Texas Biking News March 4th 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Completing unfinished business.

By Claus Ovesen | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Sanderson Texas to Marathon Texas 55 miles 1867 ft of gain: 55 miles of desert and cactus

Thursday March 3, 2022, 55 miles (89 km) – Total so far: 556 miles (895 km) I got some decent sleep last night but the highway traffic and trains made it a little interrupted. I waited till the sun came up so things were a little warmer when packing up. I got rolling about 830 and found some coffee at the Ferguson motor coffee company. They did not have any food so I roll down the road to a convenient store and a nice gentleman behind the counter make me some breakfast burritos. With 55 miles until my next destination, I wasn’t in that big of a hurry. My map warned me that there were no services for the next 55 miles and they weren’t kidding. Nothing but a couple of …

Modified Southern Tier Winter 2022

By Dean Mitchell | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Navasota, TX

Thursday March 3, 2022, 62 km (39 miles) – Total so far: 2,252 km (1,399 miles) Pretty easy day today, again rolling hillside in Ranch country. I left late from the very nice campground for another short day. It really felt like summer today, warm and humid. I am just north of Houston, TX and the humidity from the gulf is noticeable. Hotel tonight, no campground available.

Sunny, humid, 24c

Grateful to be able to ride a bike, in a world of turmoil.

Mike Buenaventura | WU Endurance | www.strava.com

Big Bike Fun at the creek

Shannon Wyatt (Clean) Salsacycles | www.strava.com

Morning Ride

Megan Stevens Fort Bend Kia Racing | www.strava.com

Bike Takes Me To New Section Of Circle Trail In Lake Wichita Park

Durango Texas | durangotexas.blogspot.com

A few minutes past 11, this Friday morning, my bike’s handlebars took me on an 11.5 roundtrip ride on the Circle Trail, exiting that trail soon after it crosses Lake Wichita Dam, rolling on an unpaved, gravel trail which circles Lake Wichita Park, eventually reconnecting with the Circle Trail a short distance before that which you see photo documented above.

A week or so ago I was at the above location and found myself surprised to find a long section of new Circle Trail had received its cement, along with two bridges crossing inlets off Lake Wichita.

Today I was surprised to find the cement connection has now been made to the …

Sales associate Trek Bicycle Austin, TX

www.linkedin.com

Job LocationTrek Store Bee Cave

Summary

Job Description

First thing you need to know: this isn’t a typical retail gig. As a Trek Sales Associate, you’ll be on the frontlines helping people have fun by riding bikes. You’ll get to learn about some of the smartest products in the cycling industry, make thoughtful recommendations to your customers, and carry on meaningful relationships with riders in your community.

The pace is fast, the customers are curious, and having an all-for-one, customer-centric team mentality is huge. We value hospitality skills first, and we’d rather hire someone who’s eager to learn than someone who thinks they know it all. If you’re already a bike expert, that’s awesome. If not, we’ll train you. The key is that …

Texas Biking from Twitter

Tailwind to Gene Campbell Blvd., Headwind Back Home

Texbiker.net Posted on by

An overcast sky and 68 degrees greeted me as I begun today’s bike ride. I didn’t want to ride too far so I chose a route I haven’t done since October 25th, 2021, “Community Drive – Valley Ranch – Gene Campbell Blvd”. I guessed the distance would be 34 to 35 miles but it actually was 36.41 miles. This was a little less than the October 25th ride but about average for the other four rides prior to that date. A 200 mile week looks possible with my total at 176.41 miles and two biking days left. Right now this week is the highest mileage week in 2022. The last 200 mile week was the one ending December 5th, 2021 with 207.56 miles. Today I started at 11:26 AM and finished at 2:22 PM.

As I got ready to start today’s bike ride I got an email from Strava alerting me to losing the local legend on Gene Campbell Blvd. The other person rode 2 times versus my one time in the last 90 days. Maybe I will ride the route that goes on Gene Campbell blvd. from FM 1485 to FM 1314 next week to regain the local legend.

Watch the video to see two happy ladies out riding in Sherwood Trails. Later I saw another cyclist at Cumberland Blvd. on the way back home. As I was making the right turn into Kings Manor I spotted a silver pickup truck with a bike on the back. Other people are thinking about biking.

The make shift Tickr fit heart rate monitor sleeve out of a sock continues to work perfectly. The rash on my arm is almost gone. I don’t think I will use the original band and chance a return of the rash.

I’m getting used to no leg warmers though it took a couple of miles for my legs to get acclimated to no sun and 68 degrees. I lightened up on the long sleeve jersey under the wind jacket today and was comfortable. I want it too warm up so I can try wearing a performance fabric long sleeve t-shirt under a short sleeve jersey. I bought two from Walmart for $12.50 each, much less expensive than long sleeve jerseys. I figured the T-shirts wicking properties perform like the jerseys and I don’t use the pockets on the long sleeve jersey. The T-shirts don’t have pockets plus the sleeve lengths fit better. I envision wearing the short sleeve jersey and LS T-shirt combination when it gets to the upper 70’s to low 80’s and maybe in place of arm sleeves when it is hotter but no sun.

A couple of times I needed to shift gears and the eTap shifts easily with just one finger while the Ultegra gear required more effort. I shifted gears a little more today especially as I approached red traffic lights. This link shows the AXS.SRAM.com ride report with gear selections and other data.

Today’s weather: start 68 (humidity 84%, dew point 63), overcast, wind SE 8 mph; finish 73 (humidity 74%, dew point 64), overcast, wind SE 12 mph.

Thanks to help from the tailwind I used a larger gear on the ride to Gene Campbell Blvd. but riding into the headwind from there back home I shifted to an easier gear. I got my overall average speed up to 14.1 mph and maintained it at 14 or above until I made the right turn onto Old Sorters road. Slowing down for the turn and the headwind was enough for the Bolt computer to drop the average speed below 14 mph.

3-4-2022 Strava Bike Ride To Gene Campbell Blvd Summary
3-4-2022 Strava Bike Ride To Gene Campbell Blvd Summary

Texas Biking News March 3rd 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Video: Tyler cyclists hope to restore Cotton Belt Trail bed for walkers, bicyclists

By Erin Wides | www.kltv.com

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Cycling has become a large part of life to those who live in Tyler. There have been additions to mountain bike trails, new bike lanes throughout the city, the Legacy Trail and more.

Cyclists are now working on discussions to possibly restore the Cotton Belt Trail bed that goes on south of Tyler.

“We have this trail that goes down toward Jacksonville and before it gets completely eroded away, we’d like to be able to get the grant money necessary to turn it into a usable trail so that people that live along the trail, Flint, Gresham, Bullard, and so on, can use this to get back and forth or just recreate away from the danger of the traffic on the roads,” said Greg Dahms, a local cyclist who attended Wednesday’s meeting.

More than a dozen cyclists and interested citizens showed up to the grassroots meeting that allowed them to talk about preserving the abandoned Cotton Belt Trail bed.

Robert Bergman, the committee chairman said, “Many of us have traveled all over the country and seen what is being done out there. We’ve done some things here, too, but they’re …

Completing unfinished business.

By Claus Ovesen | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Bracketville Texas to Seminole canyon state park. 76 miles 1772 of gain: Out of the Texas hills and into the flatlands

Tuesday March 1, 2022, 76 miles (122 km) – Total so far: 339 miles (546 km) Another good night of sleep and I was packed up and moving by eight. I stopped at Ziggys roadside barbecue for a wonderful breakfast. I think I’m getting lucky because the wind is coming from the south east and it has been to my back almost all day. I arrived around lunchtime in the big town of Del Rio. I stopped at a grocery store for a few supplies and grabbed a sandwich at the deli. I bought some …

Seminole Canyon State Park to Sanderson Texas 81 miles 3698 ft of gain: Riding along the border with the border patrol

Wednesday March 2, 2022, 81 miles (130 km) – Total so far: 501 miles (806 km) Slept great again and as I was packing up this morning Bill stopped by and invited me to coffee. I had some camp breakfast and a cup of coffee but I could always use a second. I stopped at Bill and Jan’s motorhome and we enjoyed some more conversation and an excellent cup of coffee. The wind was still in my favor which helped miles go by quickly. Tonight‘s goal was Sanderson Texas. Again very little in between as far as supplies. I stopped in Lantry Texas which can’t be more than 500 feet from the Mexican border. It is home to judge Roy Bean. There’s a museum and other artifacts to see there. Plus they have Wi-Fi so I could do some internet checking. There’s a movie about Judge Roy Bean. I believe it’s called The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean and stars …

Modified Southern Tier Winter 2022

By Dean Mitchell | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Burton – Somerville Lake, TX

Wednesday March 2, 2022, 60 km (37 miles) – Total so far: 2,190 km (1,361 miles) I’m continuing shorter days so as to not stress my leg. Gentle rolling hills today and I took it easy. My leg feels fine but I know it is tender.

Perfect spot right on a lake, I am the only camper tonight, Rocky Creek Park.

Sunny, light wind, 23c

Dust off the bike, Tour de Houston is back!

by: Tyler Gibson | cw39.com

HOUSTON (KIAH) – The Tour de Houston is returning after a 2-year hiatus on April 3, 2022! The Mayor’s Office of Special Events expects 5,000 riders to pedal through Houston communities, scenic districts and parks. City officials says Tour de Houston is the perfect event for leisure rider or cycling enthusiasts, with three length options available. Registration for the 2022 Tour de Houston is open now. Organizers say if you registered for the 2020 ride and deferred the registrations, don’t know re-register. To register, click this link.

The annual bike ride presented by Apache, is in its 15th year and will raise funds for …

BikeHouston email NewsLetter 3/3/2022

There’s a better way to get to the often congested Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo — well, at least for a few hours this Sunday.

From 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 6, you can ride from Brays Bayou to NRG Park down a pop-up bikeway along North Stadium Drive, courtesy of the team at Houston Bikeways.

This pop-up installation may be temporary, but it’s a good first step toward better multimodal access to a part of town that hosts hundreds of events and millions of visitors every year. We’ll continue to work with our partners at the City to create a permanent bikeway between Brays Bayou and NRG Park by the time the rodeo comes to town next year.

Ride with Council Member Edward Pollard

A few months ago, Council Member Edward Pollard made some comments about bike lanes that didn’t sit right with us. And despite the fact that we called him out on social media, the council member still accepted our invitation to go for a bike ride.

So last Sunday, along with folks from Connect Community, Freewheels Houston, and the Houston Planning & Development Department, we gathered with the council member for a ride on the streets and paths (including the new Hillcroft Avenue bikeway!) in his district.

We’re grateful to Council Member Pollard for coming out on a chilly morning to share his thoughts, listen to new perspectives, and explore his district on two wheels. (And a big shout out to Trek Bicycle Houston for setting us up with an e-bike for the council member!) Photos from the ride below.

Petition: Extend the Mason Creek Trail

Show your support for this 3.15-mile trail extension, which would connect the existing Mason Creek Trail with over 30 miles of continuous trails in George Bush Park, Terry Hershey Park and Cullen Park, as well as with destinations such as the new Houston Community College and University of Houston—Katy campuses, Katy Asia Town, and the Metro Grand Parkway Park & Ride.

Hot Tuesday Sun Setting Bike Ride To Sikes Lake

Durango Texas | durangotexas.blogspot.com

Last night, before the sun set on the second day of the 2022 version of March, with the temperature nearing 80, my bike’s handlebars took me on a ride which eventually arrived at Sikes Lake, a location I had walked around earlier in the day.

Which would make that Sikes Lake you see the sun setting on above.

I am liking being back biking after a couple month sabbatical.

Due to the weather reversal from last week’s Arctic Blast Deep Freeze, the locals are coming out in numbers I had not previously seen, apparently eager to enjoy this sudden arrival of what seems like summer. …

Sunday Cruise 03/06/2022 from socialcyclingaustin

Saturday Morning Caffeine Cruise 03/05/2022 from socialcyclingaustin

Pop-up bike lane to Houston Rodeo coming this weekend

Jay R. Jordan | www.chron.com

The city of Houston will let cyclists overtake the road to the rodeo this weekend.

For four hours Sunday afternoon, crews will reduce the number of car lanes on Stadium Drive between the Brays Bayou greenway trails and NRG Park from four lanes to two. This makes way for a pop-up bike lane on either side of the street, which will give riders a safer and easier route to the stadium complex to enjoy the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. …

Texas Biking from Twitter

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/1499510751609950219

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Exploring Bike Route Alternative: Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden

Texbiker.net Posted on by

With road construction hampering biking east over Lake Houston I set out today to explore a new route to the south and west of Lake Houston. Looking at google Maps I found Timber Forest Drive extending almost all the way to Beltway 8. Several new housing developments built along this street and I thought it might be new territory to ride. I set out at 11:35 AM on my Cervelo Caledonia not sure how many miles the ride would cover. By the 2:13 PM finish I biked 33.29 miles. My total for the week stands at 140 miles and 102.34 miles for the month. Good start. I will call this new route “Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden”.

Once I got on the new section of Timber Forest the number of houses amazed me since I had not been there on a bike or driving. The roads were nice and traffic was very light. I circled the new area in blue on the RWGPS map below. One street I thought might be busy was Woodland Hills Drive as I biked north but only 2 or 3 cars passed me between Greens Road and Madera Run Parkway. Madera Run Parkway look new and portions switched from 4 lane separated to 2 lanes joined. Again traffic was light. The road I should’ve avoided was W. Lake Houston Parkway from Madera Run Parkway to Aerobic Drive. Traffic was very heavy but forgiving, passing me with plenty of room. Next time I turn left on Madera Run onto Timber Forest, right on Eagle Springs, right on Will Clayton, and left on Aerobic to enter Walden. This voids that section of W. Lake Houston Parkway. As I mentioned in the video, Timber Forest Drive will go over the railroad tracks when the road construction finishes providing a way to ride south of Lake Houston through Summerwood, Deussen Park, and back roads to Crosby. I think that ride will be 50+ miles. I’ve done it the opposite direction riding the Humble Lions Bike Ride but not on the new streets I biked today. The video clips show the new roads on the bike ride.

The Cervelo rode smoothly and the shifting is crisp. I’m hooked on eTap shifting. I didn’t shift a lot because the route was mostly flat.

Chilly weather gave way today to 70 to 74 degrees during the ride. Humidity and dew point moved up but not to summer levels. Wind was light and didn’t pose a problem. I wore shorts, long sleeve jersey and jacket. I could’ve wore a light long sleeve jersey and been comfortable.The next 3 days will probably be warmer but Monday will cool down some.

My Tickr Fit heart rate monitor worked nicely with my home made retention sleeve. I took an old sock, cut the toe off and slide it on my arm with heel bend on my elbow. The elastic of the sock held the Tickr in place and the skin on my wasn’t irritated. I order a short arm sleeve for a permanent solution.

On the map below the blue arrow points to the railroad overpass under construction on timber forest Drive. You can see it in the video.

3-3-2022 RWGPS Atascocita - Balmoral - Walden Ride Map
3-3-2022 RWGPS Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden Ride Map
3-3-2022 Strava Atascocita - Balmoral - Walden Summary
3-3-2022 Strava Atascocita – Balmoral – Walden Summary