Shorter Quicker “Oakhurst – Valley Ranch” Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today’s ride was shorter than usual at 28.30 miles on the “Oakhurst – Valley Ranch” route. I am time constrained today but I did manage to start biking at 9:57. It took a large amount of effort to leave then. The weather was not heated up yet but it was still hot and the humidity was around 70% making for a soggy ride. My jersey didn’t take long to get soaked. Every time I slowed or stopped sweat dripped down my arms and on to the pavement.

Early in the ride while I was still navigating the Kingwood greenbelt trail I rounded a corner the same time as another biker was rounding it from the other direction. We both swerved the correct direction and avoided a crash.

No rest stop today but I make a quick stop at the Valley Ranch Texaco to replenish my water bottle. Riding south on the I-69/US59 service road the wind was mostly from the left rear and I rode quick enough to improve my average speed to 14.7 mph. I biked back into Kingwood through Woodridge Forest and Sherwood Trails finishing the ride at 12:00.

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Home Weather at the end of the ride

7-20-2016 Home Weather Finish 1213PM

Texas Bicycling News July 19th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Cypress Social Bike Ride pin Sherlocks Baker’s St. Pub – Cypress, Tx

www.usampm.com

MEET UP: 6:30pm @ Sherlock’s Baker St on the patio
(red/blue building says Baker Street Pub & Grill)
BRING: front and back lights (required), any kind of lights will do
OPTIONAL: helmets, bike locks, drinks, and favorite tunes, remember everyone is responsible for their own safety!
PACE: no drop 12-15 MPH(perfect for beginners)
ROLL OUT: at 6 ish, we usually wait for almost everyone.
ROUTE: 15-20 miles, we will be making 1 or 2 stops to hydrate.
MID STOP: Murdoch’s Backyard Pub has a huge patio with good food and cold drinks!!

Tour de France rookie is a proud Texan, but the next Lance Armstrong he is happily not

Daniel McMahon

nordic.businessinsider.com

ARCALIS, Andorra -Lawson Craddock is riding his first Tour de France this month, and he’s not just sitting in for the ride. The Houston native has finished in the top 20 on two stages and gotten into a breakaway. He has put in a lot of hard miles working for his team leader, France’s Pierre Rolland. Craddock has suffered, too, having been dropped from the peloton while climbing some of the race’s toughest mountains. But with a steady trajectory from junior rider to the top of the sport, and impressive results on his rê´µmé¡©ncluding third at the …

Austin Cycling Meetup

Austin, TX
3,503 Austin Cyclists

Welcome to Austin Cycling Meetup, your friendly neighborhood “low key” recreational cycling group!Austin Cycling Meetup group is not a hard core anything. We’re a little bit …

Check out this Meetup Group →

Texas students embracing cross-country bike trek

www.newsoptimist.ca


Annie Henson, left, Samantha Meyer and Jose Talavera rode their way through North Battleford on Monday afternoon as part of the Texas 4000 charity bicycle tour.

When Cullen Bounds and Samantha Meyer first arrived at the University of Texas campus in Austin to start their studies, they were both taken by surprise by a booth promoting a charity bicycle tour to Alaska.
ԉt was my first day on campus and people were there to tell us all about the Texas 4000 ride and what it entailed,ԠBounds said. ԉ was hooked on the idea right away.ԍ
Ô”hey asked me ‘Do you want to bike to Alaska?’ and I thought they were absolutely crazy,Ô Meyer added. Ô“oon after that …

Jeffrey Moore

By Tommie Ethington

www.sanantoniomag.com

Founder of SATX Social Ride brings people together while advocating for a more bike-friendly city

When Jeffrey Moore first started riding his bike downtown seven years ago, it was mostly a solitary pursuit. Ô‰ could go 30 or 40 minutes and not see another bike rider,Ô says the San Antonio native. So he began inviting friends along and in 2013 started a Facebook group to spread the word even further. Five years later, his groupØ«nown as SATX Social Rideزegularly has more than 300 people turn out to ride each …

Adventure 1

By Jazael Martinez

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 69: Raymondville
Tuesday June 14, 2016, 110 km (68 miles) – Total so far: 2,983 km (1,854 miles)
Groggily waking up on the beach at South Padre Island I realized that I slept through the sunrise! Bummer. Oh, well. I sat and watched the empty beach for a little while then decided whether or not to go that day.
I could’ve stayed there another day, or week, but I decided on going that day. Having just stayed for a long time in Matamoros I didn’t want to have a hard time leaving again. It still was …

Day 70: The Broken Spoke
Wednesday June 15, 2016, 123 km (76 miles) – Total so far: 3,106 km (1,930 miles)
When I awoke in Raymondville I quickly realized that there wasn’t even a continental breakfast at the hotel. Double dupped. Probably for the best though. I found a place nearby to go to.
It was a little Mexican restaurant. It was cheap and it was great! Might not have looked fancy, but it was delicious. The server was also nice, and the service speedy. …

Bike retailers go to Washington to push for online sales tax legislation

by BRAIN Staff

www.bicycleretailer.com

Retailers and executives discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act with Congress.
BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) × The PeopleForBikes Coalition and the National Bicycle Dealers Association were joined by independent bicycle retailer representatives last week on the second PeopleForBikes Executive Fly-In in partnership with the NBDA.
Todd Grant, the NBDA’s president, Brandee Lepak of Arizona’s Global Bikes, Greg Thielmeyer of Ohio’s Team Cycling and Fitness, Jeff Selzer of California’s Palo Alto Bicycles, and Hill Abell of Texas’ Bicycle Sport Shop took part. The delegation also …

Texas students stop in Prince George on bike ride to Anchorage

Colin Dacre

www.myprincegeorgenow.co


Twenty two students from the University of Texas are taking a rest day in Prince George today, on their way to Anchorage, Alaska.
The Texas 4000 is an annual ride which raises money for cancer research by sending a total of 67 riders on three teams on three routes from Texas to Alaska. The three routes are titled; Sierra, Rockies and Ozarks.
The team in Prince George today is on the Rockies route (see …

Beginning Racer Program

by Bicycle Sport Shop

bicyclesportshop.wordpress.com


Have you been a Driveway Series spectator but interested in finding out what its like out there on the track? Then join us at the Beginning Racer Program!
Sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop and taught by the elite racing team Super Squadra presented by Eliel Cycling, The Beginning Racer Program will teach you the necessary skills for your race debut. The five clinic series is designed to give you a baseline in fundamental pack skills, cornering, improving situational awareness and pack positioning, and sprinting basics. Since the clinics are not weekly, you …

Upcoming Events Corinth Cycling

Corinth Cycling

corinthcycling.wordpress.com

7:00am- Corinth Cycling Group Rides July 23, 2016 at 7:00 am – 10:00 am Crownover Middle School, 1901 Creekside Drive, Corinth, TX 76210, United States Corinth Cycling Saturday morning group rides. Please visit http://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf for additional information.
7:00am- Sunday Group Ride July 24, 2016 at 7:00 am – 9:30 am Crownover Middle School, 1901 Creekside Drive, Corinth, TX 76210, United States http://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf 8:00am
7:00am- Corinth Cycling Group Rides July 30, 2016 at 7:00 am – 10:00 am Crownover Middle School, 1901 Creekside Drive, Corinth, TX 76210, United States Corinth Cycling Saturday morning group rides. Please visit http://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf for additional information. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

Wind, Dogs, Not Enough Legs Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

There was a slight threat of rain in today’s forecast but it wasn’t supposed to be where I was biking. I chose the “FM1960 to FM686 – Back” route to ride more than 40 miles to put me over 600 miles for the month. I biked 43.04 miles pushing July miles to 606.

Since it was a TdF rest day I started the ride at 10:18 ( early for me) under a sunny sky. The temperature was in the low 90’s and the wind wasn’t too bad so I thought. Not much happened until I pulled onto FM1960 to begin riding to FM686. That was where I found out the wind was from the E or ENE. I am not sure of the speed but it was enough to make pedaling very difficult. I had shifted to the gears I use (34 front, 13 rear) and about half way over Lake Houston I maintained a 16 to 18 mph speed but then my legs started sending messages that this was not going to last very long. The effort was too much. As I rode past the Cedar Landing restaurant I saw the flag was almost straight out indicating the wind was above 10 mph. I changed the gearing to 34 x 14 to give my legs some relief. It was about 8 miles to FM686 and the railroad overpass awaited too. It was heating up too. I pedaled along but around 22 miles I pulled over and stopped in some shade for a few minutes to rest and drink cold water. This helped refresh my legs and I resumed biking east on FM1960. I made it through the chip’n seal section and then tackled the overpass. Coasting down the other side of the overpass I rested my legs for the 2 miles to FM686.

I was doing okay. Up ahead I saw a man on a riding lawn mower between the shoulder and the property fence. As I approached him two dogs came running from the yard, under the fence and starting chasing me. I moved from the shoulder to the traffic lane and yelled at the dog that was staying up with me. My legs had enough power to stay even with him but not get ahead. Part of the problem was the gears I was in. I should’ve shifted to the 34 x 13 for more speed. Finally the dog tired and veered over into the grass and slowed down. All I needed was a dog chase into the wind with leg muscles complaining loudly. I pedaled on to FM686, pulled into the Dayton Food & Fuel Shell station. I went inside to refill my water bottle. Outside I leaned against a red traffic pole by the front door to rest and drink ice water. As I stood there I noticed rain drops starting to appear on the hood of the pickups nearby. Not a lot of drops though. After a few minutes I moved over to the pumps, got a paper towel and wiped some of the sweat around my eyes. Behind I could see some dark clouds over Dayton and to the west I though I heard thunder.

Leaving the station I pulled onto FM1960 riding west. The wind I had to fight all the way there was now a tailwind. I was ready for that. About a 1/4 of a mile from the station I felt the first rain drops. It didn’t rain hard but a light rain. The guy on the mower was still working but as I got closer he darted up the driveway. As I passed the scene of the dog chase on the other side of the road I looked to see if the dogs were interested in another chase but they weren’t visible. With the help of the wind I was going 18 to 21 mph until I went over the overpass but on the way down I was back up to speed. All of the time I was in a light rain and I could see dark clouds ahead. I figured it was raining harder in Huffman but about a mile from FM2100 the rain tapered off and stopped. I was wet not not much more than I was from sweating.

The rest stop at the Huffman Chevron was a long one. I wanted to rest up for the final segment home and I also heard thunder to the west and I wanted to allow some time for the rain to move on. I got some blue PowerAde and sat down under the canopy. I rinsed out my wrist bands and wrung out my gloves putting them some paper towels to help dry some. This is the Elemnt screen when I arrived.

7-19-2016 Huffamn Chevron

I took some weather screen shots but the conditions where I was didn’t match the screen. It was hotter and drier where I was. Eating my Clif bar and whole grain fruit bar while I rested I could still hear thunder to the west and see dark clouds. I checked the weather radar on my phone and the rain was west of where I would be biking so I felt better. As I prepared to leave I gathered the soaked Greensheet newspaper and multitude of paper towels I used. I kept some of the wet towels and wiped off my bike. After refilling my water bottle I got back on my bike and left. I resumed my good pace with the tailwind again until I was over Lake Houston where the wind turned against me for some reason but I pedaled on. I could still see the dark clouds to the west but I wasn’t getting close to them. The roads were dry so the thunder must have been beyond.

I made my way through Atascocita Shores and Kings River to W. Lake Houston Parkway. Still no signs of rain. I rode north on WLP and finished the ride at 2:23.

This week I biked 83 miles so far. Tomorrow I will only have time for a short ride. The weather looks favorable.

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End of Ride Home Weather

7-19-2016 Home Weather Finish 234PM

Texas Bicycling News July 18th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Midnight Massacre 2016

BrassMonkey3571

youtube.com

Spinistry’s annual nighttime gravel grinder. This year featured the 100 mile route.

Folsom Hike & Bike trail adds parking spaces

www.beaumontenterprise.com


The Folsom Hike & Bike Trail parking lot expansion project will add 18 parking spaces to the existing parking lot, according to a Facebook post by the City of Beaumont.
The project will bring the parking lot to a total of 40 spaces, and is expected to be completed by July 29.

SwAus- Southwest Cycle Sport Saturday Mountain Bike Ride

eventful.com

August 6, 2016
Saturday 9:00 AM (on various days)
Southwest Cycle Sport
11805 Bee Cave Road
Austin, Texas 78733
This Southwest Cycle Sport sponsored mountain bike ride leaves from the shop and is a 10-12 mile ride at a moderate pace.
For more info, call (512) 263-5107 or visit http://www.southwestcyclesport.com/ride-board.html

COMMENTARY: Welcome the 2016 Games of Texas to McAllen

JIM DARLING

www.themonitor.com

Let the games begin! Come summer time McAllen residents can expect bigger and better things headed our way Å the 2016 Summer Games of Texas.
At the end of this month, McAllen and surrounding Valley communities can expect more hustle and bustle as 10,000 athletes along with an expected 10,000 spectators from throughout Texas descend on the City of Palms. I invite you to help me welcome them with open arms. …

… Sponsored by the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation, the games will feature 17 team and individual tournaments, including swimming, soccer, tennis, cycling, golf, softball and volleyball. …

Riverbend West Loop Work Party

GHORBA.org

Event category: General
Trail: River Bend
Saturday, July 23, 2016 – 7:30am
Riverbend work party for the West Loop. Mostly moving sand but some trimming and cutting too.
Bring:
Hard fingered rakes (Will convert to sand hoe by tying 1/2 PVC to head)
shovels
loppers
WATER. LOTS of WATER
bug spray
Parking options: …

Group rides Oklahoma

By Ryan Lewis

altustimes.com


The Altus community may have noticed, there is a bit more traffic of the two-wheeled variety around town as of late.
They are a group of cycling enthusiasts that began riding together in 2015, starting relatively small with only six to eight cyclists last spring and growing to more than 40 men and women today. They call themselves Altus Area Cycling × or AAC.
Gerrid Kendrix started cycling in 2008 following a visit to his doctor where he was …

… The AAC group rides together weekly and recently completed two group rides in Meers and Muenster, Texas and ride annually in the HotterÓŽ Hell 100 and other events around north Texas and Oklahoma. Cycling gives riders the opportunity to travel area roads and have a more intimate relationship with nature, allowing the rider to see things they …

DPS: Bicycle rider killed by drunk driver

amarillo.com

A bicycle rider was struck and killed by a vehicle on Sunday on an Interstate 40 westbound access road in Potter County, according to Texas Department of Public Safety.
Troopers arrested the driver, Shatt Davis, 30, of Wildorado, for …

Houston Pursuit bike team reaches Chicago in cross-country summer bike ride

by mhubberd

cw39.com

CHICAGO, IL – Remember the bike ride across America that started back in June to raise $11 Million for Houston’s ‘The Center’ organization?
Well, that ‘Pursuit’ has reached an important milestone, as dedicated riders pedaled into the Windy City over the weekend!
“Living Bright’s about embracing the positive in everything we do,” Pursuit rider Jennifer Dominiquini declared. “And this is what this ride’s been all about!”
The ride is …

Buffered Bike Lanes on Kirkwood (& trees too)

bikehouston.org

Kirkwood is being rebuilt between Memorial to Britoak (just south of Katy Fwy). As part of this Kirkwood/Nottingham Rebuild Project, buffered bike lanes are proposed. These buffered bike lanes will serve as the main north-south connector for higher speed bicyclists, as other north-south streets in the area are better fits for wider sidewalks. Kirkwood is designated on the Houston Bike Plan as important street for bikeways because it connects multiple neighborhoods to Terry Hershey Park and to jobs in the Energy Corridor. Residential neighborhoods line the roadway and limited driveways make it an ideal bicycle route as long as traffic is slow and the distance between motorists and bicyclists is increased as provided by …

What heat? Katy Flatland Century draws 2,300 riders

By Pete Radowick

www.wheelbrothers.com


Northwest Cycling Club is reveling today after one of its most successful renditions of the Katy Flatland Century, held Sunday on the bald prairie west of Houston.
Some 2,327 riders turned out , braving a forecast of temperatures in the high-90s, and were rewarded with intermittent cloud cover and seven rest stops amply supplied with tons (literally) of ice and every form of fuel a rider could want. …

Stay connected. Ride different

Mihaela Cheptene

www.theventureonline.com


METRO provides the people of Houston efficient transit services. One of the challenges for them consist on trying to connect the METROrails with B-Cycle, which creates a more effective system. Bikes are METRO’s latest answer to making transportation easier in such a crowded town like Houston.
I accepted the challenge and decided to go for a ‘Ridescapade’ with …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/755141774184550400

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar