First of all, I am incredibly blessed to even be able to ride a bike again. I only know of the Blitz Racing team and training rides through Stuart Green – Blitz Racing who was kind enough to invite me on one several months ago. Today’s ride went up one of my most dreaded roads, Ranger Creek, but I was able to suffer through it suffering behind matt mayes Who rode incredibly strong today. Jeff Skokan, Jesse Cortinas – Blitz Racing, Michael Karas, and Daniel Ramirez Tamayo-Blitz Racing dominated the ride and pulled for most of it. Even though he doesn’t like the attention, I’ve got to say happy birthday to a guy who has never left my side, and has always believed in me, Jeff Skokan.???
Finally, and as always, I must thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for enabling me to return to this sport which I love so much, and for yet another great ride with several good and FAST friends!?
I got up early to ride to the start of the Trek Bicycle Kingwood Taco Ride benefiting Bloom Fitness. I have a personal connection with Bloom Fitness because my niece has a disability and they come to the learning center she goes to. I rolled away at 7:02 AM to ride to the Trek location, about 2 miles from my house. As I approached the store I saw a number of vehicles with people getting their bikes ready and riding to the store area. We were scheduled to roll at 7:30 but we were a few minutes late with instructions and the president of Bloom Fitness telling us what they do. I would guess maybe 150 cyclists were there. We divided up into the usual A, B, C groups with each start a couple minutes after the group ahead. I chose the C group because I slow and older. The C group probably numbered 20 to 30.
From the store we rode to W. Lake Houston Parkway heading south. After a brief wait for the traffic light to change we moved ahead. It didn’t take long for the group the pick up speed and I was off the back. That was okay since I knew most of the roads and had the route loaded on my Bolt computer. I caught up with them at Atascocita Shores and FM 1960 as they waited for the light to change. Once it change they were off and I was off the back again but not necessarily alone with a couple of other cyclists nearby. I could see the group ahead about a mile and I kept them at that distance for many miles.
The next time I joined them was at the Chevron station where the route turned around to head back. Everyone was taking a break, filling water bottles, and snacking. I had my CamelBak so I was good for water. I stayed a few minutes and then left before they did. I figured they would catch up and pass me later. Riding north on Bohemian Hall road at the first cross street a lady cyclist was stop on the cross street and she asked if I was part of the ride. I turned left and went over. She said they made a wrong turn and got off the route. I told her the group was at the Chevron station about 1/2 mile to right. As we talked more cyclists joined us coming from the wrong street. They had a brief chat and decided to not go to the Chevron station but start back to Kingwood. I think there were about 10 in that group. It didn’t take too long for them to catch and pass me. Later I saw the lady stopped on Old Atascocita Road. I stopped to check on her and she said she stopped to drink and check her phone. I rode on and another group came up behind and passed. I kept them in sight for awhile and caught them at Fairlake Land and FM 1960 while they waited for traffic to let them go across.
Below were taken at the Chevron store turn around point.
9-10-2022 Crosby Trek Bicycles Kingwood Group Ride-19-10-2022 Crosby Trek Bicycles Kingwood Group Ride-2
From there I saw a couple of other cyclists and passed one on Atascocita Shores Drive. Usually I don’t ride on W. Lake Houston Parkway passed Kings harbor but today I rode to Kings Crossing Drive and turned left thinking this would be the best way to get back to the Trek store. But when I got to Town Center the streets were blocked with a festival and I had to ride around the tents and booths.
Back at the Trek store the food truck was there, two tents and chairs up and people were eating ad drinking beer. I decided to head back home but I made one more stop at the Houston Police station on Rustic Woods to report a crime. I did that and rode to the end of the ride at 11:12 AM. Not much later than my usual Saturday ride but about 20 miles longer.
After the ride I checked my AXS.SRAM.com ride report and was surprised to see that I used the 35×12 gears for 10:47, no wonder it felt hard to pedal at times. I don’t remember when I shifted to that gearing. I used the 35×13 gears 2:52:27, the majority of the ride (44.2 miles).
Strava showed 5 top results. 4 show in the image below.
9-10-2022 Strava Ride Data Summary Trek Bicycles Kingwood Group Ride
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin announced Wednesday it would open the newest segment of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail on Sept. 14.
According to the City announcement, the new segment will provide an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible realignment of the trail and restore the habitat of the shoreline of Lady Bird Lake.
The City will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. to celebrate the grand opening of the Holly Shores Trail Segment.
The annual bike ride, in which participants are encouraged to be as “bare as you dare,” protests car culture and the use of fossil fuels while advocating for increased cycling infrastructure. …
When: Monday, September 12, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: City Hall Council Chambers, 1201 Leopard Street
Who: Mayor Paulette Guajardo
Peter Zanoni, City Manager
John LaRue, President & CEO, United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
Jon Palumbo, Athletic Director, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Arthur Haas, Conquer The Coast Planning Committee
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Please join Mayor Paulette Guajardo, City Manager Peter Zanoni, and the United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce to announce preparations for the 20th Annual Conquer The Coast Bike Ride scheduled for Saturday, September 17.
The news conference will be available for viewing on the following city social media channels:
Ladies Night returns to the @DrivewaySeries next week thanks to Violet Crown's generous sponsors! We are giving away 20 free entries to the @Strava Women's Open. Use code: "VCladiesnight" at registration.
Today was the first bike ride on my Lynskey Helix since the flat tire on Wednesday’s ride. I didn’t expect a problem but it could happen. It turned out no problems from the front tire patch during the ride. I rolled away at 9:06 AM to ride my Kingwood – FM 1485 – Kingwood route. I expected to ride about 31 miles but I changed a few streets and ended up biking 33.65 miles. During 2022 I’ve rode this route 8 times including today. The typical distance is 31 to 32 miles. Today’s miles pushed my week total to 191.57 miles, well within range of a 200+ mile week. The month now totals 294.56 miles 41% of the way to my 720 mile goal.
9-9-2022 YTD Bike Rides Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood Route
An unexpected cyclist encounter happened early in the ride on Village Springs Drive. I was riding and thinking of a problem I worked on before the ride not paying close attention to oncoming traffic. Coming from behind a large trash bin in the streets near the curb a lady on a bike suddenly appeared coming towards me and I veered quickly to my left to avoid running into her. I wasn’t expecting someone on my side of the street riding at me.
Later in the ride while I was waiting to ride across Kingwood Place Drive I saw another cyclist riding towards me. As he neared I recognized it was Ronnie Clark who I biked with a number of times a few years ago. He saw me and pulled over and we chatted for 10 minutes or so.
Fall like weather for the start of the ride but warming up by the 12:28 PM finish. Weather overview: start 78 (humidity 78%, dew point 71), a few clouds, wind NE 5 mph; finish 85 (humidity 60%, dew point 70), partly cloudy, wind SW 4 mph.
9-9-2022 Strava Ride Data Summary Kingwood-FM1485-Kingwood
