Overcast Sky But I Saw Blue Sky in the Distance Bike Ride

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I hoped the dreary weather would leave today but it hung around. I could see the blue sky to north of Kingwood but it just refused to move south. I rode my Motobecane 700HT MTB for the first ride in December for 11.69 miles on the Kingwood greenbelt trails. The temperature refused to get higher than 63 degrees (at the start) so I dressed up with leg warmers, a short sleeve jersey, a long sleeve jersey , windbreaker jacket and full finger gloves complementing bike shorts. The sun tried to shine through the overcast sky a couple of times as I rode through the forest surrounding the trails. Today was the 12th time biking the Kingwood trails in 2015.

The weather screenshots at the start (2:06) and finish (3:11).

Starting weather
Starting weather
Weather at the end
Weather at the end

I needed to get home by 3:15 which limited how far I could ride. This left me about 5 miles short of reaching my 6500 mile goal for 2015. I think I can ride 5 more miles before the end of December.

The next several days weather looks iffy for my biking though. I am a cold weather wimp and the temperature forecast just barely is above 60 degrees. I may need to bundle up and brave the coolness. At least sunshine appears in the forecast.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/7231600/embed 45% 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/443303343/embed/787cdfff56396938d5861ed8ff0fb42d87e1258e 45% 500px]

Summary of the 12 rides on the Kingwood greenbelt trails this year.

Activity Name Start Time Distance Elevation Gain Avg Speed(Avg Pace) Max Speed(Best Pace) Calories Total Strokes
Kingwood Trails Wed, Dec 2, 2015 2:06 PM 57:56 11.69 98 12.1 16.9 480 3991
Kingwood Trails Tue, Nov 24, 2015 1:06 PM 1:25:52 16.92 118 11.8 16.4 671 5621
Kingwood Trails Sun, Nov 15, 2015 1:19 PM 1:02:06 12.62 85 12.2 16.8 523 4193
Kingwood Trails Sat, Nov 14, 2015 1:03 PM 1:34:41 18.12 112 11.5 19.8 729 5702
Kingwood Trails Tue, Nov 3, 2015 2:49 PM 1:00:59 11.78 69 11.6 15.9 473 3751
Kingwood Trails Mon, Sep 7, 2015 12:22 PM 1:51:49 20.38 262 10.9 15.7 943 6297
Kingwood Trails Sun, Aug 9, 2015 12:16 PM 1:40:39 19.43 197 11.6 20.9 915 5673
Kingwood Trails Wed, Jun 3, 2015 12:48 PM 1:06:14 10.11 89 9.2 14.4 422 3094
Kingwood Trails Tue, Jun 2, 2015 3:20 PM 1:16:58 11.73 151 9.1 20.2 480 3682
Kingwood Trails Fri, May 29, 2015 3:06 PM 1:48:37 15.41 131 8.5 20.6 663 4892
Kingwood Trails Fri, Feb 13, 2015 2:46 PM 1:11:49 13.08 154 10.9 20.2 607 4444
Kingwood Trails Tue, Jan 6, 2015 12:51 PM 1:36:22 18.86 217 11.7 17.6 887 6500

 

Texas Bicycling News December 1st

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Pedal power: Bicycle World promotes store with local riders

By RAUL GARCIA        www.valleymorningstar.com


HARLINGEN — Customers walking into any athletic store in the country see sports icons endorsing products many people want for the sport they love.
They see images of Kobe Bryant slam-dunking a basketball and Serena Williams smashing a tennis ball.
But customers walking into …

A ride, a death, a city figuring out its cycling future

By Dug Begley        www.houstonchronicle.com


The bike memorial for Chelsea Norman, 24, a cyclist who was hit by a motorist Dec 1, 2013, near the corner of Waugh and West Gray as she rode home from her job, seen here Feb. 5, 2014.
Chelsea Norman was on her way home from work. Margaret Mayer was on her way home from a bar. For Dec. 1, it was a warm evening, with temperatures still well above 60 by 10 p.m., with light winds.
Norman, 24, was riding a bike, taking a route she frequented. By all accounts, she had a flashing red light clipped to her sweater for nighttime riding. Mayer was a bit lost, and later couldn’t remember much about …

Critical Mass Houston

Friday, Dec 25, 2015, 6:30 PM

Market Square Park
301 Milam Street Houston, TX

10 cyclists Went

The Houston Critical Mass is a bicycling event held on the last Friday of every month. We meet up at Market Square Park in downtown Houston around 6:30pm.Go to the Critical Mass Houston website to get all the ride info.  This is a must before you ride.  Lots of good info about the ride.http://www.criticalmasshouston.com/also:Critical Mass Houst…

Check out this Meetup →

APD searching for sexual predator

By: Rudy Koski        www.fox7austin.com

Austin police are looking for a sexual predator who they believe is responsible for two separate attacks. An alert was issued Tuesday about the incidents.
The first attack took place – near the intersection of East 5th & Pedernales on November 10th. The second happened Monday, November 30th, along the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail between Pedernales and Llano streets.  Investigators believe the attacks were committed by the same man although they admit they’re not 100% sure.
“That’s all we have, they are still investigating, I think,  so of it, the similarity as …

Dunlavy Rebuild: A safe way from the Heights to the Museum District?

by Mary Blitzer        bikehouston.org


Do you ride from the Museum District to the Heights? Do you wish you could? If you are interested in this part of town, read on to learn about the Dunlvay Street Rebuild and send in your thoughts on how we can make this critical north south connection better.
Here is the quick update on Dunlavy Street Rebuild and how you can help:
Who: Public Works and Engineering (PWE) and Everyone who uses Dunlavy Street. Thanks PWE for your efforts to work with and for all people using the streets!
What: Dunlavy Street is under design and is scheduled to be re-built as part of the ReBuild Houston process. The proposed design from Public Works and Engineering (PWE) is for a 10’ shared-use side path on one side of the street. BikeHouston is …

The Racing Post – December 2015

theracingpost.us


5 What a Champion – Diana Penuela
6 The Long Road Home
7 TRP Racer Focus – BNW Team – Maga Sanchez
11 Texas Cyclocross 2015/16 – The Austin Hangover
13 PLAYTRI Athlete Highlight – Randy Fleisher
14 The Bucket Rider – #11 Swami’s Wednesday Worlds
18 Product Review: Canari Late Fall Gear
13 Photo Essay: Give Me Some Sugar Cross
20 Cincinnati Cyclocross Weekend
23 Excuses at Spooky Cross
24 Mountain Biking
25 2015 RAT Write Up

Regulars
2 Plan Your Road Trip
8 RBM Rally Report
10 Chasing Miles
12 The View from Back Here
16 Coach Speak
24 West Texas Wind
32 RBM What’s New At The Shop
34 Junior Spotlight
2 Plan Your Road Trip
8 RBM Rally Report
10 Chasing Miles
12 The View from Back Here
16 Coach Speak
24 West Texas Wind
32 RBM What’s New At The Shop
34 Junior Spotlight …

RIDE SCHEDULE – December 2015

Georgetown Cyclopaths

Short Rides     Long Rides
Day     Date     Time     Meet at     Miles     Map     Miles     Map

Saturday     12/5/2015     9:00 AM     Dale’s Essenhaus Restaurant in Walburg     28 miles     WA5     41 miles     WA9
Sunday     12/6/2015     1:30 PM     Berry Springs Park     34 miles     B47

Saturday     12/12/2015     9:00 AM     Catholic Church in Andice     35 miles     A3     48 miles     A4
Sunday     12/13/2015     1:30 PM     Berry Springs Park     35 miles     B23

Saturday     12/19/2015     9:00 AM     Gravel Parking Lot in Weir     27 miles     WE2     33 miles     WE11
Sunday     12/20/2015     1:30 PM     Berry Springs Park     35 miles     B24

Saturday     12/26/2015     9:00 AM     Berry Springs Park     31 miles     B9     40 miles     B6
Sunday     12/27/2015     1:30 PM     Berry Springs Park     36 miles     B56

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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Texas Bicycling News November 30th

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Where people cycle in the Rio Grande Valley

by Ray Garza        rgvcycling.com

I was tooling around Strava today and ran across their heat map technology. I’ve seen it before and I find it interesting to see where people cycle. I zoomed into the Rio Grande Valley and took a snapshot of what I’ve found. Their data runs from January of 2014 to May 2015. It paints a very good picture of where people or cycling clubs ride and ride often. What it does tell you is if the ride was on a mountain or a road bike but you can figure it out by the terrain and path. To read the map you need to understand the color scale. The darker the color is the less frequent the route has been used. The lighter the color the …

2015 Year End Gear on My Bike(s)

by Ray Garza        rgvcycling.com

Well it’s already close to the end of 2015. Where did it all go? I know, to my bike and riding! I wanted to write about the two bikes I have and what gear I have on it for 2015. Let start with my Road Bike first. …

Southern Tier eastward 2016

By Luba Agranovich        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Introduction: Who we are and why we are doing it
Monday November 30, 2015
Leonid just turned 70 and Luba is a 65 year old who recently retired after a life time of software engineering. We love biking – Leonid bikes at least 20 miles every day even through the winter barring snow on the roads. We also love adventure that takes us to new places. So, we decided to ride the Southern Tier to see the deep south of our beautiful country, but take it slowly, averaging ~43 miles a day, and …

New park expected to attract bike riders from around the world

By Emma Hinchliffe        www.houstonchronicle.com

Houston already has the largest skatepark in North America. With a groundbreaking Tuesday for a nearby bike park, the city could become an even bigger magnet for extreme sports.
The North Houston Bike Park will be a 20-acre facility at Kuykendahl and Rankin, designed with input from BMX riders. Adjacent to Dylan Park and North Houston Skate Park, the bike park will feature a BMX-sanctioned race track, BMX freestyle amenities and street courses, along with community and events centers.
“This is probably something that’s …

7:00 PM GDB Christmas Lights Ride

Greater Dallas Bicyclists        www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com

GDB Christmas Lights Ride
7:00 PM    December 17, 2015
Cafe Express
5600 West Lovers Lane
Dallas, TX 75209
“Join us for a Greater Dallas Bicyclists Tradition. We’ll ride through the Park Cities to take in some of the most beautifully decorated homes in Dallas. After the ride, we’ll gather at Cafe Express to eat, drink, and be merry! Standard bike lights are required, but we’d love to see your bike decorated for the holidays.” Santa Pak

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Texas Bicycling News November 29th

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South Texas Outdoors Calendar

www.caller.com

LOST PINES BIRD COUNT
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Lost Pines Master Naturalists have scheduled an event for Dec. 19 as a prelude to the Lost Pines Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 20 at Lost Pines State Park. The event will be hosted by the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road in Cedar Creek. The event will feature complimentary birding workshops, bird presentations on owls, whooping and sandhill cranes, and a presentation by biologist, birder and cycler Dorian Anderson with the University of Southern California, who will share details of …

Gravelicious/MonsterCross Madness

by Spinistry        www.facebook.com


Saturday, December 5    at 11:00am in CST
Roanoke Recreation Center
501 Roanoke Road, Roanoke, Texas 76262
Well, the rain has really put a damper on events and riding plans. We even had to adjust a couple of our “all weather” rides because of all the flooding.
This will be a fun ride with some good stretches of gravel but it will be mostly pavement. Some good food and drink optons at the staging area as well as a couple of passes through Rabbit Hole brewery!
Ride starts and ends in Roanoke, “The unique dining capital of Texas”, from …

Retirees Get Back on Their Bikes

By Laura Johannes        www.wsj.com

Some people ride for the health benefits. Others do it to feel young again.

At 17, William Backes, new driver’s license in hand, put away his beloved 10-speed Raleigh Record Ace. Now, 33 years later, he’s back on two wheels, riding a sleek new bike four or five days a week.
“Once I bought a new bike, I discovered how much I used to love riding,” says Mr. Backes, who regularly pedals past the same abandoned gas station he used to pass in high school. Inspired by a friend who rode a bicycle to get in shape after a heart attack, the …

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