Flying Ants Stick to Sunscreen Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today was my day to take my niece and her friend to horse back riding which put a time limit on riding. I shortened the usual “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route by about 2 miles to 30.54 miles by leaving off a few streets at the beginning. Also I decided to try changing the shifting points to see if I could improve my average speed some. Normally I shift at .5 miles, 1, mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, 7 miles and then 12 or 13 miles. I can do this because the route is flat and it allows me to warm up. Today I changed the last two shift points to 5 miles and 9 miles. I noticed this improved the time it took to get my average speed above 15.0 mph. I think I will use the new shift points on routes around here that are flat. Hilly routes call for different shifting.

After two days of rain today was great for biking. A clear sky and 82+ degrees meant I wore a short sleeve jersey and shorts. I haven’t wore a short sleeve jersey for a while. I sprayed sunscreen on my arms but this caused a problem. The problem was the flying ants tended to stick to the sunscreen while I was biking. This is the time of year when ants swarm around here making biking not pleasant. I try to keep them out of my mouth as I ride and when I stop they can become a nuisance. I stopped at the Huffman Chevron and a few flying ants found me where I sat eating a snack and drinking. They seemed to be concentrated along FM1960 east of Lake Houston.

Wind was another issue today. It was from the SW, which helped with the warm temperature, at 13 mph gusting to 21 mph. On the way to Huffman this was okay but for the return leg from Huffman to home I had to deal with a strong headwind. These wind speed are from Bush Intercontinental Airport to the west of the route I was on but out in the open places I suspect the wind where I rode was the same.

I had built my average speed up to 15.4 mph at the Huffman Chevron station rest stop. From there to home it went down and up settling at 15.0 mph at the conclusion of the ride. My legs did pretty good riding west over Lake Houston on FM1960 with the wind the strongest in the open places. Sometimes the passing traffic gave me some relief but not for long. My speed in that open section was 10 to 13 mph. At the spot where the causeway is open under the road for boat traffic the wind was especially stiff.

In order to reach 130 miles for the week I added a couple of side streets off of Atascocita Shores Drive. It was just enough with my weekly total at 130.02 miles. I biked 363.84 miles so far this month and 1374 miles for the year. 11 biking days so far in April. Monday through Wednesday look like good biking days weather wise.

Weather when I stopped at Huffman

Weather when I stopped at Huffman

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Texas Bicycling News Digest April 18th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Castell Grind “Race” Report

Words : Dan Pedroza, Bicycle Sport Shop   •   Photos : Dan Pedroza and Stephan Hirsch

texasbikeracing.com


In just over one year the Castell Grind gravel grinder bike race has grown from “fun curiosity” status to “serious race” status.  While 2014 was the inaugural year for the event initially touted as a ride for bragging rights, 2015 turned up the volume to full race and brought out many big names from the road, mountain and cyclocross communities. For the 100k distance heavy hitter entries included names such as Black, Camp, Sheetz, Minard and Bonds.  If you don’t recognize those last names you need to brush up on your Central Texas bike racing history.
The 2015 course was identical to the 2014 course except that it was run in the reverse direction with the south loop covering the first 30k and then finishing the last 30k rolling through the north loop.   The strategy for 2015 varied greatly from the 2014 race.  In 2014 the front pack was comprised of …

Report examines race’s impact on Zilker Park trees

By Kevin Schwaller        kxan.com        (Video)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city plans to meet with organizers of the 2015 USA Cyclocross National Championships after a report about the impact of the race on Zilker Park.
The issue of possible damage highlighted by those concerned about the park’s trees is now complicated with conflicting information. A report from an outside arborist for USA Cycling contradicts some of the city’s analysis.
“Post race, the arborist for [the city] developed a remedial tree care report to address perceived soil compaction of 57 trees. When several samples of …

Mad Duck Cyclery


“Clink” at ride for heroes, fixing the world 1 bike at a time.. #bikemechanic #superhero #ilovemybike
Mad Duck Crew underway at Ride For Heroes #bikerally #cycling #bikelife #ride #rally

Technical Assistance With Bicycle Mobility Planning

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 05/06/15 3:00 PM
Prebid: 04/21/15 3:00 PM
Solicitation Title: Technical Assistance With Bicycle Mobility Planning
Owner Solic Number: 2015-S-06    Status: bidding    Report: 6263419
Country :United States     State: TX    County: Nueces
Location: Corpus Christi
Set Aside Types: MBE/DBE (Minority / Disadvantaged)
Scope: provide technical assistance for the development of bicycle mobility. Notes: OFFERORS are encouraged to attend a pre-qualification meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at 3:00 PM at 5658 Bear Lane, Corpus Christi, Texas.Request for Information (RFI’s) are due Friday, April 24, 2015 by 3:00 PM.DBE Goal: 13%.
Plans: From Owner. See attached file.
Owner Type: Public
Buyer: Corpus Christi Regional Transit Authority, Contracts Dept.
Address: 5658 Bear Lane
City: Corpus Christi    State: TX    Zip/Postal Code: 78405
TEL: 361-289-2712    FAX: 361-289-0605
Website: http://www.ccrta.org

Hill Country bike ride raises money for AIDS

By Rachael Teague        kxan.com    (Video)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ten AIDS service organizations came together more than 15 years ago to create a cycling event to raise money to fund services for people affected by HIV and AIDS in central Texas.
Now celebrating it’s 16th anniversary ride, Erin Cargile had Prentiss Douthit in the studio Saturday morning to talk about how the Hill Country Bike ride is raising money for people living with AIDS.

Injured vets prepare for ‘Ride 2 Recovery’

By St. John Barned-Smith        www.houstonchronicle.com


Duane Wagner, a veteran and Ride 2 Recovery athlete puts on his cycling shoes. Wagner, 68, was injured in Vietnam when a grenade blew off his legs; now, he says cycling to help others gives him a “high.” ?
Jen Goodbody’s war wounds came years before she deployed to Iraq in 2003; in 1998, fresh out of Army boot camp, she claims her sergeant sexually assaulted her.
To continue reading this story, you will need to be a digital subscriber to HoustonChronicle.com.

Tweets

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Event Reminder

Texas Bicycling News Digest April 17th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

BP prez ready for his ninth year to bike to Austin

Natalie Harms, Print associate editor-Houston Business Journal        www.bizjournals.com


On April 18, Richard Morrison will kick off his Trek 2.0 bike to venture from Houston to Austin over two days with about 600 of his teammates, including his co-workers and his brother, for his ninth BP MS 150.
Morrison, who is president of London-based BP’s Gulf of Mexico division, is a dedicated biker and fundraiser for the …

Day 1 of BP MS 150 canceled due to bad weather

By John Boyd        www.chron.com
Organizers of the BP MS 150 bike ride scheduled for this weekend have been forced to cancel Day 1 of the two-day ride due to poor conditions caused by this week’s rain.
Specifically, heavy rains at the gathering points of the Fayette County Fairgrounds and Camp St. Mark’s led to the cancellation.
The Day 2 ride from La Grange to Austin is expected to proceed as previously scheduled.
Full statement from organizers:
“After serious consideration, Day 1(Saturday, April 18) of the 2015 BP MS 150 is canceled due to conditions at the overnight sites in La Grange and the expected severe weather in the area. Excessive rainfall and wind that occurred throughout this week has had a significant impact on the two sites where a majority of teams and cyclists camp overnight, Fayette County Fairgrounds and Camp St. Mark’s, and have been determined unsafe and inaccessible. The City of La Grange Office of Emergency Management has closed these sites. We know our cyclists have put in a lot of training and fundraising efforts. Your …

Leander police using bike patrols to combat construction site thefts

By Calily Bien        kxan.com    (Video)

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — To combat a recent spike of stolen items at construction sites in Leander, the police department is turning to bicycle patrols. Thieves are stealing tools, plywood, compressors and even a trailer full of tools.
The Leander police currently has two bike officer patrolling in …

60 Mile Bicycle ride to Seabrook,tx

www.wherevent.com

301 Milam St and Congress St,Houston
Saturday 25 April 2015, 07:30
Organized by : Alvaro Escalona
60 Mile round trip from Market square park to Dairy Queen in Seabrook,TX
Location:
902 Meyer RD
Seabrook, Texas 77586
(281) 474-4900
The pace will be 12-15mph with one stop each way 15 miles into the ride. We will stop for flats or minor repairs. Once we arrive to our destination we will grab a bite, snap some pictures, rest, and start our return back to Houston. …

Urban Forestry Board critical of USA Cycling report

by Audrey McGlinchy        www.austinmonitor.com

Members of the Urban Forestry Board are highly critical of the methods used in a report by USA Cycling that claims the city, not the cycling organization, caused most of the damage done to 57 trees in Zilker Park during a Cyclocross event in January.
USA Cycling said in January it had budgeted funds to pay for repairs to the park, but a wide difference of opinion has developed between the cycling group and the city over the extent of …

Emmett sheds light on his Dome proposal

By Ken Hoffman        www.houstonchronicle.com

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett unveils his plan for the Astrodome, to make it “the world’s largest indoor park,” during a press conference on the floor of the Astrodome Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, in Houston. Emmett said he envisions a large park area, with running and hiking trails, pavilion, spaces for education and events. ( Johnny Hanson / Houston Chronicle )
In 2008, Ed “Hunker Down” Emmett gained a lot of local admiration and national reputation for his calmness in the eye of the storm.
To continue reading this story, you will need to be a digital subscriber to HoustonChronicle.com.

Bike on the Seawall!!

Sunday, Apr 26, 2015, 8:45 AM

Target in Galveston
6128 Broadway St Galveston, TX

4 Cyclists Went

Bike on the Seawall RideWe will meet at the Target store parking lot which is off 61st street exit on I-45. Make a u-turn and this is the second exit after the causeway. We will bike to Moody Center for a quick break. We will not take 61st to Moody. From there we will bike to the seawall and bike on the seawall at 10 MPH all the way to McDonalds f…

Check out this Meetup →

MS Bike Ride veteran takes 150-mile victory lap

by Kirk Dooley        www.dallasnews.com


Fourteen years ago, I hired my nephew to work on fundraising events for the local office of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was young, energetic and hard working, and so he fit in well with the rest of the tight-knit, dedicated staff.
I had been the chairman of the local MS board and was named interim executive director when the Dallas MS chapter was merged into a statewide chapter. I stared nepotism in the face, then hired Kelly Dooley because I knew what he was made of. It …

Lubbock Board of Health hears argument for more, safer bike lanes

By ELLYSA GONZALEZ    A-J MEDIA        lubbockonline.com

Lubbock bikers need safer transportation options, according to three presenters at the Lubbock Board of Health meeting Friday.
The board heard presentations from a local citizen and a representative of the West Texas Cycling Association about why the …

West Texas Cycling Association lobbies for bike lanes

www.lubbockcw.com


Lubbock’s master plan for biking is being updated.
Members of the West Texas Cycling Association were lobbying the Health Board for designated bicycle paths throughout the city.
They say designated lanes will separate bicyclists from motorized traffic and improve overall safety.
“We need to get the word out to stop at stop signs, to obey the rules, to stop at lights, to wear bright clothing, to be …

Pedernales Falls State Park Trail Build & Ride!

Thursday, Apr 23, 2015, 9:00 AM

Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Road 6026 Johnson City, TX

2 Mountain Bikers Went

Pedernales Falls State Park TRAIL BUILD & RIDE!BRING YOUR PAYDIRT FORMS! http://www.tmbra.org/paydirt/paydirt.htmThe completed sections of the new trail were a hit at the 2014 Cranksgiving!  BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!  5+ miles of trail are still under development!These sections, not yet open to the public, have lots of elevation changes, G-outs an…

Check out this Meetup →

Essential Gear For Your First Cycling Expedition

By Darryl        lovingthebike.com


Going on a cycling expedition is not for the faint of heart. Whether you are traveling through hundreds of miles of endless roads or heading off into the country for an off-road trip, it can be a grueling experience.
Make no mistake about it, there will be tough times ahead. But those times can be softened considerably with the equipment you bring with you. We’ve listed some ideas for you below, and we think they will help anyone going on a cycling trip for the very first time.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the things you will need for your very first cycling adventure.
A Reason
If you don’t have a good reason for going on a cycling expedition, there’s more chance that you …

Help Us Welcome the League to ATX

BikeTexas.org

Members Get First Drink Free
The League of American Bicyclists is coming to town next week to talk about Austin’s Bicycle Friendly Community status, and we think that’s a great reason to party! Join us on Thursday, April 23, from 5-7 PM at Zilker Brewing Company, 1701 E 6th St (map) for Happy Hour and to chat with friends from BikeTexas, Bike Austin, and the League.
Members of BikeTexas, Bike Austin, or …

Do bike lanes make South Lamar safer?

Austin On A Bike        austinonabike.com


ust got word that South Lamar had some bike lanes installed all the way down to the 290/71/Ben White. Here’s a pic sent in that shows them on the southbound side down by the Broken Spoke:
I’m out of town right now (Old Settler’s Music Festival, anyone?) so I can’t check it out myself, but I wonder – does this make South Lamar safer for bikes?
I certainly feel safer with a bike lane than without, but if you do find me riding on …

Tweets

https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/589120085765173249

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/589089320167944192

Event Reminders

Just Short of My Goal on This Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I rode to the north today starting at New Caney in the Brookshire Brothers Grocery parking lot. When I left home the sky was mostly cloudy but as the ride progressed the sky got cloudy. The weather forecast said thunderstorms were possible but no rain while I was riding. The temperature was in the upper 70’s most of the time and 80 degrees when I finished at 2:54 to the parking lot.

The plan was to ride 32 miles to reach 100 for the week but I fell short by .53 of a mile. I added another section to the previous rides on the “New Caney – Grangerland – New Caney” route after I left the Valero station at FM1485 and FM3083. I went south on Old Houston Road to SH 242 and then back to FM1485. I thought this might be far enough to ride the necessary miles. The ride turned out to be 31.81 miles long. Average speed was good when I reached Grangerland at 16.4 mph. This was helped by the nice tailwind most of the way. Turning back towards New Caney at Grangerland I had to ride into the wind and my average speed started to go down. When I got to the Valero station it was 16.3 mph but after a 20 minute or so rest when I got back on the bike it had dropped to 16.0 mph.

The ride on Old Houston road south let me keep the average speed at 16.0 mph but riding east on SH 242 put me into a strong headwind. Turning right onto FM1485 for the ride back to New Caney cut the headwind back some but my average speed still went down. At the finish I averaged 15.8 mph.

The long stretches of uninterrupted riding helped me to keep a high pace. On FM2090 west of Splendora I was able to ride at 19 to 21 mph in many places.

The weather forecast for Saturday includes some rain but lower probability than today. I hope to ride after the morning garage sale.

This week I rode 99.47 miles, 333.3 miles in April and 1343 miles for the year to date. 10 biking days out of 17 in April.

New Caney weather at the start of the ride
New Caney weather at the end of the ride

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