New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Another October week begins with warm weather fitting for a great bike ride. I selected the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route and rode 33.34 miles. Weather during the bike ride: start 86 (75% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind ?. Finish 89 (64% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind SE 16 mph. The wind at the start of the ride wasn’t available due to the NOAA website being down but my home weather station showed 2.5 mph.

The ride began at 10:36 am as I rolled out the driveway. Today traffic was light probably because schools and most government offices closed for Columbus Day. No other cyclists out along the route either.

Getting to Tavola wasn’t too hard with the wind helping from the back. Expecting that to change on the way back I was surprised to find the wind not holding me back so much. I built up my overall average speed to 14.1 mph and held it there until I got back to Kingwood. I finished the ride at 1:05 pm and now need to catch up on the Astros vs. Indians baseball game.

After finishing the bike ride I looked at the weather radar and it looks like I missed some rain back towards Roman Forest and Tavola. Good timing for a change.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest October 7th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

MONTGOMERY MAN CHARGED WITH INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER AFTER FATAL SPLENDORA CRASH

by Scott Engle | montgomerycountypolicereporter.com


At 8:36 pm Montgomery County Hospital District, DPS, and MCSO along with EMC Fire were dispatched to a reported a black 1999 Chevrolet pickup vs bicycle on Midline Road and Lewis in Splendora. Units arrived on the scene to find a male in his 50’s not responsive lying in the ditch. He was pronounced deceased minutes later. DPS …

VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN SATURDAY NIGHT SPLENDORA FATAL CRASH

by Scott Engle | montgomerycountypolicereporter.com

The victim has been identified as Dennis Holifield, 54, of Splendora.

At 8:36 pm Montgomery County Hospital District, DPS, and MCSO along with EMC Fire were dispatched to a reported a black 1999 Chevrolet pickup vs bicycle on Midline Road and Lewis in Splendora. Units arrived on the scene to find a male in his 50’s not responsive lying in the ditch. He was pronounced deceased minutes later. DPS Investigators arrived on the scene and transported the driver of the pickup to the hospital for a blood draw. He was not injured. Montgomery County District Attorneys Office Vehicular Crimes Unit responded to assist the investigation. Charges of …

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Texas Bicycling News Digest October 6th 2018

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Car hits bike in Amarillo, send 1 to hospital with ‘life threatening’ injuries

By Jacob Helker | www.newschannel10.com

AMARILLO, TX (KFDA) – A 58-year-old man is in the hospital after being hit by a car while on his bicycle.

Around 6:18 p.m., the man was exiting a private drive on his bicycle near the 5000 block of South Coulter.

He pulled in …

3 companies vie to host Waco bike-share program

By PHILLIP ERICKSEN | www.wacotrib.com


Three companies submitted bids to the city of Waco to host a bike-share program slated for the downtown area.

Zagster Inc., Veoride and Gotcha Bike LLC are vying to provide the service, city purchasing agent Tim Cubos said. The deadline to submit an application was 2 p.m. Friday.

A working group studying the issue, encouraged by the downtown Public Improvement District, has recommended a hybrid model for a bike share program, a …

Cyclists riding across the country to raise cryptocurrency for charity

By Thomas Scott | m.selmatimesjournal.com

Just a few months ago, Joel Velasquez got a call from his friend Jason Berlin inviting him out to eat so he could share a new, exciting idea that he had come up with.

At the meeting, Berlin pitched the idea of going on a cross-country bicycle trip to spread awareness about cryptocurrency awareness for charity. …

… Berlin and Velasquez have been pushing their message to as many non-profits as they can, and have met some resistance along the way. Charities that remain skeptical of cryptocurrencies weren’t eager to jump on board, but the Houston Area Women’s Center (HWAC), a non-profit organization that works to stop domestic and sexual violence, bought in to the idea of accepting cryptocurrency as donations. …

Austin area elementary school holds bike rodeo to raise awareness about wearing helmets

Author: Jenni Lee | www.kvue.com


AUSTIN — The sport that children suffer the most injuries in doesn’t belong to football.

According to pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth Knapp, that sport is bicycling.

That’s why Caraway Elementary sponsored a bike rodeo on Saturday to raise awareness about the importance of wearing bike helmets. The Texas Medical Association also gave away dozens of helmets to the children.

Experts said 85 percent of all head injuries that happen on a bike, happen to children who are not wearing a helmet.

Knapp said …

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Polk County Spirit Bike Ride – Livingston, TX

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I got up early this morning to drive to Livingston for the bike ride. Leaving home at 6:30 am the sky was mostly dark with the sun to yet come up. On the drive north on US59 I went through some patches of fog and wondered if that would be a problem but when I arrived at 7:15 am Livingston High School the sky was clear with no fog in sight. I parked the Wrangler behind another newer one with a bike leaning against it. I walked over to register and on the way back I talked to the Wrangler owner about his nice new Jeep. After that I walked around the parking lot handing out Texbiker.net business cards.

With the sun fully up the ride rolled out at 8:01 am. The route was a little different from the last time I rode it in 2013 with a trip down the US50 south bound service road and a u-turn back towards town. Before getting back to US190 the route moved to side streets avoiding downtown and getting us SH 146. It wasn’t long before a hill appeared and I slowly made my way to the top. The road surface was a well-worn chip and seal which made it almost smooth. The road stayed that way until the first rest stop at 9.7 miles. After that SH 146 sported a nice asphalt shoulder and not any significant hills to climb.

At FM 2665 we made a right turn and the road surface continued to be smooth with a few rolling hills but nothing like the tall one just south of Livingston. Arriving in Goodrich the second rest stop was right after the US59 overpass. I stopped there hoping for ice water but the ladies said they were told ice water would be bad for us and all they had was room temperature water anf sport drink. They did have raisins and I ate two boxes after asking that they inform the organizers that in October ice water is needed.

Rolling away from the rest stop the nice road surface continued and I rode at a good pace. At one point on FM 3126 the road was close enough that I saw Lake Livingston between several houses. No boats though. Rest stop 3 was refreshing because they had ice water and ice which I put in my water bottle. They said they hadn’t heard about riders not wanting cold water so they had just went to get more ice. After drinking a bottle of nice cold water I thanked the lady for holding my bike and began the last 10 miles.

While riding along a gray Mustang pulled up beside me and the driver had the window and yelled encouragement. As he drove off I didn’t expect to see him again but at the intersection with FM 2457 he was standing in the store parking lot beside the road yelling more encouragement as I made the right turn onto FM 2457.

The road surface still remained smooth but a couple of hills slowed me down some but once over them I regained my speed. I thought the ride was going smoothly but then I merged onto US190 where the shoulder turned into the roughest road I have biked on in many years. I thought being a US highway the shoulder wouldn’t be this bad but it was. This lasted until about 1/4 mile away from the right turn onto FM 350 where the ride ended back at the high school. My arms were still shaking when I biked on FM 350 and my teeth chattered.

Finishing the ride at 11:18 am I went to the Jeep and put the Canyon bike away before walking over to where they served lunch. After getting some Cheetos and ice tea I talked to two ladies serving food about the rough shoulder and they repeated requests to TXDot had not improved anything so next year they may alter the route to avoid that section.

The ride was well marked with painted arrows and signs. Rest stops had happy people and plenty of snacks except for no cold water. I hope to ride again next year. I would guess there 150 to 200 bikers though I forgot to ask how many registered.

Photos form the bike ride.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary