A Sweet Zwift Ride On Douce France

Texbiker.net Posted on by

It took awhile to get on the bike for today’s Zwift ride. I started at 1:08 PM. The events didn’t look interesting or were too fast for this aged cyclist. Opening the Zwift desktop I looked at the available worlds, chose France and then the Douce France route. The description said 15 miles with 354 feet of climbing. I actually rode 15.17 miles (I didn’t stop at the finish line) and 436 feet of climbing. The flatlander that I am I watch the total climbing feet as much as the miles as I ride. When I got to 354 feet of climbing several miles still remained as you can see in the video thumbnail above. Not longer after I started I checked the active Zwifters in the companion app and saw over 21,000 online. Not all of them were in France or the route I was on. Yesterday there were large groups going by but not today.

I looked the route profile and information at ZwiftInsider.com before choosing the route to avoid a longer distance and too much climbing. My Wahoo Kickr Core does ramp up the resistance on the hills.

Outside the weather was sunny but the temperature sat just below 60 degrees moving me inside to Zwift.

Back on January 28th, 2022, I rode this route for the first time. My effort then was much faster than today. I sprinted twice today, once for a sprint and the other for a KOM. Strava reported these: PR on Marina Sprint (33s) and 2nd fastest time on Douce France from Start Pens (49:00). Strava shows 4 segments for this route.

ZwiftInsider.com describes the route, “We begin by traveling west from the start pens, taking the first right onto the twisty river road toward the hot air balloon fields and the Ballon sprint. Then another left takes us through vineyards and over the short Aqueduc KOM and quickly through town onto the Pavé Sprint. Then it’s past the sites of the Needle and Arch, Mont Saint-Michel, and the lighthouse, into the marina and onto the finishing Marina Sprint. Note: this route is a little odd, in that it doesn’t appear to have a “lead-in” from the start pens, even though the start/finish lap banner is nearly a full lap from the start pens.”

12-15-2022 SportTracks Zwift Bike Ride Overview
12-15-2022 SportTracks Zwift Bike Ride Overview

Texas Bicycling News December 14th, 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Riding into Christmas in style

matthew Ybarra | www.navasotaexaminer.com

Over 300 children will be riding into the holiday season on new wheels thanks to the Men Making Moves inaugural Christmas Bike Giveaway at Navasota High School Saturday, Dec. 10.

“The event was awesome,” explained Earnest Jefferson, one of the Men Making Moves founders. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and their parents when their ticket number was called is a priceless memory.”

The organization distributed …

Charles A. James, San Antonio’s oldest bicycle shop, in danger of closing

Priscilla Aguirre | www.mysanantonio.com

It’s hoping to reach its 103-year mark in 2023.

San Antonio’s oldest bicycle shop is asking the public for help, saying "it’s hanging on by a thread" as it tries to reach its 103-year mark in 2023. Charles A. James Bicycle Shop pleaded for the community’s support in a Facebook post on Tuesday, December 14.

Hank Estrada, the owner of the downtown bicycle shop, wrote in the post about how the construction going on around his business has caused some hardships. He stressed that December will be the telling sign of if they will open in January 2023 for the 103-year anniversary.

Estrada had a career in the Air Force before moving back home to take over …

NOCTURNE Cycling Series to Launch Races in USA

www.endurancesportswire.com

Denver, CO./ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Endurance Sports Marketing is delighted to announce the Nocturne Cycling Series USA schedule, coming to San Rafael, CA, El Paso, TX, and St. Petersburg, FL, with the final European dates to be announced in early 2023.

The NOCTURNE Cycling event was established in 2007 in London and has grown to be an international global brand in cycling and continues to attract leading professional teams and past world tour riders to its’ race. The event draws 1000’s of spectators and fans on the streets of London and has become the event to race in Europe as either an individual or professional.

“Our firm was honored to be offered the opportunity to launch the NOCTURNE Cycling Series to the U.S., and after 18 months of planning, searching and many site visits, we are happy with our first three choices we made with our partners and cities. Our ideas and London’s success will create a unique event that Americans will find quite different and festive than anything else seen in the States”, said Craig Mintzlaff, Endurance Sports Marketing.

The Nocturne Cycling Series will include two summer races in London and Amsterdam with a final European venue to be added and announced in early 2023.

Come for the race: stay for the party is the theme of this unique international race series that will celebrate the food, music, drinks, and cycling culture of each host city. This launch makes for three editions to the highly anticipated return of the Nocturne Cycling Series, with the American debut schedule as follows:

San Rafael, CA. Saturday September 9, 2023
El Paso, TX. Saturday, September 16, 2023 ...

