Texas Bicycle News Digest September 9th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

New TxDOT funding could improve roads for cyclists

By Alex Osiadacz        www.ktre.com

(Video) LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) – Previous attempts to get a dedicated bike lane in Tyler failed.
But a proposition on the November ballot, would add funds to TxDOT that could go toward improving the roads for cyclists. Proposition 1 would be collected from the state’s annual oil and gas production tax, and be allocated for infrastructure improvement projects.
TxDOT Commissioner Jeff Austin said that includes widening roads, adding lanes, and making repairs to roads, something he says you can already start to see now.
“We’re coming back in and taking up the old asphalt and putting in new…

7th Annual Texas Custom Bicycle Show – Austin Texas

by Daltex        www.velocipedesalon.com

TEXAS HANDMADE BICYCLE SHOW Saturday Evening only – October 18th 6pm-Midnight.
410 Pressler Street
Austin, TX 78703 — On the corner of 5th and Pressler
Wine served, acoustic jazz music, no cover charge.
Builders are limited to displaying 2 bikes, no signage or displays – biz cards only.

Bicycling in Irving

tx-irving.civicplus.com

Reducing Irving’s Carbon Footprint
The City of Irving is committed to coordinating increased use of safe bicycling and to encourage continued ways to reduce carbon emissions through the following:
Afford residents the opportunity to experience the city’s unique scenic and natural amenities.
Facilitate bicycling as a viable transportation choice.
Link major parks and open spaces with Irving’s neighborhoods.
Provide access to healthful recreational activities.
Recreational Bicycling
Bicycling around Irving can be both educational and recreational. Irving’s Campión Trail system is a perfect way to explore nature and exercise, with five miles currently…

Austin’s Power Cycling Couple

words and photos : Nicole Ortega        texasbikeracing.com


Ahhh, to be young and in love.
She was welcomed onto a new cycling team and started spending more and more time at the shop. Engaged in her new environment and community, she built relationships with those around her. She put the word out that she was interested in mountain biking, so he offered to take her to the Green Belt to give it a whirl. He, the mechanic at the shop, had just purchased a new mountain bike and had an extra for her to use. Neither of them felt like it was a date, but everyone at the shop saw the sparks from afar.
And so began the story of Tristan Uhl and Sammi Runnels, Austin’s young cycling power couple.
“In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best place to take her for her first mountain ride,” says Tristan in an endearing voice. “She got broken in early on.” Massive bruises on…

Friends remember Harlingen cyclist killed along roadway

by Nadia Galindo        www.valleycentral.com

(Video) Local cyclists say tougher bike lane ordinance needed
John Zess clocked about a thousand miles on his bike each month and was a strong supporter of bike safety.
Even though he was following every rule in the book Harlingen Police said the driver that hit him wasn’t.
“He was such a kind hearted person that just loved the sport,” Henry Roberts, Bicycle World owner, said.
Roberts sold Zess his first bicycle.
“He was not a poser, what we call a poser who…

Woman indicted in Galveston Co. bike death

By Harvey Rice        www.chron.com

GALVESTON – A grand jury has indicted a 68-year-old Dickinson woman on manslaughter charges in the death of a Houston bicyclist, the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.
Melissa Malin Smith is accused of driving her car down the shoulder of FM 3005 in Jamaica Beach and fatally striking Jon Trevelise, 66. as he rode his bicycle.
Smith told police that she was…

Tour de Cypresswood Bike Path

Thursday, Sep 11, 2014, 6:00 PM

3 Dirty SOB’s Went

Check out this Meetup →

NBDA names America’s Best Bike Shops for 2014

www.bicycleretailer.com

A reception for honorees to be held at Interbike.
LAS VEGAS (BRAIN) — The results are in and official for the National Bicycle Dealers Association’s America’s Best Bike Shops. The retail association will celebrate the nearly 300 shops that made its annual list, now in its second year, at a reception Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
NBDA’s America’s Best program identifies and honors bicycle stores in North America. Retailers must fill out a detailed application and be evaluated by a mystery shopper to be considered. Points are awarded for customer support, knowledgeable staff, operational excellence, marketing excellence, community involvement, local bike advocacy, national bike advocacy, and the mystery shopper experience. Stores with 370 points and above were…
Austin Tri-Cyclist    Austin
Bicycle World of Houston    Houston
Bike World        San Antonio
Jack & Adam’s Bicycles LLC    Austin
Pedal Power Bicycles    San Marcos
Richardson Bike Mart    Richardson
Tri Shop        Plano
Urban Bicycle Gallery    Houston…

Garden Ridge-Gruene Latte Ride

San Antonio Wheelmen

09/14/2014
Time:     08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location:     17361 Bell North Drive
Schertz, TX
Details:     We start from the old Java Junction. It’s a friendly, middle pace, stay together ride–not for beginners. It will average around 15-17 MPH. We’ll stop in Gruene at the “Gruene Grind” for coffee.
Contact:  Mark Miller @…

Saturday October 11th Rudy’s Ride

Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club

Saturday October 11th: Ride begins at 7:15 a.m.  We will meet at Rudy’s parking lot on hwy. 151 and West Over Hills Blvd.  This scenic and somewhat hilly 28 mile ride is a good way to get a good workout in a short period of time..  Come and check out this new route that avoids the traffic on Talley Road and some of the hills of the previous ride.  For…

7:30am- Corinth Cycling Group Rides

Corinth Cycling

When: Sat Sep 20, 2014 7:30am to 10:30am  CDT
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: Corinth Cycling Saturday morning group rides. Please visit http://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf for additional information.

Back to School Night

Austin High School

5:00pm CDT – 6:00pm CDT, September 10th, 2014 Ical_event_icon
Stop by to learn more about our team for this season!
Location: Small Gym

Local man, 79, killed in northeast Harris County truck-bicycle accident

by Rex Knepp        www.examiner.com


Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office report that an elderly bicycle rider was struck by a pickup truck and killed late on Monday, September 8. The fatal accident occurred in unincorporated north Harris County between the Hardy Toll Road Freeway and the East Texas Freeway (US 59 – Interstate 69).
Deputies say that the cyclist, a resident of the area, was riding his bicycle “in the middle” of Seven Mile Lane when the driver of the pickup turned left from Hopper Road, striking him. The truck continued across Seven Mile Lane and into a roadside ditch, dragging the cyclist beneath the vehicle. The truck stopped after…

Trail Maintenance

San Angelo Bicycle Association

Date(s) – 09/13/2014
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: SA State Park South
Join the volunteer crew to do trail maintenance on the second Saturday of every month. Meet at the South Shore Entrance at the San Angelo State Park.

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/509328650856968194

https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/509325970566696960

https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/509323889453723648

https://twitter.com/JerryDusterhoff/status/509205857507475456

Event Reminder

Love Bugs and a 1959 Ford

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I wasn’t the only person riding today. I saw 11 bikers on Old Atascocita Road and Ramsey Road. All but 2 of them were women. This is probably the women I saw on other Tuesday rides. I saw them because I rode the Stroker Road loop in reverse. Another thing I saw was “love bugs”. The fall season for them has arrived, I guess. They appeared near the Old Atascocita Road and Ramsey Road intersection. I saw some later when I was at the Huffman Chevron too. They were not thick enough to be a nuisance yet. This was around the turf farms.

Another sight was this 1959 Ford. I have thought about taking pictures before but didn’t. It is sitting in the yard and looks like it has been years since it moved. This was at the Stroker Road and Ramsey Road intersection.

1959 Ford
1959 Ford at Rest

I rode 39.49 miles on the route. I did not ride the usual streets at the beginning to keep the ride a little shorter. The sky was partly cloudy, temperature 92 degrees and 7 mph SSW wind. The wind wasn’t really a problem as far as slowing me down so much. It was nice when I was sitting under the canopy at the Huffman Chevron. While I was resting there the wind helped to dry up the sweat; paper towels did too.

Average speed ended up at 15.6 mph. Up to 36.9 miles I had it up to 15.8 mph. The side streets and stops slowly ate away at the speed.

September miles are up to 285.85, 83.68 miles for the week and 5467 miles year to date.

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Texas Bicycle Blog and News Digest September 8th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Abandoned rail spur could become trails

By ADAM RUSSELL        www.tylerpaper.com

An abandoned rail spur between Whitehouse and Troup could be the catalyst for multiple short- and long-term transportation options, including hiking and biking trails.
The Texas Department of Transportation has pledged $400,000 to help the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority purchase a 50 linear acre railway corridor stretching between Farm-to-Market Road 346 in Whitehouse and North Front Street in Troup. The mobility authority would be responsible for any money above the pledge.
Union Pacific Railroad owns the 8-mile corridor.
Union Pacific abandoned the corridor and salvaged the track, leaving a rail bed.
The mobility authority has 110 days (120 days as of Aug. 28) to negotiate terms of the sale with Union Pacific, said state Transportation Commissioner Jeff Austin III.
The mobility authority hopes to purchase the corridor to “preserve an asset” for possible future use as bike/walk trails, commuter/freight rail, utilities or…

GO for a Mountain Bike Ride

Sunday, Sep 14, 2014, 8:00 AM

Meyer Park
Cypresswood Dr. Spring, TX

7 Bicycle Enthusiasts Went

Join us every Sunday at Meyer Park for a 1hour and a half (approx) ride for beginners and intermediate riders.Ride is 10 milesWe will be on the Cypresswood TrailAny questions please call us at the store:[masked]Bring a helmet, water bottle, spare tube and a positive attitude

Check out this Meetup →

“Tron” Trinity River Trail

Dallas Vintage Cyclist


If you’re interested in riding with us please feel free to shoot me an email. Our meeting place is located on 635 and coit, behind Watermark Church.
Saturday and Sunday tour (40 miles) 5am to 7:30 am (13 to 15 mph) …

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Longer Ride On An Infrequent Route

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The last time I rode today’s route it was just over 40 miles so I was somewhat surprised when I started to realize today was going to be further coming in at 44.19 miles. The previous ride on the “SR242 – Firetower Rd – FM1314″ route was April 29th, 2013. When I ride on SR242 I sometimes think I should turn onto Firetower Road but don’t for some reason. Many, many years ago there used to be a firetower at the corner of FM2090 and Firetower Road but it is long gone.

I started out of Kingwood on Adams St. and then parallel to US59 on Loop 494 to Roman Forest Blvd where 494 merges with the service road. At Woodbranch I turned left onto SR242 (State Highway 242 is the official designation. Where i grew up we always called them state routes.) and headed west. I passed the Grand Texas site with still no working taking place but there was a surveyor with a transit by the fence. Maybe this is a sign something is going to happen. SR242 is kinda of rolling in places but I managed to keep my speed up and build my average speed close to 16 mph. Sometimes I dipped back to 15.8 or 15.9 mph. Firewtower Road is a bout a mile long from SR242 to FM1485 and mostly smooth asphalt. I made good time staying at 18+ mph mostly. AT FM1485 I turned left to ride to Gene Campbell Road. This is a road I know well from all the rides and nothing changed today. The traffic was light on Gene Campbell and I arrived at FM1314 hot and with my water bottle needing a refill. The Texaco station just east of Gene Campbell was a quick stop to refill and wipe some sweat off. Then I resumed riding with the next stop being Stripes for a longer break with food and PowerAde. I was close to bonking but the ice water from the Texaco held it off. As I coasted across FM1314 into the Stripes gas pumps I was glad I made it.

After yesterday’s late  afternoon rain of 1.1” the temperature today was down about 5 degrees to 89. I could feel the difference at the start of the ride but by the time I stopped at Stripes the sweat was pouring. I used a bunch of paper towels to soak it up while I ate and drank in the shade. At first the wind was moving but after a few minutes the large flag started to move and the breeze helped cool me off. As I was resting I remembered the schools in Briar Tree end at 2:45 which is earlier than last year. I was concerned about getting caught in the traffic so I left Stripes at 2:29. I made it to the schools where the buses were lined up in the school parking lot and parents were starting to gather in another area but the street was open. I made it past in good shape and rode through Auburn Trails to the US59 service road.

Thanks to the northerly breeze riding south on the service road was fast hitting 20 to 21 mph most of the way to Kingwood Drive to u-turn. I had my average speed up to 16.4 mph. I made the u-turn onto the north service road, cut through Kingwood Parc to Loop 494. Loop 494 to Kings manor my average speed feel to 16.3 at 39+ miles into the ride. When I turned into Kings Manor I was stopped by the school traffic and slowly made my way past. From there to home I slowed some and my average speed dropped to 15.9 as I pulled into the driveway.

Great ride on a route that was a little longer than I planned. Weather was very nice with a hint of fall, partly cloudy sky and a light 4 mph north breeze. Tomorrow the weather is forecast to warm up to 93. I got a late start today because I was watching stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana. I left at 11:45 and got back at 3:14.

Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.

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