Texas Bicycling News Digest September 11th

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Lorenzo Guerra Killed in Bicycle Accident Seven Mile Lane in Harris County, Texas

By Michael Grossman        www.texas-wrongful-death-lawyer.net

Harris County, TX — Police have identified Lorenzo Guerra as the victim of a bicycle accident in Harris County, Texas, on Monday, September 8, 2014. The accident took place on Seven Mile Lane.
Reports indicate that Guerra was riding his bicycle along Seven Mile Lane, when a pickup truck turned left from Hopper Road and hit him. The truck continued across the road, dragging…

Texas A&M Police Continuing To Crack Down On Bike Thefts

By: Clay Falls        www.kbtx.com


COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M University is reporting a sharp decline in the number of bike thefts since starting a bait bike program in 2011.
The number of bicycle thefts reported has dropped each year since then.
News 3 takes a closer look at the most common crime on campus.
Bicycle thefts are an all too often problem at college campuses including Texas A&M.
Texas A&M Student Lucia Ordonez rides her bike everywhere to get around and found that out the hard way.
“My freshman year I forgot to lock it one day and it ended up being stolen and this was right before winter break and then they ended up calling me over…

Wednesday Night Ride

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2014, 5:15 PM

Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Road
at Artcraft (parking lot next to Little Caesars_ El Paso, TX

1 Cyclists Went

These are leaderless rides of 17-22 miles leaving from Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Rd (at Artcraft). The most popular route is a 19-mile loop to Gadsden H.S. Riders begin 5:15-6:00 p.m. this time of year.Optional dinner afterward at Hello Pizza, 1071 Country Club (River Run Plaza).

Check out this Meetup →

Harrassment on Bannister Lane

Bicycle Austin

Yesterday evening I was commuting home, southbound, in the bike lane on Bannister Lane.  I was halfway up the hill when I heard a car slow down, move to the right, and drive right behind me in the bike lane – I could hear its tires crunching in the broken glass that always seems to be along the bike lane on that street.  As I moved even further towards the curb, the car gunned it around me, and as it passed, the right rear passenger threw a tennis racket at me.  I was able to duck and dodge it, but in the ruckus I was…

Is Your City Council Candidate Bike-Friendly?

By Rob Preliasco        www.austinpost.org


You may know the expression “voting with your feet.” This November, the bicycle advocacy group Bike Austin is hoping that people will vote with their feet on the pedals.
With its new “I Bike, I Vote” campaign, the organization is gathering a voting bloc of Austinites who support bicycle safety and walkability in the city. The group also plans to identify and endorse city council candidates with similar views on those issues. The first “I Bike, I Vote” volunteer meeting is scheduled for…

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/BikePaulie/status/510201497439965184

https://twitter.com/MitchellGSides/status/510187780602068992

https://twitter.com/BikePaulie/status/510095206968872960

Event Reminders

A Day to Remember 13 Years Ago

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Three rides in a row to Huffman is rather unusual for me. The road construction at Community Drive to the north has put a crimp on my route selection. Also I did not start riding until 12:57. I wanted to give the weather time to heat up again and it did. It was a balmy 94 degrees at home when I left and it stayed there until I returned at 3:45. The air was a little drier than normal so the heat did not feel quite as intense as July or August. We are only 10 days from fall but the weather has not really let up that much. The Houston Chronicle weather guy thinks today was the last chance for 100 degrees until next June. Tomorrow a “cool” front could pass through and it could mark the end of temperatures this high for the year. Time will tell.

To add some variety riding to Huffman I went north on E. Lake Houston Parkway rather than south on Fairlake Drive. Google maps likes to show E. Lake Houston going north a couple of miles further than it really does. I turned on Smith Road to ride to FM2100 and enter Huffman from the north. FM2100 from this direction is still a nice smooth asphalt from the recent resurfacing work. With the route variation I biked 32.85 miles, slightly more than yesterday. Due to the late start there were lots of school buses out but I managed to pass all of the schools before or after dismissal.

It took me 16 miles to build my average speed up to 15.0 mph. From there I added another .8 mph to top out at 15.8 mph. Keeping it at 15.8 was not easy as I slowed some across Lake Houston. But I got it back up and held it there until about 29.9 miles into the route. By then I was on W. Lake Houston Parkway amongst traffic and frequent stops. The final number was 15.5 mph. My legs are complaining about all the effort it takes on the quest for 16+ mph averages speeds. I may have an over training problem. Riding to Huffman does not have as many long stretches of open road where I can build up the average speed like biking to the north.

Miles:

  • 148.05 for the week
  • 350.22 for September
  • 5531 for the year

Today marks the 47th ride to Huffman this year out of 160 rides.

During the ride I thought about what I was doing on September 11th, 2001. I was at work when my manager yelled from his office to come look at the TV news report as the twin towers burned from the planes hitting them. We could not believe what we were seeing. What a tragedy. I wore a red, white and blue jersey with a single star on it today to honor and remember those who died.

Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS. Click on an image to enlarge it.

Ride Route Google Earth
Ride Metrics
Huffman Weather
Home Weather ride finish
Ride Comparison for this route
Week to Date
September to date
Year to Date

Texas Bicycling News and Blog Digest September 10th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Dirt Derby

Dirt Derby

Dirt Derby 9/16, ATXMTB Championships 9/20 and 9/21, Dirt Derby 9/23… Can’t start fueling up too early!
Dirt Remedy Race Series
The 2014 Pure Austin Fitness ATXMTB Championships
9.14 This Sunday 10am Pre-ride/course preview at Emma Long
9.18 Thursday 10 pm Gritness Pre-reg closes next (CHEAPEST!)
9.19 Friday Austinbikes NEW LOCATION pre race party, late reg and race # pick up 5-7 pm, then skip to Mean Eyed Cat
9.20 Saturday Short Track Race
9.21 Sunday Cross Country, Boneshaker Project kids race, wheelie contest and a party
Go to: www.dirtremedy.com to register

2nd grader on bike collides with vehicle near elementary school in Cy-Fair

Author: Nakia Cooper, Sr. Web Editor        www.click2houston.com


HOUSTON – Harris County Sheriff’s deputies have confirmed that a second grader riding a bike to school was injured in an accident with a vehicle in northwest Harris County Wednesday morning.
Deputies said the bike rider crashed into the vehicle near Lowery Elementary in the 15900 block of Ridge Park.
The child was transported to the hospital for treatment.
The condition of the victim is not known.

The Wife and the Mountain Bike

Bike Noob

I came home from work today to find my mountain bike standing on the garage floor. This is unusual, because it normally hangs from hooks in the garage ceiling.
“Did you go for a mountain bike ride today?” I asked my wife.
“I did!” she replied.
Her own bike was over at our local bike mechanic, getting an overhaul.
“And did you take it down by yourself?” I asked. “That isn’t easy.”
“No,” she said, “it’s not.”
“How was your ride?” I asked. “Say, compared to last week, when you took it out.”
“You know, it was a lot tougher,” she said. “Those gears just didn’t want…

Dallas to boost safety at 70 spots where hike-and-bike trails intersect with streets

By Tom Benning        cityhallblog.dallasnews.com

Safety upgrades are coming to 70 potentially hazardous spots in Dallas where hike-and-bike trails cross streets.
The City Council on Wednesday approved a $664,000 contract to install better signage, directions and other warnings at at-grade trail-road intersections on Katy Trail, Cottonwood Trail, Preston Ridge Trail, Santa Fe Trail and White Rock Lake Loop Trail.
The enhancements – funded mostly by the Texas Department of Transportation, with some support from the city and Dallas County – are modeled after upgrades added a few years ago at the busy intersection of Katy Trail and Knox Street.
Aside from the obvious safety benefits, the broader citywide effort aims to clear up confusion for both trail users and drivers on how to handle the crossings, officials said.
“Cyclists and pedestrians have had to come to different intersections and do different things,” said Michael Hellmann, an assistant director in the city’s park and recreation department. “So there’s a real…

Industry legend, Bill Quinn, dies at age 102

by Marc Sani        www.bicycleretailer.com

FORT WORTH, Texas (BRAIN) — Bill Quinn, the longtime publisher of Bicycle Business Journal, has died. He was 102. Quinn’s career spanned more than 80 years of publishing. He was still writing and taped an audio interview of his early years in newspapering just two months ago.
Steve Matill, director of bicycle sales at Hans Johnsen and a longtime friend of Quinn’s, said he was a legend in the industry. “I’ve known Bill at least 37 years when I first started. Bill was a great writer and he loved the industry and was passionate about the business,” he said.
Quinn was at one time the youngest newspaper publisher in the United States when he took over the Grand Saline Sun in 1935. He was 22 years old. During his years of reporting and editing, he also covered one of the…

Upcoming Bike Austin Rides

www.austincycling.org

Welcome to the Bike Austin rides page.   IMPORTANT:  To assist you in finding a ride that matches your preferences and abilities, please click here for a full description of the difference between Self-Paced and Hosted rides and/or click here for the detailed Hosted Ride categories.
Bike Austin rides are open to any adult recreational cyclist and riders of all levels are encouraged to participate.  Rides are on public roads and all riders participate at their own risk; each rider is responsible for his/her own safety. Properly fitted, approved…
Some Great Hills
09/11 (Thu)     7:30am     A-4     25 mi
Volente Popsicle
09/11 (Thu)     7:30am     B-2     41 mi
Andice Loop
09/12 (Fri)     7:30am     D-2     24 mi
Taking Buda To The Mountain
09/13 (Sat)     7:30am     B-2     47 mi
Nor’easter—a “b Paced” Version
09/13 (Sat)     7:30am     B-2     48 mi
Mozart’s To Creedmoor
09/13 (Sat)     8:00am     B-3     40 mi…

Austin Driveway Series Criterium w/Commentary – September 4, 2014

Turnin’ Cranks

Austin Driveway Series Criterium
September 4, 2014
Men’s Cat 3/4/5
My 5th ever crit race.
This one was over before it began. With the shortening days, the 3/4 and 4/5 races were combined into a 3/4/5 field. That, coupled with a more difficult course meant that I was in for a shelling.
I lasted all of about 10 minutes, with…

Saturday September 13th [Tour de Cure] & Sunday September 14th [Coffee Shop / Tour de Cure] Rides!

Steiner Ranch Cycling

TOUR DE CURE IS HERE!  For those participating in the ride we look forward to seeing you at the dinner at the Oasis at 6pm on Thursday September 11, 2014.  The meal is sponsored by Texas Beef Council for all Team Beef Riders.  Guests are welcomed for $20 which can be paid for at the door.
While this is not a race it is fun to note that Team Beef / SRC riders came in 2nd place for the 100 miler!  What will happen this year?
WEEKENDS RIDES
Tour de Cure – Saturday September 13th at Reunion Ranch.  100 Miler roles out at 7am.
This Saturday most people will be participating in the Tour de Cure ride.  There will be plenty of food and drink after the ride.  The ride will be fully supported as well and we are…

Phase II of Pedernales Cycle Track Begins This Month

austinonabike.com

Bit of a copy/paste reblog here, but this just crossed the wire. It looks like Phase II of the Pedernales Cycle Track is about to be underway, bringing the track all the way from Canterbury up to Pleasant Valley – including, it looks like, a better connection to that sweet bike path you might not even know exists that runs all the way from around Webberville and Pedernales up to 14th Street.
Anwho, here’s all the details from Nathan Wilkes:
Dear Pedernales Cycle Track Project Stakeholders,
We are contacting you because we are ready to begin construction on Phase II of the Pedernales Cycle Track Project.  Phase I from 6th Street to Webberville Road was completed as part of a street reconstruction project in September 2013.  Since then we have been working to finalize…

Tweets

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/509693299695689728

Event Reminder

By the Numbers: 46 Out of 159

Texbiker.net Posted on by

My brain was too tired to come up with an original route today so I pulled out the one I ride the most: “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman”. I started later than normal leaving home at 11:36 and returning at 2:12. With this later start the weather had time to heat up for me. It was 91 at the beginning and 95 at the end. A partly cloudy sky helped keep some of the sun off but not much. Unlike yesterday I didn’t see another biker.

The usual stop at the Huffman Chevron was well appreciated with a nice breeze while I sat in the shade. Fortunately I made it across the railroad tracks before a slow moving long freight train came along. I ate my Kashi snacks and drank the blue PowerAde. Off to the southeast the sky looked a little dark so I checked the weather on my phone. There was a band of rain over by Baytown so I cut my stop short and headed home just in case.

By the time I got home the sky had a few more clouds but no rain. I rode a little shorter route today coming in at 31.52 miles. My top average speed was 15.6 mph which I held until about 2 miles left.It slowly declined to 15.4 mph at the end. This week I rode 115.2 miles, 317.37 miles for September and 5498 miles for the year. I rode this route 46 times this year out of 159 rides. This is probably the route I ride the most often by far. The slide below gives more details.

One thing I did not miss today: love bugs. I did not see one of them.

Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS. Click on an image to enlarge it.

Ride Route Google Earth
Ride Metrics
Huffman Weather
Home Weather Ride Finish
Ride comparison for this route
Week to date
September to date
Year to date