A Route From the Archives, Avoiding Construction

Texbiker.net Posted on by

With the construction around I-69/US59 and the Grand Parkway at Community Drive I went back in the ride archives to find a route that went north but avoided the area. What I found was the “Oakhurst – Gene Campbell Road – Valley Ranch” route. The last time I rode this route was May 4th, 2016. This is a reverse of a route I ride frequently with some added streets at the beginning. Today I biked 41.15 miles. Since the Giro d’Italia ended yesterday I got an earlier start rolling wheels at 9:55 AM. I will need the extra time and early start times during June to reach my 800 mile goal. So far I am up to 74.19 miles, 9% of my goal.

The wind appears to have left the area which helped my pedaling and energy. Weather during the bike ride: start 87 (71% humidity), partly cloudy, wind calm. Finish 94 (51% humidity), partly cloudy, wind W 5 mph. Heat was more noticeable without the wind provided cooling. I wore shorts, short sleeve jersey, and arm sleeves.

Average speed was 14.4 mph for a long portion of the ride reflecting my leg power and the reduced wind resistance. Strava tells me ” This was harder than your usual effort.” Physical data:

  • average heart rate 138 bps
  • max heart rate 158 bps
  • average power 115 watts
  • max power 453 watts

I stopped at the Mobile station in New Caney at I-69/US59 but they were closed temporarily so I needed to find another place to refill my water bottle. I had enough to ride to the Circle K at FM 1314 and I69-/US59 where I refilled my water. As a treat I stopped at Pat’s Donuts and ate an apple fritter. All of the sugar was to power me to the finish about 8 miles away. I think the sugar was too much but I did have energy to keep my speed up until I got into Woodridge Forest. Riding through the residential streets in Kingwood I slowed down and finished with my average speed at 14.1 mph at 1:18 PM.

Weather for Tuesday will probably repeat today and I plan on riding.

Yesterday I took a rest day. I took the opportunity to wax my chain. It was starting to squeak and the last time I waxed it was 4/13/19 at 8,878 miles versus 10,255 miles.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Texas Bicycling News Digest June 2nd 2019

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Midland Urgent Care partners with local businesses to give free bike helmets to children

By: Feliz Romero | www.yourbasin.com

MIDLAND, Texas (BIG 2/ FOX 24) – Snow cones, face painting, and bike rides, for many residents in Midland Summer is off to a great start.”We’re outside in our neighborhood riding around and it’s fun to see other families out riding around too,” says Midland mom Deanna Flader.

For Flader and her family quality time during the Summer months is often spent on bike rides. So …

13th Annual 24-Hours in the Canyon

By: Crystal Martinez | www.myhighplains.com

AMARILLO,Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Hundreds of people came out to 13th Annual 24-Hours in the Canyon Race on Saturday, June 1.

It is the only simultaneous 24-hour road and mountain bike event in the United States.

"We had about 720 participants today from 20 different states across the United States," Ryan Parnell, the Event Director, stated.

Bikers peddled through the tough trails at Palo Duro Canyon.

Racers do it for more than just a fun challenge, but …

Man charged with string of high-end-thefts in the Heights

abc13.com

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Harris County deputies arrested a man they believe is responsible for a sting of high-end thefts in the Heights.

Deputies arrested 58-year-old Kerry Theall Friday. He was charged with two felony counts of burglary.

According to officials, upon his arrest, Theall told a deputy, "I was stealing from the Heights because I thought you worked in Garden Oaks."

Theall was caught with the help of a prior theft victim who discovered pictures of stolen bicycles being re-sold online. Investigators recognized the …

COOL CAT CYCLES WED NIGHT GRAVEL

by Jason C | chasingwatts.com

Wednesday, June 5, 2019 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM 26.84 miles @ 15 – 18 mph Cool Cat Cycles 22756 Westheimer Pkwy Unit 140, Katy, TX 25 mile ride around the levee. 15 miles of gravel. We usually split into two speed groups, the fast group generally does 17+, the slow group does 14 or so. Its a no-drop ride. Bring lights, as an unexpected flat will take us into the night time through april. We meet in the shop parking lot and leave at 6:30pm sharp! …

Terry Hershey to Cullen Park at Barker Cypress – West Houston

flangehead | www.bikeforums.net

The Houston Parks Board is appraising options for connecting Terry Hershey trail at Barker Cypress to Cullen Park at Saums Road; see map.

Community involvement helps make projects like this happen and the involvement of users makes the projects better.

I’d like to contact anyone who lives in the area and would be interested in such a connection.

Red Star Training For HOTTER’N HELL

by RED STAR Bicycle Shop | www.facebook.com

June 5th clock Wednesday at 6 PM RED STAR Bicycle Shop 155 Parkhouse St, Dallas, Texas 75207 Every Wednesday ride from now we’ll be doing ROAD MILES… to get in shape/ready for the Hotter’N hell event 2019.

Wednesday road miles are normally around 25 miles each time…but this time we will be looking to ride for 35 miles.

Bring an extra tube, plenty of water and lights

SUNDAY HUNDAY

by Jason C | hasingwatts.com

Sunday, June 9, 2019 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM 106.44 miles @ 20 – 25 mph Sugar Cycles, Inc. 7260 Hwy 6 #400, Missouri City, TX Come out for some Sunday fun.

Sugar Cycles shop ride then head south to the E Columbia and back up through the Tenneco Lakes. …

HBC club trip day 2

Per (PJ) Tviberg | www.strava.com

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/WilCoSheriffPIO/status/1135215816515960832

<h3>Chad is a Texan</h3>

Texas Bicycling News Digest June 1st 2019

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Dirty Kanza 2019; Strickland, Rockwell claim first titles

www.emporiagazette.com

Colin Strickland shattered the old Dirty Kanza 200 record time Saturday.

The 32-year-old from Austin, Texas was the first rider in the event’s history to cross the finish line in less than 10 hours. He did so with his first title at a time of 9:58.49.

Amity Rockwell made a late push to become the 2019 Dirty Kanza 200 women’s champion. The 26-year-old from San Francisco was near the front most of the day, but didn’t hold the lead they were inside the final 50 miles. She finished in 11:59.53.

Peter Stetina took second place among the men with a time of 10:07.54. Strickland and Stetina, a 31-year-old from …

Being Pro: Colin Strickland

roadbikeaction.com

2019 Dirty Kanza Champion Team: Meteor X Giordana X Allied

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Age: 33

From the fixed-gear Red Hook crit races to back-to-back wins at Gravel Worlds, you’ve had success competing in multiple disciplines that are complete opposites. What kind of cycling background makes that possible?

I would describe myself simply as a bicycle enthusiast. I love all bikes, and if there were enough hours in the day, I would compete in every discipline. But unfortunately, if you want to compete at a high level, you must pick one or maybe two disciplines …

FrankenBike Houston # 100: SUNDAY, June 09, 2019, 10am-4pm at Bay Area Cycling

by Chris | frankenbike.net

Kirby is the event organizer for FrankenBike Houston so be sure to ask for him when you arrive if you need any help.

Load-in starts @ 9am and we all need to be packed up and off the event grounds by 4pm.

We are looking forward to another great day in Houston, Texas!

Drivers never yield at bike and ped crossings

MichaelBluejay | bicycleaustin.info

I don’t bike much any more, but when I do, drivers fail to yield to me at the green bike crossings at Dean Keeton (where the signs instruct them, YIELD TO BIKES), 100% of the time.

Today when I was driving, I stopped at a crosswalk where a ped looked like he was about to enter it, and the driver behind me laid on his horn. That’s a pretty frequent occurrence.

A few years ago I biked …

Summer Is Coming: Surviving Cycling in Sunny Central Texas

A Dude Abikes | adudeabikes.com

If I had seen a second of that program about dragons and stuff on the Home Box Office channel, I could continue the allusion. But I haven’t so I can’t. But I can however tell you that the hotter-than-hell-fire breathing dragon that is summer in Central Texas is starting her terrifying approach. Temps are already topping out at the low 90’s in Austin, Texas. People, get ready, a lack of rain is comin’. I share my tips on how to deal. Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor in …

Lungo MTB – Chappell Hill

Cristian Colonello | www.strava.com

Bellville Hundo

Lupe Ontiveros | www.strava.com

KENDALIA with your Cyclones

Eduardo Salas (Cyclones) | www.strava.com

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/blueorder/status/113479183519553126

50 or More Cyclists, 3rd in A Row 200+ Mile Week, Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I got an early start (for me at least) pressing the Wahoo Elemnt start button at 8:31 AM. I set out on the “Atascocita – Huffman – Walden” route. One reason for the early start was to see other cyclist’s along the route. The Saturday Bike Barn ride comes back along a part of my route on the east side of Lake Houston.

Today’s ride being the first in June the 33.04 miles is a small start towards my 800 mile goal for the month. With 215.83 miles this week I have biked three weeks in a row at 200+ miles. I will need this to continue in June if I am to make my goal. Maybe a 50+ mile ride will come about. I need to ride 26.7 miles each day to reach my goal. Year to date I am at 3,213 miles.

Weather was a little cooler with this time of day: start 76 (87% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind N 6 mph. Finish 90 (62% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind S 6 mph. I wore shorts, short sleeve jersey, and arm sleeves. The jersey was one of my Texbiker.net designs and the blue arm sleeves coordinated nicely.

As far as seeing other cyclists, mission accomplished. The first three passed me on Kings River Drive and from there to the last of probably more than 50 cyclists when I turned left onto FM 2100. When I pulled up to the waiting cars on Atasscocita Shores Drive at FM 1960 a lady cyclist was stopped too. We talked a little until the light changed and I rode up the incline onto FM 1960 and rode east. I don’t know what happened to her from that point.

AS I rode east over Lake Houston several groups of 2 or 3 bikers rode to the west. When I got to Fairlake Drive the biker groups came by. The last two photos are on Old Atascocita Road. Photos of them.

According to Strava ” This was harder than your usual effort.” and I agree as I built up my average speed to 14.2 mph. The light breeze helped and the headwind was generally not a problem.

On the ride back to the west I stopped at the Chevron station on the west side of Lake Houston at Atascocita Shores Drive to refill my water bottle to carry me to the finish about 11 miles away. From there the ride went as planned and I finished at 11:09 AM, about the time I started the other rides this week.

Great biking weather tomorrow, Sunday, but I will probably take a rest day.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

2019 continues to lead all other years in the graph.

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles