Inside Texas Bicycling July 6th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Cypress Creek MTB work party

ghorba.org

Event category: General
Trail: Cypress Creek MTB
Saturday, July 9, 2016 – 8:00am
Meeting location will be 10930 Glenway, 77070. Click HERE (link is external) for map. We’ll be dividing volunteers into several teams, so check in at the volunteer table for a map, some cold water and directions to your assignment. This event will be kid friendly, so bring the whole family. …

Memorial Park – MTB work party

ghorba.org

Event category: General
Trail: Memorial Park
Saturday, July 9, 2016 – 8:00am
Work Party – Saturday, July 9 – 8am-12pm
Meet at the Dog Wash entrance.
We will be doing a lot of trimming and filling in some spots as we are trimming.
Depending on the amount of volunteers that show up we will decide then which trails we hit first.
What to bring – I will have spare tools with me: …

George W Bush celebrates his 70th birthday mountain biking in Texas with veterans

By Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com

www.dailymail.co.uk


George W Bush is celebrating his 70th birthday mountain biking in Texas, just as a report released in the UK laid bare the faulty intelligence and planning he engaged in with Tony Blair in the run-up to the Iraq war
Bush spokesman Freddy Ford said the 43rd president planned to spend Wednesday, his 70th birthday, at his Crawford, Texas ranch riding his mountain bike with ‘wounded warriors.’ …

Dubya celebrates 70th w/bike ride

By D.F. Oliveria

www.spokesman.com


Former President George W. Bush leads a bike ride at his ranch on his 70th birthday near Crawford, Texas, Wednesday. Story here. (Grant Miller/George W. Bush Presidential Center via AP)

Mamma Jamma Training Ride #6 – Mellow Johnny’s

Saturday, Jul 23, 2016, 7:00 AM

Mellow Johnny’s
400 Nueces Austin, TX

16 Austin Cyclists Went

Join us for this weekend’s training ride for the Texas Mamma Jamma 2016. with distances of 21, 33 miles, no one is ever left behind.We offer routes of various lengths and difficulty to help you train for the Texas Mamma Jamma held on Sept 24, 2016.Meet up at 7:00 AM, ride out at 7:30 AM.If you’ve never been to one of our training rides, you are …

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Mamma Jamma Training Ride #7 Southside Sojourn

Sunday, Jul 31, 2016, 7:00 AM

Williams Elementary School
500 Mairo St Austin, TX

11 Austin Cyclists Went

Join us for this weekend’s training ride with distances of 18, 22, 37, & 45  (37 & 45 unsupported)Meet up at 7:00 AM, ride out at 7:30 AM.If you’ve never been to one of our training rides, you are in for a real treat!  All of our rides are fully supported with car support (SAG), water and snacks.Training routes are scouted and confirmed prior to…

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Adventure 1

By Jazael Martinez

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 43: San Benito
Thursday May 19, 2016, 80 km (50 miles) – Total so far: 2,429 km (1,510 miles)
It was a lazy morning in McAllen. My McAllen host, Rene, got me in contact with another host not too far away in the direction that I was going, the mouth of the Rio Grande. I justified the slow starting day with the knowledge of the short ride ahead.
I headed out the door of Rene’s house before I remembered that I should do laundry. I set out to find a laundromat. I checked the maps online and found one not too far away.
I ended up having a bit of an interesting situation there. When I showed up there was one other customer, a nice older lady. She talked to me a little bit before she went on her way and left the laundromat to me. I then got some change from the owners in the back, and got busy washing. Some time after I started drying the clothes, a man walked in. It looked like he had been sitting in a van parked nearby. He at first sat next to where I had placed my things. I had taken a couple chairs and half of one of the coffee tables near them. This was out of more than a dozen chairs and 3 tables. Then he …

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Flags in the Wind But No Pop from the Stands Bike Ride

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I rode the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route today. When I got to the Stripes station for a badly needed break I was looking around as I sat in the pump cover shade and saw these flags standing almost staright out over closed fireworks stands. The pop was gone from the stands and my legs, how fitting.

The ride to Tavola went quickly thanks to the nice tailwind. I got a taste of the return ride south as I made the loop in Tavola back to Roman Forest Blvd. It was going to be tough. Riding back to I-69/US59 on Roman Forest Blvd the south wind tried to keep on the right edge of the asphalt but I managed to hold the line a couple of feet left of that until I changed lanes at the railroad crossing. Riding under the freeway the shade was refreshing and then I made the left turn on the service road. Between the strong wind and my weak legs the effort was too much. My speed bogged down and I decided to shift down one gear, something I usually don’t do. I labored all the way to the Stripes station with a couple of jogs where the wind was from my left and not so bad. The muscles on top of my thighs started to hurt and the power went away. That is why the rest stop at Stripes at FM1314 was badly needed.

The Stripes stop was at 1:15 after 23.2 miles of the 34.61 mile long ride. My Wahoo Elemnt screen when I got there.

7-6-2016 Porter Stripes

Slowly walking inside the store I refill my water bottle with ice and water and then bought a 32 oz Gatorade to take outside to drink while I recovered in the shade by the pumps. The strong wind that was my nemesis was now my friend as cooled down. It was doing a great job drying the sweat from my arms and jersey. My wrist bands were soaked so I used several paper towels to dry them out for the rest of the ride. While I was eating and drinking a man in a white pickup pulled up to the pump where i was sitting. He came around and asked if he could take a picture of my bike to send to a friend of his who is a biker. I said sure. We chatted about riding and such. His friend lives around Waller and before he went inside the store he texted him the picture. When he came back out he showed me his friend’s reply and we laughed because he said it was too **** hot to ride. He said goodbye as he left. When I finished I rode over to the west side of the parking lot and took the picture above before riding across FM1314 and riding home. While I was at Stripes I took these screen shots of  the local weather.

IAH Airport weather
Porter Weather

The airport weather shows the strong wind I was battling: 15 mph from the south with 23 mph gusts. No wonder my thigh muscles hurt. I was glad to get home at 2:49. The last 11 miles my speed slowed and the average speed dropped lower than usual. I did get a slightly earlier start today leaving home at 11:38.

More heat and wind tomorrow. I plan on biking after watching stage 6 of the TdF. Hopefully by then my legs will recover.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/9821948/embed 600px 600px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/632408201/embed/f95b8f1f7795f6a38d8f71bdd87ce56a8e3a8fba 590px 405px]

Inside Texas Bicycling July 5th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bicycle tandem Tracy and Peter Flucke Get Their Kicks Out of Route 66

by Dan Brannan

www.riverbender.com


EDWARDSVILLE – Tandem bicyclists Peter and Tracy Flucke are deep into their 2,700-mile quest on old Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif.
The two passed through Edwardsville in June and headed down Vandalia Street in Edwardsville on their journey.
The two posted on their Facebook page on Monday, July 4, they were 1,791 miles along the path and going from Santa Rosa, N.M., to Las Vegas. The couple was 550 miles on the way when they left Edwardsville headed to Oklahoma, Texas, and …

Google: Our Self-Driving Cars Are Nice to Cyclists

By Tom Brant

www.pcmag.com

… Still, Google self-driving cars have had several fender benders. Two of them were involved in collisions in Austin, Texas, in June, according to the report. One was sideswiped by another vehicle and the other was rear-ended while it was stopped at a red light, though both were low-speed collisions that did not cause any injuries, the company said.

National charity bicycle ride to stop in Brainerd

www.brainerddispatch.com

A group of Texas bicyclists will make their way through Pillsbury State Forest next week as part of a national charity ride.
The Texas 4000 team will arrive at Pillsbury State Forest Tuesday on their way from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. During their local stop, members of the team will speak about the fight against cancer before continuing on their 70-day, 4,000-mile journey. …

Tour de Southern Walnut Creek Trail

Tuesday, Jul 12, 2016, 8:00 AM

Govalle Park
5200 Bolm Rd. Austin, TX

5 Austin Cyclists Went

Start Time is 8 AM!A D-pace ride (roughly 11 to 13 mph) on The Southern Walnut Creek Trail from the trailhead at Govalle Park up to the Abrupt End at Lindell Lane just north of Decker Lake.  Round trip is about 20 miles.  The trail is paved for the entire distance,with a 1/2 mile hill on the outbound.  We’ll regroup periodically on the outbound an…

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Mamma Jamma Training Ride #5 – Leander Meander – 7, 21, 32, 48, & 58 miles

Sunday, Jul 17, 2016, 7:00 AM

Leander Independent School District
204 W South St Leander, TX

17 Austin Cyclists Went

Join us for this weekend’s training ride with distances of 7, 21, 32, 48, & 58miles(48 & 58 are unsupported rides but cue sheets & maps will be available)Meet up at 7:00 AM, ride out at 7:30 AM.There will also be a beginner clinic for new riders, followed by a 7 mile ride to try out your new skills!If you’ve never been to one of our training ri…

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Intermediate Level (No stop) & Advanced Begginner @ Walnut Creek 6:00 PM

Thursday, Jul 7, 2016, 6:00 PM

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX

2 Mountain Bikers Went

This is an unsanctioned ride.  The intermediate level riders should be able to ride 12-14 miles with minimal to no stops at a pace of 8.5 – 9.5 MPH.Ride at your own Risk.   Helmets and eye protection are required.   Ensure your bike is in working condition and its recommended you have an extra tube and parts to keep it that way.Meet in the parkin…

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Dick Nichols Park. Intermediate and Advanced Beginner ride(3 to 5 groups) 8:30am

Saturday, Aug 6, 2016, 8:30 AM

Dick Nichols District Park
8011 Beckett Rd Austin, TX

15 Mountain Bikers Went

Helmet, eye protection and a working bike required, spare tube suggested.We will have two or more  groups.After the ride will probably go for lunch somewhere near downtown.This is an unsanctioned ride.  Ride at your own risk.

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Let’s Meetup and Ride the Mountain Bike trails of Memorial Park

Monday, Jul 11, 2016, 6:00 PM

Memorial Park – Soccer/Rugby Pitch Parking lot
6501 Memorial Dr (29.765522, -95.444994) Houston, TX

1 Members Went

Intermediate MTB Ride – Every Monday at Memorial Park. 6pm until Danny gets tired or it gets too dark. (Usually about an hour) Join us every Monday for a fun, moderate pace ride through the Memorial Park Trails. We can do skills training or just play in the dirt.Meet at the parking lot by the Soccer/Rugby field. Bring your helmet and water. Add li…

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No trees for Transmountain biking trail

By Aja Hood

kfoxtv.com

Video

EL PASO, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation is now replacing trees near Transmountain road with cacti.
The trees were originally planted along the jogging and biking trail near Resler and Transmountain roads. This was an attempt to comply with the city ordinance for the land. …

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https://twitter.com/txbikeracing/status/750347600193130497

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Stroker Road – Huffman Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After taking July 4th off to celebrate our country’s birth I was back riding today. I chose the “Stroker Road – Huffman” route for variety and rode 41.33 miles. I watched stage 4 of the TdF which delayed my starting until 11:39. The post race show on NBC Sports Network included Lawson Craddock from Houston. I wanted to hear what he had to say about racing. This is his first time at the TdF.

With that start time the temperature was heating up with a mostly cloudy sky. It was 94 degrees. As I started the ride I could feel the heat even and the shade didn’t make too much difference.

No one else was out biking except for 3 three people who I would label transportation riders. The reason for the label: no helmet, no bike clothes, older bike with wide tires and maybe a rack or basket. The first two were on FM2100. I was riding north and they were riding the shoulder south. I was impressed with their speed and determination into a stiff wind. The third rider was on Kings River Drive as I was riding back to W. Lake Houston Parkway on the way home. He was pedaling a MTB for all it was worth up a small incline. I tried to wave but a car passed between us. Oh, I forgot the two Mormon missionary guys riding their bikes on Pinehurst Trail south of FM1960. I had my head down riding into the wind and looked up just in time to see them going the opposite direction and I waved and said hello.

The wind was fighting me today. It was tough riding south on Ramsey Road, east on Stroker Road and west on FM1960. Riding over Lake Houston the wind kept trying to push me to the concrete barrier/guardrail. I would move back to the middle of the shoulder only to start moving back when a gust of wind came through.

At 30 miles I arrived at the Huffman Chevron. I was about to bonk so the timing was perfect. I took this screen shot of the Wahoo Elemnt when I arrived at 1:49 and the weather before I left at 2:30.

I went inside to buy a large PowerAde drink. Sitting outside in the shade the breeze that I had to fight now cooled me down. Eating a Clif bar and a whole wheat fruit bar replenished my energy for the ride home. While I was there several law enforcement cars stopped in: 2 Harris County Deputy Sheriffs and two Houston Policemen in one vehicle. One of the HPD policemen talked to the second sheriff deputy and I overheard them talking about someone they both had arrested for some crime, maybe stealing a car? While I was sitting in the shade 3 people sat in a Ford Escape in front of me scratching off lotto game cards. They must have had several because they arrived the same time I did and were still there when I left.

As I rode along the route I saw many US flags and some fireworks debris from yesterday probably.

The last 11+ miles was hot and the shade was not as much as I would have preferred. My home weather station showed 98 degrees at the finish of the ride. The heat index was 116. Drinking lots of water is a necessity: I drank two 24 oz water bottle and a 32 oz PowerAde. I still loss 2.4 pounds during the ride.

The ride summary and splits from SportTracks. (Click on the image to enlarge it)

Links to RidewithGPS and Strava.