Texas Bicycle News and Blog Digest April 29th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Fitness park, council seat lead Live Oak ballot

By Jeff B. Flinn, San Antonio Express-News

With the May 10 election less than two weeks away, voters in Live Oak will decide the fate of four propositions as well as select a council member.
City Councilman Bob Tullgren is running for re-election to his Place 2 seat. He is opposed by former City Councilwoman Loretta Kusek.
Among the four propositions, one continues to garner the lion’s share of attention — Prop. 4, the planned Live Oak Fitness Park.
First proposed in early 2012 after more than a year of conceptual design, the fitness park would be located on 3.2-acres at Oak Terrace Drive between the Live Oak Fire Department and the High Key Apartments.
The rocky, hilly terrain has little commercial value, but represents an ideal slope for the…

Gateway Park Workday – 5/3/14 – 8:30am

by beechnut        forums.mtbr.com

We’re back in business folks, and we have a lot of work to do!

Cyclist takes on mission to spread ghost bikes all over Houston

By Craig Hlavaty        www.chron.com


A Silsbee man has taken on a unique mission to make sure Houstonians don’t forget the victims of fatal bicycle accidents. He is driving over 100 miles into Houston to install memorials all over the city.
Richard Tomlinson is a member of the city’s cycling community, and now he’s a big part of the Houston Ghost Bike group.
He spent his weekend installing 13 ghost bikes — stripped bicycles painted all white — across Houston. Each bike corresponds to the death of a cyclist, just as white crosses on the side of road mark nearby fatal car accidents.
He’s part of an international effort, complete with a website that lists where most every…

Announcing: United For Bikes

www.peopleforbikes.org


We all know that when people ride bikes, great things happen.
This simple truth is what motivates many of us to hop on a bike—especially during May, which is National Bike Month—as well as help others ride more too.
Bicycling is good for our bodies, our families, our businesses, and our local and global communities.
Mindful of these important benefits, our two organizations, PeopleForBikes and World Bicycle Relief, are teaming up on a month-long awareness and fundraising campaign this May.
The campaign—called United For Bikes—will celebrate the Power of Bicycles to change lives, both locally and globally. With your help, we will raise funds and awareness for this important work to…

Hammerfest Stage Race | Fort Davis | April 26-27, 2014 | Final GC

texasbikeracing.com

Final GC results from the Hammerfest Stage Race in Fort Davis, Texas.
Place Name Team
P1/2
1 Girkins, Kevin Super Squadra pb Austinbikes
2 Wenger, David Super Squadra pb Austinbikes
3 Morales, Emiliano (18) Bicycle Heaven/PVA
4 Wohlrabe, Ryan Bicycle Heaven/PVA
5 Boone, Jake Dallas Racing p/b Park Place
6 Schofield, Jacob Bicycle Heaven/PVA
7 Cano, Gabriel Cano Bike Shop
8 Trimble, Nathan Dallas Racing p/b Park Place
9 Dietsch, Vince Austin Bikes/Revant
10 Carty, Paul Austin Bikes/Revant
11 Cutbirth, Tyler Austin Bikes/Revant
12 Edwards, Beau Bicycle Heaven/PVA
DNF Cody, JT Bicycle Heaven/PVA
Men’s 3 (300-399) …

Wheels in motion: Bike riders make long journey to honor the fallen

www.cleat.org

A team of law enforcement officers is riding nine days to visit the 13 Texas communities that lost a law enforcement officer in the line duty last year.

And the riders are covering the distance by bicycle.
“We ride to each community in Texas that lost a peace officer in the line of duty the prior year to remember and honor the officer, family members, friends, co-workers, the department and community,” the Texas Police Memorial Bike Trek says on its Facebook page.
The journey’s first stop was April 23 to Upton County to honor Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Kennedy, who died Oct. 2, 2013.
The last stop is May 2 in Austin to honor Lt. CLay Crabb, who died in a weather-related traffic crash Oct. 16 on his way to…

Bike ride in the park 6-8 miles.

