Another Rider in a Milram Kit – June 13th Bike Ride

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As I planned today’s route I decided on a combination of streets and roads different from what I rode in the past. I wasn’t sure what the distance would be but I figured it would under 40 miles and it totaled 37.56 miles. The long stretches of open road without stops and starts allowed me to get my average speed up to 16.3 mph with only a 20.8 mph max speed and 82.2 RPM average cadence. Many years ago I rode this section of FM1485 but there is a two mile section without shoulders. Back then a lot of logging trucks traveled this road so I stopped riding this route. Today I only saw two logging trucks; one going the other direction with a load and one going my direction and empty. The one going my way passed before the no shoulder section.

Going through The Commons of Lake Houston lessened the traffic concern but I did not remember all of the turns so I got back onto FM1485 before I should have. For a couple of streets in the Commons another rider in a Milram kit followed me. I said hi but he did not respond. Our ways split when I made one of my wrong turns onto Hargrave Road. Later on as I arrived at my usual stop at the Huffman Chevron an incident happened when a motorcyclist drove off without paying for his gas. This set off a string of events resulting in two Harris County deputies arriving after awhile. Not sure what went on between the clerks and the deputies though. They left just before I did.

After our rain yesterday evening the temperature dropped some for my ride to 82 – 92 degrees, humidity 52% at the finish, partly cloudy sky and an almost non-existent 3.5 mph N breeze. The light breezed helped my average speed. Except for the last segment my average speed was great.

Mileage stats: 99.8 miles this week, 365.68 miles in June and 3,156.06 miles YTD. Riding time today: 2:18:05, time stopped 34:44. Link to RideWithGPS.com data and map.

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Great news for Flintridge and more!

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Article category: 
General

Flintridge Expansion
As previously indicated, GHORBA has great news for the Flintridge Trail system.  In conjunction with the Spring Creek Greenway project, Flintridge will be undergoing a large expansion, doubling in size!  The expansion is made possible through a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant sponsored and created by GHORBA and strongly partnered with Montgomery County Precinct 3 through matching funds.  The funds will be utilized to add up to an additional six miles of natural surface trail and to improve the sustainability of an additional six miles of existing natural surface trails.  The end result will be a Flintridge trail system spanning all the way to I-45 on the northern side of Spring Creek.  Construction will not start until a bid process is completed and contracts are in place with contractors, this is estimated to occur by the end of 2012.  GHORBA is very excited for this upcoming project with special recognition to GHORBA Board Member-At-Large Bill Begnaud for being the driving force behind the success of this project.

This Courier Article has additional information on the project.

For more information on past and present GHORBA projects, check out our advocacy page or just ask one of our Board Members when you see them on the trail.

Flintridge STS Race
Let’s celebrate the Flintridge expansion! Rafael, GHORBA’s Race Director, is working on rescheduling the postponed Flintridge STS for the first weekend in July.  Interested in seeing the race happen on this date? Email Raf via our contact form and let him know.

RTP Needs your help again!
The RTP program has been VERY beneficial to Houston area mountain bikers yielding $461,000 for local trails over the past few years to include Carl Barton (City of Conroe sponsoring) $45k, Double Lake $120k, Huntsville State Park $160K, Community grant $36k, and Flintridge $100k.
RTP is arguably the most important government program ever created to benefit trail based recreation, and funds the development and maintenance of thousands of miles of motorized and non-motorized trails.  Please click the Take Action link to weigh in today!
TAKE ACTION!

STS Results
The up to date results of the Short Track Series are available.  Each link below has the results information for each race as well as the series.
Overall (pdf)
Cypresswood (pdf)
Sugar Land (pdf)
Jack Brooks (pdf)

New Flintridge Trail Steward
Help GHORBA welcome our new trail steward for Flintridge, Karl Thompson.  Karl is a local mountain biker and is eager to maintain Flintridge and see the upcoming expansion become a success.  Look for Karl’s work party announcements on our calendar and on the Flintridge email group.  Karl can also be reached utilizing our contact form at this link.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for June 12th

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@BSS_Austin        via Twitter
You know we’re bringing #WomensRideDay back right? Join us Saturday!

Any other downhillers/freeriders in East Texas (around Nacogdoches)?
by PeytonP        forums.mtbr.com
I’m tired of riding alone…

I know one other guy who rides big bikes but he’s gone for the summer. I’m more that willing to show anyone around the trails in Nacogdoches and introduce them to short but sweet downhills we have. They’re getting old for me but have enough features to keep you entertained and your skills up. The SFASU campus is across the street with its stair sets and a few things to session- so is some…

West Texas Cycling Association Next Monthly Meeting
Date: July 9, 2012
Time: 7:00 PM
Host: TBA
Where:     Lubbock, TX

Helotes-Castroville Ride
San Antonio Wheelmen
Date:     06/24/2012
Time:     08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location:     Helotes, TX
Details:     Helotes-Castroville Ride (NW) [F, H] Routes of 26, 45, and 58 miles. Routes vary from fairly flat to hilly.  Meet at the parking lot across from the John T. Floore Country Store.  Take Hwy 16 to Helotes, turn left onto the Old Bandera Road.

Texas Bicycle Safety Tip: Helmets every time
Texas News Service
AUSTIN – Wear a helmet every time. No exceptions.

That’s the message from the American Academy of Pediatrics this summer. The group confirms that riding without a bike helmet significantly increases the risk of head injuries if a bicyclist crashes, and crashes can be serious even when just riding around the neighborhood.

Emergency room doctor Mike Gittleman, co-coordinator of the Comprehensive Children’s Injury Center at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center, says wearing a helmet can reduce head-injury…

Texas 4000: riders with cause
by Airman 1st Class Alexxis Pons Abascal
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.  — More than twenty cyclists crossed the New Mexico border just east of Clovis, N.M., in late afternoon on June 7. This year’s Texas 4000 team was in high spirits after their race to the border from Farwell, Texas, into Clovis. One rider simply let out a sigh along with the words, “finally made it to the land of enchantment!”

The Texas 4000 was founded in 2003 and is the longest annual charity bike ride in the world. Traveling more than 4,000 miles by bike, those cyclists are dedicated to the fight against cancer through sharing hope, knowledge and…

Recreation calendar, camps & clinics: June 13
www.mysanantonio.com
Bicycling: Today, 8 a.m., Wheelers Senior Ride, 30 miles, Floore’s Country Store, Helotes. 210-643-0314.
Bicycling: Saturday, 8 a.m., Bullis Park Ride, 21, 34, 48 and 66 miles, Bullis County Park. 210-862-6559. …

@ATXCyclingTeam        via Twitter
MTB – Wednesday Night at the Nut is on! Wheels down, 6:30pm.

A Bluejay Near Miss – June 12th Bike Ride

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The heat and humidity did not let up today. Again I started the ride mid-morning at 10:35AM in a bid to avoid some of the heat. As I write this the temperature on my home weather station sits at 95.9 degrees. During the ride earlier the range was 88 to 93 degrees with 51% humidity when I finished. The light SW 8.1 mph breeze felt good when I rode into it. There was not enough headwind to really slow me down and it seemed to evaporate some of the sweat pouring off. I could’ve used some of the ice from yesterday.

It took until the 10 mile mark to recover the time to get my average speed up to 15 mph. By the end of the 30.42 mile ride I got it up to 15.5 mph thanks to the wind cooperating in two ways: a tailwind for the first 12 miles and a cooling breeze for the southbound 18 miles. No long rest break today with a total of 11:45 time stopped. Riding or moving time totaled 1:57:30. SportTracks reports my max speed was 26.8 but Garmin connect has a more realistic 21.8 mph. This table shows the breakdown for each 5 mile segment.

Near the end of the ride I almost had a collision with a bluejay flying along the bike path I was on. I could feel his wings flapping because they were so close. My right calf might have brushed his wings.

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