Texas Bicycling Action – April 9, 2023

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European Tour of Texas

by Fun Bikin’ Enterprises | www.bikereg.com

The European Tour of Texas is a bundle of 4 small community bike rides that share a European Theme. They live up to their European Heritage with challenging routes, a variety of distances and blend it all with Texas Hospitality. We’ve ridden these rides for decades and know that they are all committed to providing an excellent ride experience. Here’s how it works.

When you register for the ETT you are automatically registered for all 4 of our featured rides (unless you pick the 3 ride option). Single registrations are available (no tandem registration rate is available). All registrations include one of our Limited Edition Jerseys. After you register for the ETT Series you will be provided a code and store link to use to order your jersey. We’re even paying the shipping fee so that your jersey is delivered to your home.

Each ride will send you a …

Southern Tier 2023

By Sharon Greenwood | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 35: Smithville to Somerville, TX: Pies

Saturday April 8, 2023, 69 miles (111 km) – Total so far: 1,763 miles (2,837 km) Awoke to no rain but wet tent. Packed up and on bikes at 8:00. Rode fast with Karen. Actually caught up to scouts Steve & Rick just after their lunch stop. Rode together on great backroads to Rounde Top at mile 40. It’s 10:45 and the cafe famous for its pies opens at 11:00. We eat our PB&J sandwiches on the porch until opening time. In we go for decaf and delicious pies: Sweet & Salty for me (chocolate and caramel with melted fudge). It must register at 2000 calories alone! They make and sell 300 each day. In enters Stephen and Dan to join us. Back on route on great farm roads; lots of fun, low/no traffic. At mile 50, Karen sped in to camp and I took my time peddling at a more leisurely pace. Enjoying great undulating roads. Into Yegua Creek Campground at 2:30. Nice sites on Lake Somerville. Beyond Burgers and baked beans by Steve & Harris. Colored Easter Eggs tonight. The air is cool but not cold. Perfect camping night.

Texas Fixed+ Houston, Texas

Alex Maldonado | strava.com

Metric, followed by extra credit for the real hundo. 15.0 new miles

Sending Ben’s creek gap!! Harris County, Texas

Jim Storey | strava.com

Morning Ride Willis, Texas

Reuben VF | strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

3 Day Break, Back On The Bike With Overcast Sky

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After not biking for three days I was committed to biking today. The weather cooperated a little but the overcast sky kept the temperature around 70 degrees but thankfully the wind was only 8 mph. I prefer it to be 10 to 15 degrees warmer. I compensated by wearing a long sleeve jersey and a short sleeve jersey. Early in the ride it was 71 or 72 degrees and i was comfortable but as neared the end of the ride it felt cooler and I confirmed that after finishing.

At the start of today the week totaled 103 miles and with today’s 29.74 miles I finished the week with 132.8 miles. Missing the three days cut the difference between 2023 YTD miles (2421) and 2021 (2387) to 34 miles, the closest it has been for a while. Missing those three days was not good. Rain on Thursday and Friday meant no riding but I could’ve rode yesterday in the late afternoon.

4-9-2023 SportTracks Week Bike Rides Summary
4-9-2023 SportTracks Week Bike Rides Summary

I started today at 1:50 PM after getting home from Easter Sunday worships services. Riding my Lynskey Helix bike I set out on my Forest Cover – Oakhurst – Valley Ranch route. I’ve rode this route several times so far this year. The route makes it’s way through Kingwood and onto the San jacinto Bayou Greenway in Forest Cove. With the rain I wondered if the greenway might have experienced any water. I saw a couple of places where water washed leaves and pine needles onto the pavement but nothing serious. Exiting the greenway I rode west on Hamblen Road to Loop 494, Sorters Road north into Kingwood Place. From there Oakhurst was next, Briar Tree. I crossed over FM 1314 into Valley Ranch. I looked forward to the turn around at Valley Ranch Bend Drive where the wind would change from headwind to side and tail wind. I took side streets through Valley Ranch into Forest Colony and back to US59/I-69 for the ride south to Northpark Drive. A u-turn under the freeway and I was about 7 miles from the finish. A short ride into the wind again until I turned right on E. Knox St. Crossing over Loop 494 I rode through Woodridge Forest and back into Kingwood. The chill was more noticeable as I finished the ride at 4:01 PM.

4-9-2023 SportTracks Recent Ride History Forest Cove-Oakhurst-Valley Ranch
4-9-2023 SportTracks Recent Ride History Forest Cove-Oakhurst-Valley Ranch

With the rest my legs had the power and I built my average speed up to 14.0 mph until I slowed through Woodridge Forest. They were good enough to collect the Strava 3rd fastest time on Northshore Sunrise (3:55) in Forest Cove.

4-9-2023 Strava Ride Overview Forest Cove-Oakhurst-Valley Ranch
4-9-2023 Strava Ride Overview Forest Cove-Oakhurst-Valley Ranch

Texas Bicycling Action – April 8, 2023

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San Jacinto Bayou Greenway Grand Opening Celebration

By Houston Parks Board | www.eventbrite.com

Saturday, April 15 · 11am – 1pm CDT Forest Cove Community Center 1025 Marina Dr. Houston, TX 77339

On Saturday, April 15, from 11 AM to 1 PM, celebrate the newest segment of San Jacinto Bayou Greenway with Houston Parks Board and partners!

Enjoy free tacos from local restaurant El Jimador, and don’t forget to bring your bike and helmet for a guided ride along the new greenway. A DJ will be spinning tunes throughout the event, and we encourage you to share this invitation with your friends and family.

Schedule:

11:00 AM: Event begins

11:30 AM: Speaking Program and Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin

12:15 PM: Group bike ride begins (20-minute roundtrip)

01:00 PM: Event ends; thank you for coming!

EaDo Bike Co’s 6th Anniversary Party and Swap Meet!

By EaDo Bike Co | www.eventbrite.com

Sunday, April 16 · 12 – 4pm CDT EaDo Bike Co 912 St. Charles St. Houston, TX 77003 It’s like the old saying goes, "time flies when you’re having fun!"

We have been around for 6 years now, and in our usual fashion we’d like to celebrate this milestone with a hootenanny out on the lawn!

Things will get going at 12pm, if you are interested in setting up as a vendor for the swap meet, please click this link and fill out the form.

There will be food. There will be drinks. There will be good times to be had to good people. We hope to see you there!

Bike The Woodlands Coalition 2023 Annual Meeting

By Bike The Woodlands Coalition | www.eventbrite.com

Tue, May 2, 2023 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM CDT South County Community Center 2235 Lake Robbins Drive Spring, TX 77380

Since 2009, Bike The Woodlands Coalition has worked to make bicycling in The Woodlands more safe, joyful, and convenient. Join us on Tuesday 5/2 for our annual meeting to learn more about our work and find out how you can get involved. This event is free and light dinner and refreshments will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to arrive by bike!

Connecting San Antonio trails to north Bexar County could boost health, mobility and tourism

by Nolan Kuehn | sanantonioreport.org

Trails in San Antonio as part of the Howard W. Peak Linear Greenway Trails System just hit the 100-mile mark. Spurred by the vision of former Mayor Howard W. Peak, these trails long ago had the focus of being located along the major and minor estuaries in San Antonio.

Now, they’ve gotten into the neighborhoods, providing access to tranquil city parks, be it by walking or bicycling. Families are enjoying healthy outings and savoring the great outdoors. Residents also have another way to travel to Nani Falcone Park, O.P. Schnabel Park, Roosevelt Park and many others.

Interest has sprung forth regarding escaping these San Antonio bounds with other trails, connecting with those to the north. Those living outside of San Antonio in places like Fair Oaks Ranch and Boerne have begun actively working toward eventually expanding and connecting existing trails in their respective communities — with an eye toward connecting with a possible …

Southern Tier 2023

By Sharon Greenwood | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 34: Austin to Smithville, TX: Rain

Friday April 7, 2023, 49 miles (79 km) – Total so far: 1,694 miles (2,726 km) Left the Super 8 with Karen at 7:30 in a steady light rain. After some quick lefts and rights we found the bike path that leads us out of the city. After a portage up a gravel trail, the path dumps out on a busy suburban road. The rain is now coming down steadily. We ride fast, heads down. At mile 35 we stop at the Bastrop Coffee Shop. The rain let up a bit as we ate our PB&J, drank a turtle mocha and rested. We receive a text from the leaders that the park road through Bastrop State Park is flooded and closed. They suggest a detour but we look at Google maps and decide to ride on the Hwy 71 shoulder. It was …

Morning Ride Cooke County, Texas

David Sherrill | strava.com

Saturday Ride San Antonio, Texas

Mark Noblitt MTCCSA | strava.com

Wanted some "seated" climbs (7-10%) just to test the legs out a bit. Some were pretty slow, but I didn’t tack or stand once. Lots of signs on Scenic Loop, Toutant Beauregard, and Upper Balcones about L’Etape next Sunday. Wonder if that’s why there were so many grumpy motorists today. One truck with a horse trailer managed to nearly clip me with his mirror, black-smoke me, and throw out not one, but two, bottles at me — all in one pass! You do have to admire the coordination, huh? Weather-wise, it was the perfect day! Wish I could bottle it and open it up in July! Fun seeing Jhonny Rodriguez ????? at the start of my ride!

EASTER HILL COUNTRY TOUR – 50TH ANNIVERSARY Kerrville, Texas

Esther Barrientez -TEAM TACO | strava.com

Easter Hill Country Ride Kerrville, Texas

Johnny Barham | strava.com

Chappell Hill with the Rice Crew Washington County, Texas

Frank Cano | strava.com

My first time out to Chappell Hill! Mucho thanks to Jackson Stone and Anna Camille for organizing.

Started out cold and humid at 8am and 55F. We rolled on for 10mi or so and then we had to cross a flooded road. I went first to see how deep it was and it was deep-ish…. Both feet soaked but still below the bottom bracket. Did it in reverse and showered everyone how to single foot ratchet pedal to avoided the soaked feet… too late for me. No choice now though, gotta go hard to keep feet warm!!! Proceeded to go too hard on every hill, pushing power and HR to zone 5…. Setting myself up for a cramp-party!

Stopped for break at the historic Independence General Store. My body cold all over standing there (not just feet which I couldn’t feel at this point anyway). Focused on recovering and fueling.

On the hills, my 182lbs and two extra water bottles and enough fuel for 200mi … we would get dropped. But on the descents… OH THE DESCENTS!! Wooooooooo!!!!!! Super aero tuck, biggest gear, extra weight FYW! Zoom zoom!

Near the end with about 8mi to go, Ademir Vazquez and I took off and had some fun trading punches on the hills. He’d been dropping me all day but the fatigue of 65mi of hills had us on more equal footing and we had a good time!

Back at the Valero, Jackson Stone was gonna head out for the full planned 80 so I joined him. He said “just getting in the planned miles, pure zone 2”. HA!!! Never trust a cyclist to quote pace plans! Thanks to Jackson, also got the obligatory bluebonnet bike shot and then headed back to the Valero to change and then over to Beaver Kitchen for PECAN PIE WITH A SCOOP OF BLUE BELL ICE CREAM. PERFECT!!

Red River Riot, 80mi course sweep, cut short Cooke County, Texas

John Studebaker | strava.com

Right knee got pretty stiff so bailed on last loop, rest of course was 80 and 125 milers, they’re all big girls and boys

Stormy Gravel Daniels Washington County, Texas

T REDLINE Nguyen | strava.com

Gonzo Gravelero Race 14th place, FBK Racing with Gabriel taking 3rd!! Lucas flatted again in the breakaway!?.

Jason Rose (Church Cycles/FBK Racing) | strava.com

Castell Grind at the 75K turn off
by u/thehighepopt in GravelTexas

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

3rd Graders’ New Bikes, Strava Pics, Tweets. Texas Bicycling News – April 7, 2023

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Dry Loops The Woodlands, Texas

Peter Clark | strava.com

Dire forecast, but dry roads so take my chances…staying close to home…glad i did with puncture #5 for the year, #3 in ~400miles for SuperSix…walked home…not smiling

Racing & Bonus Week & Sunshine, Oh My!

deal.town

Spider Mountain sent this email to their subscribers on April 6, 2023.

Republic of Texas National Champs Cancel your non-biking plans because this is going to be monumental. This weekend-long festival is a first of its kind for Texas MTB that combines dual slalom, XCC, XCO, and Enduro between Spider Mountain and Reveille Peak Ranch. The schedule is listed below and registration is open, get after it!

Dual Slalom Saturday 4/15 • Reveille Peak Ranch • 5:30pm-9:30pm

XCC- Cross Country Short Track Saturday 4/15 • Spider Mountain • 9am-4pm

XCO- Cross Country Olympic Sunday 4/16 • Spider Mountain • 8am-4:30pm

Enduro Saturday 4/15 • Spider Mountain • 9am

Sunday 4/16 • Reveille Peak Ranch • 5pm …

Beat by Chisholm! 40+ Masters Tuesday Night Crit – 4/4/2023

Honest Tree | www.youtube.com

GoFundMe set up for El Paso man injured in bicycle accident; he’s been unconscious for almost a month

By Jesus A. Rodriguez |kvia.com

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – An El Paso man was seriously injured while riding his motorized bicycle and struck a car almost a month ago. He hasn’t woken up since.

Gustavo Orta Ruelas suffered severe head trauma when the accident happened on March 10. He has been in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit since it happened.

A police report from his family states a driver heard something collide with the passenger side of his vehicle but didn’t see anything when he looked around.

The driver said he …

Pop Solstice Richardson, Texas

Arthur Westover | strava.com

I rode ahead solo, waited for A group which never came. Shawn arrived, we waited and started riding backward. Ran into Pop B, which only had 1 or 2 Pop A guys. Later another couple of A group regulars joined. When we go to the firestation, those few A group guys split and didn’t make the turn. However when the B group turned onto Jupiter Road, we were still ahead of the A group, though they were close.

They caught us on Park Place. And then we turned onto Allen Heights. And there was Pop C. So A, B, and C groups all met together at the same time (solstice). After that it was a mad rush for the faster guys in all 3 groups to move to the front. Very strong crosswind on Parker, and then very fast pace and strong winds on Murphy. And of course very hard riding on Renner. What was once a huge group was very much whittled down.

88 Alvin ISD third graders got new bikes for winning the NCAA’s Read to the Final Four contest

Pooja Bhakta | www.houstonchronicle.com

Cycle Houston donated new bikes to the each third grade student at Dr. James "Red" Duke Elementary after winning the Read to the Final Four on April 3.

Dr. James "Red" Duke Elementary students have no "shelf" control when it comes to reading. The school’s third graders were named the winner of the Read to the Final Four competition, which began six months ago.

Led by the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four and Houston Local Organizing Committee, Read to the Final Four is an annual literacy initiative to encourage third graders through a bracket-style competition.

Eighteen Alvin ISD elementary schools participated alongside 189 schools from 11 districts across the Houston area. Together, the 189 schools netted 60.1 million minutes read, according to a press release. Over 2,000 students in Alvin ISD reached a combined 13 million minutes read. …

Texas Biking from Twitter

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