Texas Bicycling News – April 13, 2023
Big Bend Conservation Alliance to host Earth Day bike races next Thursday
By Big Bend Sentinel | bigbendsentinel.com
PRESIDIO — Next Thursday, the Big Bend Conservation Alliance will host an Earth Day bash for Presidio kids. The event is intended to spread awareness about recycling and other environmental causes — all while having fun in the sun with friends.
The event will kick off with “Burritos for Boxes,”, held 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Presidio Recycling Center. Anyone who brings recyclable materials during the event will receive a coupon for a free burrito. The Recycling Center is located …
San Jacinto Bayou Greenway segment in Kingwood to offer 2.5 miles of hike-and-bike trails
By Hannah Brol | communityimpact.com
Kingwood residents will soon be able to traverse 2.5 miles of hike-and-bike trails with the opening of a new segment of the San Jacinto Bayou Greenway on April 15.
According to an April 11 newsletter from Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin—who represents the city of Houston’s District E, which includes Kingwood—the project is a partnership between the Houston Parks Board and the Harris County Flood Control District, which purchased the land to convert it to green space. The segment—which spans 2.5 miles from Woodland Hills Drive to Hamblen Road—goes through a former townhome community, The Riverview Townhomes at Forest Cove, which HCFCD acquired and demolished using their own funds as well as …
Southern Tier 2023
By Sharon Greenwood | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 39: Silsbee to Merryville, LA: Hospitality
Wednesday April 12, 2023, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 2,004 miles (3,225 km) It was a super easy ride today. Good shoulders with less logging trucks and overall traffic. Pretty flat. Averaged 14 mph for whole trip. Not many towns to pass through so ate lunch against an antique shop wall at 9:45. Stopped for a pic as we crossed into Louisiana along the “No Man’s Land” area. We are being hosted by the Merryville Historical Society folks. They allow us to camp on the covered outdoor stage and the the porches of the small cabin and museum on the property. They greeted us with an overload of fresh snacks and bottled water. They have also fed us an incredible feast of Louisiana cooking: fried alligator, catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, black beans & rice, etouffee, crawfish bake, salad and dessert. We also had the local historian present to give an interesting talk on the history of the area. Wonderful people with wonderful, funny stories. It wa a delightful evening. We will see them again when they serve us breakfast in the morning. Loving this Southern Hospitality!
Southern and East Coast Tour
By Bill Dillard | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Day 11: Clint TX to Acala TX
Saturday April 8, 2023, 27 miles (43 km) – Total so far: 218 miles (351 km) I had my niece get me past El Paso. I had no desire to ride through downtown or to ride over the hill to to around and end up on the loop. Not much to recommend Texas road 20, a couple is small towns then mostly agriculture. Thankfully, it’s not very busy.
Day 12: Acala to Frontage Rd exit before Sierra Blanca
Sunday April 9, 2023, 30 miles (48 km) – Total so far: 248 miles (399 km) Another slow day, headwinds again then a long climb to finish the day. I seem to be limited to 3 1/2 to 4 hours or riding for a day. I don’t know if it’s fighting the headwinds and long climb or just conditioning, probable some of both. Went longer up the hill today before I could find a place to camp
Day 13: Frontage road to Van Horn TX
Wednesday April 12, 2023, 47 miles (76 km) – Total so far: 295 miles (475 km) Today was a good day, still windy but a ride wind instead if a headwind. Started with about a mile climb at 4%, then 5 or6 miles of 2 to 3% climbing before if leveled out. Had lunch at the Valero on Sierra Blanca and I highly recommend that, cheap and extremely good. End the day with a mile climb and then the reward was 10 miles down into Van Horn. Planning to take tomorrow off, fix the air mattress and do a little work on the bike.
May is Bike Month!
www.friscotexas.gov
National Bike Month, promoted by the League of American Bicyclists, is a celebration of the benefits of bicycling. We host bike-themed activities and group rides during the month to encourage people to play with their bikes! 2023 Bike Month Activities …
… Frisco Tour de Four
Explore sites in the city and learn about cycling in Frisco on one of the 4 rides hosted by the Frisco Bike Advisory Committee on May 6 & May 13. Local bike clubs, Shawnee Trail Cycling Club and Preston Ridge Cycling Club will each host a morning ride and an afternoon ride in different quadrants of the city. Participants will receive some Play Frisco swag plus each finisher of at least 1 ride will receive a commemorative Frisco Tour De Four medal while supplies last. Participants may choose to participate in a morning and afternoon ride. May 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
-
Shawnee Trail Cycling Club will start at the Bike Mart building at US 380 and Hollyhock
-
Preston Ridge Cycling Club will start at Harold Bacchus Park May 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
-
Shawnee Trail Cycling Club will start at BF Phillips Community Park
-
Preston Ridge Cycling Club will start at Northeast Community Park
Houston BCycle set to raise prices, close more stations as bike sharing transitions to Metro
Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com
Christian Aguilera, shop coordinator, tests out a repair on a bike Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at the Houston Bike Share office in Houston. Despite $500,000 committed by Metropolitan Transit Authority and an agreement with the nonprofit for a transition to transit officials establishing a bike system, bike share officials said none of the money has come to help with their operations. As a result, rental prices for the bikes will increase, and more stations could be closed, officials said. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer
Hopes for a much-needed infusion of cash from a new partnership with Metro have yet to be fulfilled, leading Houston Bike Share to warn users that prices will increase and the number of available stations will shrink, starting May 1.
The nonprofit that operates the BCycle system of bikes available for checkout at kiosks around the city, “has been unable to complete a partnership agreement,” with Metropolitan Transit Authority, bike share board chairwoman and interim CEO Maya Ford said in an update. Specifically, Ford said Metro has confirmed it would not provide any of the $500,000 transit officials approved to transition bike sharing into the transit agency’s operations.
Metro officials said the …
Coast to Coast Via La Grange: America on Two Wheels
By Jeff Wick | www.fayettecountyrecord.com
Twenty-seven women from around the globe stayed the night in La Grange Monday as part of a group bicycling trip across the U.S. “This part of Texas, the hill country, has been the most beautiful of our entire trip so far, and the people have been the nicest,” said Laurie Singer, one of several who stopped at Latte on the Square, on their way to their overnight accommodations at The Best WesterN …
4 suspended BCycle stations reactivated following financial support from Midtown district
By Shawn Arrajj | communityimpact.com
Correction: The vote on the funding of BCycle stations in Midtown was held by the Midtown Management District, not the Midtown Redevelopment Authority.
Four formerly suspended BCycle stations are back in use in Houston’s Midtown area following a partnership between Houston Bike Share—the nonprofit that operates Houston BCycle—and the Midtown Management District.
The stations are located at the following locations:
Milam Street at Webster Street
Ensemble/Houston Community College rail stop
Austin Street at Gray Street
La Branch Street at Alabama Street
BCycle officials first announced the stations were back in operation at the end of March. As part of …
USAC Weekend #1 & Velodrome Power Update
Stuart Gardner, Program Director Alkek Velodrome | shoutout.wix.com
Alkek Velodrome Power Issues
Unfortunately, last week, a storm hit and the High Voltage Transformer which provides power to the Velodrome has been damaged, possibly to the point it needs to be replaced, I am working with HPARD on that and so far they have been very helpful however it’s not going to be a quick fix. Until the transformer is repaired or replaced we won’t have floodlights so will be doing the following:
A generator will be used to power the tunnel pump (when needed) and officials tower for race day operations.
TNR will now start at 5:45 and conclude before 8pm (Or when it gets dark)
Evening training will also conclude early (Before 8pm)
I know these changes won’t be good news for everyone and …
Southern Tier CoMotion
By Keith Misegades | www.crazyguyonabike.com
More hills: Navasota to Carmine
Thursday April 13, 2023, 51 miles (82 km) – Total so far: 1,441 miles (2,319 km) My updates to this may not be as extensive as they have in the past. I am in the thick of the Texas Hill country and I am spending more time on the bike to cover similar distances. I am now also putting out about 2-3 times more effort than I have up to this point. That leaves less time in the evening to update this.
First, sorry no road kill pictures this day. I didn’t sleep real well last night and with yesterday’s efort I was feeling tired all day. My legs were working, but I could tell that I was moving a bit slower. Yesterday I did 3100 feet of climbing in 85 miles and today I did 2700 feet in 51 miles. So, today’s effort was more intense. What made it worthwhile was all the wildflowers that were in bloom along the roadway and in the fileds. They were quite beautiful.
I met 3 east bound riders and …
$1.7M hike and bike trail coming to Harlingen
by: Joe De Leon | www.valleycentral.com
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A new trail under construction in Harlingen will bring better access to cyclists in the community.
A new hike and bike trail is paving the way for cyclists and runners to enjoy activities without obstructions.
“You don’t have to traverse any streets. And so it’s all, you know, protected. So, you know, you won’t be running or cycling next to a vehicle,” Javier Mendez, the Director of the Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department said.
The project is currently on its …
SoHo Haardvarks Shenanigans ????? "Cara" Canyon Aeroa
Troy Serrano | strava.com
Bridgeland (Ducks Crossing) – Cactus Cove Harris County, Texas
Marjoe Q. Borromeo | strava.com
Thursday San Antonio, Texas
Eduardo Salas | strava.com
Some rides are really about recovery MTCCSA Helotes, Texas
Action Jackson MTCCSA | strava.com
Texas Biking from Twitter
STOLEN – Gray Trek in Houston, TX https://t.co/xuXU25vVzO pic.twitter.com/jcYQe1W2kh
— Bike Index (@bikeindexstolen) April 13, 2023
WELCOME ALL! ?We had the privilege of hosting an international delegation of adapted sports advocates and athletes to James Driver Inclusive Park. The group is part of @SportsEmpower. They are in Houston with TIRR @memorialhermann to kick off the mentoring program. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/RojcqrHkG9
— Harris County Precinct 2 (@HarrisCoPct2) April 13, 2023
They learned about the background of James Driver Inclusive Park from Commissioner @AdrianGarciaHTX and our parks team. The group represented 16 different countries from 5 continents. We had a blast learning and playing together! pic.twitter.com/XQxapIwpTE
— Harris County Precinct 2 (@HarrisCoPct2) April 13, 2023
Construction of the Austin to Manor Trail begins this month! Upon completion, the trail will be 5.5-miles long, connecting Ben E. Fisher Park in Manor to the Southern Walnut Creek trail. More at: https://t.co/QTVv9Qy8rw #ATXMobilityBond pic.twitter.com/7XPB10efOA
— ATX Transportation and Public Works Department (@austinmobility) April 13, 2023
Mark your calendars for the Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, April 26 at 2:30. Join us virtually or in person. Meeting details: https://t.co/DclkVJ4y6d pic.twitter.com/K5MvEDkixD
— Houston Bike Plan (@HoustonBikePlan) April 13, 2023
PTS is hosting Bike to UT Day on April 20, 2023.
— UT Austin Parking (@utaustinparking) April 13, 2023
Bike to UT Day is a celebration of cyclists for doing their part in reducing pollution & congestion!
You can join us for activities and giveaways at the Lower PCL Patio from 9 am to 2 pm.
Info at: https://t.co/WLnR5lSWcF pic.twitter.com/TUfo50eeLg