Texas Bicycling News Digest March 22nd 2018
Sherman establishes first ‘Bicycle Boulevard’
By Emily Akins | www.kten.com
SHERMAN, Texas — The City of Sherman is trying to make the roads safer for cyclists by establishing Bicycle Boulevards.
City Council member Shawn Teamann said there’s a lot of bike traffic on certain roads, so the boulevards will help make motorists more aware of two-wheeled vehicles. …
Southern Tier on a Recumbent 2018
By Joseph Valenzi | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 17 – March 19 Monday – El Paso TX to Ft. Hamilton TX: Who knew El Paso was so big?
Saturday February 24, 2018, 62 miles (100 km) – Total so far: 917 miles (1,476 km)
The beautiful weather continues. We have really been lucky. Cool temperatures, good winds, sunny skies. It’s been great so far. But El Paso was a pain to go through. Almost half the day was spent getting through it. I made a lot of wrong turns, there were lots of lights, lots of traffic. Just city riding stuff. That’s the way it goes. Other than San Diego we have been able to avoid most of that. My BIGGEST mistake in El Paso was not looking for Rosa’s Cantina before I got into town. Almost everyone of my vintage knows the Marty Robbins song El Paso, which concerns a cowboy and a Mexican girl at Rosa’s who is not that into him. It has been scientifically proven to be the best story song of all time. …
Day 18 – March 20 Tuesday – Ft. Hancock TX to Van Horn TX: Along the Borderlands
Sunday February 25, 2018, 72 miles (116 km) – Total so far: 989 miles (1,592 km)
Although it was 34 degrees to start today, it warmed up quickly. The unbelievably great weather continued. I feel so lucky in so many ways – lucky to have the time to be on this trip, lucky to be healthy etc. The good weather is just more good luck. Today, there was hail and tornado warnings back home in FL, and my kids in IN and MD had a snowstorm. I hope our luck continues.
We met two separate …
Day 19 – March 21 Wednesday – Van Horn TX to Marfa TX: Stick a fork in me I’m done
Monday February 26, 2018, 74 miles (119 km) – Total so far: 1,063 miles (1,711 km)
Most of today was great, but at the moment I am so tired, I can’t even sit up to write this journal. The last 20 miles of the ride, besides being uphill were rough chip seal that just shook and shook the bike. Throw in the headwind and the second long in a row and I was left with nothing.
Before that it was nice! The best part was lunch in the town of Valentine. The school there sells us lunch as a fundraiser for the big class trip. They do LOTS of other fundraisers too. But for this one they cooked burritos at home, four different kinds, brownies and they had soda. It was nice. Talking with the kids was even better. This town has only about 180 people. The school (K-12) has about 30 students if I remember correctly. The high school part has I think 10 kids. Six …
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156228491699938&id=334560489937
Southern Tier USA 2018
###By Dennis Hughes | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Ft. Hancock to Van Horn: 73.6 miles, 1788 ft
Saturday March 10, 2018, 74 miles (119 km) – Total so far: 969 miles (1,559 km)
Woke up in the very small town of Ft. Hancock, TX. Sure glad I am not hitching up to this wagon to cross the desert. Man, those folks must have been really hardy. …
Van Horn to Ft. Davis: 81.2 miles, 1788 ft
Sunday March 11, 2018, 81 miles (130 km) – Total so far: 1,050 miles (1,690 km)
With the change to daylight savings time and being in the very western edge of the Central time zone, sunrise did not happen in Van Horn until 8:15. On top of that, it was drizzling and lows were near 40 degrees. What a crummy way to start the day. We …
Ft. Davis to Marathon: 53.8 miles, 1134 ft
Tuesday March 13, 2018, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 1,104 miles (1,777 km)
Leaving Ft. Davis, we began the day with a little climbing on US Hwy 90. Nice road with an 8 ft shoulder, even though the surface was a little rough, with the typical Texas chip seal. I think TX tries the find the biggest stones possible for their resurfacing projects. To say the least, it makes for a rough ride. …
Marathon to Sanderson: 53.9 miles, 828 ft
Wednesday March 14, 2018, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 1,158 miles (1,864 km)
Continued on Us Hwy 90, with no turns. So no one has gotten lost, yet. We did have a headwind once again today. The general topography was a downhill ride over 54 miles. We went through some rolling hills with some interesting rock formations that date back 230+ million years ago. …
Sanderson to Del Rio: 119.8 miles, 3994 ft
Thursday March 15, 2018, 120 miles (193 km) – Total so far: 1,278 miles (2,057 km)
I have been worried about this day since the route was created. I looked for any option available that would give us a shorter day. The small towns we went through were dead or dying with only one motel available and zero to one place to eat, In the long run, I still feel I made the correct decision. We rode …
Del Rio to Camp Wood: 79.1 miles, 1769 ft
Friday March 16, 2018, 79 miles (127 km) – Total so far: 1,357 miles (2,184 km)
Del Rio to Camp Wood was somewhat of a holiday, as we only did 79 miles and 1800 ft. We traveled through the town of Bracketville. I had a weird question, what does the local high school name their mascot. The truth be told, they are the Bracketville Tigers. Nice football stadium and separate track a field facility.
Went by several ranches that have …
Camp Wood to Ingram: 80.2 miles, 4781 ft
Saturday March 17, 2018, 80 miles (129 km) – Total so far: 1,437 miles (2,313 km)
We woke early, having looked at the weather forecast last night, that said we had a chance of of thunderstorms today. It was cloudy, most of the morning , but no chance of rain. We ate breakfast at Cafe Falcon and shared the place with a fairly large motorcycle group, both in numbers and in girth. They were one of many motorcycle groups on the same roads we were riding today. There were Honda groups, Harley groups, BMW groups and even a few car groups enjoying the roads of the …
Ingram to Fredricksburg: 37.3 miles, 1587 ft
Sunday March 18, 2018, 31 miles (50 km) – Total so far: 1,468 miles (2,363 km)
We cut a few miles and about 400 ft of climbing, by taking a more direct route, through Kerrville and hwy 16 to Fredricksburg. Cloudy and cool day, until we arrived at the Inn on Barons Creek. Even though we arrived really early, we were able to get into our rooms by about 12:30. Duncan and Marjorie ran into some cyclists from the Denver area and HeartCycle, also from …
Every Child Has A Dream–Southern Tier 2018
By Anthony Youga | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 16 — El Paso, TX to Van Horn, TX: Foster Kids
Monday March 5, 2018, 113 miles (182 km) – Total so far: 1,034 miles (1,664 km)
Day 17 — Van Horn, TX to Marfa, TX: Lots of “Nothingâ€
Wednesday March 7, 2018, 74 miles (119 km) – Total so far: 1,108 miles (1,783 km)
Day 18 —Marfa, TX to Marathon, TX: My First Business Mentor
Thursday March 8, 2018, 55 miles (89 km) – Total so far: 1,163 miles (1,872 km)
Day 19 — Marathon, TX to Langtry, TX: Instead of 55 miles, let’s double down
Friday March 9, 2018, 115 miles (185 km) – Total so far: 1,278 miles (2,057 km)
read more about the trip across Texas
California to Florida – across the USA
By Julian McCarthy | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 18: El Paso TX to Fort Hancock TX: flat and easy. There by 1pm and a warm welcome at the church
Friday March 16, 2018, 92 km (57 miles) – Total so far: 1,248 km (776 miles)
I was up at 0630 and planning to get out by 0730 with Dave and Kathy. We all had a team breakfast and then were off promptly as planned.
Navigation was simple, but the suburbs of El Paso are huge. It was a good 30km before we were in countryside but the roads were quiet, flat and with a good tailwind. My leg felt better and I am finding ways to cope with it. It helps that Dave and Kathy are probably a bit slower so I can choose my own speed more easily (although I must say Poppy and Peter have been very understanding indeed). But great to be back in action. …
read more starting at this page
Coast to Coast With Bubba
By Bobby Rone | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 17 – El Paso, TX to Ft. Hancock, TX: Cold!!!!
Monday March 19, 2018, 63 miles (101 km) – Total so far: 927 miles (1,492 km)
Left this morning from El Paso in the low 40’s and breezy. It was cool all day. They are predicting 38 degrees in the morning at Ft Hancock. Can’t complain, though. We had a good 10mph tail wind all day and the sun was bright. It was a nice pleasant ride.
The first 20 miles today was through suburbs of El Paso and a good bit of traffic, although there was a good shoulder to ride on. After that, we turned southeast and rode a Texas farm road parallel to the Rio Grande. The whole day was passing through extensive agricultural fields – mostly cotton, pecan orchards, and alfalfa. These are irrigated from the river. We are also riding parallel to I-10. Most of the towns along the way are very small and dusty, with any new business along the interstate. …
read more starting at this page
The Limo Bikes to Bayous and Beaches
By Marilyn Swett | www.crazyguyonabike.com
What’s Up this Year?: Another epic tour for the Limo
BAYOU – a body of water typically found in a flat, low-lying area, and can be either an extremely slow-moving stream or river (often with a poorly defined shoreline), or a marshy lake or wetland
The term bayou can also refer to a creek whose current reverses daily due to tides and which contains brackish water highly conducive to fish life and plankton. Bayous are commonly found in the Gulf Coast region of the southern United States, notably the Mississippi River Delta, with the states of Louisiana and Texas being famous for them.
A bayou is frequently an anabranch or minor braid of a braided channel that is moving much more slowly than the mainstem, often becoming boggy and stagnant. Though fauna varies by region, many bayous are home to crawfish, certain species of shrimp, other shellfish, catfish, frogs, toads, American alligators, American crocodiles, herons, turtles, spoonbills, snakes, leeches, and many other species. (Wikipedia) …
Route Details: Where are we going?
First of for all you map lovers: don’t expect any maps from us this year. We might do some daily maps, if Don feels motivated. At the end of a tiring day, it’s enough for him to just edit and post our pictures!
We did a full route map for last year’s tour before we left home and ended up deleting it because we changed our minds several times during the trip on where we were going, ultimately following a different route than what we had originally posted..
So, in a nutshell, here are our plans now:
PART 1:
Drive from Denver to Wichita Falls, TX where we will leave our car at a friend’s home. (because Wichita Falls is at a lower elevation, it should have warmer weather than Denver). Then bike south to Galveston, TX. …
Wichita Falls, to Lake Arrowhead State Park, TX: Welcome to Texas!
Wednesday March 21, 2018, 22 miles (35 km) – Total so far: 22 miles (35 km)
“You can all go to hell; I will go to Texas†― David Crockett
After 2 days of driving, we finally arrived in Texas last night. At least it’s nicer weather here than when we left Denver which had 4 inches of snow on the ground.
It took a little while to get organized this morning but we had a short day planned, so it didn’t matter too much. Since we were leaving our van here in Wichita Falls with some friends, we had to make sure that we had everything on the bike …
LUBBOCK IS THINKING ABOUT IMPROVING BIKING AND WALKING AROUND THE CITY
awesome98.com
The city wants us to help them in creating and developing a new master plan for Lubbock’s walking and biking needs. I think its way overdue, but better late than never.
If you have ever complained that its too dangerous to ride your bike or walk in Lubbock, you’re not alone. I try to ride my bike a lot when the weather is good, but I make sure I stay away from any big streets because even having to cross them quickly is damn near impossible. …
Signs Going in At McAllister Park Trails, Thanks To REI Grant
BRENDAN GIBBONS | therivardreport.com
A network of trails in McAllister Park in north-central San Antonio will soon be easier to navigate, thanks to a partnership involving a mountain bike group, City staff, a park support organization, and outdoor retailer REI Co-op. …
Pair of local community events scheduled for April
www.commercejournal.com
… Also planned for April 14 is a “Bike safety Rodeo,†a free event from the Commerce Independent School District. An obstacle course will be set up downtown, where guests will ride through the course, learning bike handling and safety techniques along the way. Children of all ages are encouraged to bring their bikes, but some bikes will be available to loan for the day. The first 100 children will receive a free bicycle helmet, courtesy of Live Oak Professional Center and the Texas Medical Association, and riders that finish the course will be put in a drawing to win a free bike. …
DALLAS NOW BOASTS THE BIGGEST BIKE SHARE FLEET IN THE U.S.
OBED MANUEL | www.centraltrack.com
Dallas Has 18,000-Plus Rental Bikes On Its Streets — And Now Motorized Bikes And Scooters Are About To Enter The Market. Does City Hall Have Any Plans To Regulate This Shit Yet?
Seven months into bike sharing’s arrival in Dallas, it’s safe to say that everyone has an opinion on the relationship our city is developing with the startup companies who appear to be scattering their wares, well, pretty much everywhere. …
Video: El Paso man trades truck for bike to avoid construction and traffic
Josie Ortegon | www.kvia.com
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man traded in his truck for a bike in the midst of the ongoing construction and traffic.
