Texas Bicycling News – February 15, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

A gift for cyclists: San Antonio man creates map of the city’s creekside hike-and-bike trails

Scott Huddleston | www.expressnews.com

Cyclists Lorraine and Tom Stehn of Aransas Pass, ride on the Salado Creek Greenway near the Jack White Trailhead in 2021. A local cyclist has created his own version of a local greenway trails map after hearing from users of the hike-and-bike trails who said a comprehensive map was needed.

Anyone trying to find the newest hike-and-bike greenway trails in Bexar County has probably looked for a map online to plan their day trip.

But even with the city’s official map, users of the greenway trails have gotten lost. A local cyclist’s creation of a map of the nearly 100 miles of creekside hike-and-bike trails in Bexar County posted this week has gotten a lot of love.

Davey Bemporad, a transportation planner and member of the SATX Social Ride group, said he made the map, in a format resembling a rail transit graphic, as a Valentine’s Day gift for the public Facebook group, which “promotes safe and social bike riding everywhere, especially downtown.”

Bemporad said …

Man to bike across Texas starting in Lubbock for organ donation awareness

by: Kamryn Mendoza | www.everythinglubbock.com

LUBBOCK, Texas — To bring awareness to organ donation, Mark Scotch decided to bike across the state of Texas to Louisiana.

In early 2020, Scotch met Hugh Smith, 56, a former professional horse jockey, at Cane River Brewing in Smith’s hometown of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Smith was in need of a kidney due to frequent injuries from his work.

Although Scotch’s kidney wasn’t a direct match for Smith, he wanted to donate a kidney to someone who needed one. He became a “voucher donor” through the National Kidney Registry Voucher Program, where he would be matched with a recipient somewhere in the country. …

Superflying the leeve Fort Bend County, Texas

jack snider | strava.com

Dennis About to Destroy! Travis County, Texas

Carlos A. Moreno | strava.com

Dennis said he will beat everyone at driveway on his new bike! Be ready!!!!

Black History Month: Celebratory bike ride highlights Houston’s Black history

Moriah Ballard | www.click2houston.com

HOUSTON – Organizers held an event last Saturday where members of the community got the chance to pedal through some of the historic Black sites around the Houston area.

Event organizer Pervis Hall said the ride was created to allow guests to learn about historically Black locations around the city.

The 20-mile-long celebratory ride began at 8 a.m. sharp on Feb. 11, beginning in the 500 block of Clay Street.

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Overcast Day Atascocita – Walden – Spanish Cove Drive Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

No Zwifting today. After watching the Vuelta a Andalucia – Ruta Del Sol and Volta ao Algarve races on GCN+ I felt inspired for a bike ride outside. The overcast sky kept the temperature in the 70’s and the wind at the 11:20 AM start was from the SE at 9 mph. Checking the weather when I finished at 2:05 PM the increased to 14 mph from the south. A few sprinkles fell on me in Atascocita and on Fairlake Lane but quickly disappeared as I rode on.

My bike for today was the Cervelo Caledonia. I chose the Atascocita – Walden – Huffman route plus riding south to Spanish cove Drive on FM 2100. I renamed the route to Atascocita – Walden – Spanish Cove Drive after seeing how many times I rode it in Strava and SportTracks. With today’s 35.46 miles I only need 88 road miles to reach my 300 mile goal for February.

2-15-2023 SportTracks Rides Atascocita-Walden-Spanish Cove Drive Route
2-15-2023 SportTracks Rides Atascocita-Walden-Spanish Cove Drive Route

The ride through Kingwood to the south on W. lake Houston Parkway went through Atascocita, over FM 1960 into Walden. circling through Walden and back into Atascocita I came to FM 1960 for the ride east over Lake Houston. The wind from the south wasn’t too strong riding east. Farilake l\Lane took me south where I met two cyclists riding north. Old Atascocita Road to FM 2100 was windy maybe because the had increased to the 14 mph. A strong headwind tried to slow me down as I rode to Spanish Cove Drive where I made the u-turn and picked up the tailwind to FM 1960. Leaving Huffman heading west on FM 1960 I didn’t know if the wind would be a problem over Lake Houston. It turned out to not be as bad as I feared. Passing traffic blocked some of the wind. Construction workers poured a concrete sidewalk in the work zone at Atascocita Shores Drive. From there I rode through Atascocita Shores and Kings River back to W. Lake Houston Parkway. From there it was about 5 miles to the finish.

I used the GoPro Quik phone app to create today’s ride video for a different look.

Below is the shift data from AXS.SRAM.com ride report.

2-15-2023 SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage by Time
2-15-2023 SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage by Time
2-15-2023 SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage by Distance
2-15-2023 SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage by Distance
2-15-2023 SRAM Component Summary Avg Power in Gear
2-15-2023 SRAM Component Summary Avg Power in Gear
2-15-2023 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Walden-Spanish cove Drive
2-15-2023 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Walden-Spanish cove Drive

Texas Bicycling Action – February 14, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Video: Fort Worth construction: Year-long project begins on University Drive

Author: Adriana De Alba | www.wfaa.com

Construction brought major traffic to the area. The project’s goal is to improve safety by enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access and transit facilities.

FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s the route Fort Worth resident Tierra Ladkin always tries to avoid.

On any given day, University Drive in Fort Worth gets heavy traffic.

Commuters use it to access Interstate 30, busy shopping centers and Texas Christian University (TCU).

On Monday, the traffic situation got worse. It was the first day of a year-long construction project.

“I’m not looking forward to it at all,” Ladkin said. “I see time that’s taken away from me.”

On Monday, northbound University Drive was reduced to one lane. It caused major backups and bumper-to-bumper traffic during rush hour.

The project’s goal is to improve safety by enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access and transit facilities.

According to the …

Upcoming Rides

Fort Worth Bicycling Association | www.fwbaclub.org

Burleson and Beyond
Thu, February 16, 2023 9:00 AM
Spokes Parking Lot, 155 W Bufford St., Burleson, TX
Rusty Romp
Thu, February 16, 2023 9:00 AM
Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126
Chisholm Trail Ride
Sat, February 18, 2023 9:00 AM
4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Chisholm Rusty Chain Gang Ramble
Tue, February 21, 2023 9:00 AM
4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Rusty Romp Tuesday Edition
Tue, February 21, 2023 9:00 AM
Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126
Burleson and Beyond
Thu, February 23, 2023 9:00 AM
Spokes Parking Lot, 155 W Bufford St., Burleson, TX
Rusty Romp
Thu, February 23, 2023 9:00 AM
Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126

Early Season Cycling Speedwork Feb 11, 2023

Veloharmony | www.youtube.com

Prologue: 00:00 Route Map: 00:45 Warming up with the group before Fishcreek: 02:03 Honea-Egypt Road – The open Road: 13:08 Rabon Chapel Road in Honea, Texas: 36:56 Breakaway developing Southbound on Springbranch Road: 01:10:47 Second Break on Keenan-Cutoff Road: 01:29:27 Catching the Break in Grand Lake Estates: 01:34:51

Texas Biking from Twitter

Zwift RoadCaptain Rebel Route Watopia Big Flat 8

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I didn’t plan on riding in Zwift today but on the road. The weather had other plans though with two light showers before noon there wasn’t enough time left to allow the streets to dry, ride and get ready to play dominoes this evening. So Zwift was the ride.

After not succeeding with RoadCaptain routes in the Makuri Islands today I chose a ride in the Rebel Route list, the Big Flat 8 in Watopia. Nothing wrong with flat routes in my riding. The description said the distance would be 29.7km, ascending 75.6m and descending 131m. At the end of the ride some of those numbers were wrong. The route starts using the Watopia Triple Flat Loops and varies from that.

All did not go well though. I got everything setup and was just starting to pedal and the electricity blipped shutting Zwift off, my router hiccuped, and RoadCaptain froze. I use a UPS to protect my computer and other things electronic because CenterPoint Energy is unpredictable. I had to create another livestream on YouTube, power off my router and get RoadCaptain working again.

This second time I had to fix a couple of settings in OBS and was finally ready to ride again. Then a phone call came in that needed to answer. Another delay. Now I was ready to ride.

The Triple Flat Loops begins on Fuego Flats. RoadCaptain’s window was running (see the video) showing Fuego Flats 4 covering 7.4km with Fuego Flats 5 next for 1km. When I passed the 7.4km point the Epic KOM turn came up on the screen and I continued straight. That lasted 1km for the Epic KOM left turn alert popped up to turn left. This would take me on the Titans Grove to Sequoia/Epic KOM RoadCaptain’s wind said for 1.3km. Now 9.6km into the ride the next turn was Sequoia Circle to the right. RoadCaptain labels this Sequoia to Epic for 1.3km. The next turn alert came at 10.8km to the right to Downtown. I would ride on RoadCaptain’s Ocean Blvd. 2 for 1.9km. I would continue on Downtown going stright according to the alert at 12.7km and switch to RoadCaptain Ocean Blvd. 1 for .4km. Downtown turned right again on RaodCaptain’s Beach Road to Zwift KOM but only for .2km. No turn alert in Zwift as RoadCaptain changed to Beach Road 2 for .5km. After riding under the checkered banner RoadCaptain moved to Beach Road 1 for .8km. The next turn alert came at 14.7km turning right onto the Volcano Circuit. The road after the turn RoadCaptain labeled Beach Road to the Volcano covering 1.4km. Riding to 15.3km the next turn offered 2 choices, Volcano Circuit to the left and Volcano Circuit CCW to the right. RoadCaptain selected the right turn calling it Volcano Circuit 1 for 1.4km. There was some climbing on this section but not much. 16.7km another two turn choice came up, Volcano KOM to the left and Volcano Circuit going right. The right turn was highlighted in orange and the road would change to Volcano Circuit 2 for .9km. This was a nice downhill ride. As I made the right turn RoadCaptain’s window said “Lost route lock heading wrong way! Make a u-turn to resume the route” but then the window changed back to the route instructions. Good news! at 17.6km another two turn choice with the Volcano Circuit CCW going left and Italian Villas to the right. I turned to the right, RoadCaptain labeled this Volcano to the Italian Villas riding 1.4km. Only 10km to go. A gravel road around 19km for variety. And the next turns choice, Sprint going left and 360 Bridge was where I was headed, the Italian Villas Loop 1 .7km. As I reached 19.3km another RoadCaptain’s window said “Lost route lock heading wrong way! Make a u-turn to resume the route” but then the window changed back to the route instructions. 20.0km alerted me to the 360Bridge left or the Sequoia Circle right and I turned right onto RoadCaptain’s Marina a longer road at 2.1km. Riding over a bridge at 22.0km the next turn choices were Sequoia Circle to the left and Jungle/Epic KOM to the right. Thankfully I turned left onto RoadCaptain’s Sequoia to Marina and 1.3km. The next turns’ alert was at 23.3km Downtown left (my direction) or Epic KOM right and onto Ocean Blvd. 2 1.9km. Continue Downtown (straight) or Desert Flats (right) came at 25.1km? RoadCaptain said turn right onto Ocean Blvd. to titans Grove for 1.2km. As I approached 26.3km Desert Flats straight versus Titans Grove to the right was the choices. I continued straight back to Fuego Flats 1for 1.6km. I moved to Fuego Flats 2 at 28.1km. A bright red RoadCaptain window popped up at 28.7km stating “Zwift connection failed, retrying connection…”. In a couple of seconds the blue RoadCaptain window returned. And the final road, Fuego Flats 3 to me to the finish of the ride at 29.3km, a little short of the expected 29.7km.

I think I will give RoadCaptain a rest and use the Zwift companion app to make my turns choices in future Zwift rides.

2-14-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Summary Watopia RoadCaptain Rebel Route Big flat 8
2-14-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Summary Watopia RoadCaptain Rebel Route Big flat 8
2-14-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Watopia RoadCaptain Rebel Route Big flat 8
2-14-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Watopia RoadCaptain Rebel Route Big flat 8