Texas Bicycling News Digest November 3rd 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

San Antonio officer gives personal bike to young man who reported his was stolen

news4sanantonio.com

SAN ANTONIO — Another San Antonio police officer is being recognized for going out of their way for someone in the community.

On Thursday afternoon, Chief William McManus presented Sgt. Samuel Esparza with a special commendation. On Wednesday night, a young man walked in, soaking wet, to the Prue substation to report that his bike had been stolen. …

Super windy 60 miler (with a back pack) to Round Rock (and back) to play some tennis

Raul E. | www.strava.com

Tenneco Lakes 10 x 10 and almost as many flats

Mick McCrary | www.strava.com

Tour De Gruene with Frands

JON BLAZE | www.strava.com

Gran Fondo Challenge

Rosanna Campos | www.strava.com

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/HmmNow/status/1058699676688572416

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Watts vs Wind, Legs vs Wind Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

When I looked at the current weather conditions on my phone before leaving on today’s bike ride (11:16 am) I knew it was going to be a battle on the return from New Caney. The wind was from the south at 13 mph with 20 mph gusts. The temperature was warm enough that I left the leg warmers, thermal long sleeve jersey, and full finger gloves at home but I did wear shorts, long sleeve jersey and wind breaker jacket. The route I chose, “Kingwood – FM1485 – Kingwood,” went to the north and then back south. I rode 27.07 miles putting November at 58.4 miles or 16% of my 360 mile goal.

Getting to New Caney went quickly thanks to that nice tailwind. Making the u-turn under I-69/US59 at FM 1485 it didn’t take long for the wind to make a statement; the return home wasn’t going to like the ride to New Caney. Biking south on the service road I put my head down and kept the gearing in the same combination that got me to New Caney. I made it to Valley Ranch Parkway where I turned right maintaining my overall average speed at 14.0 mph. On Valley Ranch Parkway the wind came from my left until I went under the Grand Parkway where it became a full strength headwind. The incline wasn’t very steep but I bogged down riding to Valley Ranch Bend Drive but I still kept the average speed at 14 mph. Looking down at the Elemnt I saw watts in the 200 to 300 range despite a speed at only 14 mph or less when a gust hit me.

Turning left onto Azalea Blvd. got me out of the headwind and provided some relief on the way back to the south frontage road at I-69/US59. But once I started south on the frontage road the engine room power didn’t match the strong wind and my speed dropped 11 or 12 mph pulling my average speed down to 13.9 mph while the watts remained in the 200 to 300+ range. This lasted all the way to the u-turn at Kingwood Drive which put me riding north with a tailwind again but I turned right after a short distance to make my way to Kings Manor and then Kingwood.

I may update this post with a screen shot from the Isaac software that analyzes power to show the wind and power output. Update: This is the screenshot from the Isaac software program for the PowerPod. In the second chart with all of the blue the wind resistance above the white line represents the headwind I battled on the way back from New Caney. Blue below the white line is a tailwind.

PowerPod Data and Charts

Sometimes biking on residential streets with trees, houses and varying directions the wind lets up but not today. It fought me all the way to the finish at 1:18 pm. Legs tired I felt relief at the finish. My wardrobe at times was too much but when the gusts came at me and I was in the shade I stayed comfortable.

Sunday weather forecast shows rain so I probably will not ride again until Monday when the rain is gone and the temperature is back in the low 80’s. Thank goodness.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest November 2nd 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bicyclist dead after veering into car in southeast Houston

By Jay R. Jordan | www.chron.com


A bicyclist died Thursday after veering into the path of a car in southeast Houston.

The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. in the 6500 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, just south of the South Loop.

The bicyclist, a man, was riding southbound in the middle lane of Martin Luther King Boulevard when the driver of a Ford Mustang revved its engine, spooking the bicyclist, according to Houston Police Department Lt. Thurston Roberson. …

Tour de ATX: Parent/Daughter Bike Tour 11/11/18

Girl Scounts of Central Texas | www.gsctx.org

Date: Sun Nov 11, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Mellow Johnny’s 400 Nueces St Austin, TX , 78701 Map
Category: Girl Programs, Outdoor Level: Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador
Region: Austin
Enjoy a wonderful, scenic city tour from the seat of a bicycle with Texas Bike Tours. You will have so much fun exploring the urban and natural landscapes that make Austin so unique! The ride will start and finish at Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop downtown.

Video: New mountain bike race peddling to WF

By Jesse Canales | www.newschannel6now.com

WICHITA FALLS, TX (RNN Texoma) – Cyclists have a new reason to peddle down to Wichita Falls next year as a new mountain bike race is being introduced. The announcement for it was made on Thursday.

It is called the Wichita Falls Six Hour Downshift Mountain Bike Race and the course will be the Wee-Chi-Tah Trail.

It is a dream Jimmy Young, a member of the Bike Friendly Action Team, had that will now come true.

“I’ve been wanting to …

Mobike ceases operations in The Woodlands

By: The Woodlands Township | www.woodlandsonline.com


THE WOODLANDS, Texas — After 10 months of service, Mobike has ceased operations in The Woodlands in addition to many other communities throughout the United States. The bike-sharing program was made available with no direct cost to the Township.

The Township is soliciting similar replacement services and …

Bike-sharing company MoBike ceases operations in The Woodlands

By Jeff Forward | www.yourconroenews.com


The dockless bicycle-sharing company MoBike has suddenly ended its run in The Woodlands after only 10 months of operations, township Communications Director Nick Wolda confirmed Friday.

As of Friday, none of MoBike’s signature orange bicycles were still in circulation in the Town Center or Hughes Landing areas. A Woodlands Villager reporter drove to four areas where the popular ride-sharing bicycles were routinely located and found no bikes. The bikes had been in use as recently as the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 2, as other Villager staff members had seen users riding the bicycles in The Village of Grogan’s Mill. …

SRC Weekend Rides – Downtown to MJs & up River Hills and Red Horn

Brad Weaver | steinerranchcycling.com

Cool and crisp mornings will make for great cycling!

Saturday there will be two group ride levels leaving at different times (from Cups & Cones) – Faster Pace and Endurance Pace. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Not This Cool Since April Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

First bike ride in November was cooler than I prefer. When I got up this morning my home weather station showed 44 degrees, way below my tolerance level. So I waited for the sun to come up and warm up the day. At 11:56 am I rolled out on the bike ride. Weather during the bike ride: start 65 (57% humidity), fair, wind 4 mph. Finish 69 (44% humidity), a few clouds, wind W 8 mph. The clear blue sky beckoned and I followed on the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route for a distance of 31.31 miles. I dressed to offset the coolness with shorts, leg warmers, thermal long sleeve jersey, wind breaker jacket, and full finger gloves. This kept me warm but the wind still had a bite to it.

With the cooler weather this month and daylight savings time ending Sunday biking will be more of a challenge. Thankfully my mileage goal for November is lower at 360 miles.

No rest stop during the ride and no other cyclists crossed my route. I finished the ride at 2:20 pm.

Saturday’s weather will be slightly warmer. I plan on riding.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary