Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for August 8th

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Walk & Roll Challenge in San Antonio
Wednesday, 08 August 2012        BikeTexas.org
The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) in San Antonio is running the Eighth Annual Walk & Roll Challenge beginning on September 1. Participating organizations and individuals have the chance to win prizes for commuting to work or running errands by any transportation method except driving alone in a car– or, what the challenge calls “smart trips”.

Challenge miles will be recorded on NuRide, and participants must register there. Employers who wish to participate should contact AACOG to be…

Longview planners considering bicycle lanes
By SARAH THOMAS            www.news-journal.com
Some of Longview’s future road projects could include a concept never-before seen in the city — bike lanes.

The city’s latest long-term transportation plan includes steps to increase safety for people using alternative modes of travel such as bicycles, said Longview’s Transportation Planning Manager Karen Owen.

“Part of the initiative is that anytime we build a new road or widen an existing road we are going to consider and explore opportunities for additional width for bicycle traffic,” Owen said. …

Recreational Sports Calendar & Sign-up Sheet – Aug. 8, 2012
San Antonio Express-News
Bicycling: Today, 8 a.m., Wheelers Senior Ride, 30 miles, Floore’s Country Store, Helotes. 210-643-0314.

…Bicycling: Saturday, 8 a.m., Cibolo Ride, 20, 27, 39, 51, 66 and 71 miles, city hall parking lot, Cibolo. 210-884-9470.Fishing: Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Back to School Kids Fishing Tournament (ages 3-12), Bravo Park, Zapata…

Dreaming of Lake Isabel – August 8th Bicycle Ride

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The third day of mountain biking got a later start than usual (11:57 AM) so the mid-day heat arrived for this one. It was 94 when I started and 93 at the end of the ride. Humidity was a surprising 48% which is not bad for here. Yesterday I watched the Tour of Utah and they were saying the humidity was 17%. The sweat would dry almost as fast as it came out of the skin there. Here it lingers awhile, runs down your face and arms to soak the gloves and the bike. When I was growing up in Zanesville, OH, during the summer I thought it was sweltering if the temperature got in the upper 80’s. As a teenager I would dream of going to Lake Isabel where the water was cool and the hip crowd would hang out. I did not get to go too often because of the distance (9.8 miles) which seemed very far then. Now living in Texas that is a short bike ride away.

The greenbelt trails were not busy today probably because I rode during the lunch hours. I did come up two work crews cutting trees from the drought and pine bark beetle. I was thinking the work would be done by now but there are still trees with orange numbers painted on them which signals removal. One of the scenic views along the trails is a large lake (see the pictures in the gallery). On the side I ride on there are some expensive homes overlooking the lake and on the far side is one of the golf courses in Kingwood. It is always so calm and peaceful when I ride along the lake with several herrings standing on the edge or in the shallow parts. Today when I rode over one of the wooden bridges I startled a gray herring and he took off flying with a swoosh of flapping wings and some bird sounds. A white herring on the other side just looked on as I rode not far away.

Today’s route came in at 15.72 miles although Garmin Connect says I was just over 16 miles. Average speed was 12.0 mph with a 21.8 mph max speed. Average cadence was 73.2 RPM. Miles for the week total 47.25 and August miles now are 169.46. YTD I have biked 4104.43 miles. Riding time was 1:18:34 with 6:10 time stopped. See this link for the RideWithGPS.com data and map.

Lake along the greenbelt trail
Greenbelt trail with the lake
Small park on the lake
8-8-2012 Bike Ride Data and Map
8-8-2012 Cadence-Distance
8-8-2012 Elevation-Distance
8-8-2012 Home Weather Station End
8-8-2012 IAH Weather End
8-8-2012 Speed-Distance
8-8-2012 Splits-Time

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for August 7th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Big Bend over Labor Day
by ligniteminer            forums.mtbr.com
Is heading to Big Bend over Labor Day weekend asking for trouble in the heat or is it doable? Never been out there and would like to do some hiking and biking. Thinking about riding in the SP and hiking in the NP. Any info on a 20ish mile ride in the SP would be great. Been riding most afternoons lately and the heat hasn’t been too oppresive, just drink lots of water. Thanks for any info you may have. …

Bicyclist killed in NE Houston traffic accident
Houston Chronicle
A man riding a bicycle was killed Tuesday afternoon in a traffic accident northeast of downtown Houston. Police said the man was westbound on his bicycle at Newhoff at 1:55 p.m. and ran a stop sign at Jensen. The cyclist was struck by a northbound sedan in the 2700 block of Jensen. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver, who remained at the scene, police said. The impact knocked off one of the man’s shoes and caused damage to the car windshield. No further information was immediately available.

Meeting Minutes – August
by salsaTopp            Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association
James Munnerlyn gave us a good recap from the camping trip last weekend. Thanks James!

Trail maintenance will be this coming Saturday at 8 a.m..
BTU mowed the levee finally, so you don’t have to ride through tunnels of tall grass, but it does mean the trail is covered in dead grass. We will put a couple people on rake duty to clear the trails off.
Sunset strip needs mowed.
Blair Witch is a bit overgrown in parts.
Justin F is trying to figure out a way to carry some paint on the trails to freshen up the…

Man begins bike trip from Moorpark in memory of his wife
By Alicia Doyle            www.vcstar.com

When Jim Windass’ wife was dying of cancer, Dove House Hospice had a dramatic and lasting effect on his life, he said.

“They made the last four days Christine and I spent together some of the happiest, warmest and loving times we’d spent together,” said Windass, 63. He lives in Hull, on the mideastern coast of England, where his wife received care at Dove House. …

…The trek will take him through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, totaling about 2,451 miles. He will try to ride about 15 mph in three two-hour sessions per day for approximately 100 miles a day, he said. …

September Club Meeting
by Renee O’Neal            Woodlands Cycling Club
Please join us on September 10th at 7:00pm for the monthly meeting at Rico’s  (Sawdust location).

Our featured speaker will be Trooper Erik Burse from the Department of Public Safety and he will share road cycling safety tips. We always have great door prizes at our meetings provided by BikeLane.

Second Day on Mountain Bike – August 7th Bike Ride

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For my second day of mountain biking I changed up the route somewhat with a little less dirt and mostly on the greenbelt trails.The greenbelt trails in Kingwood are usually concrete and 4 feet wide. Because they are in the woods the trails are not always smooth with tree roots moving the concrete or asphalt (older trails are asphalt) up and down. The short stretch of grassy trail came around 5.85 miles into the ride. No sand like yesterday so I did not load the tires with sand. I rode a little further today at 16.48 miles at an average speed of 12.0 mph and a 20.5 mph max speed.

Again the shade amongst the trees kept the heat at bay even though the temperature range was 84 to 90. Scattered clouds and a light 4 mph breeze were the rest of the environment. Humidity was 72% to 61%.

The trails were not as populated today as yesterday.

Other ride stats:

  • 1:22:24 riding time
  • 5:03 time stopped
  • 74.0 RPM average cadence
  • 31.54 miles this week
  • 153.75 miles in August
  • 4088.71 miles YTD
  • Link to RideWithGPS.com data and map
8-7-2012 Bike Ride Data and Map
8-7-2012 Cadence-Distance
8-7-2012 Elevation-Distance
8-7-2012 Home Weather Station End
8-7-2012 IAH Weather End
8-7-2012 Speed-Distance
8-7-2012 Splits-Time

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