Texas Bicycling News May 30th 2016

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Colby Lewis on getting hit in the head with a 110 MPH ball and how biking has helped him pitch better

By SportsDayDFW.com

sportsday.dallasnews.com


Texas Rangers pitcher Colby Lewis joined the Ben and Skin Show on 105.3 KRLD-FM The Fan recently to discuss all things baseball. Here are some highlights.
Getting hit in the head:
Lewis: It squared me up good. Rattled my eyes a little bit and then I saw Rougie looking up and I looked up and saw the ball and that’s all I could think about was Rougie finishing the play and getting the out. But it really didn’t feel like… I was just kind of sore. It still kind of is sore to the touch. But yeah it didn’t knock me out, didn’t do nothing. I got pretty fortunate. The good Lord was looking out for me, that’s for sure.
On his hobby of bicycling: …

The southern tier!

By Cheyenne Dolin

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 49: Navasota – Sam Huston National Forest: The ants go marching
Thursday May 26, 2016, 40 miles (64 km) – Total so far: 1,731 miles (2,786 km)
When I went to make breakfast this morning I found hundreds of ants crawling in and out of one of my panniers. They decided they wanted pb&j sandwiches, and I sadly had to throw out the pb&j. This was quite unfortunate as the jar was brand new and I got one of those nifty combo jars; I finally realize why they make those- for backpackers and cyclists who want less weight and more space of course! I had to take out everything and shake it/blow it of ants. Lost a few good pieces of bread, too peppered with ants to try and salvage. I got four ant bites in this process, those little guys can pack quite a sting! I took my time biking today, unsure how far I might go. When I reached Anderson the topography really started to change, there were more trees and more green, more birds and vines. I think I’m starting to enter into that religious/conservative part of the country you here so much about. When I biked into Richard the first thing I saw was a picture of Jesus and a pro-life sign, followed by …

Day 50: Sam Huston – Shepherd: Have you ever seen the rain?
Friday May 27, 2016, 45 miles (72 km) – Total so far: 1,776 miles (2,858 km)
I’m currently in an cabin at Shepherd’s Sanctuary, and I’m sooo glad I’m here because this is the craziest thunderstorm I’ve ever experienced. Buckets of water are pouring down and the thunder is cracking right overhead and it looks like someone turned on a strobe light outside. The wind is loudly whooshing about and I’m pretty sure lightening and thunder is literally right above the roof over my head. I’d be completely screwed if I were in my tent. Luckily, I made cookies in the kitchen here earlier and I feel warm and relatively safe 🙂 Earlier, on my bike ride I swear I was almost hit by lightening. I couldn’t see anything but brightness for a millisecond and within that brightness there was an even brighter spot in the center as I heard thunder crack just above. Of course I’m looking up what happens when people get struck by lightening now, man they get some gnarly and beautiful scars (if they live). Aside from potentially dying, the ride was surprisingly enjoyable, it was a …

Texas Hill Country Loop

By John Koonz

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 4: Fredericksburg to Lake Buchanan
Friday May 27, 2016, 70 miles (113 km) – Total so far: 257 miles (414 km)
Photo gallery

Adventure 1

By Jazael Martinez

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 31: Marathon
Saturday May 7, 2016, 124 km (77 miles) – Total so far: 1,401 km (871 miles)
I packed up as the sun was rising from my emergency camp site that I chose to escape the storm. The day would be slightly shorter than had I just tried it all in one day, but it was still a good distance to cover. A good distance, and worse without many places that I knew for sure had water.
I started to make my way over to the visitor’s center, which was on the way out. I still needed to pay the entry fee, since I was unable to do so the previous days since the other visitor center was closed. …

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Memorial Day Bike Ride to SH 242 and Back

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A Memorial Day ride was in order. It was great seeing all of the flags as I rode the “SR242 – Valley Ranch” route. I remembered all of the people who gave their lives for our country. I lost uncle Robert in WWII. He was in the Army and was killed while fighting in Africa but they never found his body. Several other uncles served in WWII but they did not die while serving in the military.

I started to ride another route to the south but I remembered there was a car show in Kingwood Town Center and riding through or around it is difficult. Then my wife called to tell me W. Lake Houston Parkway was closed at the San Jacinto River due to high water so I changed riding plans. There is lots of high water to the south of Kingwood along the San Jacinto River thanks to the very heavy rain on Thursday and Friday. The river topped out at 61.9 feet with flood stage at 54 feet. The worst flood was in 1994 at 67.9 feet.

Weather today was overcast when I started at 10:40. I got an earlier start because the Giro d’ Italia is over and I don’t need to wait. The temperature was 82 degrees and the humidity was 79%. Wind was a light 7 mph from the south. With this level of humidity every time I stopped I was instantly covered with dripping sweat. The temperature didn’t change by the time I finished at 1:32 bu the humidity came down to 72%, not enough to help.

I wasn’t sure if I would see any high water but I could see evidence of where it was earlier. I though E. Knox Drive between Loop 494 and US59 might still have water but it was drive. I started to ride on Knox Drive to US59 but I saw two large dogs in the street about half way. I have not seen them before and didn’t want to take a chance on them being friendly so I turned around an rode south on Loop 494 to E. Memorial Drive, the next street south and rode to US59. I checked for the dogs on Knox as I pedaled by but they were not in the street.

The ride to SH 242 went quickly with the help of the tailwind. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I made the u-turn and headed into the wind. It wasn’t too difficult of a headwind and I was able to continue improving my overall average speed. I did notice more wind when I turned right onto Valley Ranch Parkway south of FM1485 but it winds around and the headwind was not there all the time. I rode to the Stripes station at FM1314 where Is topped to refill my water bottle with ice and water. Normally I would take a break but I was feeling good so I did not take a break. I took this screen picture of the Edge 520 and the weather conditions before leaving Stripes.

The ride from Stripes to home was about 12 miles. I added some extra to get the ride to 36.59 miles. This puts me at 805 miles for the month of May. The Oakhurst golf course was busy as I rode by the last holes along Mills Branch Drive.

Earlier when I was stopped at the traffic light on Loop 494 and east FM1485 a man and woman pulled up beside me on their Harley Davidson. We chatted while waiting for the light to change and then they took off. He said they were out cruising, looking at the high water areas and stuff.

Partly cloudy and 86 is the forecast tomorrow. Hopefully the water is down along W. Lake Houston Parkway. I plan on biking. Sunday I was going to ride but just didn’t make it.

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Texas Bicycling News May 29th 2016

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Our Neighbors: TABC 150-mile bike ride

www.theeagle.com


Sgt. Jeff Farmer, a Bryan-College Station-area officer of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, recently participated in a 150-mile bike ride to raise money for the families of fallen officers. Farmer went on a …

RIDE THE CAR-FREE WALNUT CREEK TRAIL ALL THE WAY

Saturday, Jun 4, 2016, 8:15 AM

Don’s Automotive Repair
1636 S 1st St Austin, TX

13 Austin Cyclists Went

OK, we are going to ride the very mellow car-free Walnut Creek trail.  We leave from Don’s Automotive on South First, meet 8:15, WHEELS DOWN 8:30 Five miles to the trail head, trail is about 10-15 miles out. (??)   So about 32 miles total.  BUT, you can fall in at the Govalle Park parking lot on Bolm Rd. alternatively.  Please RSVP with comment pos…

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Cyclists to race in Greenville in Texas State Criterium

David Claybourn Herald-Banner Sports Editor

www.heraldbanner.com


More than 100 cyclists are to race around downtown Greenville during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The Texas State Criterium, a Texas Cup event presented by Dallas Racing, is scheduled for Sunday and Monday. A criterium is a bicycle race set for a specific time period on a public street course that is closed to normal traffic. The cyclists will start on Lee and race up and down for a little over a mile in distance on Stonewall and Johnson streets, around the …

The southern tier!

By Cheyenne Dolin

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 48: La Grange – Navasota: Horror scene bathroom
Wednesday May 25, 2016
I hit the road around 7:30am. The ride to Round Hill was pretty but rather unremarkable. I stopped for the coffee at a little cafe in round hill, feeling surprised and pleased that anything was open at all on a Tuesday. The cafe was tiny, a large wooden community table took up the center with eight comfy chairs. I sat at it and chatted with five men who were all probably in their 60s. I notice almost everywhere I go the places are filled with men older than fifty and I have no idea why. Usually the only women are the waitresses. Anyways, they were nice fellow. One worked for the newspaper in La Grange, another was in the process of moving an entire house (not just the insides, the whole thing) a block down the road for the second time. It wasn’t his house, just his job. The third guy was quiet and had big blue eyes, the …

Carry the Load comes through Midland on way to Memorial Day observance

By Erin Stone

www.mrt.com

Nonprofit’s mission is preserving holiday’s true meaning

Former Navy SEAL Clint Bruce was at a Memorial Day barbecue years ago, surrounded by friends and family, when he realized the day meant something much different to him than to them. For some it was just a day off; for others it was a great day for sales. For Bruce — who had deployments both before and after 9/11 — it was a time remember his friends who had died.

… On May 20, two veterans and a civilian met the Carry the Load bus at the Walgreens on Big Spring Street to carry their share of the load. They were about to embark on a 12-mile bike ride, one of six rides or walks that took place in Midland throughout that day, as part of Carry the Load’s goal to provide interactive ways of showing gratitude to those who served. …

Mountain bike trail to receive grant funds

By FRANK GARZA

www.valleymorningstar.com

BROWNSVILLE — Cameron County was one of 22 recipients for federal grant money that will eventually pave the way for a mountain bike trail at Pete Benavides Park.
The grant money comes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, which approved a total of $3.54 million in federal grants through the …

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Texas Bicycling News May 28th 2016

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Eastside revitialization project promises to save flood prone homes

Sue Calberg

www.kens5.com

SAN ANTONIO — A dangerous, overgrown ditch along Menger Creek is being transformed.
The project is designed to save homes when it’s flooding and create a safe place to play when it’s not raining.
“The water comes up three to four feet back here,” said Dewayne Parks. “Like literally if it was raining we’d be standing up knee high in water.”
Parks says dogs are forced to climb atop their dog houses to stay safe from the flooding.
After every heavy rain, Parks can’t mow his lawn for weeks and the mosquito situation defies description, but help is at hand.
A $7.5 million dollar project that will take 49 homes out of the floodplain.
In the heart of the EastPoint Revitalization zone, this will be a terrific community resource with a playground, picnic areas, plenty of shade and a paved trail for hiking, biking, and nature. …

CPSC Recalls Certain Box Components Carbon BMX Forks

www.cxmagazine.com


The recall involves Box Components’ carbon fiber BMX bicycle forks. The steer tube can become loose in the crown of the fork, posing a fall hazard. The forks are black with “BOX” printed in white on the side. The model numbers are printed in white letters on the front face of fork crown. The affected models have one of the following three serial numbers printed above …

New Location for Memorial Day Spring Fling Picnic! (approx 1 mile more)

Waco Bicycle Club

us13.campaign-archive2.com

#PicnicInThePark Todd Behringer has given us permission to have our Memorial Day picnic at the newly-cleared picnic spot on Powder Monkey right at the end of the gravel road (Adeline) which parallels Arizona!! The road and mountain bike rides will still depart from Redwood Shelter at 10 AM.
NOTE: Sarah will be leaving Redwood Shelter Parking lot at noon sharp to lead people over to the picnic area. Additionally, turn by turn directions and a map are posted on the WBC web page. Finally, signs will guide people all the way from Redwood Shelter to the …

Volunteers needed: Collin Classic Break Point 6/11

by TimE

www.planobicycle.org

Wanted: Volunteers to help out with the ever-popular PBA Break Point “B” for the Collin Classic on June 11th. New route, new break point!
Tricia and I are coordinating the break point again this year and could really use your help. We will be breaking in a new location just after the Lake Lavon Dam. If you rode the WildRide this was one of their stop locations. Whether you plan on riding the Classic or not, we can use your assistance. We expect even more traffic than before, as we are catching both outbound and inbound riders.
If you can help out let us know by emailing us at timrides at verizon.net or timandtricia at verizon.net. Let us know the shifts you will be working (set up, during the ride, teardown, or any …

Abilene college students making border-to-border bike ride

By Loretta Fulton

www.reporternews.com


A midpoint stop on a border-to-border bike ride will mean more to a group of Abilene college students than just hitting the halfway mark.
The stop, expected to come Thursday, will be in Abilene, Kansas, the cattle town that Abilene, Texas, was named for. The cyclists will bear gifts from the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau and a proclamation from Mayor Norm Archibald, titled, “Abilene Texas to Abilene Kansas Friendship Ride.” …

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