Texas Bicycling News June 13th 2017

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Cyclist fatally struck by train in Denton

Written by Eline de Bruijn | www.dallasnews.com


A 28-year-old cyclist was fatally struck Tuesday by a southbound Denton County Transportation Authority A-Train.
The accident happened about 11:30 a.m. at the Lakeview Crossing south of the MedPark station in Denton, according to a DCTA news release. The unidentified cyclist died at the scene.
The train had …

Community rallies to get Denison teen new bicycle

By Sara Humphrey | www.kxii.com

DENISON, Texas (KXII) — A teenager with special needs is smiling again after his bike was stolen over the weekend.
Anthony Adams loves his job at Albertson’s in Denison and he likes to ride his bike there when mom can’t drive him.
Adams got the bike a few weeks ago as a graduation and birthday present from his aunt.
On Saturday, someone swiped his bike while it was parked outside and the thief was caught on …

Commentary: Why Central Texas treasures are safe from Texas45 SW

By Mike Heiligenstein | www.mystatesman.com


It’s a familiar argument: Must we sacrifice our environment for growth?
No.
The recent commentary by Save Barton Creek Association Board president Clark Hancock and board member Stephen Beers regarding the Texas 45 Southwest toll road under construction seemed to defy that belief. …

… When completed, Texas 45 SW will feature extensive water quality protection measures, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and other collaborative approaches to develop a roadway that fits its physical setting. It’s built using …

Texas governor signs $217 billion budget, vetoes $120 million

by Edgar Walters | www.texastribune.org

… Abbott also cut $6 million for air quality planning at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The governor said he opposed the program because it would pay for bicycle use programs, carpooling awareness campaigns and other environmental items that “can be funded at the local government level.” …

Group of cyclists mowed down by driver in southeast Austin

By Alyssa Goard | kxan.com


AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man and woman are both behind bars accused of hitting a group of bicyclists in southeast Austin Saturday morning.
Austin police say the crash happened around 7:30 a.m. at South Pleasant Valley Road and Elmont Drive. A witness told police, as he was sitting at a traffic light, he saw a white Buick strike several bicyclists. According to an arrest affidavit, 25-year-old Devin Rodriguez told police he hit four bicyclists because he had “fallen asleep.” The …

8 AM start: Tour de Southern Walnut Creek Trail

Tuesday, Jun 20, 2017, 8:00 AM

Govalle Park
5200 Bolm Rd. Austin, TX

2 Austin Cyclists Went

We’re riding out at 8 AM for summer coolness.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 ou…

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Cyclists ride more than 4,000 miles for cancer, stop in Wichita

By Kaitlyn Alanis | www.kansas.com


Madison Weigand is not your typical athlete.
Her favorite part of soccer is the frozen grapes during halftime, and her favorite part of swimming is the parka she wears when not in the pool.
So it should come as no surprise that Weigand’s favorite part of riding over 4,000 miles as part of the Texas 4000 ride from Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska, is not the cycling.
Rather, it is fighting for cancer prevention and …

Brothers riding across country for charity

By Brock Mackey | www.thedickinsonpress.com


Three brothers—Bobby, Raleigh and Dennis Jenkins—stopped at Dickinson’s Dakota Diner for lunch Monday. The brothers from Texas are riding bikes from Washington to New York to raise charitable donations and awareness for two causes: A Child’s Hope and the Moss Pieratt Foundation.
The brothers left Seattle 20 days ago and have averaged 70 miles a day as planned to end up in New York City after roughly 55 days, according to a press release. So far they have experienced head-high snow on the side of the road in Washington, more than 90 …

Texas 400 team makes stop in Hammond

By J.D. SUMMERLIN | www.hammondstar.com


It’s been said that a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. For the 2017 Texas 4000 team, a journey of 4,000 miles begins on some really good bikes.
The Texas 4000 team arrived at First Baptist Church Hammond for one of their stops for this year’s cycling trek across America to raise …

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Tired Legs, Strong Wind Equals Slow Bike Ride

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Tired legs and a strong SE 15 mph wind took a toll as I rode the “FM1960 to FM686 – Back” route. As I left home at 11:25 I was hopeful of a bike ride like yesterday but it didn’t take long to see the wind was going to be a problem. It seemed to be a headwind no matter which direction I rode but I think that was my legs not recovered from yesterday. I battled riding east on FM 1960 to FM 686 and the Dayton Food and Fuel store. I stopped there for ice and water and lingered in the shade drinking some of the ice water. A man walked up from his pickup truck and fifth wheel trailer and asked if it was too hot to ride. I said no, not as long as I was moving. He asked if the wind helped and I said yes as long as I was riding west to Huffman.

Getting to the Dayton food and Fuel store wasn’t easy. The wind was from my right front quarter and the “tall” overpass going over the railroad tracks sapped my power. I geared down one rear cog and pedaled to the top thinking I would coast down but the wind was strong up there and I had to pedal down hill. Once I was on the flat road I ramped up my speed to 16 or 17 mph as I rode past a couple of houses where dogs have chased me but they didn’t see me or care. This wasn’t the case on the return trip riding west. Two dogs spotted me and raced parallel to me inside their fence. When they got to the open gate one dog stopped but the other continued running and barking on the outside of the fence jumping over a ditch with ease and not long after darted across FM 1960 towards me. In the past he stayed on the other side of FM 1960 and I didn’t expect this move. Thankfully the wind was at my left rear quarter instead of in my face so I pedaled faster and hit 22 mph. Not long after that the dog gave up and I continued on. So my tired legs got more tired.

Riding into the Huffman Chevron at the 30.4 mile point I needed a rest, water and time to eat some animal crackers I brought along. I sat in the shade and the strong wind that was my enemy now felt good blowing through drying my sweat as I ate. The animal crackers ran out before I wanted them too but it was time to get back on the bike. I refilled my water bottle and got ready to leave. While I was there two Houston Police cruisers pulled in and were having a meeting as I left after the 25 minute rest break.

Bicycling west on FM 1960 was easier than going east and I built my average speed up to 14 mph, pretty low but better than I expected with the wind and tired legs. I finished the ride at 3:01 glad to be back home.

Today’s weather at the start and finish.

Home weather start
Home weather finish
Airport weather finish

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Texas Bicycling News June 12th 2017

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Driver injures 4 cyclists, passenger flees in stolen car, police say

By Mary Hube | www.mystatesman.com

Two people face charges after their Buick sedan crashed into a group of cyclists in South Austin on Saturday, sending four people to the hospital, including one who was in critical condition over the weekend, Austin police said.
Devin Donnel Rodriguez, 25, was charged with driving with an invalid license after the incident.
According to his arrest affidavit, he had been driving a Buick sedan near …

Upper Valley Tour Groups B & C

Sunday, Jun 18, 2017, 7:45 AM

Across from Rio Plaza
Park across from strip center at 6205 Upper Valley Rd (just north of Artcraft) El Paso, TX

5 Cyclists Went

• Distance: Usually 20-25 miles• Roll Out: 8:00 am• Pace: (Group B 14-17 mph) (Group C 12-14 mph) Note: Group C rides should have a minimum of 2 riders for safety• Details: No Drop Ride. Route will be a little tour of the Upper Valley.  Ride leader will determine route based on abilities of those who show up to ride.  Most routes are flat with f…

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Circle C Cruise Not so late because not so cold anymore! 9:00 AM BY REQUEST!

Sunday, Jun 18, 2017, 9:00 AM

Dick Nichols District Park
8011 Beckett Rd, Austin, TX 78749 Austin, TX

4 Austin Cyclists Went

We will meet before 9:00 AM, wheels down 9:00 AM, at Dick Nichols Park for about two hours of casual rambling around SW Austin. Gary knows the area like the back of his hand.

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Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/zesty_texas/status/874391540663234560

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/874340467634262016

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I Paid the Headwind Price Bike Ride

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I paid the price today when I rode hard with the tailwind and then ran out of power with the headwind. This took place on the “SR242 – FM1314” route where the tailwind helped me until I reached FM 1314. From there to the end of the bike ride my legs struggled to keep my speed above 15 mph. The wind out of the SSE at 15 mph with 25 mph gusts proved stronger than my ability to pedal through it. At the FM 1314 turn my average speed was 15 mph but slowly deteriorated 14.3 mph at the finish. The ride totaled 47.3 miles.

The ride started slowly as I got ready waiting for some scattered rain clouds to dissipate. I rolled away at 11:20 with some dark clouds to the south making my decision to ride to the north look wise. I felt some stray rain drops until I got to US59 for the ride north to SH 242. From there the sky gradually cleared the dark clouds and the rain no longer threatened. It was 83 at the start and 92 when I finished at 3:06.

At the 35.2 mile point I stopped for a rest break at the Valero station on FM 1314 and Sorters Road. Sitting in the shade drinking ice water from an earlier stop at the Chevron station at FM 1485 and SH 242 revived me and the snack crackers proved enough energy to get me to the finish. I was there about 20 minutes, long enough for my jersey to dry out some and the sweat to stop dripping on the concrete below.

My pace dropped as I rode to the SE into the strong wind but sometimes I got behind a windbreak and increased my pace but I made it, tired legs and all.

Another chance for rain tomorrow but I will ride if possible.

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