texbiker.net

In case you missed the opening announcement, Bike Werks has opened. Located in the Humblewood Shopping Center (19635 Eastex Freeway US59 North), owner Brian Hughes has a nice selection of bikes and accessories.

I stopped in today to check them out. With a clean store and displays easily reached I was able to purchase a tail light for my night time mountain bike riding and a long stem Presta tube to replace the one with 7 patches on my road bike.

If you need a bike or supplies stop in and visit them. Phone 281-446-1320.

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I was reading a story in Inc.com about Chris Zane in Branford, CT. Zane has been owned a bike shop (Zane’s Cycles) since he was 16. Service is his key to success.  He states he cannot compete against Wal-Mart on inventory or price but he can beat them on service. Any bike he sells comes with free lifetime maintenance.

This is an interesting story. Do you know of a shop in Texas like this one?

As 2006 nears an end I am trying to reach the mileage goal I set back in January. I am 47 miles short. Tuesday I went for a ride even though my self-imposed minimum outside temperature was not going to make it. This brought back memories of riding in below 30 degree weather many years ago although it was only 55 degrees. What a south Texas wimp I have become. With several days to go there are still opportunities to cut that 47 mile deficit down. Now if the rain will hold off.

Several weeks ago I noticed that the Rock Shox Mag 21 suspension fork on my 1996 Raleigh M800 mountain bike was drooping. The suspension had left. With that age I was fearing the only solution was a costly fork replacement. 10 years of service was more than I had expected so the problem was bound to happen at some point.

Before I jumped to buying that new fork though I thought some research online might give me clue on how to solve this problem. After checking a few Google links I found the service manual for the Mag 21. Reading about disassembling the fork I saw that the air chamber (this is an air over oil type suspension) could be recharged by using a basketball needle and floor pump. The key was to use a needle without a side opening to keep from tearing the rubber seal and to use some grease.

A few cautious pumps on each leg and the fork popped back into full suspension mode. Thanks to the 1996 service manual I found I do not need to buy that new fork.

Now if I could have the same good fortune replacing my kitchen faucet.

According to Steve Sievert’s Cycling Notebook in the Houston Chronicle today, the Greater Houston Area Off-Road Biking Association (GHORBA) is deeply involved in expanding the miles of trails in the Houston area. The one that interests me the most is the Spring Creek Greenway that will extend from Tomball to Kingwood.

I have wondered why trails could not be made along the bayous in the Houston area.

Another area is the Lake Houston Park the City of Houston recently acquired on the east branch of the San Jacinto River along FM1485 east of US59. While the State of Texas owned the park not much trail work took place but the City of Houston and GHORBA are more aggressive.

Link to the whole article.

—Bicycling: Feb. 4, 2007, 9 a.m., Devine Ride, 11, 25 and 40 miles, park and ride off highway 90 in Castroville by Sammy’s Restaurant. (830) 985-3816.

—Bicycling: Feb. 4, 2007, 9 a.m., Leon Springs Leaderless Ride, behind Starbuck’s at corner of I-10 access road and Boerne Stage Road (exit 551).

—Bicycling: Feb. 4, 2007, 9 a.m., Fair Oaks Afternoon Ride, 20, 32 and 45 miles, Fair Oaks Ranch Center. (210) 698-6625.

—Half-marathon, relay: Feb. 4, 2007, 8 a.m., M.A.S.H. Half-Marathon, Two-Person Relay, Fort Sam Houston. (210) 385-8248.

—Bicycling: Feb. 10, 2007, 9 a.m., Boerne ‘is this the last hill?’ Ride, 25 to 70 miles, Fiserve Building in downtown Boerne. (210) 325-2500, (210) 524-9393.

—Bicycling: Feb. 11, 2007, 9 a.m., Woman Hollering Creek Ride, 26 to 70 miles, Judson High School, Converse. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Feb. 11, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Fair Oaks Afternoon Ride, 20, 32 and 45 miles, Fair Oaks Ranch Center. (210) 698-6625.

—Bicycling: Dec. 30, 9 a.m., Cibolo Ride, 20, 27, 39 and 51 miles, Wiederstein Elementary School, downtown Cibolo. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Dec. 30, 9 a.m., Stay-Together Ride at the Cibolo Ride, 27 and 39 miles, Wiederstein Elementary Schol, downtown Cibolo. (210) 365-7362.

—Bicycling: Dec. 31, 9 a.m., Rebecca’s Mirror Ride, 25, 45 and 75 miles, Bulverde Elementary School. (210) 863-6009.

—Bicycling: Jan. 1, 2007, 10 a.m., New Year’s Day Ride at Bullis County Park, 11 miles and up, Bullis County Park. (210) 494-0035.

—Bicycling: Jan. 6, 2007, 9 a.m., Comal Elementary Ride, 28, 48, 55 and 72 miles, parking lot across from Comal Elementary School. (210) 863-6009.

—Running: Jan. 6, 2007, 8 a.m., Elvis at Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 Grayson St. (210) 385-8248.

—Bicycling: Jan. 7, 2007, 9 a.m., Devine Ride, 11, 25 and 40 miles, park and ride off highway 90 in Castroville by Sammy’s Restaurant. (830) 985-3816.

—Bicycling: Jan. 7, 2007, 9 a.m., Leon Springs Leaderless Ride, behind Starbuck’s at corner of I-10 acces road and Boerne Stage Road (exit 551).

—Bicycling: Jan. 7, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Fair Oaks Afternoon Ride, 20, 32 and 45 miles, Fair Oaks Ranch Center. (210) 698-6625.

—Bicycling: Jan. 13, 2007, 9 a.m., Boerne ‘is this the last hill?’ Ride, 25 to 70 miles, Fiserve Health Building, downtown Boerne. (210) 325-2500, (210) 524-9393.

—Bicycling: Jan. 14, 2007, 9 a.m., La Vernia, Wilson County Ride, 20, 30 and 50 miles, city park in downtown La Vernia. (830) 660-7570, (210) 373-2010.

—Bicycling: Jan. 14, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Fair Oaks Afternoon Ride, 20, 32 and 45 miles, Fair Oaks Ranch Center. (210) 698-6625.

—Duathlon: Jan. 14, 2007, 9 a.m., Do Da Cool Duathlon No. 1, Fort Sam Houston (Brigade Gym and Salado Creek Park). (210) 385-8248.

—Bicycling: Jan. 20, 2007, 9:30 a.m., Southside Mission Ride, 27, 39, 51 and 61 miles, visitors center at San Jose Mission. (210) 533-3416.

—Bicycling: Jan. 21, 2007, 9 a.m., Classic Devil’s Backbone Ride, 27, 43 and 52 miles, public lot across from Gruene Hall in Gruene. (210) 492-9173.

—Bicycling: Jan. 21, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Toutant-Beauregard Ride, 21, 35, 47 and 58 miles, Old Town Helotes across from Floore’s Country Store. (210) 878-6960.

—Running: Jan. 21, 2007, 8 a.m., River Road Run, 12 miles, Camp Hueco Springs, New Braunfels. (830) 627-8401.

—Bicycling: Jan. 27, 2007, 9 a.m., Cibolo Ride, 20, 27, 39 and 51 miles, Wiederstein Elementary School, downtown Cibolo. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Jan. 27, 2007, 9 a.m., Stay-Together Ride at the Cibolo Ride, 20 to 39 miles, Wiederstein Elementary School, downtown Cibolo. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Jan. 28, 2007, 9 a.m., Kendalia-Crabapple Ride, 35 to 52 miles, Kendalia Public Library, Kendalia. (210) 863-6009.

—Bicycling: Feb. 3, 2007, 9 a.m., Bullis Park Ride, 21, 34, 48 and 66 miles, Bullis County Park. (210) 863-6201.

—Bicycling: Dec. 30, 9 a.m., Cibolo Ride, 20, 27, 39 and 51 miles, Wiederstein Elementary School, downtown Cibolo. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Dec. 30, 9 a.m., Stay-Together Ride at the Cibolo Ride, 27 and 39 miles, Wiederstein Elementary Schol, downtown Cibolo. (210) 365-7362.

—Bicycling: Dec. 31, 9 a.m., Rebecca’s Mirror Ride, 25, 45 and 75 miles, Bulverde Elementary School. (210) 863-6009.

—Bicycling: Jan. 1, 2007, 10 a.m., New Year’s Day Ride at Bullis County Park, 11 miles and up, Bullis County Park. (210) 494-0035.

—Bicycling: Jan. 6, 2007, 9 a.m., Comal Elementary Ride, 28, 48, 55 and 72 miles, parking lot across from Comal Elementary School. (210) 863-6009.

—Running: Jan. 6, 2007, 8 a.m., Elvis at Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 Grayson St. (210) 385-8248.

—Bicycling: Jan. 7, 2007, 9 a.m., Devine Ride, 11, 25 and 40 miles, park and ride off highway 90 in Castroville by Sammy’s Restaurant. (830) 985-3816.

—Bicycling: Jan. 7, 2007, 9 a.m., Leon Springs Leaderless Ride, behind Starbuck’s at corner of I-10 acces road and Boerne Stage Road (exit 551).

—Bicycling: Jan. 7, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Fair Oaks Afternoon Ride, 20, 32 and 45 miles, Fair Oaks Ranch Center. (210) 698-6625.

—Bicycling: Jan. 13, 2007, 9 a.m., Boerne ‘is this the last hill?’ Ride, 25 to 70 miles, Fiserve Health Building, downtown Boerne. (210) 325-2500, (210) 524-9393.

—Bicycling: Jan. 14, 2007, 9 a.m., La Vernia, Wilson County Ride, 20, 30 and 50 miles, city park in downtown La Vernia. (830) 660-7570, (210) 373-2010.

—Bicycling: Jan. 14, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Fair Oaks Afternoon Ride, 20, 32 and 45 miles, Fair Oaks Ranch Center. (210) 698-6625.

—Duathlon: Jan. 14, 2007, 9 a.m., Do Da Cool Duathlon No. 1, Fort Sam Houston (Brigade Gym and Salado Creek Park). (210) 385-8248.

—Bicycling: Jan. 20, 2007, 9:30 a.m., Southside Mission Ride, 27, 39, 51 and 61 miles, visitors center at San Jose Mission. (210) 533-3416.

—Bicycling: Jan. 21, 2007, 9 a.m., Classic Devil’s Backbone Ride, 27, 43 and 52 miles, public lot across from Gruene Hall in Gruene. (210) 492-9173.

—Bicycling: Jan. 21, 2007, 1:30 p.m., Toutant-Beauregard Ride, 21, 35, 47 and 58 miles, Old Town Helotes across from Floore’s Country Store. (210) 878-6960.

—Running: Jan. 21, 2007, 8 a.m., River Road Run, 12 miles, Camp Hueco Springs, New Braunfels. (830) 627-8401.

—Bicycling: Jan. 27, 2007, 9 a.m., Cibolo Ride, 20, 27, 39 and 51 miles, Wiederstein Elementary School, downtown Cibolo. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Jan. 27, 2007, 9 a.m., Stay-Together Ride at the Cibolo Ride, 20 to 39 miles, Wiederstein Elementary School, downtown Cibolo. (210) 481-1807, (210) 884-9470.

—Bicycling: Jan. 28, 2007, 9 a.m., Kendalia-Crabapple Ride, 35 to 52 miles, Kendalia Public Library, Kendalia. (210) 863-6009.

—Bicycling: Feb. 3, 2007, 9 a.m., Bullis Park Ride, 21, 34, 48 and 66 miles, Bullis County Park. (210) 863-6201.