Texas Bicycling News for January 31, 2024

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Tour de Houston scrapped for 2024

Jay R. Jordan | www.axios.com

The city of Houston unexpectedly canceled 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 is considered by cycling enthusiasts as a warm-up event for the Texas MS 150.

In years past, Tour de Houston riders could choose to go 20, 40 or 60 miles.

Driving the news: The city on Wednesday sent an email to riders who were interested in the 2024 ride saying this year’s event was canceled due to lack of funding.

The intrigue: Apache Corporation, 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. …

The 10 Most Bikeable Cities in Texas

by Jamie Forbes | www.redfin.com

From the bustling streets of Austin to the serene paths of University Park, Texas offers a diverse range of cities that are perfect for cycling enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a beginner looking for a new hobby, you’ll find a city that suits your biking needs in the Lone Star State.

In this Redfin article, we’ll take you on a journey through the most bikeable cities in Texas, exploring their unique characteristics and what makes them a haven for cyclists. …

Spring News and Announcements

Dave Bellante | www.tmbra.org

Greetings TMBRA race fans,

We are on the verge of another Spring Cross Country Season. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time for TMBRA News and Announcements.

First off, congratulations to all our new Marathon State Champions. The jersey process with Jakroo is coming along nicely. The jersey will look similar to the XC State Champion jerseys but will have long sleeves and appropriate logos and wording. We will email our champions with instructions on how to order your jersey once we have our on-line store up and running.

2024/25 TMBRA year long number plate:

Our new number plates are almost ready. If you pre-ordered a plate via our …

Girlfriend asks ‘God, stay with him’ after boyfriend killed in hit-and-run

By Tommy Witherspoon | www.kwtx.com

WACO, Texas (KWTX) – Tammy Renee Blankenship hit Baylor University student David Grotberg with her car in October 2016, confessed that she killed someone to a co-worker the next day and then filed a fraudulent insurance claim to get her vehicle repaired, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday.

Prosecution testimony kicked off Wednesday in Waco’s 54th State District court in Blankenship’s failure to stop and render aid and manslaughter trial.

Court officials ended three days of jury selection Wednesday morning by seating a jury of six men and six women and one male alternate juror before prosecutor Will Hix and defense attorney Shane Phelps gave opening statements to the jury.

Hix and fellow prosecutor Tara Avants called three witnesses Wednesday afternoon, including Grotberg’s girlfriend at Baylor, who …

Three Road Rides In A Row. Sun Warmed Riding New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today’s bike ride continued the string of road rides I began on Monday. The weather warmed a little faster this morning allowing me to wear light clothes: shorts, long sleeve jersey, and wind jacket. The below freezing weather faded into the past. I pulled out at 11:40 AM on my Lynskey Helix bike heading north on the New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch route. The last time I rode this route was October 9th, 2023, covering 38.13 miles. I wanted to ride around that same distance today to narrow the miles I will fall short on my 334 mile goal for January. I came close with 37.99 miles today. That put my road miles total for January at 203.2. My legs felt good with plenty of sun and a light wind.

In Tavola I rode on several streets not included on the Bolt computer map. That reminded me a map update was available and I downloaded it when I finished the ride. Over in Tavola West I went on some new streets to avoid some of the home construction and I suspect those streets aren’t in the new map. The number of homes in Tavola West has exploded from the 5 or 6 several months ago to probably 10 times that many. I saw many nails on the streets but most were finishing nails laying flat so no flat tires today.

No other cyclists crossed my path today.

1-31-2024 Strava Ride Summary New Caney-Tavola-Valley Ranch
1-31-2024 Strava Ride Summary New Caney-Tavola-Valley Ranch

Texas Bicycling News for January 30, 2024

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County commissioner Rodney Ellis planning bike-and-hike greenspace for Sunnyside

By Andrew Dansby | www.houstonchronicle.com

The Hill at Sims will transform a dirt mound into a scenic center south of town

On a bike ride around Sims Bayou eight years ago, former state senator Rodney Ellis gazed upon a mound composed of 1.6 million cubic yards of dirt and imagined something beautiful.

Ellis returned later as Harris County Commissioner to scale that hill. There, in the Sunnyside neighborhood where he grew up, he looked upon Houston. Several miles to the west, the Williams Tower. To the east, refineries. Between them, the downtown skyline gleams.

On a sunny day that followed a rainy week, Ellis treks through the mud to the top of the …

Austin spending $20M to expand bike rental program and make it fully electric

by Bettie Cross | cbsaustin.com

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin’s bike rental program is about to go fully electric. On Monday, Capital Metro approved a $20 million contract to upgrade and expand the MetroBike system. Bicycles, docks, stations, as well as the software that runs MetroBike, are being overhauled.

When Austin started the city’s first bike share program in 2012 there were 10 stations and a hundred bikes. Now there are …

Austin’s Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail Transformed

www.austintexas.gov

The Trail Conservancy, in collaboration with the City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Art in Public Places Program (AIPP), is pleased to announce the artists selected to participate in this year’s TEMPO on the Trail–a public art initiative that invites practicing visual artists and artist teams to create short-term or time-based artworks at various locations along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. TEMPO aims to cultivate curiosity, spark imagination, and encourage exploration of the vibrant city of Austin through temporary art installations.

“We are thrilled to partner with The Trail Conservancy on the TEMPO on the Trail project, as it aligns with our mission to enhance the cultural vitality of Austin,” said Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department. “We aim to support …

Southern Tier El Paso to New Orleans

By Cortney O. | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 18: “rest” day in San Antonio: My rim is cracked, so rebuilding my wheel and exploring San Antonio on foot Monday January 29, 2024 I said “Rest” day in quotations because it wasn’t. Really there aren’t a lot of rest days while bike touring. If you are stopping somewhere it is to either be a tourist or get take care of the errands and business side of traveling minimal.

We didn’t have a real rest day because we had to walk everywhere in San Antonio. My bike was out of commission. I had a cracked rim and had to get my wheel rebuilt before we left town. Luckily Hank at Charles A James bike shop (in business for 105 years) could do it in a day. Whoo hoo!

We walked to the grocery store, the bike shop, the …

Day 19:San Antonio and the Alamo: We did not find Pee Wee’s bike and a rebuilt wheel saves the day Tuesday January 30, 2024 Today was all about being a good tourist

We walked to the Alamo and spent time along the Mission trail and the Riverwalk downtown. Ten more miles on our feet.

Picked up my wheel. Expensive but it needs to be safe and functional.

Leaving San Antonio in the morning. Camping outside of New Braunfels and then on to Austin to rejoin the Southern Tier.

Pop A Richardson, Texas

Arthur Westover | strava.com

This was the first warm weather Pop ride of the year. So this time it was not a combination of the A and B riders. There definitely were some accelerations. Some guys going off the front. Just like old times. But not like old, old times when we had lots of racers getting ready for the road race season on the pop ride. James put in a real good dig on the false flat before George Bush. I followed him and James dropped the group like it was nothing.

White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail Night Ride Houston, Texas

Michael St.Dizier Sr. | strava.com

Flat Fixed, New Asphalt, Other Cyclists Spotted. Atascocita – Walden – Spanish Cove Drive

Texbiker.net Posted on by

No problem deciding which route to ride today, south and east, on Atascocita – Walden – Spanish Cove Drive. Last night I fixed the rear tire flat on the Cervelo Caledonia bike. The problem was a previous patch I made using an adhesive patch came loose. I replaced it with a glue on patch and all was well for today’s ride. When I got dressed I put on leg warmers but just before leaving the temperature improved to 67+ so I removed them. My legs need a little time to warm up but after that they felt fine. I rolled out a little earlier than yesterday at 11:35 AM. I hoped to ride a little longer distance than this route usually is to set up the potential to get to 200 road miles for the month with tomorrow’s ride. I think I did that riding 36.61 miles resulting in 165.1 miles for January. 35 miles tomorrow is doable if the weather forecast holds true.

I didn’t expect to see other cyclists during the ride. The first cyclist was on Kings Parkway. I almost missed the three others because I had my head down as they rode the opposite direction on Kings River Drive. I was riding west, they rode to the east.

You can see in the video the asphalt work on Old Atascocita Road. Nice new asphalt is always appreciated.

No Strava local legend today. I did ride the KPHS Sprint segment today which I don’t normally include in this route to give me a buffer on the ride count.

1-30-2024 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Walden-Spanish Cove Drive
1-30-2024 Strava Ride Summary Atascocita-Walden-Spanish Cove Drive