Texas Bicycling News Digest February 18th 2016

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It’s gonna be hot for Jalapeno bike ride: Big event set for Saturday

By RAUL GARCIA www.valleymorningstar.com


HARLINGEN — It’s not a race, it’s a challenging bike ride that’s been around a long, long time.
This year marks the 26th annual Jalapeno 100 bike ride.
“It’s just a fun time,” said Kelly Roberts, event organizer.
And all the proceeds from the event are donated to the Harlingen Boys & Girls Club.
Last year, the Jalapeno 100 brought in more than $3,500 for the club.
The Jalapeno 100 took over where the Border Surf and …

Natalie Thorne bikes her way through Texas, Arizona, and beyond

by ELLEN CONRAD record.goshen.edu

When the weather is cold, the homework is piling and there is no end in sight, everyone eventually feels the deep need for a break. But not just a week-long break, like the long-awaited one next week, but a longer break to do something without the pressures of work and school.
Natalie Thorne, a junior sociology major, decided that she needed to take a break, but to do something during her break that she has always wanted to do—take a …

Alas, the 2016 Tour Will Not Happen

www.gouldsberry.com

…But, We May be Back for 2017
It is with great regret to announce that there will be no Tour of Navidad Valley event in 2016. We know many of you were hoping that we would go on as planned for April 9, but the transition to a new operations group has been slower than expected and, with so little time between now and then, we decided it was best to cancel. However, it is our hope that we will be back in 2017, so please stay tuned to this web site or join our Facebook page. Thanks for your patience, apologies for the lack of a 2016 event, and we hope to see you in 2017! …

Getting bent in Big Bend

By Terry Parsell www.crazyguyonabike.com

The rest of the story
Saturday February 13, 2016
The flight was OK, just two legs to endure. I had paid extra for aisle seats so I could exercise my legs and coddle my overactive badder. After getting my business and personal affairs in order I hadn’t had much time to think lately.
When all I had to do was to think I began to worry about the undone things at work, and all the things I had to do around the house.
We arrived in El Paso right on time My first impressions were the smells from the Tex mex place at the air port, the Adobe motif and the cowboy boots.
As I waited for my bag to come out I began to feel really anxious In fact I had been feeling that way all day. I must have checked for my boarding pass 10 times.
Then I began to go through the steps I had to take to get this trip started. Get my bag. Find the FedEx place. Get to the …

Family bike ride, rally for bike lanes set for Saturday

by Pam LeBlanc fitness.blog.austin360.com


Care about bike lanes and cycling infrastructure?
Check out two important events this weekend – a family bike ride to support the city’s proposed Bicycle Master Plan and a rally to demand that the city paint bike lanes on Mesa Drive.
Both events, organized by Bike Austin, take place Saturday.
The Our Streets Family Ride, a family-friendly ride down Shoal Creek Boulevard, starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park, 7000 Ardath Street.
The ride kicks off a …

New hike and bike trail opens in South Laredo

By: Omar Anzaldua                     www.kgns.tv


LAREDO, TEXAS (KGNS) – The second phase in a project that will provide a scenic connection between the Haynes Recreation Center and Highway 359 is unveiled on Thursday.
A Ribbon cutting took place at the Chacon Creek Hike and Bike Trail.
We spoke with representative Henry Cuellar about the project and he says he would like it to ultimately run from the Rio Grande, all the way through to …

Local scouts ready for 50-mile ride at Jalapeño 100

By TRAVIS M. WHITEHEAD www.valleymorningstar.com


HARLINGEN — Jalapeño 100, here we come.
Five Boy Scouts from Troop 1701 will take the 50-mile challenge tomorrow, earning a merit badge that will bring them one step closer to becoming an Eagle Scout.
And guess what? Some of them are only 12 and 13 years old. How does a 12-year-old …
Oh, never mind. The fact is they are doing it. After all, they’re members of the Shark Patrol in their troop. And …

A Ride to Remember

By Ken Kuntz www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 30: Austin, TX to 17 miles east of Fredericksburg, TX
Thursday February 18, 2016, 65 miles (105 km) – Total so far: 1,472 miles (2,369 km)
Starting Point: Austin, TX
Ending Point: 17 miles east of Fredericksburg, TX
Riding Conditions: Cloudy and cool early, but clear and warm after noon. Big south wind all day (occasionally unfavorable, but mostly a crosswind)
Miles Today: 65
Quotes for the day:
“This is not the end; it is not even the beginning of the …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/700305811071852544

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Texas Bicycling Event Reminders

Wind vs. Legs Bike Ride

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The weather warmed up slightly today at 74 degrees as I rolled out the driveway at 12:01. The blue sky from yesterday is still with us as well as the wind. The wind direction shifted to the south and south southeast. Anticipating warmer temperatures as I rode I chose to wear shorts, a short sleeve jersey over a long sleeve jersey and half finger gloves. I was comfortable once I warmed up but the strong wind (17.3 mph from the SSE at the beginning) still was a little chilly.

I varied the route to the north with the “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch” choice. The wind helped me along until I got to Roman Forest Blvd. and made the u-turn to the south. The wind slammed me and my speed dropped from 18+ mph to 15 mph. I had built my average speed up to 15.3 mph until the turn and it slowly dropped as I rode into it. At the 20.64 mile mark I rode into the Stripes station at FM1314 and Valley Ranch Parkway. My legs needed some rest before I tackled the remaining 11+ miles to home. I was there long enough to eat three granola bars, drink some water and refill my water bottle. The weather while I was Stripes.

Leaving Stripes I struggled in the wind through Briar Tree, Oakhurst and along the south bound US59 service road before taking the u-turn under US59. The north bound service road put the wind from my right rear quarter and I rode faster. I made it past all of the schools before they let out. I was back home at 2:39. The temperature was 78 by then and the wind even stronger, south 16 mph with 25 mph gusts. No wonder I had to pedal so hard. February bike legs are no match for the wind. March could be even be more windy.

With today’s 32.25 miles I am at the 90 miles left to reach February’s 346 mile goal. I plan on biking tomorrow and Saturday at the Bull Dog Bike Ride in Waller. The weather forecast calls for warmer temperatures with no rain.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/7886133/embed 50% 600px]

[iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/496575267/embed/dcf60e93472435c7ebbe54dd1885fed22a134b78 510px 410px]

Below is a comparison of the 4 previous rides on today’s route. (click the image to enlarge it)

2-18-2016 Ride Comparison Today's Route

Texas Bicycling News Digest February 17th

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Bike network would put Corpus Christi on right path

by Nick Jimenez www.caller.com

I still fondly remember my Schwinn cruiser bike. I got it one Christmas when I was a kid. Of course, it was red with fancy fenders and white wall tires.
I rode it to my elementary school. I rode it to my cousin’s house which was about four blocks away in our neighborhood. My cousin and I both rode our bikes to a ceramics class we had that summer; we had to cross a major street to get there.
I rode my bike almost every day until it got stolen. I hardly have been on a bicycle since.
I was thinking about my long ago Schwinn as I looked over the proposed bike network for Corpus Christi. It’s the work of the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Planning Organization, an …

FEBRUARY SUMMER~VeloVlog #15

Preston Glace

Recovery is one of the most important aspects of cycling, and yet it gets ignored so often. Many cyclists think that riding hard all the time will make them faster, but if you don’t have proper recovery, you’ll hit a wall and may plateau and then burn out. To avoid this, …

Tom Goes West 2016

By Thomas King* www.crazyguyonabike.com

Riding Schedule Proposed: 50 ride days + 14 rest days = 9 wks, 1 day
Wednesday February 17, 2016
See our planned schedule on the .pdf file to …

B-Cycle pumps up San Antonio bicycle renting station network

By Katherine Blunt www.mysanantonio.com


B-Cycle San Antonio is rolling out an expansion of its bike rental stations.
The nonprofit that runs the program plans to add three stations at The Pearl, San Antonio College and the DoSeum next week, which will bring the total number of stations in the city to 58.
“They fit really well into the existing stations and fill in some gaps,” said Doug Melnick, the city’s chief sustainability officer.
B-Cycle, which started in San Antonio in 2011, is a bike share program that …

San Antonio bike police first to get body cameras

By Guillermo Contreras www.mysanantonio.com


Starting next week, San Antonio Police Department officers on bicycle patrol will be carrying something extra: body cameras.
Each camera cost the department about $1,500. Eventually, all of the roughly 2,300 officers in the department will have the devices, Chief William McManus said Wednesday.
That includes McManus himself.
“I’m no different than anybody else,” he said. “If me or any member of the command staff were to go on the street and were …

Sports Authority employees told 25 Texas stores closing, including nine in D-FW

by Maria Halkias/Retail Writer bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com


Sports Authority, a company that gobbled up regional sporting goods retailers including Texas-based Oshman’s Sporting Goods in the late 1990s and early 2000s to become a national chain, is giving up on Texas.
The Englewood, Colo.-based retailer is closing all 25 of its Texas stores, according to store employees. That includes nine stores in North Texas, where it competes with the …

Fort Worth And Dallas Could Be Connected By A 64-Mile Bike Trail

By Dan Solomon www.texasmonthly.com


It probably won’t do for a daily commute, but those looking to get between the Metroplex’s anchor cities are on the verge of a new option.
Texas cities like Houston, Austin, and San Antonio have all invested in their bike culture. Austin has numerous bike lanes, still has a trail named after Lance Armstrong for some reason, and possesses a budding bikesharing program. Bikesharing is popular in San Antonio, too, while Houston has taken steps to make cycling in the city safer.
Dallas, though, consistently ranks among the …

The 2016 Bicycle Sport Shop’s Pay Dirt© Program

tmbra.org

The Bicycle Sport Shop’s PayDirt© Program is offered in conjunction with the Texas Mountain Bike Championship Series to encourage mountain biker’s involvement in the maintenance and building of trails, a mountain bikers’ greatest asset. The mountain bike racing community has a vested interest in improving our awareness of the trail resources we have and forging strong relationships with land managers and other trail users. The promoters of the Texas Mountain Bike Racing Association endorse the Bicycle Sport Shop’s PayDirt© Program and believe it will create a better environment for off-road cycling in Texas, not to mention new …

This weekend’s rides: New North Loop! Lazy Social Dam Loop!

by Thomas steinerranchcycling.com

This Saturday Brad will lead a 50 mile Saturday ride on a new route: http://www.strava.com/routes/4153129. Come and offer him a better route name than “Blended route variation”. After the ride hang out at Lakeside Pizza & Grill for discounted burgers and beer. They should have their new Stash IPA tap going by then!
On Sunday Jason will lead a ride only …

BikeHouston Ambassador Update – Sharing the Houston Bike Plan

bikehouston.org


BikeHouston Ambassadors are community leaders who want to promote safe cycling in their communities. Ambassadors make commitments to take an active role in shaping the Houston Bike Plan and its implementation. BikeHouston just held its third Ambassador Training on Feb. 11th. We had 30 ambassadors attend the Feb. 11th training, bringing the number of BikeHouston Ambassadors to over 80 people!
Want to join the Ambassador team? Get the scoop and sign-up here.
Find out what you missed at …

You’re Invited to Celebrate the Draft Bike Plan Launch!

bikehouston.org


You’re invited to our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Health Museum. This meeting happens once a year and is critical to the evolution of our organization as we recapture 2015 accomplishments and …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Texas Bicycling Event Reminders

Skeptical Was Good for this Bike Ride

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After checking the area temperatures I was skeptical of the 74 degrees my home weather station showed. So I decided to dress warmer than I first planned. I wore shorts, a short sleeve jersey, long sleeve jersey, half finger gloves and a windbreaker jacket. That was a good choice. The wind had a chilly bite to it whenever I rode in the shade.

I left home at 12:20 to ride the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route thinking I would ride 31 miles or so. I ended up biking 32.16 miles. I stopped at the Huffman Chevron at the 20.55 mile point to eat, drink and rest up from the chilly wind. The time temperature sign across the street listed 69 degrees with an occasional 70 degrees while I sat in the sun eating. My phone screen shots showed this.

The rest stop didn’t last too long because I wanted to get on the bike before I cooled down too much. Riding west on FM1960 was easier than getting to Huffman with the wind now coming from my back or left side. Also I was in the sun which helped to warm me up. I got back home at 3:00 with the beautiful blue sky.

No police or sheriff action on today’s ride. Just a normal ride.

February miles total 224 now leaving 122 to reach my 346 goal for the month. The weather should warm up tomorrow and the following days so more biking for me. The Bull Dog Ride in Waller looks good for Saturday. It could reach 80 then.

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