Texas Bicycling News Digest July 24th 2018

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City launches $3.2 million sidewalk project

By FERNANDO DEL VALLE | www.valleymorningstar.com

HARLINGEN — Soon, the city’s sidewalks will tie into its trail system, linking neighborhoods, schools and retail centers.

It’s all part of plan to create a network to make the city “a walkable community,” Assistant City Manager Carlos Sanchez said yesterday.

Last week, city commissioners launched the first leg of a $3.2 million project to build nearly 17 miles of sidewalks across four areas of town. …

Monday with Cyclones

Eduardo Salas (Cyclones) | www.strava.com

Katy Flatlands 102 miles with Carmen and Patricia

Eduardo Salas (Cyclones) | www.strava.com

Nelson remembered for service, honored with Texas Tech law scholarship

By Matt Dotray | www.lubbockonline.com

The funeral service for J. David Nelson was Monday afternoon at the First Christian Church in downtown Lubbock.

Friends and family gathered to celebrate the life, and mourn the loss, of the Lubbock native, attorney, and former city councilman who appeared set to be a judge in Lubbock County. Friends say he will be remembered for his work and dedication in the legal profession, government and the non-profit organizations in which he served in leadership roles.

Nelson, 67, died after he was struck by a pickup truck Wednesday morning while riding his bicycle on FM 41 near …

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Break in the Heat Bike Ride

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The hot weather seems to have paused. Weather during today’s bike ride: start 83 (72% humidity), overcast, wind E 9 mph. Finish 87 (63% humidity), overcast, wind E 14 mph. Granted I got an early start at 9:08 am and finished at 12:16 pm but it was nice. I chose the “May Park Community Center – Huffman” route for distance biking 41.28 miles. This puts July at 722.13 miles, only 78 miles away from my 800 mile goal.

Home weather at the end of the bike ride.

Home Weather Finish

I did get a few sprinkles on the return leg through Atascocita.

Wind was a little difficult while riding to the east and north but a nice tailwind from the May Community Center to home. I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for about 8 minutes to refill my water bottle with ice and water. I skipped stopping at the May Center because I had enough water left and the heat wasn’t bad. It almost felt like a fall day. Wahoo ride summary at the Chevron break.

Wahoo Summary Huffman Chevron

No unusual things along the route although I forgot on an earlier ride on Fairlake Drive about seeing two fawns scamper across the asphalt just in front of me. Today as I passed the church parking lot on Fairlake several cars were getting ready to leave after biking. Bikes were on racks before I saw them a car at FM 1960 had a bike on a rear rack waiting to turn left onto FM 1960. I believe these were ladies.

Weather probably will heat up again on Wednesday so this brief coolness won’t last.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest July 23rd 2018

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How McKinney’s Chad Haga forged his path to the Tour de France after deciding to ditch engineering

By Callie Caplan | sportsday.dallasnews.com


When Chad Haga called his dad, Chris, in October 2010, he hesitated to speak his mind.

Haga had spent four and a half years working toward a mechanical engineering degree at Texas A&M and earned a job offer after graduating that winter. But Haga also had a passion for cycling, and the few opportunities to join elite teams post-grad weighed on him when he reached out to his dad. …

Upcoming Rides – Chasing Watts

chasingwatts.com

Hey there! Here are some upcoming rides this week…
Tuesday Society Cycle Works Evening Ride (3 Loops)
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 @ 6:30 PM

Handlebar Cyclery TNW
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 @ 6:00 PM

Lite Bike
Tuesday, July 24, 2018 @ 7:05 PM

McIntyre’s Sprint Zone Wednesday
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 @ 6:20 PM

West Bike Scene @ Sun & Ski Memorial Mall
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 @ 7:00 PM

Memorial Park Crit Series
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 @ 5:00 PM

Nite Bike
Thursday, July 26, 2018 @ 7:05 PM

Thursday Society Cycle Works Evening Ride (3 Loops)
Thursday, July 26, 2018 @ 6:30 PM

Catalina Ride
Thursday, July 26, 2018 @ 5:30 AM

Alkek Championship Series
Friday, July 27, 2018 @ 7:00 PM

Road Group Ride: Pearland Cycling Club
Saturday, July 28, 2018 @ 7:30 AM

Blue Agave Cycling Ride @ Society Cycle Works
Saturday, July 28, 2018 @ 7:30 AM

Cool Cat 45 Miler
Saturday, July 28, 2018 @ 7:00 AM

MTB Race: HTX Short Track Series 2018
Saturday, July 28, 2018 @ 5:30 PM

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New Caney Historical Marker Bike Ride

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After taking Sunday off I was back on the bike today riding the “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch” route 42.4 miles. Wheels down at 9:59 am after using my new Lezyne floor pump to air up the tires to 100 psi. There was a short learning curve on connecting the air chuck to the Presta valve. I am used to pressing the chuck onto the valve and flipping a lever to secure the connection before pumping. The Lezyne screws on and I didn’t realize that until I tried pushing it on a couple of time and the air escaping as I applied pressure. Then I screwed it onto the valve and wow it worked. The big gauge is easy to see while standing up and I got to 100 psi after a few pumps.

I am closing in on July’s mileage goal. After today’s bike ride I am at 680.85 miles leaving 120 miles to reach the 800 mile goal.

Today is supposed to be the last 100 degree day for a while with a front arriving tomorrow but it was still warm. Weather during the bike ride: start 87 (67% humidity), partly cloudy, wind SW 12 mph. Start 92 (51% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind W 8 mph. Wind wasn’t a problem for most of the ride. The hardest places: biking to the west on Roman Forest Blvd. and Valley Ranch Parkway between I-69/US59 and the Grand Parkway.

I stopped at the Montgomery County East Courthouse Annex along I69/US59 to get this photo of the historical marker that recounts how New Caney got its name. I remembered this marker yesterday and thought I would stop there today but I almost forgot as I rode by the first turn into the parking lot.

Bike Ride New Caney Historical Maker

The last time I looked a the marker I thought it said something else but good to get a refresh.

Three water stops today: Shell station on Roman Forest Blvd., Pat’s Donuts on the service road and the Shell station on Kingwood Drive at Chestnut Ridge Drive. I used the last two because I changed the route some in Valley Ranch and Oakhurst causing me to miss the Stripes station on FM 1314.

Nothing out of the ordinary during the bike ride as I finished at 1:11 pm.

Maybe it won’t be as hot for tomorrow’s bike ride.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary