Texas Bicycling News Digest May 2nd

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Elbowz Racing lead out train at the Driveway

elbowzracing


A look into the Elbowz Racing lead out train when we led Michael Sheehan to another sprint victory at the Driveway.

Houstonians celebrate new White Oak Bayou bridge

By Rebecca Hennes        www.chron.com


The MKT Railroad Bridge – better knows as the BBQ Bridge- between Shepherd Drive and Moy Street was badly burned from the bottom up, but Houston residents still used it to cross the White Oak Bayou.
“It created a very dangerous, unsafe situation,” said Brian Brown, a member of the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 5.
After nearly two years and about $1.2 million, the new White Oak Bayou Greenway Bridge is complete, offering Houston cyclists and runners a path that connects to the Heights’ hike and bike trail. Community members celebrated the completion of the bridge Saturday with snow cones, races and face painting activities at the Houston Parks Board’s “Bridge Bash” off Shepherd Drive. Among the crowd was …

Warrior bike ride at Bush ranch lifts spirits of vets, spouses

By JULIE FANCHER        www.dallasnews.com


CRAWFORD — Monika Flom will never forget driving home in October 2007 when she noticed she had 20 missed calls on her cellphone.
Flom, who was living in Fort Hood while her husband was away at war in Iraq, finally got in touch with someone who asked, “Monika, where are you?”
“I knew exactly with his tone — I knew something was wrong with Brian,” she said. “I don’t remember the rest of the ride home.”
Command Sgt. Major Brian Flom recovered from …

Houston Texas Memorial Park Mountain Bike Trails

mrchriscornwell photography ®

Ex-commander in chief leads wounded warriors on 62-mile bike ride

JC Jones | Herald staff writer        kdhnews.com


CRAWFORD — Through the winding, scenic trails of his ranch near Crawford, former President George W. Bush led a fleet of wounded warriors on a 62-mile mountain bike ride Friday morning.
In the company of the veterans, the former commander in chief seemed like a man among old friends, laughing and joking as they pedaled alongside one another in the annual W100k.
“I’m proud to be their friend,” Bush said. “I was proud to …

Bessies Creek 2015 race report

Hill Country Randonneurs

Neither thunder nor lightning nor sheets of darkening rain could slow down the intrepid riders at Bessies Creek over the weekend of April 9/11, 2015, for these were no ordinary Sunday afternoon riders, these were the elite of ultra-distance cycling.
The rain came in waves, black scudding and forbidding in intensity, day turned to night, wind howling from the south quickly headed from the north as the storms rolled in. The daytime skies flew into night, the thunder shook the heavens, the shards of lightening gave glimpses of Dante’s world; yet the courageous racers donned their rain jackets, set their lights, lowered their heads, shrugged off the streaming rivers running down their faces and pushed on into the abyss. These were no ordinary men and …

Mountain biking with Charlie in Memorial Park Houston

eclou


Charlie is a 1.5 yr old female Rhodesian Ridgeback who loves to ride the trails in Memorial Park. She’s pretty fast for a 120lb dog. GoPro4, Ibis Mojo SL

Bikeabout TX

By Gordon Hodge        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 16- Ft. Parker SP to Hillsboro, TX: Last day ride on this tour.
Friday May 1, 2015, 52 miles (84 km) – Total so far: 673 miles (1,082 km)
weather: 73-81F, sunny, light winds W.
Broke camp and departed at 0800, another new record early departure. I stopped at park entrance and put more air in tire. My leak must not be fixed. I chatted for awhile with park workers. Lost all my time from the early start. Oh well, I am enjoying the social aspects and not in a race for distance. I rode FM 2705 NW to near Lake Mexia on decent roads and the stopped at gas station/grocer/bait shop/café store at 1000. Had breakfast sandwich freshly cooked, not premade. These multi stores do it all. I could have got my fish reel serviced and maybe even a marriage license also. I then took LCR 198(Limestone county road)as a shortcut to get to TX hwy 171 which would go to Hillsboro my goal for day. This county road was paved starting out but very rough. I ran into a short unpaved limestone surface which was better than the paved. There must have been a …

Tweets

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https://twitter.com/BikeMS_DFW/status/594603885290917889

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https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/594571008587202561

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/594523502180495360

https://twitter.com/BikeMS_DFW/status/594473854182948866

https://twitter.com/BikeMS_DFW/status/594473436967096320

https://twitter.com/bikenoob/status/594468243538075648

Event Reminder

Love Bugs and Chip’n Seal

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I rode to the east on the “FM1960 to FM686 – Back” route. So far I am varying the routes and not riding the “Atascocita – Walden -Huffman” route so often. Leaving home slightly earlier than recent rides (11:09) I needed to get back home in time to take my niece to a birthday party. This might have influenced the speed I rode and the light to calm wind helped. Overall I biked 39.56 miles and averaged 15.6 mph. The maximum average speed was 15.9 mph which I maintained until the 37 mile point. By then I was back in Kingwood weaving through the residential streets and the traffic. I got back home at 2:16, just in time to rest and get cleaned up for my mission to the birthday party. Strava said I was 2nd fastest time on Reservoir Dogs (14:01) segment.

The love bugs were out along FM1960 east of FM2100 but not nearly as thick as on Old Atascocita Road earlier this week. When I stopped at the Huffman Chevron there were a few flying around and landing on me but not enough to be an all out nuisance.

Weather was great. 82 degrees under partly cloudy sky with a very light breeze. I wore a long sleeve jersey and shorts. The long sleeves were just right with a slight coolness when I rode through shade. Sitting under the pump canopy at the Chevron while I rested was comfortable but might have been a bit chilly with short sleeves.

After increasing the air pressure in the tires earlier this week I noticed how rough the chip’n seal surface was on the 1 mile section as I entered Liberty County on FM1960. Fortunately I survived until I reached the smoother surface on the railroad overpass approach. I had to deal with the chip’n seal on the return trip. I think the west bound shoulder is rougher than the east bound one.

Activity so far this week: 165.22 miles. I expect to ride tomorrow which could put me just below 200 miles for the week. Year to date I am at 1748 miles. Last year I biked about 270 miles in May. This was low because we went on a 3 week trip to Florida and I had health issues during the trip which kept me off the bike for many days. This year I can use May to catchup on the miles I lost in January, February and March. We are not going on any long trips during May.

Sunday weather: 82 degrees and partly cloudy. Sounds like great biking weather.

Weather at the turn around point on FM1960 & FM686.

Weather at the turn around point on FM1960 & FM686.

[iframe https://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/763145037 465px 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/296840654/embed/d8d1427eef4e53f57c98eac63fe18426a2eaf883 590px 500px]

Texas Bicycling News Digest May 1st

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League of American Bicyclist city of McAllen tour

CityofMcAllen

American Red Cross Tour du Rouge


A very short break for a picture in the midst of final preparations for #tdr2015

Locally owned bike shop rides into Deep Ellum with big plans to be a hub

By Jennifer Chininis        dallas.culturemap.com


Deep Ellum is where it’s at these days, and now the neighborhood is getting a bike shop. Local Hub opens this summer next door to BrainDead Brewing on Main Street, with a mission to “transform Dallas into the biking city it’s meant to be.”
Owners Kristie Holt and Justin Shannon — he owns Spokes Pedicabs in Oak Cliff, and her retail experience includes Bicycle Habitat in New York — expect the biking community to grow exponentially, as people think about riding as more than just a form of exercise but a viable way to get around town.
“We decided to open the shop because there was a …

Bush joins returned veterans for 5th annual ride to treat ‘the invisible wounds of war’

by Michael Dorstewitz        www.bizpacreview.com

Former President George W. Bush began the fifth annual W100K Thursday, where he invites a group of wounded warriors to join him for an inspiring 100 kilometer mountain bike ride in and around his ranch in Crawford< Texas.
This year Fox News medical correspondent Dr. Marc Siegel went along for the ride, and got the chance to talk to “Dubya” before they took off.
“Some of the people we ride with have come back home with an injury that’s treatable, but an injury that makes it really hard for them to see a positive moment … A lot of programs in the country are dedicated to helping these warriors become the productive citizens we know they can be.
“They’re injured and yet they refuse to allow their injury to consign them to a dull, meaningless life,” Bush told Siegel.
Siegel noted that the …

Elections, bike race on tap for May

By BRIAN LOUGHMILLER        www.dallasnews.com

… Since I enjoy the spirit of friendly competition, I am also excited this month is the sixth annual Bike the Bricks event in McKinney. Historic downtown will be made over into a thrilling racetrack and live concert venue on May 22 where you can enjoy Texas craft beer from Real Ale Brewing or grab dinner or a snack from unique food trucks and award-winning McKinney restaurants.
This year, we will have more than 500 cyclists from around the globe who will take to the bricks and tight turns of historic downtown McKinney at speeds of more than …

FREE CLINIC Basic Bike Maintenance

Thursday, May 7, 2015, 6:00 PM

Performance Bicycle
7549 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX

1 Cycling Enthusiasts Went

Check out this Meetup →

Preparing For Bike To School Day

by Andy Wei, Texas Children’s Pediatrics Physician

www.texaschildrensblog.org


It stood in the corner of our front entrance, leaning on a shiny silver kickstand. Blue and white, my parents had picked my favorite colors. What a beautiful bike. I felt like the luckiest kid on the street! My parents surprised me with my first bike when I was 5 years old. I had been talking about getting a bike for a long time.
I immediately took it out for a spin around the block, showing it off to all my friends with a beaming smile. It wasn’t common to wear helmets in 1973, but we’ve learned a lot since then. Now, both my wife and I and all three kids (16, 13 and 10 years old) ride with our helmets. We love riding our bikes around the …

FREE CLINIC Basic Bike Maintenance

Thursday, May 7, 2015, 6:00 PM

Performance Bicycle
4750 Fm 1960 Rd W Houston, TX

1 Bicycle Enthusiasts Went

Check out this Meetup →

Welcome to National Bike Month 2015!

by Liz Murphy        www.bikeleague.org

Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month is a 31-day celebration of travel by two wheels. Communities big and small are hosting bike-centered events, teaching bike education classes, voting on resolutions to deem May Bike Month in their towns and much more.
“National Bike Month is the time of year that we celebrate the bicycle as the answer to many complex questions,” said Andy Clarke, League President. “Whether it be for fitness, the environment, finances, or community resolve, we’ve seen the bicycle unite people and help them accomplish their many varied goals.”
May 6:  Bike to School Day
May 10: Cyclofemme
May 11-15:  Bike to Work Week
May 15: Bike to Work Day
May 20: Ride of Silence
May and beyond: National Bike Challenge

RIDE SCHEDULE – May 2015     Short Rides     Long Rides

Georgetown Cyclopaths

Day     Date     Time     Meet at     Miles     Map     Miles     Map
Saturday     5/2/2015     8:00 AM     San Gabriel Park     24 miles     LGR     46 miles     LGR
Sunday     5/43201\5     9:00 AM     Berry Springs Park     32 miles     B39

Saturday     5/9/2015     8:00 AM     Dale’s Essenhaus Restaurant in Walburg     28 miles     WA5     41 miles     WA9
Sunday     5/10/2015     9:00 AM     Berry Springs Park     35 miles     B45

Saturday     5/16/2015     8:00 AM     Catholic Church in Andice     35 miles     A13     48 miles     A15
Sunday     5/17/2015     9:00 AM     Berry Springs Park     35 miles     B23

Saturday     5/23/2015     8:00 AM     Gravel Parking Lot in Weir     28 miles     WE12     45 miles     WE9
Sunday     5/24/2015     9:00 AM     Berry Springs Park     34 miles     B48

Update Tool When George Bush Park Flooded

Cycling Space City

A coworker introduced me to this great tool from the United States Geological Society that notifies you when the path at George Bush Park is flooded.  He claims when this chart of the elevation of Barker Reservoir is above 84 inches the path is flooded. …

Help get funding for South College Phase 1

Brazos Valley Cyclists

The City of Bryan is seeking to obtain funding for proposed infrastructure improvements along South College Avenue. Phase 1 includes a separate bicycle and pedestrian route along South College as well as a bike route along Villa Maria. See the map below.
The petition is intended to be used as a template to fill in your using your own voice. Some considerations to ponder that may speak to you:
Traffic speed limit along South College is 50mph
This section of South College is chipsealed, which sucks for bikes.
This is a major approach to campus
It’s very dark at night
About 3 huge student housing complexes have been erected in this vicinity in the last year
There is a park owned by the University along this stretch

Ready to Roll for Bike Month? Steps to Make Your May Awesome

BikeTexas

You’ve heard it’s Bike Month and you’re ready to try it. Maybe your bike has been in the garage because you’ve been waiting for the warmer weather. Maybe the school calendar has kept you from riding as much as you’d like. Maybe you want to commute to work, but it’s just too far or there are no roads you feel comfortable on. Maybe you just want a reason to celebrate with your bike!
Whatever brings you to pulling out your bike, fantastic! You can be rolling around your neighborhood in no time and …

BikeHouston presents its latest newsletter Spoke&Word #14

BikeHouston


May is Bike Month and BikeHouston will be all over Houston to celebrate it with you. Join us at one or two (three) events this month. For example come to Mid-Main First Thursday at May 7th, a great party with a raffle – you can win an amazing FatBike -, Gold Sprint races, good beer and better company. …

The Racing Post May 2015 Edition

Bikeabout TX

By Gordon Hodge        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 15- Marquez to Ft. Parker SP near Groesbeck, TX: country backroads
Thursday April 30, 2015, 37 miles (60 km) – Total so far: 569 miles (915 km)
weather: 57-75F, sunny, still NW winds 10-15 mph.
I had hotel courtesy breakfast which was your average quality. How can a hotel take simple things like eggs and sausage and make them taste like something you have never eaten? Maybe it’s just me. I started ride this morning at 0825, a new record start time for me. The ride today was only to be 37 miles as I had a state park destination which was supposed to yesterday’s stop. I am trying to keep on a end date schedule for Lake Whitney for Friday afternoon. I am not going to try to kill myself trying to go long miles to do so. I will get as near as possible and call for a pick up. I have so far accomplished my goals for this trip.
The roads today were good with light traffic. The scenery was ranchland. Everything is soooo green this spring. Most of the day was on FM country roads. I enjoyed the ride as I wasn’t pushed for time. At mile 13, I stopped at Aletha Baptist when I saw a bench in the shade. A couple of ladies were working on the church front entrance. I asked and they ok’d me to use their church bench for a break. One lady said in all years she has never seen anyone sit there. I replied that I was glad I could help to their usefulness.
I then continued on towards Groesbeck, the only town of any size the whole day. I did stop and chat with …

HAPPY BIKE MONTH, DALLAS!!!

bikeabledallas.com

… (2) Uptown Ciclovia — Sunday, May 17th (10am-3pm)
Last year’s inaugural Uptown Ciclovia was such a hit that it’s back for a second year, with even more fun and activities planned! Uptown Ciclovia is an open-streets event running from the Arts District, through Klyde Warren Park, up Cedar Springs to Routh to the Katy Trail. Hop on anywhere, ride any direction, stop in the middle of the street and don’t worry about cars– there …

Bicycling meant freedom to kids

by Lynn Walker        www.timesrecordnews.com


WICHITA FALLS, Texas – I was pre-reading a story on bike safety for the TRN today and I thought about bicycling and how much it has changed since my bike days.
Biking is big — especially in Wichita Falls, home to Hotter’N Hell and the marvelous hike and bike trail we have. Still, it’s different.
I remember having two bikes during my boyhood. Both were Schwinns and both were black. The first had thick tires and chrome fenders. The second was a really nifty 10-speed.
Though the second was fancier, the first is the one that stirs the most memories. Back then, in the ’50s, bicycles meant for me and other …

Tweets

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Event Reminders

May Biking Starts Great

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After a day off I was back biking today. I drove to New Caney and parked at Brookshire Brothers. The weather was good for riding: 82 degrees light wind and partly cloudy sky. I unloaded the Stradalli and rolled out of the parking at 12:35 riding the “New Caney – Conroe – New Caney” route. I finished at 3:34 riding 40.0 miles averaging 16.4 mph. The higher than normal average speed made for a quick ride with time moving of 2:24:57. Other than traffic lights I only made one rest stop at the Valero Corner Store at Loop 336 and FM1314.

Traffic was what I would call normal on the ride over good asphalt roads. The one section of concrete pavement was from SH 242 to Gene Campbell Road. Debris on the shoulders wasn’t too bad. The Continental Gatorskin tires are doing their job with no flats since I installed them 1,000 miles ago. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I switched to the new tires.

I stopped at the Valero around the 21.6 mile point. I rested and ate a couple of snacks and some Gatorade. I needed the fuel for the remaining 19 miles back to New Caney. While I was eating a man sitting in a white diesel pickup stuck his head out the window to ask if that was a rear view mirror on my helmet. He asked if it kept people from running into me. I replied that it didn’t stop them but I might see if they were headed my way.

On Wednesday’s ride the first love bugs appeared. They were mostly on Old Atascocita Road east of FM2100 with a few at the Huffman Chevron when I stopped there. Today there were a few more when I stopped at the Valero store. I hope they don’t get too numerous. They don’t bite but they are annoying when riding through a swarm of them. All of the rain and warming temperature is probably bringing them out.

I was looking for wildflowers today and there were some but not as many as I expected. Most of them were along SH 242.

Happy to report no dog sprints today.

Weather at the start of the ride
Weather when I stopped at the Valero Loop 336 and FM1314
New Caney weather at the finish

[iframe https://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/762249683 465px 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/296224246/embed/e021b06d385c19c9db626e5732fda075a7d5d1df 590px 500px]

A recap of my April biking.

4-29-2015 April to Date