Texas Bicycling News Digest August 18th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

37th Annual Hotter’N Hell Hundred

www.wheelbrothers.com


“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride,” said John F. Kennedy once upon a time. And that was without ever imagining or even conceiving the wild and unforgettable experience that is the Hotter’N Hell Hundred.

The name says it all: this is a ride you don’t mess with. You take it as it is and try to finish it beating all your records, the sum of your imagination and every one of your expectations. One of the oldest, largest and most memorable cycling events in the nation, Hotter’N Hell Hundred is where you try to make peace with the Texas heat and humidity and ride like …

USA CRITS team profile: The Wolfpack

by Michael Better | cyclingtips.com

Kelly Barrientes has a tattoo of a wolf on her left shoulder. The tattoo came well before the team, but now they are one and the same. Everyone on the Wolfpack team looks out for one another, and rides for the benefit of the group.

Heading into the U.S. pro criterium championships in June in Chattanooga, Tennessee, LeighAnne Ganzar’s name was hardly mentioned. The favorites included the likes of …

Downtown design calls for bike trail

Mary Madewell | theparisnews.com

A square with slower traffic on two-way streets and four-way stop signs, and a bicycle path leading from the Trail de Paris to downtown are all part of a design plan presented to city leaders and residents Thursday evening.

Ian Lockway of Toole Design Co. presented a detailed design of the downtown, Market Square, the library area and Bywaters Park to an audience of more than 100 residents. The design calls for streets with no curbs, lots of trees and an expanded park around Culbertson Fountain with wide, graduated steps from the sidewalks around the fountain leading to the grassy area. …

California to Florida – across the USA

By Julian McCarthy | www.crazyguyonabike.com


Day 15: Hillsboro NM to El Paso TX: a day on the road
Day 16: Day off in El Paso: lazing around and wondering where the day went
Day 17: another rest day: I could get used to this!
Day 18: El Paso TX to Fort Hancock TX: flat and easy. There by 1pm and a warm welcome at the church
Day 19: Fort Hancox TX to Van Horn TX: tailwind, good mileage and going well
Day 20: Van Horn TX to Marfa TX: slightly more uphill than I had hoped, pretty views and good wind
Day 21: Marfa TX to Marathon TX: Felt like an easy day for once
Day 22: Marathon TX to Sanderson TX: not long and not steep but no tailwind!
Day 23: Sanderson TX to Langtry TX: one of my hardest ever cycling days
Day 24: Langtry TX to Del Rio TX: another very tough day in every way
Day 25: rest day in Del Rio TX: relaxing day off
Day 26: Del Rio TX to Camp Wood TX: relaxing day (for me!)
Day 27: Camp Wood TX to Lost Maples State Park TX
Day 28: Lost Maples State Park TX to Austin TX: more driving
Day 29: Austin TX: Another rest day
Day 30: Austin TX: guess what, another rest day!
Day 31: Austin TX: open water swim day
Day 32: Austin TX: final rest day turns into a triathlon *
Day 33: Austin TX to Buescher State Park TX: leg holds out – just
Day 34: Buescher State Park TX to Rocky Creek Park TX: best campsite of the trip so far
Day 35: Rocky Creek Park TX to Richards TX: can things get any better? We get to meet Bubba and be pampered
Day 36: Richards TX to Shepherd TX: Another amazing place to stay
Day 37: Shepherd TX to Silsbee TX: long day with unfavourable winds!
Day 38: Silsbee TX to Merryville LA: after 22 days in Texas we finally hit Louisiana! …

Mountain (Butterfield) Pass, got too hot on the return, limped home.

Bill Minter | www.strava.com

imagine women’s cx clinic!

Monica Merced | www.strava.com

Adventures at Keith’s place!

Brian ODonnell | www.strava.com

Kiet’s ride

Meggin Crawford | www.strava.com

Goya Ride

Sal Mendoza | www.strava.com

Bid on Pleasant Run Rd Phase 3 Bike/Pedestrian Trail in Lancaster-Hutchins Rd to Millers Ferry Rd., along Pleasant Run Rd

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 09/13/18 2:00 PM Prebid: 08/28/18 1:00 PM
Solicitation Title: Pleasant Run Rd Phase 3 Bike/Pedestrian Trail
Owner Solic Number: 2018-046-6739 , 31404 Status: bidding Report: 8849371
Country : United States State: TX County: Dallas
Location: Lancaster-Hutchins Rd to Millers Ferry Rd., along Pleasant Run Rd
Set Aside Types: MBE/DBE (Minority / Disadvantaged)
Scope: Work includes approx 130 LF removing concrete (curb and gutter); 31,678 SY cellulose fiber mulch seeding; 3 EA adjusting manholes and inlets; 12 MO barricades sign and traffic. See attached file.
Notes: Pre-Proposal Conference: August 28, 2018 at 1:00 PM Dallas County Purchasing Department, 900 Jackson Street, Suite 680. 6th Floor, Dallas, TX 75202 Questions Due: August 30, 2018 at 10:00 AM. All questions regarding this RFP are to be submitted, in writing, to Debra Morris. Contract Specialist, via e-mail to …

Bid on Mcallen-Hidalgo Bridge Bicycle Parking Project RE-BID in McAllen–Hidalgo Bridge

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 09/06/18 4:00 PM Prebid: 08/23/18 9:00 AM
Solicitation Title: UPDATED Mcallen-Hidalgo Bridge Bicycle Parking Project RE-BID
Owner Solic Number: 03-18-C14-362, 09-18-C33-386
Status: bidding Report: 8482749
Country : United States State: TX County: Hidalgo Location: McAllen–Hidalgo Bridge
Set Aside Types: MBE/DBE (Minority / Disadvantaged)
Scope: Project will consist of demolition of area as specified in plans to include removal ofapprox. 509 SF of sidewalk and 166 LF of fence and prepare area for brick pavers and bike rack installation. Project will include the construction of two entry canopies, brick pavers and bike racks. …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

Paceline Photos, Weak Photography Skills Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Not quite as early starting as I wanted with wheels rolling at 8:13 am. To offset the later time I bicycled the “Kingwood to Ramsey Road – Huffman” route which gets me to FM 1960 quicker than when I ride through Walden first. The first cyclist I saw was on W. Lake Houston Parkway at Kings Harbor. He was a lone cyclist going north while I was riding south. Not too long after that on Kings River Drive I saw another biker. Again we were going opposite directions.

Weather during the bike ride: start (78 (97% humidity), partly cloudy, wind calm. Finish 91 (68% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind W 8 mph. The early start meant high humidity and it wasn’t too after I was underway that the sweat flowed.

Back to the ride, other cyclists appeared on FM 1960 over Lake Houston. At the turn onto Fairlake Drive two cyclists approached the intersection not long after I made the turn so I didn’t have enough time to get my phone out for a picture. Riding along the street after the two big curves I spotted a pace line coming towards me and this time I had enough time.

They zipped by. I was afraid I would get the photos because I heard a vehicle approaching from my backside hoping it wouldn’t arrive at the same time as the paceline. It didn’t by a few seconds and it turned out to be a Houston Police SUV patrol cruiser.

I got back on the Canyon and rode to FM 2100. East of FM 2100 was where the bikers began appearing and I took these photos. I still need to work on my photography skills shooting into the sun and not waiting until the subject is closer. Maybe if I took off my sunglasses I could see better.

As I rode east on Old Atascocita Road the oncoming cyclists thinned out and by the time I got to Ramsey Road I didn’t expect to see any more but one biker rode north on Ramsey Road as I turned left and rode to the bridge to turn around. I figured he would be ahead of me but as biked west I saw he was stopped at a gate to a pasture taking a photo of a cow. When I reached FM 2100 there was another biker waiting to cross the road going east. I waved and made the right turn to go to Huffman.

At the Huffman Chevron I decided to buy a PowerAde fountain drink which I rarely do. I was hoping the sugar would help ride into the wind on the section of FM 1960 across Lake Houston. Earlier I had to pedal into the headwind on the trip west on Old Atascocita Road from Ramsey Road. The wind wasn’t too strong but it required extra effort. Actually the wind felt good in a way drying up some of the sweat from riding to Ramsey Road. Biking with a tailwind sometimes doesn’t feel cooler even if the effort is reduced. The Wahoo ride summary at the Chevron station.

Wahoo Ride Summary Huffman Chevron

While I wish my average speed was 16.2 mph the Elemnt screen showed 14.2 mph. Not sure why there was a difference. As I was sitting on the milk crate drinking my PowerAde several motorcyclists began to arrive. Listening to their conversation I think this was a gathering point for a club ride. They were still there when I finished the drink, went inside to refill my water bottle and then back on my bike. I think I rested about 30 minutes before resuming the ride. I had to push the PowerPod start button when I got back on the Canyon because it had gone to sleep after 20 minutes.

The sugar from the PowerAde helped me navigate the wind while bicycling west on FM 1960. At the Atascocita Shores Drive traffic light I waited several minutes for the light to change. While I was waiting the car to my right which had changed lanes and moved closer to me when I moved from the shoulder to the left turn lane passenger decided he needed to roll down his wind partially climb out and yell an obscenity at me. When the light finally changed I heard a biker say on “on your left” as I made the left turn. After we both were out of the intersection he asked if I was with the Bike Barn ride and I said no. We rode south to the first street where he turned and I went straight. That was the last biker spotted today. Riding through Walden I altered the route slightly reducing the mileage by a mile or so. I continued cycling and finished the bike ride at 11:32 am.

For the week I am up to 210.97 miles. So I think Sunday will be a rest day. For August I am at 581.14 miles with 219 miles left to reach my goal.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

Texas Bicycling News Digest August 17th 2018

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Apps Simplify Parking, Finding Comet Cabs; Hike, Bike Trail Complete

www.utdallas.edu


New transportation features at UT Dallas will help students, faculty and staff navigate campus a bit easier this fall.

Parking guidance systems in all three parking structures will help drivers quickly find available spaces on each level. Parking guidance is also viewable on the UT Dallas app (Apple and Android) and Shop UTD app (Apple and Android). In addition, several parking lots were updated and improved over the summer. With the completion of the new Engineering and Computer Science West (ECSW) building, Lot I, just north of Parking Structure 4, is …

Vernon Burnin’ Bike Race offers variety of distances, comes a week before HHH

Linda Stewart | www.timesrecordnews.com


VERNON, Texas — The 23th annual Vernon Burnin’ Bike Ride will be held Saturday, Aug. 18. The event is sponsored by the Vernon Jaycees and the Vernon Optimist Club.

The ride will get underway at 7:30 a.m. on the south parking lot of Vernon College on Hwy 70. Entry fee the day of the ride will be $30. …

New Waverly w/Andy, Blake n Robert. Always a good ride with these guys. …

Ron Gunnels | www.strava.com

New Waverly w/Andy, Blake n Robert. Always a good ride with these guys. Congrats to Blake on getting a KOM…then body slamming himself on the ground afterwards

Fun Times, Fun Climbs

Amber Smolik | www.strava.com

Gas Station Godzilla Sighting

Alison Carey | www.strava.com

“RECOVERY RIDE”…..

Leo Vela | www.strava.com

NWCC TGIF Ride

Rick Rostkowski | www.strava.com


Nice comfortable zone 2 HR ride. I’m finding it’s good for me to have a ride like this each week where I’m able to enjoy the company of other riders and cruise without worrying about being dropped or having a heart attack, which by the way is how it is on all my other rides.

AASQ #41: How long is a helmet good for?

By Zach Overholt | bikerumor.com


Welcome to our AASQ series where we try to answer all your most pressing bicycle related questions. For this week’s installment, we invited you to ask Giro anything, and based on the response, there’s a lot to learn about the humble bicycle helmet. Fortunately, Giro has over 30 years experience designing, testing, and building some of the most advanced helmets in the world and was more than willing to take on the onslaught of questions. We …

Santa Ana refuge readies plan to bring back bikes

By RICK KELLEY | www.valleymorningstar.com

HARLINGEN — This month the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge near Alamo will return to the past when bicyclists once again are allowed to pedal away on the federal property.

On Aug. 23, a pilot program to allow bike riders on the refuge will mark the first time for such use since the floods of 2010 shut down much of the facility and ended the use of bicycles. …

SRC Weekend Rides – New route, Ski Shores/Triple Bs & Red Horn

Brad Weaver | steinerranchcycling.com

Saturday there will be two group ride levels leaving at different times (from Cups & Cones) – Faster Pace and Endurance Pace. As outlined on our website, we try to accommodate various levels of rider interest and recently there are folks seeking a more moderate paced and less total miles on Saturdays. We hope that this attract area riders who want to learn …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Checking The Water Park, Talking With Cyclists, Hot Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After watching the Binck Bank Tour stage today I set out on my bike ride. I rode to the north following my “Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood” route and rode 33.55 miles. Now my mileage stands at 175.87 miles for this week and 545.52 miles for August, leaving 255 miles to reach my goal for the month. Year to date I biked 5,443 miles with 6,800 miles being my goal. I should surpass my goal for the year.

Start time was 10:24 am with the weather warming up. Weather during the bike ride: start 89 (66% humidity), mostly cloudy, wind SW 6 mph. Finish 95 (53% humidity), partly cloudy, wind S 6 mph. With the help of the light breeze bicycling to SH 242 required less effort and I built my average speed up to 14.3 mph.

When I made the left turn onto SH 242 I could feel the breeze and wondered if I was going to fight all the back to Kingwood. I rode west on SH 242 about 1/2 a mile to see how the work is progressing on Grand Texas. I took these photos.

From that distance it was hard to see any activity but there was a pickup truck moving towards the highway.

After the taking the photos I turned back to the east and rode on SpeedSportz Drive back to I-69/US59 and rode south. At New Caney I stopped at the Mobil station at the corner of FM 1485 and I-69/US59 to refill my water bottle. The heat was drawing plenty of sweat from my body and I knew I wouldn’t have enough water to finish the ride. Back on the bike I rode south and onot Valley Ranch Parkway. As I was bicycling I remembered an appointment my wife had so I planned on stopping at The Grand Parkway overpass in the shade to call her. As I rode to the shade I saw another biker there and as I got closer I recognized him by the MD Anderson Cancer jersey as Ronnie Clark who I rode with several times over the last couple of years. I stopped and we chatted about biking and other things. After I called my wife we rode off together continuing the conversation. As we approached the street to the left into the Azalea District I went left while he went straight. It was great to catch up with him.

From there I was back on the I-69/US59 service road riding south. Next stop was the Circle K/Valero station at Northpark Drive to refill my water bottle to take me to the finish.While I was at the Circle K store and walking outside after filling my water bottle a man got out of a white pickup and walked towards me. He started telling me about the bike ride he had yesterday and the flat tire from a piece of glass 2 miles from finishing the ride and walking back home. We laughed about all the debris on the shoulder of FM 1960. He said he usually rides the Spring Creek Greenway without the flat tire problem.

After visiting with Ronnie I noticed my speed was up enough to increase my overall average speed to 14.6 mph which I held until the 29.4 mile point in Kingwood. I finished the ride at 1:08 pm before it really got hot.

Saturday I plan on biking but earlier to see the Bike Barn cyclists over by Huffman.

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary

SportTracks Bike Ride Summary