Texas Bicycling Action – March 5, 2023

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The Trailist: A San Antonian’s map of the city’s bicycle network takes a transit-oriented approach

by Brendan Gibbons | sanantonioreport.org

David Bemporad’s fascination with trains began at a young age. One of his earliest memories is sitting with his family near the rail line at Thousand Oaks and watching the freight locomotives roll past. At home, he would paint model trains and build elaborate sets.

Despite growing up in car-centric Northeast San Antonio, trips to visit family members in New York City also introduced him to commuter rail and that city’s subway system, with its distinctive maps with color-coded routes and stops. Last month, Bemporad unveiled a similar map he made charting San Antonio’s bicycle network after finishing a graduate program in urban planning and starting work for San Antonio nonprofits focused on making it easier to get around without a car.

He posted his finished product on the …

After boy’s bike stolen, APD surprises him with new one

by: Nabil Remadna | www.kxan.com

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A boy living at the Helping Hand Home for Children recently had his bike stolen after someone jumped the fence during the day and then rode off with it.

“We came by and met with the kids and reassured them that everything is going to be ok, we know the bike was stolen, but we are going to be out here and patrol all night and you are going to be safe,” said APD detective Wut Tantaksinanukij.

The Helping Hand Home provides a …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvOP3Qm1MEk

Ghost Bike for Cyclist Killed in Hit and Run (106-Mile Week)

ADude ABikes | strava.com

News story link in comments. At the end of my ride I met Grace, helped yank her chain and got grease on my fingers, me she did thank, and now she’s long gone, yet her memory still lingers.

SSpring Loop Harris County, Texas

Kevin Highfield | strava.com

Using new tricks on my "new" gravel bike. 44/16 gearing felt good with 40/38mm gravel tires

First Texas Gravel Adventure Bastrop, Texas

Carlos A. Moreno | strava.com

Funny ride – Kuya and Dany invite me to my first gravel adventure. Then comes mile one and hold and behold I didn’t see them until mile 65. Come first gravel segment. Almost made a U turn to go back home ? finally Dany and Kuya met me in Elgin. Then last section was nice and fast ?

Met really awesome people and new friends! Very nice event!

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

I Need To Work On Tire Repair Skills; Practiced Today

Texbiker.net Posted on by

A Sunday bike ride was on the docket after I got home from church. Before rolling out the door I finished watching stage 1 of Paris – Nice bike race and ate a snack for fuel. Dressed and ready I started the ride at 1:27 PM on my Lynskey Helix bike. This was the first ride on the new rear tire I replaced Thursday evening after the flat tire. I felt confident flat tires were in the rear view mirror. Before church I watched the GP Jean-Pierre Monseré bike race in Belgium.

My legs were ready to tackle my Forest Cove – Oakhurst – Valley Ranch route to add some extra miles towards my 650 mile goal for March. Checking previous rides in SportTracks the average distance for this route was around 28 miles. I added a few streets in Kingwood to stretch the distance above that. I rode through Bear Branch Village, South woodland Hills Village, Trailwood Village in Kngwood before hitting the San Jacinto Bayou Greenway through Forest Cove. Hamblen Road took me to Loop 494 for a short ride to Sorters Road. Next I went through Kingwood Place, Oakhurst, Briar Tree to FM 1314. Riding over FM 1314 I rode Valley Ranch Parkway to the new traffic light at Valley Ranch Bend Drive.

Making the right turn the rear tire on the Lynskey felt funny and within a few feet I realized it was flat. This is getting old. I got of the bike and rotated the rear tire to see if I could find the cause but nothing seemed to be sticking in or out of the tire. I found a rock near the dog poop bag station, removed the rear tire and sat on the rock. I removed the the tube, pumped it up and felt for escaping air. Near a previous patch I found a small hole. When I tried to remove the tube from the wheel a part of the tube was stuck under the bead. I think that caused the hole. I apparently didn’t inspect the tube when I put the new tire on Thursday evening and I paid the price today. I patched the hole, I needed to add some extra glue after I put the patch on. Pumping up the tube before putting it in the tire it held air and my tire patching confidence increased a little bit. I waited a couple of minutes to be sure and then put the tube in the tire, mounted the bead back on the wheel and this time checked the tube was properly in place. I aired the tire and the tire popped a couple of times as the bead locked onto the rim. I put the wheel back on the Lynskey with some problems getting the thru axle in place. I bounced the rear wheel as I walked back to Valley Ranch Bend Drive. All seemed well and strted riding to US59 through Valley Ranch.

South along US59 on the frontage road to the u-turn under at Northpark Drive. It looked like I would ride back home which I did finishing the ride at 4:27 PM, about half an hour later than I expected.

While I was riding and fixing the flat Strava alerted me that I had lost two local legends and gained one. Also I set 3rd fastest time on Don’t Get Run Over on Hamblen West (43s) and 3rd fastest time on Barrington to River Grove (2:15). This was the Local Legend on VR Drag Northbound gained.

With all of my flat tire adventures and driving back from Harlingen I rode 157.58 miles this week. I am a few miles ahead of the pace to reach my goal for March. No Zwift rides this week.

3-5-2023 SportTracks Week Bike Rides Summary
3-5-2023 SportTracks Week Bike Rides Summary

Texas Bicycling Action – March 4, 2023

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Grand opening celebrates 1.3-mile extension to Northern Walnut Creek Trail

www.kvue.com

AUSTIN, Texas — Walnut Creek Trail Park is getting even bigger!

The City’s Public Works Urban Trails program celebrated the new 1.3-mile trail connecting Overbrook Drive to the park on Saturday afternoon at the Walnut Creek Pool.

With the new addition, the Northern Walnut Creek Trail is now 4.4 miles long – from the Balcones Neighborhood Park to Overbrook Drive.

The 12-foot-wide trail is …

H2G #32 Houston to Galveston Houston, Texas

Mark Estopinal | strava.com

SH2G Houston, Texas

Bert Ceballos | strava.com

H2G #32 – Return from Watopia Houston, Texas

Jesse Alston | strava.com

Legs and feet still sore from Thursday’s ride but I persevered. First bonk-free, cramp-free century in a while. Eating and drinking more frequently was key. Legs/Strength: Good, Heart: Incredible, Lungs: Excellent, Endurance: Good, RecoveryRate: Excellent.

Dave’s Saturday Ride Extravaganza New Braunfels, Texas

Steve Wellington-USMES | strava.com

Reunited, and it feels so good Houston, Texas

Amy Schendel | strava.com

Weather was spectacular, wildflowers were blooming, and I got to ride with friends I haven’t seen in forever. Best day!

Pedaling the Prairie. What a day! Pine Island, Texas

Kent Joosten | strava.com

Pedal the Pain Prairie Pine Island, Texas

Jose ??Gonsalves-Barreiro | strava.com

Covington Gravel Hill County, Texas

Ronnie Bryant | strava.com

Morning Ride Pine Island, Texas

Barry Novy | strava.com

Whitehall, Texas Harris County, Texas

Veloharmony | strava.com

Ride with the gang – Katy-Belleville-Katy Fort Bend County, Texas

Eduardo Carrillo | strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Recovered From 2″ Screw. Front Brake Squealing. Calmer Wind.

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Watching the men’s and women’s Strade Bianche races this morning before leaving on my bike peaked my interest in gravel bikes. Searching the internet I found several with SRAM’s XPLR etap group. Now all I need to do is find some gravel to ride on nearby. That could be hard to do in the Houston area.

With the races over and the temperature getting up to 70 it was time for me to go on a bike ride. The Cervelo Caledonia mostly recovered from yesterday’s encounter with the 2″ deck screw. After getting a ride back home I replaced the rear tire and tube. The Cervelo was my bike for today’s bike ride. there was one problem though. The front brake rotor rubs on the brake pads. I tried spreading the pads and cylinders to put more space and that helped some. The rotor didn’t rub quite as much.

It was slightly chilly so I wore shorts, a long sleeve jersey, and a wind jacket. I rolled out at 11:20 AM on my Cervelo bike. Wanting to make up some of the lost miles from yesterday’s cut short ride I chose a route I didn’t think I had done before, Atascocita – Spanish Cove – Walden, thinking it would be around 35 to 36 miles. When I finished the ride at 2:22 PM I looked at Strava and was surprised to see two other rides came up as matches, October 29, 2022 and August 20, 2022. I guess this route isn’t a new one. It did cover roads I ride on other routes but I thought this combination would be new. I changed the route names on those other rides to match today.

3-4-2023 SportTracks Recent Rides Atascocita-Spanish Cove-Walden
3-4-2023 SportTracks Recent Rides Atascocita-Spanish Cove-Walden

Starting this late on Saturday I didn’t expect to see any cyclists but three passed me going the opposite direction in Atascocita on the way to FM 1960.

Weather conditions: start 70 degrees, 49% humidity, dew point 50, fair, wind variable 6 mph; finish 77 degrees, 39% humidity, dew point 50, fair, wind E 4 mph. The calmed down a lot from yesterday.

As the ride progressed the front brake started squealing whenever I applied the brake. So I decided to stop at Kingwood Bicycles on the way back to have them look at it. I did that and the wheels turns freely like it used to and the brake doesn’t squeal.

Data from the AXS.SRAM ride report: 33 rear derailleur shifts, used the 35×15 gears 9.6 miles, the 35×13 gears 22.1 miles out of a total 35.8 miles.

I reclaimed the Strava Local Legend on The Library Sprint today.

3-4-2023 Strava Local Legend Library Sprint
3-4-2023 Strava Local Legend Library Sprint

3-4-2023 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Spanish Cove-Walden
3-4-2023 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Spanish Cove-Walden
3-4-2023 Strava Ride Map Atascocita-Spanish Cove-Walden
3-4-2023 Strava Ride Map Atascocita-Spanish Cove-Walden