Texas Bicycling News October 14th, 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Dallas planning Lakewood area pedestrian, bicycle safety improvements

By Erick Pirayesh | communityimpact.com

Pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements are coming to North Central Expressway, Mockingbird Lane, Lovers Lane and Greenville Avenue near Lakewood. New traffic signals, extended sidewalks, crosswalk improvements and lighting enhancements will make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, according to city planning documents.

Timeline: October 2023-December 2024

Cost: $5.5 million

Funding source: 2017 Dallas bond/North Central Texas Council of Governments

Kerrville Mountain Bike Festival to take place in Kerrville-Schreiner Park

www.kerrvilletx.gov

Kerrville, Texas (Oct. 13, 2022) – The second annual Kerrville Mountain Bike Festival returns to Kerrville-Schreiner Park, 2385 Bandera Hwy., on Oct. 22-23, 2022. The event is organized by the Texas Hill Country Mountain Bike Association, a local group led by Lisa and Adam Salladin, owners of Hill Country Bicycle Works. This event is the fifth race in the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association (TMBRA) Cycle Progression Texas Cup Mountain Bike Series.

Racers will come from all over the state to compete. Anyone can participate – locals will have a home course advantage should they choose to test their mettle. There are 39 different classes and categories that are recognized from ages 10 and under to 70 years old. The festival kicks off Saturday with a …

ACA Southern Tier

By Terry Rimmer | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 19 Fort Hancock: Badlands

Wednesday October 12, 2022, 62 miles (100 km) – Total so far: 1,076 miles (1,732 km) Welcome to Texas, our fourth state on the ride. We also rolled over the 1000 mile mark today.

Getting through El Paso was more of a challenge than anticipated. The roads were ok but the drivers seemed predominantly anti-cyclist, I don’t even think they liked each other. Within the first 5 miles, there were a couple of incidents where drivers continually pressed their horns from behind, then drove alongside and gave me verbal abuse. On one occasion, the driver giving the abuse was pulled up by a guardian angel who came to my assistance. He pulled his car up and told the driver of the offending vehicle that he was the person in the wrong. They then stood and argued whilst I pedalled on, looking back to see traffic queueing up behind as the two drivers were in full verbal abuse mode with each other. I’d like to thank the unknown guardian angel, he later caught me up turning right and slowed down to say sorry for the other guy and that I was not in the wrong, wishing me a safe journey.

Still in downtown El Paso, passing through what …

Police identify man killed in Port Neches vehicle/bicycle collision

www.panews.com

PORT NECHES — The driver of a vehicle who struck and killed a bicyclist Wednesday night did not appear to be impaired or speeding, Port Neches Police Chief Paul Lemoine said.

The motorist, a 62-year-old man from Mid County driving a 2015 Nissan Altima, stopped after the collision and was brought to a hospital for a blood draw.

No citations were issued.

Southern Tier Cross Country Tour

By Adam Wolf | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 19: El Paso, TX to Ft. Hancock, TX

Thursday October 13, 2022, 63 miles (101 km) – Total so far: 990 miles (1,593 km) We had really nice weather for riding today. We left the hotel at around 8:15 this morning with temperatures in the 50’s. It was a hilly ride for the first 12 miles and then things flattened out. It was about 25 miles before we left the urban sprawl and the heavy traffic that accompanied it.

We then entered farm country. We again rode through more cotton fields and pecan orchards. We stopped for lunch at the 7-11 in Fabens at mile 37. After that it was another 25 miles to our final destination of Fort Hancock. …

Day 20: Ft. Hancock, TX to Van Horn, TX

Friday October 14, 2022, 76 miles (122 km) – Total so far: 1,066 miles (1,716 km) The weather started out great for riding today. Clouds and middle 50’s in the morning. High temp around 80.

The first 21 miles were GREAT!. Quiet roads with little traffic and flat. We stopped at a travel center before getting on I-10 for a few miles. At the travel center someone was travelling with their poodles and they had 2 puppies in the back of the van that they let us hold for a bit. Split a chorizo and egg burrito for second breakfast. It was delicious. We did decide that the particular travel center would normally have been one we would have passed up if we were in the car but we were super happy it was there since it was the last option for 20 more miles.

The next 10 miles were all uphill. Not as steep as some of the other climbs though. Once that …

East Side of Houston

Dan – Thoughts from Huntington Place | dannagel1.blogspot.com

… Wednesday, I met up with Myles, a B Cycle tech, for a group ride. It was just the two of us all over downtown.. The liberating part of traveling with a "group" was that I was not constantly checking the App, or a frayed piece of paper in my pocket, in order to hit all the stations. I just went with the flow. I don’t always need to be in charge, heck, I don’t always want to BE in charge! Downtown has the greatest concentration of bike stations in this game. …

What happened to walnut creek mtb trails? from BikingATX

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Old Paper Log Books, Carnival Rides, No Dogs

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Back in the old days of biking (old being 1980’s and 1990’s) I kept track of my rides in a paper log book. I still have several of those paper log books. I would list the major streets and roads from the ride and some data the early bike computers calculated. Now with the internet and cycling websites the GPS computers spit out more data than I know what to do with. What was biking like before Strava and Garmin (or Wahoo in my case)? I now name the routes I ride and count on the GPS maps to show where I went and the variations I make within the same route name. I made a few modifications on the Kingwood – FM1485 – Kingwood route I biked today adding the “U” loop along TX 99 from US59 to Loop 494 and back to US59. I think that was the most significant change to bump today’s mileage of 33.82 miles a little above the average of the previous 9 rides on the route in 2022.

10-14-2022 YTD Bike Rides Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood
10-14-2022 YTD Bike Rides Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood

Rushing to start today’s bike ride didn’t happen. A few things got in my path of heading out the door: lawn crew showed up, setting up my new Wahoo Kickr Core smart trainer, waiting for the temperature to get above 70, and procrastination. I think the 11:11 AM start time is the latest since spring. My Lynskey Helix was ready to go I just couldn’t get going. I finished a little earlier than I thought at 1:55 PM thanks to a nice tailwind on the way back from Caney Creek just north of FM1485. My legs felt good and my overall average speed hit 14.0 mph until I got back to Kingwood.

Some things I saw during the bike ride: a minor rear end bumping between a pickup and a car at TX 99 and the north bound frontage road, carnival rides beside US59 by the East Montgomery County Courthouse, lots of sunshine. What I didn’t see were the 2 dogs at Rock Creek Drive and Northpark Drive. Maybe I can ride there and avoid the busy frontage road.

Weather: start 82 (humidity 43%, dew point 57), clear, wind NE 7 mph; finish 87 (humidity 32%, dew point 54), a few clouds, wind SE 9 mph.

From my AXS.SRAM.com ride report: used the 35×13 gears for 1:38:07 (23.8 miles), 23 RD shifts.

10-14-2022 Strava Ride Data Summary Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood
10-14-2022 Strava Ride Data Summary Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood

Texas Bicycling News October 13th, 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The Marfa 100: Bikes, sushi and zen on 2810

By Tyler Priest | bigbendsentinel.com

Ranch Road 2810. It’s home to the Marfa 100 Bike Race on October 15. It’s been called the Road to Nowhere, and for good reason. It’s a long, straight, empty, zen-like stretch of two-lane pavement that heads southwest from Marfa, cutting through desolate rolling hills of high desert grassland for some 31 miles. That’s where the pavement ends and the rocky and winding Pinto Canyon Road begins with a dramatic descent down to a rugged canyon floor that carves its way through the foothills of the untamed Chinati Mountains.

Upon setting out from Marfa, you’ll quickly realize there’s not much out there, save the occasional ranch house in the distance set upon a vast tract of land.

If Ranch Road 2810 feels like scenes from No Country For Old Men or There Will Be Blood, that’s because both of these Oscar-winning Western movies include scenes shot …

ACA Southern Tier

By Terry Rimmer | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 18 El Paso: Waitin’ on a sunny day

Tuesday October 11, 2022, 44 miles (71 km) – Total so far: 1,014 miles (1,632 km) I woke this morning to brilliant sunshine, albeit a little chilly, so as the tent wasn’t as wet as previous days. Views as the sun came up over the Organ mountains was something to behold. It was the first day in ages I had to put my factor 70 sun cream on.

The ride today wasn’t going to be a long one. There was lots to see along the road and the first little village we came to was Camillo, renowned for the trial of Billy the kid plus lots of other things that don’t get as much attention. We had left camp separately but all joined up at a small, highly recommended, coffee shop. I had a ginormous blueberry muffin with my coffee which nearly beat me, in the end no contest.

Soon we entered a large forest of pecan trees which I believe is …

The Best Mountain Bike Trail in North Texas Is in . . . the Suburbs

By Kelly Dearmore | www.texasmonthly.com

The tree-packed twists and turns of Northshore Trail are a magnetic draw for those looking to escape bustling suburban sprawl—without actually leaving said sprawl.

Mountain bikers are an eager bunch. Like skiers ready to glide down fresh powder or surfers stoked about wind-free conditions and glassy water, mountain bike riders are usually itching to put their knobby tires into some dirt. Throughout North Texas, mountain bikers have a common refrain: “Is Northshore open?”

Off-road bike trails are typically closed by the trail stewards or park rangers overseeing them when rain has turned conditions muddy. This prevents the trails from becoming unnecessarily uneven and rutty once they’ve dried out—but it also causes frustration for those passionate cyclists who plan their entire weekends around getting a ride in. Peek in on one of the Facebook group pages dedicated to North Texas mountain biking, and it’s …

Video: Port Neches Police investigating after cyclist was hit, killed by vehicle Wednesday night

Author: Tiana Johnson | www.12newsnow.com

PORT NECHES, Texas — Port Neches Police are investigating after a cyclist was hit and killed by a vehicle Wednesday night.

It happened around 7:40 p.m., Port Neches Police Chief Paul Lemoine told 12News. A vehicle was traveling south on FM366 just south of Hogaboom Road, and a cyclist was riding in the middle of the outside southbound lane.

The driver of the vehicle was not able to avoid the cyclist and hit the bicycle from behind. The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Chief Lemoine.

At this time, the identity of the victim is currently unknown. Police do not believe the driver was impaired, but the investigation is still in its early stages.

The road has since reopened.

Chief Lemoine encourages anyone who hits someone or something while driving to stop immediately.

Fort Worth area to get its first state park in more than two decades

Steven Santana | www.mysanantonio.com

The park will have trails around a lake surrounded by mountains.

A region surrounding a lake west of Fort Worth will become a state park that has been worked on for decades by Texas Parks and Wildlife, and be the first park for the area in 25 years. TPWD plans to open the 5,000-acre ranch land as Palo Pinto Mountains State Park in the second half of 2023, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The park in the Palo Pinto Mountains regions outside of the tiny town of Strawn will open just in time for the centennial of the state park system. …

… The park will offer 16 to 18 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horse riding, as well as an equestrian center. Visitors can also make use of the RV park and primitive campgrounds. …

Beginner Downhill Mountain Bike Lessons

laketravis.com

October 15th 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM Want to learn basic mountain biking skills or refresh your fundamentals?

Join one of our Intro to Spider Mountain Bike Fundamentals Courses offered Saturdays and Sundays.

Lessons are available in the morning beginning at 9 am. These small format lessons, with a maximum of 7 people per class, are 1 hour and 30 minutes long and cover the basic mountain biking skills. Lessons are available for guests age 14 and up.

Price is $69 per person per lesson, not including lift ticket or equipment rentals. Lesson participants receive 20% off of lift tickets and bike rentals at the ticket window, but can save even more on lift tickets by booking in advance.

Video: ‘Seemed to lose it’ | Cyclist records dangerous encounter with enraged driver on Houston street

Author: Adam Bennett | www.khou.com

Alex Maldonado and other cyclists say they’re frustrated after seeing recent headlines about cyclists being hit, including one fatally on a group ride.

HOUSTON — A Houston cyclist is sharing a video of a close call on one of the city’s busiest roads to raise awareness of aggressive driving.

Alex Maldonado and other cyclists told KHOU 11 News that they’re frustrated after seeing recent headlines about cyclists being hit, including one fatally on a group ride. …

Video: Cyclist dies days after being hit by car along College Street Tuesday night, investigation underway

www.12newsnow.com

A cyclist who was hit by a car along College Street Tuesday night has died.

Bicyclist in crash has died, Lubbock police said

by: Christianna Barbosa | www.everythinglubbock.com

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Lubbock Police Department announced Thursday that a bicyclist died following a Wednesday morning crash.

LPD said 51-year-old Shanna Roe was pronounced dead at University Medical Center.

LPD said officers responded to the crash around 6:51 a.m. It happened in the 900 block of 82nd Street.

At the time, Roe was transported with serious injuries. …

Texas Biking from Twitter

Railroad Overpass Update, Vultures Stink Upclose

Texbiker.net Posted on by

It’s been almost a month since I rode my Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden route to check on the Timber Forest Drive railroad overpass. Back on September 15th the construction had not connected the overpass to the road leading up. I was beginning to wonder if they were pouring concrete by the cubic foot instead of the cubic yard. My interest in this overpass stems from wanting to ride to Summerwood without using the very busy W. Lake Houston Parkway. From there I could ride to Crosby and circle Lake Houston.

Wheels down for today’s bike ride at 9:42 AM, a little earlier than yesterday. I rode my Cervelo Caledonia bike for the 3rd time this week. By the time I finished at 12:29 PM I biked 34.79 miles, about the average for this route on the previous 11 rides this year. This improved my week total to 148.35 miles and the month total to 444.53 miles, 68% of the way to my 651 mile goal for the month.

In Balmoral I visited the Blue Lagoon with its clear blue water but nobody was in the water. It may be too cool. From there I rode to the railroad overpass on Timber Forest Drive. I was pleased to see the overpass and the road now connected but I could not see if that was the case on the other side of the overpass. The concrete guardrails still need to be poured but it looks promising. Several months ago when I checked on the construction I asked one of the workers when he thought it would be finished and he said maybe August. That was missed. Maybe when I bike there in November it will be finished. The video shows the work area.

On the way back the vultures were busy along W. Lake Houston Parkway. When you get close to them they stink. You can see them in the video but not smell them.

Earlier this morning a few rain drops fell just barely dampening my driveway. By the time I left on the ride it was dry but mostly cloudy. Weather for the bike ride: start 75 (humidity 77%, dew point 67), mostly cloudy, wind E 7 mph; finish 83 (humidity 65%, dew point 70), partly cloudy, wind S 10 mph. Fall weather is here.

Strava awarded me the PR on Northbound Sprint (1:36) on Timber Forest Drive riding north.

10-13-2022 AXS SRAM Ride Report
10-13-2022 AXS SRAM Ride Report
10-13-2022 AXS SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage - Time
10-13-2022 AXS SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage – Time
10-13-2022 AXS SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage - Distance
10-13-2022 AXS SRAM Component Summary Gear Usage – Distance
10-13-2022 Stravini Cadence Data Chart
10-13-2022 Stravini Cadence Data Chart
10-13-2022 Strava Ride Data Summary Atascocita-Balmoral-Walden
10-13-2022 Strava Ride Data Summary Atascocita-Balmoral-Walden