Texas Bicycling News June 24th 2022

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Tours of downtown San Antonio, missions, King William by bicycle, e-bike, recumbent bike and Segway

Richard A. Marini | www.expressnews.com

Tourism and travel have come back to near pre-pandemic levels, despite inflation, gas prices and airline delays all soaring. And this summer, many of those tourists will head to San Antonio, lured by the historic, cultural and artistic charms of perhaps the most visitor-friendly city in the country.

Whether you’re a tourist or an S.A. resident playing tourist for the day, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the historic sites around downtown and the near South Side while being physically active. Several operators offer tours by bike, trike and even Segways, so you don’t have to be Tour de France fit to enjoy the ride.

Here’s a look at seven of the tour options out there. …

Summer bike hikes a relic of the past

By Tom Purcell | tylerpaper.com

Sitting in my home office I am greeted by a cool breeze coming through my open window and the sweet sounds of summer outside.

It’s late June, which used to be peak bike-hiking season for kids — but now it’s mostly adults who go on long rides on their expensive high-tech bikes.

The bike has come full circle, I suppose.

From its inception in the 1800s the bicycle had been produced mostly for adults.

In the early 1900s it offered an inexpensive way for …

Wildcat Ranch Trail to celebrate Grand Opening on June 26th, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Mathew Richards | www.inforney.com

CRANDALL, Texas — The Wildcat Ranch Trail, Kaufman County’s first mountain biking trail, will officially celebrate its Grand Opening on Sunday, June 26, 2022, with food, fun, and vendors.

The Grand Opening event will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Wildcat Ranch Trail, located at 1015 FM 148 in Crandall, Texas.

The Wildcat Ranch Trail is an approximate 4.2 mile soft-surface hike and bike trail developed in partnership with PMB Investments, which is developing the adjacent Wildcat Ranch master-planned community, and the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association (DORBA) and its many volunteers and Trail Stewards.

"We are extremely excited to announce the Grand Opening of Kaufman County’s first hike and bike trail," Wildcat Ranch Trail Steward Daniel Rozell tells inForney.com. "The Executive Management Team at …

Rocky Hill Ranch – Smithville, TX

By Ridenfool | austinmountainbiking.com

Rocky Hill Ranch – resurrected in 2022 following a land sale where many of the legacy trails were lost.

Volunteer efforts have taken the 6.5 miles of remaining trail and doubled that to a 13 mile loop over 6 month’s of work. A herculean effort. There will more new trail to come. Aiming for about fifteen miles, eventually.

The new trails offer a good balance that have both challenges on trails like Corkscrew, Black Trac, Litterbox, and Sofa King Fun, as well as expanding the good ‘ol winding-through-the-Pines feel with trails like Karaway, Tristy, and Lemonade. The new stuff was crafted to offer visitors that "I’m not in Texas anymore" feeling which has been part of the Rocky Hill experience for going on three decades. Fat Chuck’s Demise has been reopened for those who enjoy a good suffering climb.

Technical Trail Features spice things up nicely with Shart Cut, The Grind, The Wall, and Reveille’s Romp to get your attention. Several challenging new climbs and downhill sections have been added as well.

The Rocky Hill tradition of Rest Stops with a picnic table and …

Bicyclist struck in hit-and-run crash on North Side, police say

Ben Spicer | www.ksat.com

Incident occurred just before 11 p.m. in 11300 block of Belair Drive

SAN ANTONIO – A bicyclist was struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run crash late Thursday night, San Antonio police said.

The crash occurred just before 11 p.m. in the 11300 block of Belair Drive, not far from Lockhill Selma Road and West Avenue on the city’s far North Side.

According to police, a man in his 30s was simply riding his bicycle when, for an unknown reason he was struck by a black Toyota. The man was checked out by EMS crews and …

Texas Biking from Twitter

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It Didn’t Feel Like 93 Bicycling to Community Drive And Back

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today’s bike ride started later than I preferred with my Lynskey Helix moving out of the driveway at 10:34 AM. To limit my biking time as the temperature went up I chose my “Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch” route and finished at 12:41 PM. I rode 28.01 miles which is longer than the previous 2 rides on this route in 2022. This puts me in a good position to reach 200+ miles this week on tomorrow’s bike ride. It also got me within 6 miles of reaching my 800 mile goal for June. My Lynskey Helix now has 294 miles.

6-24-2022 YTD Bike Rides Summary Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch
6-24-2022 YTD Bike Rides Summary Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch

I’ve ridden 3 different bikes on this route which reflects the changes in my bike fleet this year. The May 23rd ride was a fast one with an average speed of 14.4 mph. I wasn’t that fast today but I did get my average speed up to 14.2 mph for part of the ride.

Weather conditions: start 88 (humidity 64%, dew point 74), a few clouds, wind W 7 mph; 94 (humidity 49%, dew point 72), a few clouds, wind variable 6 mph. While it was hot the low humidity and dew point (for Houston, anyway) I didn’t feel that hot. The dry weather is taking a toll on the area and I received a watering restriction notice today. The CamelBak had ice left when I finished the bike ride. I’ve been looking for the new CamelBak with the slit opening instead of the round lid but I haven’t found one yet.

I’m liking the 33×13 gear combination on the Lynskey Helix. My legs seem to be able to pedal better into the headwind. According to the AXS.SRAM.com ride report I used the 33×13 for 1:27:15 (20.2 miles) out of the total moving time of 2:05:26.

6-24-2022 Strava Data Summary Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch
6-24-2022 Strava Data Summary Kingwood-Community Drive-Valley Ranch

Texas Bicycling News June 23rd 2022

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BIKINGMARKET.COM Launches New Platform & Instantly Added A New Paradigm To How The Bicycling Industry Operates

www.digitaljournal.com

Their main goal is to help take down barriers that make it hard for cycling retailers and suppliers to grow. This is good for everyone in the supply chain and eventually makes things easier and more affordable for the consumers.

Dallas, Texas – June 22, 2022 – The cycling industry has not seen any major changes in how the supply chain operates. It has always followed the Wholesale to Middleman to Retail model. This system presents obstacles for unknown brands and the small startups. It was time for the Cycling Industry to go full head-on into the Digital Age.

The Biking Market disrupts the industry with a unique Bicycling Marketplace where it all comes together as Suppliers can present their lines direct to Retailers without having to lose precious dollars to any middlemen. Retailers gain an additional online sales channel that’s dedicated to helping them get found and increase their …

Woman taken to hospital with head injury, possible broken ankle after being hit by driver

www.kens5.com

A woman in her 40s was taken to the hospital with a head injury and broken ankle.

SAN ANTONIO — Police are searching for a driver who hit a bicyclist on the east side of town overnight.

It happened on Susanwood Drive near East Houston Street just after midnight. Police say a woman in her 40s was riding her bike when she was struck by the driver, who stopped briefly, but then took off.

The victim was pretty banged up and taken to the hospital with a possible broken ankle and bumps on her head.

Police don’t have a description of the vehicle.

This is an ongoing investigation.

San Antonio bicyclist hospitalized after being struck in Eastside hit-and-run crash

Priscilla Aguirre | www.mysanantonio.com

The San Antonio Police Department is searching for the driver connected to a hit and run that left a cyclist injured and hospitalized on Thursday, June 23 on the city’s Eastside. The crash occurred just after midnight, according to officials.

SAPD said a female in her 40s was hit by a vehicle while riding her bicycle in the 300 block of Susanwood Drive, which is near East Houston Street and Martin Luther King Park. The driver of the vehicle stopped briefly but fled the scene, according to the department. Police said the cyclist was transported to Mission Trails Hospital with a head injury and a possible broken ankle. …

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Avoided Hot Part of The Day Bicycling Out and Back to Balmoral

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Thinking about potential routes for today’s bike ride I remembered the “Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden” one and decided to ride there today. I got start before 9 AM, barely, rolling away at 8:58 AM. To be beat the potential high of 101 degrees I wanted to finish before noon and I made it completing the ride at 11:47 AM. I rode my Cervelo Caledonia bike for 35.51 miles which was farther than the previous 6 rides on this route so far in 2022. Now the week totals 149.54 miles putting me in reach of a 200+ mile week. I’m almost to my 800 mile goal for June with 766.83 miles. I narrowed the miles gap for the year to date between 2022 and 2021 and 2020. 2022 stands at 4,526, 69 miles short of 2021 and 169 miles behind 2020.

6-23-2022 YTD Bike Rides Atascocita-Balmoral-Walden Route
6-23-2022 YTD Bike Rides Atascocita-Balmoral-Walden Route

I saw other cyclists from a distance along W. Lake Houston Parkway and later at Eagle Springs Parkway. Traffic on Timber Forest is not that heavy and thins out more south of Atascocita Road. The railroad overpass south of Greens Road shows progress towards completion and maybe August is a real possibility. FM 1960 construction at Atascocita Shores Drive dug up the closed lanes from the causeway to the traffic light so the only option is to ride in the main lanes beside the barriers. Maybe they will pour concrete as quick as the did on the east bound section.

From the AXS.SRAM.com ride report:

  • Moving Time 2:45:20
  • 19 RD gear changes
  • 1:49:14 using the 35×13 gears or 24.4 miles

Weather Conditions: start 84 (humidity 74%, dew point 75), fair, wind variable 5 mph; finish 93 (humidity 48%, dew point 71), clear, wind SW 9 mph. The lower humidity as the I rode made the light wind feel cooling especially when I rode in the shade.

6-23-2022 Atascocita-Balmoral-Walden Data Summary
6-23-2022 Atascocita-Balmoral-Walden Data Summary