Sunday, May 4, 2014, 9:30 AM

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

2 Katy bicyclist fun riders Went

I’m so sorry for the wrong directions last time. I promise this is right! Please give me one more chance!!!!

Check out this Meetup →

Loop Group

San Angelo Bicycle Association

TX Dept of Transportation
4502 Knickerbocker – San Angelo
Date(s) – 05/01/2014
8:00 pm
Location: TX Dept of Transportation
Categories:     Road Ride
Riders meet up at the Texas Department of Transportation on the corner of Knickerbocker and Loop 306 at 6pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Click the map to see the 20-mile loop option. If you are new to the group, let somebody know and I am sure someone will help guide you and make sure you are not left alone. However, these rides are self-paced so you may get dropped.

May Ride Schedule

Georgetown Cyclopaths

RIDE SCHEDULE – May 2014 Short Rides Long Rides
Day Date Time Meet at Miles Map Miles Map
Saturday 5/3/2014 8:00 AM Dale’s Essenhaus Restaurant in Walburg 28 miles WA5 41 miles WA9
Sunday 5/4/2014 9:00 AM Berry Springs Park 32 miles B39
Saturday 5/10/2014 8:00 AM Catholic Church in Andice 35 miles A13 48 miles A15
Sunday 5/11/2014 9:00 AM Berry Springs Park 35 miles B45
Saturday 5/17/2014 8:00 AM Liberty Hill Elementary School 33 miles L12 39 miles L11
Sunday 5/18/2014 9:00 AM Berry Springs Park 35 miles B23
Saturday 5/24/2014 8:00 AM Union State Bank in Florence 29 miles F5 43 miles F3
Sunday 5/25/2014 9:00 AM Berry Springs Park 34 miles B48

 

Cibolo Ride (w/ Stay-together option)

San Antonio Wheelmen

Date:     05/03/2014
Time:     08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location:     Cibolo City Hall
Cibolo, TX
Details:     Cibolo Ride (NE) [F to R]. Routes of 20, 27, 39, 51, 66 and 71 miles. Meet at the City Hall parking lot in downtown Cibolo. From I-35 North, turn right on FM 3009 (Roy Richard Drive, exit 175) to FM 78; turn left and then left again on Main Street in Cibolo. City Hall is just off of Highway 78. There is a stay-together option! Contact: …

Rails to Trails Club Ride

West Texas Recumbent

Did the Rails to Trails with the club, way too far on a mountain bike.
2014-04-26 13.48.33
I made a mistake and left my sunglass’s on when I went through the tunnel the first time and couldn’t see and fell over in the bat crap

Waggin Trail update – it’s just a few days away

Waggin Trail Bike Ride

OK everone, it almost time for Waggin Trail Bike Ride.
The weather forecast looks great and I just road the route this morning and the road surface is good – no chip/seal this year on any route.
Also, we have coordinated with R&R Fitnest Center here in Hillsboro for use of their shower facilities after you finish the ride.  So showers will be available at R&R Fitness ( 110 E Franklin St, Hillsboro, TX, 76645 – just one block east of the Hillsboro square) until 4pm on Saturday.
Don’t forget, registration starts at 7:30 if you have not pre-registered and if you have pre-registered, then all you need to do is pick up your wrist band, your T-shirt if you registered by April 20th, and sign-in once you arrive.  There will be a separate line for pre-registers.  Even if you…

Start Change for Saturday Rides

Shawnee Trail Cycling Club

We’re back to our ongoing “Happy Problem” of extensive club and ride growth.  If you’ve been on the CPS or Bridge rides lately, you’ve noticed a much larger number of cyclists showing up.  It’s created some potential issues with parking availability.  If the rides continue to grow (which they will), we realize we would quickly outgrow our current location.
Thanks to Frisco ISD, we’re moving the start for…

Rolling My Wheels On Gateway Park’s Trails With Fallen Trees, Brush Blockages, Snakes & A Bobcat

Durango Texas


Those are my handlebars back in Gateway Park today, looking at the ever growing piles of brush that is blocking much of that which was not blocked before the brush was cut and piled.
The brush cutters were back cutting and piling brush today.
I think I may have figured out the purpose of all the brush cutting. I think the Fort Worth Park Department may have decided it was a good idea to open up this section of the park, giving…

BikeHouston joins Art Car Parade

BikeHouston


BikeHouston is looking for cyclists to ride with our entry in this year’s Art Car Parade. Over the next week we will pick approximately twenty people representing diversity in Houston. Would you like to be part of the best parade in Houston? Please send a photo and brief note on your idea to info@bikehouston.org by 5 pm May 4th.
We are looking for three types of diversity in particular:
1. Cyclists – ethnicity, age, gender, etc.
2. Profession – represented by professional uniforms or attire. We would love to have athletes, doctors, postmen, pizza delivery, construction worker, police, military, Sunday dress, etc. Some…

Tweets

https://twitter.com/SPORTRIXPHOTO/status/460589379749023744

Event Reminders

A Failure to Rondezvous

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The weather started off with a fog advisory which did not cause any issue here. I watched the Tour de Romandie Prologue on BeIn Sport (thank you Dish channel 392) and handled some business before getting out the door 11:52 with the object to meet the Amtrak train at Old Atascocita Road around 1:00. I rode hard to get there and shortened the usual route to Huffman. I got to railroad crossing a few minutes before 1:00. I waited until 1:25 but no Amtrak train. While I was waiting several cars stopped to be sure I was okay. One lady stopped and I told her about the train and she was surprised that the Amtrak train came this way. I told her about my wife and I riding the train from Houston to New York City last October. She thanked me for telling her about Amtrak and seemed like she was going look into it. A bicyclist came by too and asked if I needed any help. I think he had a Texas A&M jersey on.

I gave up and rode to FM2100 turning right to ride to Spanish Cove to add a mile or so to the ride. As I rode south I heard the train whistle in the distance and figure it was the Amtrak train. A failure to rendezvous again like last Thursday. I need to be more patient. Last Thursday the train went through about 1:07 PM but it apparently varies quite a bit. I had time to ride my usual streets but didn’t know it.

As I rode the sky cleared out and the wind picked up. When I left home it was 5 mph from the west. When I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for a break I checked the weather on my phone: wind NNW gusts 22 mph. I could tell the wind was stronger when I rode to the north from Spanish Cove on FM2100 but thought my legs were tired from the effort I used getting to the train crossing.  I pedaled slowly and finally reached the Chevron station. I took a break at the Chevron eating a snack and Diet Coke. To add to my ride I went north on FM2100 when I left the station. Again my legs struggled to turn the pedals against the wind. Thankfully I turned left onto Smith Road and the wind was not so strong among the trees and houses. As I got near the left hand turn onto E. Lake Houston Parkway I heard a noise that seemed to come from my tires like something was stuck to the tire and brushing against the bike. I stopped to check it out but couldn’t find anything except dust. The ride south on E. Lake Houston was much easier thanks to the strong tailwind.

Riding east over Lake Houston on FM1960 I found the right shoulder nice and clean.The street sweeper had visited. About 200 yards from the east end of the causeway the shoulder got dirty again. I suspect the sweeper got full from all of the debris and left to empty. The clean shoulder was great to ride on. Going back across the causeway headed west the sweeper was finishing up the dirty section. Dust was flying everywhere. We haven’t had any rain to speak in awhile. When i was riding to the east over the lake I had to battle the wind wanting to push my bike around. I thought it would be the same when I went west but the wind was a help instead. My legs needed some help. The temperature was a very pleasant 84 degrees when I got home. A cool front is supposed to move through later today and tomorrow is forecast to be in the 70’s as the high. I wore a short sleeve jersey and shorts today. I had to break out a new can of spray on sunscreen. With the wind perspiration was not an issue. My bandana was just barely wet.

The route totaled 32.47 miles and I averaged 15.3 mph. April miles now total 844.15. 70 miles so far this week and 2104 miles year to date.

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Daily Texas Bicycling News Digest April 28th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

BACKROADS: Hillacious Bike Tour quite a challenge

by TDT Fred Afferbach        www.tdtnews.com


LAMPASAS — On a recent, breezy April morning, about 170 folks saddled up to tour the hardscrabble hills outside Lampasas. But unlike the early settlers who explored the open range on horseback, these riders traversed the countryside via a different mode of transportation — bicycles.
The inaugural Lampasas Hillacious Bike Tour, with panoramic views and rural routes nine to 70 miles long, lured bicyclists from Oklahoma to San Antonio. Ride director Joe Corcoran has…

Sugar Land ‘Bike to Work/School Day’ set for May 8

City of Sugar Land

The City of Sugar Land and Shape Up Fort Bend will hold the fourth annual Bike to Work Day and second annual Bike to School Day on Thursday, May 8.
The event – part of National Bike Month – begins at 7:30 a.m. at the South Meadow Pavilion at Sugar Land’s Memorial Park, 15300 University Blvd., with vendors, giveaways and music.
Riders will depart for Sugar Land Town Square at 8:15 a.m. The 4.2-mile ride will take riders down…

To the Training Grounds and Back

Ray Garza        RGV Cycling

The Rio Grande Valley has many fine cycling routes to choose from. It all depends where you are at and what you want to do. For me, I like to be out on the country roads and away from all the hubbub of cars. You don’t need to go far before you start seeing pastures for the cattle or horses. Sometimes you get the goats or the more exotic animals such as Long Horn cattle, Emu’s or Llamas. One of my favorite route doesn’t have the farm animals but instead farm land and the Rio Grande river dominate the landscape. I call it To the Training Grounds and Back.
Training Grounds Map
To the Training Grounds and Back
Riding out on the route it passes the Hike & Bike Trail in Mission and I always take a glance at the parking lot to see if I recognize anyone. Mostly no, but every once in-a-while I do. A friendly wave or a “Howdy” is called for. It is clear that the trail is very popular with all the cars jammed into the…

Felt expands recall of road and tri bikes

www.bicycleretailer.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) — Felt Bicycles has expanded a recall, first announced in 2010, to include some earlier and later model year bikes.
The original recall applied to about 2,100 road and triathlon bikes, model year 2009 Felt B12, B16 and S32 bikes.
The bikes were recalled because their steerer tubes could break. Felt has received 18 reports of the forks breaking, including five reports of minor injuries. The forks were manufactured by ADK Technology Ltd., in China.
Now the company is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to expand the recall to include 2008 model year bikes, models S22 and S32, and the 2010 model year S32, B12, B14 and B16 bikes. The expanded recall involves an…

Critical Mass riders debate if crowd prevented EMS from reaching dying man

By Craig Hlavaty        www.chron.com


A Critical Mass cyclist suffered a fatal heart attack during the group’s ride Friday.
Richard T. Houser, 62, was transported to nearby St. Joseph Hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.
On Critical Mass’ Facebook page there was heated dispute over whether or not emergency officials were impeded from reaching Houser in time by his fellow cyclists. One post claims that EMS officials had to navigate a large group cyclists to get to Houser, and that a few cyclists had blown bubbles in their faces.
There were just over 2,500 riders in…

Push to repeal Dallas’ helmet ordinance receives boost from some council members

By Tom Benning        cityhallblog.dallasnews.com


A push to repeal Dallas’ ordinance that requires all cyclists to wear a helmet received on Monday a boost from several city council members.
The council’s Quality of Life and Environment committee voiced near universal support for reconsidering the 18-year-old ordinance, as city leaders look for ways to further encourage cycling and to remove a potential hurdle in launching a bike sharing program.
The committee, which features six council members, will formally take up the issue on May 12.
Though the council members seemed eager to loosen some restrictions, they also appeared keen to keep the helmet requirement for children. And they encouraged cyclists to still wear…

All Level Ride @ Walnut Creek Spring/Summer hours

Sunday, May 4, 2014, 9:30 AM

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX

15 Mountain Bikers Went

New Spring/Summer hours to help when the weather gets warmer.  Starting 3/9 we go to 9:30 am.We know that this time change doesn’t work for everyone so we hope you considering hosting a ride for yourself and those who might want to ride at a different time or on a different day.You do NOT have to be a ARR member to attend most club riders. You wi…

Check out this Meetup →

Friday Night Beginner Ride – Bull Creek Trails

Friday, May 2, 2014, 5:30 PM

Bull Creek
Old Spicewood Springs Rd Austin, TX

6 Mountain Bikers Went

Hey folks,We will start out on a short little track that is very smooth and easy. (a slight step up from Lady Bird Lake paths) If the group is up to the challenge, we can take on some additional trails with minor climbs and some rougher sections.I am recovering from a broken leg, so pace is going to be slow.We will be riding some of the paths ne…

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MAY IS BIKE MONTH, Coffee Memorial Blood Drive

Old Tascosa Cycling

*** UPDATED*** Saturday, May 3rd 8:30am-2pm is the Coffee Memorial, May is Bike Month Blood Drive. Breakfast at 8:30pm, we will ride out about 9:00am. There will be group rides, Road and Mountain Bike. The cook out will start about 11:00am We will also present the Children’s Home with the donated bikes from the Relay Race! Please come out, ride your bike and donate blood! Every eligible donor has a chance to win 1 of 2 new bikes!
PLEASE come out and help!

Austin Parks Foundation: It’s My Park Day @ Walnut Creek

Austin Rige Riders

The Austin Ridge Riders hosted a trail stewardship program on Saturday March 1st as part of the Austin Parks Foundation “It’s My Park Day.  in the Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park.  Over 30 people contributed over 100 volunteer hours as part of the effort.  As part of the effort, 600 lbs of stone were…

Ladies only on May 11: CycloFemme

BikeHouston

When: May 11, 2014 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Happy Fatz
3510 White Oak Drive
Houston, TX
Join us for a celebration of women and cycling at Houston’s second annual CycloFemme, a healthy and inspiring way to start your Mother’s Day.
Bring your friends, mothers, daughters and sisters. Bring the woman you want to inspire to ride. Last year’s inaugural event saw the participation of approximately 60 women from diverse cycling and social backgrounds. With so much positive momentum building around cycling in…

Energy Corridor Bike to Work Day

BikeHouston

When: May 15, 2014 @ 6:30 am – 7:30 am
Where: Terry Hershey Park Gazebo
15200 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX

Cycling groups now forming at Energy Corridor companies; lunch-and-learns workshops available to provide guidance
14-APR-9-bike-to-work-posterRiding a bike to work can refuel the soul, improve health and reduce traffic. And one way to experience bicycling commuting is The Energy Corridor District’s 10th annual Bike to Work Day Thursday, May 15, when groups and solo riders from all compass points pedal to work into The Energy Corridor.
Amid a sea of colorful bikes and jerseys, the dawn ride ends at the Terry Hershey Park gazebo for a celebration of cycling, with raffle prizes, giveaways, plus food and…

WTCA Caprock Escarpment Tour

West Texas Cycling Association

Date: May 17, 2014
Location: Crosbyton, TX
Contact: Pat Gerdemann
Details: The Caprock Escarpment will be held on Saturday, May 17th, at 09:00am starting from the Silver Falls Rest Area just east of Crosbyton. Silver Falls Rest Area is on highway 82 going east from loop 289. Just take the Idalou exit and follow Hwy 82 through Idalou, Ralls, Lorenzo, and Crosbyton to arrive at the rest area. The drive takes about 45 minutes from central Lubbock. The bicycle route continues east on hwy 82 until you arrive in…

TBC/ETT Annual Picnic & Ride

Tyler Bicycle Club

May 4 @ 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Let’s get together for food and fun with an amazing group of cyclists.  We will be hosting a casual ride before the picnic.  We will have a few routes varying in length to accommodate everyone.  After the ride, we will have burgers and dogs and we are asking our members to bring the deserts. Come kick back, relax and watch the sunset over Lake Tyler. …

3 Laps Around White Rock Lake

Saturday, May 3, 2014, 10:00 AM

Dallas Bike Works
4875 W Lawther Dr Dallas, TX

27 Members Went

Lets do three laps (or less depending on the group) around the lake. The weather is going to be great and I need to start getting ready for all of these great bike rallies that are coming up. Meet at the parking lot of dallas bike works. Plan to leave at 10:15. We can grab lumch at the lakehouse after the ride. I’m taking the DART from the Parker s…

Check out this Meetup →

Annual Real Ale Ride Rolling Through Blanco

www.hillcountrycurrent.com

The annual Real Ale Ride, one of Bicycle Sport Shop’s most popular events, rolls through the scenic hills of Blanco on Saturday, May 17, 2014. It’s a ride for cyclists of all levels, with distances of 15, 30, 50, 65 and 80 miles. Routes are fully supported with rest stops that provide water and nutritional snacks for participants along the way, as well as “SAG” vehicles to help cyclists with mechanical issues or those who need help getting back to the finish line. Afterwards, everyone gathers at the Real Ale brewery for a post-ride celebration with local beer and barbecue. Old 300 BBQ will provide delicious food and beer is, of course, provided by Real Ale Brewing Company.
Adding to the party atmosphere will be post-ride live entertainment performed by The Erin Jaimes Band and Blanco Zydeco.
Bicycle Sport Shop always makes a sizeable charitable donation from the proceeds of the ride. This year, a portion of the proceeds from…

Aggressive driver reportedly aimed for cyclists, runners on Great Northern

By Pam LeBlanc        www.austin360.com

An aggressive driver ran several cyclists and pedestrians off of Great Northern Boulevard on Saturday.
The incident occurred at about 5:20 p.m., when a white, newer model Dodge Challenger or Charger with a black section on its hood made three passes down the street, swerving across the center lane of the road and into the bike lane toward riders and pedestrians, witnesses said.
Matt Tynan, an attorney who often works with injured bicyclists, was bicycling along…

Central Trail Nearing Completion

Bike Friendly Richardson


According to last week’s city newsletter “Week In Review”, the Central Trail extension is nearing completion:
The expansion of the Central Trail is about 90 percent complete, and the City plans to celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting June 2. The 1.9-mile southern expansion connects the 10-foot wide multiuse trail from the Arapaho Road DART Station to Richardson’s southern city limit. A future connection in the City of Dallas is expected to eventually tie it into the White Rock Creek Trail. The $4.5 million project is funded through Dallas County, $1.4 million from the City of Richardson’s 2010 Bond Program and Regional Tollway Revenue funds.
The City is also working to expand the Central Trail half a mile to the north to Richardson’s northern city limit. The existing trail…

The Stop and Photograph the Roses ride May 10th, 11am

by Christopher Curnutt        www.bikingindallas.org


How many group rides have you attended where you found yourself wanting to pull over to take photos of things you saw along the way, but couldn’t without delaying the ride?  We want to fix that.
So we thought a ride where the purpose is to go slow, with several stops at scenic locations, would be perfect for those who enjoy taking their time and pictures.
The purpose of this ride is to enjoy some of the scenic areas in Downtown and combine photography with exploring Dallas on a bicycle.  Digital, film, pinhole, toy, DSLR, mirrorless, point and…

2014 Prayer Mountain Pedal – Big Cedar Mountain Bike Race

Turnin’ Cranks


My Cat2 40-44 mountain bike race video from 2014 Bent Wheel Bash in Abilene, Texas.
Race Report: http://www.turnincranks.com/2014/2014-prayer-mountain-pedal-mountain-bike-race-report/
Finished 10th place
Super fun course with quite a bit of climbing. I was hoping for a strong showing but I just couldn’t keep up on the climbs. The climbs hurt and I blew up pretty bad on lap 1 when I finished the Brick Climb. …

2014 Prayer Mountain Pedal Mountain Bike Race Report

By TC        Turnin’ Cranks

Last year at Big Cedar I had a bit of a breakout race. I had a pretty bad start, but then somehow managed to make up a large number of positions, power up the climbs and bag a surprise 4th place finish.
I was hoping to have another breakout race this year and place strongly, helping to cement my standings in the state series. Going into the race I was hoping for a top 5. That may have been a bit ambitious given that I didn’t know many of the local names that were pre-registered for the race.
But hey, gotta have goals, right?
At any rate, the week prior to the race, I had been living in a household of sick family members. I was fighting off what felt like the onset of…

Race Results for DORBA Prayer Mountain Pedal – Dallas, TX

www.usacycling.org

Cross Country on 04/26/2014
Men – SS Open
Men – SS 2/3 – 0-99
Men – Pro/Cat 1
Men – Cat 1 – 15-18 …

Tweets

Event Reminders

Ride With A Mission

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I biked to Huffman and beyond today to checkout a couple of things. First I wanted to go east of the Liberty County line to the railroad overpass (a recent construction effort) to check out the road surface. The second was to ride through the area on FM1960 where i picked up the screw on Saturday and complete the ride home.

I changed the route a little to do these things by riding north on E. Lake Houston Parkway to Smith Road and then to FM2100. On FM2100 I biked north to Huffman-Eastgate to get to FM1960. Once I got to FM1960 I went east to the railroad overpass. This is about 1 1/2 east of the Harris – Liberty county line. It also is about the tallest thing in that part of either county. Here are some pictures from the peak of the overpass.

(click on the image to enlarge it)

Loking to the southwest
Looking west along FM1960
Looking northeast
Looking south
Looking south

I found the road surface between the county line and the overpass to be chip’n seal until I reached the area where the overpass construction moved FM1960 slightly to the south from the original path. This was asphalt until I reached the actual overpass where concrete was in place. While I was stopped at the top of the overpass several large trucks passed going west and I could feel the overpass bouncing from the moving trucks. Not what I expected. Since the chip’n seal shoulders are still in place I probably will not ride to Dayton unless I want to jar my body around. I headed back to Huffman from the overpass and was glad to reach Harris County where the road changed back to asphalt. The FM2100 and FM1960 intersection has some surface issues even though it is concrete. Not sure what caused all of the gouges in the concrete though.

The next thing was to ride through the area where I picked up the screw on Saturday and my ride stopped. I was watched closely as I rode there but I did not see any more screws. Sometimes a bunch are in a spot where a truck dropped a box or something. I was relieved to get past there and can now bike this route with less angst. I keep meaning to post a picture of the Stradalli with the mismatched tires. I took this picture while I was stopped at the Huffman Chevron today.

Mismatched tires. Schwalbe on the front Continental on the rear

Mismatched tires. Schwalbe on the front, Continental on the rear

It’s really hard to see the difference especially when I am riding.

I cannot think of a better weather riding day so far this year. Scattered clouds and a light breeze made for gorgeous riding and the temperature started at 84 (10:52) and rose to 90 when I finished at 1:55. I wore a short sleeve jersey, shorts and a good coating of spray-on sunscreen.

Today’s ride went 37.53 miles putting me over the top on my April goal of 778 miles. I am at 811.68 miles for the month!!! With 2 days to go I should make that even more. 2071 miles year to date. Start the slide show for more metrics. Link to RideWithGPS map and ride metrics.

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