Texas Bicycling News Digest September 19th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The Most Batsh*t Audacious Plan to Save a Velodrome

BY JACOB MESCHKE | www.bicycling.com


THE FRISCO SUPERDROME, A 19-YEAR VETERAN OF AMERICAN TRACK CYCLING, LOOKS AS IF IT WILL BE SHUTTERED FOREVER. A FEW DEDICATED DALLAS-AREA CYCLISTS WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

Seven hundred and thirty sheets of plywood, 236 steel struts, and around 14,000 screws.

That’s the materials list for the deconstructed Superdrome, a 250-meter outdoor bike racing track north of Dallas that a crew of local cyclists and community members took apart in the hot Texas sun this summer.

“It’s been phenomenal, the help that’s come out. Everyone’s been in great spirits, which is a lot of fun,” says Ryan Crissey, who ran the track for …

My setup for an USA southern tour from bicycletouring

Hope on Wheels raises funds, awareness

Karen Gleason | delrionewsherald.com

Raising funds for pediatric cancer research and awareness of the battles faced by pediatric cancer patients was the focus of the “Hope on Wheels” event held Saturday at Hyundai of Del Rio.

“We are here celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hyundai’s ‘Hope on Wheels,’ and since this is the 20th anniversary, we decided to turn it into a fun family day for children and their parents this year,” said Mary Pierce, local cancer survivor and advocate and ambassadress for cancer awareness.

Lift-Serve Mountain Bike Park Coming To Texas!

By: Morgan Fisher | unofficialnetworks.com

The Lone Star state may not be known for its mountains or alpine vistas, but the cycling community should be stoked for its first lift-accessed, mountain bike park. …

Local group honors cycling enthusiasts

David Claybourn | www.heraldbanner.com


Longtime bicycle shop owners and cycling enthusiasts Jim and Rhonda Hoyt became the first honorees of the Texas Legends of Cycling.

The Hoyts, who’ve owned and operated Richardson Bike Mart since 1980, were recognized and presented special awards during a banquet on Saturday at the Texan Theater in Greenville and followed a day of tour riding through Greenville and Hunt County during the Cotton Patch Challenge. …

New trails in Tyler promoting healthy living

By: Olivia Sandusky | www.easttexasmatters.com

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – You should know that we have good news for you outdoorsy residents in Tyler! The city has been working hard to expand the walking and biking trails.

These trails are going to be so useful for those of you who like to wake up and get a little work out in! Some trails are still under construction but others have been completed and are ready to be used.

If you’ve noticed, construction alongside Old Jacksonville Highway near Dueling Oaks Drive and …

Anyone have experience dealing with the city? Houston area issues.

by tsl3 | forums.mtbr.com/texas

Does anyone have experience with working with the city and/or parks&rec to get them to be more MTB friendly? I live in a suburb of Houston (Sugar Land) and we have about 35 miles of rogue trails. The city is threatening to start cracking down on trail builders, but they’re also afraid to destroy the MTB trails because they’ve become immensely popular.

The city of Houston and surrounding areas are very unfriendly to local MTB, as they have just opted to flood one of the oldest trails in the area (The Anthills) for a …

FMPD invites community to ‘Bike with the Blue’

by Mark Smith | www.crosstimbersgazette.com


The Flower Mound Police Department is inviting the community to its first annual “Bike with the Blue” event next month.

Participants will be able to meet and take a ride with the FMPD bike units on Oct. 6 from 2-4 p.m., according to a town news release. There will be a beginner course and an advanced obstacle course, and …

A Texas Teen Refused to Give Up on a Mission for Bike Safety After City Leaders Walked Out on Her

Sarah Mearhoff | www.teenvogue.com

Lauren Pitts went to the city council twice after her friend died in a bike accident.

A south Texas teen is calling on her local city council for justice after her best friend’s death, and she won’t back down.

David Gobellan, a 19-year-old from Mercedes, located at the Texas-Mexico border, was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bike in the city earlier this month, as reported by local news station KGBT. His funeral was held Saturday, September 15, on what would have been his …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

A Bobcat, Blue Sky With Few Clouds Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bike ride to the north today following the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route. Bicycled 36.38 miles in beautiful weather. Blue sky ruled today and it was great seeing these words in the weather conditions: start 89 (65% humidity), a few clouds, wind S 4 mph. Finish 93 (55% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 9 mph. A few clouds is a switch from what we had last week and what might arrive on Friday through Sunday. It still feels like summer which is fine for me.

