Exploring Key West

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today’s bike was a low effort one as I rode around the perimeter of Key West and some side streets. The weather cooperated with the temperature in the mid 80’s with lots of sun and light wind. I went by several beaches, watch 4 jet fighters fly over, rode some bumpy streets, listened to many crowing roosters, and marveled at the number of people riding bikes.

The ride began at 10:16 AM as I rode away from my hotel on Duval Street and ended at 12:04 PM back there. I did the obligatory visit to the southernmost point marker where people were lined up to take photos. I rode by a tractor cleaning the beach of smelly seaweed or something like it.

Texas Bicycling News Digest May 16th 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Downtown Mural Tour: Explore downtown Austin through art

By Tierra Neubaum | www.fox7austin.com

AUSTIN, Texas – The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation has put together a bike tour map of inspirational and iconic murals in and around downtown Austin.

The foundation’s mission is to ignite the potential of downtown—through art and creative spaces that capture the spirit of Austin—by and for everyone. "Ultimately, the goal is to make downtown Austin a more vital and livable place for all by bringing together corporate leadership and philanthropic investment to create a lasting legacy in downtown Austin," the Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation said.

The bike tour has eleven stops highlighted on the map. …

Billy Wayne Rawlinson 1938 – 2022

www.legacy.com

Billy Wayne Rawlinson, of Beaumont, walked through the gates of Heaven on Sunday May 8, 2022 at 5:40 pm. He left us peacefully with wife Barbara and son Lance by his side. He is free of pain at last. His suffering is over.

A 6th generation Texan, Billy was born in Houston to Mary King and B.H. Rawlinson on July 26, 1938. He was good natured, easy going, patient and intelligent. A giver, not a taker. He was self-disciplined and never smoked or cursed. …

… Billy soon missed being active and discovered a new world of recumbent trikes and cycling friends. He was known from then on as "Three Wheel Bill". His cycling friends always keeping an eye on him, it was a joy to feel the wind again on his rides around Beaumont and other parts of Texas and Louisiana. Always an achiever, he proudly completed the MS150 from Houston to Austin five times.

Bitten by the cycling bug, in 2006, Billy established the Southeast Texas Hike & Bike Coalition. Its dedicated members worked to teach children bicycle safety and promote safer biking in Southeast Texas. The coalition was instrumental in the creation of bike lanes and signage around Beaumont, bike lanes and sidewalks on …

Alkek Velodrome Update Newsletter

Alkek Velodrome | shoutout.wix.com

After last weeks Team and Madison fun our racers get a week off this Tuesday before TNR comes back with a bang with Track on Speed! Spectators are welcome and if you are racing or keen to please check out our racer guide.

Upcoming Events Tuesday 17th May – No Racing – Open Training

TNR Track on Speed 6:45pm 24th May

Intro to Track Cycling 11am 28th May

TNR Sprint Night 6:45pm 31st May

International Omnium Championship 8:30am 4th June …

Upcoming Rides

Chasing Watts | chasingwatts.com

Torchy’s Taco’s HTX Ride Tuesday, May 17, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

Tuesday Night Shop Ride | Pearland Bicycles Tuesday, May 17, 2022 @ 6:00 PM

Cycling Addicks Tuesday Tuesday, May 17, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

MCC Tuesday – Shell to McKeever Tuesday, May 17, 2022 @ 6:30 AM

Trek Memorial Tuesday Ride Tuesday, May 17, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

Justice League Tuesday Night Ride Tuesday, May 17, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

UBG 26 mile Wednesday Night Wednesday, May 18, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

CCC Gravel Levee Wednesday, May 18, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

The Boot Ride Wednesday, May 18, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

New Location Race Ready Repair Thursday Night Social Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 6:00 PM

LookProGoSlow Recovery Ride Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

Walking Stick Thursday Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

Thursday Night Shop Ride | Pearland Bicycles Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 6:00 PM

#BikeMonth Proclamation | Ride to City Hall Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 6:00 PM

Justice League Thursday Power Hour (A/B/C) Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 6:00 AM

MCC Thursday – Shell to McKeever Thursday, May 19, 2022 @ 6:30 AM

Justice League Friday Power Hour (A/B/C) Friday, May 20, 2022 @ 6:00 AM

Shop Ride | 44-miles | Pearland Bicycles Saturday, May 21, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Justice League Saturday Ride (A,B,C pace) Saturday, May 21, 2022 @ 6:30 AM

RRR-Saturday Saturday, May 21, 2022 @ 8:00 AM

Chap Hill Gravel 43 New Beginnings Saturday, May 21, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Bike Medicine 40 Mile Training Ride – Saturdays Saturday, May 21, 2022 @ 8:00 AM

HBC Sunday Wendy’s Ride Sunday, May 22, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Bike Medicine 40 Mile Training Ride – Sundays Sunday, May 22, 2022 @ 8:00 AM

Trek Bikes Katy Sunday 32 Sunday, May 22, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Active Passion Sunday Roll Sunday, May 22, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Justice League Monday Power Hour (A/B/C) Monday, May 23, 2022 @ 6:00 AM

Groad Trip: Remembering Mo and racing the Dutch contingent at Gravel Locos

Pete Stetina | www.velonews.com

Some 1,500 of us came together in Hico, Texas for a community event that was shaped by tragedy.

Held in the quaint rural town of Hico, Texas, Gravel Locos brings a unique opportunity for many of us “gravel pros.” Fabian Serralta, the organizer really makes an effort to create other activations and obligations around his race and have us be a part of it. The end result is a weekend of connecting with colleagues in a relaxed setting outside of race stress. We have lunches, dinners, and shakeout rides together, and then of course try to smash each other once the timing mat is activated. The whole weekend is about supporting the local community.

Things took a dark turn Friday morning. As we returned from a communal shakeout ride, our phones started pinging that something had happened to Moriah Wilson. She was supposed to be in attendance with us and was …

The Houston Bike Summit returns to discuss concerns over the city’s cycling infrastructure

Gail Delaughter | www.houstonpublicmedia.org

As the city’s bike network continues to grow, cyclists say more needs to be done to maintain on-street bikeways.

After being held online last year because of the pandemic, the Houston Bike Summit is back. This year they’re having both virtual and in-person events, including their first-ever group bike ride.

One of the big topics this year is Houston’s growing bike network and where it needs to go next. Bike Houston Executive Director Joe Cutrufo spoke with Houston Public Media about big challenges the city still faces when it comes to maintaining its bikeways.

On the big issues Houston cyclists are talking about right now: …

Friday Night Ride 5/20 (more info in comments) from BikingATX

Friday Bike to Work Cruise from BikingATX

Texas Biking from Twitter

Bicycling The Florida Keys

Texbiker.net Posted on by

In 2017 with the help of my late wife Hazel Marie I rode from Key Largo to Key West taking two days. After 5 years I decided to ride there again but I needed to to it differently because I did not have Hazel Marie driving the Jeep. For weeks I tried to think of how to accomplish this and settled on riding from a place out and back and then move further down the Keys.

I arrived at Key Largo on May 12th. It was early enough for a ride before sundown. The next day was the longest ride heading SW from Key Largo to mile marker 75 and then back to Key Largo. Below is the YouTube video and Strava ride report for May 12th and the 13th.

On Saturday I drove from Key Largo to Marathon. The drive was not too long allowing me to ride before checking into the hotel at 3 PM. I needed a place to park the Jeep and get ready. I found the Marathon Community Park with no one there and plenty of parking and I pulled under a tree for shade. The ride would go back towards Key Largo to the Lock Key State Park entrance. I didn’t pick that turn around point in advance but it was a good spot. The weather up to this point was perfect, light wind and mid 80’s with lots of sun. Below is the YouTube video and Strava activity.

On Sunday, May 15th, I checked out of the hotel but did not leave Marathon because my hotel check in time was not until late afternoon. A couple months ago I read about the opening of a portion of the Old 7 Mile bridge on the Marathon side. I drove there and parked the Jeep walking around taking a few photos. Next to my Jeep a couple were getting ready to skateboard on the bridge and I asked them about the rubber tipped pole each one had. They said the pole was for balance and to push off to go forward. After they left I got the Cervelo out of the Jeep to get ready. A man two cars down asked if the door open on the Tahoe of the couple was mine and I said no. Later as I began the ride I looked and the driver’s door was wide open. I closed it. As I rode away I got about 1/2 mile and realized I closed all my doors but forgot to lock them. You can see the old bridge in the video. I met them couple on the way to Pigeon Key at the end of the opened portion and told them about the door. They were relieved and thanked me. When I returned to the parking lot they were gone so I guess nothing else happened. Below is the YouTube video and Strava ride activity.

I rode around Marathon and found Sombrero Beach Road and decided to explore. You can see what I found in the video. Returning to the Jeep I waited there for an hour so that wouldn’t arrive at my Key West hotel before check in time. It turned out the check in time was later than I remembered and my room wasn’t ready. I waited and returned to the office at the correct time but the room wasn’t ready yet. A lady helped and moved me to an upgrade room and I checked in. Later than evening I met my sister and brother-in-law for dinner. They were vacationing in Key West.

Monday, May 16th, my ride started at 10 AM from my hotel in Key West going east and NE along city streets before connecting to US1. Flagler Ave. had a bike lane generally but I was concerned riding beside parked vehicles and getting “doored” so I stayed to the left side of the bike lane. The intersection at US1 and A1A was busy but I rode on on the sidewalk/bike path onto US1. From there I rode a mixture of bike lanes and bike paths separated from the highway by grass and other material On Sunday I saw several bike path bridges closed as I drove to Key West but I couldn’t see why. Today I found out why, part of the concrete deck broke off leaving holes in the bridge floor. I rode the bike lane to get around those closures. The shoulder bike lane was marked as such and was about 3 feet to 3 1/2 feet wide. Traffic was accommodating moving to their left most of the time. I wanted to ride at least 40 miles but was prepared to shorten that if the bike lanes and paths gave out. They didn’t but around mile marker 21 the bike lane stopped and the path ended with a crossover to the other side and a bike path. At first I thought I could turn around after crossing US1 but the path ended there. I rode more to a business parking lot and made that the turn around point. I retraced my route except where the bridge bike paths were closed and moved to the bike lane going back to Key West. Back at the US1 and A1A intersection I waited a few minutes for the light to change and get the crossing signal. From there I rode several side streets before returning to Flagler Ave. and back to the hotel to finish at 1:40 PM.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, I plan on riding around Key West.

Hotel WiFi has varied from good to not so good. Not surprisingly. I have used my Chromebook and the Openshot program to edit the videos learning how to do that. Transferring the video from my GoPro to a USB flash drive took time once I figured out the GoPro Media Module was the reason the GoPro would not connect to my Chromebook. Openshot runs as a Linux program on the Acer Spin 713 Chromebook. I found out the best performance in Openshot came when I closed all open Linux programs.

Texas Bicycling News May 15th 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Killeen officer participates in 300 mile bike ride to honor fallen officers

By Rosemond Crown | www.kwtx.com

The 2022 Police Unity Tour took officers through an interstate bike ride

Killeen Police Department Officer Kyle Moore made the journey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C after a grueling 300-mile bike ride spanning multiple days from Richmond, Virginia to Washington, D.C.(Courtesy Photo)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KWTX) – The Killeen Police Department was well represented in the 2022 Police Unity Tour that takes officers through an interstate bike ride to honor officers who have died in the line of duty.

Killeen Police Department Officer Kyle Moore made the journey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C after a grueling 300-mile bike ride spanning multiple days from Richmond, Virginia to Washington, D.C.

For Officer Moore and the Killeen Police Department their hearts were focused on two of their own. …

ROBERT (BOB) JAMES SICKMANN 1946 – 2022

www.legacy.com

Robert (Bob) James Sickmann, 76, of San Antonio, Texas, died on April 23, 2022 after a bout with stomach cancer.

Bob was born on March 25, 1946 in Denver, Colorado.

Bob was an avid bicyclist and enjoyed all genres of the bicycling lifestyle. After graduating with a degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s University, he cofounded B & J Bicycle Shop with his father in 1972. In 1991, B & J Bicycle Shop received a Top 100 Independent Bicycle Dealer Award in the United States by Bicycle Dealer Showcase Magazine. After closing the shop in 2001, Bob went to work for Scriveners Hardware, then for Home Depot until he retired. Bob attended Trinity Baptist Church, then in his later years, The Church of Reconciliation. A lifelong music enthusiast, his large, immaculately kept collection includes every LP album and CD he ever purchased beginning as a teen. As an adult, he took up and mastered the craft of flint knapping. His collection and displays of native points combined with his own creations are quite remarkable. …

The Impossible Route: FAR WEST TEXAS (Cycling Documentary)

The Vegan Cyclist | www.youtube.com

Can we ride 350 mi / 563 km of the WORST gravel imaginable…IN ONE RIDE!?!? The Impossible Route enters season 2 with a BANG! JB and I tackle a new adventure through FAR West Texas. This route takes us STRAIGHT THROUGH the night! It was… INTENSE!

RULES: We are FULLY self-supported with the exception of two cache drops at mile 80 & 210. Outside of those two caches, every drop of water, food, and support HAS to come from our own supplies.

ROUTE: This route started in a small town on the FAR WEST border of Texas. We cut through both the state and national parks of the Big Bend area. Parts of this route has been done before, but never all in one shot AND there is an unknown section of the course that has not been touched since the 1700s. …

Gravel Locos: A race, a ride, a rememberance

by: Betsy Welch | www.velonews.com

A day dedicated to Moriah Wilson

On Saturday, May 14, some 1,500 riders descended on the tiny town of Hico, Texas for the second edition of Gravel Locos. The race was highly anticipated, with a stacked start list, and its position on the calendar three weeks before Unbound Gravel makes it of particular note, as well.

However, the unfathomable death of Moriah Wilson some days before the race cast a somber, yet supportive, tone on the day and changed many riders’ reasons for toeing the line.

Marisa Boaz of Iowa and Jasper Ockeloen of the Netherlands won their respective races in the GL150 distance. Eight men sprinted to the finish behind Ockeloen, and his countryman Ivar Slik took second. Sarah Sturm and Jess Cerra rounded out the women’s podium. …

What are these for? from dfwbike