Texas Bicycling Adventures for December 2, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

This year’s memorial bike ride raised more than $41,000 for local volunteer fire departments

By Carla McKeown | breckenridgetexan.com

This year’s Sloan Everett Pure Country Pedal Memorial Bike Ride had more participants and raised more funds than it has in its history, more than tripling the amount raised the first year the event became a fundraiser in 2019.

On Wednesday afternoon, several members of the Everett family and others involved in organizing the bike ride gathered at the Breckenridge City Park to present checks to the three local volunteer fire departments. This year, the bike ride raised $41,753.18, donating $13,752.17 each to the Caddo VFD, Hubbard Creek VFD and Wayland VFD. …

San Antonio’s 12-year-old bike plan flopped. Now young city leaders are spearheading a reboot.

by Andrea Drusch | sanantonioreport.org

Gathered around a table at the Dakota East Side Ice House Thursday night, a group of roughly 20 bike enthusiasts got the first look at the City of San Antonio’s overhauled bike website, complete with comprehensive maps of the city’s existing bike routes.

“We just today launched a monster update to our website,” said David Bemporad, a transportation planning consultant working on the city’s bike network reboot.

“We realized there’s no real place anywhere at that you can find a complete and consolidated inventory of what exists on San Antonio streets right now that can be used by bikes. It didn’t exist.” …

The Northaven Trail bridge is a vital pedestrian connector

By Dallas Morning News Editorial | www.dallasnews.com

If you live in the Dallas area and you’ve been on the Internet in the last few weeks, you’ve probably seen the video of a confused driver trying to get over a bridge meant for pedestrians.

The car was driving over the new Northaven Trail pedestrian bridge over North Central Expressway, a bridge that connects the Cottonwood Creek, White Rock Creek and the SoPac trails in the east and the Northaven Trail in the west.

This all happened last month, just a few days after the bridge opened, and the moment was rich with …

MTB Race: Hugelland Holiday Marathon Gillespie County, Texas

Jaime Quintero Cadena | strava.com

Spectrum Trail Racing – The Circus Bastrop County, Texas

David Reynolds | strava.com

Missed these ppl ?? RIP Spring Donuts Houston, Texas

Alyssa Pérez | strava.com

VC/Cadence Keller SMR – Decatur Keller, Texas

Mark Brown | strava.com

Morning Ride San Antonio, Texas

Steven Guerrero | strava.com

MP Ride Montgomery County, Texas

Marjoe Q. Borromeo | strava.com

Bruce’s Bday Saturday Benders Roll Montgomery County, Texas

Chase Ferrell | strava.com

Overcast, Not As Warm As Preferred But I Rode Atascocita – Huffman – Walden

Texbiker.net Posted on by

While waiting for the temperature to go up and the overcast sky to thin out a little I watched the women’s and men’s cyclocross SUPERPRESTIGE BOOM races from Belgium. It was cold there but sunny. Still waiting I ate breakfast checking the temperature periodically on my home weather station. I finally decided if I was going to ride I better bundle up (I’m a temperature wimp) and go. I donned shorts, leg warmers, a long sleeve thermal jersey, and a windbreaker jacket. I didn’t wear full finger gloves and for several miles I questioned that decision but eventually body heat warmed my fingers enough that I was okay.

I rolled out at 12:27 PM (ignore the 12:22 start time I say in the video) on my Canyon Endurace CF 7 bike. Because of the late start and cooler weather I shortened the Atascocita – Huffman – Walden route by about 3 miles leaving out Sherwood Trails Village, Elm Grove Village, North Woodland Hills Village, and most of Bear Branch Village. I ended up riding 29.33 miles finishing at 2:39 PM. Once my legs warmed up they powered me along boosting my overall average speed to 14.1 mph for miles. Weather conditions for the ride: Start 63 degrees, humidity 87%, dew point 59.6, overcast, wind NW 7 mph; Finish 65 degrees, humidity 88%, dew point 61.3, fog/mist, wind NW 7 mph.

A big motivation was learning more about screen recording my Wahoo Bolt computer and merging the video with the GoPro video. I tweaked the cuing marks in the GoPro video to help sync them. I changed the look of the Bolt map screen to get more space for the map, added the time, and changed the gears data to just numbers. I think this cleaned up the screen.

One challenge using the GoPro is battery life. Around 21 miles the GoPro turned off claiming low battery. I gave it some time and recorded more clips but each time the GoPro turned off because of low battery. At home when I turned the GoPro on the battery showed 55%. Not sure what is going on. Earlier this morning I received an email from AliExpress showing a number of bicycle related items because of my previous purchases. One of the items was intriguing, a bike head lamp combined with a battery pack with a computer mount on top and mounted to another computer mount below. A USB C cable with dual heads to charge things was attached. This might help with the GoPro battery time. I ordered one to try. ROCKBROS 5000mAh Bike Light Front Lamp Type-C

I didn’t see other cyclists but Strava awarded me the Local Legend on Kings Crossing North. Maybe the previous holder stayed home today.

12-2-2023 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Huffman-Walden
12-2-2023 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Huffman-Walden

Texas Bicycling News for December 1, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Your faithful Dallas columnist returns with a progress report on issues close to my heart

By Sharon Grigsby | www.dallasnews.com

The latest on safety fixes for trails, the dedication and defacing of Black memorials and a Five Mile Creek start date

A Dallas Fire-Rescue truck sits on the lake side of the White Rock Lake bike-and-hike trail after it crashed off adjacent Garland Road while on an emergency run during heavy rain April 26.(Elias Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

I’m back.

Working on this newspaper’s “Deadly Fake” fentanyl project was a meaningful run, but I’m glad to return to my regular job as your faithful city columnist.

Let’s start with a quick reminder: I can’t be everywhere, as much as I try. That’s why I’m always interested in hearing from readers, especially when it comes to issues in your neighborhood. All ideas welcome at sgrigsby@dallasnews.com.

For now, let’s get everyone up to date on key developments — steps forward, steps back and, in some cases, no steps at all — on topics I brought to light earlier this year. …

7 projects around greater San Antonio receive part of ‘historic’ TxDOT funding

Mason Hickok | www.ksat.com

The funding aims to provide transportation alternatives, construction to assist pedestrians and bicyclists

Several projects in and around the greater San Antonio area received funding from a Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) grant to address pedestrian and bicycle needs.

The “historic” $345 million in grants was approved for 83 total projects around the state geared toward safety enhancements and mobility options, according to a TxDOT news release.

Money from the grant comes as part of the Transportation Alternatives program, which supports local projects across Texas geared toward pedestrian and bicycle amenities.

“This is a major investment in communities across the state that will help make it safer and easier to get around on foot or a bike,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert “Robie” Vaughn. “This optionality supports safety, active lifestyles, health and wellness, and can provide alternatives to traveling by vehicle.”

Texas is seeing an upward trend in pedestrian and bicycle-related fatalities. …

Menger Elementary gets a grant for new bikes for students to use during PE

Author: Keshondra Shipp | www.kiiitv.com

The national ‘All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride’ physical education aims to teach Kindergarten students to ride bikes thanks to a generous donation from HDR engineering

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Students at Moses Menger Elementary School were surprised with bikes as part of a new initiative to get students outside and riding.

The national ‘All Kids Bike Learn-to-Ride’ physical education aims to teach Kindergarten students to ride bikes thanks to a generous donation from engineering firm HDR.

Menger Elementary School staff and HDR representatives got to be a part of the surprise, and introduce the new program to kindergarteners. …

Up in the air: BMX riders in Longview for pre-Olympics event

Author: Les Hassell, Longview News-Journal | www.cbs19.tv

The Freedom Freestyle Series competitions are set Wednesday and Thursday at the complex with a championship event Saturday.

LONGVIEW, Texas — It wasn’t football or barbecue that brought the Olympics to East Texas on Tuesday. It was the world-class facilities at the Dodson Action Sports Complex at Ingram Park.

Professional bicycle motocross riders from around the country are competing this week in Longview in a series of competitions to gain points to possibly even earn spots on Team USA’s men’s and women’s freestyle BMX teams for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

The Freedom Freestyle Series competitions are set Wednesday and Thursday at the complex with a championship event Saturday. The three events will begin at 9 a.m. each day and wrap up around 6 p.m.

Katy charity issues plea for help after 75 kids in need left without Christmas gifts

By Claire Goodman | www.houstonchronicle.com

Seventy-five children in the Katy Christian Ministries’ Santa’s Sleigh program are facing a Christmas without gifts after an expected donation fell through four days before the gifts were set to be delivered.

The children come from families with a documented financial need assessed through the charity’s social services program. …

Hill Country Ride for AIDS launches silver anniversary with community celebration at Kind Clinic’s event

by John-Carlos Estrada | cbsaustin.com

AUSTIN, Texas — This Friday marks a special occasion as the Hill Country Ride for AIDS (HCRA) kicks off the launch week for its Silver Anniversary during the Kind Clinic’s Rock The Ribbon event for World AIDS Day.

Serving as the opener for the 24-hour Rock The Ribbon event, HCRA invites the community to join them for an evening of reflection, celebration, and registration for the 25th Anniversary Hill Country Ride for AIDS.

The Hill County Ride for AIDS ride will happen on April 20, 2024, at Krause Springs. …

Senior-Level Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner (Hybrid)

www.ziprecruiter.com

North Central Texas Council of Governments Arlington, TX Full-Time

Are you looking to join an award-winning organization with a culture built on innovation and public service? Are you looking for a position that offers a hybrid work schedule with work from home options? The Transportation Department of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is seeking an individual to assume a leadership role in the management of areas within the Sustainable Development Program primarily focusing on active transportation (bicycle and pedestrian) planning.

This position will be classified as a Senior Transportation Planner and will oversee staff activities and implement programs and projects related to active transportation initiatives for the Dallas-Fort Worth region with a population exceeding 7.5 million. This position is an exciting opportunity to see integrated transportation and land-use planning move from theory to policy to implementation. The …

Looked Forward Biking In The Real World. Video Overlay Test.

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I’ve been looking forward to biking outdoors since my last ride a week ago. The weather warmed up enough that all I needed were shorts, a long sleeve jersey, and a short sleeve jersey. I wanted to try a different video experience using the Wahoo Bolt computer screen capture along with the GoPro video. Today was the day. I had to wait for the fog to lift before starting at 11:43 AM. I wasn’t sure where i was going to ride until just before leaving. I rode my Cervelo Caledonia north on my Kingwood – FM 1485 – Kingwood route. The overcast sky and light wind was favorable. I didn’t realize my overall average speed was 14.4 mph until riding south on Valley Ranch Parkway on the way back to Kingwood. Six days of Zwift riding did not hurt my legs and they produced the power for today’s bike ride. Nineteen rides on this route as the year gets closer to the end. I’m getting close to the miles I rode in 2022 when I look at the year progressions graph from Strava. Before the ride I aired up the Cervelo’s tires since it hasn’t been on the road in many days.

After finishing the ride I edited the video and I think the Bolt computer screen capture syncs closely to the video. I need to fine tune the video breaks. The GoPro needs a longer lasting battery too.

12-1-2023 Strava Ride Summary Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood
12-1-2023 Strava Ride Summary Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood