Texas Bicycling News Digest March 22nd 2016

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Route 34 changes prompt petition

By Katie Fuller www.thebatt.com


A group of students have formed a petition in opposition to the decision by Transportation Services to cut down the amount of stops on Bus Route 34, and it has garnered over 200 signatures in a few weeks.
Route 34, which includes a bus stop at the Wal-Mart on Texas Avenue and Harvey Mitchell Parkway that is also across from several apartment complexes, is proposed to be reduced from 13 stops to seven, and will drop from three buses to two in the fall. Madeline Dillard, transit assistant director for Transportation Services, said the route has the lowest ridership of any off-campus route, leading Transportation Services to modify the route. …

… “If biking could be an option, Transportation Services has reliable bikes available through our Bike Lease Program. Transportation Services also offers car sharing through Zipcar,” Dillard said. “Another resource that Transportation Services offers is Zimride — a ride sharing program that allows students to coordinate rides with other students.”

Search on for shooter who killed man on bicycle

By Mike Glenn www.chron.com


Houston police late Monday were continuing to search for the assailant who fatally shot a man riding a bicycle in the Greenspoint area.
Apartment residents heard gunfire at about 8:30 p.m. along the 13200 block of Northborough.
They saw the man on the ground next to a bicycle and called for help. He died shortly after paramedics loaded him into an ambulance, Houston police said. …

Houston Bike Share Adds New Station with Gift from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

www.csrwire.com

HOUSTON, Mar. 22 /CSRwire/ – Residents, commuters and visitors in Houston will now have more choices for ecological and sustainable alternatives to get around, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club to Houston Bike Share’s B-Cycle program, which was used to install a new, solar-powered Houston B-cycle station and eight bikes located at Jackson Hill and Memorial Drive. Houston B-cycle and the Sun Club will celebrate the dedication of the new station during a special ribbon-cutting event on Tuesday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m. Media are invited to attend.
Houston B-cycle is a next-generation bike-sharing program offering an easy way to get around Houston with zero emissions. It is the only bike sharing program that …

Temple principal biking across U.S. pierces Texas

by Emily Dech www.richlandsource.com


MANSFIELD — Paul Baird has reached the Lone Star State.
The Temple Christian School principal is riding his bicycle across the nation and was rolling through Texas as this week unfolded.
He began his 2,329-mile journey on Monday, March 14 in the Temple Christian School parking lot.
He’s heading west until he reaches the Santa Monica Pier in California, or until the school Race for Education fundraiser reaches its goal of $60,000.
Race for Education helps support Temple Christian School and its programs. For this fundraiser, students run …

Bike lanes, gateway memorial on deck for downtown

By MATT DOTRAY lubbockonline.com


As the long-awaited underground utility projects continue in downtown Lubbock, a few other ventures are in the works by the city’s Tax Increment Financing Board.
Two coming to fruition in the near future are the first downtown gateway structure and bicycle lanes that would connect Texas Tech to downtown Lubbock.
Final details for those projects are still in the works, and although Delbert McDougal, the …

SoulCycle and Austin retailer coming to Upper Kirby

by Olivia Pulsinelli www.bizjournals.com


A popular indoor cycling studio and an Austin-based retailer will open their first Houston locations in the same shopping center in April, marking noteworthy expansions for both brands.
Both SoulCycle and Kick Pleat will open in the same shopping center as Local Foods, in the northeast corner of the Kirby Drive and Westheimer Road intersection. …

2nd stage on AC

By ron ziols www.crazyguyonabike.com

Marathon,TX: French fries
Monday March 21, 2016, 55 miles (89 km) – Total so far: 493 miles (793 km)
I think the worst part of the trip is over. The scary part of having enough water! I finished with 3 liters in reserve! Windy yes, hot yes, willing to get to marathon, tx yes! Disappointed I couldn’t have a beer with FF. Delayed gratification! A steady Climb 55 miles with wind and heat all day. Need for water overrated as I had half my water left at the end. Different?? What happened to last nights camping companions going …

An Englishman in America

By Rob Lee www.crazyguyonabike.com

Mar 22: To Johnson City
Tuesday March 22, 2016, 56 miles (90 km) – Total so far: 2,027 miles (3,262 km)
After two whole days off the bike it was time to get those pedals turning again. Yesterday I had a great time wandering around Austin, seeing some sights and loading up again on food. It’s a really pleasant place with more of a community feel and atmosphere than many American cities. I did technically do some riding yesterday; Austin has one of these city bike hire schemes (like London) and I took …

Tom Goes West 2016

By Thomas King www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 23 – DeRidder to Evadale, TX: The Rolling Community
Tuesday March 22, 2016, 63 miles (101 km) – Total so far: 1,113 miles (1,791 km)
After the Waffle Shop and accompaning Debbie to the laundromat I rode west on US 190 and crossed the Sabine River and into Texas. The Sabine basin sufferred the worst of the flooding and we saw two red cross emergency shelters set up and going down the road many (like over 6) mobile homes. The last 26 miles was on a dead straight road south right into the wind blowing 9-20 mph. They drive fast in Texas. Logging trucks barrel down the highway so fast that with their wind from the opposing lane I have to hold tight to the handle bars from the blast. Today does not go onto the fun ledger page, but it had its good stretches.
I met Bob from Tallahasee riding west. He’s riding the full …

I GOT 2ND! – MTB Racing Vlog

by TC www.turnincranks.com

3rd vLog entry. Gimme some feedback!

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Battling the March Wind Atascocita – Walden – Huffman Bike Ride

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I skipped biking yesterday to allow the weather warm up some. It could’ve worked on it today with the temperature at 73 when I started the ride at 12:37. The sky was overcast but the real problem was the wind. It was from the SSW at 12 mph with 20 mph gusts. I dressed with what I hoped would keep me warm but I might’ve been a little light with shorts, long sleeve jersey and a windbreaker jacket. The wind cut through the wind breaker at times and I felt chilled.

The route was the longer version of the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route coming in at 33.43 miles. I battled the wind most of the way to Huffman where I stopped at the Chevron station for a break.

3-22-2016 Huffman Chevron Stop

The weather just before I left to head back home.

The wind does not show as high as the airport. I wanted to think it would not be a problem on the way home and it wasn’t until I started to cross Lake Houston on FM1960. Normally the traffic going the same direction breaks the wind when it comes from my left but the traffic was light. The traffic going east caused the wind to whip at me each time there was a break. I fought the wind all the way until I turned right on Atascocita Shores Drive and was among the house and riding to the northwest. The wide cross section rims caught the wind and sometimes I leaned into the wind to counter the push to the right over the lake.

Reaching home at 3:20 I checked the airport weather: wind from the SSE 15 mph and 23 mph gusts, even stronger than the beginning. March winds are here.

March miles are up to 508 and my goal of 631 miles looks doable. Wednesday it should warm up some, Thursday cools to the 60’s and Friday creeps back in the 70’s.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/8237597/embed 50% 600px]

[iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/524039677/embed/ac023d9198da08dcc85d08a289fab7bc9a865fdf 590px 405px]

Comparison of the last 4 rides on the same named route.

3-22-2016 Ride Comparison Today's Route

Texas Bicycling News March 21st 2016

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Southern Tier Biking Adventures

By Nate Beiler www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 23: Pedernales Falls State Park to Fredericksburg
Saturday March 12, 2016, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 1,543 miles (2,483 km)
Woke up to the beautiful sun shining on my tent this morning. It sure makes you appreciate it when it’s not around for a few days. We stuck around our campsite for a few hours drying everything out from the humidity before setting off for the day. It was a nice ride through a rolling terrain to make it to Fredericksburg this evening. We’re now camped in a town park on the outskirts of Fredericksburg, with many other …

Day 24: Fredericksburg to Lost Maples State Park
Sunday March 13, 2016, 81 miles (130 km) – Total so far: 1,624 miles (2,614 km)
It was a glorious day to be biking today. We had clear skies and warm temperatures all day for the first time in quite a while. We weren’t able to move as fast as some days because of a headwind for most of the day and hilly terrain again, but the pretty country and nice blue sky made up for it. This morning we stuck around the campsite for a while again to let our stuff dry out (things get really damp at night because of the recent heavy rain). For the first 20 or 30 miles we saw a lot of other cyclists on the road. Apparently something called Hell Week is going on in the nearby town, and around 200 cyclists are participating in the daily rides all …

Day 25: Lost Maples State Park to Camp Wood
Monday March 14, 2016, 46 miles (74 km) – Total so far: 1,670 miles (2,688 km)
Another beautifully warm day on the road today. This morning at the campground we met an older couple traveling by bicycle to San Diego as well, and then they plan to ride up the coast to Seattle, where they’re from. We bumped into them a few times on the road today as well, but unfortunately I forgot to get a picture of them. It’s nice to have pictures of other cyclists we meet on the …

Day 26: Camp Wood to Del Rio
Tuesday March 15, 2016, 83 miles (134 km) – Total so far: 1,753 miles (2,821 km)
This morning after leaving our beautiful campsite on the river, we had a 50 mile stretch without anything, such as a store or place to get water, but we had prepared accordingly so it went fine. We’re definitely getting into some undeveloped parts of the U.S. here in western Texas. The riding today went well, and we made good time in getting to Del Rio just before dark. We’re now camped in an RV park on the …

Bike Ride in LBJ Grasslands on the Blue Trail Part 1 of 2

Joshua Kersey


My friend and I took counterclockwise ride along the Blue Trail of the LBJ Grasslands near TADRA Point. My friend rode a Surly Karate Monkey and I rode a Trek Crossrip Elite. This video shows what the horse gates are like. It also shows how sandy the soil is. There’s some rocks and a little clay, but the vast majority is packed sand with long stretches of loose sand. At one point we crossed a stream. Another point had a nice sturdy bridge over a massive ravine, aka “Royal Gorge”. This is a great location for mountain bike riding.

Houston area Rides

by aggarcia www.bikeforums.net

I rode the BBX last Sunday. This calling up of the Waller deputies left many intersections unmanned that were normally have officers controlling traffic. The officers writing tickets were generally watching stop signs and roads on the additional loop for 55 and 75 routes. I did see a patrol car near the end that kept moving around, but no stop signs in that area.
Complaints were multiple riders riding abreast, not stopping for stop signs where no officer present, littering along the roads, riders using the roadside as their restroom. Many of these complaints were not at the BBX specifically, but all cyclist in that …

Tour of Corsicana – GC Results • Mar 13 2016

www.road-results.com

Categories
» Men Cat 4/5 » Men 35+ Cat 4/5
» Men 40+ Cat 1/2/3/4 » Men 50+ Cat 1/2/3/4
» Men 60+ Cat 1/2/3/4 » Men Cat 3
» Men Cat 4 » Men Cat 5
» Men PRO/1/2 » Women Cat 1/2/3/4
» Women 40+ Cat 3/4 » Women Cat 1/2/3/4
» Women Cat 4

Tour of Corsicana – RR Results • Mar 13 2016

www.road-results.com

Categories
» Men 1-18 Cat 4/5 » Men 35+ Cat 4/5
» Men 40+ Cat 1/2/3/4 » Men 50+ Cat 1/2/3/4
» Men 60+ Cat 1/2/3/4 » Men Cat 3
» Men Cat 4 » Men Cat 5
» Men PRO/1/2 » Women 1-18 Cat 1/2/3/4
» Women 40+ Cat 3/4 » Women Cat 1/2/3/4
» Women Cat 4

Sunday Lake Windcrest Ride

Woodlands Cycling Club woodlandscycling.org

Where: “WFNB” (Woodforest National Bank) at the SW corner of FM 1488 and FM 2978, next to McDonalds, the previous location of the Sunday ride, before Tailgators, aka the ‘BikeLane’ ride.
When: Every Sunday – (Check Calendar for Start Time)
Description:
27 miles, including the Lake Windcrest loop; 21 miles without Lake Windcrest. Add more miles by riding to and from the ride venue.
Route: -South on Westwind Square to FM 2978 South, -West (right) on Hardin Store Road -North (right)on Dobbin-Huffsmith Rd to the Vet Clinic at Spur 149 for the first regroup. -Continue South on Spur 149. -North (right) on FM 149 -East (right) on FM 1488 to the western most entrance to Lake Windcrest for the second regroup. -Continue with a full …

2nd stage on AC

By ron ziols www.crazyguyonabike.com

Langtry, TX: So small
Saturday March 19, 2016, 30 miles (48 km) – Total so far: 378 miles (608 km)
Another day of taking it easy with only 30 miles. I don’t have to do 90 miles if I don’t want to. Some of the time I just sit around waiting for time or Gary to walk over and ask if I want a beer. Hello! I didn’t get a dinner invitation but that’s ok! Another day seeing cyclists going east. Camping is free at the primative community center. Water …

Sanderson, TX: Riding with the wind
Sunday March 20, 2016, 60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 438 miles (705 km)
During the night I programmed my brain for two options- how strong would the wind be. I settled for Sanderson some 60 miles away. The wind was delicious but light 8 to 13 mph. I felt sorry for the 8 cyclists I met going east, separated into 3 groups. There was soda and chips waiting 40 miles down the …

2016 Team Preview : Weaver Technologies Racing

texasbikeracing.com


Sweet, another new Texas team, and even better… a MTB team! We don’t know much about this crew but, hey, if they like bikes, beer, and getting dirty – then they’re definitely friends of ours!
Weaver Technologies Racing
Roster :
Ray Monroy – Austin, TX
Dustin Barton – Blanco, TX
Manny Gallegos – Austin, TX
Sem Gallegos – El Paso, TX
Craig Kunz – Dripping Springs, TX
Eric Novaez – Kyle, TX
Bowen Novaez – Kyle, TX
Matt Shaner – Austin, TX
Justin Stoker – Austin, TX
Jorge Salinas – Laredo, TX
Edward Padron – Laredo, TX
Garin Fons – Austin, TX
Tyson Pendergrass – Austin, TX
Jay Yu – El Paso, TX

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Texas Bicycling News Digest March 20th 2016

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Amid cycling boom, penalties for errant drivers remain light

by Scott Mcfetridge www.mysanantonio.com


DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — When Iowa’s largest city joined the boom in urban cycling, work crews painted more bike lanes, erected traffic signals especially for cyclists and installed rental bikes at self-service stands that catered to commuters and tourists alike.
In Des Moines and scores of other U.S. cities, the efforts drew bike riders onto busy streets that were once the sole province of cars and trucks. The changes also heightened the risk of serious collisions like the one that threw Ken Sherman from his bicycle with such force that his body tore off the vehicle’s side mirror.
Cyclists are frustrated that the growing support for two-wheeled transportation has only rarely led to tougher penalties for drivers who hit bikes, many of whom are never ticketed or receive only minor citations, even in accidents that …

Battleground Bike Ride

roundtown.com

Sat, Apr 2 at 9am – 11am
Spring has sprung at the San Jacinto Battleground! Come celebrate the lovely weather and honor the memory of the Texas Revolution by taking a guided bicycle tour around the battleground. The group will bicycle to various locations within the park and stop to discuss the events that occurred at each site before heading to the next area. This is both a bicycle ride and a guided battleground tour–all rolled into one.
Meeting Location: The group will gather and meet the ranger by the flag poles at the parking lot on the west side of the San Jacinto monument.
Distance: Just under 5 miles.
Time: This program will take an estimated 2 hours.
Difficulty: Easy. We will be bicycling on paved roadway. Most of the route is flat with only two small hills.
Age and Experience: All ages are welcome. Bicycling experience is a plus but not required. Beginners are welcome. The ranger will provide a short safety check and bicycling tutorial before the start of the battleground tour.

Great turnout for bike ride to celebrate opening of new segment of Grand Parkway

www.yourhoustonnews.com


Over 1,000 bike riders of all experience levels took the opportunity to be the first to utilize the newest segment of the Grand Parkway during a bike ride held Saturday. Segment G runs between I-45 North Freeway and US 59/ I-69 Eastex Freeway.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) teamed up with Zachry-Odebrecht Parkway Builders ZOPB), the United Methodist Church, and the YMCA to commemorate the opening before vehicular traffic is …

Riders brave elements to share love for cycling at Riverside Ride

By BY TONY TSOUKALAS www.victoriaadvocate.com


Lee Keeling’s love for cycling started on a stationary bike at DeTar Health and Fitness Center.
That was 10 years and nearly 90 pounds ago.
Keeling, 56, said he first got into the sport while working out during his son Powell’s basketball practices. Saturday, he participated in the Eighth Annual Riverside Ride, battling strong winds to finish the event’s 100-mile route in roughly 5 hours and 45 minutes.
“I started taking a spin class, and I really liked it,” Keeling said. “I thought to myself, ‘It’d be really cool to get on a …

Tour de Houston

www.yourhoustonnews.com


Cyclists make their way to the end stop at the Kingwood Community Center before heading back toward city of Houston City Hall during the Tour de Houston bike ride Sunday, March 20, 2016. The ride, sponsored by Apache, included Kingwood for the first time in the annual ride. The ride to Kingwood was used by many as training for the upcoming BP MS 150 since it was a 70-mile ride. …

Bike share program may be on its way to Harlingen

By RICK KELLEY www.valleymorningstar.com


HARLINGEN — Ladies and gentlemen, abandon your engines.
A proposal for a bike-share program in the city has been approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and now awaits an up-or-down vote from the City Commission.
The plan is to lease 20 commuter bicycles in partnership with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and place bike racks at two locations — the Regional Academic Health Center on campus and McKelvey Park.
Bike-sharing is a rapidly growing innovation in urban transportation. It allows people who have an account to use utility bikes to get from Point A to Point B. The bikes …

Escaping Winter : The Other Half of the Southern Tier

By Zandra Bainas and Steve Marsh www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 20 – Plain View Lakes to Van Horn: Tail Wind! (Lots of photos)
Monday March 14, 2016, 145 km (90 miles) – Total so far: 1,734 km (1,077 miles)
Zandra woke up this morning a bit unhappy. Those sun cracked lips of hers have developed the ugliest set of cold sores she has ever had, and she ran out of Abbreva (favoured cold sore med) last night. We will have to look for more along the route today, as apparently we are going through small towns marked “full service” on the ACA map. Should be pretty easy – it’s an over the counter med that even the convenience stores carry back home.
Denny rolls by already packed up as we are tearing down our tent, and we chat some more. He is interested in what direction we plan to go in the next couple of days – over the Davis Mountains by the McDonald Observatory, or by the flatter Marfa route (a common alternate choice for cyclists but not on the route maps). We haven’t quite decided yet, as we want to judge the wind direction from Van Horn, but we would prefer to go by the Observatory and …

An Englishman in America

By Rob Lee www.crazyguyonabike.com

Mar 19: Around Austin
Saturday March 19, 2016, 31 miles (50 km) – Total so far: 1,971 miles (3,172 km)
Posted via email Sun Mar 20 18:39:02 2016 PDT
The shortest distance day of the trip so far! Which I think is fair enough as today was supposed to be kind of a rest day.
Waking at Emma Long Park, last night’s storm had long been and gone leaving a clear and cool morning. I arranged to meet Bruce a few miles from the park at noon. That gave me a(nother) leisurely morning to sort a few things out. I could also enjoy the hilly but scenic cycle out from the park at a slow pace.
I made it to the end of the park access road around half an hour early. Serendipitously there was a Mexican food stand there so I ordered a second breakfast/early lunch of a burrito. Good but on the small side!
Meeting up with Bruce he led me back to his house so I could leave my luggage and come up with a plan for the rest of the day. Without realising it I had ended up in Austin while South by Southwest (SXSW) was on – this is the final weekend. So it seemed a bit of a no-brainer to head into town and take in some of that.
On the way into town I experienced arguably the biggest mechanical issue of the trip so …

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