Texas Bicycling News Digest May 6th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Chumba’s Terlingua Wants to be the Lone Star of Your Next Gravel Ride

cyclocross magazine | www.cxmagazine.com


Austin, TX frame builder Chumba USA got its start making titanium and steel mountain bike frames about five years ago. The company recently branched out into the the gravel and bikepacking markets with new offerings. Its Ursa Backcountry has a mountain bike frame and a Super Boost rear axle to send riders out into the great unknown on long adventures. …

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Roads should be safe for all

Ricky Smith | www.oaoa.com

I have had a heavy heart and a thoughtful mind for over week. On April 25, a group of cyclists were doing their weekly ride, the same ride they do every Wednesday, when they were hit from behind.

I’m not writing you about stricter DWI laws! I’m writing you because I’d like to see better infrastructure set up for residents like those who had their lives taken. I moved back to West Texas in 2010, worked in the …

Tour du Rouge day 1 – Houston to Beaumont

Craig Prejean | www.strava.com

88.81mi
4:14:47
381ft
This is why the pink “RouteArrows” were on the streets in Atascocita and FM 1960.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bic3uoUl4gu/?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bic4UJHl6cr/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiZ6JggnRZC/

Riding Along The Rio Grande

By shary koenig | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Brownsville to South Padre Island: Pedal To Padre 2018

Sunday May 6, 2018, 33 miles (53 km) – Total so far: 652 miles (1,049 km)
What a blast! Things could not have turned out better if we had planned them. Our WS Host, Richard took us to Brownsville yesterday to sign up for today’s ride and to pick up our numbers. The ride was 33 miles and took us over the long, long bridge and causeway to South Padre Island. While crossing the bridge a bike with trailer pulled a powerful sound system letting us pedal to the rhythm.
We were 800 strong, all Americans…(10 white faces and the rest Hispanic). South Texas is awesome. …

Síclovía wraps up Tricentennial Commemorative Week with mission-themed route

By Jasper Scherer | www.mysanantonio.com


Cyclists and walkers move along Mission Road during Síclovía held Sunday. About 60,000 bikers, joggers, roller bladers and at least one unicyclist participated in San Antonio’s 14th Síclovía, held this year on the South Side to show off the Mission Trail for the city’s 300th anniversary.

The sun beamed down through a clear blue sky on about 60,000 bikers, joggers, roller bladers and at least one unicyclist Sunday for San Antonio’s 14th Síclovía, held this year on the South Side to show off the Mission Trail for the city’s 300th anniversary. …

(Road Bike) McAllister Park 15 miles

Wednesday, May 9, 2018, 6:15 PM

5 Bikers & Hikers Went

Check out this Meetup →

Video: Officers bike into Austin ahead of week of Peace Officer Memorial activities

By: Jerry Becker | www.kxan.com

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Bicyclists arrived in Austin Sunday morning for the Texas Police Officers Memorial Ride.

It’s the fourth annual 150-mile bicycle ride to honor Texas police officers killed in 2017.

All money raised for the event goes to family members and coworkers left behind.

It’s a need that some say often is forgotten as time passes. …

Letters to the Editor for May 6, 2018

Audrie Palmer | www.mrt.com

Bike safety on the mind of one Midlander

City leaders need to make roads safer for exercisers

It is time that something is done for the avid cyclists in Midland. We need bike lanes. We need awareness. We need drivers to slow down and to share the road. We need a solution to create safe routes for runners, walkers and cyclists around town. We need harsh punishments and no longer a slap on the wrist for drivers who break traffic laws and compromise the safety of those around them. Too many times, those who want to exercise fear for their safety. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Two Ghost Bikes, Ride of Silence

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Late start on today’s bike (12:46 pm) after church. I selected a shorter route, “Atascocita – Walden – E. Lake Houston Parkway”, which I biked for 27.78 miles. This moved the week’s total to 210.82 miles, the second week in a row of 200+ miles. May is up to 172.14 miles with a 660 mile goal.

When I got to Town Center Park in Kingwood a car show filled the streets surrounding so I rode around it. The car show takes place two times a year. I guess I missed the announcement. The variety of cars is big and usually the local Shelby Cobra club has a number of cars on display. On the return trip the show was till going on.

Weather during the bike ride: start 88 (47% humidity), few clouds, wind NE 7 mph. Finish 87 (50% humidity), few clouds, wind 6 mph. I think of this as “beach” weather even though Kingwood is 60 miles from Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The light breeze and comfortable temperature made riding great. I wore a short sleeve jersey and shorts.

As I rode through Walden and Atascocita on the way to FM 1960 I started to see pink “RouteArrows” on the street. I was not aware of a bike ride or other event yesterday or today and I didn’t see any sign that might give a clue. These continued going east over Lake Houston until one point to the right to go on Fairlake Drive. My route went straight at that point.

The Ride Silence is coming up on May 16th. Sadly there are two ghost bikes on FM 1960, one on the west side of Lake Houston and one at the FM 1960 and E. lake Houston Parkway intersection. I took these photos today. Both happened in 2016.

West side
West side
East side

The ride back from the turn around point went quickly with the wind not posing a problem. My legs were up to the task and I built my average speed up to 14.6 mph before it slowly fell once I was back in Kingwood. I finished the bike ride at 2:51 pm.

More fantastic biking weather next week with the temperature probably hitting 90+ for the first time this year. I am loving it!!

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest May 5th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Children get safety tips during Kids Bike Rodeo in The Woodlands

By Patricia Dillon | www.chron.com


Sanny Rivera, with Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, ensures that Luke Gryder’s helmet is the right size and fits securely during helmet fittings at the Kids Bike Rodeo on Saturday, May 5.

Wheels weaved in and out of miniature traffic cones as a dozen children rode their bicycles through the obstacle course set up at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park in The Woodlands on Saturday for the Kids Bike Rodeo. …

TXDOT Texas State Map with Traffic Counts *

www.crazyguyonabike.com

This is a link to the TX Department of Transportation online Planning Map for the state of Texas.
The map features data “layers,” one of which is Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) count, which shows the average number of vehicles per day on a given road.

This can be a quick way to identify low/high traffic route options. …

Bicycle World Block Party

wacoheartoftexas.com

May 12 @ 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Free
Come see our new home at 112 Mary Avenue! We will be throwing one heck of a party including giveaways, vendors, demos, games, food trucks, beverages and live entertainment all day long. You will have the opportunity to shop the best bike brands in the world and talk to our amazing staff members in our new state of the art shop.

Live music by Los Roachez and Superband ATX.

Dick’s Sporting Goods – Bicycle Technician in Brownsville, Texas

workintexas.jobs

Bicycle Technician
Create a world-class customer experience by providing passionate customer service and selling through customer engagement, specifically (but not limited to) our Bike Department
Uphold company standards for merchandise presentation of the best apparel and equipment brands in sporting goods
Demonstrate ability to genuinely interact with customers to show passion, knowledge, dedication, and commitment in their sport or activity
Promote company programs including warranty sales, Scorecard (loyalty program), private-label credit cards, and other seasonal promotions
Achieve sales goals through selling bikes and related merchandise
Bike building, repair and service
As business needs arise, other tasks may become necessary
Success Profile:

Flexible availability – including nights, weekend, and holidays
Ability to adjust priorities and manage time wisely in a fast paced environment
Passion for Bikes …

Riding Along The Rio Grande

By shary koenig | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Pharr To San Benito: WS Host Richard Cavin

Saturday May 5, 2018, 36 miles (58 km) – Total so far: 619 miles (996 km)

Riding was a pleasure today with almost no wind for the first 30 miles. First thing when we arrived at Richard ‘s house was to ask about the fund raising ride over the Padre Island bridge scheduled for tomorrow. Turns out Richard was planning on participating and drove us right over to register in Brownsville. …Super cool the way this is all falling into place. …

It’s lit: Project brings long-awaited improvements to Shoal Creek Trail

by Caleb Pritchard | www.austinmonitor.com


It took nearly 37 years, but the Shoal Creek Trail Gap Project is finally complete.

On Tuesday, the Public Works Department lifted the barricades on the short section of the trail that traces the creek on its bend from West Fifth Street to West Avenue.

It allows hikers and bikers to easily traverse the section for the first time since a deadly flood washed it out on Memorial Day in 1981. …

Door Key Road

Pedal Pushers | roy-pedalpushers.blogspot.com

San Angelo, Texas
May 5, 2018

Ready to ride on a nice crisp (by West Texas standards) morning are: Carlos, Ron, Rick (hidden), Brian, and David. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/tamusportclubs/status/992524169584807937

Rain Delayed Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The rain stayed around a little longer than expected delaying the start of today’s bike until 12:54 pm. By then the streets were dry, sky starting clear some and the temperature hit 78. I chose the “Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood” route so I could ride into the north wind at the beginning of the ride. Just kidding!! The real reason was to bike 35+ miles and actually biked 38.12 miles. This moves May to 144.36 miles getting closer to my 660 mile goal for the month. The week totals 183.04 miles.

The weather during the bike ride: start 78 (77% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind N 9 mph. Finish 80 (67% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind N 13 mph.

With the cloudy sky I opted to wear shorts and a long sleeve jersey because the wind had a chill in from the cool front that brought the overnight rain. I almost changed to a short sleeve jersey before I left but I am glad I stuck with my original setup.

9 mph wind on the way to SH 242 tried to keep me from improving my average speed. But I was able to increase it  from 13.6 mph when I started north on the I-69/US59 service road from Knox Street to 14.4 mph when turning west on SH 242 for the short ride to SpeedSportz Drive. At that point the wind became much more friendly as a tailwind. I continued to work on increasing the average and hit 15.0 mph by the u-turn under I-69/US59 at Kingwood Drive. I must have used extra energy because I needed to stop for a bottle refill at the New Caney Mobile station at FM 1485. Also my stomach was feeling empty too.

No other cyclists along the route today. I finished the ride at 3:37 pm.

Sunday could heat up with a forecast high of 87 but today was supposed to hit 85 and it didn’t make it yet. No rain expected. I will ride and try to bump the week’s total to 200+ miles.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Bike Ride Summary