Complete Opposite From Last Sunday’s Bike Ride

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In my quest to reach my mileage goal for September I chose the “Oakhurst – Cumberland – Valley Ranch” route with intention of riding at least 35 miles to put me in the position for tomorrow’s ride. I biked 35.78 miles.bringing the week’s total to 228.23 miles. This is the first 200+ mile week since the week of August 12th. Since then I dedicated my time to be with my wife as she went through the final stage of cancer. I do not regret that decision and after she died I ramped up my biking when the weather allowed to reach my goal of 700 miles for September. With today’s ride I am at 658.25 miles leaving 42 miles to get there. That is doable tomorrow. Year to date I rode 6,256 miles, 548 miles less than my goal for 2019.

Last Sunday I rode a portion of today’s route as I hit rain twice which made the ride longer and ruled out extending the route. Weather today was much more bike ride friendly: start 91 (67% humidity, 78.5 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 8 mph. Finish 89 (64% humidity, 75.6 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind SE 12 mph. This a ride where the finishing temperature was lower than the starting one but only by 2 degrees. As fall gets deeper into the days I expect this will happen more often.

Today’s video recaps what I saw during the ride. A few casual bikers and lots of good weather. At times the 12 mph wind made me crank up the watts above 200.

The ride started at 12:21 PM and finished at 3:16 PM. This means I missed the Houston Texans football game but I scheduled the DVR to record it. I will speed watch and hopefully the Texans prevail.

Monday’s weather forecast looks like a repeat of today. Good for biking.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

9-29-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Texas Bicycling News Digest September 28th 2019

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Public Meeting – Bicycle Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting

www.txdot.gov

Where: 200 E. Riverside Building 200 – Conference Room D Austin, Texas 78704 (Map)

When: Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 9:30 a.m. – noon

Purpose: TxDOT invites the public to attend a public meeting of TxDOT’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.

Description: TxDOT’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) advises the Transportation Commission on bicycle issues to help ensure the bicyclist’s perspective will be considered in the development of departmental policies affecting bicycle use, including the design, construction, and maintenance of roadways. The BAC is comprised of bicyclists and …

Bicyclists put focus on Denton’s long-term plan for getting around town

By Sophie Moncaleano | dentonrc.com

City officials held a focus group with bicyclists this week to get more input on ways to make biking better and safer in Denton.

About 20 people met at Sprockets Bicycle Shop in downtown Denton on Wednesday and outlined their preferred bicycle facilities as well as favorite destinations that need improvement. The feedback is expected to become part of the city’s mobility plan, which is getting a …

Petition started to rename bike trail after 88-year-old bicyclist’s death

By Shannon Ryan | www.fox7austin.com

AUSTIN, Texas – Earlier this month, an 88-year-old man was hit and killed while riding his bike.

On Septemebr 12, Thi Ho was hit by a vehicle while in the 10th street crosswalk near Settlers Valley Drive. Police say he was hit by an inattentive driver and was ejected approximately 40 feet. According to a city spokesperson, the Pflugerville Police Department’s investigation determined that both the driver and Ho were inattentive. …

El Camino 105 Gravel – when it actually is your first rodeo (rock sections,washboard sections,sandy sections, red dirt, caleche, tight gravel)

Brett COLE | www.strava.com

One race lap with friends and a hot one by myself!

Maga | www.strava.com

SCG Barricaded

Hugh Miller | www.strava.com

Law enforcement has barricaded off sections of Greenway until further notice. Asphalt trail has collapsed in at least one section between Jesse Jones Park and Pundt Park. I’m assuming the cause is saturated soil supporting trail. Officer said Trail is unsafe until fully inspected and repaired where required. BTW, I am still noticing tow trucks hauling away parked vehicles under the south side of the San Jacinto Bridge (US Hwy 59). Just in case nobody knows, the South access loop roadway and parking under the overpass is officially designated washed out by HPD (although it’s only barricaded at the entrance with no such warning on a sign). If you park there you risk having your vehicle towed. Towing has been going on for some time now – months.

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/RandyATX/status/1178071171662827520

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Saturday in The Sun Biking to Ramsey Road

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I got an early start (at least for) leaving home at 8:15 AM to begin biking on what I call the “Kingwood to Ramsey Road – Huffman” route. Missing yesterday’s ride due to the rain I needed to ride at least 37 miles. Today’s ride came in at 40.51 miles. The week now totals 192.46 miles and September improved to 622.47 miles, leaving 78 miles to reach my goal for the month. With two days left to ride I will need to ride a long ride to reach my goal. Not riding my Kickr Snap yesterday when the rain stopped the ride put me in a hole.

With the early start the sun was just moving above the trees. Weather during the bike ride: start 75 (99% humidity, 74.5 dew point), a few clouds, wind SE 6 mph. Finish 91 (61% humidity, 75.6 dew point), partly cloudy, wind S 10 mph. The dew point at the start was very close to the temperature creating a very humid feeling. As the ride progressed the temperature increased but it felt like a fall day.

Other cyclists appeared along the route beginning as I crossed Lake Houston on FM 1960 going to the east. As usual they were friendly and waved when I waved.

The video recaps what I saw as I rode. The NiteRider Sentinel tail light got turned on at the start unlike yesterday. The brightness of the blinking LED’s stood out even in the sunlight. After biking 3:19:38 turning the light off when I finished at 11:34 AM made the low battery signal came on. I need to find a USB cable long enough to charge the tail light while attached to the seat bag. The clip design keeps it in place but also makes getting it off hard.

Strava tells me that this ride was consistent with my usual efforts. Some physical data points:

  • average heart rate 128 bps (73%)
  • max heart rate 151 bps (86%)
  • average power 120 watts
  • max power 443 watts
  • max average speed 13.6 mph

Sunday’s forecast includes a 40% chance of rain. Maybe by the time I get home from church that will disappear for my bike ride.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

9-28-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

2018 is staying ahead of 2019 miles. All other years trail 2019.

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Texas Bicycling News Digest September 27th 2019

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Featured First Responder: Dante Johnson

www.corsicanadailysun.com

This week’s Cotton Patch Featured First Responder is Navarro College Police Office Dante Johnson for representing the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Ride in last weekends Emmit Smith Grand Fond to support children in North Texas.

Member Spotlight: David Collins

bikehouston.org

BikeHouston Ambassador David Collins Doesn’t Wear Spandex Long-time Houstonian David Collins is passionate about changing cycling in Houston for the better. During his involvement with BikeHouston, he has been involved with: Light of the Phoenix Ride, Houston Bike Summit, Austin Street bike lane Advocacy, bike valet, and his current focus, the Bike-To-Vote Campaign. This is in addition to the advocacy he has done on his own.

Where are you originally from, if not here? I was born in Oklahoma, but my …

Trains Can’t Stop! Navigating Railroad Crossings

By Dr. Inge Ford, DMD, LCI | bikehouston.org

Most of us are attuned and responsive to the rules of the road when trying to get from point A to B. Or are we? Houston’s massive road geography isn’t readily designed for vulnerable slow-moving road users -people who walk or bike, or those whose name is “Patience.” When talking about transportation, education is imperative for public safety. Recently, the staff at BikeHouston “got schooled” by Kevin Barnett, Director Safety Process & System Support with …

Real People Who Ride – The Night Rider!

bikehouston.org

Ahhh, the night rollers! It is so much fun to ride your bicycle in the evening when traffic is slowing and the cacophony of engines and horns is lowered. Exploring a neighborhood or finding a lookout point atop a bridge to admire the spectacular downtown Houston skyline is an opportunity to connect with our city. BikeHouston meet Inge Ford! Inge loves this time of day and chooses her bicycle to travel to the …

BikeHouston Seeks A New Advocacy Director

bikehouston.org

We are sad to announce that our Advocacy Director, Jessica Wiggins, will be leaving BikeHouston. Jessica has been involved with BikeHouston since 2015, first as a summer intern, and has dedicated herself to making Houston a better place to live.

Jessica created and organized the Build 50-Challenge coordinating with the City Planning Department, the Bicycle Advisory Committee, the Mayor’s Office, City Council, Complete Communities, Houston Parks Board, and …

Houston’s “Stop TxDOT Flood”

By Clark Martinson | bikehouston.org

Houston’s floods have memorable names; Since 2000 I’ve seen “Tropical Storm Allison”, the “Tax Day Flood”, the “Memorial Day Flood”, and “Hurricane Harvey”. Tropical Storm Imelda hit Houston with fury on September 19, 2019. I want to call her the “Stop TxDOT Flood”.

Our Stop I 45 protest chanted “TxDOT TxNOT” until the Marriott Marquis Hotel manager and HPD sergeant had us stop chanting – but we could still hold our “Stop TxDOT” signs and remain dry under the hotel awnings near the valet drive-through. We stayed until the luncheon started and the rain got ridiculous. …

The Build 50 Challenge – 18 Months Later

bikehouston.org

“BikeHouston makes Houston’s future better by advocating for high comfort bikeways and safer streets.”

– BikeHouston Board Summer 2019

The Build 50-Challenge opened 42 miles of new high comfort bikeways. It took six months to organize and 12 to build. The Challenge is not over. BikeHouston is still pushing the City to construct the Austin Street two-way bikeway and the neighborhood bikeways connecting Buffalo Bayou to Hermann Park. Austin Street will connect the Northside separated bikeways built along Kelly, Elysian, Hardy, and McKee to the Lamar cycle-track, and Midtown and Third Ward bikeways.

Although the Build 50 Challenge is almost over, BikeHouston’s advocacy work isn’t. …

EAST AUSTIN Smart Trips Austin hosts

www.yourglenrosetx.com

Eastside farm bike tour

Smart Trips Austin will host a free bike tour to Boggy Creek and Urban Roots farms beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at Createscape Coworking, Suite 12, 701 Tillery St.

The event will begin with a tour of Createscape Coworking, then feature rides to Boggy Creek and Urban Roots Farms for tours and conclude with a ride back to Createscape Coworking. Attendees are encouraged to wear closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle, helmet and sunscreen.

Those who do not have bikes can borrow one from Ghisallo Cycling Initiative. …

Free downtown bike tours Fridays in October

by Karl Richter | www.texarkanagazette.com

TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texarkana Arts and Historic District will host free bike tours of downtown every Friday in October to showcase the District and encourage residents to engage in active modes of transportation.

The guided bike tours will begin and end at the Museum of Regional History and take place from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, according to a news release. Those interested in attending can rent a bike from Texarkana’s UPcycle Bike Rental Program for …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar