Texas Bicycling Digest August 9th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

McAllen ride

Bike Masters page

We are here but we are not riding due to weather. . — at The McAllen Convention Center.

Keller PD gives bike to man who can’t drive

By: Calvert Collins        www.myfoxdfw.com

A long walk to work just got a lot easier for a Keller man, thanks to the police department.
Officers had been giving Ryan Goines, 24, rides to work, but on Thursday, their gift became permanent.
Goines had become a fixture on Highway 377, where police saw him every day walking to and from work. Goines has Asperger’s syndrome, which prevents him from driving.
After giving him enough lifts, officers wanted to give him the gift of independence and…

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/thejurgy/status/498177813909102592

Hot and Dry Except for the Sweat

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I got started earlier today thanks to no flat tire. Wheels rolled out the driveway at 9:13 on the way to Stroker Road south of Huffman for a ride through the grass farms. Along the way I met 20 or so bikers coming back from their ride probably through the same area. I didn’t quite make my before 9 AM goal but it was close enough.

The plan was to ride at least 37 miles and I actually biked 40.6 miles averaging 15.8 mph. The weather conditions were hot under scattered clouds. The humidity was in the 55% range. Whenever I stopped for more than 10 seconds I poured out sweat. Moving I did not notice the sweat so much. I stopped at an Exxon station on FM2100 south of Huffman to refill my water bottle and during the 3 or 4 minutes it took to walk inside and back out I was dripping. Back on the bike I rode south on Fm2100 and the light wind plus my riding speed seemed to dry me off some. According to the weather report it was 95 degrees with the heat index around 105 or more. Riding east on Stroker Road was better with the wind coming from behind helping me to get my speed up close to 20 mph. On Ramsey Road going north the wind was still somewhat favorable coming from my left rear quarter but when I turned left onto Old Atascocita Road heading to FM2100 I rode into the wind and my speed went down to 15 or 16 mph. Once I got to FM2100 and turned right again the wind was helpful for the 1 1/2 mile ride to the Huffman Chevron where I took a break.

While I was at the Chevron station sitting outside eating my snack and cold PowerAde I noticed how much water the paper towels absorbed from my arms. Normally the towels get damp but today they were extra wet.

Starting the ride back home from the Chevron station around 12:54 I rode to the west. As I got close to the Shell station before E. Lake Houston Parkway another bicyclist pulled out from the Shell onto the shoulder heading west. i caught up with him and said hello and waved. He answered back. I moved in front of him and he followed me across Lake Houston until Atascocita Shores Drive where he turned left and I went right. I checked my mirror a few times as we were riding on the causeway and he was about 10 or so behind me. A Pace line into the wind was okay by me.

Regular visitors may notice a new look in the slides below for my home weather station. Rather than camera shots of my weather station I now have an online weather station at Acu-Link.com. Recently I noticed my Oregon Scientific weather station was not working correctly and when I was at WalMart in Porter on August 1st I wandered over to their weather aisle. Looking at several boxes I found a professional weather center from AcuRite. The price was $99.95 which was much less than a replacement Oregon Scientific one. I bought it and set it up. On Saturday I was looking around WalMart.com and found the same AcuRite item for $69.91. At first I thought maybe the WalMart store would price match the online price but they do not. I then ordered the same unit from WalMart.com and did a store pickup. After getting the lower priced one I then returned it using the higher priced receipt. Then I looked at the AcuRite.com website and found something I have wanted for many years; an accessory that would show my home weather online and upload it to Wunderground.com as a personal weather station. Previously my search for this feature turned up $300 to $400 hardware and software. AcuRite.com has what they call an internet bridge that does the same thing for $79.95. I bought it and it arrived yesterday. The setup took all of 10 minutes. I created an account at Acu-link.com and now my weather station posts data there and links to Wunderground.com as well. The link to my Wunderground PWS. I also added a weather widget to Texbiker.net below the Upcoming Events to the right. Weather is important to bicyclists so I have had an interest in it for a long time.

Riding statistics to date:

  • 224.11 miles this week
  • 325.12 miles for the month (520 miles left to reach my August goal)
  • 4537 miles year to date

I am not planning on riding tomorrow (Sunday). I have a noon time meeting at church and I have biked 11 days in a row. Maybe a long ride on Monday.

Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.

[wppa type=”slide” album=”388″ size=”auto”]Any comment[/wppa]

 

Texas Bicycling News Digest August 8th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I Did Not Fasten My Seatbelt For A Bumpy Ride In My Fort Worth Neighborhood

Durango Texas


It seemed like a good idea at the point in time I thought of it, that being rolling my wheels on the non-sidewalk paths I see when I walk the sidewalk which surrounds the block in which my abode is located.
I have rolled my wheels a time or two in my neighborhood, but…

Police searching for man who hit cyclist, fled scene

www.kvue.com


AUSTIN — Police are looking for a driver who hit a cyclist and fled the scene, according to a press release.
A maroon Chevrolet Lumina struck a minor riding his back near the intersection of Airport Boulevard and East 12 Street on Aug. 1, according to police. The…

Tuesday: Intermediate/Advanced Mountain Bike Ride at the Ant Hills

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2014, 6:15 PM

15200 Memorial Dr
15200 Memorial Dr Houston, Te

3 cyclists Went

This will be a medium to fast pace ride through the Ant Hills of Hershey Park! Bring WATER, spare tube/tire, snacks, etc…Helmets required. Call if you are going to be late so we can wait for you. Wheels rolling by 6:30! See you there

Check out this Meetup →

Upcoming Rides

Fort Worth Bicycling Association

  • No Hills No Wind BACKWARDS
    Sunday, August 10, 2014 8:00 am
  • Arlington: Sublett and 287     100º/82ºF
    Fort Davis 2014
    Sunday, August 10, 2014 9:00 am
  • The Rusty Chain Gang Ramble
    Tuesday, August 12, 2014 8:00 am
  • Watermelon Waltz
    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 6:00 pm
  • Burleson and Beyond
    Thursday, August 14, 2014 8:00 am
  • The Rusty Chain Gang Romp
    Thursday, August 14, 2014 8:00 am
    Benbrook: YMCA

Camelbak CEO reflects as the brand turns 25

By: Molly Brooks        www.bikemag.com

Sally McCoy says the company continues to innovate on the heels of its silver anniversary

CamelBak has been reinventing hydration since its very beginning 25 years ago. It all started when paramedic Michael Edison saw the need for hands-free water before he embarked on the Hotter N’ Hell 100-mile bike race in Texas. Making use of an IV bag and tube sock, Edison created the first-ever hydration pack that eventually turned CamelBak into the leading brand it is today.
But every company has its ebbs and flows. Camelbak saw sales dip $17.7 million at the end of 2013 and another 9 percent after this year’s first quarter. This stems from a $6.5 million decrease in sales of hydration systems and a $1.2 million decline in accessories revenue.
CamelBak attributes the drop in hydration system sales to…

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/DrewiferdLee/status/497905099360837632

https://twitter.com/bluerecharge/status/496757883355164672

A Soft Rear Tire, Missed Time Goal

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I just thought I would get started riding before 10 AM this morning. I was dressed and ready to go at 9:40 but when I got to the garage and did my usual pre-ride tire squeeze the rear tire felt soft. I rolled the bike out into the sunlight and checked the rear tire for the cause. Nothing that I could see. Tempted to air up the tire and ride so I could leave before 10 rolled through my mind but common sense prevailed. I removed the rear tire and gathered the patch items and went inside. Pulling out the tube, airing it up and doing the water test I found the hole. From there I held the tube to the tire to get a location to check. The first tire location didn’t have anything but reversing to the other side I found a 1/2″ piece of wire sticking into the inside of the tire. I had to use a pair of pliers to get it out. Inserting the patched tube back in the tire I was ready to ride again at 10:15.

The weather for today’s ride up to Roman Forest Blvd. was scattered clouds, 92 degrees (72% humidity) with a light breeze. This is what I consider typical weather and reminds me of Wichita Falls during the Hotter’n Hell Hundred. By the time I got home at 1:08 it was 96 (59% humidity). I felt comfortable pedaling in the heat and as long as I was moving I didn’t mind the heat.

Yesterday my legs felt sluggish which maybe the rear tire puncture contributed to. Today they were better and I was able to average 15.3 mph over the 32.67 mile route. Whenever I was riding south the wind resistance slowed me down. Even though the weather station at IAH airport showed a 4 mph wind the flag at the Stripes station on FM1314 was standing almost straight out.

Stopping at the Stripes station for a rest and refreshment I got some Gatorade. Normally I sit by the store but the sun is slowly creeping up the store’s overhang so I moved out by the pumps. I leaned my Stradalli against the red hoop and sit down. I get a different view from this position. At one point a large white pickup backed up to the pump I was near. The passenger door opened and i reached for my bike since it looked lite was going to knock it over. Thankfully the man getting out changed his mind and pulled the door back. It was at the 21.75 mile point when I stopped at Stripes. I was making good time and feeling much stronger than yesterday.

Leaving Stripes I rode through Briar Tree and Oakhurst before getting to the US59 service road to go to Kingwood Drive. From there I rode the usual streets back home. Another enjoyable bike ride.

Mileage standings:

  • 183.52 miles for the week
  • 284.52 miles for August (560 miles left to reach August’s goal)
  • 4497 miles year to date

Saturday I hope to get started before 9:00AM. The weather looks great for riding: 96 degrees and clear. I am planning on biking 37 miles or more.

[wppa type=”slide” album=”387″ size=”auto”]Any comment[/wppa]

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