Texas Bicycling News July 22nd 2017

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Longview police’s bicycle unit helps officers increase community visibility

By Clare McCarthy | www.news-journal.com

police bike patrol
Officers Drew Allison and Alex Chorba rode their bicycles across the city Friday, meeting people and establishing connections within the community.
“There are multiple areas that I think benefit from community-based policing,” said Allison, one of the 16 patrol officers who make up the Longview Police Department’s bicycle unit. “Common interaction, whether …

BIG HEARTS: Abilene man pedals towards cause to help children

By: Brittany Pelletz | www.bigcountryhomepage.com

It’s not graffiti. It’s a safety measure for the upcoming Tour De Gap bicycle race in Buffalo Gap.
“Obviously, we don’t have the budget like the Tour de France right now, where they’ll have motorcycles and all sorts of safety vehicles accompany us, the cyclists but we want to make sure the cyclists have a fun and safe experience while they’re doing this,” says Mark Spurlock, Tour de Gap organizer.
That’s one of the reasons why Mark Spurlock takes it upon himself to get the job done before the rubber …

Friday Night Beginner Ride – Bull Creek Trails

Friday, Jul 28, 2017, 6:00 PM

Location details are available to members only.

19 Mountain Bikers Went

Hey folks,We will start out on a short little track that is very smooth and easy. (a slight step up from Lady Bird Lake paths) If the group is up to the challenge, we can take on some additional trails with minor climbs and some rougher sections.Pace is as slow as the slowest rider.We will be riding some of the paths near the Bull Creek area. I …

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Video: Nearly 2k cyclists ride in 26th Collin County Classic

www.fox4news.com

bike ride
A large crowd of cyclists came out for one of the biggest and most supported rides in North Texas Saturday morning. Nearly 2,000 cyclists participated in the Collin County Classic Bike Rally. The Plano event is in it’s 26th year at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.
The distances for the …

Social bicyclists: Casual ride promotes health, community

By TRAVIS M. WHITEHEAD | www.valleymorningstar.com

biking bike ride
HARLINGEN — Angie Rodriguez sat on her bicycle, waiting to begin a casual ride through town.
“It’s great exercise,” said Rodriguez, 52, whose grandson sat in a cart connected to her bike.
“I think this is really good for the community,” she added, waiting in the parking lot of the Harlingen Public Library with about …

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3 Dozen Cyclists Along for the Bike Ride

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Me and about 3 dozen other cyclists rode along the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route today, mostly along FM 1960 though I saw of them in Atascocita. I almost got started before 9 am leaving home at 9:01 am for what ended up as a 31.3 mile long ride. It is interesting to see the wide range of bikes other bicyclists choose. Some are decked out in the latest carbon fiber while others choose the less extravagant bikes. One of the last cyclists I saw was Chris from Thursday’s ride in Atascocita. The last three passed me on Kings River Drive as I headed to the finish of my ride. They were stretched out on the aerobars pedaling smoothly up the small incline that I usually get out of the saddle to go up. They stayed seated and I could not see a big change in their pedaling rpm’s. Oh to be younger!

With today’s ride I reached 211 miles for the week and 670 miles for July. That leaves 130 miles to reach my goal for July. Unless the weather or my body get worse I think I will hit my goal. For the year I am at 4,335 miles according to Strava.com. My goal for the year is 6,800 miles and I am ahead of schedule.

An early start puts me in a slightly different weather setting with more humidity, lower temperature (85 starting and 89 at the end). I seemed to sweat more with my wrist bands soaked and gloves too. The 6 mph wind wasn’t enough to cool me much nor dry the perspiration. The sky was mostly cloudy keeping the sun in check.

I make a 5 minute stop at the Huffman Chevron for ice and water for the last 11+ miles to the end of the ride. This was at the 19.0 mile point in the bike ride. Later in Kingwood I stopped at the McDonald’s for more ice and water which I don’t do very often.

Since I reached 200+ miles for the week, tomorrow (Sunday) will be a rest day. Instead of riding I will watch the Astros and the end of the TdF. Monday I will experience withdraw from no more TdF.

Week’s activity recap

Strava biking Week to Date

Link to RideWithGPS.com map and metrics

Strava Ride Summary

Strava Bike Ride Summary biking bicycling

Texas Bicycling News July 21st 2017

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City Council passes safe bike passage ordinance

By Michelle Pedraza | www.kgns.tv

bike biking bicycling bicycle
LAREDO, Texas (KGNS) – City Council made a decision on Monday night that will help the local cycling community.
The Safe Passage Ordinance was passed back in 2016 in order to create a safer environment for those who are cycling, walking or running on the street.
By enforcing the rules on drivers who want to pass around …

Passing officers see man threatening friend with knife, police say

by Jesse Martinez | kfoxtv.com

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14) — Officers patrolling a Las Cruces neighborhood saw a man threatening his friend with a knife Wednesday night, police said.
The incident happened around 11 p.m. on the 2100 block of Picacho Avenue.
According to police, two officers were on bicycle patrol near the area, when they …

This weekend’s rides: Down Redbud! Russell’s!

by Thomas | steinerranchcycling.com

Reminder: We will be celebrating our friend John Nadolski this evening at Lakeside at 5:30pm. I believe we will have the upstairs area. Come join us and say goodbye to John as he moves out of Texas.
Saturday will be hot as balls. There is no way around that, unless you chicken out which is lame. Come sweat with us on a nice ride that takes us down Redbud trail in a modified …

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Lousy Golf Ball Throw Bike Ride

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Friday’s bike ride followed the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route for a total of 34.7 miles. I started biking at 10:22 and finished at 12:59 for brisk ride. Weather during the ride: 91 to 95 degrees, partly cloudy sky, 4 mph breeze and 55% humidity.

No other cyclists spotted during the ride which is typical on this route. Most other cyclists ride south and east of Kingwood. The “big” event is the opening today of the new WalMart in New Caney. I bike past on the south bound service road and wondered how the traffic would be. For the first hours of operation I saw no change in traffic and hope it stays this way. There is an entrance from FM 1485 that might take a lot of traffic and keep the service road volume about the same.

A quick stop at the Stripes station on FM 1314 for water and ice at 23.4 miles into the ride was the only stop I made. Later as I rode south on Rock Creek Drive in Oakhurst I spotted a golf ball laying in the street gutter. My attempt to throw it onto the course hit the cast iron fence and ricocheted into the grass by the cart path short of the goal. I better stick with biking.

I continue to close in on my July mileage goal with 639 miles so far with 131 miles left. This week’s 180 miles helps. I noticed that I moved up to 69 for Texas in the National Bike Challenge.

More hot July weather for Saturday. I may try to start the ride early.

Link to RideWithGPS.com

Strava Bike Ride Summary biking bicycling