Texas Bicycling News for February 1, 2024
Tour de Houston was canceled — and then revived
Jay R. Jordan | www.axios.com
The City of Houston unexpectedly canceled — and then quickly revived — this year’s Tour de Houston, an annual fundraising bike ride that showcases the city’s historic neighborhoods.
Catch up quick: The ride is typically planned for late March or early April, and cycling enthusiasts consider it a warmup event for the Texas MS 150, an annual charity ride from Houston to Austin.
Tour de Houston riders can choose to go 20, 40 or 60 miles.
Driving the news: The Mayor’s Office of Special Events on Wednesday afternoon sent an email to people who were interested in the 2024 ride saying this year’s event was canceled due to lack of funding.
Yes, but: Mayor John Whitmire, who was not aware of the cancellation before the email went out, on Wednesday night pledged to bring the event back in 2024.
The intrigue: Apache Corp., a Houston-based energy company, has been a Tour de Houston title sponsor for years but declined to return as a sponsor in 2024, according to Susan Christian, director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. …
2024 Tour de Houston will go on as scheduled despite loss of major sponsor
By Ronnie Marley | www.fox26houston.com
HOUSTON – Houston Mayor John Whitmire has announced that the 2024 Tour de Houston will go on as scheduled, according to a release.
Officials said the Mayor’s Office of Special Events announced the cancellation due to the loss of major sponsor. …
The popular 2024 Tour de Houston will go on. See ?????? for the full statement. pic.twitter.com/57DfWf3Y7M
— Houston Mayor's Office (@houmayor) February 1, 2024
? Hey! Lots of gravel rides and races coming up. Get your rides in the app and share with friends. Have some fun on the bumpy stuff! #letsride #chasingwatts #checktheapp pic.twitter.com/OHTVr5xH7U
— Chasing Watts (@chasing_watts) February 1, 2024
What do you think of the Barton Springs Road safety pilot? Any ways it could be improved?
— Safe Streets Austin (@safestreetsatx) January 31, 2024
Austin Transportation & Public Works is taking feedback now. To keep and build on these improvements, it's crucial for them to hear from you.
Here's the survey: https://t.co/4ySrzIcp4q pic.twitter.com/0JqbDezYQA
Mayor John Whitmire announced finding more sponsors for the 2024 Tour de Houston event after Apache Corporation stepped down.https://t.co/5iQWIfqifj
— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) February 1, 2024
We've come full circle on the Tour de Houston, and it's barely been 24 hours https://t.co/Q4aYvWBSRp
— Jay R. Jordan (@jayrjordan) February 2, 2024
ARR Monthly Ride Dana Peak Park https://t.co/fmGniKwC6J #Meetup via @Meetup
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) February 2, 2024
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) February 2, 2024
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) February 2, 2024
DS Mountain Biking Team Training
www.drippingspringsranchpark.com
Outdoor Trails
Event Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024 – 4:45pm to 6:30pm
Dripping Springs Mountain Biking Team Training
When: Tuesday and Thursday Evenings Where: DSRP Trails
The Dripping Springs Mountain Bike Team’s mission is to promote mountain bike skills, fun, development, excellence, teamwork, etiquette, and respect for the family, community and the outdoors. The team races in the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) league for Texas.
Upcoming Rides
San Antonio Wheelmen | www.sawheelmen.com
Schertz-La Vernia Ride Saturday, February 3, 2024 9:00 AM 12:00 PM
Ray Corbett Junior High 12000 Ray Corbett Drive Schertz, TX, 78154 United States (map)
Ghost Track Crossing Ride Sunday, February 4, 2024 9:00 AM 12:00 PM
China Grove Ride Saturday, February 10, 2024 9:00 AM 12:00 PM
CRSA Thursday Nighter. San Antonio, Texas
Anthony Evans | strava.com
Evening Ride Houston, Texas
Mark Bolden | strava.com
HBC Gravel Grind Fort Bend County, Texas
Flavio Teures | strava.com
Team Camp, Day 1 Blanco, Texas
Lupe Ontiveros | strava.com
Southern Tier El Paso to New Orleans
By Cortney O. | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 20: San Antonio to camp spot near Wimberly,: Navigating out of the city and discovering a beautiful camp in the hill country Wednesday January 31, 2024, 52 miles (84 km) – Total so far: 667 miles (1,073 km) We headed out of San Antonio with the anticipation of it taking awhile. Navigating in and out of cities always takes forever.
Google maps took us by the zoo and put us on a path that end up a dead end and we had to drag our bikes down a staircase. And then we rode through Alamo Heights. Beautiful neighborhood. Then it took almost two hours to eventually get out of city with the road work, stoplights, and nonstop traffic. We did get to go on a nice bikeway for a bit called Salado Greenway. Very peaceful.
We went through the charming …
Co-worker testifies Blankenship told her ‘I killed a kid, I killed a kid, I killed a kid’
By Tommy Witherspoon | www.kwtx.com
WACO, Texas (KWTX) – A flustered, red-faced Tammy Blankenship, with her hands trembling, told a Midway school district co-worker that she “killed a kid” the day after Baylor University student David Grotberg was killed by a hit-and-run driver in October 2016, the woman testified Thursday.
Blankenship, a former Midway school administrator, is on trial in Waco’s 54th State District Court on manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid charges in the death of Grotberg, a Baylor sophomore from Minnesota who was riding a bicycle with his girlfriend about 10 p.m. when he was struck and killed on Franklin Avenue.
In second-day testimony, Hannah Ashley, a …