Texas Bicycling News – January 26, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

HPD searching for hit-and-run driver after e-bike rider found dead on Shepherd Drive in River Oaks

abc13.com

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston police are searching for a hit-and-run driver after a man who was riding an electric bicycle in the River Oaks area Thursday morning was found dead.

Officers were dispatched to a person down call around 4:30 a.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of South Shepherd Drive near West Gray Street.

At the scene, officers found a man dead. Police said the victim is possibly a Hispanic man in his 50s or 60s.

Police said the man was riding an electric bike, heading …

Black History Month Kit using Clipt’n

Shawnee Trail Cycling Club | stcycling.com

We at STCC are proud to announce the offering of a special edition kit to celebrate Black History Month!

We think you’ll be very pleased with this jersey/bib/shorts combo offering which not only allows you to demonstrate your support for this important event, but truly is a sharp look that will show the community one more reason STCC is THE cycling organization for them.

As part of this offering, we are also excited to announce that we are once again providing this special edition kit thru Clipt’n, a local and fast growing black owned company …

Struggling Houston bike sharing system will be integrated into Metro operations

Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com

Houston’s bike sharing system, which struggled in affording to maintain its growing system of docked bicycles mostly within Loop 610, got a boost Thursday when Metro officials approved folding the system into its own operations.

“I think it is critical to helping folks move around the city,” said Metropolitan Transit Authority board member Chris Hollins.

The Metro board approved a six-to-nine month transition period where operations now overseen by the …

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Awards $9.8 Million in Local Park Grants

tpwd.texas.gov

AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $9.8 million in local park grants to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities.

The competitive grants are allocated to local government entities on a 50/50 reimbursement match basis. Once funded, the sites must remain parkland in perpetuity, properly maintained and open to the public. Twenty community parks statewide will gain nature trails, native gardens, playgrounds, splash pads, dog parks and sports fields. The commission, which administers the local park grants program for Texas, awarded grants to projects in various categories based on community population and scope.

Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants are reserved for local units of government with populations of more than 500,000. One community received this grant.
Non-Urban Outdoor Recreation Grants fund park projects in municipalities under 500,000. The commission approved awards to projects in 10  communities.
Small Community Recreation Grants serve towns of less than 20,000 and were awarded to nine communities. ...

Teenager seriously injured after being struck by vehicle while riding a bike near Manor

by Stephanie Becerra | cbsaustin.com

MANOR, Texas — A teenager is seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle while riding a bike Thursday afternoon in Manor.

Austin-Travis County EMS and Austin Fire Department ESD 12 responded at around 5:50 p.m. to the auto-bicycle collision in the 12000 block of North FM 973 Road. …

SWCC mini Gravel Fury with Jonno Houston, Texas

Steve Feffer | strava.com

Thursday San Antonio, Texas

Eduardo Salas (Cyclones) | strava.com

Afternoon Ride Blanco, Texas

John Yoder | strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

The HERD: 60 Minutes On The Makuri Islands’ Island Hopper

Texbiker.net Posted on by

It has been awhile since I rode with The HERD on Zwift. Today their ride lined up with my time schedule and route preference. We rode 60 minutes on the Makuri Islands Island Hopper route. This was longer than 1 lap but not enough for two laps. I rode this route once before back on December 17, 2022, but not as a group ride. Today I rode 15.67 miles and climbed 558 feet versus 23.71 miles and 876 feet of climbing in December. ZwiftInsider.com lists the route as “Length: 17.9 km (11.1 miles), Elevation: 128.5 m (422‘), Lead-In: 0.15 km (0.1 miles). Four sprints per lap but riding behind the fence made it hard to charge at them.

This my 4th ride in a row on Zwift this week. The weather has not been favorable for biking outside.

Group D had 255 people and I rode around the 100 position moving ahead and falling back to stay behind the fence. Some of the group rode ahead of the fence at times. Staying behind the fence requires watching my speed and power but I got ahead of the fence a number of times. I almost stopped a few times to let the fence pass by. ZwiftPower.com results put me in 32nd out of 92 people with Zwiftpower.com profiles. Strava recorded PR on Bridges and Boardwalks Lead-In from Start Pens (3:39), 2nd fastest time on Island Hopper (43:18), and 2nd fastest time on Bridges and Boardwalks Lead-In from Start Pens (3:53).

1-26-2023 ZwiftPower Results Makuri Islands Island Hopper
1-26-2023 ZwiftPower Results Makuri Islands Island Hopper
1-26-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Overview Makuri Islands Island Hopper
1-26-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Overview Makuri Islands Island Hopper
1-26-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Makuri Islands Island Hopper
1-26-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Makuri Islands Island Hopper

Texas Bicycling News – January 25, 2023

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Wednesday Ride, Part 2 San Antonio, Texas

Mark Noblitt MTCCSA | strava.com

Thursday Night Social Ride – January 26th 2023 from socialcyclingaustin

Chilly Maiden Voyage Test Ride San Antonio, Texas

Steve Wellington-USMES | strava.com

Special shoutout to Shawn at Crossroad Bikes for working with me the past eight months to put this together

Badasses Only Please Houston, Texas

Michelle Yoder | strava.com

Emergency call boxes installed at McAllen hike and bike trail

by: Gabriela Gonzalez | www.valleycentral.com

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of McAllen’s Parks and Recreation Department unveiled Wednesday two newly installed emergency call boxes throughout the Bentsen Hike and Bike Trail.

The solar-powered callboxes serve to enhance the safety of runners, walkers, cyclists and anyone on the trail, the City of McAllen stated on Facebook post.

Residents on the hike and bike trail can …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Wednesday On Zwift Watopia’s Waistband ( A Lot of W’s)

Texbiker.net Posted on by

For some reason I have an aversion to riding a route too often in Zwift but on the road I might repeat the same route a couple of times in a week. Today I rode the Watopia’s Waistband route for the 7th time, maybe the route I rode the most in Zwift. I started the ride at 1:39 PM after messing around on my computer for too long.I wasn’t alone in Zwift when I opened the companion app 25,490 other people were there.

Outside the weather was 50 degrees under mostly cloudy skies and a NW 13 mph wind. This was below my comfort threshold for riding outside.

Reading the route description in Zwift I thought the distance was 15.8 miles with 312 feet of climbing and no lead-in. Starting the ride the banner at the top of the screen showed 17.2 miles. ZwiftInsider.com shows the route distance at 15.8 miles plus a 1.5 mile lead-in and 312 feet of climbing. My ride came in at 17.38 miles and 335 feet of climbing. The route is mostly flat with the elevation on rolling hills. There was a nice descent around 8km.

I did not try to match my personal record for the Fuego Flats sprint. My pace partner was out front but not too far.

Below is the ride history from SportTracks.

1-25-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Overview Watopia's Waistband
1-25-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Overview Watopia’s Waistband
1-25-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Watopia's Waistband
1-25-2023 Strava Zwift Ride Map Watopia’s Waistband