Texas Bicycling News November 15th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Stone Oak Park Ride

Justin Moore

This video is about StoneOakPark

Austin Cyclocross Cup

###  Robert Mercado        www.facebook.com
Great photos from Robert Mercado of Day 2 at our Georgetown Cyclocross Festival. Thanks, Robert!

The Empty Middle

By Wayne Estes        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Introduction
This is a tour of the empty middle of the U.S., a region known as the Great Plains. I won’t merely cross the Plains like a thousand cyclists do every year on coast-to-coast bike tours. Instead I will stay in the Great Plains for the entire tour.
Before the tour I knew little about the region other than basic stereotypes: flat, windy, few trees, many farms. In high school I learned a romantic history of emigrant trails, railroads, buffalo herds, homesteaders, and fighting Indians. Also the tragic history of the Dust Bowl.
The Great Plains has changed immensely since the Dust Bowl. The population continues to …

Palo Duro Canyon hike
Tuesday September 22, 2015
Today I visit Palo Duro Canyon in a car with my parents. The canyon rim is 10 miles east of our motel. The high plains terrain is gently rolling with so few trees that you can see the horizon everywhere.
But to the east the high plains literally drops off a cliff. Starting here and continuing another 100 miles south, the high plains suddenly drop 700 feet to prairie. Palo Duro canyon is the most spectacular and accessible of many eroded side canyons in the 100 mile long escarpment known locally as The Caprock and known by …

GHORBA Newsletter – Fall/Winter Edition

GHORBA.org

Contents:
I. Welcome Letter From the President – Bill Collier
II. Trails Update From Our VP & Advocacy Director – Kevin Highfield
III.  Upcoming GHORBA Events
IV.  Additional Updates
V. Featured Sponsor Article – Adam Potter
VI.  Skills Tip – Stephanie Shoemake
VII.  Featured Member Article – Christy Jones
VIII.  Bike Maintenance Topic – Aaron A. …

July 14th: Bike Ride with PJ

bike4heck.com

Another post to catch up on our bicycle adventures from the past six months or so. This is a post from an adventure on July 14th.
Morning Bike Ride with PJ it’s been our routine for almost a week. Today we rode 5.45 miles and made stops to look at the new NISD Gym being built, Las Palapos, Igo Library to read books, then a Subway for lunch!

Texas Bicycling Tweets

https://twitter.com/danielcurtin/status/665970935535550464

https://twitter.com/Cyclistlaw/status/665954080544694272

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Texas Bicycling Event Reminders

Sunday MTB Ride on Kingwood’s Greenbelt Trails

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Back to riding the Kingwood greenbelt trails today. I needed to drop off a letter at the Kingwood post office and from there I went south on W. Lake Houston Parkway over the San Jacinto River. The sun was out and the temperature was 75 degrees. I wore a long sleeve jersey and was quite comfortable even in the shade. The ride moved me to 6407 miles for 2015, only 93 miles away from my goal for 2015. My wife is concerned that my riding intensity has dropped off but with the weather cooling down, less daylight and almost to my goal with over a month to go I am taking it easy. This is a good time to add some variety. Tomorrow (Monday) and the 2 days after that could be wet which will limit my riding.

As I rode over the San Jacinto River there were two pontoon boats on the water enjoying the sun. It is still warm enough to be there but I think I would pass on water skiing.

A number of people were on the trails and another MTB rider passed me in a full kit with helmet. Most of the people riding on the trails do not wear helmets.

Mileage as of today:

  • 63.77 miles this week
  • 173.67 miles in November
  • 6407 miles year to date

10th time riding my MTB this year.

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Texas Bicycling News November 14th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

CLUB Rides Fall 2015 – Sun City Cyclists

suncitytxcyclists.org

Cyclists will meet and depart from the TENNIS COURTS or Legacy Hills Park Pavilion The riding group(s) will determine the route and pace since there will be no official ride starter. Participating riders will determine distance and pace but this may vary slightly depending on attending rider’s ability.  Make sure you have a riding “buddy” at your skill level at the beginning of the ride.
SUNDAY
10-12 mph.  Approx. 15-25 miles.  Meet at Legacy Hills Park Pavilion 8:30 AM.
Areas inside Sun City and/or Sun City/Georgetown.  Contact Jan Woolheater at janwool@suddenlink.net (868-5573) with questions.
MONDAY
14-18 mph.  Approx. 30-55 miles.  Meet at Tennis Courts 8:00.
Areas in and around Andice, Salado, Schwertner, Weir, Granger, Bartlett, Liberty Hill, Florence and/or Jarrell.  Contact Lloyd Lindsay …

CenAus- Wednesday Morning Blazing Saddle Ride

austinscalendar.com

Start:    Wednesday, Nov 18, 2015 7:30a
End:    Wednesday, Nov 18, 2015 10:30a
Location:    Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop 400 Nueces Austin, TX 78701
Add to Google Cal:    CenAus- Wednesday Morning Blazing Saddle Ride
Join Mellow Johnny’s and Team 787Racing for a blazing fast morning road ride. Meet at the shop for a 7:00am sharp roll out. This ride is for the cyclist who wants to put in some fast miles before heading off to work. It is NOT a “no drop” ride. Rides average 22+mph (including hills) and routes vary. So, if …

Critical Mass Houston

Friday, Nov 27, 2015, 6:30 PM

Market Square Park
301 Milam Street Houston, TX

18 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 →

Southwest Tandem Rally 2016

www.swtr2016.org

Georgetown, Texas
April 29 – May 1
In 2016 we’re headed to the Heart of Texas!  Hosted by the Austin TxCATs, the 2016 SWTR will be based in historic Georgetown, about 30 miles north of Austin.  With quiet, mostly flat roads that wind through the scenic San Gabriel river valley, the 2016 SWTR is a great way to experience the springtime beauty of central Texas.
We would LOVE to have a city ride in Austin on Sunday when the locals are sleeping in and there is little traffic. We’re considering a 25-mile hosted route to show you some of our favorite Austin landmarks from Lady Bird Lake to the Capitol, University of Texas, and Laguna Gloria with stops along the way to take in the scenery. No tour of Austin would be complete without eating so we’ll finish up with a delicious foodie lunch! …

Texas Bicycling Tweets

https://twitter.com/gavinmannion/status/665553078670589952

https://twitter.com/danielcurtin/status/665647521205628928

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/665639177447305216

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/665637973828853760

https://twitter.com/danielcurtin/status/665618846653374464

https://twitter.com/COABikeProgram/status/665274312614658052

Fall Bike Ride On Kingwood’s Trails

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After several days off the bike I hit the Kingwood greenbelt trails for today’s ride. Fall brings leaves and pine needles down on the trails but the path was clear. The last couple of days have been overcast and I wasn’t drawn to the bike as much as when the sun is out and the temperature warmer. I started the ride at 1:30 and the temperature was 71 degrees but I knew riding on the trails it would be cooler so I wore a long sleeve jersey and a windbreaker jacket. This was just right and when I got home (2:45) and took the jacket off my jersey was soaked. The temperature was down to 69 degrees and the wind was out of the ESE at 10 mph though on the trails the wind wasn’t much of a problem.

I don’t ride my Motobecane MTB very often with today being the 9th time this year. I am a road bike rider.

As I started the ride I wanted to stop and take some pictures. Here is what I saw. (Nexus 6 phone took these)

Bear Branch Trail
Bear Branch Trail
Water ditch Bear Branch Trail
Bridge over the ditch
Bear Branch drainage ditch
Bridge Trailwood Village
Around the trail
Trailwood trail undergrowth
New Underpass W. Lake Houston Pkwy
Construction W. Lake Houston Pkwy
Trail crossing W. Lake Houston Pkwy

Riding my MTB makes me feel slow with the wider tires and lower gearing. I try to keep my cadence in the 80’s like when I am on my road bike. The MTB weighs much more than my road bike. I should weigh it someday.

With today’s ride I am only 105 miles away from my 6500 mile goal for 2015. I should be able to ride tomorrow (MTB again, I think) but Monday the weather looks wet.

Garmin Connect Ride Data & Charts still does not have an embed code. RideWithGPS.com and Strava do.

Summary of my MTB rides in 2015.

Activity Name Start Time Distance Elevation Gain Avg Speed(Avg Pace) Max Speed(Best Pace) Calories Total Strokes
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

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