Texas Bicycling News Digest August 12th

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Going and getting: Back to school safety

By Katherine Cabaniss        www.yourhoustonnews.com

Though the summer heat is still raging, it is time to return to cool school classrooms. Parents and kids everywhere are making back to school plans.
Transportation to and from school is always a big part of the planning. There are several ways to get kids to school on time. Making sure that kids arrive safely is priority number one.

… Walking and Bicycling
Walking and biking to school are healthy choices for kids who live close enough to school to be able to do so. Talking with students about a few tips and reminders will make it a safe choice as well. Consider the following:
1. For the first week of school, walk or bike with the child. Ensure that the route is understood and that kids understand that they are not to take short cuts or alternate routes.
2. As the route is defined, talk also with kids about how to get help on the way to school if it were needed. For example, discuss with kids what they would do if they needed help “at this corner,” or “at that stop light.” Show …

Mary Kelleher Begs For Manila Help While I Bike With Indian Ghosts

Durango Texas        durangotexas.blogspot.com


I was worried sick when I left my abode today around noon to drive to Arlington to the Village Creek Natural Historical Area to take my handlebars on a ride with the Indian Ghosts.
Moments before exiting my abode I got an urgent email from Mary Kelleher …

Bike Crashes and APD, “I don’t know man”

www.shefmanlaw.net

This is a transcript from a bike crash here in Austin, Texas. Our police are so ill trained and this transcript is evidence of the same. The point is to illustrate that APD officers are not trained and the three foot and six foot rule, well that must be one of those “their own gig” things. This is not just one officer who is completely unaware of any laws pertaining to people who ride bikes. This is a systemic problem with police officers, at least here in Austin. As you can see by the discussion, this is …

2015 Fall Mountain Bike Scholastic State Championship Series

www.texashighschoolcycling.org

The 2015 Texas Scholastic Mountain Bike State Championship Series details have now been posted under our race series tab of this website available here as well as over on the rider forum of the TMBRA website.
We look forward to an exciting fall of mountain bike racing!
This year, all teams and riders are required to both join the Texas High School Cycling League as official members AND register for the race series as outlined in the series information page.
We’ll post up more information about how to join the league as an official league member team and individual league member within a …

Tour de Tolerance: EP Holocaust museum marks 10th year

by Victor Martinez        www.elpasotimes.com


When Walter Chayes founded the Tour de Tolerance a decade ago, the concept was simple — raise money and create awareness for the El Paso Holocaust Museum while doing something he loves.
“The one thing I’m passionate about almost as much as Holocaust studies is cycling,” said Chayes. “I’ve been a cyclist for almost 50 years. There wasn’t a lot of bike rides in El Paso at the time so I thought why not do a bike ride sponsored by the El Paso Holocaust Museum; it wouldn’t be a competitive race but just a ride.”
The Tour de Tolerance, the El Paso Holocaust Museum’s 10th annual 100K and 50K bike ride and …

Sharing the road, B-CS bicycle safety concerns

By: TASHARA PARKER        kagstv.com


COLLEGE STATION, Texas – After being struck by a vehicle Tuesday, a 14-year-old College Station bicyclist found himself laying on the pavement.
He was taken to the hospital for incapacitating injuries.
The 21-year-old female driver of the vehicle left the scene prior to officers arriving, but has since contacted police.
While this situation is one of many, it raises the question, just how safe are Brazos County roads for those riding bikes?
According to TxDOT, Texas is among the top three states in the nation for bicycle and pedestrian vehicle fatalities.
“I’ve actually had a number of my friends, we’ve even lost a couple of people,” said Joe Treanor, a local cyclist and …

Bicycle rates and station locations approved

by Selena Madrigal        www.kfoxtv.com

Video

EL PASO, Texas- The bike-sharing program will be launching in the Borderland next month, and today it got one step closer to reality.
Station locations and rates were approved by the Camino Real Regional Authority board.
Raymond Telles, executive director of CRRMA, says a lot of thought went in to customizing the stations and rates to fit the city’s needs.
“Our market that we are really after here are …

Witness who helped victim of hit-and-run recalls the scene

By Claire Ricke        kxan.com

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — A suspect was arrested for failing to stop and render aid after hitting a bicyclist with his pickup truck August 11.
22-year-old Julian Luna is suspected of fleeing the scene of the crime near North Lamar Boulevard and West Applegate Drive.
A witness of the accident called police to report that a bicyclist was struck by a black Chevrolet pickup truck that left without stopping.
The bicyclist, Arthur McGuire, was transported to Round Rock Hospital where he was treated for pelvic fractures and broken vertebrae. It is believed by doctors that …

Back-to-school health, safety fair scheduled for Friday

By Jessica Pounds        www.cleburnetimesreview.com


Dental screenings, bicycle helmets and child ID kits are a few of the free items or services that will be offered at this year’s Back to School Immunization and Safety Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Booker T. Washington Community and Recreation Center, 100 Mansfield Road.
Cleburne Recreation Coordinator Heather Bickell said some of the free services include diabetes screenings, bicycle helmet fittings, bicycle engraving and …

Caught on Camera: Car nearly hits bicyclist on Smith Co. road

By Stephanie Frazier        www.ktre.com


SMITH COUNTY, TX (KLTV) – A group of bicyclists from a Tyler club was enjoying an evening ride on Tuesday when a close call happened, and was caught on video.
John Horsley was wearing a Go-Pro camera, mounted to his helmet with Velcro, he said, on the ride Tuesday night. Ten to twelve members of the club were along on the ride along CR 346 in Smith County, he said, enjoying the milder evening temperature.
On the video captured by Horsley’s camera, what happened next is startling. A Lincoln SUV passes the group at very close proximity. Horsley said he felt the breeze off the car’s side mirror as it passed, barely grazing him, and then you see it come into the video’s frame. The car is …

Beginner Intermediate Group training program

Tuesday, Aug 18, 2015, 6:00 PM

River Run Plaza
1071 Country Club Rd El Paso, TX

10 Cyclists Went

The Beginner / Intermediate Group program meets at River Run Plaza, 1071 Country Club Rd. on Tuesday nights. Lesson begins at 6 p.m., followed by ride at 6:15 p.m. Upper Valley rides offered for both beginner and intermediate level riders.

Check out this Meetup →

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Last Night’s Rain Delays the Heat Today

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A longer ride today on the “Kingwood – Hare Cook Road – Kingwood” route for 44.51 miles. This was the 5th time riding this route this year. (see a comparison of the rides below.) I started at 10:43 and returned back home at 2:37. I watched the Eneco Tour before leaving on my ride. I took a 30 minute break at 32.7 miles pulling into the Huffman Chevron. It wasn’t quite as hot as yesterday thanks to a rain storm late last evening when we got about .33″ of rain. For change it wasn’t in the mid-90’s at the start of the ride. Home weather at the ride start time.

8-12-2015 Home Weather Start

It felt a little like fall for the first few miles but it didn’t take long for it to get hot. Riding through the grass farms east of FM2100 there is no shade to hide from the sun. Even once I was back to FM2100 and riding north it was full sun. I stopped quickly at the Shell station on FM2100 to refill my water bottle for the ride to Huffman. The Chevron had workmen repairing their sewer line. A lady employee said it collapsed after 40 years. I sat under the canopy waiting for the gentle breeze to cool me down and dry up some of the sweat. The Greensheet  newspaper I sat on absorbed as much as it could. When I put it in the trash it was soaked through. The weather while I was resting at the Chevron station.

The last 11 miles home I worked against some wind but I still held my average speed at 14.8 mph. Home weather at the end of the ride.

8-12-2015 Home Weather Finish

It was back up to 100. Yesterday before the scattered rain moved through Houston we set a record high of 104 degrees with some places hitting 106. Supposedly the conditions that allowed the high temperatures is moving to the west some and the daytime highs could drop below 100 degrees for the next few days.

Today was my 17th consecutive day biking. (5 days in July and 12 in August) This is the longest string in recent years. My legs may be getting tired. Pushing my usual gears (34 x 13) takes more effort. Over training? August miles are up to 440.61, 516 miles short of my goal. The weather forecast looks favorable for biking and I plan on taking advantage of it.

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Below is a summary of the 5 rides on today’s route.

8-12-2015 Route Rides Comparison Summary YTD

Texas Bicycling News August 11th

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Getting There: Viva! Streets 2015

BikeTexas


Viva! Streets Austin is coming up fast! Join us on E 6th Street on September 13 from 12-5 PM as we celebrate healthy living and fitness while we play in the street.
E 6th will be closed from I-35 eastward past Robert Martinez Street. (Chicon and Comal streets will allow for cross traffic with police guidance.) There is some parking available on neighboring streets, but we encourage everyone to find non-driving options if possible to avoid congestion at the event. If you live in the …

Bike For Mike & The Katy Flatland 2015

by Dan Phelps        the surly biker


Apparently I haven’t posted since the MS150 in April – wow. Sorry about that. Things have been busy – we bought our first house! So, I’m sure you can imagine what I’ve been spending my time doing. It’s not biking, that’s for sure. And not putting together any LEGO sets either – though I have acquired a few big Star Wars sets that will be built once I find a place for them in the new house! I’ll also post some before/after pics of the house at some point too.
Anyway – I did do three really fabulous rides after the MS150 – Bike For Mike in Fulshear, which benefits the little town of Fulshear and the memory of Mike McCann – a long time resident and cycling advocate from the town. It’s possible the best ride I’ve done outside the MS150; the …

Bike Paths (or the lack of)

by Bill Cullins        bcullins.blogspot.com


Although Greeley, Colorado and San Angelo, Texas are about the same size and have about the same demographics, there’s a world of difference between the bike and pedestrian infrastructure in the two communities.
I’m very familiar with both Greeley and San Angelo, having lived here until 1982, then in Greeley through 2000 and back here for the past 15 years.
Through 1982, both Greeley and San Angelo had exactly the same bike-pedestrian infrastructure – almost nothing. Since that time, Greeley has developed an impressive and expanding network of bike-pedestrian lanes and paths while San Angelo lags far behind with …

Saturday Beginner Ride

Saturday, Aug 22, 2015, 9:00 AM

Performance Bicycle
4750 Fm 1960 Rd W Houston, TX

1 Bicycle Enthusiasts Went

The ride starts from the Performance North Houston store location.  We do not ride on 1960 but go through the neighborhoods to start the ride.  The ride is approximately 10 miles and pace is based on participants for the day.  It is a No Drop Ride.Please bring a helmet, spare tube, waterbottle, positive attitude 🙂

Check out this Meetup →

FREE CLINIC – Basic Bike Maintenance and Commuting Tips

Thursday, Aug 13, 2015, 6:00 PM

Performance Bicycle
4750 Fm 1960 Rd W Houston, TX

1 Bicycle Enthusiasts Went

Check out this Meetup →

FREE CLINIC – Basic Bike Maintenance and Commuting Tips

Thursday, Aug 13, 2015, 6:00 PM

Performance Bicycle
7549 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX

1 Cycling Enthusiasts Went

Check out this Meetup →

SA Bike Bash – Saturday • Aug 8 2015

www.road-results.com

Categories
» Cat 4/5     » Men 40 Masters
» Men 50 Masters     » Men Cat 3/4
» Men Pro/Cat 1/2/3     » Women Cat 4
» Women Pro/Cat 1/2/3

SA Bike Bash – Sunday • Aug 9 2015

www.road-results.com

Categories
» Men 40+ Masters     » Men Cat 3/4
» Men Cat 4/5     » Pro/Cat 1/2
» Women Cat 4     » Women Pro/Cat 1/2/3

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension gives back to school tips

By Monica Lopez        www.alicetx.com


Just when summer is really starting to heat up in Texas, it is almost time for children to go back to school. Soon motorists will be sharing the roads with school buses, pedestrians, bicycle riders, and lots of new teen drivers taking their first car to school. According to the National Safety Council, teen car crashes spike in September when they are driving to and from school. Drivers young and old need to be vigilant because child pedestrians can be very unpredictable. They’re easily distracted and can often run into traffic or out from behind parked cars. Looking out for children rather than expecting them to look out for us is our best defense as drivers.
Distracted driving is always dangerous, but it is especially dangerous in and around school zones. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, crashes in school zones are most …

Riverbend Work Party

GHORBA

Event category: General
Trail: River Bend
Saturday, August 15, 2015 – 7:30am
Good news is the trail is dried out and all the underbrush is dead and most of the trees have been cleared. Bad news, lots of sand and lots of ruts from impatient riders. We will be working on the East Loop.
West loop needs to be rerouted to get the trail away from the new closer river bluff (20-30ft drop). That will get flagged this next week and a work party the following week.
To do: …

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At What Temperature Does Asphalt Melt?

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I rolled into the Stripes station on FM1314 at 12:55 after riding 26.1 miles. I knew it was hot but I didn’t think it was this hot:

It has been hot and dry for many days now. I am glad our home A/C is working now too. I even had to adjust the thermostat up to 80 degrees because it was too cold; we didn’t have that problem on Sunday.

Riding the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route today I left home after watching stage 2 of Eneco Tour on EuroSport at 11:00. It was already heating up then at my home weather station.

8-11-2015 Home Weather Start

After a 30 minute break at the Stripes station I headed home feeling hotter than when I arrived there. I could feel fleeting coolness whenever I rode through some shade  and even rode closer to the edge of the road to get in the shade. Oakhurst had the most shade until I got to Kingwood. The ride was 37.48 miles long. My legs weren’t that great today and the average speed shows it. The weather says the wind was calm but it seemed when I rode every direction but southeast I had a headwind slowing me down more than normal. I got home at 2:23 and the home weather showed this.

8-11-2015 Home Weather Finish

Triple digit temperature on both weather sensors. The Bush Airport weather was 102 degrees too. Perfect training for the Hotter’n Hell 100 in a 18 days. Wednesday (tomorrow) could be even hotter. Today was the 16th consecutive day biking. The dry weather contributes to this string.

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