Texas Bicycling News October 28th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bike safety in BCS to improve

by Emmalee Newman

www.thebatt.com


For the thousands of students navigating the roads outside of campus on bike, a question of safety comes into play each time they ride.
Over the past 5 years 9,821 bike permits have been registered at the Texas A&M Transportation Services and there are an estimated 9,000-13,000 cyclists that commute to and from campus throughout the week, according to …

Denton Parks & Recreation

www.dentonrc.com

A Greenbelt Bike Ride for ages 16 and up will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12. Riders should meet in the lobby of Denia Recreation Center, 1001 Parvin St., and bring a picnic lunch. $20. Register by calling 940-349-7275 or visit www.dentonparks.com.

Need Urgent Help from Forum Members on a Long Journey From Toronto to Houston

AlberthaStutheit

forums.mtbr.com

This post lie in multiple categories. In the past, I have trips, but those trips were short distance (less than 300 miles) and all the trips were inland Canada or Northern US. I, younger brother, one cousin, and our friends (total of 7 people) are thinking about taking our bicycles from Toronto and spending from 15th November to 25th of December in US on this road trip. It is a long trip and this route we are thinking about taking on the tour. …

Thursday Morning Cruise

Thursday, Nov 3, 2016, 7:45 AM

Starbucks
7049 S Desert (Outlet Mall) Canutillo, TX

1 Cyclists Went

Meet at 7:45 am at Starbucks at the Outlet Mall in Canutillo. Ride out at 8:00. 20-25 miles at 14-16 mph avg pace. Mostly flat, a few hills. Breakfast someplace after the ride. Bob Clark,[masked]

Check out this Meetup →

Mechanics’ association calls for baseline certification program

by BRAIN Staff

www.bicycleretailer.com

AUSTIN, Texas (BRAIN) — The Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association says it wants to work with the industry to develop a universal professional mechanic certification that would be recognized throughout the industry.
The PBMA, which was incorporated this year, expects it will take several years to develop such a standard and said it hoped to cooperate with other industry trade organizations, suppliers and mechanic schools on the …

When Will Mayor Turner Let the Houston Bike Plan Move Forward?

by Jay Blazek Crossley

tex.streetsblog.org


Earlier this week, BikeHouston held a traveling pep rally to call on Mayor Sylvester Turner to move forward with the Houston Bike Plan. After the rally, Turner said he would proceed with the bike plan but did not provide a timetable.
The bike plan maps out an ambitious citywide network of safe, comfortable bikeways, including integration with the off-street bike trails in the Bayou Greenways project. “Neighborhood bikeways” with design treatments to calm car traffic will form a grid of safe streets for biking across the whole city, while in …

Corpus Christi’s bike share program takes off

Alissa Mejia

www.caller.com


Two months into Corpus Christi’s bike share program ridership is outpacing organizers’ expectations. Riders have taken 2,623 trips, cycled 6,618 miles, and burned an estimated total of 311,118 calories on the cruiser bikes since bike share launched downtown Aug 26.
By the program’s 60th day, 1,075 riders had active memberships. Membership involves …

44th BH Moonlight Ramble a HUGE Success!

bikehouston.org


Now that the week is winding down and the numbers are finally in we want to give a big thanks to everyone that volunteered, sponsored, rode in, or in any way supported the 44th Annual BikeHouston Moonlight Ramble!
All of you together made this event a huge success. We hosted 1025 riders who raised over …

Northwest Cycling Club Upcoming Rides

Northwest Cycling Club

nwcc.bike

Tuesday, November 1
7:00pm
NWCC Club Meeting
Saturday, November 5
8:00am
Ride Starter-Grahame Taylor
Saturday, November 12
8:00am
Ride Starter-Kim King
Saturday, November 19
8:00am
Ride Starter-Ron Breitweiser
Saturday, November 26
8:00am
Ride Starter-Gail Scruggs
8:00am
Stanford Memorial Ride
Tuesday, November 29
6:00pm
NWCC Board Meeting

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/tsunamicycles/status/791952632587821056

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Battle Line 59 Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Sitting in the shade at the Valley Ranch Texaco during my rest break while biking the “Kingwood – Splendora – Kingwood” route it was hard to ignore the cars and trucks streaming by on I-69/US59. This brought back memories of when I lived in the Oakley Addition in New Caney about a miles east of where I sat. Back in the late 1970’s when I first start bicycling US59 was not the road it is now. When my wife and I drove to work we would sometimes take Community Drive to US59 because the at grade crossing was north of a busier crossing at FM1314 in Porter. We drove across the two north bound lanes and stopped in the middle to wait for an opening to get in the south bound lanes. No traffic lights, just a stop sign for us but not for US59. A number of years later TxDOT built an overpass at Community Drive and then we did the merge into traffic thing, better but not perfect. Now the Grand Parkway is there and the Community Drive overpass is much more complicated connecting the service roads, the Grand Parkway and I69/US59. Biking on these roads was not so bad with the service road allowing me to ride north to Roman Forest and points east and west.

The “Kingwood – Splendora – Kingwood” route name is new because I did not ride through Valley Ranch like I normally do. I also did ride all of the streets in Elm Grove on the way to exit Kingwood making me think the ride would be 31 or 32 miles long but turned out to be 35.77 miles long. As I was biking I wondered how my 2016 miles compared to 2015. So far in 2016 I biked 6.754 miles while in all of 2015 I biked 6,671 miles. So I could stop riding today and beat last year’s miles which were the most I ever rode in a year. My October goal was 600 miles and I am up to 822 miles and week to date I rode 183 miles.

Another great biking day with the weather: an almost clear blue sky, 83 degrees, SE wind at 9 mph, low humidity. I was very comfortable with a short sleeve jersey, even when I stopped at the Valley Ranch Texaco for a break. My Elemnt screen when I stopped and the weather before I left at 2:02.

While I was eating some animal crackers and a Kashi Trail Mix bar a man walked over and we chatted about biking for a couple of minutes. A delivery man walked by a couple of times and we spoke. I refilled my water bottle before eating and had enough water left to get me the last 10+ miles to the end of the ride. Not too far away from the Texaco station I looked at the New Caney ISD Texan Drive Stadium from the service road. They are getting ready for the big football game tonight between New Caney and Porter. Each team is undefeated in district play. The game is called “Battle Line on 59” because the schools are not far from US59 (New Caney east of 59 and Porter west of 59) and in the same school district. They might have to change the name to “Battle Line on 69” when the highway officially becomes I-69.

Once I finished eating I got back on the service road to ride to Kingwood Drive. With the long stretches of uninterrupted road I built my overall average speed up to 15.7 mph until I passed the 31 mile point heading into Kingwood where the stop signs and traffic slowed me down. This ride was one of those where the wind is friendly biking in either direction. I thought when I made the turnaround in Splendora the wind would be in my face but that wasn’t the case.

More great weather tomorrow. I plan on biking but I may make it short because the University of Cincinnati football game starts at 2:30.

[iframe https://www.relive.cc/view/758614077 500px 500px]

[iframe http://rwgps-embeds.com/trips/11693710/embed 600px 600px]

[iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/758614077/embed/83f502544520c072e816108ace9cad7ee3a7cb68 590px 405px]

Texas Bicycling News October 27th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Houston Life Hacks: 5 Famous Locals Share Their Tips

By Sarah Rufca

www.houstoniamag.com

On Biking
“Some of the best biking routes are along the White Oak and Brays Bayou Greenways. Buffalo Bayou Park has great trails that you can ride with any kind of bike. I also love riding through some of Houston’s historic neighborhoods like Freedmen’s Town (Fourth Ward), and Third …

/r/dfwbike October Social Ride

by Shwimp

www.reddit.com

When: Sunday, October 30th
Where: The Lot (7530 E Grand Ave, Dallas, Texas 75214)
Time: 9:30am
We will be meeting up at The LOT (near the back trail entrance) for a casual no drop cruise around White Rock Lake and then grabbing some brunch and drinks after.
Wheels down and ready to roll by 9:30am so please show up just a little early.
We will be doing two laps around the lake for a total of about 23mi at a 13-16mph pace. (we’ll split the group in 2 for …

Texas amputee athletes soar in San Diego triathlon

Kevin Reece

www.wfaa.com


As a joke, they decided to call their team “Three Legs Are Better Than One.” This past weekend the Texas amputee athletes proved their motto true in a grueling triathlon course in San Diego.
Roy Martin of Dallas lost his right foot in an industrial accident. Fort Worth’s Jennifer Teague Clark lost her left leg to a benign tumor. And Caitlin Conner of Chappell Hill lost her lower left leg, less than three years ago, in a …

ARR Trail Work Day at Reimer’s Ranch

Saturday, Nov 12, 2016, 9:00 AM

Reimers Ranch Park
23610 Hamilton Pool Road Dripping Springs, TX

13 Mountain Bikers Went

The work day is ON – rain or shine.  The forecast looks good. Tell the gate attendant you are volunteering to work on the mountain bike trails and you should get in free. Meet at the mountain bike trail head to be assigned a work group and task.The mountain bike trails at Reimer’s Ranch need some TLC. We will trim weeds, branches, fill holes etc. …

Check out this Meetup →

Groves to host its 2nd bike ride

By L.V. Salinas

www.panews.com

Break out your bicycle shorts and adjust the seat on your 10-speed — there’s some local cycling to be done.
The Second Annual Tour de Groves is being held Saturday morning, Oct. 29, at the corner of Jefferson Street and Lincoln Avenue in front of Celebration Park in Groves. Registration fees are $15 per person and are non-refundable.
One can register online through their website (tourdegroves.com), …

The Sloan Firm Seeks to Achieve Record of Custom-Fitting and Donating 10,000 Bike Safety Helmets for Kids by Summer 2017

BUSINESS WIRE

www.businesswire.com

Fulfills Role of First National Ambassador for Heads In Helmets Safety Program, Encourages Others to Get Involved
LONGVIEW, Texas & HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Sloan, Hatcher, Perry, Runge, Robertson & Smith Law Firm is pursuing a goal of custom-fitting and donating its 10,000th bicycle safety helmet by or before Aug. 1, 2017, while fulfilling its role as the first national ambassador of the Heads In Helmets safety program. Additionally, the firm is appealing to other law firms, businesses, and organizations throughout the United States to get involved in Heads In Helmets. …

Wednesday night ride

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016, 6:15 PM

White Oak hike and bike and Heights hike and bike intersection
705 Nicholson St Houston, TX

3 HHRC members Went

Road bike ride from the Heights hike and bike trail up White Oak Bayou and back. Please make sure your lights (front and back) are operational and bring plenty of water.

Check out this Meetup →

Wednesday Night DT ride to eat!!

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016, 6:30 PM

“The Rock”
1700 Veteran Drive Austin, TX

13 Austin Cyclists Went

welcome to the wed downtown ride to eat ride!!ride is 24mi. route is a loop around austin. which starts on the westside. it goes north from start though neighborhood along MoPac to anderson ln. then heads east over to springdale. then south on springdale back to downtown. ride avg is bout 14-17mph depending on weather and who shows up. also at 17m…

Check out this Meetup →

Wednesday Night ALL GROUPS Ride (there is no RIDE LEADER on this evening ride)

Wednesday, Nov 2, 2016, 5:45 PM

River Run Plaza
1071 Country Club Rd El Paso, TX

1 Cyclists Went

• LEADERLESS, ALL RIDERS – ALL SPEEDS – Please note:  This is not a Club sponsored ride, therefore, there is no ride leader on these Wednesday night rides.  You should know the route before heading out.• Meet: 5:30 pm  Roll-Out 5:45 pm• Distance: 24 miles when begin at River Run Plaza, 1071 Country Club OR20 miles if begin at Rio Plaza, 6205 Upp…

Check out this Meetup →

Biking around the ‘Burg

By: McKenzie Wedel

fredericksburgstandard.com


David Benavides, close right, gets pumped and ready before Saturday morning’s Bike the Burg event benefiting Providence Hall. …

USA Cycling RaceClean program nabs unprecedented number of amateur athletes for doping

By Laura Weislo

www.cyclingnews.com

Camilo Ulloa was the latest amateur athlete found to have violated anti-doping rules as part of USA Cycling’s RaceClean Program. The Colombian tested positive for the stimulant Ritalin (Methylphenidate) during the 2016 Tour of America’s Dairyland in Wisconsin on June 25.
The 28-year-old is the fifth anti-doping suspension handed down under the programme since August. In all, USADA has suspended 10 amateur cyclists this year, including Nick Brandt-Sorenson of Los Angeles, who, USADA concluded, was involved in …

… The remaining banned riders were given reduced suspensions because they were either taking banned substances under the direction of a doctor or confessed promptly.
Kimberly Ciolli of Austin, Texas tested positive on June 11 at the Tulsa Tough criteriums for a …

Southern Tier, October to December 2016

By Jared Keeman

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 16: San Elizario to Van Horn: Birthday, first flat, I10 in the dark
Wednesday October 26, 2016, 107 miles (172 km) – Total so far: 1,069 miles (1,720 km)
Day started off well if a little later than anticipated. I woke up to a rooster crowing incessantly about 10 feet from the tent St about 5.30. Decided I was going to keep sleeping to spite it which I did on and off through till about 7.30 when it was light. Was pretty tired as I only got to sleep sometime after midnight.

On the road by 8.45 and headed through to Fort Hancock. I’d heard that this route was pretty bad for dog chases so I was a little apprehensive. The first set I had were a pair of Chihuahuas which came flying out of a gate going ballistic. They put on a poor chase though, small legs and terrible stamina, chase rating: 2/10, poor effort. The next one was almost my undoing. I was pedalling along and just waved to an oncoming cyclist when a small white happy dog materialised on my heel. Normally they start barking and give chase so you can prepare a little but this fluffy hell spawn got the drop on me. In my …

Step-Up Ride for 29th Oct, 8:00 AM Start

jtotaro

www.planobicycle.org

The PBA Step-Up Ride for October 29th will form up at 7:45 AM for a 8:00 AM start. We’ll do the normal Step-Up Ride 33.5 mile course, with one rest stop at approx. 18 3/4 miles. We look to do an average speed of 13 MPH (last few Step-Up rides have been coming in just over 13 mph).
Please meet up in the front parking lot of the shopping center on the NW corner of …

Kirkwood Rebuild: Briar Forest to Buffalo Bayou

bikehouston.org


Kirkwood Road from Buffalo Bayou to Westheimer is being rebuilt and the City is asking for people who use the street to tell them how it should be rebuilt. Lets ask for safe places to bicycle, drive, walk – and keep trees, with a little creativity and compromise we can do this. Email your thoughts to pweplanning@houstontx.gov by Oct. 31st.
The city presented two alternatives to Kirkwood at the public meeting and asked for comments on both of them. The biggest difference between the two is the the first option shrinks the …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

11:20AMhttps://twitter.com/cmoney_htx/status/791688268106510336

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Early Voting and Many Big Dirt Trucks Bike Ride to Huffman

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route on the bike ride took me past the early voting place at the Kingwood Library. Traffic is heavy with a great number of people parking cars on the street with the parking lot near capacity. I made my way slowly through the area and decided to not go there on the way back. We voted early yesterday at the same place and for the first time that I can remember there was a long out of the building into the parking lot waiting to vote. I wonder if the same number of people will vote on November 8th.

I didn’t ride the streets north of Northpark Drive that add a couple of miles to the route so this put the total miles for the bike ride at 31.61 miles, about 2 miles less than normal. Riding south on W. Lake Houston Parkway traffic backed up after the Kings River Drive traffic light. I couldn’t see the cause but guessed it was road construction. Moving to a crossover Pine Trail Lane I turned left into the homes behind W. Lake Houston Parkway. From there I rode to Upper Lake Drive and back to W. Lake Houston Parkway. At the intersection the construction equipment sat but no workers were around. I turned left and rode the greenbelt trail to Kings Parkway and then back on the streets. After that I didn’t need to detour and the bike ride proceeded as usual.

The wind felt stronger than during yesterday’s ride and when I reached the Huffman Chevron I stopped for a rest. With the low humidity but comfortable temperature I decided I didn’t drink enough so I bought a large blue Powerade and sat down in the shade. At first it was a little chilly with the wind blowing around my wet jersey but it didn’t take long to dry and then I was more comfortable. It was at the 19.9 mile point that I arrived at the station as shown on my Elemnt screen data. The weather shows the wind and low humidity (for Houston at least) while I was resting.

Huffman Chevron Elemnt Screen

10-27-2016-huffman-weather

While I ate I noticed the large number of 18 wheeler dirt trucks driving on FM1960. I noticed these earlier but mention them. There must be a big construction project to the west because the trailers are full when they go east beyond Huffman somewhere and empty when the truck returns. Oh, curiosity can get the best of me. With no information I got ready to leave and pulled onto FM1960 at 2:18. With the brisk east wind I made good time riding west. As I rode onto the Lake Houston Causeway I saw a blue fishing boat slowly glided on the smooth blue lake and took these pictures.

Lake Houston and a boat

Lake Houston without the boat

The ripples are from the boat moving to the dock at the marina. After taking the pictures I got back on the bike and headed to Kingwood. It was after the high school dismissal so I figured traffic at Kingwood Drive would be heavy. I rode through Kingwood Greens but avoided the library voting crowd. At Kingwood Drive I used the traffic light to cross. Riding north I looked at the recently closed HEB store on my left and the new HEB to my right across W. Lake Houston Parkway. The parking lot on my left was almost empty, the signs gone while the parking lot to my right looked full and busy.

I finished the ride at 3:07 (it started at 12:16). The great weather calls me to ride and it should be the same tomorrow (Friday). I may try some different gearing on that ride. Usually I use the 34 x 13 combination as my “big” gearing. I may shift to the big ring up front and a smaller rear cog. I will experiment on which rear cog gives a higher gear that my legs can push.

Yesterday I added a new feature from Relive.cc that shows the bike route in motion. It uses the ride data from my Strava.com data. It can take a few hours to alert me to the link. I will add it later.

[iframe https://www.relive.cc/view/757792920 500px 500px]

[iframe http://rwgps-embeds.com/trips/11682028/embed 600px 600px]

[iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/757792920/embed/4ac43b04084aa2c19d198403d8c2ee6aac3d9159 590px 405px]