A Tale of Woe from a Texas Biker

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It’s 5 days into 2015. I am starting to get cabin fever from not biking. Today I looked at my riding history from January 2014. Back then I rode 329 miles but I am beginning to doubt that I can replicate that mileage this year. The weather has not reached 60 degrees yet and the one day it got close it rained. I am a temperature wimp who can’t bring himself to ride when it is below 60 degrees.

By coincidence my wife and I both looked up the weather for Key West, FL. Today it was 84 degrees and the rest of the week the forecast calls for 79 degrees. We visited there last year in May but I am wanting to go there now to escape this cold weather. The problem is taking my bike with me on the airline. There are bike rentals there but not like the bike I ride.

I used to think Houston was far enough south to ride almost every week. The last time I was on my road bike was December 22nd. The weather forecast:

1-5-2015 WU 10 Day Forecast

Not one day gets to or above 60 degrees. Some days even have rain.

A tale of woe!!!

Update: I forgot to mention that last night while we were watching TV we heard a hissing sound behind us. I got up and tried to locate the noise. Entering the utility room I saw water spraying from the wall behind the washer. The cold water hose was spewing water near the valve in the wall. The valve had not been turned for over 20 years and I had to work on it to get it to turn. I grabbed a towel to deflect the water so that I could see. I turned the washing machine on to lower the water pressure (not sure this did anything) and finally got the valve turned off. Cleaning up the mess I couldn’t move the washer out very far since it was 1/2 full of water.

This morning I went to Lowes for replacement hoses. I got the washer empty and pulled it out. As I was unhooking the cold water hose from the washer I saw that end was shot as well. I went ahead and replaced both hoses. Hopefully they last another 20+ years. This gave me something to do while I couldn’t bike.

It was good that we were home to stop the flooding. 30 years ago in our previous house we were not so fortunate when the washer mixing valve burst and we ended up with 2 – 3 inches of water in the utility room. We were not home then.

Texas Bicycling News Digest January 4th

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Kingwood Fillies’ annual Bike Through Forest and Hills fundraiser set for Jan. 24

By Jacob McAdams        www.yourhoustonnews.com/humble


The Kingwood Fillies will host the annual Bike Through the Forest and Hills on Jan. 24 outside of the San Jacinto County courthouse in Coldspring, Texas.
The Bike Through the Forest and Hills is a bike ride that extends all around Coldspring covering a maximum distance of 46 miles.
All proceeds for the event go to the Kingwood Fillies dance team of Kingwood High School.
The Kingwood Fillies are a drill team lead by Director April Swenson. They have won numerous …

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Austin, TX
3,937 Mountain Bikers

Meet other local mountain bikers to organize rides, review trails, gear and trade tips. All skill-levels welcome. We’ll try to organize rides that fit all experience levels. M…

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Starting the New Year with a Pfsst!

Bike Noob

Finally got a break from the cold, rainy weather that started 2015, and I was anxious to get out on the bike Saturday. My wife had already done her ride for the day, and I was moving too slow to go with her. Once I finally did get saddled up, she was back, showered, and already hard at work in our home office.
I figured I’d start the new year with one of my most frequent rides, about an hour and a half through the neighborhood. The bike was performing well. It shifted silently and rolled smoothly. On this sunny, 55-degree (12C) afternoon, I saw a number of other bikers, but no one I knew.
I turned south to go to a hilly subdivision. While climbing an easy hill toward a highway that I had to cross, I became aware of a click from …

HBC Ride Schedule

Houston Bicycle Club

Saturday 01/10/15     Hempstead Melon Trail    8:30am     Ronald & Lilette Britsch
Sunday 01/11/15     Urban Challenge Ride    9:00 a.m.     Dan Lyons
Saturday 01/17/15     Pattison – Hempstead    8:30am     Ronald & Lilette Britsch
Saturday 01/24/15     Chappell Hill West    8:30am     Don Johnson
Saturday 01/31/15     Sealy West    8:30am     Don Johnson
Saturday 02/07/15     Columbus – North    8:30am     Don Johnson

INVITATION: Bike the Woodlands Coalition 2015 Kick Off Meeting (Make 2015 a year to get involved)

by Alan Charley        woodlandscycling.org

Bike The Woodlands Coalition 2015 Kick Off MeetingBike The Woodlands Coalition 2015 Kick Off Meeting • January 15, 2015 • 7-9 p.m.
We are beginning the New Year with a kick-off meeting by reviewing new bicycle projects in and… around The Woodlands. Two of our speakers are in the middle of making these happen. We will also discuss several bicycle and community events planned for 2015, and how you can participate. These events will help us accomplish strategies we developed during 2014 (Strategic Plan attached).
Please join other cycling enthusiasts to learn more about recent events and projects. Help decide what we will do in 2015 to “create a better community through bicycling”. There will be food and beverages, so let us know if you’re coming. You …

January Newsletter Published

Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts

The January edition of the DATES-Line Newsletter is published and available for download from the newsletters page. This month’s edition includes the following:
Southwest Tandem Rally
Pilot Point Ride
Christmas Lights Ride
Ride Leaders Needed
2015 Double DATES Membership Renewal

Paceline

Fort Worth Bicycling Association

Our most recent Paceline (the club’s online newsletter) was added 1-3-15 and is available below. Archives are available in the Members Area.
January 2015 (pdf)

Cyclist in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle

By Leezia Dhalla, For the Express-News

According to local media reports a cyclist is in critical condition after he was hit by a vehicle early Sunday morning on the city’s Southeast Side.
San Antonio police told reporters that the unnamed man was found sprawled in the street near the intersection of Dollarhide and Pollydale avenues at around 2 a.m.
Officers are searching for the driver of the …

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Texas Bicycling News Digest January 3rd

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Anthony and McDonald Win at Dallas Resolution CX, Both Taking Much Different Paths: Brief Report

Andrew Reimann        www.cxmagazine.com


Although the official reports are not yet in, it looks as if Crystal Anthony (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit) was able to use her experience of the deep mud in Europe to propel herself to a big win today at Dallas Resolution CX. This is her second UCI win of the season, the first coming at NBX, where in the same situation, she was fresh off the European racing scene.
Of the four World Cup stages Anthony was present form she consistently finished in the top 25. She finished ahead of Amanda Miller (Boulder Cycle Sport/YogaGlo), who with the second place on the day now has stood on the …

Texas Mountain Biking (River Legacy)

by Matthew Miller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H0vQ3upMII&feature=player_detailpage
Located at River Legacy Park in Arlington, Texas. Features normal trails as well as an area called Fun Town filled with jumps and obstacles.

how much does it cost to ride cross country

by spectastic        www.bikeforums.net

I want to do a 2100 mile trip from the TX/LA border to San Francisco. I want to be as light as possible, so I’ll probably only bring a backpack of clothes and a tooth brush. I would like to knock out around 100 miles a day, and then take a greyhound back. I will look at warm showers, but I don’t expect to get 100% success with it. So that will mean hotels or rest stops, because I don’t want to bring a tent (maybe a sleeping bag if it’s quiet and dry.) As for food, 100 miles/day would mean I need to consume about 5-6000 cal/day, meaning I would probably spend a lot of time at cici’s pizza buffet section.
Here’s my estimate after some crude assumptions:
$350 on hotels (assuming I have to spend 7 days paying for a low budget $50/night hotel)
$315 on food (assuming $15/day for 5 clif bars, a good breakfast, and a $6.99 buffet at cici’s)
$100 on the bus ride back, seeing the countryside
$400 on hookers and blow (just kidding)
~$800 on the trip, what do you think?
This is just a tentative plan. I’m not totally committed yet. Can someone who’s done this before …
(numerous comments)

Please Come To Texas

by Sky King        biketouringnews.com


In 2010 The Bike Hermit took his first bike jaunt in Texas.  Titled Texas Buckaroos, his adventure is well chronicled on crazyguyonabike.com.  Since then, I have heard about his trip pretty much Every Single Day; how amazing this part of Texas is, how friendly the people are, how we need to move to Texas, how Boise is actually hotter and colder than Alpine – you name it, I’ve heard it.  Being who I am,  my initial reaction was there is no way I am moving to Texas.  Those who know me know that  I tend to balk when others rave about certain places or things – yes even when The …

2015 Cyclocross Nationals Race Course Preview

The Radavist        theradavist.com

It’s not every year that the USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals land in your backyard. Over the past few days, the crews here in Austin have been mapping out the course, staking turns and building lots of the additions to the otherwise rough and rocky limestone outcroppings.
There are a number of places where you’ll be able to gain momentum, until it ends abruptly with sharp turns and muddy corners. The course is soaking wet today, but it’s not supposed to rain anymore until Saturday. Right now, it looks like it’ll be a blast, especially going down the main hill before the uphill barriers.
I swung by today after a ride and shot a few quick photos, after pre-riding most of …

Bat City Cycling

Thanks to all that came out for the 2nd annual Taco Ride!

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Texas Bicycling News Digest January 2nd

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Cell phone use while driving now illegal in two major Texas cities

abc13.com

AUSTIN, TX — While there’s no statewide law prohibiting hand-held cell phone use while driving, you might find yourself with a big fine if you do it now in two big Texas cities.
New ordinances went into effect in both San Antonio and Austin yesterday. Austin’s law prohibits the use of all electronic hand-held devices while driving and riding a bicycle. And in San Antonio, you’re not allowed to drive while using a mobile device to talk or text.
The fine if you’re caught in Austin is up to $500. In San Antonio, you could be looking at a …

U.S. bicyclist deaths on the rise

By Alex Kramer, HealthDay Reporter        www.kltv.com

FRIDAY, Jan. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of bicyclist fatalities in the United States is increasing, particularly among adults in major cities, a recent study shows.
After decreasing from 1975 to 2010, the number of bicyclists killed annually increased by 16 percent from 2010 to 2012. More than 700 bicyclists died on U.S. roads in 2012, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The study also reported that the percentage of these deaths that occur in densely populated urban areas has risen from 50 percent in 1975 to 69 percent in 2012.
“We’ve seen a gradual trend over time where more adults are bicycling in cities, so we need cities to develop ways for …

Biking in Houston: It’s not just for the young and hip

By Mike Snyder        www.houstonchronicle.com


A couple of months ago I happened to be downtown on a weekend, on one of those lovely fall days we get in Houston. I was walking past Market Square Park and, on a whim, checked out a bike from the B-Cycle kiosk. I probably hadn’t been on a bike more than three or four times in the past 20 years, but the old saw about never losing this childhood skill seems to be true. I was a bit wobbly, but I stayed upright. As I tooled along the downtown streets (there was little traffic on a Sunday afternoon) and on the trail along Buffalo Bayou, I remembered something important:
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Last minute prep for Cyclo-cross Nationals

By Gus Grissom        www.usacycling.org

Well, it’s happened again: another great season of cyclo-cross has wrapped up. That is, of course, unless you are one of the lucky, adventurous ‘cross racers who has decided to give your season one final peak, one last adventure before cleaning those race wheels and dreaming of the ever-elusive “next year.”

Yes, it’s time for the 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. And this year the action will center on Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, Jan. 7-11.

So if you’re one of the lucky ones preparing for your trip to Nats, what do you need to know? What should you think about in the final days before your big race?

Mentally prepare yourself for a “big-time” race.

According to Rusty Williford, coach for Fulcrum Coaching and …

No looking back: John Estrada

By CHRISTINA R. GARZA Staff Writer        www.valleymorningstar.com


By CHRISTINA R. GARZA Staff Writer
When Brownsville resident John Estrada began his weight loss journey more than a year ago, he was borderline diabetic, took blood-pressure medication and suffered backaches at six-feet-tall and 460 pounds. Today, the 43-year-old weights 225 pounds and recently completed the Pico De Gallo 100-mile bike tour.
Estrada said he decided to make a lifestyle change April 21, 2013, and has not looked back since.
Estrada consulted with his doctor before beginning a diet, but Estrada said because his weight had reached such an extreme his doctor believed any diet would be a …

Elbowz Racing Elite Cycling Team

From our own momma Spies about our first event to promote bicycle safety with Txdot and Elbowz. It was truly an amazing experience and we couldn’t be more proud of our team and organization for their professionalism and courtesy. Can’t wait for the next!
Mary Spies        Elbowz Racing Elite Cycling Team
so here it is….holiday times, fast weekends and all about fun. Yet 3 men got up at 4 a.m. instead of sleeping in and drove not just to Dallas from Austin but further past the airport to the Ranch. Our 1st safety awareness event for children. This was not and “in” and “out” event. This was not about giving a box to a child and them walking away. This was a powerful intervention with the infrastructure of our society, our community in a joint effort from Ellbowz Cycle Team, TX DOT, SPECIALIZED and LOVE FOR KIDS of Dallas. HUGE few hours. It was supposed to be about …

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