Texas Biking News October 24th 2019

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Things to know about fallen San Antonio firefighter Greg Garza

Peter Rasmussen | www.mysanantonio.com

One friend described Greg Garza as a "beautiful man" who fixed the bikes of all the kids in his neighborhood.

This is one of the stories that have emerged since the San Antonio firefighter’s death last week.

Garza, an Alamo City native, died after he tripped or stumbled from a firetruck onto the street, where he was hit by an oncoming vehicle. Garza’s station was on the scene of an electrical fire at a downtown hotel when the incident occurred. …

Cycling experts urge riders to protect themselves

Elijah Lee | thewichitan.com

Whether cycling competitively or recreationally, safety comes first. Multiple reasons can be given for not wearing a helmet, but all of them go out of the window when a cyclist takes a tumble. Representatives of the cycling department share the importance of protection and taking proper precautions while riding, along with a couple of stories that illustrate the dangers of biking.

Frank B. Wyatt, professor and sponsor of the cycling team, said, “You fall in an instant. It’s so quick you don’t have time to react. Hitting your head on cement without protection can kill you.”

According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 835 people died from cycling accidents in 2016. Out of the 835, 137 wore helmets while 424 did not.

Yes, people wearing …

A Dream Come True For BMX Riders In H-Town

ALVARO ‘AL’ ORTIZ | www.houstonpublicmedia.org

The recently-opened Rockstar Energy Bike Park is one of the biggest BMX parks in America. It’s hosting a national tournament this weekend and the World Championships in 2020.

Thousands of professional BMX riders and fans are set to gather in Houston this weekend for the USA BMX Lone Star Nationals competition. It’s the first major event to be held at the Rockstar Energy Bike Park in Greenspoint since it opened in August.

One of the biggest BMX venues in …

Discover San Antonio by Bike

BY BONNY OSTERHAGE AND KATHLEEN PETTY | www.sanantoniomag.com

Jess Brunson knows the best way to experience a city is by exploring. An avid cyclist who moved to San Antonio from Maryland five years ago, Brunson says she fell in love with the Alamo City by biking its neighborhoods and takes that same approach to discovering hidden gems whenever she travels.

So when the opportunity arose to help locals and visitors experience her town on two wheels, Brunson was all in. Through VeloGuide, an app that offers bike tours by local cyclists in cities around the world, Brunson leads rides that feature anything from local breweries to the …

Man says bicycle fell apart while riding it, suing manufacturer

By Bridget Spencer | www.fox7austin.com

AUSTIN, Texas – Ronnie Woodall said his brand new $1,600 bicycle fell apart at the welds. He said it happened while he was riding on 4th Street back in April. Months later, he is still recovering from his injuries.

“I guess when I went face-first into the fence it pushed my head back and twisted my neck and it blew out the vertebrae in my neck. My nose had been amputated; it was barely hanging on by …

Sophie Gets a New Drive Train, and She Rides Like Buttah

DUDE ABIKES | adudeabikes.com

After pedaling 6,860 miles on Sophie, my Fairdale Weekender Archer, she was due for an overhaul. Shifting gears wasn’t hard, but the teeth on the cog were beginning to look like shark teeth — a key indicator they were wearing out. So I took her by Sun and Ski Sports and got a new chain ring, cassette and chain. (A new derailleur is probably next.) This is that story. …

Texas Biking from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Hammered by a Headwind to Huffman, Pushed by a Tailwind to Home

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The blue sky tried to hang around one more day but as I made my way along the “Atascocita South – Walden – Huffman” route clouds moved in from the south. The strong SE wind pushed the clouds in from the gulf and made biking to Huffman tough. The ride started at 11:27 AM because I was slow to get ready.

Biking the route produced 34.77 miles improving my October total to 617.17 miles, 83 miles short of my goal. Year to date I biked 6,863 miles exceeding my goal by 63 miles. For the week I pedaled 125 miles.

Weather as I was biking: start 80 (68% humidity, 68.6 dew point), a few clouds, wind E 13 mph. Finish 80 (69% humidity, 68.8 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 16 mph. I wore a long sleeve jersey under my short sleeve one because I thought the wind chill might make me cold. While the sun was warm the shade and wind combination had a chill to it.

A headwind challenged my legs from the start until I made the left turn onto FM 2100 from Old Atascocita Road. Riding north on FM 2100 gave my legs some relief with a helping tailwind whenever I hit an open area. Earlier as I rode across Lake Houston out in the open I felt the effect of passing traffic as they sucked the headwind with them and gave me some time to pedal with less resistance.

I didn’t take as many clips during the bike ride. I missed a couple of other “casual” bikers as we passed but I figured showing the same streets gets boring. Less video, more variety.

Late Thursday after midnight the weather changes as the next cold front moves through southeast Texas. Friday may be wet until noon which means another bout of Zwifting.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

10-24-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Strava year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Relive ‘Atascocita South to Huffman’

Texas Biking News October 23rd 2019

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Realistic lessons in accident investigation

By Baylee Bates | www.kten.com

SHERMAN, Texas — A blue car hurtles toward a figure on a bicycle in a Sherman parking lot.

The rider is struck and flies through the air, landing in a heap on the pavement.

It’s a terrifying sight, but this was an intentional "accident," a pedestrian/bicycle collision reconstruction course hosted by Sherman police.

The "victims" were …

Georgetown city leaders seek feedback on proposed bicycle master plan

by: Candy Rodriguez | www.kxan.com

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) — Transportation leaders in the City of Georgetown are preparing for growth. City leaders are working on a Bicycle Master Plan that will serve as a blueprint for future transportation projects to support a safe and connected bicycle network.

“I think the plan lays out a good network,” Raymond Miller, the city’s public works director said.

The city’s population has …

Austin councilmembers head to the Netherlands to learn about integrating biking in transportation systems

Sammy Turner | www.kvue.com

AUSTIN, Texas — Editor’s note: The attached video is related to a similar story on biking in Georgetown.

Several Austin City Council members are visiting the Netherlands to study the Dutch transportation systems, but who’s paying for all the travel expenses?

Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison’s office said that the trip was fully sponsored by PeopleForBikes, including the members’ flights, hotels and meals. No taxpayer money was used, according to her office. …

Solo Wednesday

Fat Boy Slim | www.strava.com

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Blue Sky and Wind to Tavola Bike Ride

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The blue sky stayed through the night and greeted me as I set out on today’s bike ride at 11:14 AM. I chose the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route and rode 36.19 miles. With that October now totals 582.41 miles, meaning I need 118 miles to reach my goal. One thing new on today’s bike ride: wind and lots of it. Weather while I biked: start 77 (50% humidity, 57.4 dew point), fair, wind SE 12 mph gusts 18 mph. Finish 79 (43% humidity, 54.4 dew point), fair, wind SE 17 mph. Double digit wind put me on a fast track to Tavola but concerned me on the return trip.

Those same miles today put me past my 6,800 mile goal for the with 6,828 miles.

As I made the turn around coming out of Tavola the strong SE wind heightened my fear of a strong headwind for the 20 miles back into Kingwood. Once I reached the southbound US59 frontage road the wind made its presence known but surprisingly I improved my overall average speed to 13.8 mph biking into the wind. The wind breaks held the buffeting to a minimum and the turns to the west on Valley Ranch Parkway positioned me to use the wind instead. Maintaining my average speed until the u-turn under US59 at Kingwood Drive was hard work but easier than I anticipated as I rode west on Roman Forest Blvd. to US59.

My narration in the video tells how the ride went as I enjoyed the blue sky and the tailwind.

Thursday the blue sky will give way to intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 82F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. This should be good bike ride weather except a little less wind would be appreciated.

SportTracks Bike Ride and Intervals Summaries

10-23-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary
10-23-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Intervals Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Relive ‘New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch’