Texas Biking News January 21st 2020

Texbiker.net Posted on by

DCTA completes 19-mile Rail Trail

by Mark Smith | www.crosstimbersgazette.com

The Denton County Transportation Authority’s 19-mile A-train Rail Trail is now complete following years of construction.

The final construction project phase connecting the Highland Village/Lewisville Lake station to downtown Lewisville was completed last month, according to a DCTA news release. The trail runs alongside the agency’s commuter rail line and was designed to complement its …

Man Accused Of Leaving Walmart On Bicycle Stolen From The Store

www.ksstradio.com

Brandon Grady Teague, a 33-year-old Sulphur Springs man was accused of running from authorities after ditching a bicycle he stole from Walmart Saturday afternoon, according to police reports.

Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman was dispatched at 5:38 p.m. Jan. 18 to Walmart in reference to a theft. The suspect allegedly …

Houston Marathon Crash Race 2020 Podcast

by Paul | anchor.fm

When streets are closed for a run hours before the run is set to begin, what else are you to do? A bike race at 4 AM, of course. Organizers and participants spoke to me about this year’s Houston Marathon Crash Race.

Music: Back to the Woods by Jason Shaw

Austin now ticketing and towing vehicles parked in bike-only lanes

Paul Livengood | www.kvue.com

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin drivers, beware.

Austin Transportation has begun assigning parking enforcement officers to ticket and tow vehicles illegally parked in designated bike-only lanes, according to a City press release.

“Parking in a bike-only lane compels cyclists to enter general travel lanes, which greatly increases the chances of a deadly or serious crash,” said Robert Spillar, the director of Austin Transportation. “Keeping our bike lanes clear makes our streets safer for both cyclists and motorists alike.”

Fines for obstructing a bike-only lane can be up to …

Livingston cyclist Josh Quigley whose skull was fractured in crash will fly home this week

By Elsa Maishman | www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com

A round-the-world cyclist who survived a serious crash in the US in December will fly home to Livingston tomorrow.

Josh Quigley, 27, suffered a fractured skull and pelvis, 10 broken ribs and a punctured lung when he was hit by a car travelling at 70 mph.

Mr Quigley said he was ‘lucky to be alive’ after the accident, which happened in Flat, Texas, on December 21. …

Bikes make several re-cycling appearances around county

www.texarkanagazette.com

It’s hard to think of anything bad about a bicycle.

A bike, when new, makes us happy. When old, gets turned into a work of art. The bike is so useful whether in pristine condition or weathered, old age. …

Texas Biking from Twitter

https://twitter.com/bikedenton/status/1219722969901096960

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Virtual Rain Zwifting the ZHCC Greatest London Flat Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Thank goodness the virtual rain at the start stopped after a short ride in London. One of the riders said, “Just like London to rain.” The ride started at 12:30 PM CST with 170 riders taking part according to the leader but after the ride the Zwift app showed 201.

The pace set by the leader of 1.5 w/kg was difficult but not from the trying to keep up. Rather it was difficult to hold back and average 1.5 w/kg. I lost count of how many times I went through the fence. I stayed at the front most of the time which accounted for riding past the fence. To switch from yesterday’s race pace to a slower ride took time to get use to.

Riding time came in at 59:54 covering 19.06 miles. Generally the course was flat like the name but one time we rode up the escalator in the subway and the incline got steep at over 10% but not for long. The leader showed mercy by leaving out Box Hill.

January ride statistics:

  • 226.7 road miles in January, 300 mile goal
  • 218 Zwift miles for January, 100 mile goal
  • 444.68 miles total for the month, goal exceeded
1-21-2020 Strava Zwift Bike Ride Summary
1-21-2020 SportTracks Zwift Bike Ride Summary

Texas Biking January 20th 2020

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Letters to the editor: Jan. 20, 2020

www.statesman.com

Another safety concern on Shoal Creek Boulevard The City of Austin will soon complete the two-way protected bike lane on Shoal Creek Boulevard between 38th Street and Foster Lane. This important safety improvement is very much welcomed by the biking community, but there is another safety issue the city continues to ignore on Shoal Creek Boulevard: Speeding cars and trucks.

Just north of W. 41st Street there is an S-curve where vehicles regularly race through the curves, often crossing the double yellow center line and driving into the parking lane. The city needs to install devices to force vehicles to slow down in this area.

In recent years, there have been parked vehicles hit by speeding drivers on the curves. A house was even crashed into a few years ago, and still the city has done nothing to slow down drivers. That needs to stop now.

Bobby French, Austin

Upcoming Rides

Chasing Watts | chasingwatts.com

Sienna Morning Loops Tuesday, January 21, 2020 @ 5:00 AM

Sugar Cycle 521 Training Sunday, January 26, 2020 @ 7:30 AM

Sunday BlendIn Coffee Club Sunday, January 26, 2020 @ 7:30 AM

12 Bicycle-Related Groups in Austin, Texas You Should Know About

A DUDE ABIKES | adudeabikes.com

On this Martin Luther King Day, I’m still thinking about the death of an African-American cyclist, Merry “Cookie” Daye. She was killed in the bike lane in a hit and run in December. On the 50th anniversary of MLK’s death, I wrote a blog about him (MLK On a Bike, The Struggle for Justice, and My First Bicycle Consulting Client). Transportation justice is a real thing, since we cyclists are treated like second-class citizens. In Cookie’s case, the authorities have still not found the murderer.

I’ve been thinking about the fact that there appears to be little coordination among the various non-profit bike groups here in Austin, Texas. The group of …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tour de Zwift: Stage 3 Race (D) Watopia Wilderness Hilly Loop

Texbiker.net Posted on by

No equipment issues at the start of today’s Tour de Zwift and I had everything ready for the start. I got with a group at the start and worked my way from over 100th place up to the 70’s. A couple of times I moved into 69th place. As the title says the course went up and down with an 11% climb twice in the two laps around the circuit. 226 racers gathered for the 12:13 PM start on the 11.5 mile stage. I finished in 71st in 33:09 average power of 183w.

I unlocked the “Hilly Route”, whatever that means and set a new personal record for Zwift KOM. Strava recorded more personal records than Zwift did. Drafting in a group makes a difference from riding alone just like in real biking. The absence of the fence means all out pedaling without watching it. I managed to change the camera a few times during the race and not lose my position. There isn’t as much messaging compared to a ride, everyone is concentrating on the race I think.

I was surprised stage 3 happened so soon since I raced stage 2 yesterday. Tuesday I most likely will be Zwifting again based on the weather forecast calling for temperatures below 60.

1-20-2020 Strava Tour de Zwift Stage 3 Race Summary
1-20-2020 SportTracks Tour de Zwift Stage 3 Race Summary