After getting caught in the rain yesterday and the dreary weather this morning I decided to ride Zwift. Also I didn’t want to wash my bike again after the ride. None of the events matched my desire so I created a meetup using the Watopia Big Foot Hills route but not the whole route, only 25 miles. The whole route was over 43 miles with 5 climbs. The 25 miles climbed three of them and finished on the downhill, something I don’t get to do in Zwift very often it seems. I started at 11:55 AM and it took 1:34:05 to ride 25.13 miles. There were 18,555 Zwifters online when I started and about 12,600 when I finished.
The roads were familiar but in a different order than other routes. The hardest climb was up the volcano taking around 16 minutes. It was slow and challenged my legs. I got out of the saddle towards the end of the climb which I don’t normally do. Total climbing was 1,368 feet. I might become a mountain goat yet. I didn’t notice any Christmas items today. Several large groups passed me going the opposite direction. I listened to SiriusXM 60’s Gold channel pedaling along the route. I am probably the only person in Zwift that listens to SiriusXM while riding.
I checked ZwiftInsider.com before choosing the route. I saw that “One of five routes rolled out with Zwift’s Titans Grove expansion, “Big Foot Hills” takes you on a meandering journey over the lower peaks of Watopia, including Titans Grove in both directions. This longer route is perfect for a ~2-hour free ride and includes 5 different KOM sections of short to medium length. A nice choice if you want to do some VO2 max hill training!” The full route basics: Length: 67.5 km (41.9 miles) Elevation: 707 m (2,320‘) Lead-In: 2.4 km (1.5 miles).
12-30-2022 Strava Zwift Ride Overview Watopia Big Foot Hills12-30-2022 Strava Zwift Ride Route Profile Watopia Big Foot Hills
“Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park. It is the county seat of Presidio County, and its population as of the 2010 United States Census was 1,981. The city was founded in the early 1880s as a water stop; the population increased during World War II, but growth has stalled and reversed somewhat since the late 20th century. Today, Marfa is a tourist destination and a major center for minimalist art.” – https://wikipedia.org
In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew conducts a random tour through the small town of Marfa, Texas. There is a lot to see in Marfa, particularly if art and related history is an interest. Of note, the world-famous Marfa Prada store is not in town, it sits some 37 miles NW of Marfa. …
Euphree eBikes, an electric bicycle company, leased 8,250 square feet at Navigation Bend, 5715 Navigation Blvd., less than mile from U.S. 90 in the East End, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
"As Houston’s only bicycle brand, we design, assemble and ship premium commuter ebikes across the U.S. and into select dealers,” Daniel Basaldua, Euphree’s CEO, said in an announcement. “We are excited to get more people on bikes and out of cars."
Mike Pittman II and Michael Burgower of Cushman & Wakefield …
… We don’t see a soul on our five-hour tour, except for a lone cyclist cruising along the back side of Steve Thompson Wildlife Drive. He is clearly in the zone, steadily pedaling, lost in the rhythm and unaware of our truck inching up behind him. Garcia patiently keeps his distance for a few minutes, then gently taps his horn. The cyclist startles. He pulls over and grins as we pass.
The cyclist is Irv Downing, a 68-year-old former endurance racer who moved from South Padre to be closer to the refuge, which he cycles about “every other day.” Downing calls Laguna Atascosa his Serengeti. “The scenery, the setting, the laguna, it’s just spectacular,” he says. “My son was visiting from Seattle last week, and on our ride photographed 20 nilgai antelope.”
After talking to Downing, I figure I could bicycle this route too—if it wasn’t too windy, too hot, or too cold. “This is a difficult trail because of the distance and wind factor,” Garcia acknowledges. “The way to do this is on an electric bike.”
My ears perk up.
I couldn’t locate any e-bike rentals near the refuge, so I …
Just needed a nice easy ride, and I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable leaving from #MyShop. As soon as I pulled out onto Bandera Street, and hadn’t even gone a mile, none other than Spencer Jones rode up next to me. It’s always nice to see someone who is extremely fast and good at cycling who is also humble and kind. He stopped at what used to be an old, abandoned gas station, but is now The Bakery Lorraine probably to refuel for the ride back to SA. I continued on my ride, wearing short sleeves and normal bibs, when just a few days ago, it was freezing outside! As always, I thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me the ability to return to this sport that I love, and for yet another safe ride.?
Love that Aaron does these rides and tweets them. Very inspiring. I need to get off my ass and get back to riding more. #festive500https://t.co/KE0izInCa2
This year we will try something different for our New Year's Day Ride. We will start the ride in the parking lot of Cleburne's Cafeteria, then have our New Year's lunch at the c… https://t.co/tpKl2ci5A1
When I got up this morning I thought I had a good plan to get the new SRAM Rival Quarq power meter crankset installed on my Cervelo Caledonia bike. I started executing the plan but ran into a problem removing the 46×33 chain rings from the new crankset so I could replace them with the 48×35 from my current crankset. I used a Torx T25 bit but the correct size was a T30 and I stripped one bolt on the new crankset. I tried to get it loose but I think the factory tightened too much. This delayed my plan to be at Trek Bicycle Kingwood when they opened at 10 AM and get back home to reassemble the chain and install the new Ultegra pedals. The mechanic at Trek tried to get the stripped bolt out but it was too messed up. Fortunately the original spider arm was the same as the new one so he used that. The Trek even cleaned the dirt and wax from the old crankarm. Thank you!!
Back home with the new crankset installed I lubricated the chain with Silca Super Secret, put on the Ultegra pedals, added the crankset to the SRAM phone app and updated the firmware. Then I deleted the Favero Assiomo Uno power meter pedal from the Wahoo Bolt computer and added the Quarq power meter.
It was getting later than I planned on starting today’s bike but I pressed on. Before getting dressed I checked the weather radar because the forecast called for scattered rain. I saw a couple of patches but figured they would move away by the time I got near them. I rolled out the driveway at 12:11 PM planning on riding my Kingwood – FM 1485 – Kingwood route to the north. As I rode beside Northpark Drive light rain started so I made a stop back home to give it time to pass. That didn’t take long and I was back on the bike. Continuing on the route I rode through small patches of light rain. Again, I thought they would go away. I altered the route slightly taking Adams Street to US59. Another cyclist passed me gong the opposite direction and we waved. As I neared the intersection rain began. I turned right hoping I would ride out of it but it rained harder. I made a u-turn heading to Woodridge Forest as I got soaked. No place for shelter so I decided to ride back home. As I rode through Woodridge Forest the rain stopped but the streets were very wet. My clean bike was no longer clean. On Woodridge Parkway the streets were dry but I wasn’t. I rode home and washed the Cervelo. I finished the ride at 1:13 PM. I rode 12.37 miles allowing me to count this as an “official” bike ride (10 miles is the definition).
If you are searching for fun bicycle rides in Texas, you have come to the right place. Listed below you will have information you need for 6 of the best Texas bike rides. A short description will give you some idea of the bike ride you are interested in and a link for more information.
Mission Reach Trail System
San Antonio
The Hike & Bike Trail is approximately 15 miles long and runs along the San Antonio River connecting all five missions in San Antonio: The Alamo, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. Each mission is about 2.5 miles from the next. This is a safe and fun way to visit the missions.
Poor roadways and lack of streetlights hinder cyclists in the southern sector.
Two cyclist ride bikes on the sidewalk along Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Dallas. (Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer)
Now that the city has $2.5 million to update its 2011 bike plan, cyclists in southern Dallas, long hindered by poor infrastructure and a lack of bike lanes, see this as the perfect opportunity to improve their communities.
After the city’s series of public input meetings that ended mid-November, the Department of Transportation will create a new bike plan and ask for the public’s input again in early spring 2023.
The new bike plan will add trails, infrastructure, and other facilities. The Dallas Department of Transportation received $500,000 for development of the plan and $2 million from general funds for implementation.
The Longview Parks and Recreation Department is rolling out a new holiday event just in time for the New Year, with a free holiday bike ride for children scheduled to take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31 at Safety City.
Safety City is a miniature version of the city of Longview and is used to teach children safety tips they can utilize in real life. First opened in 1991, it simulates real traffic environments and includes an overpass, a railroad crossing, working traffic lights and major traffic signs.
Recreation Supervisor Marina Garcia said the idea for the …
Head outside and enjoy one of Frisco’s Hike & Bike Trails presented by @childrens. The Big Bluestem Trail at Grand Park in a new trail to discover. @PlayFrisco has miles of safe, accessible trails for all ages and abilities. Learn more at https://t.co/owWmJU8pj8. pic.twitter.com/1RQf8lZkpq
Fantastic gravel routes from 30ish miles up to 150 miles! Routes are setup in a unique clover leaf format that returns to the staging area for each 30ish or 50ish mile l… https://t.co/et8ScLZER4
Join us for the 32nd Annual Jalapeno 100 Bike Ride in memory of Henry Roberts. We have brought back the century ride which will begin in Harlingen, take you no… https://t.co/pThf0iYl70
