Tuesday, May 26, 2009
5/26 Warm Warm! 76 Degrees
It was a balmy 76 Degrees. A hot weather kit day. Ride was routine and observed 3 Rec riders on my way in. One smoked past me as I got to the Memorial Expressway.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The 5/20 ride 69 Degrees
I haven't been blogging much do to time constraints. Plus, compared to Noah in KC there just isn't much happening here in Houston. I can't really stop and take interesting photos and my bike handling skills in traffic requires two hands so so much for photos on the fly.
I road in this morning and when I left the temp was 69 degrees. It was just warm enough to wear summer wear (Sugoi shorts, Old style polyester Performance jersey, sweat cap, cotton socks, Fingerless gloves) but it was a little chilly starting out. By the time I got to the office the mercury hit 61. The ride in was routine. On Memorial Dr. I got passed by two rec riders who I could tell were marveling over all the gear I was hauling.
I road in this morning and when I left the temp was 69 degrees. It was just warm enough to wear summer wear (Sugoi shorts, Old style polyester Performance jersey, sweat cap, cotton socks, Fingerless gloves) but it was a little chilly starting out. By the time I got to the office the mercury hit 61. The ride in was routine. On Memorial Dr. I got passed by two rec riders who I could tell were marveling over all the gear I was hauling.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Safe Passing Bill At Risk
EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET ON THE HORN TO THEIR SENATORS AGAIN, BEFORE 11 AM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2009 !!!
From BikeTexas:
Safe Passing Bill At Risk
Contact Your Senator NOW!
Today, Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) introduced the 2009 Safe Passing Bill (CSSB 488 / CSHB 827) on the floor of the Texas State Senate.
In a dialogue with Senator Ellis, Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) raised concerns about several aspects of the bill. Senator Ellis chose to withdraw the bill, pending additional discussion this evening with Senator Patrick to address these concerns.
BikeTexas had provided bill language and other information to all Senators' offices since the start of the session and had not been made aware of any concerns by Senator Patrick. BikeTexas staff are now preparing additional documents to submit to the offices of Senators Patrick and Ellis in preparation for tomorrow's session.
What you can do:
Please contact your State Senator no later that 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, April 8th!
Click here to find your senator, then:
* If you live in the district of an "Unconfirmed" Senator, including Senator Patrick: Call or email his office immediately to ask him to support Safe Passing. The list of senators is below.
* If you live in the district of a "Supporting" senator: Call or email his or her office immediately to express your thanks for his or her support for Safe Passing. The list of senators is below.
As always, please be sure to be polite and professional in your communications, whether your legislator supports or opposes CSSB 488.
Unconfirmed
Kip Averitt (R-Waco), Dist. 22
Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), Dist. 30
Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay), Dist. 24
Chris Harris (R-Arlington), Dist. 9
Glenn Hegar (R-Katy), Dist. 18
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-Mission), Dist. 20
Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), Dist. 3
Steve Ogden (R-Bryan), Dist. 5
Dan Patrick (R-Houston), Dist. 7
Support Safe Passing
John Carona (R-Dallas), Dist. 16
Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth), Dist. 10
Robert Deuell (R-Greenville), Dist. 2
Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock), Dist. 28
Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), Dist. 13
Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), Dist. 1
Mario Gallegos (D-Houston), Dist. 5
Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Dist. 17
Mike Jackson (R-La Porte), Dist. 11
Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville), Dist. 27
Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville), Dist. 12
Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo), Dist. 31
Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), Dist. 8
Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso), Dist. 29
Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio), Dist. 19
Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), Dist. 26
Kirk Watson (D-Austin), Dist. 14
Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), Dist. 25
Royce West (D-Dallas), Dist. 23
John Whitmire (D-Houston), Dist. 15
Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands), Dist. 3
Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), Dist. 21
From BikeTexas:
Safe Passing Bill At Risk
Contact Your Senator NOW!
Today, Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) introduced the 2009 Safe Passing Bill (CSSB 488 / CSHB 827) on the floor of the Texas State Senate.
In a dialogue with Senator Ellis, Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) raised concerns about several aspects of the bill. Senator Ellis chose to withdraw the bill, pending additional discussion this evening with Senator Patrick to address these concerns.
BikeTexas had provided bill language and other information to all Senators' offices since the start of the session and had not been made aware of any concerns by Senator Patrick. BikeTexas staff are now preparing additional documents to submit to the offices of Senators Patrick and Ellis in preparation for tomorrow's session.
What you can do:
Please contact your State Senator no later that 11:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, April 8th!
Click here to find your senator, then:
* If you live in the district of an "Unconfirmed" Senator, including Senator Patrick: Call or email his office immediately to ask him to support Safe Passing. The list of senators is below.
* If you live in the district of a "Supporting" senator: Call or email his or her office immediately to express your thanks for his or her support for Safe Passing. The list of senators is below.
As always, please be sure to be polite and professional in your communications, whether your legislator supports or opposes CSSB 488.
Unconfirmed
Kip Averitt (R-Waco), Dist. 22
Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), Dist. 30
Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay), Dist. 24
Chris Harris (R-Arlington), Dist. 9
Glenn Hegar (R-Katy), Dist. 18
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-Mission), Dist. 20
Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), Dist. 3
Steve Ogden (R-Bryan), Dist. 5
Dan Patrick (R-Houston), Dist. 7
Support Safe Passing
John Carona (R-Dallas), Dist. 16
Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth), Dist. 10
Robert Deuell (R-Greenville), Dist. 2
Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock), Dist. 28
Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), Dist. 13
Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), Dist. 1
Mario Gallegos (D-Houston), Dist. 5
Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Dist. 17
Mike Jackson (R-La Porte), Dist. 11
Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville), Dist. 27
Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville), Dist. 12
Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo), Dist. 31
Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), Dist. 8
Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso), Dist. 29
Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio), Dist. 19
Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio), Dist. 26
Kirk Watson (D-Austin), Dist. 14
Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), Dist. 25
Royce West (D-Dallas), Dist. 23
John Whitmire (D-Houston), Dist. 15
Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands), Dist. 3
Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), Dist. 21
Monday, March 30, 2009
March 30
Morning Temp: 53 degrees
Head: Headsweat skull cap & Helmet
Torso: Old style (Thick polyester) performance jersey and warm up jacket
Gloves: Fingerless (no liners)
Legs: Sugoi polyester shorts (heavier than normal lycra), leg warmers.
Feet: cotton socks
Overall comfort: warm to warm enough to unzip the warm up near the end of the run.
Ride was routine
Head: Headsweat skull cap & Helmet
Torso: Old style (Thick polyester) performance jersey and warm up jacket
Gloves: Fingerless (no liners)
Legs: Sugoi polyester shorts (heavier than normal lycra), leg warmers.
Feet: cotton socks
Overall comfort: warm to warm enough to unzip the warm up near the end of the run.
Ride was routine
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Traffic Skills 101 coming up soon!
The Traffic Skills 101 course is only taught a few times per year. This is the course that teaches you how to mix it up safely with cars on everyday roads, not on the law-enforcement-controlled pay-ride routes.This is the one that you really need to have if you want to be a bicycle commuter, for example. Even if you are an experienced cyclist, you are guaranteed to learn something in this class which will make your investment worthwhile... and maybe save you from getting hurt! $60 is pretty cheap as opposed to hitting the pavement, or a car.
Peter
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Traffic Skills 101 (formerly Road I) / Willowbrook area
Date: Sat May 16 10 am and Sun May 17 8 am
Instructor: Peter Wang
Location: REI Willowbrook, 17717A Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX 77064
Fee: $60 class fee (waived if hardship; family discount)
Description: Do you want to learn to cycle confidently and safely in the Houston area? Then this class is a must! Learn to communicate effectively with motorists and enjoy the ride. We'll discuss proper lane positioning, basic rules of the road, how to avoid obstacles, scanning, changing a tire, emergency turns, emergency stops, basic maintenance, and much, much more! Saturday will be all lecture (no bicycle needed) and Sunday will include parking lot drills and a group ride.
To register for this course, contact:
David Sims
Phone: (832) 237-8833 x206
Contact Email: dsims@rei.com
Signup required in advance? Yes
Special signup instructions: Please call the REI store to sign up for this class. $60 class fee
Equipment required: SAT: paper, pen, lunch or $ SUN: pen, bike, helmet, water, lunch or $
Peter
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic Skills 101 (formerly Road I) / Willowbrook area
Date: Sat May 16 10 am and Sun May 17 8 am
Instructor: Peter Wang
Location: REI Willowbrook, 17717A Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX 77064
Fee: $60 class fee (waived if hardship; family discount)
Description: Do you want to learn to cycle confidently and safely in the Houston area? Then this class is a must! Learn to communicate effectively with motorists and enjoy the ride. We'll discuss proper lane positioning, basic rules of the road, how to avoid obstacles, scanning, changing a tire, emergency turns, emergency stops, basic maintenance, and much, much more! Saturday will be all lecture (no bicycle needed) and Sunday will include parking lot drills and a group ride.
To register for this course, contact:
David Sims
Phone: (832) 237-8833 x206
Contact Email: dsims@rei.com
Signup required in advance? Yes
Special signup instructions: Please call the REI store to sign up for this class. $60 class fee
Equipment required: SAT: paper, pen, lunch or $ SUN: pen, bike, helmet, water, lunch or $
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Sustainable Living Houston kicks off National Bike Month 2009!
On Friday, May 1, 2009, residents of Cypress, Texas, will bicycle from the Coles Crossing subdivision to the nearby METRO Park & Ride and transit oriented development. By riding bikes to the Park & Ride, and then taking the #217 METRO bus to their work locations, the residents will complete a long-haul, suburb-to-city multi-modal commute without the use of private automobiles.
METRO has recently installed bike racks at the Cypress Park & Ride, and these will be used to secure the bicycles. There is also limited space for taking a few bikes in the sub-floor storage compartments of the # 217 buses.
Residents will assemble at 6:50 am on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Coles Crossing Community Center parking lot and depart at 7:00 am sharp. Use of helmets, front & rear lights, red rear reflectors and articles of reflective clothing will be mandatory. Residents will ride on the sidewalk south on Barker-Cypress Rd. to Jarvis Rd., whereupon the group will transition to riding on Jarvis Rd. in a vehicular cycling mode. The total ride distance will be about a mile each way, and the time to the Park & Ride from the neighborhood will be about 6 minutes.
The rain date for this ride is May 15, 2009.
There will be a highly recommended pre-ride safety briefing at the Coles Crossing Community Center parking lot on April 25th at 8:00 a.m. where helmets, lighting, bike commuter clothing, and vehicular cycling will be discussed, as well as a test ride of the route. This briefing will be led by a League of American Bicyclist certified cycling instructor.
SLH:pw
METRO has recently installed bike racks at the Cypress Park & Ride, and these will be used to secure the bicycles. There is also limited space for taking a few bikes in the sub-floor storage compartments of the # 217 buses.
Residents will assemble at 6:50 am on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Coles Crossing Community Center parking lot and depart at 7:00 am sharp. Use of helmets, front & rear lights, red rear reflectors and articles of reflective clothing will be mandatory. Residents will ride on the sidewalk south on Barker-Cypress Rd. to Jarvis Rd., whereupon the group will transition to riding on Jarvis Rd. in a vehicular cycling mode. The total ride distance will be about a mile each way, and the time to the Park & Ride from the neighborhood will be about 6 minutes.
The rain date for this ride is May 15, 2009.
There will be a highly recommended pre-ride safety briefing at the Coles Crossing Community Center parking lot on April 25th at 8:00 a.m. where helmets, lighting, bike commuter clothing, and vehicular cycling will be discussed, as well as a test ride of the route. This briefing will be led by a League of American Bicyclist certified cycling instructor.
SLH:pw
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The 1/27 Commute.
On Monday I saw that we were going to have one more warm afternoon with temperatures in the 70s so I decided to commute Tuesday morning. I almost hate saying it, but the morning run was routine there really wasn't anything to report. As a first leg of the ride though I was seven minutes off my "average" of an hour and 20 minutes. Like I said before though not bad for being out of practice. I was just glad to get some mileage in before the weather changed.
The ride home was truly wonderful as the temperature was right around 70 and I still had sufficient daylight left when I left the campus. This ride home was probably the most commuter filled I have ever seen to date. I know I saw at least three as I was coming down West Alabama. Two of those based on what they were riding in what they were carrying were true cycle commuters like myself. I even had the rare pleasure of bumping into a female cyclist as I was coming down Wesleyan; however, I did not have an opportunity to speak with her. As I arrived to Wesleyan I started noticing that the clouds were starting to build and the wind was starting to pick up. Consequently, I started picking up my own pace as the last thing I needed was to be caught out in the weather. By the time I got a third of the way down Tanglewood Road the cold front rolled in and announced itself with a nice hard gust against my front wheel and the temperature went from a nice balmy 70° down to 55 in the span of 15 minutes. Once I got onto Chimney Rock I started putting on the coal as it was then I started to lose daylight. I passed under I-10 and onto Wirt (same road as Chimney Rock, but gets renamed north of I-10)and somewhere around Wedgewood Lane I was passed by a southbound commuter who was riding on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, there was no time to really stop and chat, but we didacknowledge each other as we passed. I have no clue why he was on the sidewalk, but I'm guessing he was going to pull a left and did not want to contend with traffic. The remainder of the ride had nothing to report other than being a race against daylight. I did choose to use my NiteRider USB backup light instead of my primary Cyglolite for the ride down Westview. The Cyglolite is a bit of a pain to chargethat it has to be timed exactly to six hours due to a lack of power regulation/smart charging circuitry and I didn't feel like dealing with it when getting home. I found the NiteRider USB to put out sufficient light, but nothing to write home about. I definitely prefer the power of the Cyglolight; consequently that is why I use it as the primary headlight. I made it home right as it was getting completely dark and it felt good to have another 31 miles in for the year. The next couple mornings are to have morning lows in the mid 30s to upper 40s; consequently, I'm not feeling inclined to ride because I still lack good cold weather gear to contend with those temperatures comfortably.
The ride home was truly wonderful as the temperature was right around 70 and I still had sufficient daylight left when I left the campus. This ride home was probably the most commuter filled I have ever seen to date. I know I saw at least three as I was coming down West Alabama. Two of those based on what they were riding in what they were carrying were true cycle commuters like myself. I even had the rare pleasure of bumping into a female cyclist as I was coming down Wesleyan; however, I did not have an opportunity to speak with her. As I arrived to Wesleyan I started noticing that the clouds were starting to build and the wind was starting to pick up. Consequently, I started picking up my own pace as the last thing I needed was to be caught out in the weather. By the time I got a third of the way down Tanglewood Road the cold front rolled in and announced itself with a nice hard gust against my front wheel and the temperature went from a nice balmy 70° down to 55 in the span of 15 minutes. Once I got onto Chimney Rock I started putting on the coal as it was then I started to lose daylight. I passed under I-10 and onto Wirt (same road as Chimney Rock, but gets renamed north of I-10)and somewhere around Wedgewood Lane I was passed by a southbound commuter who was riding on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, there was no time to really stop and chat, but we didacknowledge each other as we passed. I have no clue why he was on the sidewalk, but I'm guessing he was going to pull a left and did not want to contend with traffic. The remainder of the ride had nothing to report other than being a race against daylight. I did choose to use my NiteRider USB backup light instead of my primary Cyglolite for the ride down Westview. The Cyglolite is a bit of a pain to chargethat it has to be timed exactly to six hours due to a lack of power regulation/smart charging circuitry and I didn't feel like dealing with it when getting home. I found the NiteRider USB to put out sufficient light, but nothing to write home about. I definitely prefer the power of the Cyglolight; consequently that is why I use it as the primary headlight. I made it home right as it was getting completely dark and it felt good to have another 31 miles in for the year. The next couple mornings are to have morning lows in the mid 30s to upper 40s; consequently, I'm not feeling inclined to ride because I still lack good cold weather gear to contend with those temperatures comfortably.
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