Texas Biking News March 23rd 2020

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Westchase wants to put bayou bike trail connection, a first in Houston, on the map

Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com

MaryAnne Monroe, 26, moved into a spacious two-bedroom apartment off Richmond with her two young sons in 2016 when the boys still were in diapers.

At first, she did not venture out much, except by car when she could pack Aaron, 6, and Martin, 5, into their seats. Now, after finding a trail by the library, she walks outside nearly every day.

“It’s nice,” Monroe said, adding that …

Strickland streaks to nation’s top gravel cyclist

Jake García | www.kvue.com

Colin Strickland’s surge to the top of gravel bicycling world was unexpected and came via an unexpected route.

AUSTIN, Texas — The country’s fastest man on a gravel bicycle, in many ways, is just like the rest of us.

In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, 33-year-old Colin Strickland wants to stay in shape and wants to do it alone.

"Do something that is fulfilling in these times where everything feels a little jumbled and a little uncertain," he said.

But while Strickland may be a lot like us, he’s nothing like those who push him the hardest, nothing like the other professionals he races against.

Central Texas born and …

BMX world championships in Houston postponed due to coronavirus

David Barron | www.houstonchronicle.com

The international cycling federation and local event organizers Monday postponed its BMX world championships scheduled for May 26-31 at Houston’s Rockstar Energy Bike Park.

The federation, known by its French acronym UCI, and the Harris County Houston Sports Authority said they would confer on alternate dates.

Janis Burke, the sports authority’s CEO, said limits on public gatherings in …

Better Bicycling

The League of American Bicyclists | bikeleague.org

These Smart Cycling videos — funded through the generosity of Gail Copus Spann and Jim Spann — will help you understand how to ride safely, improve comfort, find the right bike and gear, and your rights as a bicyclist.

Bent on The Southern Tier – Spring 2020

By Andy Lamb | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 19 – Langtry: All day mist

Saturday March 21, 2020, 63 miles (101 km) – Total so far: 889 miles (1,431 km) Packed up and left the RV park before 8 am. Had to back track about a mile to the Stripes convenience store for breakfast. There was a grill inside so I was able to get a breakfast plate with eggs, beans, and bacon. There was no other place in town serving breakfast. …

Day 20 – Del Rio, TX: Looking for the sun

Sunday March 22, 2020, 59 miles (95 km) – Total so far: 948 miles (1,526 km) After packing away a wet tent stopped at the Judge Roy Bean Museum. The museum is closed due to COVID-19 but the restrooms are available from 8 am to 5 pm. 28 miles into today’s ride the convenience store in Comstock was open. Other than that there was …

Texas Biking from Twitter

I Became Patient Zero Before Biking to Tavola

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Being a good patient helps doctors. Today I experienced being patient zero before heading out on my bike ride. I needed to reschedule my Tuesday doctor appointment but I needed my prescription refilled to hold me over until late April. After talking to the doctor’s office they directed me to their website to request the refill. The first time I went to the website I didn’t find the link I thought the lady told me so I called back. The link I wanted was labeled Telemedicine which I found. After going to that page I logged in and a box appeared with my video camera showing me. Below that was a message the doctor was available. Waiting a few minutes a message came up asking me to click on a link and follow the instructions since this was the first day they are using the service. Following the instructions another window came up and I appeared again from my webcam. A few minutes later the doctor appeared on the page and we conversed back and forth. I asked him about being the first day for the telemedicine service and he said I was the first person to use, Patient Zero. Therefore I became Patient Zero but in a good sense.

I began today’s bike ride at 11:47 AM choosing what I call the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route. I added a couple of extra streets to bike 36.09 miles and get within 45 miles of reaching my 585 mile goal for March.

Weather warmed up from yesterday and will get even warmer as the week progresses. During the bike ride weather: start 79 (80% humidity, 72.5 dew point), overcast, wind SW 7 mph. Finish 82 (72% humidity, 72.1 dew point), overcast, wind S 6 mph. I overdressed wearing shorts, long sleeve jersey, and short sleeve jersey. The long sleeve jersey wasn’t necessary. The overcast sky looked threatening towards the end of the ride but no rain fell by the 2:38 PM finish.

I spotted a few people riding along the route and they show in the video. More people walked dogs and children but I left them out. One thing missed in the video happened at FM 1485 on the return to Kingwood. While stopped at the traffic light on the southbound frontage road an oversize load prepared to slip under US59 gong east to west on FM 1485. The front truck with the height gauge stick measuring the clearance barely made it under the overpass. Back at the northbound frontage road intersection I saw the very large white cube straddling the trailer slowly moving toward us. The escort police motorcycles blocked traffic on the northbound frontage road as the truck slowly advanced. One of the motorcycles pulled ahead to the southbound intersection as the light turned green and traffic moved through before the truck arrived and I rode with them missing seeing if the big white cube squeezed under the overpass.

The rest of the bike ride proved uneventful as I rode through Valley Ranch, Auburn Trails and Oakhurst before entering Kings Manor and then Kingwood. With schools closed due to the COVID-19 measures traffic was no problem.

3-23-2020 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary
3-23-2020 Strava Year Progressions Chart

Texas Biking March 22nd 2020

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https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ASxEmlJTe/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0PhHZvkw5E

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

March Weather, Nearly Rained On, Other Bikers

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Driving home from church around noon my plan for a bike ride looked iffy. The temperature went down the closer to home I got. After getting home I worked on the computer and a few other things. About 2:15 the temperature hit 70 and I decided to go for the bike ride. It didn’t take too long to get everything ready and wheels rolled at 2:40 PM. With the later start I picked a short route, “Atascocita – Walden”, and biked 24.36 miles. Those miles put the week’s total at 205.48 miles, the second week in a row at 200+ miles. March now totals 579.51 miles (503.8 on the road and 75.7 in Zwift).

3-22-2020 SportTracks Bike Ride Week Summary

As you see in the video many other people were out biking too. I think we kept our social distance.

Weather during the bike ride: start 71 (87% humidity, 67.3 dew point), overcast with haze, wind SE 10 mph. Finish 74 (87% humidity, 70.2 dew point), overcast, wind SE 8 mph. Near the end of the ride the rain drops starting falling but not for long allowing me to finish at 4:32 PM only slightly damper. My outfit today: shorts, long sleeve thermal jersey (probably overdressed with this), wind jacket, and gloves.

I rode the Canyon Endurace CF SLX through some damp spots and standing water from yesterday’s rain. I will wipe it down after the ride. I am looking for a solution for the dirty streaks from the water bottle condensation running down the frame near the bottom bracket. The first one is for the weather to get hotter which I am ready for.

3-22-2020 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary