Walking around Fort Worth, or for that matter most of the heavily urbanized parts of Texas, has become more and more dangerous — and often fatal. And it could get worse.
Texas is ranked as the eighth most dangerous state for pedestrians, according to the “Pedestrian Danger Index†compiled by nonpartisan advocacy groups Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition. Among metro areas, Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 28th. …
… The federal government has a wide range of programs aimed at making roads safer. The four-year-old special pedestrian and bicycle safety promotion program is authorized to spend $70 million over a five year period that ends in the next fiscal year. So far it’s spent $42 million. Experts say the programs need more funding. …
SAN ANTONIO – Learning to ride a bike is a big milestone for most children. The local nonprofit Ghisallo Cycling Initiative hopes to instill that in today’s generation through its various programs.
We caught up with the instructors when they visited Martin Elementary school. During the students’ physical education period they bring bikes donated by the Texas Department of Transportation for the children to ride. But it’s not …
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Halloween Chainless Downhill Race by teamtrailparty. Check out our FB album to see if there are any photos of you if you participated! #SpiderMountainhttps://t.co/qslPo9JfFe
It's sad that only three Council Members showed up, @Ron_Nirenberg@CWShirleyG anasandovalsatx. Thanks for your support. Cyclists Ride Broadway in Fight for Protected Bike Lanes… https://t.co/8hXIFpR1SU
Join Mamma Jamma for It's My Park Day – Fall volunteer event at The Veloway. This is a great chance to give back and help maintain this very special, year-round cycling spot enjoyed by our riders. More than 50 volunteers needed. RSVP here: https://t.co/aTUrRSUFaEpic.twitter.com/zNOj1Mj9Cc
New Event Houston Bicycle Club Sealy, Bernado-Cat Spring-Cardiac Hill Loop – Sealy TX https://t.co/0z93Y6gojK
Ride Starter: Ronald NOTE: Sunday ride !!! We ride to Bernado, take Cat Spring Rd to Cat Spring, then FM946 with a few hills back to Sealy… https://t.co/qY8CBfQP4g
I walked out to the garage to go on an errand and checked the rear tire on the Canyon to see if my patch job during yesterday’s bike ride held. Squeezing the rear tire disappointment greeted my two fingers. The tire was soft but not flat yet. When I got back from my errand I took the rear tire, patch kit, tire levers, and floor pump inside to fix the flat again.
Pulling the tube out of the tire after I loosened the bead I searched for the patch from yesterday. I was surprised with the number of patches on the tube when I thought it wasn’t so battle scarred. Locating the site I pumped up the tube and held the patch near my lips to detect a leak. A faint flow of air touched my lips so I removed the patch to redo my work. I guess I did a good enough job to get home yesterday but no more. Roughing up the surface at the hole I then applied glue spreading it with my finger to cover a larger area than the size of the patch. The glue dried quickly and I got the patch ready, aimed carefully and applied the patch. Pressing the patch firmly to the tube I air the tube up some to see if any air leaked. While I waited I did a couple of chores around the house and then checked my work. It looked good and no air touched my lips. Putting the tube back into the tire, mounting the bead and pumping it up to 105 psi (I allowed some to leak out when I disconnected the pump) I let the tire sit a few more minutes before taking it out the garage and putting it back on the bike. The tire was really firm and my fingers’ squeezing encouraged for the ride.
After all of that I got ready to ride and rolled out the driveway at 12:06 PM following the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route. Adding a couple of extra streets the bike ride went 33.49 miles. Those miles put me passed my 700 mile goal with 717.90 miles. The breakdown: 625.7 miles on the road and 92.2 miles virtual riding.
The weather forecast called for 80 degrees today but with the clouds that was doubtful. I decided to wear a heavy long sleeve jersey topped with a short sleeve jersey. Good decision because of this weather during the bike ride: start 74 (75% humidity, 65.5 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 9 mph. Finish 75 (75% humidity, 66.5 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 10 mph. The wind was light but still chilly to me.
A short video from the ride. I missed tow other bikers because I didn’t watch for them.
Tuesday the weather may get rain but I plan on riding if it is dry. Wednesday will be much wetter.
I’m learning that mountain biking in North Dallas has a lot to offer. I arrived to the NW Community Park Trailhead and was pleasantly surprised. Bike racks, port-a-potty’s, and clearly marked sign posts sprinkled the staging area like it was designed for folks on mountain bikes. Imagine that! A bike park for bikers. Novel.
I’ve never ridden in an area so welcoming and inviting. My response was strange. I found myself daydreaming and talking to imaginary people about how great the ride was; which is …
Nov 02, 2019
2 to 3 hours (Approx.)
We’ve teamed with Austin’s best local influencers to create the perfect tour to experience Austin’s finest, at the pace of an electric bike. Austin’s pathways and trails present the perfect opportunity to cruise and soak in the culture. Navigating the city on our electric bikes, you get to see things you would normally drive past. …
More than five dozen cyclists gathered Sunday in the midmorning sun for a ride down Broadway to stress the importance of protected bicycle lanes. They started from a University of the Incarnate Word parking lot and rode to Travis Park, with a few stops along the way.
Bryan Martin, interim director of Bike San Antonio and CEO of electric bike company Bronko Bikes, helped organize the group bike ride. The ride featured many of the cycling groups around …
DFW mountain bike trails were muddy and one of the girls was barf sick so #1 grandchild & I did a Ridgewood Trail to Mockingbird Station Starbucks ride. We avoided the security guards and rode all the way to the door. Always check out the super yard art at Trammel and Abrams! pic.twitter.com/pSBJstfxq0
— Martin Russell 🚲ðŸðŸ¿ï¸ (@russell_dallas) October 27, 2019
New Bike lane layout on Shoal Creek in Central Austin still needs a little getting used to… and confusing to some 🤔 pic.twitter.com/sB00Fd3y7o
Always great to get some race reports from our clients! Congrats Ed Jones on your 3rd place at yesterday's Martindale Tri (Run, Bike, Paddle) in San Marcos, TX. #rothetrainingpic.twitter.com/DfUOm2rEfx
It's about to start with @Ron_Nirenberg@CWShirleyG already showing up. @SWellCycle have bikes available for those who want to ride and show support for a Protected Bicycle Lane on Broadway. pic.twitter.com/KJDRhqaNb5
Choices are 1 go ride the bicycle this https://t.co/bkoTZmD9ky 39 degrees about 35 heat index or 2 WAIT a few hours and ride in 81 degree weather .youknowmostwillridethismornCRAZY. pic.twitter.com/J2z5Nk2INd
New Event Saturday Upper Valley Vuelta Group B – El Paso, TX • Distance: 25-30 miles • Roll Out: 7:30 am • Pace: 15-17 mph • Details: This ride will take you through the upper valley winding around most likely stopping at the Anthony Country Club for… https://t.co/Cv75BtDjg4
New Event Ride Away Bicycles Tour De Las Chingonas – San Antonio, TX https://t.co/DkF5U0mJpK
Join us as we host a women’s only bike tour! Registration is open. Register before October 11 and get the inaugural Tour de las Chingonas shirt. Reg fee is $25… https://t.co/U87AgzA8PU
When I set out on today’s bike rid the last thing on my mind was a flat tire. It’s been awhile since my last flat and its easy to forget about them until you have one. choosing the “Kingwood – FM1485 – Kingwood” route I set out at 12:48 PM. Weather during the bike ride: start 74 (64% humidity, 61.5 dew point), a few clouds, wind S 8 mph. Finish 76 (63% humidity, 62.1 dew point), a few clouds, wind SE 6 mph. Biking in the shade made me appreciate my wardrobe choice: long sleeve jersey under a short sleeve jersey. The air had a chill to it as I moved through the shade.
I chose this route because of the miles and ended biking 30.39 miles. The week’s total came in at 192.24 miles, marking the second week in a row below 200 miles. But I was close. The month stands at 684.42 miles, 16 miles short of my goal. Year to date totals 6,893 miles.
The bike ride was going as planned until I thought the rear tire was getting soft. When I rode over a bump the rear tire didn’t feel hard. Biking north on Loop 494 just south of FM 1484 at the railroad tracks I started looking for a place to check the tire. Going through two traffic lights I decided to take the road from Loop 494 to US59 behind FoodTown. I stopped short of the frontage road, squeezed the rear tire, definitely soft. From there I walked to the FoodTown parking lot and picked a spot in the sun. I removed the tire not knowing what to expect. After leaning the Canyon against the building I inspected the rear tire, turning it slow from the valve. About half around I spotted the problem, a staple sticking out of the tire. I am amazed how such a thing and tiny piece of steel supposedly laying on the road ends up sticking into a tire, penetrating into the tube. The culprit.
Leaving the staple in the tire I removed the tire bead on one side and pulled the tube out. Matching the staple’s location with the tube a tiny little hole was barely visible. To be sure this was the hole I aired the tire up and put my lips close to the hole. A faint stream of air came out of the hole. To mark the spot I put a screw in the hole and enlarged it some. After roughing the tube I put the screw back in the hole, applied glue and waited for it to dry. I think because the air was cool the glue took several minutes to dry. Applying a patch, pressing it firmly I put the tube back in the tire and remounted the tire bead. Now the work began, pumping up the tire to a firm pressure. Without a tire gauge I guess at the pressure by squeezing the tire. The small pump can go to a high pressure (120 psi) but getting there takes a lot of strokes. The end of the pump gets hot from the work so I carefully checked it when I thought the tire was hard enough. Waiting a few minutes to verify the patch job I put the tools back. The pressure held and I got ready to ride about 25 minutes after I stopped. One thing I noticed the new patch was only a few inches from another patch. My observation is that patches cluster together which means the flats do too. This photo shows the patches (the old one is to the right of the new one in the round dark spot on the tube.
Back biking again I returned to the route under US59 and back to the south. I thought there might be a headwind but it wasn’t enough to slow me down and I improved my overall average speed to 13.8 mph until I entered Kings Manor and then Kingwood.
After finishing the ride I aired up both tires to 100 psi. I will check the rear tire later to see if the patch worked.
Monday’s weather should be in the 80’s and biking on the schedule.