Shawn Finley tells ABC-7 he sold his truck seven months ago and purchased a bike to get around town. His decision has completely changed his outlook on transportation and life. …
Dallas City Staff Want To Regulate Share Bikes, Avoid Talk Of Docking System
By Brooke Rogers | dfw.cbslocal.com
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – It’s a site many Dallas citizens have reluctantly become accustomed to seeing: share bikes all over the sidewalks, seemingly without a home, riders or rules.
“You’re just about getting knocked over whenever you’re walking down the sidewalk,†says downtown Dallas resident Sherry Clark. …
Campus sees bike-friendly changes
By Grace Amiss | www.tcu360.com
Fort Worth’s push for more bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly roads has made its way to TCU.
City workers re-striped the streets around campus with bike lanes, during spring break to remind drivers to make room for those pedaling along. Julia Ryan, a senior transportation planner for the city, said the additions are a step in improving overall transportation in Fort Worth. …
Texas Bicycling from Twitter
Golden hour Austin TX mountain biking #atx #atxphotographer pic.twitter.com/R4RBa5vv0n
— RIDESTOKE (@ridestoke) March 23, 2018
The Houston Bikeway Team (Planning & Houston Public Works) hit the road, the Lamar Cycle Track that is, on BCycles to mark the anniversary of the Houston Bike Plan. Are you riding today? Share your pics with us! #houstonbikeplan #houstonbikeways #houstonbcycle pic.twitter.com/TR1yRdCTPG
— Houston Planning (@HoustonPlanning) March 22, 2018
From Bike Austin
Dust off your bike and kick-start spring at Bike to Manor Road Day on Saturday, March 31, 2018, from 12 to 4 pm. Hosted by the Manor Road Merchant’s Association, it will be a… https://t.co/8GSaOgp6eg— Orange Bike Project (@OrangeBikeP) March 23, 2018
Join us and @HPARD at #BayouGreenwayDay this Saturday at Tidwell Park! RSVP here: https://t.co/zOd1arTNl0 pic.twitter.com/EmHrCTmwkO
— Houston Parks Board (@houparksboard) March 22, 2018
#BPMS150 is so much more than just a ride! How do you show your BP MS 150 pride? #dontjustride #bikeMS pic.twitter.com/c12nLEE3F0
— Bike MS: Texas MS 150 (@TexasMS150) March 22, 2018
Enjoy the spring with a bike ride, park fundraiser, harvesting produce, Texas history theater and more! @DalChildrenThr @dallasarboretum @CCYOUNGAGELESS https://t.co/Db1z96cVz2
— East Dallas Advocate (@Advocate_ED) March 22, 2018
Coffee and Tacos Social Ride & Raffle this Sat at 11am hosted by @BikeSanAntonioand SATX Social Ride! This is a leisurely ride enjoying the streets of SA and all the awesome food from local businesses! Hop on a #SWellCycle. #sanantoniobike #bikeshare #bikeSA pic.twitter.com/Qbo3vZ9IGu
— San Antonio Bike Share (@SABikeShare) March 23, 2018
Join us on Sunday! https://t.co/XgDNyxePOU pic.twitter.com/mztFgqZNQS
— SA Wheelmen (@sawheelmen) March 22, 2018
Heinz to lead DB1 weekly ride for Brian! (Mar 24, 2018 08:00AM)
— PBA Rides (@pbaDB1) March 22, 2018
New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
New Event Tour de Southern Walnut Creek Trail – Austin, TX
For full details, including the address, and to RSVP see: https://t.co/i0Uin7qrSPWe're riding out at 9 AM for spring!
A moderate C-pace ride (roughly 11 to 14 mph) on The Southern Walnut Cree… https://t.co/Rk4ektMvfp
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 23, 2018
New Event Sugar Cycles Presents the Warda Race – Warda, TXhttps://t.co/BtvoyiPO4k
Season Finale of the 2018 Texas XC Mtn Bike State Championship Series
Courses range from around 5-6 miles for 12&Unders, 8-9 miles for Cats 1,2,3, and special UCI styl… https://t.co/NBGXxkx8mA
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 23, 2018
New Event DORBA Beginner Mountain Bike Ride – Harry Moss – Dallas, TX For full details, including the address, and to RSVP see: https://t.co/oRjAYhM03e
This ride will help build on what we learned at the DORBA Beginner Clinics. You will also learn a ne… https://t.co/gZrck5OMFU
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 23, 2018