Texas Bicycling News June 29th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Editorial: For biking to work

www.houstonchronicle.com


The next time you go out to eat, take a peek behind the kitchen. Whether you’re at Uchi or Chili’s, you’re likely to see a similar sight: an old bike chained up to a makeshift rack. That’s how someone got to work.
Once you’re far from the serene paths of Buffalo Bayou Park and downtown’s B-Cycle stations, the true picture of cycling in Houston begins to emerge. Cyclists in Houston are more working class than …

Texas students pass through Logan on 4,000-mile trip for cancer

By Javier Laboy

news.hjnews.com


Cycling 4,000 miles in honor of those that fought and are still fighting, 66 students are contributing in the battle against cancer.
Since their start in Texas on June 4, the group of students has cycled over 1,000 miles and has stayed in several places across the country during their 70-day journey. Taking rest in the homes of host families in Logan, riders had a chance to share stories and food with local residents before starting again the next morning. …

A ride with a purpose; Texas veteran wants names of mates put on memorial

JOHN WRIGHT

murrayledger.com

Subscription Required

AURORA, Ky. × Sometime this morning, Del Francis will be riding his bicycle from Mayfield into Calloway County and he will be bringing a message with him.
Francis, 74, is in the midst of a ride that started in his hometown of Sulfur Springs, Texas that he aims to finish in Washington. The purpose is to …

PeopleForBikes launches The Big Jump program, aimed at increasing bike riding in 10 US cities

www.bicycleretailer.com

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) × PeopleForBikes has announced a program designed to significantly increase cycling in areas of 10 American cities over the next three years.
The Big Jump program is now accepted applications from cities to participate in the program, whose goal is “a doubling or tripling of people on bikes accompanied by reductions in crashesØ©n a focused neighborhood or area of each city.”
PeopleForBikes’ Kyle Wagenschutz, said, “The Big Jump is based on the idea that many communities have established a solid foundation of safe places to bike and can quickly and simply increase local biking by …

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Austin, TX
3,937 Mountain Bikers

Meet other local mountain bikers to organize rides, review trails, gear and trade tips. All skill-levels welcome. We’ll try to organize rides that fit all experience levels. M…

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Intermediate Level (No stop) & Advanced Begginner @ Walnut Creek 7:00 AM

Sunday, Jul 3, 2016, 7:00 AM

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX

10 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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Circle C Cruise

Sunday, Jul 10, 2016, 8:30 AM

Dick Nichols District Park
8011 Beckett Rd, Austin, TX 78749 Austin, TX

7 Austin Cyclists Went

We will meet before 8:30 wheels down 8:30 at Dick Nichols Park for about two hours of casual rambling around SW Austin. Gary knows the area like the back of his hand.

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Circle C Cruise NOT canceled @ this time, LOOKING GOOD

Sunday, Aug 14, 2016, 8:00 AM

Dick Nichols District Park
8011 Beckett Rd, Austin, TX 78749 Austin, TX

4 Austin Cyclists Went

We will meet before 8:00, wheels down 8:00 at Dick Nichols Park for about two hours of casual rambling around SW Austin. Gary knows the area like the back of his hand.

Check out this Meetup →

HCTRA gives green light to Ironman for bike route

By Catherine Dominguez

www.yourhoustonnews.com


After challenges with finding a suitable bike route for the Texas Ironman in May, Harris County Commissioners and the Harris County Toll Road Authority have agreed to allow for the road closures on the Hardy Toll Road for the bike portion of the 2017 event.
Harris County Commissioners approved a recommendation from HCTRA on Tuesday to allow the closure of the southbound side of the …

Making history one mile at a time

by Emily Hemphill

www.sewardindependent.com


Carolyn Carter, 68, of Alamo, Texas, breaks at the Seward County Courthouse June 24 as she makes her way from San Francisco to Boston on a high wheel bicycle. Carter will be the first woman to complete the trip, re-enacting a journey by Thomas Stevens in 1884.

Carolyn Carter left San Francisco on May 28. She hopes to arrive in Boston by the first week of August.
She doesn’t have much with her. Some snacks. A GPS. A waterbottle.
She averages around 60 miles a day, sometimes 70 or 80. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/JuanVato/status/748321351258169344

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Last Bike Ride for June

Texbiker.net Posted on by

A plain Jane ride to wrap up June’s bike rides on the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route. I was surprised to see another biker as I rode through Sherwood Trails Village in Kingwood. I don’t remember seeing another biker there. Later I saw several other bikers in Kingwood and Atascocita. The weather was a little milder than yesterday thanks to the rain. As I started the ride at 10:32 moving through the air felt cooling even without any perspiration flowing yet. It was 86 degrees under scattered clouds with 76% humidity. The wind was barely moving until I started to ride into it. I rode some different streets and directions while I was still in Kingwood to add some mileage to the ride. The ended up being 33.9 miles long. I thought I added enough extra streets as I neared home to get over 34 miles but I miscalculated.

Nothing unusual along today’s route. I made the typical rest stop at the Huffman Chevron arriving there at 12:08. I took these pictures of the Elemnt screens when I arrived there.

It looked like the breeze was not going to blow through the pump canopy area when I prepared to sit down but then it slowly start moving starting to dry up some of the sweat. I used a lot of paper towels drying my wrist bands and soaking up the beads of sweat on my arms. The newspaper I sat on absorbed some of the moisture from my shorts. When I got ready to leave and picked the newspaper up it was heavier. The 32 oz. PowerAde and snack bars helped recharge me for the 11+ mile ride to home. I got back on the bike around 12:47 and rolled out to FM1960.

The ride back home generally was into the light wind but I still managed to improve the overall average speed. I was back home at 1:37 ready to enjoy the A/C.

My next biking day will be Friday.

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Recapping June’s bike activity;

  • 24 riding days
  • average ride was 37.25 miles
  • 975 mile goal, rode 894 miles, 94% of my goal
  • 4,035 miles YTD, 59% of my goal for the year

6-29-2016 June to Date

Inside Texas Bicycling June 28th 2016

Texbiker.net Posted on by

‘I’m not just going to the Tour to be pack fodder,’ says Craddock

By Cycling News

www.cyclingnews.com


The 24-year-old from Texas will get his chance this week when Cannondale Pro Cycling lines up in Manche with the best of the best at the 103rd Tour. Craddock will be riding in support of Pierre Rolland’s general classification ambitions, but the team made it clear when it announced the full roster today that Craddock will look for chances to ride for himself. …

Catching up with local Michael Tatalovich on his 4,000-mile cycling journey

Rosalie Spear

lasvegasweekly.com


Four thousand miles on a two-wheeled, man-powered vehicle. Through harsh desert climates, beautiful, scenic forests and some of the worldÓ³ top tourist cities, local Michael Tatalovich and 66 other cyclists are having the experience of a lifetime, riding about 80 miles per day to fight a disease that has touched most of our livesØ£ancer. …

New trails added to Trail Status

james.stoup

forums.mtbr.com/texas


Hello my friends! For those who use Trail Status, I’ve added another few trails into the mix (Millican Reserve, Lake Bryan West).
If you don’t have Trail Status, it’s an app to receive alerts when conditions change at your favorite trails. Just create an account, star the trails you …

Final Houston Bike Plan Report Released!

houstonbikeplan.org

On June 20 the Final Houston Bike Plan Report was released and presented to City Council’s Transportation Technology and Infrastructure (TTI) Committee.
During the public comment period ending April 11, the Bike Plan team received 245 comments on the interactive map, 1,240 survey responses, and over 100 written and emailed comments. The final Plan responded to these comments by including an additional 133 miles of proposed bikeway facilities throughout Houston, additional pilot project examples located throughout the City, a bayou access plan, guidance on neighborhood bike planning, and new and revised key recommendations. …

Texarkana hopes bikes will bring people downtown

By KSLA Staff

www.kxxv.com


TEXARKANA, TX (KSLA) – Texarkana, Texas, officials hope viewing their city from the vantage of a bicycle seat will bring more people – particularly visitors – back downtown.
“We want to bring the residents of Texarkana back to the downtown area. We wanted to promote tourism and show what downtown is really about,” city spokesman Heath Coston said. …

Another one bites the dust. FM 428 Denton to Aubrey being chipsealed.

WalksOn2Wheels

www.bikeforums.net

Went out for my morning ride to find a good chunk of the road already ruined with trucks and signage up on the entirety of the road all the way to Aubrey. I called a few offices this morning to ask why they were chipsealing the damn shoulder as they usually do the main center of the road and left the nice concrete shoulder alone. But no more. They said it would be done by the end of today. Gee, thanks.
It isn’t the worst chip seal I’ve ever ridden, but it’s not the beautiful concrete shoulder it was previously. Just thought I would post it up here as I know several clubs in the North Texas area usually roll through there. About 10 miles of beautiful road ruined.

Ride Interview Ö Peach Pedal Ö Parker County

By Jennifer Jones

www.wheelbrothers.com

With events for riders of any experience, novice, to seasoned, what could make Peach Pedal Ride better? Oh, thatÓ³ rightÅ PEACHES!

Speaking with ride coordinator, Susan Sodek, of United Way Parker County, she could not talk enough about the Parker County peaches! This event is unique in the fact that is was added many years to an already great event, the Peach Festival in Parker County. One bonus to the beautiful scenery on the ride is the opportunity to enjoy plump, juicy peaches at the …

Tour de Southern Walnut Creek Trail

Tuesday, Jul 5, 2016, 8:00 AM

Govalle Park
5200 Bolm Rd. Austin, TX

12 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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Adventure 1

By Jazael Martinez

www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 40: Good Bye Laredo
Monday May 16, 2016, 70 km (43 miles) – Total so far: 2,115 km (1,314 miles)
Monday monday, after a weekend of mostly rest… it did oddly feel like a monday. Time again to get back to the road, and back to adventure.
I set off right before checkout time at 11 am. Before hitting the real road, the highway that is, I wanted to go to the downtown area and check it out. Also, food… always food. For a moment I thought about crossing the border into Nuevo Laredo, but decided that it’d take too much time to do that and get back to highway 83 at a reasonable time to make any …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

A Strong Chain Link Fence Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Recently James Webster sent me a video link of his ride in Patton Village and Roman Forest. This reminded me of a route I haven’t rode since August 18th 2014. My route travels on Tram Road near the east end of Roman Forest. The last time I rode that street I had a problem with dogs so I crossed it off my list for awhile. James said he didn’t have any dog chases on Tram Road though he did run into that problem on side streets in Patton Village. I checked the route map in SportTracks and laid it out in my mind as I was getting ready to leave. I changed a couple of streets but stuck to the majority of the route. Back in 2014 the Grand Parkway construction meant riding north and south of Community Drive required some detours. Now that the construction no causes that problem I could ride the I-69/US59 south bound service road all the way from Splendora to Kingwood Drive without detouring.

I was out the door and started riding at 10:30. The weather was hot, the sky was partly cloudy and the wind was light from the NE. My home weather station just before I started.

6-28-2016 Home Weather Start 1022AM

After leaving Kingwood through Woodridge Forest I stayed on Loop 494 to Roman Forest Blvd. I stayed on Roman Forest Blvd. until I took the loop through Tavola and then followed Roman Forest Blvd. to Tram Road. I stopped at Tram Road and took these photos as an excuse to rest for a couple of minuted before riding north on Tram Road.

From the faded sign and the signs nailed to the tree you can deduce that this is not a high rent district. In the second photo in the upper left is a tiny portion of the front tire of a Ford dually pickup that pulled over when I stopped to take these pictures. I am not sure why they stopped but when I got back on my bike they drove on. Tram Road was not without dogs. As I neared the entrance to Rio Vista, the faded big sign’s subject, 3 very large Great Danes spotted and came running from the house to the road barking furiously. Fortunately for me there was a strong chainlink fence between me and them. They continued to bark and run the fence line until I was out of sight. That was the only dogs on Tram Road.

FM2090 west to Splendora curves several times with tree limbs stretching out over the road. I appreciated the shade to cool off. In Splendora I stopped at the Chevron station to refill my water bottle for the ride south. I stayed a few minutes to enjoy the shade and mop up the sweat with some paper towels. Back on the bike the NE wind helped me ride south improving my average speed. The long stretches of road without stop lights helped. At FM1314 I stopped at the Star Express Exxon to refill my water bottle again. I was feeling strong enough to not take my usual rest break and I was inspired more when I looked to the north and saw the dark sky. The rain in the forecast was coming my way. I quickly ate a Clif bar for energy to ride fast for the 9 miles home. For the first couple of miles I was in the shade from the coming dark clouds but by the time I reached Northpark Drive I was back in the sun. This didn’t last long though. At Kingwood Drive I made the u-turn and rode north to go through Kings Manor into Kingwood. The dark clouds gained on me as I rode east. About a mile from home I felt the first rain drops after hearing some distant thunder. I stopped the ride at 1:26 with rain falling on me. I walked the bike to the garage, wiped it off and went inside as a light rain fell. Maybe if I had skipped the Clif bar in Porter I might have made it home before the rain caught me.

The ride totaled 39.49 miles. This brought my YTD miles to 4001. I am still going to be short of my June mileage goal but I am up 856 miles.

Tomorrow’s weather has a low chance of rain so I should ride.

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