Texas Biking Action April 18th 2021

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Desert Sports puts Terlingua on the map

By Michael Bauer |oaoa.com

TERLINGUA Located deep in southwestern Brewster County, near the Rio Grande and the villages of Lajitas and Study Butte and just off highway 170, lies the small “ghost town” of Terlingua.

A former mining community from the early 20th century, the small settlement soon became a ghost town of roofless rock structures after the mines closed in the 1940s and Terlingua was abandoned.

The town has since bounced back as a tourist destination for park visitors due to its proximity to Big Bend National Park.

Rafting and canoeing as well as mountain biking, camping and hiking are some of the major items that …

Laredo Mountain Bike Youth Team returns to competition amid pandemic

Jorge A. Vela | www.lmtonline.com

The Laredo Mountain Bike Youth Team saw a short year of competition in 2020 as the group was only able to participate in a couple races from a full slate scheduled.

The group’s participation in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, a statewide youth league, was extremely limited. However, things are looking up for the mountain bike team this year.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, in spring 2020, we didn’t know much about the virus, and from the league to the parents we decided to hang the …

Man continues annual bike ride in honor of victims of West fertilizer plant explosion

Matt Lively | www.kcentv.com

Danny McDonald began his Ride for West Pride while raising money for a child with a brain deformity to remember the victims of the West fertilizer plant explosion.

TEMPLE, Texas — If you drove north on I-35 Saturday beginning in Temple, you may have seen a bicyclist. That was Danny McDonald, participating in his ninth-annual Ride for West Pride.

McDonald does the ride each year, rain or shine, in honor of the firefighters and others who lost their lives in the West fertilizer explosion in 2013. This year, McDonald was attempting to make the 50-plus mile trek after having two spinal fusions this past December and February. …

A Sally on the Southern Tier

By John Schick | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 5: Sanderson to Comstock

Saturday April 17, 2021, 89 miles (143 km) – Total so far: 401 miles (645 km) Today was a hard day. I expected it to be after yesterday‘s long mileage day. There was almost 3000 feet of climbing and the wind was all over the place, but very rarely in my favor. It was a character builder but The saving grace was the cloud cover. The wind was mostly from the north and it was cool all day. I wore my tights from beginning to end and a windbreaker for most of the day.

In 2019, right before Covid hit, I was lucky enough to go on a bike tour in Vietnam. Our guide spoke very good English but did not know all of the idioms. One day, after riding in the rain for a couple of hours I asked him if he was having fun yet. He said, “. I’m sorry but I don’t understand“ so I explained the expression to him. Sure enough, a couple of days later during a hard stretch he biked up to me and asked, “ are you having your fun yet?“ I thought about him several times today.

I am in the little town of Comstock, Texas and just had a wonderful …

2021 Sunday KRG 40/50+ Crit

Hawksite01 | www.youtube.com

The long awaited 1st Crit of 2021 in DFW

https://youtu.be/VRZ66vpzACM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWJtAKuyiG4

Tyler cyclist recalls being hit by drunk driver on Legacy Trail

By Erin Wides | www.kltv.com

Tyler cyclist Alan Arakelian’s bike sitting in the back of his truck with the rear tire bent tire from being hit on April 1st, on the Legacy Trail in Tyler. (Source: KLTV)

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – The City of Tyler is bringing awareness to bicycle safety by adding bike lanes throughout the city. However, one cyclist was recently involved in an accident on the Legacy Trail, where one would expect to be safe from vehicles.

April 1, 2021, was a typical evening for Tyler cyclist Alan Arakelian. He was gearing up to ride down to the Legacy Trail and take the path like he always does three to five times a week. He said he was about a mile and a half from the trailhead near Three Lakes.

“I heard a noise that sounded like a motorcycle or an ATV, which I thought was really unusual because …

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Texas Biking News April 17th 2021

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Transmountain construction closes bike trails, impacts hikers

by Justin Kree | kfoxtv.com

For the past year drivers on Transmountain Road (Loop 375) have noticed construction cones and cement barriers along the stretch of highway.

The east and westbound lanes on Transmountain Road between U.S.54 and Tom Mays State Park are being reduced to one lane in both directions.

The current phase of the project is not only affecting drivers but also bicyclists and hikers.

“The bike lanes at this time are closed. There is …

A Sally on the Southern Tier

By John Schick | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 4: Marfa – Sanderson Big Day

Friday April 16, 2021, 111 miles (179 km) – Total so far: 312 miles (502 km)

Well, I’m sure some of you saw this coming. A big difference between the people in there RV’s and the young people in tents and assorted domiciles are the old people are quiet and keep to themselves. Which is a way of saying that it was a bit noisy last night. The live music was One guy with a guitar amplified outdoors. He was quite good but the amazing thing was to hear live music again. He played longer than I would’ve liked but I enjoyed it nevertheless from my sleeping bag in the tent. After the music ended everything else settled down except for the party people next-door to me. It would’ve been not very tranquil even with out them. We were right next to a Highway with lots of semi‘s gearing up to get out of town, but the party did not help.

Amazingly enough, I woke up very refreshed from what sleep I did get. Today I had a choice to make. The morning winds were amazingly in my favor and it was a blast. I made it to the next town, Marathon, population 430 by 1 o’clock. It was 55 miles. I found the most amazing store in this tiny place, it was stocked with …

Mark Otti 2021 Coast2Coast

By Mark Otti | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 32 April 13 Tuesday a rest day from many days of bike riding from &&&& hole RV to another **** hole RV park of Navasota Texas

Tuesday April 13, 2021

Day 33 Wednesday April 14th. 90 miles: Day 34 Wednesday, April 14 Rd. from Hildago camp to shepherd Texas

Wednesday April 14, 2021, 90 miles (145 km) – Total so far: 1,719 miles (2,766 km) Today was a 90 mile day when we got up there was a 30 to 50% chance of rain and cloudy all day but luckily we didn’t get any rain! But now it’s 4:30 in the afternoon after I had my shower and some snacks find a tent it looks like it could rain it’s real cloudy and it looks like rain.

Today is not long after I started out riding along there was a couple bowls budding heads on the field that was kind of cool. Then a little bit after the first SAG stop we were in a national forest that he was a Sam Shepard national forest saw three bears And I think Goldilocks was chasing them saying hey give me my porridge! Tease road conditions were not too bad I know we had the usual chip and seal but it wasn’t as rough and bumpy is some days where it’s like you’re riding on rumble stick rumble strips all day long. There was a county line that we crossed and the road is real smooth for a while And I think Goldilocks was …

Day 34. Thursday, April 15 we rode 60 miles into town Silsbee: Chased by some dogs that was a highlight of the day cloudy no no rain and no pictures today

Thursday April 15, 2021, 60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 1,779 miles (2,862 km) Today’s ride was pretty much uneventful other than being chased by six dogs during the day it was cloudy it was a strong chance of rain is rain the previous night and was more of a heavy mist so but he was prepared for rain but it didn’t come. So I started out with my rain gear on and then about 17 miles at the rest stop I took it off because I was sweaty from all the The rain gear. So then I started writing again after being sweaty I was getting kind of cold but then stopped and had some lunch and warmed up and on the dogs chase me that warm me up even more when I try to pedal faster.

I didn’t take any pictures was nothing take pictures of but …

Day 35 Friday April 16th Sislby to DeRidder 74.8 miles 4 in the pouring rain. over 1800 miles so far: Forecasted for rain most of the day.; Didn’t rain until I got to DeRidder city limits to take picture

Friday April 16, 2021, 75 miles (120 km) – Total so far: 1,853 miles (2,983 km) Pretty much an uneventful day. Got back on same hiway as yesterday with the huge logging trucks going by about every 2 minutes all day again.

Was cool and cloudy all day in the 60’s. As we got close to Kirbtyville there had been a small tornado or just very high winds that blew fences over, large trees and branches over and into the road. We even saw the hail that had covered some parts of the hiway and roads sitting along the side of road. It looked like someone dumped a bunch of snow or huge coolers of ice in various spots. But nope was the left over hail about the size of a nickel.

Roads were mostly good today. The last 14 miles coming to DeRidder were very newly surfaced and smooth as a baby’s butt. Took only one picture and that was of the city sign.

I lived here in DeRidder back in 1967 to 68. As I was going …

Mighty Fine Saturday Time Biking With Evening Primroses & A Colt

durango Texas | durangotexas.blogspot.com

The past couple gray drippy cold days have been like stereotypical winter days in the Puget Sound area of the Pacific Northwest.

With all that drippy cold I had not had myself any outdoor endorphin inducing aerobic activity for way too long.

And so on this third Saturday of the 2021 version of April my bike took me on a ride, with me layered up like it was still winter, because even though the sky is no longer gray, the outer world has not returned to being warm.

The rain the past couple of days must have triggered the evening primroses into blooming. I have never seen so many blooms of this particular Texas wildflower previous …

Windy Century

Mark Noblitt MTCCSA | www.strava.com

A tale of two rides today…it was the best of rides; it was the worst of rides.

☁️ getting ready for tomorrow and photo shoot…music is so nice to have on a ride

Michelle â“‹ Mishka | www.strava.com

Lunch Ride

Meggin Griffin | www.strava.com

Fun Ride Post Breakfast Club

Carlos A. Moreno | www.strava.com

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Wind + Light Rain + Chill, Out and Back Bike Ride to E Lake Houston Parkway

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The weather forecast for today warned me that going on a bike ride might be a problem. All morning the temperature would not go above 59 degrees. Finally around 1 PM it got above 60 but the strong wind made it feel cooler. Going for a bike ride didn’t look great but I decided to get dressed and head out. I bundled up wearing shorts, leg warmers, a long sleeve thermal jersey, windbreaker jacket, and regular biking gloves.

In the video I say the route I wanted to ride but the 1:35 PM start and weather conditions caused me to change it to “Atascocita – Walden – E. Lake Houston Parkway”. Actually the route reversed the order of the last two names. But to not create a new route name I used the other one. I rode the Canyon Endurace CF SLX bike. One reason I “braved” the cold weather (by my definition) was to not fall further behind 2020 YTD miles. 2021 now trails by 39 miles, an increase from 30 yesterday. Today’s bike ride covered 28.42 miles. The week’s total comes in at 145.06 miles. No 200 miles this week with one day left. Below the chart shows YTD miles progressions for 2021 and previous years.

Strava Year Progressions YTD miles

Last year on this date I rode the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road”. The weather was more bike ride friendly.

While I was waiting on the weather to improve I waxed the chain on the Lynskey R300 and switched the seat bag on it. Cramming a tube, tire levers, patch kit, a piece of a tire for a boot, and some money inside the Lyzne bag took a couple of tries. It wasn’t as roomy as the Topeak bag I replaced. The Topeak hung down too low, touching the rear light.

As if the temperature wasn’t challenging enough the wind was too. Weather conditions: start 63 (70% humidity, 53 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind N 17 mph gusts 24 mph; finish 60 (79% humidity, 53.7 dew point), light rain, wind N 16 mph. Getting to E. Lake Houston Parkway the wind tried to blow me and the Canyon bike to the right as I crossed Lake Houston on FM 1960. The wind whips stronger where the causeway is open under the road for boats and water to move. The return trip wasn’t as bad because the concrete guardrail blocked some of the force. Back on the west side of the lake a new problem arrived, light rain. Starting in Walden and to the 3:48 PM finish I rode in a light rain. Not enough to get me wet but I felt the cold water come through my leg warmers sometimes. After I finished the sun came out for a few minutes before the cloud cover regained the upper hand.

I don’t agree with Strava’s assessment of today’s bike ride as easier than my usual efforts. Fighting the wind wasn’t easy.

4-17-2021 Strava Bike Ride Summary

Texas Biking News April 16th 2021

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A Sally on the Southern Tier

By John Schick | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 3: Van Horn to Marfa

Thursday April 15, 2021, 74 miles (119 km) – Total so far: 201 miles (323 km)

I slept like A log last night regardless if there was highways or railways. I was up early before the alarm and on the road at 8 o’clock. Today it felt different from the other days. Marfa, Texas is a town I have wanted to come to for a while. It is known as an artist town and I knew I would be seeing The Prada installation as well as the Giant installation. So today felt like I was going to a destination rather than just trying to grind through the Texas desert.

The wind did shift in my favor but not until about the last 10 miles of the day. But I’ll take it. It was wonderful to have a helping hand pushing from behind.

In 2005 two local artists created a Prada installation outside the town Of Valentine. Their intent was that it would decompose with time. But now it’s an attraction. It has been in an episode of The Simpsons and was part of a …

New bike lanes coming to Tyler getting mixed reaction from residents

Author: Shandel Menezes | www.cbs19.tv

YLER, Texas — If you’ve been driving around Tyler lately, who might have noticed white lines on the roads.

Those lines are part of an initiative called the Tyler Bike Stripes Project. It aims to make the roadways more accessible to bicyclists, however, these lines also managing to divide residents. …

Police searching for burglary suspects at downtown Austin bike shop

www.kxan.com

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Police are searching for several unidentified suspects who were involved in a robbery at Mellow Johnny’s bike shop in downtown Austin.

Police say the incident happened around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at 400 Nueces Street.

Police have not made any arrests. Anyone with information should call the APD Burglary Unit at (512) 974-6941.

Video: Local man prepares for 60-mile trek in honor of the West explosion, fallen firefighters

By: Erin Heft | www.kxxv.com

TEMPLE, TX — Making a 60-mile trek from Temple to West each April, one Temple area man, Danny McDonald, rides in honor of the 15 lives lost that fateful day.

Saturday, April 17 2021 marks the eighth anniversary of the tragic West Fertilizer Plant Explosion and the beginning of the mass recovery effort of Central Texas.

"For this, it’s to honor and remember all of those that we lost that day, there were 15 lost that day and 12 of them were firefighters," said McDonald.

Each year on the anniversary of the explosion, McDonald has quietly parked his truck at Temple Fire and Rescue Station 1, and rode his bike the 60 miles north to …

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