Texas Bicycling News – February 5, 2023

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Cycle of Strife

by Katie Nickas | texashighways.com

Two friends grease the wheels of their relationship on a bike ride through Palmetto State Park

“Watch out for snakes,” Chuck whispered in a voice that sounded like an incantation.

I’d never had to worry about dangerous animals in the woods as a kid in Indiana—at least not like the venomous black, red, and yellow coral variety that slithered across the boardwalk’s slats. My friend and I paused and held our breaths, observing the banded pattern on the creature’s back from several feet away as its body coiled tightly. It was good preparation for the other snake Chuck and I would see a couple of hours later near the Slayden Bridge spanning the San Marcos River, its appearance culminating our daylong trek through Palmetto State Park.

This tropical getaway is located along the banks of the river, about 65 miles east of San Antonio near Gonzales, where the historic slogan “Come and Take It” originated. The State Parks Board acquired 198 acres of the Ottine Swamp in 1933, establishing a state park on the property near the Ottine Mineral Springs resort, where guests may once again bathe in the healing springs of the renovated facility. The neighboring town of Luling, about 20 miles northwest, was founded in 1874 as a gathering point and supply center for cattle drivers on the Chisholm Trail.

Nestled between Gonzales and …

Riding for a reason: Cyclists take part in Freeze Your Fanny in Longview

By Yoleyne Romero | www.news-journal.com

Anjee Deards has been cycling for about a year and decided to participate Saturday in her first official ride.

She was joined by her husband, David, a seasoned rider of about 30 years. The two took part in the 35th annual Freeze Your Fanny in Longview.

The ride benefits East Texas Lightnin’, an independent team of athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The athletes participate in Special Olympics events throughout Texas, and the team is based in Longview. About 200 athletes are on the team ranging in age from 8 to 86.

The event — which includes a 10-mile course, a 30-mile course and a 65-mile course — was packed with cyclists, some professional and some first-timers such as Anjee Deards.

The Deards are from Tyler and moved to Texas in June, David Deards said. After settling …

Sunday Afternoon Ride Sugar Land, Texas

Abraham Garza | strava.com

Sunday Spinning with Kaitlyn San Antonio, Texas

Mark Noblitt MTCCSA | strava.com

So proud of Kaitlyn Hesseltine today. First ride since December, and she put down 40 miles! Whoop! Also had a special guest star join us for a few miles — Danny Vega! Teaching her the finer points of #noblitting, too.

Back to Back Wins at Cedar Hill P1 Cedar Hill, Texas

Mark Baerd | strava.com

BAR LOOP shakedown for EAST TEXAS SHOWDOWN Montgomery County, Texas

Shannon Wyatt | strava.com

Afternoon Ride Harrison County, Texas

Roman Brantley | strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Shorted Mileage. Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Yesterday I aired up the tires on both bikes in preparation for today’s ride on the roads. I missed one other thing I should’ve checked, the batteries for the speed and cadence sensors. I first noticed the sensors not working around the 1/2 mile mark when the odometer on my Wahoo Bolt computer was a tenth of a mile off. As the ride progressed I saw other signs of weak batteries. I will replace them when I get home.

The last time I rode outside was January 18 and since then all of my rides have using Zwift. The weather hasn’t been kind.

I started the ride a little later than I wanted because I watched the men’s elite UCI Cyclocross World race. It was a great race. So I chose a route that should’ve been around 26 miles, Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch. With the battery problem the Bolt only recorded 24.01 miles. I might need those 2 miles as I work towards my 300 road mile goal for February. The table below compares some of the past rides on this route. Today’s was the shortest distance and lowest average speed.

2-5-2023 SportTracks Rides Comparison Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch
2-5-2023 SportTracks Rides Comparison Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch

Riding my Lynskey Helix bike felt great after all those days riding my Blue Norcross AL bike on the Wahoo Kickr Core smart trainer. Unlike many routes in Zwift today’s ride only had 56 feet of elevation change. My legs felt relieved with so little climbing. The only substantial climb was the incline at Community Drive overpass.

Weather conditions: start 72, 57% humidity, dew point 56, mostly cloudy, wind SW 8 mph gusts 20 mph; finish 74, 54% humidity, dew point 56, mostly cloudy, wind SW 7 mph. I wore a light long sleeve jersey and a wind jacket and was comfortable. The weather forecast for Monday looks favorable for another road ride.

2-5-2023 Strava Ride Summary Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch
2-5-2023 Strava Ride Summary Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch

Texas Bicycling Action – February 4, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Afternoon Gravel Ride Harris County, Texas

Jim Storey | strava.com

Cedar Hill Road Race Cedar Hill, Texas

Mark Baerd | strava.com

Saturday MTCCSA Ride San Antonio, Texas

Mark Noblitt MTCCSA | strava.com

Some days, I make smart decisions. Today was not one of those days. So out of shape!

Lunch Ride San Antonio, Texas

Roger Ramon | strava.com

Marc really wanted a century Houston, Texas

Federica Arkadin | strava.com

So we rode it on John’s birthday (2/12)

FYF 2023 Gregg County, Texas

Jason Herrington | strava.com

After rapid expansion, Houston Bike Share seeks cash influx for long road ahead

Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com

Jake Duran, a bike mechanic, repairs a bicycle Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at the Houston Bike Share office in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

In a sense, Maya Ford is just trying to get Houston Bike Share back in gear in the hope that it has a long ride.

“We are punching out of our weight class. I believe that, and the use shows that,” said Ford, chairwoman of the bike sharing nonprofit’s board and its interim executive director. “We have proven it can work. … Now it is time for everyone to invest.”

As bike sharing in the region remains in flux — half the stations were shuttered in November, and Metro officials approved a planned takeover of the service in January — the nonprofit’s workers and volunteers are trying to anticipate the road ahead. Much of that, Ford said, begins with an honest look at what is and is not working for customers of the kiosk-based rental bicycles and how that …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Volcano KOM PR. Zwift Watopia Three Little Sisters

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Before starting today’s Zwift ride I watched the Elite Women’s Worlds Cyclocross race, followed by the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and Etoile de Bessèges men’s road races. Maybe those inspired me to tackle the Watopia Three Little Sisters route. This was my second time riding the Three Little Sisters and I did better than the first time on December 26, 2022.

2-4-2023 SportTracks Ride Comparison Watopia Three Little Sisters
2-4-2023 SportTracks Ride Comparison Watopia Three Little Sisters

The route is 23.5 miles long with 1424 feet of climbing. As the ride progresses the climbs get higher. The first climb topped out at 1.14 miles from the start. It wasn’t a tall climb but it went up sharply for the Zwift KOM. The next 4.6 miles went downhill to the foot of the Titans Grove KOM. Climbing Titans Grove KOM covered 3.87 miles to 268 feet. This left the big climb of the route, Volcano KOM. I had 6.04 miles of downhill to recover for the Volcano KOM. I improved my PR for the Volcano KOM quite a lot. I left my pace partner behind on the 2.58 miles to the top at 224 feet. The descent was 5.08 miles to the finish. At 10.8 miles the bear fell from the tree again rolling on the ground but not hitting any Zwifters. The SportTracks route profile shows the climbs.

2-4-2023 SportTracks Zwift Ride Summary Watopia Three Little Sisters

Strava PR’s: PR on Volcano KOM (12:50), PR on Hilly KOM Forward (4:08), PR on Rebel Route: Three Little Sisters (1:24:14). My previous PR on the Volcano KOM was 48 seconds faster than my previous best on November 27, 2021. Big improvement.

2-4-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Summary Watopia Three Little Sisters
2-4-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Summary Watopia Three Little Sisters
2-4-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Watopia Three Little Sisters
2-4-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Watopia Three Little Sisters