Texas Bicycling News Digest October 30th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Veteran riding bicycle killed in hit-and-run crash in Katy

By Brittany Taylor | www.click2houston.com

KATY, Texas – A troubled Army veteran was killed by a hit-and-run driver Monday night as she rode her bicycle on a poorly lit road in Katy. Now her family and police want answers.

The crash was reported at 11:50 p.m. in the 2300 block of Elrod Road. …

Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run along poorly lit road in Katy, deputies say

cw39.com

KATY, Texas — A female bicyclist was killed early Tuesday after being hit by a truck in Katy. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver kept going and is now wanted by authorities.

The victim was riding her bicycle around midnight in the 2300 block of Elrod Road near Capitol Landing Lane when she was struck from behind by a dark-colored Dodge Ram pickup truck, according to investigators.

She was knocked off the bicycle and died at the scene, deputies said. …

Lite Nite Breakaway Club

T REDLINE Nguyen | www.strava.com

Tuesday with Cyclones

Eduardo Salas (Cyclones) | www.strava.com

VCC Group Ride: Great to see new Cyclist!

Leo Vela (VCC) | www.strava.com

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Sunny and Windy Spring Creek Greenway Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

With the extension open now I decided today I would ride the Spring Creek Greenway. The warm weather cooperated and I set out at 11:00 am. I wasn’t sure how far the route would be with the extra miles but I rode 47.98 miles. This increases October to 791.59 miles.

I dressed lighter today with shorts and short sleeve jersey and was comfortable from beginning to end. Weather during the bike ride: start 79 (69% humidity), a few clouds, wind S 7 mph. Finish 83 (59% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind S 15 mph, gusts 28 mph. The wind picked up while I rode the greenway and I could feel it whenever I got out in the open. fortunately the last 7 miles a tailwind helped me get to the finish at 3:16 pm.

Nothing different on the greenway until the place where the barrier used to be. According to the sign at the left turn to Dennis Johnston Park the trail went 3.1 miles before ending. The new section scenery contrasted with the other part of the trail with fewer trees and more prairie type foliage. Up to beginning on the new section I didn’t stop but once I crossed the old barrier location I stopped and took these photos. The first two look forward from the barrier location and back. These photos progress to the end of the trail. (Click on an image to enlarge it)

Not sure where the greenway will go after the barrier. The next photos are on the reverse trip.

The last two photos show a large steel container that was found when building the greenway and moved here. Inside are information panels about the greenway.

I stopped at Dennis Johnston Park on the way back to the I-69/US59 trail head for water. The main building is an early voting location and the lady at the door asked if I came to vote. I said no, I only needed water and she sent me in right away. There were no people in line to vote which contrasted with when my wife and I went to vote at another location. With a filled water bottle I got back on the Canyon bike to ride back to Jesse Jones Park.

Arriving at Jesse Jones Park I found a bench near the restrooms and took a rest break to eat some cookies and crackers. Across from the bench a man unloaded his bike from the car and got ready to ride. At that point I biked 38.77 miles. I figured there were 2.2 miles to the I-69/US59 trail entrance. After resting for 20+ minutes I walked to the restroom and filled my water bottle for the ride back home, about 9 miles away.

Other cyclists passed me on the greenway but there wasn’t a large number of them. Before I got the trail as I rode to the bridge to go over the San Jacinto River a cyclist came towards me and I said hello and waved. I guess he was coming back from the greenway.

This is the second time to ride the greenway this month. Before I rode only once a month but with the time change Sunday and cooler weather I wanted to ride the longer greenway before the year got away from me.

Wednesday weather forecast doesn’t look bike ride friendly: 80% Precip. / 0.22 in, Strong Storms. High 82F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest October 29th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Build a New Trail at Country Club Creek Greenbelt

austinparks.givepulse.com

Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Save Barton Creek Association and the Austin Ridge Riders will do trail work on the Country Club Creek Greenbelt. This is a new trail near downtown Austin. There will be about 4 miles of trail when it is done.

What we’ll do:
We will be building new trail. Trail has been flagged and needs to be cleared. If there are enough volunteers we will also be cleaning up trash.

We will be doing tread work and armoring the tread. There will be some people cutting weeds. Wear closed toes shoes and work / weather appropriate clothes. Children are OK with parental supervision. There is poison ivy and mosquito everywhere so cover up if you are allergic. …

Finally a trail that is open!!!!!

DaleinTexas | forums.mtbr.com

With all the rain we have had the North Texas trail systems took a BEATING! Quannah Hill was only open a few days the entire month of Sept and this month the same. Parks Of Aledo dissipates the water better and has been open a few more days and just last night the WMBC announced its OPEN for riding!!!! YEAH!!!!!! …

Upcoming Rides

Chasing Watts | chasingwatts.com

Wednesday Night Worlds (Short)
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 @ 6:00 PM

Wednesday Light Ride
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 @ 6:30 PM

Southern Elite Cross Training Series
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 @ 6:00 PM

Nite Bike
Thursday, November 1, 2018 @ 7:05 PM

Sugar Cycles Sat Shop Ride
Saturday, November 3, 2018 @ 7:30 AM

Bike Barn West University Sunday Ride
Sunday, November 4, 2018 @ 7:30 AM

SWCC Sunday
Sunday, November 4, 2018 @ 7:30 AM

VCC Group Ride: Canyon Express Edition.

Leo Vela (VCC) | www.strava.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/BphkhUWnvBb/

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

From Texas Dirt Sprouts Porters Mill Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

As October winds down the weather is beautiful for bike riding. I started today’s ride at 10:51 am following the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route for 36.57 miles boosting October to 743.6 miles, 43.6 miles above my goal. Weather during the ride: start 75 (77% humidity), fair, wind 5 mph. Finish 83 (55% humidity), a few clouds, wind SW 8 mph. I torn about which wardrobe to weather and settled on shorts, long sleeve jersey topped with short sleeve jersey. For the first 5 miles this was okay but as I warmed up and the temperature increased I think I could’ve left the long sleeve one at home.

The wind felt stronger than 8 mph but I still pedaled strong enough to build my overall average speed to 14.4 mph as I rode on Gene Campbell Blvd. There were some places where I bogged down when the headwind increased as the road incline went up. After passing the Walmart distribution center riding to the west a new housing development entrance came up on the left. The last time this route was September 19th and it wasn’t clear what was going to occupy the land that had been cleared. I thought it might be an industrial site but today it had a name: Porters Mill. I rode into the development and took these photos. (Click on the image to enlarge it)

Time will tell if people like the homes, location and prices. I think the name is strange with Porters and a singular Mill or no possessive on Porters.

Leaving Porters Mill I headed to FM 1314 to ride SE. The wind was friendly coming from my right side allowing me to keep a steady pace all the way to Old Sorters Road. Turning right the wind now became more of an issue until I got into Kingwood Place and changed direction to mostly east. No stopping for a break during the ride. I felt good, plenty of water and wanted to keep a steady pace.

Back in Kingwood I keep the average speed at 14.4 mph until the 33 mile point when the starts, stops and riding on the greenbelt slowed me down. Gradually the average went down. During the last 2 miles I bumped up the speed hoping to keep the overall average above 14 mph. I finished the ride at 1:33 pm and the average speed held at 14.1 mph.

Clouds could arrive on Tuesday but the temperature should be about the same. Great for biking.

SportTacks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary