Catherine Dominguez | www.yourconroenews.com
The Conroe City Council took more action Thursday to continue with a plan to create hike and bike trails along Alligator Creek.
The action follows the council’s awarding a $52,300 contract to Bleyl Engineering last month for the rehab of the large drainage ditch that winds through downtown.
On Tuesday, the council awarded another contract to Bleyl for the design of a section that would connect sections of the hike and bike trail. The …
www.peoplepoweredmovement.org
Bicycling continues to be an economical means of transportation, especially in urban areas like Houston. Cycling is also a popular form of recreation and exercise. Unfortunately, riders in Houston face various risks when they ride, including being struck by a motor vehicle or being injured in an accident caused by poor road conditions or other hazards.
Bicycle Accident Statistics for Houston, Texas
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were …
By Tom Gray | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 29 – Kerrville, TX to Blanco, TX
Thursday April 8, 2021, 59 miles (95 km) – Total so far: 1,527 miles (2,457 km)
Another day in Texas Hill Country, but today’s hills were steeper than yesterday’s and there were more of them.
It’s been warm for the last few days since we left the desert, getting up to the high 80s today, although it felt warmer. It was into the 90s earlier this week.
These pics don’t show the hills because …
By Mike L. | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 20:Camp Wood to Fredericksburg: Hill Country
Friday April 9, 2021, 109 miles (175 km) – Total so far: 1,542 miles (2,482 km)
I was up and out early today in an effort to tackle the hills before it became too warm on the road. The reward was substantial – the sun stayed under cloud cover long enough for me to tackle 4 of 5 big hills. Seriously, today was a good challenge with lots of payoff. I believe I hit my highest speed to date (48 mph) and had the most elevation gain of any day so far (6700+ ft). Apparently, century rides are the new normal with my family as well…yesterday, they accused me of having an easy day:)
I thought my day was going to be over early as I hit my original goal of making it to Kerrsville by 2:30 or so. However, I did not realize that there is a BIG bike show this weekend and every room was booked in town and the surrounding area. Once I realized that …
By John Schick | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Southern Tier Part 2 April – May, 2021: Planning and logistics
Sunday March 28, 2021
So here I am now two weeks out dealing with the logistics of an upcoming trip. Each one is different and presents its own necessities. For my Northern Tier trip I was able to start riding from my house which made the beginning quite easy. I shipped the bike home at the end and flew home.
Since I’m starting this bike tour over a thousand miles away from my house there are quite a few more logistics involved. I looked at flying to El Paso and then flying home afterwards, but decided against that. So, I’ll be leaving two weeks from yesterday on April 10th and spending three days driving to El Paso. Then I’ll need to park the van. I found an app called Neighbor that is like an …
By Joan Donohue | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 29 – Del Rio to Langtry, TX
Thursday March 25, 2021, 61 miles (98 km) – Total so far: 61 miles (98 km)
Well it was a tough first day. I was heading northwest all day and there were 15 mph winds from the northwest all day. The winds never let up and seemed get stronger in the afternoon. There are many trucks on the road but nothing compared to the volume of traffic on the eastern part of the Southern Tier. The winds today were cool and dry, the sky bright blue, and excellent visibility. I think that will change when the winds come from the south tomorrow.
It took me about 4 hours to get to Comstock where I stopped and visited my friends Shawn and Joan who run the Comstock Motel. It was so nice to see them! They were so kind to me when I fell ill at their motel last October. Then I bought some pizza, gatorade, water, and peanuts and headed down the road into the headwinds for another 4 hour journey to Langtry.
Along the way to Langtry, I met 2 cyclists heading in the opposite direction. I suggested they go all the way to …
Day 30 – Langtry to Sanderson, TX
Friday March 26, 2021, 61 miles (98 km) – Total so far: 122 miles (196 km)
Before I left Langtry, I stopped in to say goodbye to Jerry. Then I was on my way to a long slow climb up to Sanderson. There was nothing to see along the way except the abandoned town of Dryden and some historical markers here and there. The winds were warm and light from the south most of the day. Since I was heading west, the wind situation was much better than yesterday.
I met another cyclist here at the motel in Sanderson named Russell (from Salt Lake City). He is carrying almost nothing in his small panniers – just one set of cycling clothes and one set of non-cycling clothes – no camping gear, no computer, minimal food and water. He is …
Day 31 – Sanderson to Marathon, TX
Saturday March 27, 2021, 60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 182 miles (293 km)
I started riding before the sun rose today to try and beat the northwest winds. I headed uphill and to the west all day so it was not quite a headwind. The wind starts to pick up around 9am and is pretty strong by 1pm.
The town of Marathon is the main jumping off point for Big Bend National Park so it is hard to find accommodations here. In addition, this weekend there is a large wedding at the Gage Hotel so the only place I could find to stay is a nice campground on the western edge of town.
I met a nice couple here who just purchased a …
Day 32 – Marathon to Marfa, TX
Sunday March 28, 2021, 68 miles (109 km) – Total so far: 250 miles (402 km)
I did not get much sleep last night at the campground due to extremely windy conditions. It was not nearly as bad as Patagonia or Mongolia but still scary in my tiny tent. The wind shifted directions so it was blowing directly on the left side of my tent, trying to lay it on its side, and making a big racket until about 2:00am when the wind slowed down. However, then the loud country music at a ranch about 1/2 mile outside the campground could be heard. It was obnoxious and reminded me of the bars in Spain that stay open all night and can be heard miles away in the countryside. The only other tent camper packed up and left at 3:00am.
The big windstorm did bring me some benefits. The wind was …
Day 33 – Marfa to Van Horn, TX
Monday March 29, 2021, 82 miles (132 km) – Total so far: 332 miles (534 km)
It was a very cold night last night but I managed to stay pretty warm in my tent, inside my down sleeping bag and wearing my down jacket with hood on all night. It was 30 degrees (25 degree windchill) when woke up. I put 2 layers of clothing on my legs, head, and hands and 3 layers on my feet and torso. I was glad to start riding at the crack of dawn in order to warm up and generate some body heat. By 11am, it was 84 degrees and I shed most of my extra layers. I hope that was the coldest night of camping I will experience on this trip!
The major site on the side of the road today was a huge display from the 1956 movie "Giant." It features music from the movie, huge replicas of James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson in a yellow convertible. This …
Day 34 – Van Horn to Fort Hancock, TX
Wednesday March 31, 2021, 83 miles (134 km) – Total so far: 415 miles (668 km)
I very much enjoyed my rest day yesterday in Van Horn. The town has 17 motels, 3 RV parks, 3 truck stops, a few restaurants, grocery store, Dollar General, hardware store, auto repair shop, bank, and post office. I managed to visit or go by most of those places. However, I spent most of my time sitting outside at my hotel using my computer and chatting on and off with the 2 very nice ladies doing the housekeeping. All in all, it was a relaxing day and Van Horn wasn’t so bad after all!
The bike ride today headed up out of Van Horn on the shoulder of Interstate 10. Four miles out of Van Horn the time zone changed to mountain time. Ten miles out, a frontage road next to the interstate became available so I rode on that for about 40 miles until it dead ended. Then …
Day 35 – Van Horn to El Paso, TX
Thursday April 1, 2021, 64 miles (103 km) – Total so far: 479 miles (771 km)
About 1/4 mile after leaving the Community Church this morning, my rear tire went flat. I was quite surprised because the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires are pretty indestructible. Then I realized that it was my fault, not the tire’s fault. I had walked the bike down the 3 steps of the Community Church without taking care to do it gently. Hence I must have pinched the tube in the rear tire. The hole was so small that I could barely find it when immersed in water but, with all the weight on the rear of my bike, the tire went flat pretty quickly. Lesson learned!!
I was lucky to have a nice tailwind all day so I …
By Mark Otti | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 17 March 29 leaving El Paso Texas to ride to for Hancock: Dangerous route out of town from hotel from El Paso need to find a different safer route
Monday March 29, 2021, 62 miles (100 km) – Total so far: 841 miles (1,353 km)
Wow what a morning I had on the 29th.
I left the hotel on my bike and we were in urban part of the city , deep in the city of El Paso Texas and at 7:30am in El Paso Texas is the road rage rush-hour time of the morning.
I was a single bicyclist out amongst the masses the trucks those in a hurry to get to work and not wanting to deal with a dozen cyclists or just me These motorists that were trying to run me off the road or come close enough to almost hitting me along with semi trucks, concrete trucks, the city bus line. And then …
Day 18 March 30th Tuesday riding from Fort Hancock to Van Horne Texas 72 something miles
Tuesday March 30, 2021, 76 miles (122 km) – Total so far: 917 miles (1,475 km)
Last night we slept in the church in Fort Hancock small little church some people slept in the sanctuary in about 10 of us slept in the I guess you’d call the activities room yes it was three guys and seven women whew who!
At least we didn’t have the cold like we do in the tent when we wake up in the morning and it was breezy so it was a very comfortable night sleeping on air mattresses inside the church and we forced her own little bathrooms. And ahead of time we decided that someone would sit there alarm for 6 AM and we all get up however someone set the clock but it they said it for central standard time which was 5 AM so the alarm went off and someone got a turn on the lights!
There were quite a few rumbles about hey I thought we’re going to get up at …
Day 19 Wednesday, March 31 ride to Marfa had to sag after second stop
Wednesday March 31, 2021, 39 miles (63 km) – Total so far: 956 miles (1,538 km)
We woke up this morning it was pretty cold and very windy. During the night although the dust cumulated inside are tense and coded everything the brown dust. During the night and the trains going by near the highway one of the RVs car alarms went off twice due to the strong win the people who owned the place had two dogs tied up outside the bark for three hours constantly not a great place to be but when you’re cutting corners and getting the cheapest sites you can that’s what you get. So we started out riding and it was more of a cross wind wasn’t too bad I was cruise along 17 miles an hour made to the first stop. Then not long after that …
Day 20 April 1 Thursday riding from Van Horn to Marathon Texas: Full Steam ahead into the winds
Thursday April 1, 2021, 59 miles (95 km) – Total so far: 1,015 miles (1,633 km)
Another very cold night yeah, in the RV campsite that was the one that looked like when the Griswolds had stayed in in the the movie Vacation with the teepees!
Got up and had coffee packed my gear had breakfast was ready to roll out on the road when the tour director thought that she would be funny when she said " oh my god, no we have a Route change, we have to ride 75 miles today, there’s a fire on the highway and the trucks burning and they’re not gonna let us ride on Highway 90. So we have to do a route change".
Since I was one of the first riders out because I don’t lollygag around in the morning, I head out with two …
Day 20 April 1 Thursday riding from Van Horn to Marathon Texas: Full Steam ahead into the winds
Thursday April 1, 2021, 59 miles (95 km) – Total so far: 1,015 miles (1,633 km)
Another very cold night yeah, in the RV campsite that was the one that looked like when the Griswolds had stayed in in the the movie Vacation with the teepees!
Got up and had coffee packed my gear had breakfast was ready to roll out on the road when the tour director thought that she would be funny when she said " oh my god, no we have a Route change, we have to ride 75 miles today, there’s a fire on the highway and the trucks burning and they’re not gonna let us ride on Highway 90. So we have to do a route change".
Since I was one of the first riders out because I don’t lollygag around in the morning, I head out with two other riders in this little town and we all follow the pink arrows that they use to direct us to the daily routes, that will get you to where you need to go. So they took …
Day 21 Good Friday day off to rest and update journal and clean my bike Yesterday felt like a marathon: Quite and restful, fixed up the flat tubes and lunch in Marathon.
Friday April 2, 2021
Wow, I slept in unti 7:30 am. I hardly ever sleep that late. I used new ear plugs last night and it blocked all the sounds I guess.
Winds have died down and sun is blazing warm for 64 F.
Finally finished my David Baldacci book that I started at the airport in STL.
Tomorrow, Saturday we ride to Sanderson, TX about 56 miles to another cheap hotel.
Day 22 Saturday April 3rd riding from Marathon Texas to Sanderson Texas
Saturday April 3, 2021, 56 miles (91 km) – Total so far: 1,071 miles (1,723 km)
It was mostly sunny all day so I’m glad I had the SPF 70 lotion on. We rolled into Sanderson town in time for lunch and went to the Ranch House. It is the restaurant that they are known for that the waitresses carrying guns or as they say they’re packing their side arm on their hip so that was pretty cool!
I got a couple pictures there too! The food was very good I would always recommend that place. I had a big hamburger with everything on it and homemade fries yummy!
Then it was a short ride to the local school gymnasium were we are spending the night and they had wonderful showers hot hot water for once!
Then they pumped up air mattresses for us to lay on …
Day 23 Sunday April 4th riding from Sanderson to Comstock: Don’t miss the rest stop unless you have the stength in your legs to double back
Sunday April 4, 2021, 94 miles (151 km) – Total so far: 1,165 miles (1,875 km)
Well last night we stayed in the local school gymnasium kept warm. I slept wonderful thanks to my earplugs that blocked out the beeping noises of the lights at the very top of the gymnasium.
I guess the batteries were going out and the beeping noise was time to change the batteries so that went on all night.
In a rider meeting they told us about the hills that we were going to face today the potential for strong winds as well as 35% chance of rain. Well lo and behold we got up it was windy AND it was misty and only got worse as we started out 05 to 10 miles down the road.
We started out at 7:30am so the sun wasn’t quite up yet. But with …
Day 24 April 5th rode from Comstock TX to Bracketville TX: What a beautify day t was!!!! one of the best, cool breeze to keep us cooled down with some clouds
Monday April 5, 2021, 66 miles (106 km) – Total so far: 1,231 miles (1,980 km)
Today was a beautiful day for a bike ride, it got up it was maybe 61F degrees not bad. And had breakfast, packed up ,hit the road by 730am had a little bit of a headwind that is more of a cool breeze.
I had my on just my shorts and no leggings on, a long sleeve shirt and a jersey. I didn’t have to bundle up for 30° temperatures. And we headed east towards Brackettville and then 2 miles beyond that was his Fort Clark Springs apparently it’s an old World War II POW camp that they fixed up.
But we’ve got a nice campsite we got hot showers, got toilets that flush not not the Johnny spots that have not been cleaned for 5 to 6 years like the last place.
Definitely got our moneys worth here.
So the route had the roads were it was kind of rough , typical …
Day 25 April 6 Riding to Concow with another rest day after: Warmer weather made climbing hills harder with the sun shinning on my back
Tuesday April 6, 2021, 75 miles (121 km) – Total so far: 1,306 miles (2,101 km)
Last night we were at Fort Clark Springs RV site and it was a little warmer evening did need to bundle up then it only got about 61 overnight. However the Timberline folks set our tents up underneath the spotlights the street light so there’s like it was deal daylight all night long surprise I didn’t have a sunburn from as much light as they had in the campsite on the other side of the bathrooms it it was dark all the tents there were in the dark and people and use your flashlights to see but not me in about six others they’re all underneath the spotlights it’s something that Timberline should be …
Day 27. April 8 Road from Cancow To Kerrville Texas.: Started with a flat tire but ended the day with a beautiful ride!
Thursday April 8, 2021, 73 miles (117 km) – Total so far: 1,379 miles (2,219 km)
Tomorrow I will update this more I will be in a hotel and I’ll be on Internet on my computer instead of the little screen on my telephone it’s very hard to type and hit all the right letters or tomorrow
Anna Bauman | www.houstonchronicle.com
A 19-year-old bicyclist was struck and killed early Saturday by an unknown driver in Pasadena, police said.
The boy was biking northbound in the traffic lanes of Red Bluff Road near Kingsdale Drive when a driver hit him, OnScene TV reported. …
by Jim Lefko | foxsanantonio.com
Tony Beauford is president the San Antonio Wheelmen, a local cycling club. (SBG photo).
SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio cycling enthusiasts are reeling in the wake of yet another death of a local resident in a bike crash.
For the third time in the last two years, the victim was struck Wednesday night by an allegedly drunk driver.
"We’ve got to change the mentality for drivers so they understand that we’re just trying to have a fun time doing an activity that we really love," says Tony Beauford, president of the San Antonio Wheelmen, a local cycling club. …
By Katherine Lee | www.newschannel6now.com
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (TNN) – Cyclists with bikes of all shapes and sizes took to Lake Wichita for Ride and Seek.
The combination of air in the tires and weather for a nice bike ride is what families like George Baker’s had in store Saturday afternoon.
“We came out for the scavenger hunt primarily and then walked up the mound with my grandson,†said George Baker, bicyclist.
Cyclist advocacy group, Bike Wichita Falls, set up …
ADude ABikes | www.strava.com
Alex Maldonado | www.strava.com
Texas Biking from Twitter
New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