Ryan Robert Sims 1972 – 2022

www.legacy.com

Ryan Robert Sims obituary, Austin, TX Ryan Robert Sims passed away unexpectedly Thursday, December 8, 2022 at his home in Austin, Texas. Born in Austin on October 7, 1972 to Robert Earl Sims and Carol Eidschun Sims, Ryan was an adventurous athlete growing up, playing soccer, football, baseball, and snow skiing. He graduated from Westlake High School in 1991 where he played golf and lacrosse and was an avid cyclist. The day after graduating from Westlake, Ryan rode in the 3000-mile Coast to Coast Bicycle Classic from Seattle to Asbury Park, NJ, raising money for Austin Smiles, a local charity. Shortly after finishing this ride, he began classes at Texas A&M University, earning a 3.8 grade point average in Engineering with little visible effort before switching his major to History his junior year. During his time in college, Ryan discovered a love for surfing while taking summer classes at the University of California at Irvine. After graduating from A&M in 1995, Ryan moved to San Diego, CA, the town he would call home for the next 25 years. In 1999, he passed the famously-difficult Cisco CCIE exam on his first try – a rare feat. His technical acumen helped launch his career as a …

Thursday Night Social Ride – December 15th 2022 from BikingATX

CX under the lights

Carlos H. | strava.com

Moms ride!

Michelle Yoder | strava.com

Christmas spirit on 2 wheels: Electric contractor gives all 160 students at elementary school new bikes

by Raquel Torres | sanantonioreport.org

A total of 160 bikes sat in a vacant lot behind the Muriel Forbes Elementary School gym on Wednesday, arranged by size under an arch formed by the booms of two bucket trucks. Inside the gym, students had gathered for what they thought was a bowling competition for a chance to win a bike.

Some parents on hand knew differently, having received word of a special holiday gift made to the Southeast San Antonio school: Each and every Forbes student was receiving a brand-new bicycle. The bikes came courtesy of Greenstone Electric Company, an electric utility contractor based in New Braunfels. …

Houston ISD kids surprised with new bikes, nearly 600 given out

By Damali Keith | www.fox26houston.com

HOUSTON – It’s a special day here in Houston as Christmas comes early for hundreds of kids. They’re all receiving one of the best gifts a child can get. What? Well, we asked a number of anxiously awaiting Christmas kiddos what they hope Santa will bring, and they answered.

"I’m really excited to have a bike. I’ve never had a bike."

"I want to get a bicycle, so I can play with my brothers outside."

"I want a new bike because mine is like really rusty and all that." …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Zwift Makuri Islands Flatland Loop Twice

Texbiker.net Posted on by
Makuri Islands Flatland Loop

When I opened the Zwift companion app 23,775 Zwifters were online. I checked the upcoming events but didn’t find one that looked interesting. So I created a meetup on the Makuri Islands Flatland Loop. A loop was 8.6 miles according to ZwiftInsider.com but I think Zwift shortened that by a couple of tenths. Climbing was modest at 325 feet per loop, about the amount this flatlander can handle. I listened to the Pandora Contemporary Christian Radio station while I rode.

A new route for me, I rode 18.12 miles, a little more than 2 laps, with about 325 feet of climbing per lap. The climbing begins around 5 km followed by a downhill onto the flat section. Introduced in Zwift’s May 2021 Yumezi launch, Flatland Loop contains a few more lumps and bumps than the name implies – in fact, it’s not even the flattest route on the Yumezi map (that distinction goes to Two Village Loop)! But it does manage to skip the KOMs. (from ZwiftInsider.com)

Two Strava results: PR on Flatland Loop (26:58) and 2nd fastest time on Flatland Loop (27:56).

Texas Bicycling News December 13th, 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Police surprise special needs boy with bicycle after his ‘cherished’ bike was stolen

by JAMIE BURCH | abc7amarillo.com

BORGER, Texas (KVII) — Christmas came two weeks early for a special needs boy in Borger, Texas, thanks to the kindness of a non-profit group and Borger police.

Carson’s mom contacted Spokes4Hope after her son’s "cherished" bike was stolen.

Spokes4Hope, a non-profit founded by a retired cop, provides bicycles to foster kids and others who would otherwise not be able to experience the joy of this childhood pastime.

"She explained in her message that …

Upcoming Rides

Fort Worth Bicycling Association

Burleson and Beyond
Thu, December 15, 2022 9:00 AM
Spokes Parking Lot, 155 W Bufford St., Burleson, TX
Rusty Romp
Thu, December 15, 2022 9:00 AM
Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126
Joe Pool Lake - Rusty (session 40 of 42)
Sat, December 17, 2022 9:00 AM
Grand Prairie, Texas
Chisholm Rusty Chain Gang Ramble
Tue, December 20, 2022 9:00 AM
4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Rusty Romp Tuesday Edition
Tue, December 20, 2022 9:00 AM
Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126
Burleson and Beyond
Thu, December 22, 2022 9:00 AM
Spokes Parking Lot, 155 W Bufford St., Burleson, TX
Rusty Romp
Thu, December 22, 2022 9:00 AM
Benbrook YMCA, 1899 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126

Police identify bicyclist killed in hit and run; witnesses sought

by: Gabriela Rodríguez, Dave Burge | www.ktsm.com

UPDATE: EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – El Paso police continue to investigate a fatal hit-and-run crash Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, that left a bicyclist dead.

Police say 26-year-old Austin Brazda was riding his bicycle along the 1300 block of George Dieter a little after midnight.

Police say he was hit by a vehicle that fled the scene. Three other vehicles managed to avoid Brazda, who was lying in the roadway.

The bicyclist was taken to the hospital but died there.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in finding the driver who fled the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call (915) 832-4400 or you can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (915) 566-8477.

This is the city’s 70th traffic fatality, compared with 70 at the same time last year. …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar