October 20th 2017

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Video: Kingwood bike mom responds to online criticism

Brett Buffington and Emily Reaux | www.khou.com


KINGWOOD, Texas – Twice a day, five days a week, parents line up at Bear Branch Elementary. The line is long as students are picked up and dropped off.
Since school started this year, almost everyday, Jennifer Ackerman has peddled past other parents, right to the school’s front door.
Her twin boys are in first grade but aren’t going to the same elementary school that backs up to the family’s backyard. …

Video: As Bike Share Programs Grow, So Does ‘Bike Clutter’ Challenge

By Larry Collins | www.nbcdfw.com

From Uptown to Downtown and over to Deep Ellum, you can’t go far in Dallas without seeing a rental bicycle.
Free-range bike rentals are growing in popularity and communities are seeing the bikes left on sidewalks, parking lots and at times in the street. Riders can rent a bike, ride it in town and leave it where they end up. …

Alumnus plans to bring international travelers to San Marcos through housing venture

By Lauren Rexroad | star.txstate.edu


A Texas State alumnus plans to attract international and bicycling tourists to San Marcos with the opening of the Yellow House Hostel in the spring of 2018.
Matt Akins, alumnus, and co-owner of the Bike Cave on campus is opening a hostel in San Marcos. The hostel, located at 704 W Hopkins St., will be the first of its kind in the city and will be within walking distance to the San Marcos Square and Texas State.
Akins developed the idea to open the hostel from his travels around the world. Hostels are …

CHILE PEPPER CHALLENGE

Sun City Aerial Video | www.youtube.com


Richard Holt of Sun City Aerial Video filmed the 2017 Chile Pepper Challenge with his drone camera! Enjoy & share with your friends!

25-year plan addresses commute times, environment, quality of life for residents in area

By Bill Barajas | www.ksat.com

SAN ANTONIO – Public officials have come up with a 25-year plan to address commute times, congestion, the environment and the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
“We are looking 25 years into the future. Everything from adding lanes to roadways, bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation and transit is going to be a big deal. VIA is a critical partner,” said Linda Vela, planning and public involvement manager at the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. …

Highland Village preparing for 10th annual Fallen Officers Bike Race and 5K

by Mark Smith | www.crosstimbersgazette.com


The city of Highland Village is making final preparations ahead of its 10th annual Fallen Officers Bike Race and 5K on Saturday.
The all-day event and fundraiser will take place at the Shops at Highland Village and will feature live music, demonstrations, raffle prizes, a silent auction, kids zone and food and drinks.
The main events, though, are the 5K, the civilian bike race and the …

This weekend’s rides: Mystery Ride! LIVESTRONG!

by Thomas | steinerranchcycling.com

Those doing LIVESTRONG on Sunday (myself included) will want to do something shorter on Saturday. Others will want to do a more regular ride. Let’s just meet at the regular time and place on Saturday and decide what to do, and that likely means two groups. After the ride we meet up at Lakeside for some discounted burgers and beer, even if we finish at …

Goliad students win bikes for attendance, grades

By Ruth Campbell | www.oaoa.com


Representatives from the Odessa Rotary Club went to Goliad Elementary School Thursday bearing gifts in the form of bicycles for four students who had perfect attendance for the last nine weeks.
Two girls and two boys won the bicycles, which were set …

Killeen: Plans nearly done for roadway extension, hike and bike trail

By Kathleen Serie | www.kwtx.com


KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) A major roadway extension and corresponding hike and bike trail project in Killeen is in the final design stages, and construction could start in a few months.
The extension of Rosewood Drive would connect the southern section of the road down to Chaparral Road.
The Heritage Oaks Hike and Bike Trail would connect to Purser Park in Harker Heights.
With several large housing developments in the works, Killeen Executive Director of Public Works David Olson said this is a rapidly growing area of town.
“This is going to give us another access to a …

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New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Changed Route, Strong Wind with Mist Bike Ride

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Early morning rain fell helping my grass but not my bike ride. Looking at the weather radar my original route to Huffman looked like biking into more rain so I adjusted rode to the north on the “Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch” route but I at first thought I would ride to New Caney a little more to the north. At the start of the bike ride (12:05 PM) the sky was overcast, temperature 77 (86% humidity) with some mist. I didn’t realize the wind was brisk until I got several miles from the start and when I got home I found out it was 16 mph with 23 mph gusts from the SE. No wonder pedaling was so hard coming back from Community Drive.

On the way to Community Drive I rode through patches of mist as I was east of I-69/US59. With the help of the wind I made good time.

Before the start of the ride I changed one of the data fields on my Elemnt computer to show average power instead of the 5 second average. As I biked I watched the average slowly increase to 98 watts and found this more helpful than the 5 second average. I will keep it.

Once I got on the west side of I-69/US59 the mist went away until I was on the service road about to make the u-turn under I-69/US59 at Kingwood Drive. From there to the finish several patches of mist tired to get me wet.

It looks like the sidewalk/greenbelt concrete is about done along Kingwood Drive. Today I biked to the south side of Kingwood Drive to go through the strip center parking lot and then back across to the north side. This put me east of the work area.

From there I biked to the finish. I stopped the Elemnt computer at 2:06 PM as some more mist fell.

With today’s 27 miles I only need 182 miles to hit the 6,800 mile YTD goal. No riding on Saturday but maybe Sunday if the cool front doesn’t bring any rain.

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