We waren in 2017 zo voortvarend van start gegaan. terug in Leiden wilde ik het fietsen niet opgeven. En dan bedoel ik niet het vervoer van A naar B, maar gewoon voor de lol een stukkie toeren. Op onze uit Houston meegebrachte racefietsen. Voor de goede orde we zijn beide geen racemonsters, maar we houden wel van een beetje doortrappen en zijn goed op elkaar afgestemd wat betreft tempo en duur. Het begon in september 2017 met de van Dam-tot-Damfiettocht, ik zag het staan en werd enthousiast van het idee om door de IJ-tunnel te mogen fietsen, wat normaal niet mag. De tocht was op 17 september, daags voor de verjaardag van mijn lief. Ik vond het wel een beetje lastig om dan weg te zijn, dus besloot ik hem een startbewijs cadeau te doen. Wat later een vriendin van mij de onbetaalbare uitspraak ontlokte: ‘Ik hoef geen cadeautjes dit jaar voor mijn verjaardag.’ Maar we mochten wel bij hen in Amsterdam overnachten. We deden mee aan de langste afstand van 150 en kwamen door schilderachtige plaatjes met nog schilderachtiger brugjes, molentjes en weggetjes. En dan een naam als de Hollands Kroon. Het smaakte naar meer. In het nieuwe jaar begon de voorbereiding op onze terugkeer naar Houston voor de MS150. Van Houston naar Austin in twee dagen, zo’n 170 mijl. Het hangt een beetje af van je startpunt en of de route door het park open is. Prachtige tocht, fantastisch weer. Geweldig om ‘oude’ vrienden weer te ontmoeten. Het smaakte nog steeds naar meer. De zomer van 2018 trainden we door. Op de fiets naar familie in Noord-Holland, 80 km heen en dan met de train terug. Altijd goed voor bewonderende blikken. En toen in september wederom de van Dam-tot-Damfietsttocht. Er dreigde regen,...
Ask what you can do for BikeHouston…...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
My sincere apology to everyone who feels offended by me mangling this famous quote from a former President, but I would really like your attention. While talking about cycling infrastructure and the role BikeHouston can or should play in advancing this cause I get sometimes a bit annoyed by the ‘what’s in it for me’ attitude. I won’t diminish anybody’s accomplishments regarding cycling. If you are a strong and fearless rider who owns the road, takes a lane and masters the street, well kudos to you. But I am not so sure you have not profited from all the hard work other cycling advocates have put in to make Houston a more bike-friendly place. So I would ask you join the workforce. Make BikeHouston as big as it needs to be to get the new Houston Bike Plan approved and implemented. Do it for your neighbor, you co-worker or a friend or family member who is not as brave as you. Who also wants to ride his or her bike to work, school, a park or a bar. They might need that separated bikelane to feel safe enough to take up cycling. Join BikeHouston now. Come out to our pep rally on Tuesday October 25th at City Hall. Become a member too, www.BikeHouston.org. -to be...
BikeHouston teams up for Bike Around the Bay...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Tips, tricks and information for all who want to join BikeHouston’s Bike Around the Bay team. “I am from the Netherlands so I have been riding bikes all my life. Mostly for commuting, although I never used that word prior to coming to Houston. I don’t call myself a cyclist either. I ride my bike to school, shops, bars, work, etc. I did a few holiday trips on a bike, but never an organized ride before I moved here two years ago. So I am no expert, but I decided last winter to ride the MS150 this spring and the Bike Around the Bay this fall and I will share with you how I prepare for these rides. Start today. If you want to ride Bike Around the Bay it is wise to start riding your bike regularly from now on. Even if you think it is too hot to ride. When I go for a longer ride during the day and it is hot I wear a bandana under my helmet that I soak in (cold) water at every stop. I drink before I get thirsty and I also pour some water in my neck and down the front. I eat breakfast at home before I go and bring some snacks with me. Something salty is a good choice because you will be sweating a lot. Ride longer rides. Plan at least once a week a 50+ mile bike ride. You don’t have to do it all alone. There are plenty of bike rides in and around Houston. Look at our website or the HTX social ride Facebook page for a ride near you. That way you don’t have to worry about what route you should take. You can post on a group’s...
Only two nights of sleep away: Austin here we come [5]...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Only two more nights of sleep before I am allowed to go. Looking forward to it. My biggest fear is that they will cancel the first day due to bad weather. It has happened before. For me a nightmare scenario. What am I going to do all Saturday then? So I block the rain out of my mind. I packed my bags and delivered my overnight bag at the pizza party of my team El Meson. There was more than pizza, one of our teammates is a baker and owns a bakery annex coffee shop annex luncheon and much more, at W Gray. He brought a chocolate cake for dessert, I fear I have to do the MS150 twice to burn off all the calories. It was good though. Team captain Regina explained the maps, the tags and everything else we can expect. It may be wet, it will be fun. Tomorrow morning I will clean my bike, adjust all the tags with my number and pack my ride bag: pump, rain poncho – ouch, some bars, water bottles, garmin, band-aids – not that I expect to fall, but I could help someone else, some cash and the necessary cards. Luckily I can go off to work after that, because otherwise I would be lost again and probably would start on my nails. – to be continued. MS150 outfit Ms150 shoes MS150 teamcake El Meson MS150 number MS150 picket pick up MS150...
On the Road Again to Austin [4]...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Well literally I am not on the road to Austin yet. That is going to happen on April 18th. Since I have my new road bike I am rather confident it is going to happen and I will finish in Austin on April 19th. Unless some disaster strikes me, but I try to keep my mind on positive signs. Yesterday I tried to explain to my team captain the Dutch phrase: Death or the Gladioli, in English you would say: all or nothing. Gladioli is in my opinion a rather ugly unnatural flower, connected to some activities concerning walking. It is hard to explain, but I have very fond memories of the last one when I completed the newly reinstalled ‘Avondvierdaagse’ in Leiden in 2012 with my former neighbor Elsa. Four evenings walking – I did only three – around the city. We did not get a second chance, the next year the event did not fit into our schedules and later that year I moved to Houston and a year ago Elsa died, only 52 years old. I will never forget her. She may be my true inspiration to ride the MS150. She showed me how important it is to live your life in full, when you have the chance. Ok, back to the Austin Challenge. Last week I had a pretty filled cycling weekend. I started on Friday night doing the Critical Mass on y mountain bike, I don’t dare to expose my new road bike to Houston’s potholed streets. The next morning I did my first ride with the Houston Ladies Cycling Club. We were only with three but had a good time scaling some bridges northeast of Houston. On Sunday I did my first real hill training driving out to...
Missing Link on an Otherwise Perfect Road Bike...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Last week my love bought me an awesome road bike so I won’t embarrass him and myself on my way to Austin. Like I already wrote No More Excuses. I cannot allow myself to trail all of my team members and force some of them to stay back with me. This afternoon I did a short test ride to the nearest BikeBarn shop. I really do think my bike is awesome, but I still need some extra props. The white water bottle holders are already in place and the little saddle bag with the basic repair kit also. What more can you need? Well I like the idea of an independent bicycle, even if it is a road bike. I want my bike to be a stand alone. And for that I need a kickstand. Some people think a road bike should do without and in one shop they flatly told me there is no kickstand for a road bike these days. Thanks to google I can now say: Yes there is. I also want a light lock for my bike. Just in case I need to use a restroom and I am all by myself. Not everywhere you can bring your bike into the restroom. At BikeBarn they hadn’t seen the Upstand kickstand before I found online, but they could order my lock in a bottle and I bought two spare inner tubes. I am all set. Hopefully it won’t rain in the morning when we set out. I have to wait for the rest, but it is getting there. I will keep you posted on the kickstand, but everyone who got curious can already take a look at www.upstandingbicycle.com. I think it looks really neat. Hurray for the independent road bike. –...
No Excuses Anymore; Austin is Waiting [3]...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Now I did survive two Urban Challenges, raised enough money to enter the ride, and get much more support I definitely cannot back out anymore. Austin here I come on April 19th. I ignore the miles ahead, I just keep my eyes on the prize. Besides I heard in Lagrange massage volunteers are ready to take our legs off and a friend of mine comes to Houston to take care of it a few days later. By the way she runs on Monday the Boston Marathon… My first two Urban Challenges of almost 50 miles I did on my mountain bike. Some people look a bit weary at me and ask: are you doing the MS150 on that bike? I guess I need an upgrade, especially when at the end of the ride I am trailing the group and one of the guys has to stay back with me to make sure I get to the finish line in pone piece. After I told my husband, he knew what I wanted for my birthday. So last Friday -the 13th, for me always a lucky day- I got a fabulous road bike. It needs a few more accessories and I am good to go. The next day he also got me a matching BikeHouston T-shirt. I can’t wait to get back on my bike again for a serious challenging ride. Where do we ride coming weekend?...
I Did Survive: Going to Austin [2]...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Yesterday I rode my bike to work -I was already happy I managed hopping out of bed after my Sunday Urban Challenge- and it felt good. So I got brave and sent Regina a message I would be in for a (short) ride today. She hooked us up with two guys and we went from Rice Village to the Columbia Tap Rail to Trail which goes up all the way to Discovery Green. We did a little detour around Holman and explored the Third Ward where we saw an amazing mural still in progress. One woman’s work, quite impressive. After a coffee break at the Doshi House, such a cute little place. They have good coffee and some great food. Check it out, just turn into Holman from the Tap trail and you will find it at the corner of Holman and Dowling. After that we picked up the trail again to Discovery Green. We took some time to look up the art and make some pictures. Also spoke with someone who wanted to go back to cycling herself. Regina gave her a BikeHouston card. Always on a mission. From Discovery Green we made it to the Bayou trails, City of Houston when will you turn Lamar St into a protected bike lane? Would make life much easier. We rode along the Bayou to visit the new dog park. It is beautiful. I almost felt sorry I don’t have a dog. I guess a dog rental place just outside would be the answer. Free tip for anybody who wants to take advantage. You are welcome. My cats would never allow me to do it. Coming home I thought it was the right time to take the plunge. I have edit my personal begging page...
Busy Bicycle Weekend: Going to Austin [1]...
posted by Gerry van Bakel
Today I did my first Urban Challenge in Houston. In preparation for my -also first- participation in the MS150, a famous fundraising ride from Houston to Austin, I really need to make some serious mileage on my bike. Two weeks ago I went with the Houston Bicycle Club en route through the Heights. A nice rookie-friendly ride with the halfway stop at a decent coffee place, but today was something completely different. Urban Challenge may meet at the corner of Memorial Park, the ride takes off to the outer loop city streets. I have to admit I lost track where we went after a couple of turns, but we had our taco-stop at the intersection of Sam Houston Parkway and West Little York. Regina already gave me fair warning in advance and one look around at my fellow riders confirmed my fears: this would be a tough group to keep up with. They are all pro’s on super fast bikes. And me. On my hybrid/mountain bike with rather thick tires. “Are you going to ride the MS150 on this bike?” I always get a bit nervous when someone pops that question. It is my only bike, so I guess I will. But it triggers the questions if need something else? I really don’t know. I do know it was a tough ride today, and only 40 miles. The most challenging part was that endless stretch on W Little York. After that I was done in. In April I should be able to do double the distance with many of those endless stretches I suppose, two days in a row. Tomorrow will give me some indication if that will be possible at all. First test will be if I can get out of bed. Second...
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