Texas Bicycle News Digest May 6th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

MSU men’s cycling wins another conference crown

By Donny Victory

www.timesrecordnews.com


Midwestern State men’s cycling team earned its ninth consecutive conference championship last weekend in Commerce as the Mustangs remained undefeated in conference competition for the past four years.
Mother Nature did her best to steal center stage, wiping out many of the scheduled races, but the Midwestern Men’s A riders were not to be denied their time in the sun.
The Men’s A competition races were the only …

May 14 cycling fair offers free helmets, bike inspections

www.dallascitynews.net

Dallas Park and Recreation has teamed with American Society of Safety Engineers Southwest Chapter to host a family-friendly bike fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Cotton Bowl Plaza in Fair Park.
An on-site obstacle course for cyclists ages five to 14 will re-create real-life cycling situations. Attendees can practice scanning for automobiles, develop correct riding postures, learn intersection safety tips, and detect and avoid road hazards such as tree limbs, pot holes and rocks. …

Ride to honor: Local officers cycle to honor Jones

By Deanna Kirk

www.corsicanadailysun.com


Imagine riding a bicycle in the Hill Country, pulling the hills while the sun is beaming down.
Then picture riding that bicycle 150 miles from Katy to Austin.
Two local law enforcement officers did just that April 30 and May 1, and they did it to honor the memory of their fallen comrade, Officer Chester Jones. Sr. Trooper John Cabano with the Department of Public Safety and Officer Dante Johnson with the Navarro College Police Department both made the decision to participate in the Texas Police Officers Memorial Ride. …

Proud traditions: Cycling Scenes in College Towns

Drew Hulse

www.redandblack.com


The Athens Twilight Criterium is not only the biggest cycling event each year in Athens; it is one of the biggest cycling events nationally all year.
However, Athens is not the only city to host large cycling events. It isn’t even the only college town. Two of the biggest other cycling-based annual events comes from the University of Texas with the Texas 4000 and at Indiana University with the Little 500.
From Austin to Anchorage
“As you know, Austin, TX is kind of known for being weird, and there’s nothing like being weird with the cyclists,” said University of Texas alumnus Josh Hernandez.
The weirdness he’s referring to was a 70 day, 4,000-mile journey from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska with 70 other UT students in 2015. Together, they raised $750,000 to fight cancer.
The Texas 4000 has been a student-run, student-led organization at the …

Intern, sidewalk riding, grazing greenlit at council

By Erik McCowan

www.gonzalesinquirer.com

GONZALES — The Gonzales City Council met in regular session on Tuesday evening and approved a variety of issues from hiring an intern for the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) to signing off on grazing leases for several city parcels.
City Manager Allen Barnes began the resolution to discuss hiring an intern for GEDC by describing it as a good way to bring students back to town who are ready to graduate college yet needing a final bit of coursework to complete their studies. In this case, GEDC had found monies to enlist the help of a paid intern in the amount of $2,000 over the course of the summer to assist the organization. All they needed was council’s approval. …

Vehicle strikes student on bicycle

www.texarkanagazette.com


Middle-schooler was taken to St. Michael with nonlife-threatening injuries
A Redwater Middle School student on a bicycle was hit by a vehicle driven by a high school student as both were leaving school Thursday afternoon, said Dr. Kathy Allen, Redwater Independent School District superintendent.
The middle-schooler was alert and conscious when paramedics arrived, Allen said.
After school was released, Allen said the student was hit as the students left the high school parking lot …

This weekend’s rides: Bee Creek Bonanza! Red Horn!

by Thomas

steinerranchcycling.com

Happy Friday!
Tomorrow’s weather looks great! Let’s get some hill work in on the Bee Creek route (aka Cozy Cove) including all the cool loop extensions. The route is 62 miles and can be found here: https://www.strava.com/routes/3985679 . After the ride we hang out at Lakeside next to the start for some great discounted burgers and beer. …

Three questions with a Beginning Racer

by dctolley

bicyclesportshop.wordpress.com


Why is Thomas Lea of Steiner Ranch Cycling stoked? Because he just successfully completed his third Beginning Racer Program clinic, in which he learned the finer points of riding a fluid echelon and handling his bike in close quarters. (Also, he won a $150 gift card raffled to clinic attendees by clothing company Eliel Cycling.)
Bicycle Sport Shop’s Beginning Racer Program is a progressive series of five cycling clinics, aimed at equipping cyclists with the skills and knowledge necessary to race their bikes with confidence. The …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/CharlieTames/status/728654853363245057

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/728638425708961797

https://twitter.com/UTAustinNews/status/728587991824801792

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Fire Engines Biking Through New Caney

Texbiker.net Posted on by

More beautiful weather today for biking. I left home at 12:41 to ride the “SR242 – Valley Ranch” route to the north. I knew this route would be less than 40 miles unless I added some to it and the ride ended up at 36.37 miles. I finished  at 3:40. The 86 degrees was perfect short sleeve jersey weather and the blue sky looked great. The SE 4 mph breeze was hardly noticeable but it did make riding north slightly easier. When I made the turn back south at SH 242 I was still able to keep the same speed as the north bound biking. The road slopes down from SH 242 to Roman Forest Blvd. while the north side goes up. I would guess the gain over the 1.5 miles is 40 to 50 feet.

May miles have now reached 164 and the 540 mile goal looks low for now.

Excitement came when I got to FM1485 going south. Riding through the intersection I could red flashing lights headed my way. About 200 feet south of FM1485 a East Montgomery firetruck raced by. This was a big pickup truck. After it passed I looked in my mirror because I thought I heard another siren and not much later fire truck E151 drove by with lights flashing and siren blaring. I wondered where they were headed as I watched the trucks in the distance. Next fire truck E152 passed me with more flashing red lights and loud siren. Traffic up ahead pulled to the shoulder. Not finished yet another fire truck passed me going fast. This one looked like a brush fire type. By now I was getting closer to the county court house annex and saw the trucks turned onto McCleskey Road. This road goes to Bull Sallis Park but I am not sure that was where they were going. When I rode past McCleskey Road I looked and I saw one fire truck’s lights flashing but I couldn’t see if it was stopped or still moving. By then I the sirens were out of range or silent. Before I got this point I was thinking maybe something happened at the Valley Ranch construction area.

I turned onto Valley Ranch Parkway headed to FM1314. At the Grand Parkway I waited for traffic to be gone to cross and ride under the over pass. There was someone working on the traffic signals and if I saw him/her I was going to ask about the sensors picking up bikes to change the lights. I have waited at the lights before hoping they would change but never did. This time when I got close to the traffic lights south of the over pass they changed and i was the only thing around. Maybe the person working on them tripped them for me? Hurrying on I wanted to make a quick stop at the Stripes store for water and then get beyond the Briar Tree schools. When I came out Stripes several school buses were lined up on FM1314 to go to the schools. I got the green light first and was in front of them except for one bus that turned in front of me on Briar Berry Lane from a side street. My plan was to stop at the Oakhurst Community Pool and park which I did. My Edge 520 screen when I got there.

5-6-2016 Oakhurst Pool

I found a bench in the shade to take a break, eat and drink the water I got at Stripes. It was comfortable in the shade with the breeze. A lady jogger came to the parking lot and got her car. It was quite except for noise off in the distance. While I ate I listened to a podcast on my phone. The weather screen shots while I was there.

After about 20 minutes I got back on the bike for the 9 miles to home. By now the Kings Manor school traffic was gone and the Bear Branch school traffic was almost gone by the time I got there. The shorter ride will let my legs recover for tomorrow’ longer one. The weather forecast repeats today and I like it. Before riding today I watch stage 1 of the Giro d’ Italia. The www.cyclingfans.com website has a special offer of $6.99 per month with no contract and shows the BeIn Sport HD channel. My new Acer Chromebook 14 was perfect to watch on as I ate breakfast.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/8839551/embed 600px 600px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/567658465/embed/cd5696de23f76edce9d04058a6aea21015ea3976 590px 405px]

Texas Bicycle News Digest May 5th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Meet our board members: Nicky Stevens

www.bikefriendlyfortworth.com


1. What made you want to join Bike Friendly Fort Worth?
I joined BFFW after I had already started working with children and bike safety on my own. I found that it was something I really enjoyed doing and felt that I could do more by working with BFFW.
2. When and why did you start cycling?
I’ve always had a bike. As a young adult, I would ride across town on my BMX for fun, but after I had my first child I started to look at cycling as transportation as well. …

Cancer survivor hopes his 968-mile ride to Houston will inspire others

By Nancy Tipton

www.abqjournal.com


Ken Sidenblad believes that cycling saved his life.
After three recurrences of the cancer that was diagnosed in 2002 and a long bout of depression, Sidenblad found the Albuquerque Veterans Affairs Cycling affiliate of Adaptive Adventures, a green recumbent trike and a purpose in life.
This week, he left the Duke City to ride 968 miles to Atascocita, Texas, (a northeast Houston suburb) in 25 days – in time for his grandson’s graduation. As of Wednesday, Sidenblad was in …

Cummings students turn out for National Walk & Bike to School Day

By GARY LONG

www.brownsvilleherald.com


Cummings Middle School turned out in force Wednesday morning for the school’s second observance of National Walk & Bike to School Day.
More than 200 students congregated around the fountain in WashingtonPark at 7:15 a.m. to walk and ride bikes down Sixth Street to their school, which sits off Ringgold Street next to Dean Porter Park.
“Our hope is that with events like this, our kids will start …

CYCLING, LOVE AND A SECRET.

By Audria Perez

www.valleymorningstar.com


Pedal To Padre is known as an annual 30-mile bicycle tour from Brownsville to South Padre Island.
But, for one couple, it was much more.
This year’s 20th anniversary of the event will never be forgotten by a pair of cyclists as well as those who watched the special occasion.
Organizers of the Pedal To Padre and cyclist Roberto Aleman joined together to organize a very special surprise. This well-kept secret took …

Have a Bike? VIA Metro Will Give You A Free Ride on Friday

By Mark Reagan

www.sacurrent.com


If you love bicycling and are passionate about alternative transportation you’ve got a two-wheeled ticket to celebrate two decades of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Walk & Roll Rally day.
Since 2005 — in support of National Bike Month — the organization has …

Brushy Creek/Deception Ride

Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 6:00 PM

Brushy Creek Sports Park
2310 Brushy Creek Road Cedar Park, TX

10 Mountain Bikers Went

Meet at 5:45 pm to air up, tune and hit the Brushy Creek Deception trail.Wheels down at 6:00 pm.This will be a ride for folks who want to ride Deception at a fast beginner to intermediate group pace, depending on the crowd. If we get a big group we can split up based on the pace people want to ride.NOTE: This really isn’t a ‘beginner’ trail- it…

Check out this Meetup →

9 AM start- Tour de Southern Walnut Creek Trail

Tuesday, May 10, 2016, 9:00 AM

Govalle Park
5200 Bolm Rd. Austin, TX

5 Austin Cyclists Went

Start Time is 9 AM!Weather permitting…A D-pace ride (roughly 11 to 13 mph) on The Southern Walnut Creek Trail from the trailhead at Govalle Park up to the Abrupt End at Lindell Lane just north of Decker Lake.  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 periodical…

Check out this Meetup →

Wednesday Night ALL GROUPS Ride

Wednesday, May 11, 2016, 6:00 PM

River Run Plaza
1071 Country Club Rd El Paso, TX

3 Cyclists Went

• LEADERLESS, ALL RIDERS – ALL SPEEDS• Meet: 5:45 pm  Roll-Out 6:00 pm• Distance: 24 miles when begin at River Run Plaza, 1071 Country Club OR20 miles if begin at Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Rd (at Artcraft). The route is aloop to Gadsden H.S. via Borderland, Strahan, Bosque, N. Vinton, Westside,Washington to Gadsden H.S., Return South on Hwy…

Check out this Meetup →

The southern tier!

By Cheyenne Dolin – (contact)

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 23: El Paso: Rest Day
Sunday May 1, 2016
I hadn’t intended on staying in El Paso but I slept in and helped dad find the train station and then I had to Uber to a place that sold isobutene fuel canisters. So by the time I was done with all that the day was well on its way so I hung out in town for another day. Most of the places were …

Day 24: El Paso – Fort Hancock: wind and not much else
Monday May 2, 2016
First day riding without dad’s company, it was quiet. I didn’t realize the amount his presence put me at ease. Though I don’t feel uneasy alone, I am more alert now. The ride was long, but the next couple days will be longer. The headwinds kept pushing me back. I had to deal with quite a bit of construction and I passed four large stray dogs but none of …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/728421409207287808

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/728315356142505987

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/728253297228955650

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/728222424098058240

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Biking with New Sensors to May Community Center

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Chamber of Commerce weather is how today was described by Eric Berger, a local meteorologist. I agreed so much I went for at 42.31 mile bike ride on my “May Park Community Center – Huffman” route. The blue sky, 86 degrees and a NNW 9 mph wind (18 mph gusts though) called and I answered. At least one other bicyclist heard the call to. I saw him on Old Atascocita Road east of FM2100 as I approached FM2100 from the west. I turned left before he got to me so I didn’t have the opportunity to say hi or wave.

To be sure I would ride at least 40 miles I added a couple of side streets to the usual route. These were in Walden, Pinehurst in Atascocita and Atascocita Shores on the way home.

Before the ride I decided to install new speed and cadence sensors for the Edge 520. With the recent problems I experienced I thought maybe updating the sensors might help. The sensors installed quickly and I paired them with the 520 before I got ready to ride in case there were any problems. It went well. I moved through the settings on the 520 and found a page that listed the “components” the 520 had connected with. Opening each component there was fields to show the condition of the battery, the id number and other things. I had not seen this screen before.

Being cautious I decided to run the Ride With GPS app in case there was a problem. There was one phone disconnect message but it took several minutes before I got the phone connected message. In the meantime the 520 still recorded the ride data so nothing lost. The only other message was the wheel size calibration one from the new speed/distance sensor. I install that sensor on the front hub because the rear hub was not wide enough to allow it to sit on the hub body. The cadence sensor comes with 3 rubber bands to hold it to the crank arm but the longest one was too short and I used a black zip tie. If I can figure out the id number of the G10 sensors I took off I will remove them from the component list on the 520.

I decided to stop at the Dollar General store on FM2100 in Huffman to get chips. After paying for the chips and walking outside the couple that was in front of me in the checkout line called to me from their Jeep Grand Cherokee after they backed out of the parking spot. The lady asked how old I was. I asked her how old did she think I was but she didn’t guess. I told her 69 and she said how great I looked. She repeated this several times during our conversation. Talk about helping my ego!! The man asked how far I usually ride and I replied this week 40 miles. He asked where I ride and I told him from Kingwood and then waved my arm to show the direction for today. He asked if I knew some other bicyclists that meet at the Starbucks by Randalls in Kingwood and I said no. He said one of them is an airline pilot but I did not know him. The lady again said how great I looked and told me to keep riding and then they said goodbye.

From there I rode south on FM2100 to the Huffman Chevron to rest, eat the chips and snacks and drink water. I was going to go inside to fill my water bottle but there was a woman at the soft drink fountain machine. I had unscrewed the cap on the bottle. I got a Greensheet newspaper to sit on and went back out and sat down in the shade under the pump canopy. I put the bottle to my mouth to drink and a big gush of water came out from the loose lid soaking my leg. Thankfully it was cool and not ice cold. I tightened the lid and used the paper towels to dry off some and ate. This was 29.69 miles into the ride.

5-5-2016 Huffman Chevron

I stayed at the Chevron for about 30 minutes. This was good time because it allowed the school traffic to abate before I got to them later. The weather screenshots while I was in Huffman.

I left home at 12:21, a little later because I helped my wife by cutting some chipboard for a crafting project she was going to work on while I was gone. While I was gone I was expecting UPS to deliver a new Acer Chromebook 14. I kidded my wife that she should sit on the front porch, do her crafting there and wait for the UPS driver to deliver the box. I told her the weather was so good she should be outside enjoying it. She said that was not what she planned to do and we laughed. The UPS driver actually came after I was back home at 3:56. I will use the Chromebook to watch the Giro d’ Italia on the internet starting tomorrow.

Today was another new jersey day. I wore a short sleeve Garneau jersey that color coordinated with my Stradalli RP-14 bike.

The great weather is in the forecast for a couple of more days. I plan on taking advantage of and ride. The 3 rides this week have all been over 40 miles long. My typical ride is 32 to 35 miles long.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/8823842/embed 600px 600px]

[iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/566701010/embed/6ee728245aa1a2efb4fa74fdd0b31219a25e84e5 590px 405px]