Zwift Meetup – France Casse-Pattes

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The temperature couldn’t decide if it would 60 and above or below. I decided to create a Zwift meetup and ride while the weather made up its mind. Looking at the available routes in the Zwift companion app I found the Casse-Pattes in France. I didn’t remember riding that route before and the distance and climbing seemed reasonable so I created the meetup, invited one of my followers (as necessary), and started at 12:40 PM. I wasn’t alone on the route with other Zwifters passing in both directions. I rode 15.0 miles, climbed 505 feet (including a Cat 4 climb) in 1:00:04. A couple of sprints and I think one other KOM besides the Cat 4 one on the route. I kept my watts and BPM reasonable since I am still recovering from cataract surgery. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to warm to the upper 60’s so I plan on riding outside. That will be the first ride outdoors this month. I need 300 miles to reach my goal for February.

More information about the Casse-Pattes route at ZwiftInsider.com

Yesterday I didn’t ride Zwift because I drove to Bike Lane to pickup my new Cervelo Caledonia Rival AXS eTap bike. When I got it back home I spent the afternoon transferring parts from my Canyon Endurace bike. Later I posted the Canyon on Craigslist.org. I have a couple of people interested but no final sale yet. The Cervelo after I transferred everything. I plan on riding the Cervelo tomorrow. New Bike Day ride. The wheels on the Cervelo are not the factory wheelset. I bought a set of ICAN Cycling Alpha 50 carbon rims. Getting the Continental GatorHardshell 700x28C tires on them was a feat of great dimensions. I thought it might take an hour, ended up taking over 3 hours because of the very tight fit. I used every trick I knew. I’m not sure why they finally mounted. Must’ve been from the prayer.

2022 Cervelo Caledonia Rival AXS eTap
2022 Cervelo Caledonia Rival AXS eTap
2-8-2022 Strava Zwift France Casse-Pattes Meetup Ride Summary
2-8-2022 Strava Zwift France Casse-Pattes Meetup Ride Summary
2-8-2022 Strava Zwift France Casse-Pattes Meetup Ride Map
2-8-2022 Strava Zwift France Casse-Pattes Meetup Ride Map

Texas Biking News February 7th 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Cyclist killed by pickup driver in Sharpstown, marking Houston’s first bike rider to die in 2022

Jay R. Jordan | www.chron.com

The driver remained on scene and was released without a citation or charges.

A 73-year-old man on a bike was hit and killed in southwest Houston’s Sharpstown neighborhood Monday morning, Houston police said.

The rider was not immediately identified. After the collision, paramedics rushed him to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. He is the first cyclist to die on Houston streets in 2022.

The man was pedaling northbound on Osage Street across Bellaire Boulevard "possibly" in a crosswalk around 10:15 a.m., Houston police said in …

Gear Shifters put boots on the ground in the war over Houston’s bike lanes

Jay R. Jordan | www.chron.com

The group, founded as an advocacy arm of BikeHouston in 2022, is seeking volunteers willing to step up in their neighborhood.

Riding a bike in Houston can be a radicalizing experience. But for some cyclists, the galvanized urge for change falls flat when facing the city’s continuing sprawl and confusing overlay of jurisdictions and decision-makers.

For them, advocacy group BikeHouston introduced a new initiative this year: Gear Shifters. The hope is that Houston cyclists who feel discouraged from speaking up about issues in their backyard will be able to do so with BikeHouston’s full force behind them — including the know-how, manpower and will to organize for a multimodal city.

"There are a lot of people who feel the same way that we advocates do but don’t know how to put their passion into action. Gear Shifters is a way to do …

Completion of Dallas to Ft Worth bike trail coming into view

By John Liddle | www.audacy.com

A 66-mile bike trail connecting the heart of Fort Worth to the heart of Dallas is inching closer to completion.

Officials now expect it to be ready by the end of 2023.

The yet-to-be-named trail, which winds through Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving and Dallas was first proposed in 2013.

"The reason projects like this, unfortunately, take so long is because the difficult parts are done last," Karla Windsor, senior program manager at the North Central Texas Council of Governments said.

Windsor says the funding is completely in place, but …

Special Olympics Texas to hold fundraiser for games

By Grace Dickens | communityimpact.com

To prepare for the Special Olympics Texas Winter Games coming to the Hill Country on Feb. 18-20, SOTX will host a kickoff event Feb. 18 to raise funds for the games to provide housing, transportation, training and medical care to Special Olympics athletes. The reception will include a silent auction and cash bar. SOTX is a nonprofit organization that trains individuals with mental disabilities to compete in Olympic-style events such as cycling, volleyball and powerlifting at the local, regional and state level. 5-7 p.m. Free. Lakeway Resort and Spa, 101 Lakeway Drive, Lakeway. 512-835-9873. www.sotx.org

Lake jump part of Spider Mountain Bike Park anniversary party

By Brigid Cooley | www.101highlandlakes.com

Spider Mountain Bike Park celebrates three years in operation with a party and lake jump from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12. The park is located at 200 Greenwood Hills Trail in Burnet. The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 5 but postponed due to icy weather.

Bold park visitors ages 12 and older can attempt the lake jump, in which they will ride a bike downhill, onto a ramp, and then into the water. The park will provide life jackets and bikes for the jump. Those …

Cycling team hosts first competition of season

By Carson Schulz | www.thebatt.com

Seniors Dylan Hughes, Evan Kemppainen and Ryker Richardson finished fourth, sixth and 10th, respectively, in the A division race.

Despite threats of severe weather earlier last week, the Texas A&M Cycling Team hosted the first competition of the season Saturday and Sunday, riding away with 12 top-10 finishes under chilly, but sunny conditions.

Dirty Dowling, a three-stage race, kicked off the 2022 South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference, or SCCCC, season with 19 Aggies competing against 78 riders from eight other conference schools. The team ended with 10 top-10 finishers among the men and two top-three finishers in the women’s divisions after a time trial and criterium on Saturday, Feb. 5, and a road race on Feb. 6.

Seniors Dylan Hughes, Evan Kemppainen and Ryker Richardson finished fourth, sixth and 10th, respectively, in a field of 11 in the A division. In the B group, junior Ethan Kane, senior Michael Kasper, senior Eduardo Uria and sophomore Nathaniel Corneau finished seventh, 12th, 16th and …

Upcoming Rides

Chasing Watts | chasingwatts.com

MCC (101) – Shell to McKeever Tuesday, February 8, 2022 @ 6:30 AM

HBC Tuesday Night Dirty Worlds Tuesday, February 8, 2022 @ 6:00 PM

Cycling Addicks Tuesdays Tuesday, February 8, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

Justice League Tuesday Night Ride Tuesday, February 8, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

UBG 26 mile Wednesday Night Wednesday, February 9, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

The Boot Ride Wednesday, February 9, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

Gravel Nights Wednesday, February 9, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

Faster than Last Ride Wednesday, February 9, 2022 @ 7:15 PM

MCC (101) – Shell to McKeever Thursday, February 10, 2022 @ 6:30 AM

LookProGoSlow Recovery Ride Thursday, February 10, 2022 @ 6:30 PM

Justice League Thursday Power Hour (A/B/C) Thursday, February 10, 2022 @ 6:00 AM

Fast Fridays @ EaDo Bike Co Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

Justice League Friday Power Hour (A/B/C) Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 6:00 AM

HTX Bike Social Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 7:00 PM

Justice League Saturday Ride (A,B,C pace) Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 6:30 AM

BellVelo Gravel Circuit – 15 mile Loop Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Race Ready Repair -48 Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

NYNC: Gravel 40 w/HGC T&P and Urban South Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Cool Cat Cycles Road Ride Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

NYNC: Gravel 20 w/HGC T&P and Urban South Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

HBC Saturday Social Ride Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

NYNC: Gravel 60 w/HGC T&P and Urban South Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Tap&Pedal | NYNC Road 60 Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Tap&Pedal | NYNC Road 40 Saturday, February 12, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Trek Bikes Atascocita Grand Opening BBQ & Beer Ride Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

HBC 2:01 Jester Ride Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 2:00 PM

Trek Bikes Clear Lake Grand Opening BBQ & Beer 57 Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

HBC Sunday Wendy’s Ride Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Trek College Station Grand Opening BBQ & Beer 15 Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Trek Bikes Champions Grand Opening MTB, BBQ & Beers Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Trek Bikes Katy Sunday 32 Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Trek Bikes Katy Sunday 25 Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 7:30 AM

Active Passion Sunday Roll Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 8:00 AM

Methodist MS150 Team Training Ride – 40 Miler Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 9:00 AM

Chap Hill Gravel 43 New Beginnings Sunday, February 13, 2022 @ 8:00 AM

Justice League Monday Power Hour (A/B/C) Monday, February 14, 2022 @ 6:00 AM

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Texas Biking Action February 6th 2022

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The Trailist: Riding a 62-mile loop on San Antonio’s Salado and Leon creek greenways

by Brendan Gibbons | sanantonioreport.org

Local cyclists have long mapped out 50-mile half-loops of the city, or even full circles that range 100 miles or more. Until recently, they would stitch together incomplete stretches of greenway trail with the safest road connections they could find.

But only since last October has it been possible to ride what I call the “Northern Crescent,” a 40-mile stretch of uninterrupted greenway that stretches between John James Park north of Fort Sam Houston to the Dora Jordan trail on West Military Drive.

I’m still fairly new to road cycling, and recently felt ready to join my friend Max O’Roark for our own version of a half-loop that would begin and end downtown. Our counterclockwise route spanned …

Essay: I rode a bike around Loop 610 to fall back in love with Houston

Raj Mankad | www.houstonchronicle.com

There I was, this puny human body on a bicycle in the hulking Union Pacific rail yards one Sunday in late December not far from the creosote cancer cluster.

I had decided to ride a bike around Loop 610 at the end of last year, a bit of an homage to the late and legendary Chronicle columnist Leon Hale’s annual trek in his elder years. Except he rode the freeway in a car and I clung to the feeders and fringes, usually within a couple of blocks.

He was a septuagenarian when he started making the trips and I am a mere 44. For me, the journey wasn’t so much a “driving test” to prove I could still …

Village Creek Park begins work on new Longleaf Loop Trail

Meagan Ellsworth | www.beaumontenterprise.com

Village Creek State Park hosted a Black History Month-guided hike and volunteer workday for a new trail addition during the weekend.

Saturday morning began with an hour-long guided hike that celebrated Black naturalists, environmental leaders and advocates who “have made important contributions to understanding, enjoyment and protection of nature,” park information said.

A display of those leaders was posted at the Bicycle Fitness trailhead and will be available at the park for the entire month of February for hikers to be …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctkFfnus6g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bctkFfnus6g

Crazy bunch!!

Esther Barrientez -TEAM TACO – MTCCSA | www.strava.com

Warped Winter Weenies

Nate Eguia | www.strava.com

Great day to ride

Eric M | www.strava.com

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tour de Zwift Stage 8 Big City Champs: New York Knickerbocker With A Cat 4 Climb

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I wrapped up the Tour de Zwift riding stage 8 on the New York City Knickerbocker route. Actually it was only a portion of the route because Group C was the short route for the stage covering 6.18 miles but throwing 696 feet of climbing at me. There was a Cat 4 climb at the end of the stage. Some of the climbs were 15% and higher. The full route, according to ZwiftInsider.com, Length: 22.5 km (14.0 miles), Elevation: 346 m (1,135‘), Lead-In: 0.4 km (0.2 miles). I wasn’t expecting that much climbing. The nearby Zwifters count showed 235 as I approached the finish line. I rode in the 180 to 189 places. Checking ZwiftPower.com rankings I was 95 out of 115. Not too bad since I stopped, got off my bike to start the fan that disconnected from my network. Overall Group A did not ride, Group B included 155, and Group D 3. Those numbers are Zwifters with a profile at ZwiftPower.com.

2-6-2022 Zwiftpower TdZ Stage 8 Group C Ranking
2-6-2022 Zwiftpower TdZ Stage 8 Group C Ranking

I started at 3:02 PM. A number of people from Europe rode too which I didn’t expect since they 6 or 7 hours later. While I rode I listened to Lauren Daigle Radio on Pandora.

Today ended the week. I had cataract surgery on 2/2/2022, took 2 days off after that and resumed Zwift for the last 2 days of the week. That is more than I anticipated. The rides were short but still totaled 46.57 miles. No road miles because the weather was wet or cold.

The RWGPS route map and profile shows the steep climb as the stage ended.

2-6-2022 Week Bike Rides Summary Ending 2-6-2022
2-6-2022 Week Bike Rides Summary Ending 2-6-2022
2-6-2022 Strava Zwift TdZ Stage 8 NYC Knickerbocker Summary
2-6-2022 Strava Zwift TdZ Stage 8 NYC Knickerbocker Summary
2-6-2022 Strava Zwift TdZ Stage 8 NYC Knickerbocker Map
2-6-2022 Strava Zwift TdZ Stage 8 NYC Knickerbocker Map