Texas Biking News April 6th 2020

Texbiker.net Posted on by

MAY IS (STILL) BIKE MONTH

by Lauren Jenkins | bikeleague.org

When more people ride bikes, life is better for everyone. It’s one of the League’s guiding principles, one we seek to achieve through our advocacy, our programs, and our campaigns. It’s why we’re responding to the current crisis with resources for advocates and local businesses while also forging ahead on our core work around federal advocacy and building a more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

It’s why this May, the League is still celebrating National Bike Month, because bicycling is more essential to our lives than ever—and because we could all use some bike joy to look forward to. We hope that the hundreds …

Zube Park (290 a little west of 99) was empty on Sunday morning… from bikehouston

Greetings Red River Riot participants

Spinistry | www.facebook.com

It should come as no surprise that we will not be holding the event this weekend. We’ve been putting off sending out this official announcement hoping to be able to share more specific information about the plans around the makeup date.

Unfortunately there is just no way to make any definitive plans about anything right now. Every time we started sketching out a potential Plan B, C or D events and circumstances lobbed hand grenades into …

Many Conroe businesses shift gears amid coronavirus

By Meagan Ellsworth | www.chron.com

… Busy time for bicycles Nearby, Race Ready Repair bicycle shop at 206 N. Main has seen some changes in clientele due to COVID19.

Owner Gary Rogers, a full-time firefighter with The Woodlands Fire Department who opened the shop over a year ago in downtown Conroe, said the business has seen less cyclists whose races have been canceled by the pandemic. However, he’s observed a change in clientele with an increase in beginner and recreational riders who are taking their bike out for new tires, gear adjustments, and more.

He has noticed more departmental store bikes, including from Walmart and Academy, and more parents interested in taking …

Houston Bike Share Closing Some Stations Amid Coronavirus, Despite Strong Numbers

GAIL DELAUGHTER | www.houstonpublicmedia.org

Houston BCycle recently expanded to 109 bike share stations, and the nonprofit says it’s seeing strong ridership numbers.

But to encourage social distancing and prevent people from congregating, BCycle has now decided to close 12 of its most popular bike kiosks.

BCycle’s Henry Morris said it appears a lot of people are now using the bikes for solitary recreation, pointing to ridership numbers from March up more than 20 percent from last year.

During the month when people started staying home, BCycle says it recorded a …

Busy Time For North Texas Bike Shops: ‘It’s Going Like Gangbusters Around Here’

By Jason Allen | dfw.cbslocal.com

ARLINGTON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – North Texas bike shops are as busy as they’ve ever been, as people are pulling long-forgotten bicycles out of the garage, tired of being stuck inside.

Bikes that have collected dust and rust for years, are now lined up for repairs in area shops.

New bikes are flying off the racks, too, sometimes sold with just a phone call and …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

A Chromebook, Best Buy, Then A Bike Ride to Tavola

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Earlier this morning I drove to Best Buy to pickup a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook thinking I would pull up to the store, wait a few minutes while they brought it out to me and drive back home. When I got there, opened the email, clicked on the link to notify them of my arrival a small note in red caught my attention, “store opens at 10 am” and I am there at 9 AM. Sitting in the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon I went back and forth about driving back home and return after 10 AM. This would delay my planned bike ride start time either way but by the time I drove home and returned to Best Buy, wasting gasoline, I chose to stay. I moved to the parking spot reserved for online purchases. Around 9:30 I saw a man putting out lane markers followed by signs beside me with curb numbers for pickup (the store is closed for inside sales and pickup). A few minutes later a lady walked towards my Jeep and asked if I was there to pickup. I replied, yes, she asked for information and went to the car a couple of parking spots to my left, talked to the ladies in it, and returned to the store. About 5 minutes later she brought my order even though it was only about 9:35 or so. I thanked her and headed home.

I delayed breakfast to make the Best Buy run and after returning home I ate while watching the Chromebook go through some setup steps. That completed and finished eating I started getting ready to leave on the bike ride. Wheels rolled at 11:38 AM, later than I expected but moving anyway.

At first I thought about biking to Huffman but changed to the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route to the north. The overcast sky broke for a few minutes letting the sun through but then closed. Weather while I rode to Tavola and back: start 78 (77% humidity, 70.5 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 14 mph. Finish 75 (89% humidity, 71.5 dew point), light rain/overcast, wind SE 12 mph. While it was warmer than yesterday I chose to wear shorts, long sleeve jersey, and short sleeve jersey. Once I warmed up I felt comfortable except when I stopped long enough to cool some like at long stop lights and the cemetery.

A tailwind boosted my pedaling to Tavola and I expected to pay the help back on the return south to Kingwood. But it wasn’t as a big a price as I thought it would be. I improved my average speed to 13.9 mph while going into the headwind and held it there until I got back into Kingwood.

Back in Kingwood light rain started falling but slowed as I rode closer to the finish spot. The trees hanging over the streets shielded me some and I finished at 2:20 PM before I got wet. As I write this a gentle rain is coming down.

The bike for today’s ride, Lynskey R300, rode smooth. I think adjusting the tire pressure to 85 psi softened the ride and changing the rear cassette to 11×25 enhanced the ride and effort to handle the roads. The Lynskey is growing on me.

GoPro sound with the camera mounted on my helmet on the front returned to what it was before I messed with the settings and position on the Canyon Endurace bike.

  • 4-6-2020 Golden Cheetah Bike Ride Summary-1
  • 4-6-2020 Golden Cheetah Bike Ride Summary-2
Golden Cheetah Bike Ride Data Summary
4-6-2020 Bike Ride PowerPod Data charts
PowerPod Ride Data

Texas Biking April 5th 2020

Texbiker.net Posted on by
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-neJQ7FcpH/

Dreaming of gears as my girl goes click click click

Tommy Smith | www.strava.com

Afternoon Ride – I saw petrol $1.39 a gallon, I should probably just drive

Lee Cotterell | www.strava.com

Sunday Afternoon Ride with Abraham

Martha Morin | www.strava.com

SCG with Mary, then home alone the long way

Kevin Highfield | www.strava.com

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

Texas Biking from Twitter

Sunday Afternoon Kingwood Streets Bike Ride, Garbled Audio

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Starting the bike ride at 2:47 PM after church and watching a race on Zwift allowed the temperature to get to 70 degrees so I left the leg warmers at home. My usual Sunday route wasn’t available because road construction removed the should and part of the right lane. The contractor work widens Loop 494 from North Park Plaza Drive south to Sorters McClellan Road. Looks like this puts Loop 494 off the riding list for many months. So I stayed on the Kingwood streets biking 21.5 miles finishing at 4:27 PM.

No video of today’s bike ride. I messed around with the audio settings on the GoPro camera which garbled it. I turned ProTune off now and the camera moves back to the helmet mount until the USB-C microphone arrives.

I saw many more people out biking today. Mostly families.

Weather during the bike ride: start 70 (83% humidity, 64.4 dew point), overcast, wind NE 12 mph. Finish 73 (77% humidity, 65.5 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind E 10 mph. I wore shorts, long sleeve thermal jersey, and a wind jacket.

My 200+ mile week string ended because I skipped Monday, Saturday’s shorter than usual ride, and today’s short ride.

Monday’s forecast looks favorable for biking to get me back on track for a 200+ mile week.

4-5-2020 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary