Getting Ready for the Ride

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I was packing up the bike for Saturday’s Pineywood Purgatory and after removing the rear wheel I kept getting chain lube all over me. For sometime I have not been happy with the lube because it gets on everything and it is difficult to wash off. There are spots on the Stradalli that seem to be permanently stained black. I took the bike back out and removed the chain ( it has 4568 miles on it). The plan was to install the new KMC-11 chain I have had for a month or more. Installing the master link was fairly easy with the KMC Missing Link installation tool I bought a couple of months back. Now I need a removal tool when it comes time to wax the chain again.

Without the wheels on the bike it was difficult to remove the chain and install the new one. I got my ancient Blackburn workstand out to hold the bike by the seat tube. With the bike in the air I thought it would be easier and it was. Even with the old chain laying on the ground I still managed to put many black smears on the white areas of the Stradalli. With an old pair of underwear as a wash cloth and some strong perfumed laundry detergent I washed the black smears off. The new chain is now on the bike. I hope the old adage of not changing components before a big ride does not apply riding the Pineywoods Purgatory.

Now I tackled my Motobecane 700HT mountain bike replacing the very old Performance Bike pedals with Shimano PD-M540 ones. This went easier than the chain replacement. Next up I need to replace the cleats on my mountain bike shoes and change the tires. The tires on the bike are very knobby and I have some Performance tires that are not so knobby. This should help when I ride on asphalt and concrete which what I mostly do. As the weather cools I will ride my mountain bike more.

Fall Wind Blows

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No problem over heating today. During the night a cool front passed through dropping 1.23″ of rain at my house and the temperature as well. By the time I left at 11:11 the streets were dry. During today’s ride it was in the lower 80’s with a 15 mph wind from the NNW. This made riding north to New Caney challenging but not impossible. Once I reached New Caney and turned west onto FM1485 the wind was not as much of a problem. On Gene Campbell Road the wind was not much of a factor. When I was riding on FM1314 back to Porter the tailwind helped me get my speed up to 20+ mph.

The deep blue sky seemed to go forever. My polarized sunglasses probably enhanced the effect.

Riding 38.17 miles was slightly longer than usual for what I label the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route. I added a few streets before I left Kingwood. Since this is the second ride after our vacation I did not expect my average speed to that great with the headwind. I did not get my average speed up to 15 mph until 20 miles into the ride. By the 35 mile point it was up to 15.7 mph. Once I got into Kingwood for the last 3 miles or so it dropped down to 15.5 mph. I am pleased with my efforts and look forward to riding the Pineywoods Purgatory in Lufkin tomorrow morning. It could be a little chilly at the 8 AM start but the forecast calls for upper 70’s to low 80’s by noon. The problem is getting up at 5 AM to drive to Lufkin. I figure to leave home at 5:45 to arrive in Lufkin at 7:15.

At the 27 mile mark today I arrived at the Stripes store on FM1314. I am pleased the price of gas has dropped to $2.959 while I was away on our trip. Up north the rices were somewhat higher. With the cooler weather today I sat in the sun while I ate my snack and Gatorade. A breeze would have felt nice but I was on the south side of the store and the wind was from the north.

My year to date miles reached 5604 with today’s ride. That is about 900 from my goal of 6500 for the year. This looks reachable.

Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS for today.

Route in Google Earth
Ride Metrics
Home weather ride end
Ride comparison of this route
Week to date
Year to date

Texas Bicycling News Digest October 2nd

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Next Event:

LONE STAR Randonneurs

October 11 0700
206k,317k,400k 601k RUSA Brevets
Cleburne

Tour de Cypresswood Bike Path

Thursday, Oct 9, 2014, 6:00 PM

Cypresswood Bike Path
1/2 Block East of Cypress Wood Crossing Blvd. Cypress, TX

5 cyclists Went

Tour de Cypresswood Bike PathIf you’re wondering what to do about that mountain bike hanging up in the garage, Come out and enjoy the trails of Cypresswood with us.People ask me sometime, “Tommy, It’s so hard to get out and ride my mountain bike”. As an Expert Rider, I tell them, ” First of all, do not hang your bike up on hooks. This will make i…

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Critical Mass Houston

Friday, Oct 31, 2014, 7:00 PM

Market Square Park
301 Milam Street Houston, TX

6 cyclists Went

Houston CriticalMass @HoustonCMThe Houston Critical Mass is a bicycling event held on the last Friday of every month. We meet up at Market Square Park in downtown Houston around 7pm.criticalmasshouston.comalso:Critical Mass Houston is a casual bike ride starting from downtown Houston and going wherever. Cars rule the road every day, but one day…

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Bike ride at George Bush Park

Sunday, Oct 5, 2014, 9:00 AM

Fun Fair Positive Soccer – Westheimer Pkwy
20150 Westheimer Pkwy Houston, TX

5 Katy bicyclist fun riders Went

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Drivers vs. cyclists

By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe / Staff Writer        www.dentonrc.com


Former Denton resident Chris Cowdrey finally got a new bike about two months ago. He finds riding around his new home in Denver safer than riding in Denton, particularly since the Colorado capital has dedicated bike lanes.
Last November, he was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle on Sherman Drive in northeast Denton.
“It was kind of weird,” Cowdrey said. “Usually when you see headlights and they get close, the driver changes lanes.”
Cowdrey was riding near the edge of the outside eastbound lane a little after 2 a.m. The driver drifted from the inside lane toward Cowdrey, hitting him and…

TMA to Give Away 6,000 Bike Helmets

www.ourtribune.com

The Texas Medical Association (TMA) will give away 6,151 free bicycle helmets to Texas children in October, more helmets than TMA has ever given in a month, in celebration of the 20th birthday of its Hard Hats for Little Heads program.
TMA physicians, medical students, TMA Alliance members (volunteers who are TMA physicians and TMA members’ spouses), county medical societies (CMSs), and other volunteers will host free helmet giveaways in their communities. TMA also will underscore the importance of wearing a properly fitted helmet with parents and their children participating in events (see schedule below).
“This month represents 20 wonderful years of TMA giving and saving the lives of little Texans, one helmet at a time,” said Ernest Buck, MD, a Corpus Christi pediatrician and chair of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion, which oversees the Hard Hats for Little Heads program. “Fitting helmets at an…

Biking to the Festival

www.aclfestival.com

f you’re biking to the fest, check out a few tips from our friends at Mellow Johnny’s and Austin B-Cycle! Mellow Johnny’s will be set up on site outside the Barton Springs Entrance to help with any last minute cycle needs you might have and B-Cycle wants to make it easy for YOU to get to the fest using their bike share program. Bike parking is removed on Monday following each weekend, so be sure to remove your bike by then. Read below for more details from Mellow Johnny’s & B-Cycle! …

San Angelo Bicycle Association

Just a friendly heads up that our Friday night rides (8pm), and Sunday Shop Rides (5pm) have both been temporarily moved to the North Shore of the State Park for the month of October in preparation of the 6 Hour Dino Race! If you’re thinking of participating in the 6 Hour Race these rides are a great way to prepare for it!

#CXnats – Places To Stay

joeyTWOwheels        texascx.com

Welcome to the unofficial #cxnats guide
The very first day USA Cyclocross Nationals were announced, the emails started to fly in – “where should we stay?” After dibs on the spare rooms were declared, we started pointing people in the various directions. So we decided to lay it down for everyone and create a local’s view on #cxnats, starting with general course location and the best places to rent around it.
A little about Zilker Park
The slightly opaque section shows you the general location of the race and festivities.
The slightly opaque section shows you the general location of the race and festivities.
Nicknamed the “Crown Jewel” of Austin Parks, Zilker is our Central Park. It has amazing views of the skyline and is situated IN the city. No need to shuttle or…

Saturday 10/4 [Infamous Brewery] and Sunday 10/5 [Coffee Shop/Intro] Bikes Rides!

steinerranchcycling.com

INFAMOUS BREWERY RIDE – Saturday October 4th at 7:30am at Cups & Cones
We had quite the strange ride last Saturday.  It rained the night before and the roads were wet but the turnout was good none the less.  The entire group experienced a total of 9 flat tires.  Steve Cummings had three flats and a wreck but is fine.  Nevertheless, we all managed to have a few beers over at the Oasis Brewing Co. which we hope to make a monthly ride.
This Saturday we can meet at C&C at 7:30am and then ride over to Infamous Brewing Company and then roll out with the Lake Travis Cycling Club at 8:00am.  They have a 40 mile route so if you add on the ride to and from Steiner Ranch you will easily be able to add another 10 miles.  The will also have post ride beers and tacos.  Below are the two routes leaving from Infamous Brewing Company (20 and 40 miler).  When we meet at C&C at…

Safe Bike or Walk Route to Mitchell Elementary Opening Oct. 8

by Keith Hutchinson        news.georgetown.org


A sidewalk nearly a mile long that provides the only safe route for walkers and bicyclists to get to Mitchell Elementary School officially opens on October 8. A bicycle safety demonstration and ribbon cutting for the new sidewalk will be held at 2:15 p.m. on the north side of Mitchell Elementary School at 1601 Rockride Lane.
The opening event coincides with International Walk or Bike to School Day, an annual event on October 8 to encourage children to walk or bike to school.
The event at Mitchell Elementary starts with demonstrations on…

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Texas Bicycling News Digest October 1st

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Texas Cup Action — State Road Race Championships

txbra.org


Jenny Park, River City Market Racing, takes the contested sprint in the Masters Women race at the State Road Race Championships at Fort Hood.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Jantzen. …

Galatzan Recreation Center

elpasotexas.gov

“Ride into Fall Bicycle Run”
Who: City of El Paso Parks & Recreation Department
What: “Ride into Fall Bicycle Run”
When: Saturday, October 11, 2014 (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
Where: Galatzan Recreation Center, 650 Wallenberg Dr.
Cost: Free to the Public (Participants must bring own bicycle and helmet)
Vendors are $45 per space
El Paso, Texas – The City of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department will host an outdoor fitness event titled “Ride into Fall Bicycle Run” featuring the use of bicycles as a form of…

Most bike collisions go unreported on campus

By Natalie Sullivan        www.dailytexanonline.com


Two hundred ninety-eight bicycle collisions happened in Austin last year, according to statistics from the Austin Police Department, but UTPD crime prevention officer William Pieper said most bicycle accidents go unreported on campus.
Pieper said people involved in bike collisions on campus usually do not report them to UTPD.
“It has been my experience that people tend to only report a bicycle accident to the police when there is an injury or major damage,” Pieper said. “Most bicycle accidents go unreported by…

How should Travis County spend $3.3 million for bike projects?

Texas News

Travis County will soon renew discussions about how to spend the $3.3 million for bicycle projects included in a bond proposition voters approved in 2011.
Though the county recently started adding features such as bike lanes or paths when building new roads, this would mark its most comprehensive look at where cyclists would most benefit from such improvements.

Bicycle riders invade Fort Worth

Author Ryan Grounds        therambler.org


On a cool September night a group of 50 bicyclists journeyed from The Chat Room on Magnolia Avenue to The Gingman on Camp Bowie Blvd.
Most refreshed themselves with cold beer, and then the group rode to Zio’s Bar back on Magnolia. The riders went from bicycles to bar stools again finishing the ride.
This is the typical Sunday for the Fort Worth group known as the Night Riders, who like to mix bicycling with beer. The group typically hits two bars on Sundays and rides further on Wednesdays.
“We like to go to bars that are welcoming and encourage us to show up or offer us specials or tolerate a bunch of awesome dirty…

Mountain Biking Comes to Texas High Schools

By Keri Heath        www.austinfitmagazine.com


In recent years, mountain biking has become increasingly popular sport for active adults, and this interest has trickled down to high school kids. Last year, more than 160 student-athletes raced in the Texas High School Mountain Biking League, and even more are expected in the upcoming spring season.
The Texas League opened its first season in the state four years ago. Four races and a championship are hosted each year at locations such as Reveille Peak and Rocky Hill Ranch. While 40 percent of the league comes from teams in Central Texas (includingWestlake, Austin High, and St. Stephens), there are currently 19 teams statewide. Each year has seen a growth rate of about 55 percent.
“I was looking for a fast-paced sport that would challenge my body as well as my mind,” said Wes Figg, a…

Sunday Streets Return to Houston; BikeValet Volunteers Needed

BikeHouston


This fall, the City of Houston will continue with the Sunday Streets after three very successful spring events. The next Sunday Streets will be held on 19th street in the Heights on October 12th. It is not the first Sunday of the month so make sure you mark your calendar correctly. The city will close off the section of 19th  street between Heights Boulevard and Shepherd Drive to all motorized vehicles. It is walk-, pedal-, dance-, (etc.) only day from noon till 4pm.
BikeHouston will provide a bike valet for visitors who would like to leave their bikes behind and experience the Sunday Streets on foot. BikeHouston’s BikeValet needs volunteers. No experience is necessary and there is no running involved. You only…

BikeHouston Presents Spoke&Word #7

BikeHouston

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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