Texas Bicycling News May 14th 2017

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Ride of Silence set for Wednesday

BY MELANY COX | www.tdtnews.com


On Wednesday, Central Texas cyclists will participate in the Ride of Silence, an international event designated to raise awareness for cyclists’ safety and to honor those who have been killed or injured.
Cyclists will gather at 6:30 p.m. at Lions Junction Family Water Park, 5000 S. Fifth St. in Temple, and …

Hundreds of helmets given to local kids during Hard Hats for Little Heads event

By VANESSA GARCIA | amarillo.com


Liana Van, 9, received one of about 300 red-and-white bicycle helmets during the Hard Hats for Little Heads event, which gave away free helmets and educated local children on their importance in conjunction with National Bike Month. (Vanessa Garcia / For the Amarillo Globe-News)
Local children received free fitted bicycle helmets and learned of their safety importance Saturday morning during the Hard Hats for Little Heads event — a bicycle helmet giveaway at 850 Martin Road.
Regence Health Network and Potter-Randall County Medical Alliance teamed up with …

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Key Largo to Marathon FL Bike Ride

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For several years I dreamed of biking the Florida Keys. The East Coast Greenway project had information about the route and I read numerous blogs about people who did. This year my wife agreed to go to Florida and me to ride from Key Largo to Key West. Today was the first half of the 106 miles from Key Largo to Marathon for a total of 53.4 miles. I rode my new bike, the Blue Norcross AL. For most of the ride it was probably overkill but towards the end some of the bike path/trail was not asphalt or concrete but sand and rocks.

I wasn’t out to set a blistering pace but rather to stop and take pictures and enjoy the scenery. I did that.

Some background first. Before today my wife and I went on a seven day cruise to the U. S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and Nassau. All went great until the shore excursion in Nassau where we took a Segway tour.  The reason I mention this is because in order for me to ride the Florida Keys my wife had to overcome pain. During the Segway training session, we never rode one before, my wife rode too close to a tire obstacle and tumbled over in the dust. The Segway tour people quickly administered first aid and she decided to go ahead with the tour but later the pain got to her. She braved through the pain today to drive from where I started to our hotel in Marathon. And to top it off it is Mother’s Day. She deserves a big medal.

Reading the East Coast Greenway’s one page overview of the route I didn’t expect any issues that I haven’t dealt with before but I am afraid the overview left out information on the route once I passed the Long Key bridge and earlier where the asphalt path was very bumpy. Contrary to the overview’s description of the surface as paved there were several spots of sand and gravel. Also the overview states “The Keys are well-populated so there is no shortage of food and accommodations.” but there are places where no stores or food is available between towns. For several miles when the bike path disappeared from beside the west bound side of the road I switched to the east bound side but there was one section that looked like it would continue only to end abruptly with three yellow diamonds on metal poles and nowhere to go but to climb over the guard rail or go back. I climbed over the guard rail and biked on the wide shoulder until I found the path beside the west bound lanes and crossed over to it.

Rolling along around 40 miles into the ride I started to feel some rain drops. This was a section with no place to get out of the rain until I saw a small shelter (maybe 8′ x 6′) on the bike path just before entering the separate way to cross Long Key. Looking ahead I saw rain blocking out my sight of land and traffic on the other end of the bridge. I decided to stop and wait out the coming rain. Good decision. The rain came and I would gotten soaked. But more than that the visibility of the the cars later on would have been dangerous. I waited until the majority of cars were not using their wipers as a sign the rain stopped where they came from. I don’t remember how long I waited. I started across the Long Key bridge which according to the information I read while the shelter is over 2 miles long. As I got close to the west end it started to rain lightly and I hoped there was another shelter on that side. There was and I stopped to wait for the rain to pass. While waiting I checked my phone to see how far I needed to bike to the hotel and learned 9.5 miles separated me from there.

When the rain slowed and/or stopped I resumed riding and then the bike path got sketchy. I should’ve expected it since the map at the shelter detailed where the path had gaps. The last 7+ miles I rode on wet to damp roads and path. From the sandy portions I picked up some splattered sand on me and the bike. When I got to the hotel I walked my bike into the lobby and asked if it was okay to keep it in our room. Both front desk people said go ahead. This will make it easier to start tomorrow’s ride to Key West. I started my Elemnt computer at 10:26 this morning and finished around 5:15. The rain delays added an hour or more to the time. Tomorrow’s route is slightly shorter at 51.3 miles, hotel to hotel.

Links to RideWithGPS.com and Strava.com.

A few pictures along the ride. (Mouse over the picture for the caption)

Start in Key Largo at state park
State park where I started
Plantation Key visitor centerer
Tyla the turtle at the visitor center
Stinky lobster traps by the path
Rain at Long Key bridge
Looking east at the Long Key bridge during rain

Texas Bicycling News May 13th 2017

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A Ride to Remember An Ursuline Alum

by Meredith Carey | www.parkcitiespeople.com


Every Saturday, Tai Massimilian straps on her helmet, grabs some water, and heads out in Austin on her bike. But the University of Texas junior isn’t just making laps around her block. She’s riding upwards of 70 miles, training for one huge ride.
Huge isn’t even the right word. The Hockaday grad will ride from the Texas capital to Alaska with Texas 4000, a student-run UT …

Houston Energy Corridor Events: Frankenbike May 13; Bike to Work Thursday May 18

by flangehead | www.bikeforums.net

The Energy Corridor is sponsoring two cycling events soon:
Frankenbike at the EC weekly Farmers Market. Buy, sell or trade: anything and everything bike! 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Saturday, May 13 at Grisby Square (14710 Grisby Rd).
The annual Bike to Work event will be held 6:30-8:00 am Thursday May 18 at the Terry Hershey Park Gazebo, 15342 Memorial Drive. Besides a chance to meet and greet fellow cyclists in the area, there will be free breakfast, raffle prizes, giveaways and music provided by a number of generous sponsors. For more information see …

San Benito to host first social bike ride

www.valleymorningstar.com


You can get to know your community and neighbors by taking part in the San Benito Social Bike Ride taking place next weekend.
Organized by the Harlingen-San Benito Metropolitan Planning Organization, the ride will begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, May 20 in front of …

Bicycle and Pedestrian Data Subscription

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 06/05/17 3:00 PM
Owner Solic Number: 601440000012491
Status: bidding Report: 7779726
Country : United States State: TX County: Travis Location: Austin
Scope: To acquire bicycle and pedestrian trip data for the state. Thebicycle and pedestrian trip data will be used to support bicycle and pedestrian planning,research, safety programs, and facility design
Notes: Deadline for submission of initial questions: 05/19/2017
Plans: From Owner. See outside link.
Outside Link: http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=139896
Owner Type: Public
Buyer: Texas Department of Transportation
Address: 150 E. Riverside Dr, 4 N.
City: Austin State: TX Zip/Postal Code: 78704
TEL: 512-416-3385 FAX: 512-416-3080
Contact: Alexis Jimerson
TEL: 512-416-4792
Bid Pkg Source: Texas Department of Transportation
Address: 150 E. Riverside Dr, 4 N.
City: Austin State: TX Zip/Postal Code: 78704
TEL: 512-416-3385 FAX: 512-416-3080
Contact: Alexis Jimerson
TEL: 512-416-4792 …

Westpark Trail and Wilcrest Extension Trail within CenterPoint Energy Easement

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 05/24/17 2:00 PM Prebid: 05/17/17 2:00 PM
Solicitation Title: UPDATED Westpark Trail and Wilcrest Extension Trail within CenterPoint Energy Easement
Status: bidding Report: 7763214
Country : United States State: TX County: Harris Location: Houston
Scope: Work involves construction of a 10-wide, 5.5″ thick concrete trail along centerpoint easement, 164 CY of excavation and backfilling with coarse sand, complete in place, including geotextile fabric, 40 LF of 4 x 2-foot RCB storm sewer box complete in place, 52 LF of 24″ RCP storm sewer pipe complete in place, 7 ea of signs relocations, 100 LF of reinforced filter fabric fence, see outside link. …

Photos Of Houston Grand Criterium

Cycling Space City | cyclingspacecity.blogspot.com

Here are some photos from last Sunday’s (May 7th 2017) Houston Grand Criterium. Weather was great and the crowd was having fun!

NY2TXBeer&DinerMeTour2017

By Mark Shearer | www.crazyguyonabike.com

8-Apr-93 Miles, What was I thinking?
Tuesday May 9, 2017, 93 miles (150 km) – Total so far: 2,100 miles (3,380 km)
Long day, too long. I really didn’t intend to go that far Just wanted to make it to a hotel or good place to camp. Long stretches of open highway/barbed wired land don’t really afford a good campsite. That’s Texas. A crazy amount of land fenced off for cattle or crops and cattle. I know I should be thankful for a shoulder to ride on but the tar and stone surface jars your teeth after a while, to say nothing about what it does to your backside.
Anyway, I start my day about 5 miles from the bridge I’d like to cross and when I get to it I choose I think wisely not to attempt it. I need to cross this bridge to cut about 35 miles off what google maps says my route should be for the day! Waaaay too much traffic and little to no room. I circle back to the Waffle House a couple hundred yards back and devise a solution; find a ride! I’m looking for a suitable pickup truck with room enough from and the bike. The first candidate I come to is a pickup with a bunch of equipment with little room and I offer the guy ten bucks to take me across the bridge. He thinks and …

10-May-the day following!
Thursday May 11, 2017
Chatting with my brother and his wife before breakfast, catching up on old times I remember some old traits my brother possesses. Mainly pointing out the inadiqacies in parts of the government, particularly in California. And how different it is in Texas! Apparently a good portion of Texas residents think you should work for a living and be proud of your status in life. Basically be hardworking and not afraid to tell the man what needs to be said. I’ll leave it at that as some readers might find some thoughts too provoking.
My brother feels a little better when we go to town to pack up my bike for a trip home in a box. He didn’t feel right not going to work. As we leave the house I tell them both I’ve forgotten my money and wallet. This works out good for me as they have to buy lunch and beer for the next couple days. As it turns out Amtrak doesn’t have a purely train only trip to Syracuse till Saturday. They politely invite me to …

Biking with Birds

by Daniel Blue Tyx | texashighways.com


Not a half-hour into my daylong adventure, in the middle of a prairie of sea lavender and leatherleaf, I stopped my bike in wonder. A few dozen yards from the pavement, dozens of sandhill cranes comingled with a flock of ivory snow geese, completely ignoring my entrance into this unspoiled coastal scene. …

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Texas Bicycling News May 5th 2017

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Walk, Run, and Bike in Sugar Land

www.sugarlandtx.gov


Sugar Land is a great place for walking, running and biking. City parks and local communities feature over 3 miles of bike lanes, 51 miles of shared use paths, and 11 miles of sidepaths (wider sidewalks). Many Sugar Land neighborhoods were built with a network of sidewalks connecting to schools, parks and local commercial areas.
As you get ready to go for a walk, run, or bike ride, check out …

Bike to Work Day is May 19, 2017

www.houstonbikeways.org

Please join Mayor Turner and friends on National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 19, 2017, for a fun, Celebratory Bike Ride in and around Downtown Houston. Come explore existing bikeways including the City’s famous off-street trail network and Houston’s recent extension of its first two-way separated bike lane known as the green mile! All participants must register for this event. Please see additional detail below: …

Bayou Greenway Day 2017 draws crowds to Mason Park

By Defender News Service | defendernetwork.com


The Houston Parks Board invited Houstonians to come out and get to know their bayous, and about 3,000 of them did on April 29 at the third annual Bayou Greenway Day along Brays Bayou Greenway at MacGregor Park. This free outdoor festival celebrated the Bayou Greenways, which connect Houstonians to parks and greenspaces – and one another. People of all ages and interests, including many families, checked out this day-long community event presented by Noble Energy.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., families could walk, bike, run, stroll and play along Brays Greenway – the star of …

Cycling participation edges higher in 2016, NSGA reports

by BRAIN Staff | www.bicycleretailer.com

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. (BRAIN) — Cycling participation ticked up a mild 0.5 percent to 36.2 million riders in 2016, according to new figures from the National Sporting Goods Association.
The NSGA defines participants as those who have ridden a bike six or more days per year, and tracks this for Americans ages 7 and up. The association has tracked bicycle riding since 1984. Participation peaked in 1989 at 56.9 million riders.
Youth participation last year dipped 0.7 percent to 10.5 million riders ages 7 to 17, while adult participation rose 1 percent to 25.7 million riders 18 or older. But fewer female adults rode …

TCEQ: Ozone air pollution on the rise this weekend, ride a bike to reduce levels

The Enterprise | www.beaumontenterprise.com

Show the environment some love this weekend by carpooling, dusting off that unused bike or walking.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone Action Day for the Beaumont-Port Arthur area Saturday, and the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission is encouraging residents to contribute.
“Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for …

5 Reasons for Loving the Real Ale Ride

by Bicycle Sport Shop | bicyclesportshop.wordpress.com


Bicycle Sport Shop’s elite racing team, Super Squadra, is no stranger to bike rides in Blanco (and, lets be honest, Real Ale beer). The team members have long made the roads surrounding this scenic little town a destination for training and races.
This year, Super Squadra will participate in the Real Ale Ride’s 15 and 30-mile routes. But team members won’t be racing, they’ll be there to ride alongside kiddos and offer support and encouragement. (Don’t hesitate to ask for a gentle push if a hill proves too daunting.)
Here, Super Squadra recounts five reasons why they love The Real Ale ride. …

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