Texas Bicycling News for February 10, 2024

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Southern Tier El Paso to New Orleans

By Cortney O. | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 29: Montgomery to Conroe: Quick day to take care of stuff and avoid the thunderstorms Friday February 9, 2024, 15 miles (24 km) – Total so far: 947 miles (1,524 km) We were feeling this whole being on the road for months thing. We’ve been traveling since mid September 2023. Missing a home base.

So we decided with the weather system coming in and thunderstorms predicted we would stay put a couple days and catch up on sleep, writing, work, and restock our stuff. So Conroe provided cheaper lodging and everything we needed.

We rode out of Montgomery to get breakfast in Conroe. We mostly …

Upcoming Rides

Fort Worth Bicycling Association | www.fwbaclub.org

9:00 AM Start Chisholm Rusty Chain Gang Ramble Tue, February 13, 2024 9:00 AM 4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX Rusty Romp Tuesday Edition Tue, February 13, 2024 9:00 AM Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126 Burleson and Beyond Thu, February 15, 2024 9:00 AM 155 W Bufford St., Burleson, TX Rusty Romp Thu, February 15, 2024 9:00 AM Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126 Anna May Daulton Joe Pool Lake – Rusty Chain Gang Sat, February 17, 2024 9:00 AM Grand Prairie, Texas Goatneck FWBA Style – 11 AM Start Sat, February 17, 2024 11:00 AM Cleburne High School, 850 N Nolan River Rd, Cleburne, TX

Fresno Divide is still a bitch on an e-bike Brewster County, Texas

Amy Schendel | strava.com

At one point, I was skidding sideways down a narrow cliff and thought that’s how I was going to die.

Last Day Mountain Bike Ride Brewster County, Texas

Virgil Skinner | strava.com

Saturday City loop San Antonio, Texas

Dan Carrion- Blitz Racing | strava.com

Radar Riders Houston, Texas

Ademir Vazquez | strava.com

Completely and utterly cracked San Antonio, Texas

Joshua Serna GSR | strava.com

Made the best of a rainy day

Strait outta Gruene, Tx New Braunfels, Texas

Jason Danvir | Challenge Accepted Coaching | strava.com

Capable Karma Brewster County, Texas

Amy Schendel | strava.com

Who needs a MTB in Lajitas when you have an S-Works Diverge STR? This bike slays on the singletrack

Virtual Shifting Stage 8 Tour de Zwift Watopia Big Flat 8

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I could’ve rode outside today but I chose Zwift instead. The rain came before sunrise and left about as quickly. The temperature was in the mid 70’s and cloudy. The wind returned though. I wanted to ride in Zwift to use the virtual shifting with the Kickr Core trainer and ride stage 8 of the Tour de Zwift. I didn’t want to ride the stage during the make up time. I need to ride stage 6 then.

When I started Zwift and paired everything the next screen asked if I wanted to use the virtual shifting with the Play Controllers. I answered yes and clicked on continue. Opening up the event the current gear showed up below the other sensors in the upper left. Pushing the shift buttons changed gears quickly. I got ready for the stage to begin shifting to gear 6 since I wasn’t sure how much effort that would take. After the start I shifted to gear 10, tried that for about a mile then to 11 for a couple of miles. Most of the ride I used gear 12 shifting higher on the downhills and lower on the uphills. The change was almost immediate and I felt the difference. On my Blue Norcross bike I moved the rear derailleur to the 5th cog on the 11 speed cassette. I didn’t hear much noise while riding but I had earbuds on listening to music.

Stage 8 covered the Watopia Big Flat 8 route with 19.6 miles and 537 feet elevation gain. The name tells the story, flat, with the elevation changes coming in small pieces as you can see in the Strava map profile. Zwiftinsider.com says, “Originally created as a Rebel Route in November of 2021, the Big Flat 8 was created because we wanted a long, flat route on Watopia without riding over the same tarmac repeatedly. At 3.5 meters of climb per kilometer of distance, this is Watopia’s flattest route apart from Tempus Fugit and Tick Tock. And it’s much more scenic!”. The route is an event only route. Another reason I didn’t want to miss it today.

Not a large group on the Group B ride. The nearby showed just over 400 and the ZwiftPower.com results put me at 255 out of 262.

2-10-2024 Strava Ride Map Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Watopia Big Flat 8
2-10-2024 Strava Ride Map Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Watopia Big Flat 8
2-10-2024 ZwiftPower Ride Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Watopia Big Flat 8
2-10-2024 ZwiftPower Ride Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Watopia Big Flat 8
2-10-2024 Strava Ride Summary Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Watopia Big Flat 8
2-10-2024 Strava Ride Summary Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Watopia Big Flat 8

Texas Bicycling News for February 9, 2024

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Guilty! Punishment phase begins in bike death trial

by: Roland Richter | www.fox44news.com

Waco, Tx (FOX 44) – The punishment phase in the manslaughter trial of a woman accused in the hit-and-run death of a bicycle-riding Baylor student was set to begin Friday morning in 54th District Court.

After a lengthy deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday in the trial of Tammy Renee Blankenship. She is charged in the death of 19-year-old David Grotberg, who was killed on October 6, 2016, as he and his girlfriend were riding their bicycles in the 3200 block of Franklin Avenue. Grotberg was a Baylor University student from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. …

Jury decides punishment in manslaughter trial

by: Roland Richter | www.fox44news.com Waco, Tx (FOX 44) – The jury has decided on the punishment for a woman convicted of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a bicycle-riding Baylor student. Tammy Renee Blankenship will spend the next ten years in prison.

The jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday against Blankenship in the death of 19-year-old David Grotberg, who was killed on October 6, 2016, as he and his girlfriend were riding their bicycles in …

TxDOT Webinar on the State Active Transportation Plan (SATP) | Hosted by BikeTexas on January 31, 2024

vimeo.com

BikeTexas was proud to host TxDOT for a free Zoom meeting on Wednesday, January 31 as TxDOT staff presented the Statewide Active Transportation Plan (SATP).

This was a great opportunity for attendees to offer feedback, and to learn about opportunities to provide further input as TxDOT moves into the next phase of the development of the SATP.

This plan is the foundation of future interconnected bike lanes, trails, multi-use paths, and …

New hike and bike trail connecting McAllen and Edinburg

by: Gabriela Gonzalez | www.valleycentral.com

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — McAllen and Edinburg are partnering to bring the second longest uninterrupted hike and bike trail statewide.

The Jackson Hike and Bike Phase 2 is designed to link McAllen enhance connectivity and safety between McAllen and Edinburg.

“We want to do this connection so people can safely ride a bike, jog or walk between one city to another,” Ramiro Garza, Mayor of Edinburg said. …

$20 million MetroBike modernization project to replace all stations with exclusively electric bikes

Pili Saravia | thedailytexan.com

Austin’s bike system will modernize and expand after CapMetro approved a contract partnering with a bike share system company on Jan. 29. The partnership will add new locations across Austin and replace all 80 stations with solely electric bikes.

As the city grows and increasingly relies on public transportation, the use of MetroBike spread enough to call for the $20.6 million contract, said Diego Martinez-Moncada, the executive director for Bike Share of Austin, the company that operates the bike system. The contract will provide the electric, more modernized bikes tailored for Austin’s growing population. The remodeling will …

Southern Tier El Paso to New Orleans

By Cortney O. | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 28:Navasota to Montgomery: Busy highways, dirt roads, and lake life Thursday February 8, 2024, 39 miles (63 km) – Total so far: 932 miles (1,500 km) There are some big rain systems and thunderstorms coming in this weekend and we were looking for cheaper accomodations outside of camping.

The ACA route takes you through beautiful areas but very expensive areas. If you can’t camp, then you better pay up. We tried the one Warm Showers in the region but they were out of town so we ended up in a Bell Tent through Hipcamp between Montgomery and Conroe. …

10-year-old injured after being hit by a car on the way to school. The driver didn’t stop to help.

Author: Alicia Neaves | www.kens5.com

The boy, who was riding his bicycle, says he got pinned under the car.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Texas — A 10-year-old boy is recovering after he was hit by a car on the way to school.

Officials said the driver took off.

This happened Thursday in front of Ricardo Salinas Elementary School in Universal City, northeast of San Antonio.

The boy’s mother is sharing his story exclusively with KENS 5 in hopes other witnesses may come forward to help find the person responsible. …

Railroad Overpass Climbs. Atascocita – Balmoral – W Lake Houston Pkwy – Walden

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I rode south on my Atascocita – Balmoral – W Lake Houston Pkwy – Walden route for the first time since October 19th, 2023. This route is west of Lake Houston but does get close at the southern turn around point at W. Lake Houston Parkway. I rolled out at 11:43 AM (I can’t seem to get going earlier) riding my Canyon Endurace CF 7 bike. The overcast sky encouraged me to wear a long sleeve jersey and wind jacket. The wind calmed down to single digits (6 to 7 mph) and the temperature was in the mid 70’s. When the sun broke through a few times it made me hot but when it left I was glad for the jersey and jacket. I did get a workout going up over the railroad track overpass into a headwind on Timber Forest Drive. The return climb wasn’t as hard without the headwind. I saw another cyclist on Lakewood Pines and again on Aerobic Drive. I finished at 2:38 PM riding 37.34 miles compared to my last ride 38.1 miles. My legs appreciated the calmer wind today.

2-9-2024 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Balmoral-W Lk Houston Pky-Walden
2-9-2024 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Balmoral-W Lk Houston Pky-Walden
2-9-2024 Strava Matched Rides Atascocita-Balmoral-W Lk Houston Pky-Walden
2-9-2024 Strava Matched Rides Atascocita-Balmoral-W Lk Houston Pky-Walden
2-9-2024 SportTracks Ride History Atascocita-Balmoral-W Lk Houston Pky-Walden
2-9-2024 SportTracks Ride History Atascocita-Balmoral-W Lk Houston Pky-Walden