Texas Bicycling News Digest March 29th 2019

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Fort Worth’s top 4 bike shops to visit now

by Hoodline | hoodline.com

Looking to explore the top bike shops in town?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top bike shops in Fort Worth, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you’re in the market for bike shops. …

Township loses out on bike grant funding; sets budget workshop dates

By Jeff Forward | www.yourconroenews.com

Two bicycling improvement projects planned for The Woodlands won’t have the benefit of funding from the Houston-Galveston Area Council.

John Powers, The Woodlands Township’s assistant general manager for Community Services, gave a short presentation during The Woodlands Township Board of Directors meeting Wednesday on the township’s efforts to secure …

Honeoye Riders Reverse the Southern Tier 2019

By jim kersting | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 30: Sanderson-Marathon, TX. Friday March 29, 2019, 55 miles (89 km) – Total so far: 1,737 miles (2,795 km) We pulled a Patti and Jo stunt, starting to pedal at 4:30 a.m. this morning to beat the 91* temp. of the afternoon. Sunrise isn’t until 7:30 here. Pedaling in the dark of night is a whole new world. It’s quiet, calm, chilly, traffic free, and exhilarating. As soon as the sun rose, the sky lit up as if on fire, the birds chirped and we had 6 good hours before we started to feel the heat of the day. 32 miles of gradual up hill, that we mostly didn’t see, with a bit of a headwind, made for …

Two Retired Amigos on Winter Tour

By Douglas Wood | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 34: Rest Day Friday March 29, 2019 Our plan was to ride to Marathon 55 or so miles but the forecast is for 90 degree weather and Marathon is a continued climb. Rather than suffer the heat we changed the plan and took a rest day. It is suppose to be much cooler tomorrow and for a few days because the Canadiens are sending cold weather down here. Yesterday I kept calling the motel manager Sandy. His name is Sonny. This morning we informed him we would like to stay another day. Sonny seemed thrilled and a few minutes later stopped by and offered to make an Indian Breakfast for us. Thirty minutes later he delivered Chai and little bowls of goodies that we are not sure but it looks like different types of breakfast cereal. Very good. Thank you Sonny. Sonny is a very nice and generous man.

Sonny received a …

Dinosaur Valley State Park – Dino Enduro Race MTB Vlog 16

by tc | www.turnincranks.com

After coming off of a disappointing finish at the Zombie Goat Enduro, I put in some quality training time over the next 6 weeks, looking to improve my finish at the next race, Dino Enduro.

Dino Enduro is a single day event, with a lap of 6 stages in the morning, followed by a lap of 4 …

Bicyclist killed after being hit by car on MLK, call for bike lanes

By Bridget Spencer | www.fox7austin.com

AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) – A bicyclist has been killed after being hit by a car on MLK Boulevard, just east of I-35. It happened Thursday night just after 9:00.

Police identified the woman as 28-year-old Jessica Saathoff.

She was pronounced dead at Dell Seton Medical Center minutes after the crash. …

Afternoon Ride

Brett Savant | www.strava.com

Mom’s club ride

Michelle Yoder | www.strava.com

Bruce and Robert’s Southern Tier Adventure

By Bruce Cline and Robert Goss | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 33 Cagle Recreation Area (Lake Conroe) to Kountze, Texas: A Long Day and Out of the Hills but Sheppards Law is Working its Magic Wednesday March 27, 2019, 96 miles (154 km) – Total so far: 1,915 miles (3,082 km) Distance 96 miles + 2 bonus miles to dinner, Climbing 2500 We had a choice 40 to Sheppard, Texas or go long to Kountze, we chose to go long so Louisiana is within striking distance. We are about to put Texas behind us. Sing it Mac.. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/lbj100ride/status/1111854609788796928
https://twitter.com/DPDBikeSgt/status/1111680639403786243

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Who Needs Hills With 24 MPH Wind Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After fighting the wind almost all the way to FM 2100 I said to myself, “finally a tailwind”, as I turned left onto FM 2100 after waiting for a lot of traffic to pass. After waiting until 1:05 PM to start the ride strong wind wasn’t what I expected.

I planned on riding to the north to Tavola but changed my plan after reading on Twitter that traffic was backed up from the scene in Humble where an 18 wheeler crashed and burned killing the driver earlier this morning. Riding to Tavola would put me riding back in the traffic area so I changed to the “Atascocita – Huffman – Walden” route. Also there was some rain clouds to the west of Kingwood and before I got ready it rained for a few minutes at home.

It turned out the new route didn’t get away from the traffic trying to get around that wreck. As I made my way south on W. Lake Houston Parkway to Kings River Drive the traffic backed up from the signal light to almost halfway across the bridge as drivers waited to get through the signal. I rode into the entrance to the gated community and used the green light to ride across W. Lake Houston Parkway onto Kings River Drive. The route goes on streets I ride all of the time but in the opposite direction. Good thing I chose this route because biking on WLHP to where I normally turn would have been risky.

That wind I battled on the way to FM 2100 was from the south at 17 mph with 24 mph gusts. Whenever I was out in the open the wind tried to push me around. It was almost as bad as riding my previous bike, the Stradalli Red Pro RP14 which had 50mm tall rims. On the Stradalli biking across Lake Houston on FM 1960 sometimes was challenging with the wind hitting the wheels and pushing me to the side. The Canyon wheels are not as large a rim height at 41 mm. Still when a 24 mph gust hits the wheels from the side the bike wants to move. Surprising what a mm difference can make in handling in the wind.

The weather during the bike ride: start 75 (73% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind SE 13 mph. Finish 79 (63% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind S 17 mph gusts 24 mph. With the temperature a few degrees warmer than Thursday I change my attire to shorts, long sleeve jersey with a short sleeve jersey over it. The wind brought a slight chill with it but all the energy I put out biking into the wind warmed me up enough to not notice the chill.

From Huffman I rode west with the wind helping some to Atascocita shores Drive where I turned south to ride through Walden. this put into the headwind again but not for too long. Exiting Walden the rest of the ride enjoyed a tailwind among houses and trees. I finished the ride at 3:44 PM with tired legs after biking 32.21 miles.

Saturday weather will change at some point with some rain possible and I am not sure about biking. As of today I stand at 762.31 miles for March and 189.62 miles for the week. Sunday looks to be below my temperature threshold of 60 degrees. Spring needs to warm up!

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year progressions Graph

2019 YTD miles leads 2016 and 2018 but I am 58 miles behind 2017.

Strava Year progressions Graph Bike Ride Miles YTD

Texas Bicycling News Digest March 28th 2019

Texbiker.net Posted on by

EMS: Bicyclist critically injured after crash with vehicle in East Austin

by CBS Austin | cbsaustin.com

A woman was critically injured Thursday night after her bicycle collided with a vehicle in East Austin, EMS officials said.

It happened at around 9 p.m. on East MLK Jr. Blvd. just east of I-35.

Austin-Travis County EMS said an adult woman was transported with CPR in progress to Dell Seton Medical Center. …

Video: Amarillo Proposes Update to Hike and Bike Master Plan

By: Judd Baker | www.myhighplains.com

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – Walking and biking around Amarillo could be getting easier.

The city has proposed an update to its Hike and Bike master plan.

The original plan includes bike routes and walkways throughout the city–primarily around schools and city parks. The updated version has the same idea but with new goals.

Those goals will fit inside the …

Vintage Cycle bicycle shop coming soon on Hwy. 249 at Chasewood Park Drive

By Danica Smithwick | communityimpact.com

Rick Houdek, owner of Vintage Cycle at 20326 Hwy. 249, Ste. 300, Houston, said he plans to open the new business in April alongside Harry Twidwell, who has more than 30 years of experience as a bicycle mechanic.

The shop will …

Alamo City holds 7th annual Texas Senior Games, welcoming more than 2,000 athletes

by Brooke Phillips | news4sanantonio.com

SAN ANTONIO — The Alamo City held the 7th annual Texas Senior Games Thursday for adults 50 years and older to compete in more than 25 different sporting events.

The 7th annual Texas Senior Games were held Thursday across San Antonio, and the city welcomed more than 2,000 athletes from across the U.S. The Texas Senior Games is …

Chill Ride 03-31-19

Waco Bicycle Club | wacobicycleclub.com

Kudos to David Blake for his selfless act in absorbing all of the negative aura prior to last Sunday’s ride with his two flats in the first block. The remainder of the ride went without a hitch. We owe you one, David.

This week we’ll head out for a spin around China Spring and Bosqueville. Meet here. …

When I Can’t Pedal I Get Crank-y: Bike Puns for Fun

A DUDE ABIKES | adudeabikes.com

For those living under a rock, or in the southern Arabian peninsula — under Iraq (ha ha ha!) — the pun is a form of humor that dates back to Egyptian hieroglyphics. If English is not your first language, or you have an impaired sense of humor, let me explain the title of this post. You see, cranks are what connect the pedal to the bike. And because riding a bike is good for one’s mood, being cranky is both ironic and a pun about that. Because if I can’t use …

Bruce and Robert’s Southern Tier Adventure

By Bruce Cline and Robert Goss | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 32 Somerville Lake to Cagle Recreation Area (Lake Conroe): Wait, the Hill Country continues?? Tuesday March 26, 2019, 69 miles (111 km) – Total so far: 1,819 miles (2,927 km) Distance – 69 miles. Climbing 3100 ft – Hill Country holding on to us Again sitting by a fire that Robert stoked with Free wood from our campground host. We can see some fireflies in the woods. We are at Cagle Rec area on Lake Conroe. Son Rob informs that it is another great bass Lake and just recently hosted one of the first pro (FLW) bass fishing tournaments of the year.

So, Bruce looks at the ACA miles for the next section, Navasota, Texas into Louisiana and this is the first map without a hilly profile. The maps show you the climbs, big rollers and where you get to meet them. Naturally, no hill profile, it must be getting flatter right? Answer No. The …

Honeoye Riders Reverse the Southern Tier 2019

By jim kersting | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 28: Del Rio- Langtry, TX. Wednesday March 27, 2019, 62 miles (100 km) – Total so far: 1,622 miles (2,610 km) We are in the Chihuahuan desert. No doubt about it. From Del Rio to Comstock to Langtry, we got a taste of what the next weeks travels will look like. It’s hilly, it’s desolate and it’s hot. We met Brett walking from Brownsville to El Paso…., yes walking…through the desert. We saw some beautiful, colorful landscapes as we pedaled to our overnight stop in Langtry, home to the Judge Roy Bean museum. We camped at the community center and were able to …

Day 29: Langtry-Sanderson, TX Thursday March 28, 2019, 60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 1,682 miles (2,707 km) 60 miles of hot and hilly bicycling today with no services until the end of the day. We’re in the high desert which provided us with some amazing views of canyons that we haven’t seen until now. Our stop tonight is at a hotel owned by Sandy, from …

Two Retired Amigos on Winter Tour

By Douglas Wood | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 32: Del Rio to Langtry Wednesday March 27, 2019, 61 miles (98 km) – Total so far: 1,632 miles (2,626 km) We checked out early and rode to McDonalds for our usual fare. At first light we rode out of Del Rio. After a couple miles Dex Tooke caught us. Dex is training for the Race Across America, a grueling race. Dex was riding a high end Trek with electronic shifting. The RAAM is one of the most …

Come out and support rideATAXIA on April 6th in Denton TX with 6, 24, 49 mile ride options. from dfwbike

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

25 MPH Gusts and Flat Tire Bike Ride

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Today’s bike ride started at 12:27 PM after I overdosed on watching three bike races from Europe. I wanted to ride enough miles to reach 700 for the month so I chose the “Kingwood to Ramsey Road – Huffman” route. This came to 38.37 miles putting March at 730.1 miles and the week at 157.41 miles.

The weather was different from Wednesday with the clouds coming back. Weather during the bike ride: start 72 (64% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind S 10 mph. finish 76 (57% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind S 17 mph gusts 25 mph. I dressed for the chill with shorts, long sleeve jersey, and wind breaker jacket. This outfit kept me comfortable.

It didn’t take long to realize the wind was going to be a problem as I rode to the south. My legs struggled to put out enough power to go faster than 14 to 15 mph. Whenever I was in the open the wind felt even stronger and I bogged down but kept riding.

All went as planned until I reached the east side of the FM 1960 Lake Houston causeway when I started to feel the rear tire going flat. I rode to the metal building east of The Cedar restaurant and found a place to inspect the tire. I found a staple/nail sticking out of the tire.

Using the tire tools I broke one side of the bead free and pulled the tube out, careful to watch the spot where the staple punctured the tube. It required some extra effort to get the staple out of the tire for some reason. Marking the spot with the sheetrock screw I roughed the tube and then applied glue from the new patch kit. With the strong wind it didn’t take long for the glue to dry. I affixed the patch, waited a minute or so and stuffed the tube back in the tire, confident that I got the patch over the small hole. Reseating the tire bead I pumped up the tire until I couldn’t pinch it with my fingers and decided this was good to continue the ride.

Back on the bike I had stopped long enough that I needed to restart the PowerPod which times off after 20 minutes of no activity. I still battled the wind on Fairlake Drive and Old Atascocita Road. As I crossed the railroad tracks another cyclist going the opposite direction went over them too. I yelled hello as we passed.

Biking with trees on my right the wind wasn’t so strong but after I crossed over FM 2100 the trees disappeared and I got the full brunt of the wind> I slowed down to 13 mph and slogged to Ramsey Road where I turned around. Finally the wind wasn’t slowing me down and picked up my speed to 17+ mph.

Making the right hand turn onto FM 2100 to go north the wind became a full tailwind and pedaling wasn’t as difficult. Going west on FM 1960 I kept the same pace until I took Atascocita Shores Drive to the right. Back among houses and trees the wind didn’t require so much effort from there to the finish. Completing the ride at 3:50 PM i was about 25 minutes later than I expected due to the flat. I did miss the Creekwood Middle School traffic by a few minutes.

Friday the weather offers High 77 | 64 F, 40% Precip. / 0.02 in., AM Showers. High 77F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. I plan or biking but that might change depending on how the weather happens.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions Bike Ride Miles Graph

I caught 2016 and 2018 but still trail 2017 by 115 miles. 2017 is a tough act to follow.

Strava Year Progressions Bike Ride Miles Graph