Texas Bicycling News Digest April 1st

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Wounded not broken

Story by Spc. Maricris Cosejo        www.dvidshub.net


FORT BLISS, Texas – A crowd of wounded Soldiers lined up in front of a registration booth during the U.S. Army trials, Fort Bliss, Texas, March 29, 2015. One Soldier, wearing a black shirt with the words “Wounded Warrior (some assembly required)” printed in white on his shirt, waited anxiously to pick up his bib number and registration papers.
From behind the registration table, he seemed normal. The long line of competitors behind him eagerly awaited their turn. As soon as he wheeled out from behind the …

Stephen Frederick Agency Announces Support to The Hill Country Ride in the Austin, TX Area to Help Combat AIDS

www.benzinga.com

Stephen Frederick Agency in Austin, TX announced its new charity program designed to support the efforts of The Hill Country Ride, benefitting the local community through an annual cycling event in Central Texas. The event’s mission is to help raise awareness and funds to provide life saving support to thousands of Central Texans living with HIV/AIDS by raising money for 10 local nonprofit organizations dedicated to that same worthy cause.
Since 2006, there has been a 40 percent increase in the number of HIV-positive patients in the Greater Austin area – far outpacing the population boom. While the disease is staging a dramatic comeback in …

In this edition of Spoke&Word…

BikeHouston


A Word from Michael Payne about hope for the future, read more>>
BikeHouston@Work
Find out what BikeHouston has been doing to improve your rides, read more>>
BikeHouston@Events
Come see us at our events from socials to community rides and more, read more>>
BikeHouston&Me
New BikeHouston staff member: meet Nabiha, read more>>
BikeHouston@Reviews
All kind of events and much more,  read more>>
Ride > North West Cycling Club in the spotlight, read more>> …

I’m a Wimp 😉

Pit’s Fritztown News

Last Saturday, at the LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour,…

Preparing for the Ride
… I turned around at the first rest stop, after 8.5 miles, so that my total distance was 17 miles. My body and my legs felt very good still when I arrived at that rest stop, but mentally it was a different thing. I kept thinking of the hills that were to come, starting just around the corner of that rest stop, and that, with me averaging about 10 miles per hour, the 42 …

Loop Group Ride

San Angelo Bicycle Association

TX Dept of Transportation
4502 Knickerbocker – San Angelo
Date(s) – 04/14/2015
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: TX Dept of Transportation
Categories: Road Ride
When: Wheels rolling by 6:00 P.M.
Where: Meet in the TX Dot parking lot at the corner of Knickerbocker and Loop 306
A ride of 30, 25, or 20 miles depending on your preference or level of fitness. There are usually two different groups. One of the groups will ride at a pace of 18-21 mph and the other will ride at a pace of 14-18 mph. This is not a no-drop ride, but we tend to stick together in one of the two groups. If you are new to the area, or new to cycling we encourage you to come out and ride. We have always made sure new participants are welcomed to the ride and have always had a volunteer willing to ride with them in order to show them the route.

Arlington Critical Mass – April 2015!

Friday, April 24 at 7:00pm in CDT
Levitt Pavilion Arlington
100 W Abram St, Arlington, Texas 76010
We’ll meetup at Levitt Pavilion Arlington by the brass guitar player again. Route and details TBD later.
Meetup at 7:00P.M., roll-out by 7:30P.M.
As always, bring a helmet, lights, and water as needed.

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/shannontris/status/583368779104546816

https://twitter.com/VILLARREAL_14/status/583344672275234816

https://twitter.com/txbikeracing/status/583292591258484736

Event Reminders

Biking Oakhurst – Cumberland – Valley Ranch

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The sun hid behind the clouds during the ride today. The wind made riding hard but not impossible when I rode into it. Temperature was hovered around 80 degrees and the 9 mph south wind kept me from getting overly warm. I wore a long sleeve jersey mainly to avoid sunscreen but it came in handy to stay comfortable in the wind. The “Oakhurst – Cumberland – Valley Ranch” route took me to the north and west without crossing the Gran Parkway construction. I didn’t want to pack the bike and drive to the other side of the construction and this 32.31 mile route did the trick. I modified the early miles to add to the distance and it worked out.

No dog sprints for the first ride in April and no other bikers spotted.

Riding through Valley Ranch I could see the construction in places. If they are going to finish this year the pace will need to pickup. The overpass of Fm1314 still does not have the beams in place.

My legs did better today. I was able to get my average speed up to 15.2 mph before I start south on the US59 service road from Valley Ranch. I took a rest break at the Texaco station at Valley Ranch Crossing and US59. I knew the wind would be tough all the way to Northpark where I turn north and head back to Kingwood. During the ride I noticed my handlebars were not straight with the front wheel. I thought this might be the case earlier but today I adjusted the handlebar while I was stopped. I guess I needed it to be perfect. It is much better now.

I stopped in Porter to get a screenshot of the weather.

Weather at Shipley Donuts in Porter

Weather at Shipley Donuts in Porter

No biking tomorrow. I should ride on Friday, weather permitting.

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Texas Cycling News Roundup March 31st

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Sports trials begin for Army Warrior Games team

By Shannon Collins        www.army.mil


EL PASO, Texas (March 30, 2015) — About 75 active-duty and veteran Soldiers will go head to head in cycling, swimming, archery, shooting, track and field, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball March 29 to April 2 here to make the Army team to participate during the Department of Defense Warrior Games in June.
As the Texas sun beat down and the wind kicked up, the upright cyclists kicked off the Army Trials, followed by the recumbents and hand cyclists at about 4,000 feet of elevation. During the next several days, the athletes will compete in air pistol, air rifle, recurve, compound bow for archery, track and field, swimming, wheelchair basketball and …

Bayou Greenway Day 2015

Houston Parks Board

Saturday, April 4, 2015
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Honorary Chair, Mayor Annise Parker
Event Chair, Carter Stern
You are invited to participate in an exciting new community event: Bayou Greenway Day 2015!
On Bayou Greenway Day, Houstonians are invited to experience the transformation happening along the city’s bayous as a result of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project. It will be a great opportunity to explore the many ways you can use the Bayou Greenways and make them your own!
Location
This free, day-long event will offer families the chance to walk, bike, run, stroll, play, and paddle between park sites along Brays Bayou Greenway Ö the star of this yearÓ³ event.
Four Ô¨ubsÔ Ö Fonde Park (5500 Carrolton), Gragg Park (2999 South Wayside), Spurlock Park (6700 Park Lane), and Mason Park (541 South 75th St) Ö will feature an array of fun activities for all ages in festival-like atmosphere. …

Find out more about autism, support local organization with run/ride

parenting.blog.statesman.com

April is Autism Awareness month. Autism Society of Central Texas is holding its seventh annual Autism Society Bike Ride and Fun Run on April 11 at Georgetown High School to support the organization. 2015 is the societyÓ³ 25th year of providing information and referrals, support, education, advocacy and recreational opportunities for individuals with autism and their families across a 24 county area.
Ride routes include 9, 24, 42 and 68 mile rides through …

Cars, bicycle involved in Central Austin crash

www.kvue.com


AUSTIN Ö A cyclist and two others were transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries after a crash at a Central Austin bus stop Monday evening.
According to Austin police, the crash involving two vehicles and a cyclist occurred around 5:50 p.m. Monday. Austin-Travis County EMS said in a tweet that there were …

Transportation group proposes $214 million in projects

By Melissa Crowe        www.victoriaadvocate.com

Transportation needs, whether by land, water or air, in Victoria County are growing at a rapid clip.
More than $214 million worth of projects, as identified by the Victoria Metropolitan Planning Organization, could benefit the community during the next 25 years.
The planning organization is a federal agency aimed at providing regional input for transportation projects and funding.
By projecting population and employment, the plan seeks to address growth and travel patterns for the next quarter-century.
Some areas of concern include bicycle and pedestrian safety, highway capacity and …

Competition week at US Army Trials kicks off with cycling competition

By Marlon Martin and Ronald W. Wolf, Army Medical Command        www.dvidshub.net


After a week of training and instructions from coaches, team building and bonding, the athletes finally got down to the task at hand — competing to demonstrate who will be selected to represent Team Army at the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2015.
The Warrior Transition Command is conducting the 2015 U.S. Army Trials, March 29 Ö April 2, hosted by Fort Bliss, Texas. About 80 wounded, ill and injured Soldiers and Veterans from across the country are competing for a spot on the Army Team. The Department of Defense Warrior Games will be …

Texas Cycling

Here are some pictures from the Texas A&M Roubaix @ William Penn this past weekend. Thanks Ashley!

Cycle Progression

4/1 Wednesday Intermediate MTB Ride leaving from Cycle Progression @ 6:00PM!
Housekeeping:
1. Please like this post if you’re interested in going so I can get a rough count.
2. The weather is currently looking a bit dodgy … so
3. If we have to cancel the BCGB portion again, we’ll switch to mellow Urban CX roll.
4. If you have lights, bring them so you have options! Last week’s ride took advantage and swung back into the shop around 9!
Ride details: …

2015 Big Ring Challenge – NEW COURSE!!

GHORBA


We got great feedback from the Marathon course we used in January and so this year the BRC will use a truncated version of the same idea – going in the reverse direction on the new trail compared to the last 4 years. It’s a little longer than the previous course – about 14 miles, but that’s just more to enjoy. Once again we’ll do 2 laps for all Cat-1 and 2 and one lap for Cat-3. …

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/BSS_Road_Club/status/583065510604107779

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/583030588807868416

https://twitter.com/PlanoCycling/status/582979043240382464

https://twitter.com/Cyclistlaw/status/582930675076067329

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/582885182388207616

Event Reminders

March Wraps Up, Bring on April

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The weather lion did not appear on the last bike ride in March. The say goes for March weather “in like a lion and out like a lamb” or the reverse, “in like a lamb and out like a lion.” The weather was great with partly cloudy sky, 84 degrees (home weather station) and a light wind. When I was getting ready to leave on the ride the weather at IAH airport showed some hefty wind from the WSW at 13 mph and 20 mph gusts but this let up by the time I got home.

Weather when I stopped at the Huffman Chevron

Weather when I stopped at the Huffman Chevron

My legs did better today thanks to some Advil and not riding quite as far or over a tall railroad overpass. I rode the usual “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route leaving home at 11:49 and returning at 2:26. I saw two other bicyclists on the west side of Lake Houston on FM1960. They were going west and I was going east. Riding east over Lake Houston was one of the sections I was able to ride at 20+ mph. the rest of the ride I always seemed to be struggling into the wind. I rode 32.6 miles with an overall average speed of 14.8 mph. I slowly built my average speed up to 15.0 mph until I got back into Kingwood. By the 30 mile point it started to go down from all of the starts and stops.

March has been my most active month so far this year. Biking 17 days out of 31 I rode a total of 575.42 miles, averaging 33.85 miles per ride. With today’s ride I made it over the 1,000 miles mark for the year at 1010 miles. I rode 31 days this year so far, for an average of 32.58 miles per ride. Now that I am getting some consistent biking in I hope to get conditioning to the point I was last year. When the yard work lets up I can go for some longer rides too.

April 1st weather looks iffy with 50% chance of rain mid-afternoon. I hope to ride before it arrives.

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