Texas Bicycling News Digest May 5th 2019

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Cinco De Mayo Pseudo Circle Trail Snake Encounter

Durango Texas | durangotexas.blogspot.com

On this first Sunday of the 2019 version of May, with is also the 5th May day, as in Cinco de Mayo, I am feeling a bit depressed, which has me thinking, again, it is time to get our of Texas.

Thinking a bike ride on this first blue sky nice day of the new month might …

Is it really necessary to bike on Parmer? from BikingATX

Sad News

El Paso Bicycle Club | www.meetup.com

We just received news that long-time El Paso Bicycle Club member (board member & former Chile Pepper Challenge Director) Bob Wiggs died Saturday during a bicycle ride outside of Durango, Colorado. He was 77. Dr. Wiggs was a retired dentist and avid fitness enthusiast. He and his wife Cheryl had just bought a second home in Durango. We don’t know the cause of death, but he had suffered a heart attack a few years ago and had a stent put in. We’ll let the club know when we receive word regarding any memorial services.

UPCOMING RIDES

Fort Worth Bicycling Association | www.fwbaclub.org

Rusty Chain Gang Ramble Tue, May 07, 2019 8:00 AM 4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Rusty Chain Gang Ramble Tue, May 14, 2019 8:00 AM 4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Benbrook to Aledo Sat, May 18, 2019 9:00 AM Benbrook Ball Fields, 1891 Winscott Rd, Benbrook, TX
Rusty Chain Gang Ramble Tue, May 21, 2019 8:00 AM 4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX Austin to Ft Worth – 2019!
Sat, May 25, 2019 7:00 AM 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701 Marvelous Massey Sun, May 26, 2019 8:00 AM Crowley High School, 1005 W Main Street, Crowley Texas
Rusty Chain Gang Ramble Tue, May 28, 2019 8:00 AM 4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX

Upcoming Events

Corinth Cycling | corinthcycling.wordpress.com

8:00am – Corinth Cycling Group RidesMay 11, 2019 at 8:00 am – 11:00 am101 S Locust St, Denton, TX 76201, USACorinth Cycling Weekend Group Rides. All rides depart from southeast corner of Denton Square.
8:00am- Corinth Cycling Group RidesMay 12, 2019 at 8:00 am – 10:30 am101 S Locust St, Denton, TX 76201, USAhttp://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf 8:00am
8:00am – Corinth Cycling Group RidesMay 18, 2019 at 8:00 am – 11:00 am101 S Locust St, Denton, TX 76201, USACorinth Cycling Weekend Group Rides. All rides depart from southeast corner of Denton Square.

Annual Ride Of Silence Hosted By PBA & Trishop Wednesday-May 15Th

Plano Bicycle Association | planobicycle.org

The 2019 Ride of Silence will depart from Tri Shop at 7:00pm on Wednesday, May 15th. Please arrive at the shop ready to ride by 6:45pm. We’ll be riding a gentle 6 mile route at 12mph to respect and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured while cycling. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. We will be joined by several members of Plano’s finest to escort us through the route.

From the Ride of Silence website: …

CFBC Breakfast Ride To: La Madeleine – Hulen & IH820 – 8:00AM

Clear Fork Bicycle Club | www.clearforkbicycleclub.org

This week’s destination: La Madeleine – Hulen & IH820 4626 SW Loop 820, Fort Worth, TX 76109

Country French Cafe Breakfast Menu: http://lamadeleine.com/breakfast/ Bakery Menu: http://lamadeleine.com/bakery/ Some menu items may not be available at this location

Helmets are required for club rides. Scheduled rides are a go, unless wet or below 40 degrees. If ride is canceled due to weather, look for a No Ride Lets Eat event for the same destination at 9:30AM

Saturday Breakfast Rides Start at the Clearfork Trailhead / next to the Press Cafe & Mellow Johnny’s at 8:00AM Routes and leaders for all pace/distance riders… about 75-90 minute ride to restaurant. We’ll provide locks and company- see you there.

Fulshear Afternoon Ride with Abraham & Joe

Martha Morin | www.strava.com

Ride to mtb race> race> ride home

Venny Alub – Cantu Cycling Wheels | www.strava.com

Houston Grand Crit P12

Lupe Ontiveros | www.strava.com

Long Beach, CA to St. Augustine, FL via the southern tier

By Tony Olague | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Van Horn to Marfa TX Saturday May 4, 2019, 74 miles (119 km) – Total so far: 633 miles (1,019 km)

I rolled out of Van Horn early in the morning on highway 90 to Marfa. It was a long straight road with not much in between. Around mile 32 there is town of Valentine. Unfortunately for me, there wasn’t a place to get a cold drink or snack. However, there was a really nice building just as you entering Valentine. It was a Prada store front with some shoe and hand bags on display. By the time I made it into Marfa I was beat to the bone. I stayed at a Warm Shower hosted by Dave. I camped in …

Marfa to Alpine TX Sunday May 5, 2019, 24 miles (39 km) – Total so far: 657 miles (1,057 km) I had a good night sleep feeling safe in Dave’s backyard. After saying good-bye to Dave, I was off. First to celebrate mass at St. Mary’s in Marfa. It was a short ride to Alpine. I decided to stay in motel to catch up laundry and rest my body a little more. Just as I arrived to the motel, I got a weather alert of sever thunder storms in the area. Just about that time there was a nice bitt of rain falling. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/stateofbicycle/status/1125241500420456450
https://twitter.com/stateofbicycle/status/1125027482154016768

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

A Little Mud, 200+ Miles Week Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After church I hit the road at 12:13 PM biking on the “Oakhurst – Valley Ranch” route. I wanted to ride enough to get the week over 200 miles and the 26.41 miles did that. The week’s total is 203.8 miles, the second week in a row over 200 miles. May totals 134.38 miles, 20% of the way to my 660 mile goal.

The weather was perfect for biking: Weather: start 83 (63% humidity), partly cloudy, wind E 12 mph. Finish 84 (59% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 9 mph. I wore my new short sleeve jersey: Bellwether Flight Jersey.

The wind moving through the jersey felt cooling. It was a Bellwether attire ride with shorts from them as well.

As I rode through Kingwood I saw more signs of Friday’s afternoon storm. Numerous trees lay in people’s yards cut up waiting for another destination. One big tree on a strret in Bear Branch still leaned onto the street but people were looking at like they were getting ready to cut it up.

On Kingwood Drive between Loop 494 and I-69/US59 I stopped to take some photos and walking around a construction place where the sidewalk was blocked I got into mud. The grass looked dry but under that was lots of water and mud. I took these photos of the lake and plants but the muddy tires show up too.

I walked the bike over to the lake and put the wheels in the water attempting to wash off some of the mud but it stuck to the tires and my shoes. When I finished the ride I washed the Canyon off as well as my shoes.

The rest of the ride went smoothly with a light wind I was able to build up my average speed to 14.4 mph. On one straight stretch from Azalea Blvd. to Oakhurst I kept the speed at 17+ mph with the help of hitting the FM 1314 traffic light while it was green.

Making my way back into Kingwood through Woodridge Forest I finished the ride at 2:08 PM.

Monday’s weather looks good for biking.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

2019 YTD miles now is ahead of all years.

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Texas Bicycling News Digest May 4th 2019

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bike lanes need physical protection from car traffic, study shows

JONATHAN M. GITLIN | arstechnica.com

Drivers left bikes less room in the presence of parked cars and painted bike lanes.

There are plenty of good reasons that people should cycle more. People who exercise more are healthier and can score higher on cognitive tests, for one thing. And replacing short car trips with journeys by bike (or on foot) is probably a good thing if we want to try to deal with this whole climate change thing. But that will only work if people feel safe swapping their two-ton deathmobiles for a pair of pedals. And it may well mean providing cyclists with bike lanes protected from vehicle traffic with more than a coat of paint. In fact, a study from Monash University in Australia suggests that merely painting bike lanes onto the roads may be counterproductive. …

‘Forever Bicycles’ will soon ride out of Austin forever

By Michael Barnes | www.austin360.com

It’s time to wave goodbye to Ai Weiwei’s beloved work of public art, “Forever Bicycles,” which has been a popular Instagram spot since it was installed on the Waller Creek delta as part of a long-term loan in the summer of 2017.

“De-install begins May 16,” said Waller Creek Conservancy spokeswoman Meredith Bossin. “Our last activation at the site will be on May 11, a concert with Steve Parker to celebrate Bike Month.” …

MS150 weekend

Tanstaafl | www.bikeforums.net

… First of all, glad to hear everyone had a good, safe ride. The weather was just about perfect this year. If it had not been quite so hot in the afternoons, I would have called it perfect.

The finish line was much improved this year, though some comments above indicate there is still room for improvement. The nice weather and shorter distance on day two (66 miles vs 75 in downtown Austin), put the turtle across the finish line a little after 4:30 (most years in downtown the turtle finished around 6:00). Most of the folks on the ride live in Houston, so it is nice to get an …

Austin Bike News Roundup for May 4, 2019

A DUDE ABIKES | adudeabikes.com

May is Bike Month around the US and world, and theoretically there are more things happening than usual. Yet, every month is bicycle-centric for me and thousands of bike riders in Austin, so it’s not that noticeable. But here are a few of the great events going on in case you’re in town and want to get involved. If not in Austin, check out your local bike group, shop or government transportation office to see if they have anything going. Or, start your own event! …

City of Laredo proclaims May National Bike Month

www.lmtonline.com

Mayor Pro Tempore Roberto Balli proclaimed May as National Bike Month in Laredo on Wednesday. Joining in support were District 7 Council Member George Altgelt, El Metro Transit, the Traffic Safety Department and local bike organizations.

City of Laredo Mayor Pro Tempore Roberto Balli proclaimed May as National Bike Month in Laredo, kicking off a month full of activities in which the City of Laredo, local advocates and organizations invite the community to celebrate while learning bicycle safety.

The City of Laredo has been …

Big Spring SP Adventure

Zachary Risher | www.strava.cm

Major shoutout to the West Texas Trail Alliance. Those folks crafted some amazing single track at Big Spring State Park. Well worth it! Decided to check it out and turn it into an adventure. Good LV100 training ride. 7am start, 3 21oz bottles + 4 Gus inbound to Big Spring, McDonalds stop, 3 more 21oz bottles + 3 Gus on the return to greenwood. Gas station stop for …

Not Fulshear

J Mix | www.strava.com

MS 150 first round!!

Cesar Gutierrez | www.strava.com

Pecan Hill/Fulshear Saturday Morning Ride plus Lending a Hand a turtle to cross the road

Abraham Garza | www.strava.com

Kendalia/Crabapple loop with some great guys /gals!

Brent Wells | www.strava.com

Saturday Ride – Crispy Legs Edition!

Katy McCleskey | www.strava.com

Shiner GASP – 2019

Rick Turnbill | www.strava.com

Wood Mates

T REDLINE Nguyen | www.strava.com

Wild Wheels: Mountain bike course gains fans among daredevils, novices

By J.B. SMITH | www.wacotrib.com

The trail called Cool Runnings starts at a break in a rubble wall between two trees, then swerves down a rocky hill.

At the bottom of the curve is a wooden wall that goes almost vertical. Two guys on their mountain bikes hit it at 20 mph and go horizontal. They turn and thread their bikes between two cedar trees five feet apart.

Then, as quick as hawks with their prey, they swoop back up the hill. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tour De Storm Damage Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

No bike ride yesterday (Friday). Around noon it started to rain lightly and the weather radar showed more rain on the way. Around 4 PM a strong storm moved through Kingwood with high winds and heavy rain. Our street flooded and traffic washed debris up into our yard. Once the rain stopped and a helpful neighbor unstopped the storm drain the water drained quickly.

Jumping to early this morning more came but not as much as Friday. By the time I was ready to ride the streets dried off so I left at 11:07 AM riding the “Kingwood to Ramsey Road – Huffman” route. I biked 37.75 miles putting the week at 177.39 miles and May’s total at 107.89 miles, 16% of the way to my 660 mile goal.

Weather during the bike ride: start 77 (81% humidity), partly cloudy, wind 5 mph. Finish 82 (60%), partly cloudy, wind W 10 mph gusts 18 mph. It felt cooler outside so I wore shorts, a long sleeve jersey and a short sleeve jersey. The long sleeves were as much as sun protection as warmth. I am not a fan of rubbing sunscreen on my arms because I don’t seem to get enough or way too much.

As I rode around Kingwood on my way south I saw signs of the wind damage with fallen branches, a leaning tree and debris in the streets. I had to detour around a couple of fallen tree limbs along Kingwood Drive. In Town Center a palm tree broke in half with the top laying on the ground. Riding south across the San Jacinto River the signs of the storm disappeared with only some water in low spots along the curbs.

While I rode through Atascocita south of FM 1960 I spotted pink route arrow tags on the road. I thought about rides that might be taking place but none came to mind until I saw the back of a rest stop sign on Fairlake Drive that had the Red Cross logo. Then I knew the route markers were for the Tour de Rouge, a ride from Houston to New Orleans that starts in Humble. This was confirmed when I made the turn onto Ramsey Road and the arrows went to the left when other rides go right.

I expected Lake Houston to be higher as a result of the rain from the storm and while it was higher it wasn’t that much higher. Ben’s Branch which goes under Kingwood Drive showed signs of high water with the grass on the banks washed down from the water flow and the water was moving quickly.

The wind was moderate today for a change helping me to ride around 16 to 17 mph most of the time. With the late start I didn’t expect to other cyclists but I saw two on Old Atascocita Road west of FM 2100.

Bike Riders on Old Atascocita Road

Not long after seeing them I passed two more and after making the turn around at Ramsey road another cyclists followed when I stopped at FM 2100 before riding north on FM 2100.

Biking east on Old Atascocita Road I pass a small cemetery. Today there was a blue tent with some chairs sitting under it. A car parked near the cemetery and a group of people walked toward the grassy entrance area. On the way back from Ramsey Road the number of cars increased to more than the road could handle and I stopped to wait for space to pass. As I rode by the parked cars another cyclist passed going to the east. Not too long after than another biker approached from the west too. Normally this road sees few cars but the funeral changed that today.

By the time I rode to Huffman and FM 1960 the wind increased to make riding west harder than it was going east. I was able to keep a good pace and increased my average speed to 14. 0 mph which I held until I was back to W. Lake Houston Parkway. I biked the 5+ miles from there to finish the ride at 2:01 PM.

Sunday’s weather forecast calls for 87 degrees and 10% chance of rain. This is good for biking and I will ride to get the week’s total to 200+ miles.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava year progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

2019 YTD trails 2017 by 15 miles, the closest I have been this year. 2016 and 2018 trail 2019 YTD miles.

Strava year progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles