Exchanged Biking Stories at the Valero

Texbiker.net Posted on by

A longer ride today on the “Splendora – FM2090 – FM1314” route coming in at 50.6 miles. I am getting closer to my June goal of 968 miles and now I am only 136 miles short. 4 potential biking days left. I will need to average 34 miles per day if I ride each day. I plan on biking 40 miles tomorrow (Saturday). As I write this it is raining at my home but I got here before it started. It might have cooled me off when I was riding.

I did ride in some light rain starting on Loop 494 north of New Caney to SH 242. It was another sun shining rain falling event. The light rain felt cooling. Later I saw water standing on the edge of FM1314 from Cumberland Blvd. to Sorters Road when I was going towards Porter.

I rode north to Splendora, west on FM2090 to FM1485 and then south to FM3083 and FM1485 where i stopped at the Valero station for a break. I sat in the shade drinking cold water from my water bottle as people came and went. After 10 or 15 minutes a man rode up on a 29″ MTB and went in the store. We exchanged hellos as he passed by. Later when he came out we started talking. He asked what was the longest ride I ever did. I told him 100 miles. He then told me about how a friend and him rode mountain bikes from Arizona to Alabama one summer. They rode 100 miles many days but didn’t take the most direct route. He said he rode 3,000 miles that summer. He rode back to Arizona but his friend went somewhere else. He still has the Giant bike he rode. It was a nice conversation. He said now he just rides a few miles around his home. He then rode away on his red dual suspension MTB after we shook hands and wished each other well. He was 56 when I took the long trip. He is 67 now. His friend had biked across the US 5 times back then.

Leaving the Valero I rode south on Old Houston Road to connect with FM1314 and then back to the southeast. I went through the Grand Parkway work zone on FM1314. Lo and bhold they were setting one of the concrete beams for the overpass in place over the east bound lanes with several others sitting on trucks waiting their turn. A flashing sign alerted traffic of lane changes coming tonight and Saturday. This probably means the west bound lanes are going in place soon too.

Arriving at the Stripes station at 2:00 and 39.1 miles into the ride I took a longer break to snack and drink Gatorade. The ice machine was fixed and the Gatorade was much colder than previous times this week. While I was sitting in the shade cooling off several people asked how I was doing. One lady wearing a McDonald’s t-shirt chatted with me more than the others. She wished me well for the rest of my ride as she pulled out.

After leaving home at 11:03 I got back home at 3:26 with some dark clouds to the northeast and the sun hiding behind some others to the west. It was 91 degrees as I pulled into the driveway. The light breeze was enough to keep the sweat  somewhat dried up. I used 8 paper towels at the Stripes station but not all of them were soaked like they normally are.

I will need to ride earlier tomorrow to avoid the late afternoon rain in the forecast.

Porter weather while at Stripes

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Texas Bicycling News Digest June 25th

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White Oak Bayou Ribbon Cutting July 9


The Houston Parks Board, Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) 5, and the City of Houston will officially open a new segment of White Oak Bayou Greenway at a “Bridge Bash” and dedication ceremony July 9. Part of Bayou Greenways 2020, the new segment includes new hike and bike trails and a bridge over White Oak Bayou that connect to the Heights trail. The new bridge replaces the former MKT Railroad Bridge (also known as the “BBQ Bridge”) between Shepherd Drive and Moy Street.
“With each new link in our off road hike and bike network, we are …

DORBA Beginner Clinic

Sunday, Jul 12, 2015, 8:30 AM

River Legacy Park
703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd Arlington, TX

55 Participants Went

There will be a beginner clinic on Sunday the 12th of July at 8:30am at River Legacy Park in Arlington (you should arrive by 8:15am to unload your bike and gear up).What: There is a “classroom” for about an hour or so, a mini-skills workshop for 30 minutes, and then a ride of an hour or more. So count on approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The clinic is…

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Resler Drive Buffered Bike Lane Project

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 07/15/15 2:00 PM        Prebid: 07/01/15 9:00 AM
Solicitation Title: Resler Drive Buffered Bike Lane Project
Owner Solic Number: 2015-778        Status: bidding
Report: 6408182     Country : United States     State: TX    County: El Paso
Location: Franklin High School, Kohlberg Elementary School; Along Resler Drive between Helen of Troy Drive and Belvidere Street
Est. Low Value: $1,000,000    Est. High Value: $3,500,000
Scope: Project consists of a 9 ft. buffered bicycle lane with a 5 foot or greater bike lane with a 3 foot buffer. Remove and restripe existing travel lanes to accommodate the bicycle lane. Intersection striping. Bike boxes and green paint for conflict areas. …

River Bend Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancements

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 07/15/15 2:00 PM    Prebid: 07/01/15 9:00 AM
Solicitation Title: River Bend Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancements
Owner Solic Number: 2015-780    Status: bidding
Report: 6408162        Country : United States     State: TX    County: El Paso
Location: Braden Aboud Park and Zach White Elementary School; Along River Bend Drive Between Frontera Road and Turnstone Drive
Est. Low Value: $1,000,000    Est. High Value: $3,500,000
Set Aside Types: MBE/DBE (Minority / Disadvantaged), WBE (Woman Biz Enterprise)
Scope: Works on the project will include a 14′ asphalt pedestrian and bicycle path for the entire length of the corridor; trees and vegetation throughout the corridor with an irrigation system; install chat screening and weed barrier within 10′ of both sides of the pedestrian and bicycle path; install park benches and trash receptacles; install bike racks; texture cross walks at conflict points; Works also include approx 1,553 CY excavation (roadway); 609 TN D-GR HMA Type C PG70-22; 11 EA adjusting manholes; 5,655 LF concrete curb (dowel) (slotted); 67 LF trench excavation protection; 134 LF 18″ RCP Class III; 5,486 LF of 2″ PVC Sch 40 conduit; see attached file. …

Couple Gets Rid Of Car To Avoid Austin Traffic

www.keyetv.com


AUSTIN, Texas — One woman and her husband traded in four wheels for two and make it to work daily in record time.
“Traffic in Austin is picking up so that’s kind of how it started,” said Pediatrician Elain Hamilton.
She became fed up with traffic delays and now pedals her six mile commute every morning.
She said she makes it to work in about 45 minutes.
“I’m on 360 passing up the cars and it feels great because I can get in about the same time or sometimes a little bit sooner than if I had been in my car,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said not only does …

Ashdown man who cycles to work in Texarkana thankful Index bridge is open

By: Jim Williamson – Texarkana Gazette


Staff photo by Jim Williamson Dee Bell rides his bicycle from near Ashdown, Ark., to downtown Texarkana, Texas, where he works at a bicycle shop. His path includes riding across the Red River at the Index bridge. When the highway was closed, Bell rode his bike 110 miles round trip from his house to…
Bell estimates he traveled 770 miles while detouring Red River floodwaters
Dee Bell is dedicated and driven to work at Berridge Bikes in Texarkana, Texas.
Even when the Index bridge on U.S. Highway 71 wa…
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The 2015 Get Ready to Bike Around the Bay Training Program

Pearland Cycling Club

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
14 Week Program Begins July 6 and Ends October 10; Ages 16+
Program Is Limited To First 120 Online Registrants On www.active.com
Saturday/Sunday Back-to-back Group Rides to Prepare You for BAB Distance
Hill Training Rides
Various Pace Groups
Program Developed by Experienced Cycling Coaches
Weekly Suggested Training Schedule via Email
Fully Supported Long Bike Rides
Experienced Mentor Coaches Training at Your Side
Seminars on: …

Ride Interview – Wild Pig Pedal – Seymour, Texas

www.wheelbrothers.com

There’s a whole lot of riding going on. This weekend that is. (If you happen to be in the Waxahachie area this Saturday be sure to check out the Cow Creek Country Classic Ride that we blogged about yesterday.) Another option for wheeled weekend recreation is happening Saturday June 27th in Seymour, Texas. The Wild Pig Pedal put on by the Seymour Chamber of Commerce offers a shorter course and a smaller community. For registration information, check out www.cityofseymour.org/chamberofcommerce/wild-pig-pedal.  Chamber Chairman James Stanlee, an active participant and eager fellow rider, tells all below.

Why join your ride?
It is fun, good exercise, and since it is small it gives you a great opportunity to fellowship with other riders. Our ride is challenging enough to practice for other endurance rides. Many …

Ride Interview – Cow Creek Country Classic – Waxahachie, Texas

www.wheelbrothers.com

With the first day of summer behind us and the weather improving after a long, crazy spring, the opportunities to ride are increasing. Our blog will be filled with riding interviews to help you plan your ride schedule for the season. Many are happening all around Texas this weekend. One such ride is the Cow Creek Country Classic in Waxahachie, where the Rotary Club is excited to host it with many projects and causes in mind. Waxahachie Rotary Secretary Melissa Ballard is going to give us the 411 on their super fantastic fundraiser and encourages you to join the friendly citizens for a fun packed Saturday!

Why join your ride? It has a route or distance for all types of riders, from the family to the hard core.
How long has your ride been around?  This is the 29th year.
What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?  It was created as a fundraiser, and has become our largest fundraiser.  All of the proceeds go back …

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets About Texas Bicycling

https://twitter.com/BSS_Road_Club/status/614253168218738688

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/614244772459491328

https://twitter.com/txbikeracing/status/614152464971927552

Texas Bicycling Upcoming Event Reminders

Texas Bicycling News Digest June 24th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

People 2015: Two-wheeled Pied Piper Jonathan Braddick Wants Everyone on a Bike

By Amy Silverstein        www.dallasobserver.com


In this week’s Dallas Observer we profile 20 of the metro area’s most interesting characters, with new portraits of each from local photographer Can Turkyilmaz.
On a gloriously warm Saturday in the middle of February, Jonathan Braddick led another bicycle ride, and everyone on the Internet was invited. Around 500 people followed him, riding everything from rusty mountain bikes to overpriced Italian road cycles to fixies and, for one person, a cruiser with a blow-up doll in a checkered dress attached to the back.
Slowly, the parade of bikes cheap and expensive made their way down Riverfront Boulevard, following Braddick on his cargo bike to the next brewery.
“You look at cycling in general, when it comes to the sport, recreational side, it’s predominately white men, OK, and in …

So many projects coming online!

bikeabledallas.com


Everywhere we look, there are new bicycle facility projects going in! It’s so exciting! Here are a few that are in progress and should be ready for riding soon…
McMillan Avenue
At long last… after several unforeseen delays, bike lanes are being installed on McMillan! You can soon ride the new lanes from Richmond Avenue in the south to Ellsworth Avenue in the north, where you can hook into the growing bike …
Northaven Road
Northaven is a well-loved road used for group training rides and by casual cyclists. Shared lane markings are being added on Northaven from Grissom Lane to the Central Expressway frontage road, using the frequented …
Jefferson Viaduct Cycle Track/Buffered Bike Lanes on Zang Blvd
The highly-anticipated reopening of the Houston Viaduct will be followed a week later by the reopening of the Jefferson Viaduct to one-way northbound traffic and a refurbished two-way cycle track! The polished-up cycle track will feature new sturdier flex stakes and has an innovative entry point/terminus on the …
Houston Street Curb-Separated Bike Lanes
Many of you have noticed the concrete forms in place on Houston Street. These will be used to build the new curb-separated bike lanes along Houston in the Victory Park neighborhood. Houston Street and Victory Avenue will be converted to two-way operation (rather than their current operation as a …

Finally! Get Ready To Ride!

www.northtexasactivelife.com


I once had a friend tell me, “It ain’t mountain biking without a little blood and a little mud”. I don’t know about the blood part, but local off-road riders have had their fill of mud lately.
Massive volunteer efforts are underway to get area mountain bike trails back in operation. Nearly all North Texas trails have been closed because of the spring rains and flooding. Some are just now starting to open.
The cleanup work is led by DORBA, the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association. In partnership with local governments, DORBA builds and maintains the trails at no …

GHORBA Monthly Ride- Cypresswood!

Event category: Rides        Trail: Cypresswood (Collins Park)
Saturday, June 27, 2015 – 9:00am
Join us for our Ghorba Monthly Ride! This month at Cypresswood Trails!
Meet us at:
6727 Cypresswood Drive
77379 Spring, TX
Parking in the back lots, after the bathrooms. Meet there at 9am!

http://www.meetup.com/Make-Shift-Happen/events/223475259/?a=ea1_grp&rv=ea1&_af=event&_af_eid=223475259

Making sense of the DRIVE Act

Katy Hartnett, director of government relations        www.peopleforbikes.org


Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed a new six-year transportation bill. The Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (DRIVE Act) would reauthorize our surface transportation program for six years through fiscal year 2020.
How does the DRIVE Act affect bicycle infrastructure? The DRIVE Act reauthorizes the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), the primary federal program that helps communities build cost-effective bicycle infrastructure. These projects address key transportation challenges and provide a variety of significant economic benefits.
Commuting by bicycle has nearly doubled since 2000. Half the trips Americans make are four miles or less. As more of these trips are taken by bike, road congestion, air pollution and …

A Doctor Visit Had Me Rolling My Wheels In River Legacy Park Along A Still Flooding Trinity River

by Durango Texas        durangotexas.blogspot.com


A doctor appointment had me in Euless this morning. The location of that appointment was a short distance from Collins Road. A short distance south on Collins Road, from that location, takes one to the Collins Road entry to River Legacy Park.
So, since I was in the neighborhood, I decided to roll my …

Bluebonnet Trail and the trails along Rowlett Creek

cityofplanotexas

With 70 miles of paved trails and 168 miles of on-street bike route, this is just a small sampling of their path and what lies along the route.

McAllen commissioners kick the tires on bike-share program

by SKY CHADDE        www.themonitor.com


McALLEN — With the city’s forthcoming bike-share program, City Commissioners adjusted the seat Monday.
Of the 10 sites proposed for the program’s bike racks, five were approved and one was moved at a workshop Monday. Others remain in limbo as commissioners decide where the greatest number of people could use …

Texas 4000 Team Rolls Into Eureka Springs

By Alana Cook        www.lovelycitizen.com


Ryan Terrebonne braved the heat and temperamental weather in Eureka Springs last Thursday as he rode through the Ozarks to honor his two late grandfathers’ fight against cancer.
On the longest annual charity bicycle ride in the world, the Texas 4000 team rolled through Eureka Springs just 20 days after departing from Austin, Texas, on its way to Anchorage, Alaska.
“The most challenging part is the really long rides day to day that are so mentally exhausting. My teammates keep me motivated, as well as all of the people that I know are supporting me back home,” Terrebonne said. “This base of support inspires me the most, as well as those who have to put up a fight against cancer every day without choosing to …

Pedal to the pavement: HPD officers biking for good cause

Sherry Williams, KHOU 11 News


A group of Houston police officers took off this Wednesday morning on a 2,200-mile trip to New York City on bicycles.
The ride raises money to fight leukemia and lymphoma, and this year the 46-member team has raised $280,000.
Team members ride relay style: each cyclists rides as far as they can then other teammates take over. Someone is …

*LOCATION CHANGE* Ride Like A Girl – BCGB @ 360 Entrance

Monday, Jun 29, 2015, 6:00 PM

Barton Creek Greenbelt – 360 Access
3755 S Capital of Texas Hwy. Austin, TX

15 Mountain Bikers Went

THE RIDE IS ON – THE LOCATION HAS CHANGED.  Brushy Creek got rain and the trail is too muddy to ride.  The ride is being moved to Barton Creek Greenbelt at the 360 entrance because the area did not receive rain today.  Bring your bikes - THIS IS A RIDE!!Based on the theory that women learn new skills differently from men, these rides are designat…

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Tweets About Texas Bicycling

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/613880296526741504

https://twitter.com/BSS_Road_Club/status/613788966798651392

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/613723422208737280

Texas Bicycling Upcoming Event Reminder

Two Rest Stops on a Hot Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

This was the first time riding the “SR242 – FM1314” route this year. I rode portions of it this year but have held off because of the Grand Parkway construction crossing FM1314. I braved passing through the work zone again with better results than Monday’s ride. I still didn’t get to ride through the actual work zone but this time when I was biking the narrow east bound lane no cars or trucks were behind me. I got through the narrow section with time to spare before any cars came through. The last time I rode this route was July 28, 2014.

45.35 miles helps me get closer to June’s 968 mile goal. This ride puts me at 781.79 miles leaving 187 miles to go. I am taking Thursday as a recovery day which will leaves 5 possible riding days. I will need to average 37.4 miles per ride to reach my goal. Doable if the weather cooperates.

It was hot today but the light breeze actually had a coolness to it, thank goodness. It was 91 when I left home at 10:19 and 100 when I got back home at 2:29. These are from my home weather station which was higher than the Houston IAH airport weather station. I took an extra break at 19.5 miles when I reached FM1485 and SR242. The gas station has small cubed ice and a nice shady spot. I got a Greensheet newspaper and sat in the shade. As I was arriving two of the giant windpower turbines were leaving with their wide and high load caravan of trucks and police motorcycle officers. My timing was good so I didn’t need to watch for them on SR242 on the way to FM1314. The sweat dampened the concrete below my elbows as I slowly cooled down. This week I started wearing wrist bands to keep the sweat from soaking my gloves as much. It works. Over time the sunscreen stains the bright white bands though.

From that rest stop I estimated it was 14 miles to the next stop at Stripes on FM1314 and Valley Ranch Parkway. It turned out to be 15 miles. With the variable breeze I maintained a steady 16 to 17 mph pace (my legs couldn’t pedal any harder or faster which is why tomorrow is a recovery day) getting my average speed up to 15.2 mph. Arriving at Stripes at 1:00 I got some paper towels to soak up some sweat, parked the Stradalli in the shade and got a 32 oz Gatorade. The ice machine is still not working on the Gatorade dispenser but the one next to it worked. Sitting in the outside shade I ate and drank and slowly cooled down. I was there almost 45 minutes, longer than I usually stop but I wanted to be hydrated and rested for the push home on the last 11 miles.

Weather when I stopped at Stripes in Porter

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