Juggling Route Plans, Junk Man Returns, Ice and Water Crucial, Bike Ride

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I had to juggle today’s bike ride with some home actions but I did manage to start biking at 11:31 AM. Choosing the “Kingwood to Ramsey Road – Huffman” route this wasn’t the one I planned but worked out just fine as I biked 38.49 miles, 148.29 miles so far this week and 460.44 miles for the month. I am 58% of the way to my goal for August. With this adjustment in routes I hope to ride the original one on Friday. I will need to be creative to hit 200+ miles this week to keep my string going.

Weather was still hot but the air hinted at a coolness as I moved through it. Summer is almost 2/3 done. The electric grid is maxed out from the heat and my electric bill is going to be a doozy this month. What is was like while biked: start 92 (59% humidity, 76.0 dew point), a few clouds, wind calm. Finish 96 (52% humidity, 75.8 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind calm.

Water and ice were essential today as I used 3 bottles worth. The stops were at Chevron stations, first one was on the west side of Lake Houston and the second was in Huffman. At Huffman the break extended to 10+ minutes as I drank plenty of cold water and enjoyed the shade. While I was getting ice and water at the west side Chevron the junk man that I talked with on a previous ride came in. We talked a little bit about bikes but more about the new carbon fiber Corvette. I noticed when i went outside his truck wasn’t as full as the last encounter.

Clips from today’s bike ride.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

8-15-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Texas Bicycling News Digest August 14th 2019

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Beaumont to apply for TxDOT program to improve sidewalks near several schools

Author: Parris Kane | www.12newsnow.com

[iframe https://media.12newsnow.com/embeds/video/502-8a8b8518-7c18-4a95-9d84-3c9d563c36db/iframe 640px 360px]

The program administers funds for locally sponsored infrastructure projects to help make it easier for students to walk and bike to school.

BEAUMONT, Texas — As students prepared to head back to school Tuesday, Beaumont City Council unanimously approved the resolution to apply for grants from TxDOT’s "Safe Routes to School Infrastructure program."

The program administers funds for locally sponsored infrastructure projects to help make it easier for students to walk and bike to school. The resolution included projects within a two mile radius of …

Midlothian junior high student races to the front of BMX pack

By Patty Hullett | www.waxahachietx.com

Midlothian seventh grader Marek Backer is a gifted athlete and champion racer in one of the lesser-known sports around. A relative newcomer, he spends most of his time and effort on climbing the ranks in the world of BMX racing. This type of bicycle racing is full of action and requires great skill to be a successful cyclist. To better explain, the contest is held on a dirt race course made of various jumps and rollers and a finish line. The participants — typically up to eight athletes — compete in a single-lap race at Backer’s age level. The multi-talented twelve-year-old was, however, formerly a …

Rockwall Crossing To Host Back To School Bash

www.prnewswire.com

ROCKWALL, Texas, Aug. 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Rockwall Crossing is excited to help shoppers go back to school in style at the Back to School Bash on Saturday, Aug. 17. From 2pm to 4pm, shoppers can visit the KDGE – Star 102.1 radio remote tent and enter to win hundreds of dollars in gift cards and prizes. Shoppers can also enjoy free rock climbing and fun demonstrations by Rockwall Cycling and Hobby Town.

During the Back to School Bash, shoppers can …

Greeting an Austin City Councilmember and Smart Trips Austin Bike Ride

A DUDE ABIKES | adudeabikes.com

Saturday brought me several opportunities as a bicyclist and advocate. First up was the appearance at the neighborhood association by one of the 10 City Council members of Austin, Texas. His name is Gregorio Casar, the son of Mexican immigrants, but he goes by Greg. He really knows his stuff, is genuine, friendly, and not pretentious at all. I believe he is the youngest Council member ever. Second was a Smart Trips Austin ride. It’s a City program to …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

How Much Is This Drink? Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Ever so small the temperature of the wind as I rode on today’s bike ride felt cooler than the convection oven level from the last two days. I rode the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route with some added streets to lengthen it to 39.11 miles. The week stands at 109.8 miles and August is up to 421.96 miles, 53% of the goal for the month.

The ride started at 11:21 AM and finished at 2:53 PM.

Weather during the ride around Montgomery County: start 94 (63% humidity, 79.3 dew point), partly cloudy, wind W 8 mph. Finish 99 (51% humidity, 77.7 dew point), partly cloudy, wind NW 4 mph. There is a slight chance of rain this evening but I don’t think it will make it to my house.

I made a mistake not refilling my water bottle in New Caney before riding NW on FM 1485. The next place to refill was on FM 1314 at the Exxon station opposite Gene Campbell Road. I made it there but my bottle was almost empty. I refilled it with ice and water before biking SE on FM 1314. My plan was to stop at the Circle K at Sorters Road for a large PowerAde but when I got there that was out order. Topping off the bottle with ice I thought I would stay on FM 1314 to I-69/US59 to the Circle K there but I noticed a sign on the Stripes store at Valley Ranch Parkway for $.79 fountain drinks. I stopped there, went inside, got the 44 oz cup, filled it with Fruit Punch Gatorade. Walking to the cash register the clerk informed me the costs was $1.41. When I pointed out the $.79 price he said that was for medium size cups but the sign out on the front of the store didn’t mention a size. I told him I didn’t have $1.41 but I could pay $.86 which is the price plus sales tax. After looking at the register for a time he accepted the $.86 and I went outside to sit in the shade by the pumps. Looking at the sign again I still could find where it limited the price to a medium size but couldn’t see it. I thought about going back inside and inviting the clerk to look at the sign but decided not to. Sitting in the shade the cold drink tasted good and the breeze dried me off some.

Finishing the Gatorade I got back on the Canyon, waited for the traffic light to change before riding south on Old Sorters Road. The wind was mostly a tailwind or from my right side and I kept a steady pace. My average speed hovered around 13.6 mph and held there until I was back in Kingwood. Strava reported that the ride was consistent with my usual efforts.

Some highlights from today’s bike ride.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

8-14-2019 SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Strava Year Progressions YTD Bike Ride Miles

Texas Bicycling News Digest August 13th 2019

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Houston police respond to third fatal crash involving bicyclist in two days

By Julian Gill and Jay R. Jordan | www.chron.com

One person is dead in what appears to be the third fatal crash involving a bicyclist in Houston in two days.

The victim’s body was lying in the 4800 block of Belvedere near the damaged bicycle. The crash was initially reported at 3:30 p.m., police said.

No other information was available Tuesday afternoon. Drivers are asked to avoid the area. It’s unclear whether the incident was a hit-and-run.

Houston police previously responded to a …

Meet the Houston man who gives out free bicycles

Craig Hlavaty | www.houstonchronicle.com

Lifelong Houstonian and bicycle enthusiast Ferrell Surette has spent his entire 52 years in this city around bicycles. Five years ago, he found a way to make sure that kids in Houston could have that same chance.

Bicycles mean many things to many people. For a person in need of transportation a bicycle means freedom, maybe even employment opportunities. For some it’s a means to unlock parts of the city to that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to explore with a car. For others it’s a means of …

Mountain Bike Stolen – Red & Silver, Reward $50.00

stolen911.com

Date of Theft August 12 Location of Theft Waco County Baylor Make Element 26 full suspension Model Element mountain bike Color Red Police Report Filed? Yes Name of Police Agency Waco Police Department Case Number 19-13830

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