Texas Biking Action July 9th 2020

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Austin Bike Shops Face Uphill Climb

By David Sotelo | www.austinchronicle.com

With unprecedented demand for new inventory, parts, and repairs throughout quarantine, local bicycle shops struggle to keep up

The scene in many Austin neighborhoods this spring appeared idyllic: sunny blue skies, breezy temperate warmth, and a steady stream of bicycle traffic navigating our streets and bike lanes.

The reality, of course, is that these were the early days of a restless city itching for any excuse to be out-and-about during a pandemic. Whether stir-crazy or anxious to stay active while gyms limited capacity, more Austinites than ever turned to bicycles for their daily dose of outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 outbreak. In the weeks since, Austin’s community of …

75 organizations earn Bicycle Friendly Business awards this spring

by Lauren Jenkins | bikeleague.org

Biking is America’s new favorite pastime. A look around your neighborhood is all it takes to confirm what data from Eco-Counter shows: more people are biking in more places than before the pandemic began. While states and communities play an important role in building the infrastructure for new riders to safely and easily go places by bike, it’s businesses and organizations that give those rides bike joy by welcoming people biking to essential jobs or on weekend trips to pick up pastries. Today, the League of American Bicyclists is honoring 75 companies and organizations with Bicycle Friendly Business awards for their work creating environments that inspire bike joy for customers and employees.

"In the middle of a pandemic that has put unimaginable stress on business owners and employees, we are proud to recognize these 75 businesses for …

Texas organizations Traffic Engineers, Inc. Platinum 2015 Architecture/Planning/Design 22 employees, Houston, TX Moved Up

Facebook ATX Gold 2018 Technology & Information 800 employees, Austin, TX Moved Up

Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO)Gold 2015 Government Agency 18 employees San Antonio, TX Moved Up

Chevron Corporation Bronze 2020 Construction/Utilities/Contracting 7,500 employees Houston, TX New

Man found dead after apparently falling off his bike on North Side trail

by Gerald Tracy | news4sanantonio.com

SAN ANTONIO – Two hikers found a man dead in the middle of a greenway Wednesday afternoon.

According to SAPD spokesperson Doug Greene, the man in his 50s was riding his bike when he apparently suffered a medical episode.

The man, who was not wearing a helmet, was riding his bike on the Salado Creek Greenway near Hardberger Park around noon.

Greene said the man suffered the …

Evening ride!

Edgar Lopez | www.strava.com

Tri threat fun

Nicole Volek | www.strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

Determined To Ride The Spring Creek Greenway

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I decided to ride the Spring Creek Greenway today. The Canyon Endurace and I started biking at 9:44 AM hoping to go to the Dennis Johnston Park unlike the last time when the greenway was closed at the Carter Park trail head. I filled the CamelBak with some extra ice and water because it was supposed to be hot today. This would be the 5th time biking the greenway this year. With some route mechanic work I rode 44.63 miles today, the second most miles on the greenway out of the 5 times. Those miles pushed my week total to 154.41 miles. July comes in at 313.43 miles, 39% of my goal for the month.

7-9-2020 YTD Bike Rides Summary Todays Route

It did get hot during the ride but thanks to the abundance of trees and shade along the route it didn’t cook me too much. Weather conditions: start 89 (76% humidity, 80.3 dew point), partly cloudy, wind S 9 mph. Finish 97 (58% humidity, 79.3 dew point), partly cloudy, wind S 8 mph. While the wind speed doesn’t look high the headwind getting to the US59 trail head seemed to take extra energy. While on the greenway some gusts reminded me of the wind.

While I hoped the construction was finished that did not turn out to be true. As I left Jesse Jones Park I spotted a small sign with an update, starting at mile 6 through mile 8, the trail would be closed until further notice. When I got to mile 6 a big dump truck sat on the greenway with a pickup truck beyond it.

Determined to not give up, I rode through Carter Park onto Treaschwig Road and to Cypresswood Drive where I stopped by a Subway to check Google Maps on how to get to John Pundt Park. With the streets in my mind I set out on Cypresswood Drive to Birnamwood Blvd. and Spring Creek Drive to enter the park. As I rode into the park I thought about turning around there but changed my mind and rode to Dennis Johnston Park as planned.

With the construction traffic on the greenway was light with a few bikers, joggers, and walkers.

My water in the CamelBak was still cold at Dennis Johnston Park which was good since there wasn’t any places to get more.

Turning around I rode back to John Pundt Park, stopped for a rest break to eat a Clif Bar, and drink cold water. That was around 12:05 PM. When I finished I retraced the streets back to Carter Park to get on the greenway. On the greenway I didn’t stop until I exited at the US59 trail head. That was around the 38 mile point leaving 6 miles to get back home.

Out in the open now the wind played with my legs slowing me down until I reached Hamblen Road where trees lined the road on my right blocking some of the wind. From there I pedaled through Forest Cove into Kingwood. As I got close to the finish I sucked on the CamelBak tube and for the first time no water came out. I used it all. Good thing I put the extra ice and water in. When I got home and emptied the CamelBak a few pieces of ice fell in the sink. I haven’t done that before on a ride this year, maybe ever. I need to put a mask in the CamelBak pouch so I can go into stores to get water and ice.

Strava posted a PR and three ribbons during the ride that it labeled “harder than your usual effort”. I agree.

7-9-2020 Strava Bike Ride Summary
7-9-2020 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling July 8th 2020

Texbiker.net Posted on by

SAPD: Two women find man dead, ‘tangled’ in bike on Salado Creek Greenway

By Mark Dunphy and Taylor Pettaway | www.mysanantonio.com

Two women found a man dead and "tangled" in a bike while walking Wednesday on the Salado Creek Greenway, according to SAPD spokesperson Doug Greene.

The body was discovered sometime between noon and 12:30 p.m. just off the walking path. Greene said the man was not wearing a helmet and had mud on his face. …

With the right motivation

Katya @Cool Cat Cycles | www.strava.com

Great fast group. Chasing them I was able to up my PR where I had a crown and get a new crown 👑 Thanks y’all

NPR – The Woodlands

Nate McLain | www.strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Even Eating a Clif Bar Didn’t Stop Mr. Bonk Grabbing My Legs

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today I felt like a 40+ mile bike ride. Starting at 10:02 AM, the Lynskey R300 and I began biking north on the “Kingwood – Splendora – Kingwood” route. It was headed towards a hot and dry day. Humidity showed at 82% on my home weather station meaning it could be a hot and muggy ride. To offset that a little the wind was out of the south at 12 mph. This helped me get to Splendora with modest energy output. The return trip into the headwind wasn’t as generous but at least the wind slowed to 10 mph from the south.

For some reason I decided to take a Clif Bar along on the ride. Around the 30 mile point I stopped under the Grand Parkway overpass on Valley Ranch Parkway for some rest, eat the Clif Bar, and drink some water. Later I learned how important the rest, water, and food would be. The headwind tested my legs and by the 1:39 PM I think Mr. Bonk grabbed them. Usually my CamelBak has water left at the end of a ride but today when I turned it upside down to empty it just a trickle came out. I tried to stop at the New Caney Mobil station but I forgot a mask and a sign on the door said masks required to enter. No chance to add some ice and water to the CamelBak. I looked at the McDonald’s drive through but it was backed up so I figured I could make it home.

With today’s bike ride I have done this route 4 times this year. The 42.98 miles today is about average for the route. My week total now stands at 109.78 miles and July is up to 268.8 miles, 34% of the way to my goal. Below is a summary of the rides YTD on this route.

7-8-2020 YTD Bike Rides Summary Todays Route

Strava reports that the ride “was harder than your usual effort.” I think this reflects the effort riding back to Kingwood from Splendora.

7-8-2020 Strava Bike Ride Summary

Since I rode the Lynskey R300 the PowerPod recorded ride data. As usual the wind chart (red arrow) is very interesting. The blue moves above the white line when I make the turn at Splendora back to the south at the 21 mile point. Most of the remaining ride was into the wind. My legs paid the price.

7-8-2020 PowerPod Bike Ride Data Charts

I like SportTracks because it shows the gear I used on the bike ride and records the mileage of each item.

7-8-2020 SsportTracks Bike Ride Summary