Today was an exception – April 22nd Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I don’t get to ride early in the day during the week since I work. Today was an exception. I left home at 8:15 AM with a 73 degree temperature, partly cloudy skies and a strong south to southwest 14 mph wind. I think this could rank as a perfect riding day if you only go north. When I headed south the wind slowed me down to around 13 to 14 mph but there were times when I could keep the speed at 16 to 17 mph thanks to passing traffic. Unlike when I ride across Lake Houston on FM1960 the wind currents were not as treacherous.

The plan was to ride 40 miles or so but when I saw the strength of the wind I shortened the ride to 38 miles so that I did not get too far north and increase the distance into the wind. The appliance repairman is supposed to be here this afternoon and I did not want to be late. Also I need to save some effort for tomorrow’s long ride. No riding on Easter Sunday.

I was going to take my camera to shoot some of the wildflowers but I forgot it in the rush to get to started. No problem because I did not see any on the route. No other bikers either. I took a break at the Valero station on FM1314. Even during the week there is a steady stream of people.

April mileage update:

  • April miles 481.93
  • YTD miles 1308.60 (I have enough riding days left to get over 1400)

4-22-2011 Bike Ride Data and Map

4-22-2011 Home Weather Finish

Additional charts, weather and map.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 21st

Texbiker.net Posted on by

With the weather changing to spring this is probably a better idea for this fall. File this one away for future reference.

Cyberbike lets you go Wii while pedaling
by John Scott Lewinski
The new Cyberbike Magnetic Edition turns the standard Nintendo Wii into a virtual-reality exercise bike.

It keeps your legs spinning on a stationary bike while putting you at the controls of bikes and fantastical crafts that cruise through a virtual world on the Cyberbike Cycling Sports “exergame” that ships with the bike. …

I have modified my diet to lessen the sugar. I have not drank a sugared drink in many years.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin’s Fitness and Health E-Zine
April 24, 2011
Caffeine:  Good When You Exercise, Bad When You Rest
CAFFEINE INCREASES SUGAR ABSORPTION FROM THE GUT.  Taking caffeine when you eat carbohydrate-containing foods can double your rise in blood sugar (Journal of Caffeine Research, April 16, 2011).  Since more than  35 percent of North Americans will become diabetic and…

SCCCC: Conference Championships at Texas Tech — by Kristin Kjellberg
University of Texas. Photo by Kristen Kjellberg

Conference championships took place this weekend in Lubbock, TX, beginning on a chilly Saturday morning, with the winds of the high plains beating down on the riders. The road races led out with several miles of loose, rocky, undeveloped road, leaving many of those without mountain biking prowess literally in the dust. There were a few 8% climbs, with fast turns through the…

Wald basket tribute
by bikedenton
Wald basket appreciation day
The Wald basket has a functional elegance that’s rare for something so affordable. Almost any other method of carrying stuff will cost you more. A rack and panniers, a saddle bag, a huge..

Race or watch Dave Wiens in Action this Saturday at Flintridge!
by Veljko Roskar
Race along with Dave Wiens or warch the action @ the Flintridge (Woodlands) STS race – Saturday, April 23!

Prizes will be awarded! If you’re fast in whatever category you end up in, you will do multiple laps.

For the Saturday STS race, signup for only $17 and race along with Dave (pre-registrations only, no onsite registrations!!!!)…

Student athelete helps raise money for MS Society
By Lotis Butchko

Jenny Pence is tired. It’s 7 a.m. and she just arrived at Waller High School. She begins her journey, 150 miles of Texas terrain, from Houston to Austin in just two days – on a bike.

For the fourth year since she graduated high school Pence will be taking on the journey she has been training for since January. The MS150, sponsored by the Multiple Sclerosis Society is one of just nine…

Craddock endures crash course
Rider visits Europe to sample U-23 competition
By DALE ROBERTSON
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle
Lawson Craddock is back in Texas, catching up on schoolwork and catching his breath after a five-week trip to Europe provided a pleasing first taste of what the next four years of racing internationally at the U-23 level will be like. …

‘America’s Fattest City’ revisited
By Alissa Inman www.caller.com
A year has passed since Men’s Health magazine infamously ranked Corpus Christi the nation’s fattest city.

So far, the label has stuck. I hear it frequently.

Sometimes it’s used in a positive light: Jon Perez, who has lost 100 pounds in the past year, said it inspired him to stop contributing to Corpus Christi’s obesity statistics. …

PBA Spring Century

The 17.3 mph wind made riding – April 21st Bike Ride

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The 17.3 mph wind made riding in the open areas challenging. The ride across Lake Houston on FM1960 McKay Causeway was tricky like the other day. Fortunately the ride back home was with the wind. I was able to ride at 17 to 18 mph.I managed to increase my average speed by .1 mph over yesterday’s ride to 14.9 mph. Average cadence was 8.8 rpm, another improvement over yesterday.

Overcast skies and 79 degrees made the ride comfortable even with the higher humidity. I was able to get another early start since I was able to get home from work quickly. A year ago the construction on the highways meant I was not getting home until about 30 later than I do now.

This evening’s ride was not unusual. Tomorrow I am off from work and I plan on riding in the morning. Maybe I will ride 40 miles or so. My conditioning continues to improve. I do need to be careful not to over train.

The dry weather continues but the fires in West Texas have let up some as the wind and humidity have helped the fire fighters. While this weather is great for riding the drought is getting worse by the day.

April mileage update:

  • April miles 443.57
  • YTD miles 1270.24

4-21-2011 Bike Ride Data and Map

4-21-2011 Home Weather Finish

Additional charts, weather and map:

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 20th

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Front wheel drive cars can make sense but I am not sure this works for a bicycle.

Front Drive, Front Steer Recumbent Bike
via Make: Online by John Baichtal

Andrew Saylor of Wichita, KS, converted a regular bike into a recumbent, and it looks great! I love the custom seat, nice touch.

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Avance Bike Tour 2011
Description:     El Paso Water Utilities will be organizing a 30 & 60 mile charity bike ride May 22nd, 2011 at Painted Dunes Golf Course. All proceeds from the event go towards Avance El Paso. Registration is $25.00 and will include event t-shirt, SAG support and snack afterwards. More information is available online at http://www.epwu.org/avancetour2011 or contact Scott 915-594-5579 or email: sreinert@epwu.org.

36th Annual Colorado River Bikefest
In conjunction with the Texas Festival For Ethnic Cultures In Historic Ballinger, Texas
Proceeds benefit Journey For Sight – combating blindness world wide, Texas Lion’s Camp for Diabetic and Crippled Children, Eyeglass Recycling, Scholarships, and civic projects
Saturday, April 30th, 2011
Begins At 8:30AM Registration Begins At 7:00 AM
Runnels County Courthouse Square  (West Side)

Traffic Skills 101 on May 15th
by marc@mcmumby.com
Half-Day Traffic Skills Class
Date: May 15, 2011
Time: 8 AM – 1 PM
Location: Offices of Casteel and Associates, 10031 Monroe Dr., Ste. 105, Dallas, TX 75229
Registration Fee: $50.00…

Ride The Rock in Celebration of 100 Years of White Rock Lake
by The Announcer Guy
From Ride the Rock White Rock Lake is celebrating their centennial this year and local cycling enthusiasts Dan Patterson and Stuart Crow decided that was reason enough to sponsor a bike ride at …

UTB-TSC to celebrate Earth Day
by Brownsville Herald
Campus police representatives will talk about bicycle safety. Some of the information tables will feature campus recycling, the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences’ degrees, using recycled products and environmentally friendly cleaners …

‘Bike to School Day’ planned for Texas State
by San Marcos Mercury
The Environmental Conservation Organization along with the Bike Cave of Texas State University will hold a “Bike to School Day” April 21 in observance of Earth Day. The event encourages the Texas State community to ride a bicycle to class or work that …

Susman Godfrey’s Cycling Team “Swift Justice” Raises $100,000 to Fight Multiple Sclerosis
This past weekend on April 16-17, 2011, 37 partners, associates, staff, family and friends of Susman Godfrey L.L.P. rode 180 miles from Houston to Austin as part of the BP MS150.  As part of that ride, the team’s members have raised roughly…

Just another ride … with 13,000 friends
by Gil Jones

Excellence is good — it makes you feel better about everything. The “Bike MS” movement is one of excellence. If you are having difficulty visualizing 13,000 cyclists, so was I. I am not certain that I have fully absorbed the …