Texas Bicycling News Friday – April 26, 2024

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Houston city officials halt major part of Shepherd and Durham redesign, risking millions in funding

By Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com

Houston city officials have put the brakes on the middle piece of a planned redesign of Shepherd and Durham along the edge of the Heights, a decision that community officials and others say puts millions of dollars destined for the city at risk.

Rumored for weeks, and predicted by critics of Mayor John Whitmire’s transportation policies, the city’s decision to not support any plan that removes lanes along the parallel, four-lane-wide corridors is likely to leave a gap in bicycle lanes along the streets between Interstate 10 and 15th Street.

For the segment from near …

Everyone should visit here! Dinosaur valley State Park

PI E-MTB | www.youtube.com

I took the drive out here to ride some trails and ended up, stepping in dinosaur footprints, running into a snake, and exploring the park. And of course I rode the trails.! and I just have to say Dino tracks next to mountain bike trails… proof that dinosaurs rode bikes???? now that I think about it dinosaurs on bikes is terrifying. The trails will need constant maintenance from all those ruts

Thousands of cyclists to take part in 40th annual MS 150

by: Seth Kovar | cw39.com

HOUSTON (KIAH) For some, the symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be mild, but for others, they’re downright debilitating.

With that in mind, more than 5,400 cyclists will hit the road this weekend to raise awareness about MS and to raise money for research that hopefully one day leads to a cure. …

A Bike Rodeo Is Coming To Lubbock

Chad Hasty | kfyo.com

What do you know about bike safety? If the answer is “not much” or “nothing at all” you might just want to participate in this great event that will be hosted by the Lubbock Parks and Recreation Department. In fact, even if you know a great deal about bike safety, it will still be a fun event for the family.

According to a Facebook post by the Lubbock Parks and Recreation Department, the Bike Rodeo will take …

How Texas MS 150 brings in funds to fight the disease better than ever

Haley Hernandez | www.click2houston.com

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a devastating diagnosis that affects about a million people in the United States. The good news is there’s been more progress in MS than in any other neurological disease.

In part because of an event happening this weekend; the Texas MS 150 bike race is the biggest fundraiser in the nation for the debilitating disease.

“The Texas MS 150 is the largest of all. By a lot, I mean, everybody’s chasing this ride and trying to make it as amazing as this ride. In terms of the number of people and the incredible outpouring of the community that comes out and really supports riders along the route. It’s an amazing opportunity for people to engage with the Society and there’s lots of different routes. People can …

Lake Houston Wilderness Park on My Trek Marlin 8 MTB

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I drove to the Lake Houston Wilderness Park east of New Caney to ride my new Trek Marlin 8 MTB. This was my first time there and probably the first time to ride trails. The last time I rode a MTB was over 6 years ago on the docile Kingwood greenbelt trails. Those are paved but today I started out on a dirt and tree roots trail. Before I arrived at the park I wanted to ride 26 miles. After the first mile I hoped to ride 5 miles. No question, I was out of my skill zone and comfort zone on the trails. Later when I moved to the gravel roads and dirt trails my riding skills were more in line with the terrain. I forget how far I was on that first trail (maybe 1/2 mile) rounding a bend on tree roots seeing ahead a drop to a wood bridge with a big tree root on the other side and uphill. I tried to stop to decide how to ride that but when I put my right foot down I ended up laying in the leaves on my side. I walked across the bridge and up the hill over that large root.

4-26-2024 Trek Marlin 8 Lake Houston Wilderness Park-3
4-26-2024 Trek Marlin 8 Lake Houston Wilderness Park-3
4-26-2024 Trek Marlin 8 Lake Houston Wilderness Park-2
4-26-2024 Trek Marlin 8 Lake Houston Wilderness Park-2
4-26-2024 Trek Marlin 8 Lake Houston Wilderness Park-1
4-26-2024 Trek Marlin 8 Lake Houston Wilderness Park-1

Staying on the trails for awhile my speed was slow (5 mph maybe) maneuvering over and around the roots. I have more appreciation for the MTB XC racers now. Later sections of the trail switched from dirt and tree roots to soft sand. The 29×2.35 tires on my Trek Marlin 8 MTB floated on the sand with my legs pedaling fast to keep my momentum.

I don’t remember when I decided to leave the trails and move to the gravel roads. Maybe it was when the Ameri Trail crossed a gravel road. There was a man walking to his pickup truck on the side of the road. He had tried to fish but his new reel broke. Later I saw his truck at the Caney Creek Landing fishing spot.

Exploring the roads took by the park headquarters and camping areas. Not sure where I was going I looked at the park map a few times to get my location. Winding on the gravel roads I made it to the 5 Mile Road parallel to the power lines. I saw a sign that said “Bicycle Trail” and went on it. This was mostly dirt with a few roots. Several trail turns and offshoots came up and I took the North River trail. I stopped when some small logs crossed the trail. Looking beyond the logs the trail looked more grass than dirt and I turned around heading back to 5 Mile Road.

5 Mile Road stretched into the distance. I came to a gate with a sign announcing hikers and bikers only beyond it. A sign showed Lake Isabel 3 miles ahead. That was my new destination. Biking to the lake 2 deer stood beside the road (see the video) and ran into the woods. A little farther in a grassy area 4 deer ate grass. At Lake Isabel I turned around (at 15.3 miles) biking back to the gate. In the same grassy spot the 4 deer had moved to the other side of the trail (see the video). It was 19.3 miles when I reached the gate. I took the gravel road to the left. Parts of it looked familiar from my earlier riding. At Caney Creek Landing the road circled back. I decided to head back to where I parked the Jeep. It was farther than I guessed allowing me to finish with 22.17 miles. Not the 26 miles I planned but close. My legs were tired from riding. The Trek Marlin 8 weighs 32 pounds, almost double my Cervelo Caledonia.

Strava top results: PR on Trail to Trail (3:31) and 2nd fastest time on Trail to Trail (4:00). These happened because I rode the same trail twice.

Link to photos.

4-26-2024 Strava Ride Summary Lake Houston Wilderness Park
4-26-2024 Strava Ride Summary Lake Houston Wilderness Park
4-26-2024 SportTracks Ride Summary Lake Houston Wilderness Park
4-26-2024 SportTracks Ride Summary Lake Houston Wilderness Park

Texas Bicycling News Thursday – April 25, 2024

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This weekend’s Texas MS 150 has special meaning for Houston Heights couple

By Lindsay Peyton | www.houstonchronicle.com

Lindsay Purcell, a cyclist and a competitive rock climber, who has MS, is shown Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Houston. She won bronze medals in the USA Paraclimbing Nationals in 2023 and 2024.

The Texas MS 150 is a team effort for Houston Heights residents Lindsay and Nick Purcell.

The couple weren’t avid cyclists before becoming regulars at the annual 150-mile, two-day bike tour, a major fundraiser for the National MS Society.

But for the past 13 years, Lindsay, 35, and Nick, 34, have been going the distance for the charity ride, which celebrates its 40th anniversary April 27-28. …

Texas MS 150 Bike Tour Returns To Aggieland

By Texas A&M University Division of Marketing and Communications | today.tamu.edu

The annual charity ride will conclude on the Texas A&M campus on April 28. Learn more about road closures, parking and where to watch.

Texas A&M University will once again serve as the finish line for thousands of cyclists riding in the Texas MS 150 when the 40th annual charity bike tour concludes Sunday on Houston Street between Kyle Field and Aggie Park.

The two-day event benefiting people with multiple sclerosis — a condition that damages the body’s nervous system by eroding the protective coating of nerves — will run April 27-28, with a variety of routes beginning in Houston and Austin before converging in La Grange and again in College Station. Texas A&M Transportation Services is advising drivers to anticipate multiple road closures and potential delays beginning early Sunday as the riders make their way through campus.

A section of Lamar Street starting at …

Three 2024 Bike MS: Texas MS 150 cyclists share this year’s jersey designs and why they ride

By Amber Elliott | www.houstonchronicle.com

2024 Texas MS 150 celebrates 40 years, $310 million raised for National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

It’s become tradition for the Saint Arnold Bike Team to wear the new jersey design, this year inspired by new beer offering Grand Prize, on day one for the Texas MS 150 and wear the Saint Arnold signature tie-dye, or pick one of their favorites from previous years, to the finish line. Here, Wesley Reynal and Edward Tatuaca model each look.

This year, the 2024 Bike MS: Texas MS 150 celebrates 40 years, and $310 million toward the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s mission to cure MS. Come Friday, roughly 6,150 cyclists from more than 400 cities across Texas will gather in Houston and Austin for the 150-mile charity ride with a finish line in College Station. …

Memorial Park Mountain Bike Trails

Duke’s Outfitters | www.youtube.com

I finally branched out and visited a new trail in the Houston area. This time I’m riding the Memorial Park Mtb trails with Carter. We had a blast and only got lost a couple times

Bridgeland – WAF Harris County, Texas

Marjoe Q. Borromeo | strava.com

MTB – Green Dragons The Woodlands, Texas

John Zgourides | strava.com

The Road to 799: Counting Miles on Familiar Roads

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Biking south and east today following my Atascocita – Walden – Spanish Cove Drive route. This was the 9th time biking this route in 2024. Probably one of the routes rode this year. The other contender is my Atascocita – Walden – Huffman route. I started earlier than yesterday at 11:09 AM on my Cervelo Caledonia bike. The cloudy sky didn’t look threatening but on Woodland Hills Drive a few raindrops landed on the Bolt computer screen. That wasn’t the last time that happened until I reached Atascocita Shores Drive at FM1960. From there the sky brightened some until I finished at 1:55 PM. The wind was strong enough to dissuade me from riding south on FM2100 to Indian Shores Road settling to make the u-turn at Spanish Cove Drive. I saw another cyclist on Old Atascocita Road going the opposite direction. Today’s 36.35 miles is the average distance for the route and got to within 58.4 miles of my April goal of 799 miles. YTD 2024 miles is neck to neck with 2023 miles with 2929 versus 2927 for 2023.

Weather: Start 75 degrees, humidity 88%, dew point 70.8, cloudy, wind SE 13 mph; @25 miles 77 degrees, humidity 79%, dew point 70, cloudy, wind S 11 mph; Finish 79 degrees, humidity 78%, dew point 71.8, cloudy, wind SE 13 mph. After I finished the ride the wind picked up to 21 mph with 33 mph gusts like the forecast said.

Link to the AXS.SRAM.com ride report.

4-25-2024 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Walden-Spanish Cove Drive
4-25-2024 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Walden-Spanish Cove Drive