No grit or grim on today’s bike ride. With a 12:17 PM start time I chose the “Atascocita – Walden” route for shorter miles and rode 25.04 miles.
Weather during the bike ride: start 72 (89% humidity), overcast, wind E 7 mph. Finish 77 (79% humidity), overcast, wind E 9 mph. Clothing choice for today: shorts, long sleeve jersey with a short jersey over top. I felt comfortable except when I rode close to Lake Houston in Walden where the chilled air off the lake hit.
Nothing out of the ordinary along the route.
Finishing at 2:12 PM I sat down in front of the TV to watch my UC Bearcats play the UH Cougars. The Bearcats lost, sadly.
I replaced the rear cassette after yesterday’s ride because the chain slipped when I applied heavy pedal effort. I did not remember that the worn cassette was a Shimano R8000 11-32T while the new one I installed was a Shimano R8000 11-28T. Maybe I knew that when i got the Canyon Endurace CF SLX last year in February but I forgot and ordered the 11-28T. Most of my previous 11 speed bikes used 11-28T and maybe this explains my lower speed from the 11-32T. I could tell the difference during today’s ride. My legs will probably adjust after a few rides. Glad the chain slip is gone.
With today’s ride this week is the most miles for week this year at 138.43 miles, 4 miles higher than the previous high week, February 4th through 10th.
Looks like the weather is settling down next week and I plan on adding more miles biking.
SportTracks Bike Ride Summary
Strava Year Progressions Graph
I fell behind YTD compared to these years: 2018, 2017, and 2016.
Date: Mar 30 2019
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area – 2820 Co Rd 414 Spicewood, Texas 78669 United States
All day trip to Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area. One of most scenic mountain biking and kayaking areas in the state of Texas. With fields of bluebonnets in every direction and Colorado River running alongside, meet new people and take some incredible photos that will last a lifetime.
Upon arrival we will split the participants into two groups. Our facilitators will size the one …
March 16 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm CST
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, 2820 Co Rd 414, Spicewood, TX 78669
Experience the thrill of mountain biking with our enthusiastic, knowledgeable instructors! We’ll start by addressing proper bike fit and making any necessary adjustments to your bike. Next we’ll demonstrate riding techniques, including body and pedal position, shifting, braking, climbing, descending, and navigating minor obstacles on the trail. We’ll also go over important communication skills and mountain biking trail etiquette with the aim of keeping multi-use trails open and safe for everyone. And finally, we’ll practice all these new skills on …
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — At the site where 23-year-old David Leon Loya lost his life Thursday, his family, friends and even strangers came together to honor him.
Cyclists from HTX Bike Social rode from the Whole Foods on Waugh Drive to the corner of 8th and Heights where Loya died after getting hit by an HISD school bus.
Police say Loya was on the bike lane and even slid under the bus to avoid getting hit, but unfortunately he was run over by the back axle. The investigation is on-going. …
A University of Texas at Arlington civil engineering assistant professor is exploring data fusion techniques that will provide planners with better data on potential bicycle volumes for a city.
Kate Hyun, assistant professor of civil engineering, is one of the researchers on a $200,000 grant from the …
Look at the new rules for sunscreens proposed by the FDA, and then look at the list of ingredients on your brand. You may want to change now. https://t.co/VAhjH8rRX7https://t.co/VAhjH8rRX7
We're collecting another batch of cycling clothing for Junior riders in need in #CUBA! Do you have old, mint (or new) cycling clothing you want 2 donate for a good cause? I'm helping 🇨🇺Arlenis Sierra @astanawomen collect clothing 4 her Junior Club in Granma, Cuba. Please DM me. pic.twitter.com/d5UZvk5vho
MISTY cool ,it will be a warm day , lots of bicycle riders should be out . I BET over 100 different cyclists pass by me today , TIME TO RIDE . GONNA be a great day to teach the children how to climb a hill , FUN DAY . pic.twitter.com/QrN4DqfSDF
Our friends at the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative are doing GREAT work in our community. They’re new to the region and offer bicycle safety education to underserved elementary schools. Contact them to learn how you can volunteer and make a difference! pic.twitter.com/jBq9OnO6sz
Waiting patiently, hoping mother nature will start to cooperate within the next hour, so I can get a good fast ride in this morning pic.twitter.com/yVTsn9RVQJ
The Roundup is a TXBRA Texas Cup Race. Promoter reserves right to combine races, adjust length, or alter things if fewer than … https://t.co/PPWbj3WJHm
Possum Pedal is paired with the annual Food Truck Championship of Texas on the 1st Saturday in June. The rides will depart the town square at 7:30am and choose from six different routes. The … https://t.co/owsvnHUxHR
As I get ready for a bike ride I put the route together in my mind. Today I decided to ride the “Oakhurst – Cumberland – Valley Ranch” route and add a short loop by Porter High School. Good thing I added that loop. As I turned right onto Featheree Drive I felt a few drops of rain and by the time I got to the first entrance into a parking lot at the high school it started raining. I pulled under the metal cover over the walkway in front of the school and got up on the sidewalk. The rain increased while I walked to the bench under the cover. Up to the rain I noticed some mist a few times but nothing came of it. The rain stopped after 8 to 10 minutes and I waited for the street to dry up some. Then the sun popped out for a minute or two. At the end of 15 minutes or so I decided to head out on the original route.
Back to FM 1314 the road was wet but without puddles. I was riding at a good pace when I saw the shoulder was covered with wet dirt from trucks entering the road from a construction site. Slowing down I tried to get past the dirt without getting too muddy. The pavement dried off about a couple of hundred yards before I reached Timberland. I thought I succeeded but when I made the turn around at the Shell convenience store at Cumberland Blvd. I looked down and the bike was coated, my shoes were coated, and the handlebar had mud. Even the Elemnt computer had mud on it. Later in the ride I stopped and took these photos of the mud.
The shoulder riding southeast away from Cumberland Blvd. was wet until I got to Lazy Lane but the water up to that point added even more grit and grime. This is why I don’t ride in the rain. I really don’t mind getting wet as long as the rain isn’t cold but the grit is too much. When I finished the ride I washed the Canyon off and now the grit and grime are gone.
Earlier when I was about a mile into the ride I stopped and took these photos of the azaleas in Hunters Ridge Village in Kingwood.
The ride started at 11:07 AM, earlier than the last several rides. I finished at 2:07 PM also earlier.
When I rode through Briar Tree I saw a silver Chevrolet pickup angled down into a deep ditch. This must have just happened with men walking from the truck to the front of the house closest to the ditch. The driver side rear wheel was 3 or 4 feet in the air and the passenger side front tire was at the bottom of the ditch. There was a driveway entrance to the left of where the truck was pointing down into the ditch. Maybe they were trying to turn and missed it?
Around mile 26 I noticed that cadence was not showing on the Elemnt computer. Stopping at Auburn Fields Drive I removed the cadence sensor battery, reversed it to reset the sensor and then returned it to the correct side. The blue LED started flashing and cadence was back on the screen. I suspect moisture might of gotten inside. Also the chain has started slipping when I stand up to pedal. With 7,951 miles on the rear cassette I suspect the cogs may be worn and I need to install the new cassette I have.
Besides the rain the weather during the bike ride: start 79 (70% humidity), overcast, wind SW 10 mph. Finish 80 (67% humidity), overcast, wind SW 12 mph, 21 mph gusts. I could tell when I hit the headwind on the way back to Kingwood from Valley Ranch. I dressed less than yesterday with shorts, long sleeve jersey, and half finger gloves.
Making the u-turn at Northpark Drive put the wind at my right rear quarter for most the ride back home. At the end I hosed the Canyon off, my shoes, cleaned the back of my helmet.
With today’s 33.35 miles I am up to 192.66 miles or 10.19 days towards my goal. This puts me one day ahead, barely. Weather looks good for a Sunday ride to build up more miles. Some other stats:
average heart rate: 126 (72% of max)
max heart rate: 149 (85% of max)
average power: 145 watts
max power: 586 watts.
SportTracks Bike Ride Summary
Strava Year Progressions Graph
2019 miles are ahead of previous years except for 2017 and 2016. I am making progress.
If you’re into gran fondos, then put March 30, 2019 on your calendars—this is a big one!
The successful Hincapie Gran Fondo series, that has already passed through Greenville, SC, and Chattanooga, TN, is expanding to Fort Worth this year. Join current and past professional cyclists, weekend warriors, and first-time riders on routes planned and …
Our community has suffered another tragic loss with the death of David Leon Loya who was killed on his bike by an HISD bus at the intersection of 8th Street and Heights Boulevard at 3:05 pm on Thursday, March 7th. Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Loya’s family and loved ones.
Loya, in his early 20’s was traveling Northbound in the bike lane on Heights Boulevard. The bus driver was traveling Eastbound on 8th street, stopped at the stop sign, and then continued …
No one would deny that Houston boasts many accolades as a vibrant and booming southern city. Many would also agree that due to her vast geography, expansive highways, and limited multi-modal transit system, motor-vehicles tend to be given priority over other forms of mobility. As urban cities reevaluate residents’ health and quality of life, green spaces, and resilience concerns; mobility and safe efficient transportation systems are being looked at with fresh eyes.
Generally speaking, motor vehicle drivers and people who ride bikes have a “side-eye†view of the other. With Houston’s growing population, many new migrants are used to multiple …
Categories
» Men Cat 3/4 » Men Cat 5
» Men Junior 10-14 » Men Junior 15-18
» Men Master 35+ Cat 4/5 » Men Master 50+ Cat 1/2/3/4
» Men P/1/2 » Women Cat 1/2/3
» Women Cat 4/5 » Women Junior 10-14
» Women Junior 15-18 » Women Master 40+ Cat 1/2/3/4
In Houston, people who ride bicycles to get around are thought to be either extremists or masochists in this very car-centric town. Regular bike commuters are usually trying to get somewhere both quickly and safely. The truth is that people who ride bicycles to and fro are more likely to be impassioned advocates for a better way of living and wellbeing. Being a dedicated bike commuter in this city isn’t easy.
The good news is that Houston has more favorable bicycle friendly weather days than many other cities. The caveat is you may experience all …
You’ve probably noticed the “Learn to Ride†classes on the BikeHouston event calendar. Did you know that we’ve taught people from 8 to 80 years old how to ride? The classes have a 100% success rate, and no one has ever fallen during a class. Those fantastic results are due to the hard work and dedication of super member Tony Banks.
Tony says he enjoys seeing the joy that learning to ride gives to his students. But it was not a job he applied for. …
Last week the Houston Chronicle ran an “Outlook Transportation†article on
Sunday, March 3, 2019, that described our unsafe highways and roadways. Since then BikeHouston has heard pushback on a project on 11th St. that would improve the safety of our streets and now, only yesterday, a young man was killed riding his bike down Height’s Boulevard. This is a place that we and many fellow Houstonians ride every day. We cannot express how deeply we feel for this man’s family and pledge to continue working to make Houston a safer place for people on bikes.
In the article, Allyn West commented on urban planner Jeff Speck’s Wednesday February 27, 2019 Kinder Institute lecture to reconsider …
— Martin Russell 🚲ðŸðŸ¿ï¸ (@russell_dallas) March 9, 2019
Recently I have had several cyclists I know get hit by cars and drivers ignorantly keep yelling at us we don't belong on the road, @TxDPS what are you all doing correct this???
On International Women’s Day, HTX VeloFemme wants to thank all who believe in and support us in the upcoming Race Across the West. We formed upon realizing there haven’t been any women’s… https://t.co/m9rjvZ0YH6
Saturday, March 9th at 9am we will open the doors to our newest location in Cypress, Tx. We are excited to serve you Cypress! Come see us for all your road, triathlon, mountain and commuter biking needs…. https://t.co/tJSIAY8bqC
Season opener of the 2019 Thursday Night Crit Series at Fair Park by King Racing Group!
First up in the C race were the young fast dudes, Dallas, Jack, and Seth who all led out the warm-up lap! When the race… https://t.co/E9Vbmy3x2B
— Rockwall Racing Team (@RideRockwall) March 8, 2019
Mike Stanley (@bicyclesplus) started where he left off last year, WINNING the @KingRacingGroup Fair Park Crit opener last evening in the M 3/4's with fellow RT athlete Chris Schmiedeke in the Top 10 (9th), too! . Some last lap stats: 1:57.9min, 29.6mph, 499W NP ! #rothetrainingpic.twitter.com/CeOXznXr6c
Pictures from today on my MTB Training Ride on the #Borderwall This was on Old Military Hwy between La Joya and Sullivan City. This is a small town called La Havana… The litter on the ground is relatively new. pic.twitter.com/SR5k2eOU5V
This bike lane design has been the most popular at previous meetings and is the most consistent with the existing bike lane on the rest of W Hickory. This requires removal of some parking spaces on the south side. pic.twitter.com/AZ3QWg91dN
We hope you're excited to play in the streets once more! How many of us have explored the @HoustonHeights by bicycle before? 🚲FYI We'll be taking over the streets this March 24! pic.twitter.com/a14ITslPng
— Sunday Streets HTX (@SundayStreetHTX) March 8, 2019
The hope is to make this small section of Ave A / Mulberry one-way to create space to add parking that would offset removal of some spaces along W Hickory for a bike lane. pic.twitter.com/6gPPH7qspH
This is the current street construction timeline for these two blocks of W Hickory. Previous work was utilities, not the street surface itself. pic.twitter.com/lFCUkycnXa
Station #90 has gone in at @SaintArnold, right along the Lyons Ave. bike lane. Use this B-station to explore the nearby trails and stop by the beer garden to try their latest creations. #KeepHoustonRollingpic.twitter.com/BPVfjrfOtY
"Already the most walkable neighborhood in Houston according to Walk Score, Midtown’s addition of an eighth Houston BCycle station represents its continued commitment to mobility for residents and visitors alike." #midtownHOUhttps://t.co/LicHZb49oN
New Event Thursday Morning Cruise – Canutillo, TX El Paso Bicycle Club
Meet at 8:45 am at Starbucks at the Outlet Mall in Canutillo. Ride out at 9:00. 20-25 miles at 14-16 mph pace. Mostly flat, a few hills. Breakfast someplace after the ride. Bob Clar… https://t.co/JBRNADYNAX
Join us on Sunday for another exploration of the City. The new forecast has dropped the chance of rain to 20 to 25%, so we're going for it and hoping for a dry ri… https://t.co/kSpj7viADB
