Last week before heading to Wichita Falls for the HH100 all the rides went south but today I am back to my typical route directions. I chose the New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch route mainly because of the distance to help reach my August goal. Along with the direction change the weather changed. Lots of clouds and lower temperature with the threat of rain. I rolled out at 9:42 AM on my Cervelo Caledonia bike. The road rash on my left knee from the Saturday crash was stiff but it didn’t take long for me not to notice pedaling. I kept an eye on the clouds. To the north it looked blue sky with a few white puffy clouds but to the south gray clouds and no blue. I was afraid the rain might catch me so no stops. A few sprinkles landed as I rode through Oakhurst. When I made the u-turn at Kingwood Drive on the way back the clouds thinned and didn’t look like rain. After I finished at 12:47 PM it tried to rain at my house but I think I sweated more moisture than rain fell. The temperature was lower at the finish (81) than the start (86) probably because of the clouds. I rode 38.2 miles bring August total miles to 772 leaving 132 to reach my goal.
Naomi Skinner Wichita Falls Times Record News | www.aol.com
Temperatures remained in the hundreds this week as the 43rd annual Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred kicked off in Wichita Falls.
The last cyclist in the Endurance Ride crossed the finish line Saturday evening amid a slew of events that started earlier this week and will continue Sunday.
The Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred began Thursday with the consumer show and registration at the MPEC. …
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)— Most of those who traveled to Wichita Falls for the Hotter’N Hell Hundred most likely left for home after the famed endurance ride, which might be a little early. Before the 43rd Hotter’N Hell’s official curtain call, two more events still needed to take place. One of which wasn’t even a cycling event. Instead, it put the mountain bike trails to use for those on foot, like Larry Filer, a trail run veteran.
“I’m a runner, and I love running,” Filer said. “It’s kind of my passion, and getting out here and being able to kind of experience it, it’s a lot of single track. The trees are real close in, and so you …
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas — Authorities are asking for the community’s help after a 79-year-old died following a bicycle crash.
The crash happened on Saturday, Aug. 17 between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. along FM 2338 near Fisher Road in Andice, which is about 15 miles northwest of Georgetown.
When emergency crews arrived, they found an injured elderly man. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.
It remains unclear what caused the crash and hope someone may have any evidence that can lead to answers.
Officials are asking anyone who traveled in the area at the time if their vehicle has a camera system and may have captured the incident.
If you have information, you can call the sheriff’s office at 512-943-1311
TEXARKANA, Texas – The Tough Kookie Foundation hosted the Pedal Out Childhood Cancer on Saturday at Spring Lake Park to kick off the upcoming month of September, Childhood Cancer Month.
Cyclist Samuel Prewitt was diagnosed with leukemia in the eighth grade and fought bravely for five years.
He said it has been a long journey, and he has experienced challenges in life, but not quite like this one.
Prewitt also said it is difficult to talk about what he has endured because it is so hard to put it into words.
Robert “Bob” Ray Kovar, 79, of Leander, Texas, died Aug. 18, 2024, in an accident while bicycling. Bob was born on Dec. 3, 1944, in Taylor, Texas, to Daniel and Alice (Cuba) Kovar. He grew up in a large family with grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.
He attended West End Elementary School and graduated from Taylor High School. Bob got his civil engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin and immediately went to work for the Texas Department of Transportation.
After more than 30 years, he retired from TxDOT and pursued a very active life. He was an avid runner and bicyclist. Not only had Bob been a marathon runner, but he also supported friends by running in ultra-marathons. He participated in competitive bicycle races and in the last few years continued to participate in four of the major Texas rides. In addition, he was always working on projects, ranging from renovating the house he grew up in to working on classic sport cars. In later …
Charles Newton Jones, III, known affectionately as Chuck or Chuckles, passed away on August 7, 2024, at the age of 75 in Seabrook, Texas. Born on April 28, 1949, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chuck lived a life marked by kindness and dedication to his community. He fought a courageous three-year battle against ALS. …
… Chuck made life-long friends wherever he was. Chuck was an avid tennis player, sailor and cyclist. When he moved to Houston in 1989, after 11 wonderful years in Tulsa, he took up salt-water fishing, where he forged a special bond with his son. After retirement, he began long distance cycling and completed the ‘MS-150’ and ‘Hotter than Hell 100’ many times. Chuck had a great love of motorcycles and enjoyed countless adventures with his friends in the BMW Motorcycle Club. …
This week, Tyler Maintenance will have a crew performing bridge maintenance on various bridges throughout the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic. A second crew will be performing ditch maintenance on various roadways throughout the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic.
Smith County construction projects updates:
Legacy Trails Extension
Limits: Stewart Park to Peete Elementary
Contractor: THK Construction LLC.
Cost: $3.5 million
Anticipated Completion Date: Fall 2024
The contractor is scheduled to continue work on sidewalks this week. Work is only being performed inside the park. No lane closures are anticipated along Frankston Rd. This project consists of a hike and bike trail development that includes construction of a 12-foot wide shared-use paths.
A cyclist has died from injuries sustained in a collision with a vehicle in McAllen, prompting local authorities to issue new safety warnings for cyclists and drivers alike.
In a tragic turn of events, a cyclist died following a collision with a vehicle in McAllen, highlighting ongoing road safety issues in the city.
Details of the Incident
The accident occurred at approximately 8:37 PM at the intersection of Jonquil Avenue and McColl Street. McAllen Police responded promptly to the scene, where they found the cyclist critically injured. Despite immediate medical attention and transportation to a local hospital, the victim sadly passed away due to his injuries.
Driver’s Role and Police Investigation
The driver involved in the incident remained at the scene and cooperated with the authorities by providing a full report. The McAllen Police Department is …
WATERLOO, Wisconsin (August 22, 2024) — Today, Trek announced an all-new off-road series in Texas, which will kick off this fall with a three-race slate.
The Texas Off-Road Series (TORS) will follow a similar format to the Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS), which is one of the best-attended collection of mountain bike events in the country.
The Texas series will center around the Houston and Austin markets, with cross-country, short track, and time trial racing formats and family-friendly festivities throughout the weekend, including live music, food trucks, camping, and more.
I drove to Wichita Falls Friday to ride the Hotter N Hell 100k route today. Remembering the chip seal surface on FM2384 from last year I changed the tires on my Canyon Endurace CF 7 bike to 700×35 and aired them up to 58 psi. Thanks to some very nice friends (Jeff and Jodi) I shared a room at the new Delta Hotel near where the ride finishes. No need to drive from the hotel, find a parking spot, and ride to the starting line for the 110k.
My ride didn’t get off to a good start though. Riding to the start line I crashed while looking at the signs on where each distance would start. I turned left just as another cyclist rode up beside me and down I went. The video tells the story. I got up with road rash on my left knee and made my way to the 100k area. After the Star Spangle Banner finished 2 jets and 2 propeller planes flew over Scott Street heading north. That was at 7:05 AM. The 100k I was released at 7:27 AM. My road rash was stiff but after pedaling for some I didn’t notice the pain anymore. The hotel didn’t have enough ice for all of the riders so my CamelBak wasn’t filled with enough ice.
I skipped rest stop 1 but at rest stop 2 I filled the CamelBak with ice water and the water bottle with electrolyte.At rest stop 2 the route turned onto FM2384 where the super rough chip seal began. My 700×35 tires and lower pressure helped minimize the vibrations. This went on until we crossed Business US287 where the chip seal was worn smoother. At rest stop 3 I got more ice water and electrolyte in the water bottle. The water bottle wasn’t insulated and the didn’t last very long.
When I reached rest stop 4 I got more ice water. I brought an energy bar from the hotel and I ate it sitting in the shade. The rest stops didn’t have anything besides oranges, bananas, and pickles. Those weren’t what I needed. I decided to go to the medical area to get my road rash looked at. Two nurses took care of that in an excellent manner, checking my vital signs, applying cold cloths to my other knee and neck. With a bandage in place I rode off for the remaining 22 miles.
Not too long after leaving rest stop 4 Travis Armstrong appeared on my right side. He told me he and his family watch my YouTube videos. We talked for several miles. Travis has Parkinson’s disease and cycling helps him a lot. His son was at a place on the side of the road with watermelon and he dropped off to see him.
When I reach I-44 the route turned south into the wind making for hard pedaling. At the impromptu rest stop I stopped for some pickle juice and a few minutes in the sparse shade. Then I rode on the “real” rest stop 5. A snow cone and conversation with a lady cyclist under the tent shade prepped me for the last 10 miles. The wind was from the south at 10 mph with 20 mph gusts. Turning left over I-44 put the wind on my right until the next rest stop on the Air Force Base. More pickle juice and PBJ sandwich prepared me for the last few miles. Winding through the base the line of airmen cheered as I rode by aiming the GoPro towards them. I didn’t know but the wireless mic battery died then and I didn’t their cheers in the video. Off the base it was about 3 miles to the finish. The heat was high and the wind gusts strong until I made it to the finish line at 1:18 PM.