The ride began at 10:35 am delayed several minutes while I worked on getting my Pixel 2XL phone and Elemnt computer to connect. After trying several times I powered off the phone and when it restarted the two decided to connect. I watched the road race Giro della Toscana from Italy which probably contributed to the start delay. On the road the ride to New Caney went smoothly with the light wind not providing much resistance. After circling under I-69/US59 at Caney Creek and wondering whose sofa was under the bridge, the direction changed to the south before I made the right turn onto FM 1485. Paying attention to the mileage I wanted to be sure to have enough for the ride to be longer than 35 miles so I didn’t need to add any side streets today.

On Gene Campbell Road the new asphalt still looked fresh with bright lines but not extended any farther than my last ride. I stopped at the entrance to huge Walmart distribution center and took these photos.

Look at all of the blue sky overhead. The building is about 1/2 a mile from the road with a steady stream of 18-wheelers moving in and out at the next entrance to the left of where these photos were taken. The wind was still friendly as I made my way to FM 1314 and the ride towards Porter. I planned on a short stop at the Circle K/Valero (someday I guess they will change the signs from Valero to Circle K) for water and ice and a few minutes of rest. The Wahoo ride summary at the station.

After resting about 15 minutes I got back on the Canyon bike and continued southeast to Old Sorters Road. About 1/2 a mile after the station I rode by a large cat laying on the road but it wasn’t an ordinary cat so I circled back and took this photo of what could be a bobcat.

It met an untimely death crossing the highway. This spot is heavily traveled with numerous buildings but some open land as well for the bobcat to live. I have seen a bobcat before.

Resuming the ride I went through Briar Tree and Oakhurst. The great weather and blue sky caused me to stop in Kingwood Place and take this photo to show the blue sky.

Bike Ride Kingwood Place

From there it was about 6 miles to the end of the ride which I finished at 1:41 pm.

The good weather should hang around for Thursday biking.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest September 18th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Great miles today with Jesse and Juan!

Leo Vela | www.strava.com

Gravel ride thru RenFest

Ron Gunnels | www.strava.com

Mpppl fun

Philip Shama | www.strava.com

New choose-your-own-adventure bike tour pedals past Austin’s best murals and more

By Melissa Gaskill | austin.culturemap.com


Some of the great things about Austin include our amazing street art, bike-friendliness, and good food. Texas Bike Tours recently combined those into customizable, guided bike tours that Austinites will want to add to their must-do list.

Every TBT tour begins with riders filling out a detailed form about riding abilities and desires. And almost anything goes. In the past, the team has …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

https://twitter.com/bikeut/status/1042156307157901312

https://twitter.com/bicyclesplus/status/1042164054868066305

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

A Gray Scale Jersey Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Fall weather is close but it wasn’t present on today’s bike ride. I rolled out at 10:32 am and it was hot already. Weather during the bike ride: start 88 (68% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind W 7 mph. Finish 94 (60% humidity), partly cloudy, wind calm. I noticed how hot it was when I stopped at the Huffman Chevron 23 miles into the bike ride on the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman Extended” route. After going inside to refill my water bottle I came outside and sat in the shade under the pump canopy. Normally there is a breeze blowing there but today the wind was not moving and the sweat continued to flow from my skin. A calm wind is nice when riding but sitting still it does not cool me off. Before I resumed the bike ride a gentle breeze came through and the ice water helped as I ate a Clif Bar.

Earlier in the ride I passed 4 other cyclists. The first was not far from the start on Woodbridge Drive. I have seen him on previous rides and today he was in a bright red jersey. Number two was on Tree Lane at Bear Branch Elementary school with the cyclist stopped talking to a lady on the sidewalk. We exchanged hello and waves. The third rider I saw three different times; in Bear Branch, along Kingwood Drive and Kingwood Greens. He crossed my rides previously. The final encounter was east of FM 2100 on Old Atascocita Road. Again we exchanged waves as we passed.

The reason I chose the route today was to bike at least 35 miles which I accomplished by riding 36.56 miles. I need to get extra miles to get ahead in the goal for September. If I miss a day I get behind and a cushion helps. I am now at 437.97 miles for the month, 63% of the way to the 700 miles I set for the goal. Breaking down the month’s goal comes to 23.33 miles per day if I bike every day or 3.3% each day. 18 days into the month equates to 60% without missing any days so I am 3% ahead.

Today was another new jersey day. I wore the Primal Wear Gray Scale jersey.

One more new jersey to wear.

Leaving the Chevron station I north and getting back with the wind moving felt good. I noticed the Huddle House restaurant is now open. I may try it out soon. I remember eating at a Huddle House many, many years ago. Taking Smith Road west took me back to FM 1960 and looking at the Elemnt computer I saw that the miles indicated the ride should exceed 35 as I planned. Back on FM 1960 the ride west with a calm wind went nicely. Biking through Atascocita through the old country club I didn’t see any golfers on the course like normal. Back in Kingwood and I finished the bike ride at 1:35 pm. The sun was hot and the shade felt good.

Good biking weather for Wednesday.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary