Polarized Lenses, Love Bugs and No Rain Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

No rain on today’s bike ride thank goodness. The ride followed my “Stroker Road – Huffman” route for a total of 41.8 miles. The ride started at 10:48 am and as I rolled along the route I was concerned at times with the dark clouds to the east but as the ride progressed they dissipated but I had to remind myself that the new polarized sunglasses were causing the clouds to look a little darker than they actually were. Yesterday afternoon I picked up my new sunglasses so today was the first ride with them. Switching from transition lenses to polarized lenses saved me 40% since the eye clinic had a sale. The gray polarized lenses do a better job of reducing the glare and sun so I didn’t squint as much during the ride.

Keeping a steady pace of 16 to 18 mph once I got onto FM 1960 heading east at Lake Houston I built my average speed up to 14.6 mph by the time I made the loop on Old Atascocita Road, Ramsey Road and Stroker Road back to FM 2100. Riding north on FM 2100 the wind tried to slow me down but I maintained the speed. For a rather calm wind day the biking north and northwest required extra effort. On FM 2100 I saw and hit a number of “love” bugs which probably were set free with all of the rain and lower temperatures. I hope their arrival is short lived.

At the 30.0 mile point and 12:57 pm I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for a 20 minute rest break. I refilled my water bottle with ice and water then sat outside under the canopy in the shade. The temperature was not as hot as last week before the run of rain passed through. At the start of the ride it was 84 with 75% humidity and at 2:12 pm when I finished it was 89 with 68% humidity so I suspect it was around 89 when I stopped in Huffman. The light breeze kind of dried up my perspiration while I sat there. As I left the Chevron station I saw the saw was clearing up and the sun broker through the clouds occasionally as I rode west back to Kingwood.

It was good to stay dry as far as rain is concerned. The weather forecast shows rain chances going down and the temperatures going up for the next few days. I hope to take advantage of that and ride.

RideWithGPS.com map and metrics

Strava Bicycle Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News August 8th 2017

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Local Doctors Give Away Bicycling Helmets for Kid’s Safety

By Joe Hyde | sanangelolive.com

bicycle helmets
SAN ANGELO, TX — The physicians of the Concho Valley County Medical Society want to help ensure the safety of local children by giving away free bicycle helmets Saturday, August 12, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sunset Mall Community Room, during the Sunset Mall Back-to-School Celebration.
The Concho Valley bicycle helmet giveaway is part of a statewide effort — Hard Hats for Little Heads — launched by …

Sunday morning ride through downtown

adventureclubsa.com

Come join us for a Sunday morning bike ride through downtown. We will ride by the Alamo, La Villta through King William, Market Square and Main Plaza and then to the Blue Star for Brunch.
Members: Free
Where: Friendly Spot – Southtown area Non Members: Free
Address: 943 S Alamo St. Meeting Place: At Event Location
Location Website: Link Meeting Address: Same as Event Location
Meet Loc Website: n/a Meeting Time: 8:45 AM
Location Phone: (210) 224-2337 Parking Cost: $0.00
Start Date-Time: 08/20/2017 – 9:00 AM Reg. Deadline: 08/20/2017
* End Date-Time: 08/20/2017 – 11:00 AM

ARR – East Williamson Creek Trail Building

Thursday, Aug 10, 2017, 9:00 AM

Location details are available to members only.

3 Mountain Bikers Went

Help the Austin Ridge Riders build the newest natural surface hike and bike trail in Austin. We will be clearing the trail tread through the East Williamson Creek Greenbelt. Note that the meeting location is on a residential street with limited parking.Meet and park on Creek Bend Drive near 4907 Creek Bend. If you are late, go to the the short dea…

Check out this Meetup →

UPDATED Countdown Timers/Active Transportation Bike and Ped RE-BID

www.texasbids.net

Owner Solic Number: IFB 2400 ELL0036
Status: bidding Report: 7925164
Country : United States State: TX County: Travis Location: Austin
Scope: Provide and install pedestrian countdown timers.
Notes: All requests for explanations or clarifications must be submitted in writing to the Purchasing Office by no later than 1:00 PM, one (1) week prior to the solicitation due date. Submissions may be made via email to erika.larsen@austintexas.gov, or via fax at (512) 974-2388. The Contract shall be in effect for a term of 18 months. This project has a “prevailing wage” requirement. …

Public input sought for Paso del Norte Trail master plan

Pablo Villa | www.elpasotimes.com

bike trail
The Paso del Norte Health Foundation wants to give El Paso County residents a way to explore and experience their region in a safe, healthy manner.
To do that, the foundation is crafting an extensive master plan for a 50-mile linear hike-and-bike trail that would stretch from San Elizario in the Lower Valley to the New Mexico state line in the Upper Valley.
The project — known as the Paso del Norte Trail — is being touted as a way to make …

Bicyclist Injured After SUV Attempts to Exit H-E-B’s Parking Lot

By Maura Ballard | sanangelolive.com

bicycle injury
SAN ANGELO, TX — Shortly after 3:30 p.m. today, a white 2013 Ford Explorer attempted to make a right hand turn from the HEB parking lot onto Ave N, when the car collided with a nearby bicyclist headed towards the Sherwood Way intersection.
San Angelo police officers and …

Video: Police identify victim in fatal bicycle hit-and-run

www.kcbd.com

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) – Accident Investigators with the Lubbock Police Department are investigating a fatal crash early this morning on the westbound access road of South Loop 289 near University Avenue.
Police have been able to identify 20-year-old Joshua Allen Noble as the victim of the crash who died at the hospital, according to Lubbock police.
At approximately 2:20 a.m., an officer was patrolling a car …

Video: Jacksonville police to start bike patrol following increase in burglaries

By Francesca Washington | www.kltv.com

JACKSONVILLE, TX (KLTV) – A rise in summer burglaries inspired one East Texas police department to add to their patrol units.
They’ve got two fewer wheels than your typical police patrol unit, but Jacksonville Police Chief Andrew Hawkes said mountain bikes could be the key to catching burglars in the city.
“We are getting killed on burglary of vehicles and burglaries,” Hawkes said.
Hawkes said burglaries are up 70 percent compared to this time last year. He said they are all …

Nicole: the biking, hunting and fishing lady

By George “GAR” Garza | www.lmtonline.com


This is a story about Nicole, the daughter of my good friends Mike and Soo Wong of Emperor Garden, whom I’ve known since she was a baby. She is now 22 years old and a student at Baylor Medical in Houston studying to become an ear and throat surgeon.
Every year Texas 4000 selects Texas students for an 18-month program designed to cultivate the fight against cancer. Texas 4000 empowers each student to raise $4,500, ride over 4,000 training and course miles with his or her team, volunteer 50 hours in the community and play an active role in planning every aspect of the ride to Alaska by attending meetings and …

EP Cyclists Tuesday’s Ride

EP Cyclists | www.facebook.com/epcyclists

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/895097759866531840

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/894986006872571904

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Water Cooled Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I thought I did my due-diligence before starting today’s bike ride. Before getting ready I went outside to check for rain since we received 3.77″ during the night and the sky was still overcast. I then checked the weather radar for rain and none showed up nearby. So I got dressed and went out the door. As I walked the Stradalli out of the garage at 11:52 am I looked down on the driveway at the puddles and saw rings from rain drops. It wasn’t raining heavy but a strong drizzle. I figured since it was not heavy I would ride away from it but winding my way around Kingwood at the start of what turned out to be the “Kingwood – New Caney – Oakhurst” route I went in and out of the light rain.

The plan was to ride to Tavola north of New Caney but with the rain I changed the route lessening it by 4 to 5 miles.

Normally I do not ride if it rains at the start of a ride but today after two days off the bike and my optimism I kept riding. There were signs around of the heavy rain we received during the night with full ditches and sand washed onto the streets.

Once I made my way to the north bound I-69/US59 service road I thought I was in the clear but not long after crossing FM 1314 the rain started again and stayed with me all the way to when I exited Oakhurst onto Northpark Drive west bound. By then I was soaked but comfortable temperature wise. It was 78 degrees with 90% humidity and a light 6 mph breeze from the SW. This was one of those bike rides where I think I absorbed more water than I sweated. When I finished at 1:56 pm my water bottle was almost full and I think I only drank from it once. Not normal for August weather in southeast Texas.

Sunday when I went to the garage for some reason I checked the tires on the Stradalli and the rear one felt soft. Taking it inside I removed the tube and found the hole about 180 degrees from the valve stem. Searching inside the tire I found a small piece of wire sticking out and pulled it out with pliers. I patched the tube and remounted the tire ready for what I thought be be Monday’s ride. It rained almost all of Monday so no riding but I checked my patch work and the tire was firm. With all of the rain maybe I should’ve rode on Sunday but then I might not have found the flat until I was away from home.

The probability of rain on Wednesday goes down some and I plan on riding.

Link to RideWithGPS.com ride data and map

Strava Bicycle Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News August 7th 2017

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Can VBike Help Turn the Tide and Make Dallas a Bike-Friendly City?

By Jeremiah Jensen | www.dallasobserver.com


As of this summer, slick, modern, slate and yellow bicycles have begun to dot Denton, Dallas and Irving. VBikes is an app-based, station-free bike-sharing service based in Garland, and the startup has ambitions of expanding beyond North Texas.
Think of VBikes as two-wheeled versions of Zip Cars. To use a bike, an app user simply waves a phone over a bike’s smart lock and pays one dollar per hour, with a …

Texas 4000 Cyclists Complete Longest Charity Bike Ride in the World, Arrive in Anchorage August 11th

PR Newswire | markets.businessinsider.com

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — 70 students participating in the 14th Annual Texas 4000 for Cancer ride, the longest annual charity bicycle ride in the world, will cycle into Anchorage, Alaska Friday, August 11, completing an epic journey raising funds and awareness in the fight against cancer. The 2017 ride began in Austin on June 3rd with cyclists separating into three routes across …

Police pledge to shift gears on cycling safety

By Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com

Renewed focus on ordinance comes after few drivers ticketed in 2 1/2 years

Houston’s new police chief is pledging to enforce a safety ordinance that requires motorists to stay at least 3 feet from bicyclists and pedestrians – an effort advocates say is overdue since fewer than three dozen citations have been issued in the past 21/2 years.
Enforcing the 2013 ordinance was always considered an uphill battle, but Chief Art Acevedo says a …

Video: What’s it like to bike to work in the rain? Watch here

Pam LeBlanc | fitness.blog.austin360.com


I looked like someone aimed a fire hose at me when I got to work this morning: Water dripping down my legs, hair plastered to my head beneath my helmet, clothes sopping wet. …

Ladies Ride – Aug 8

by peghenderson | www.planobicycle.org

Hello Ladies-
I will be leading Group A and Chrissy will be leading Group B. We will be following the modified route the group followed the last 2 weeks. www.strava.com/activities/1100070239
This helps keep us off the worst part of Parkwood where the traffic is very heavy.
Forecast for tomorrow is Partly Cloudy 85° with E 10 mph winds. Little chance of rain – but watch for changes/updates.
Be sure and hydrate all day before the ride. Tips for riding in the heat. How to Ride Your Bike in Hot Weather
Front and Rear Lights are required.
Time: Arrive at 6:00, Ready to roll at 6:15 PM …

Become a League Cycling Instructor!

The League of American Cyclists | bikeleague.secure.force.com

Sugarland, TX 2017 LCI Seminar
Date: 9/29/2017 5:00 PM – 10/1/2017 3:00 PM
Where: SLB Forum
210 Schlumberger Dr.
Sugarland TX 77478 United States
Want to spread the joy of Smart Cycling? Become a League Cycling Instructor (LCI)! The League certifies instructors to teach Smart Cycling classes to adults as well as children. The goal is to help people feel more secure about getting on a bike, encourage safe bicycling, and to ensure that people on bikes know how to ride safely and legally. LCIs are members of the League, are active within their local bicycling community and, as certified instructors, are covered by the League’s liability insurance. …

This weekend’s rides: SPECIAL EVENT SATURDAY! ACTION REQUIRED! Return of Red Horn Sunday!

by Thomas | steinerranchcycling.com

This Saturday we have a special treat! After our ride we will finish at Champion Cryotherapy where they will treat us to a FREE Squeeze & Freeze (NormaTec Compression Therapy + Cryotherapy) and a cold beer! Come experience what pro cyclists and athletes swear by as the most effective recovery modalities. The NormaTec facilitates removal of lactic acid, enhances circulation and delivers a …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/894632500621922304