Texas Bicycling News Digest October 13th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Athens man dies after being hit by truck

By Rich Flowers | www.athensreview.com

A 59-year-old man was killed on Thursday night when he was hit by pickup on East Tyler Street, Athens Police Chief Buddy Hill said.

He was identified as David Huckabee of Athens.

The driver of the truck, 28-year-old Jared Bourke Snyder of Van Zandt County, was charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle. He remained in jail on Friday on a $150,000 bond.

“Mr. Snyder is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol,” Hill said. “A search warrant was obtained and a blood sample was drawn.”

Hill said the wreck happened around …

Grin and Bear it

George Minor | www.strava.com

Heroes Ride – strong headwinds for many miles made easier with great company and wonderful ride support.

Rick Rostkowski | www.strava.com

The outlaw trail ride

Jeff Moser | www.strava.com

Texas Heroes Ride

Veloharmony | www.strava.com

Shama showing up to Zube

Philip Shama | www.strava.com

Ahhh beautiful day

Fabiolita García de Moreno | www.strava.com

First Ride on newly opened Spring Creek Greenway Extension to I-45

Hugh Miller | www.strava.com

Morning Ride – First ride with the extension to I 45 open

Don Hollingshead | www.strava.com

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

The Heroes Ride – Conroe, TX

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Another getting up early Saturday to drive to Conroe for the The Heroes Ride. I left home around 6:50 am and arrived at the start area around 7:25 am. The overcast sky let the sun through a few times during the drive and while we got ready to start. Thinking it would be around 68 at the start I wore a long sleeve jersey and added a short sleeve one over top after pinning my 771 ride bib on the back of the jersey.

The weather during the bike ride: start 71 (100% humidity), overcast, wind SE 4 mph. Finish 82 (79% humidity), overcast, wind S 10 mph. By the end of the ride all of my kit was soaked with perspiration as the temperature moved up and all of the effort going up and down the hills.

I estimate 300 to 400 bicyclists gathered in the staging area and at the start time groups left with some space between them. I pushed the start button on the Elemnt computer at 8:04 am and a few seconds later my group rolled out the gate. Unlike the last time I rode the ride we didn’t circle behind the buildings to Airport Road but went straight to the road. At the finish we did the same thing which is why the distance was slightly shorter than last year at 51.93 miles.

Thanks to the miles ridden today my week totals 219.94 miles and October moves to 443.98 miles, 63% of my goal for October.

I followed the route with a number of other cyclists moving passed me while I passed some too. I rode at good pace trying not to over do it at the beginning because I knew there hills coming up. The road surface up to the Willis Waukegan/ FM 2432 intersection was smooth concrete but after that it changed to asphalt that generally was smooth. At County Line Road we turned left and the road got smoother. All was going well so I thought until the stop sign at Willis County Line Road when I tired to unclip my right shoe. It would not budge and as I slowed I realized that if I stopped I would fall over. Dodging a few other cyclists I turned right and coasted along trying to get my shoe unclipped. Finally I loosened the straps and got my foot out. Stopping I got of the bike. The left shoe was stuck too but not as bad and I got it loose. Moving to the right shoe I tugged on it and finally it came loose. Looking at the bottom of the shoe there was dried dirt, mostly sand, clogging the cleat area on the shoe. Pounding the shoe on the pavement and wiping away some of the dirt I got back on the bike and reversed directions to get back on the 51 mile route.

That happened at the 9.2 mile point. Riding to the next rest stop at 14.9 miles I worked on getting the right shoe loose before arriving and it came loose when I stopped at the rest area. I walked over to the tables where water and sport drink were and got a cup of each. Waling back to the Canyon bike I poured the water on right shoe cleat and pedal. I tried clipping into the cleat and it was better but not great. I moved the bike closer to the tables and got a paper towel, wiped the cleat and pedal hoping this would improve the situation. A couple of test clip ins and it was much better. From then on I unclipped without issue. I think I got the dirt standing in the loose gravel at the start line before I walked onto the asphalt.

After that episode the ride mainly consisted of riding up and down hills. SH 150 road surface was okay when we were in Walker County but when it crossed into San Jacinto County the shoulder disappeared and the surface got rough. Thankfully this section was short and the turn onto FM 1725 and the rest stop came to the rescue. After eating Graham Crackers with peanut butter and jelly, drinking water and sport drink and visiting the porta potty I got back on the bike and continued SE on FM 1725.

At Fm 3018 the 51 mile route turned right and the road surfaced improved. The hills did not improve with plenty of rolling ups and downs. Around 32.6 miles the next rest stop came and I visited it for blue sport drink. I knew the FM road ended soon and at around 36.2 miles I rode onto the Browder Traylor Road. The surface was smooth but the hills increased in height. Around 39 miles the last rest stop appeared at E. Williams Road. Stopping I ate a chocolate brownie, filled my water bottle and talked to one of the volunteers. Leaving the rest stop a short distance later put me on FM 1494 with the roughest road of the ride. This seemed to go on for ever and the right turn onto FM 2432 brought great relief to my arms, teeth and seat with the smooth asphalt road. The closer the ride got to rejoining FM 1484 the road gained a nice smooth shoulder and mostly flattened out.

Turning left onto FM 1484 I remembered it was about 4 miles to the finish. Now the wind became a factor switching to a headwind but the hills lessened and were not as steep. The left turn onto Technology Parkway signaled about 2 miles to the finish. The concrete road was mostly flat and at Airport Road I turned right and could see the finish not too far away. Rolling through the gate I saw the inflated finish line archway and rode under it stopping the ride at 12:10 pm. I circled back and rode to the Jeep where I put the Canyon bike inside, changed part of my clothes before walking to the building where lunch was served to change bike shorts into dry shorts. After getting a class of ice water I walked back to the Jeep to leave.

These are the photos I took at the start and along the ride at rest stops.

I will take Sunday off and Monday the weather may change as a “cold” front moves through.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest October 12th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bike giveaway drives student success in Klein, Spring, Cy-Fair

By Melanie Feuk | www.chron.com


Two years ago, Chris Cullins was awarding bicycles to students at Reynolds Elementary School in Spring ISD and was surprised when one of the recipients asked for the microphone.

“I looked at the principal, who said, ‘Yeah, give it to him,’” Cullins said. “The young boy grabbed the mic and said, ‘I’d like to award this bicycle to my best friend — come on up.’” …

This Fort Worth-Dallas bike trail now has the money. Where exactly will it be built?

BY GORDON DICKSON | www.star-telegram.com


It’s official.

A planned Fort Worth to Dallas hike and bike trail got the funding it needs. The Regional Transportation Council this week approved the $40 million, 53-mile trail at its Thursday meeting, all but assuring the project will be open to the public by fall 2023.

Some readers have asked where …

Wounded Warriors Complete Coast-to-Coast Ride

BY Wounded Warrior Project | www.prnewswire.com

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — In 30 days, wounded warriors collectively cycled almost 3,300 miles for Soldier Ride Across America, a cross-country adaptive cycling ride to raise awareness for veteran issues. The journey commemorated the 15-year anniversary of Long Island native and veteran supporter Chris Carney’s historic coast-to-coast cycling venture in support of wounded warriors, which spurred the creation of the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Soldier Ride® program. …

… The East Coast team began at One World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 8 and handed the ride over to the Central team in Louisville, Kentucky, on Sept. 17. In Lubbock, Texas, the Central team surrendered control to the West Coast team, which arrived in San Diego, California, for the finish at Hospitality Point Park on Sunday, Oct. 7. …

Working our way through ACL traffic. Pre Birthday Truancy Ride

Raul E. | www.strava.com

VCC Group Ride: Friday fun with Clo/Tim/Jorge/Hugo

Leo Vela (VCC) | www.strava.com

Hot Mess fun Friday ride

Nicole Volek | www.strava.com

New team working to make WF bike-friendly

By Danielle Malagarie | www.newschannel6now.com


WICHITA FALLS, TX (RNN Texoma) – Temps have been perfect for bicycle enthusiasts to get outdoors, but Thursday afternoon around two dozen were indoors working to make Wichita Falls bike-friendly.

The Bike Friendly Action Team was formed after learning that making the Falls more bicycle-friendly would better the entire city. …

SRC Weekend Rides – Double Dam Loop & Red Horn

Brad Weaver | steinerranchcycling.com

Here we go again, rain is in the hourly weekend forecast. Will post a go/no-go by 6:45am.
Saturday there will be two group ride levels leaving at different times (from Cups & Cones) – Faster Pace and Endurance Pace.

• Faster Pace 7:30 am ride will go out anti-clockwise for the two dam loop (Mansfield and Miller) for 53 miles at 18-20 mph avg. Get the route here: …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Gorgeous Weather by the Lake Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today’s bike ride prepped me for the Hero’s Bike Ride tomorrow in Conroe. I rode the “Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood” route for 31.72 miles. Leaving home at 11:41 am put a little later than I prefer but I waited on the temperature to go up a few degrees. When I made it to the kitchen this morning after getting up it was 58 degrees, 2 degrees below my biking threshold but I knew it would warm up as the sun moved onto the garage door. I didn’t want to bike too far today so that my legs would be ready for some hills tomorrow.

Weather during the bike ride: start 78 (60% humidity), a few clouds, wind E 7 mph. Finish 82 (62% humidity), a few clouds, wind SE 10 mph. The blue sky sparkled with brightness and my sunglasses tried to lower that but it was too gorgeous to block. I was tempted to wear a long sleeve jersey but at 78 degrees and full sun I figured it wasn’t needed. I was right; a short sleeve jersey was perfect with sunscreen.

I modified the route some by taking FM 1314 east in Porter to Loop 494 north rather than biking to Community Drive and then riding to Loop 494. In Valley Ranch I went back to the I-69/US59 service road for a short stretch to the entrance to Auburn Trails/Oakhurst where I rode west and through Oakhurst to Northpark Drive. I did this to add a couple of miles to the ride.

Back in Valley Ranch I stopped at the lake and took these photos.

The wind presented a challenge when cycling to the south but I managed to keep my average speed at 14.0 mph until I got into Kingwood.

With the pleasant weather I didn’t stop to refill my water bottle and even had a little left when I finished at 2:08 pm.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary