Texas Bicycling News February 16th 2016

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Fording the Frio #cycling

Bat City Cycling www.batcitycycling.com

Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest

by jrider www.bikemojo.com

Just got back a few hours ago. Rode part of the Old Ore Rd on day 1 and rode the Lajitas trail with the new Santa Cruz Hightower (29″ version) on day 2.
I’m not a bike expert and can’t give much of a technical write-up of my demo experience. But in laymen’s terms, this bike is pretty bad-ass. I have a pretty good 120mm travel bike that handles Deception and LGT just fine, but I felt more comfortable jumping on the HT after about 5 miles of riding it. The handle bars on the HT are closer to the seat than my current bike which makes it more of a compacted position. It was a little awkward at first, but I noticed after an hour of so of riding, that I did not have the usual lower back pain than I do when riding my current bike. I’ll be looking for a shorter stem for my bike in the near future..
I also rode and completed the Epic on day 3. Probably not the best idea after 2 days of riding and having a bit of pizza and beer the night before. My finish time wasn’t pretty, but I’m happy enough to have made it. Now that I know what to expect from this ride, I’ll start preparing for next year.
I’m back at home now. The bike is all cleaned up and ready to go, but I need a few days of rest.
Hope everyone else had a good time out there.

by June Bug

Another great year! Thursday afternoon was Lajitas (Airport) Trails, starting from the TPWD Barton Warnock visitor Center. Friday was Rincon, but shortened by using the Chimney Rock Cutoff (24 miles total). Saturday was Dome, using the Fresno Divide Trail to go over to the West Contrabando Trailhead, heading back on Contradando and lower Dome, then down into the creek bottom – 20 miles. I noticed that the Fresno Divide Trail is letting people put all sorts of new routes together.
Thanks Tobin, for the Tailwind mix! Works great.
Tired rider overhead in the Barton Warnock Center parking lot: “Never ride any trail with the word ‘mesa’ in it.”

by dburatti

Most of our group arrived on Wednesday in Lajitas in time to unload and do a shake-down ride at the Airport Trails on Loop 3. Wednesday evening three of us went to check out the remodeled La Kiva and then met the rest at the Boathouse for live music and drinks. Thursday some in our group rode the Old Ore Road ride, while some parked at the hot springs and rode up to meet the first group. Afterward, we hung out at the hot springs for a couple of hours, alternately dipping into the Rio Grande. Thursday evening was our annual chili cook off at the camp ground at Jimmy and Terry’s fifth wheel. Always good to see more people I haven’t seen in a while.
Friday we rode from our house to the airport trails, inadvertently taking a creek bed trail that petered out in what we later found out was just inside the National Park boundary. Oops! We found out way back to Loop 5, then 4B, then did 2 to 3 to 4 and onto Fun Valley then back home. Debbie and I ate a very lunch at High Sierra and was pleasantly surprised at the quality and quantity of food. From there, we met friends at the Starlight Theater for sunset and drinks.
Saturday morning we parked at the West Contrabando trail head and rode part of the dome, out to the Crystal Trail, Mission Viejo, the East Contrabado, and then the West Contrabando three mile descent back to the car. That evening we had a house party and cooked fajitas and all the trimmings and had a margarita cheesecake for dessert. Three people in our group and a couple of guests played more live music. Unfortunately, we had to come back Sunday. We’ll do it again next year. …

Spring Fever cyclists will be riding to help send students to college

By BUTCH BURNEY www.myssnews.com

Cyclists in the annual Spring Fever Bike Rally will be riding for more than just fun in the coming years — they will be helping send local youths to college as well.
Proceeds from the biking event, which is sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, will go toward several $1,000 college scholarships for Hopkins County students.
This year, the Spring Fever Bike Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 12. Registration is available through the chamber’s website, sulphursprings-tx.com, by going to the “Events” tab.
Chamber President and CEO Meredith Caddell said last year’s rally netted about $3,000 in proceeds. That …

Freeride512 Build & Ride Sesh at Rocky Hill Ranch!

Saturday, Feb 20, 2016, 11:00 AM

Rocky Hill Ranch
578 Farm-to-Market 153 Smithville, TX

4 Mountain Bikers Went

Build & Ride Sesh Saturday Feb. 20th!!!!! Meet 11 AM at the FR512 park located at Rocky Hill Ranch by the back gate off Arrowhead Dr.  Bring; bikes, drinks/grub, and tools. You must have a waiver on file with us to participate.Haven’t been before? You’re welcome to check us out and join a ride sesh before committing to membership. RHR’s $10 day pa…

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FR512 Crankworx Party at Pinthouse Lamar

Saturday, Mar 12, 2016, 12:00 PM

Pinthouse Pizza South
4236 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 Austin, TX

15 Mountain Bikers Went

Pinthouse Screening is a go at 12PM rain or shine. 9AM BCGB ride cancelled due to conditions.Please note, due to the ride’s cancellation there has been a time change for this event. Meet at 12 inside Pinthouse, not 9.Meet back at Pinthouse at 12 noon for the Crankworx party/screening. Address: 4236 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704You do not need t…

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Two Montgomery County Sheriff Cruisers Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

With weather as perfect as today’s I had go riding. I wanted to ride a longer route (at least for me) so I chose the “SR242 – Old Houston Rd – FM1314” route and ended up biking 42.76 miles. The sky was as blue as it could get when I left home at 12:07 and it stayed that for the entire ride. The wind was helpful as long as I was riding to the north but when I turned west on SH 242 I had to fight the wind all the way to Old Houston Road where I went left. The temperature was 77 as I left home but by the time I got back home it had moved to 81 degrees. The wind was from the SW at 9 mph with 16 mph gusts.

This was the first time riding this route this year. The road surface was much the same as the last time but when I got to the Grand Parkway overpass on FM1314 the traffic lanes were switched. Previously the east bound lanes compressed to one lane and went under using the west bound lane. Today the west bound lanes were closed and both directions used the east bound side of the road. Unlike before the shoulder was not restricted and I had no trouble riding through the work zone. James Webster had alerted me to this last week I think. After getting through the work zone I stopped at the Shell station at Cumberland Blvd. to rest, eat and drink some Gatorade. The humidity was 24% which can take away a lot of fluid. While I was there I took these weather screenshots.

You can see the wind speed in the left image. The humidity is even lower at 16%. The 24% is at my home weather station.

While I was biking on FM1314 about a mile west of the Grand Parkway construction two Montgomery County Sheriff Cruisers stopped in the west bound lanes. I don’t know why because they motion the traffic to pass them using the center turn lane. I earlier noticed a deputy sheriff at the Old Houston Road and FM1314 intersection in the Old Houston Ice House drive with lights flashing, a dark car with its doors open and a man crossing Old Houston Road approaching the deputy’s cruiser. The man was well dressed with a white shirt and dark pants. I have no idea what was going on.

I did take a quick break earlier at the Chevron station on SH 242 and FM1485. I needed to give my legs a short rest from battling the wind from US59 and refill my waterbottle. I was back on the bike in a few minutes.

The weather is forecast to be like this until Sunday. I plan on biking every day. I may ride the Bulldog Bike Ride in Waller. I have not participated in this ride before.

February miles are now 191.86. That leaves 154 miles to reach my 346 mile goal for February.

[iframe http://ridewithgps.com/trips/7869474/embed 45% 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/495125580/embed/93c765a8445acd64d29a42291ad0e816a59e22e1 45% 500px]

Texas Bicycling News February 15th 2016

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Odessa TX mountain bike trail

by Crannon forums.mtbr.com

If y’all are ever in the Midland/Odessa area there’s a decent mountain bike park with easy medium and hard trails. Here’s a run we did on the easy trail awhile back. Just FYI the easy trail is mostly flat, but the medium and hard trails are much better, I just don’t have footage of them (yet).

2016 update Texas Mountain Bike Trails

TexasMTBtrails

I’m back in front of the camera for the first time in 14 months and I’ve got some cool stuff coming up over the next few months. Check out what new stuff is in store!

2016 Zombie Goat Enduro – Texas Enduro

By TC www.turnincranks.com

While Texas isn’t a big mountain destination, we still have the luck to have an Enduro series. The first stop in the 2016 Southern Enduro Tour is at Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort, Texas. Boasting some excellent trails and some decent elevation, Flat Rock Ranch is a great venue for a Texas style Enduro.
The event was well run and a ton of fun. I hope to do more of the Enduro stops later this spring.
I entered the Master’s group and …

Rider Hospitalized Following Haltom City, TX, Bicycle Accident

Michael Grossman www.texas-wrongful-death-lawyer.net

Haltom City, TX — A man was seriously injured while riding a bicycle in Haltom City, Texas, on Saturday, February 13, 2016.
The accident took place in the 6100 block of East Belknap Street. Aside from the fact that the rider was hit by an automobile, very few details are known about what happened. A passerby was able to stop and call 911. Emergency workers arrived on …

FrankenBike Austin # 127: Part 1, Saturday, February 27, 2016, 10am-4pm

by Chris frankenbike.net

FrankenBike Austin # 127 Part 1 – Presented by BikeTexas – will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at La Fitness from 10am-4pm. 2020 W Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78757. (Map below)
FrankenBike Austin # 127 Part 1 will run in conjunction with the 2016 Heart of Texas Recumbent Rally and Rodeo so expect a nice group of cyclist to be in attendance throughout the day. Part 2 will be the following day, Sunday Feb 28, 2016 @ The Dog and Duck Pub. More info on FrankenBike Austin # 127 Part 2 here:
About the Rally: The Heart of Texas Recumbent Rally & Rodeo has …

FrankenBike San Antonio #68: February 20, 2016, 10am-4pm

by Chris frankenbike.net

FrankenBike San Antonio # 68 – Presented by BikeTexas – will be held February 20, 2016, 10am-4pm at the Appliance Liquidation Outlet Lot. …

HBC Ransom’s Chicken Soup Ride Ride

Houston Bicycle Club houstonbicycleclub.org

Sunday February 21st 9:00AM
This will be a leisurely group ride, exploring some of Houston’s interesting places, then ending up at the Chicken Soup Cookoff at the Congregation Emanu El on Sunset Blvd. We’ll ride around 20 miles, with a rest stop somewhere along the way. When we get to the Chicken Soup Cookoff, you can sample as much of the chicken soup as you want, from over 40 of Houston’s top chef’s. Admission is $12 per adult. Here is a link for information about the cookoff: http://www.chickensoupcookoff.com/
If you want to do the ride, but not the soup, then you will be just a few minutes’ ride from where we started. …

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Texas Bicycling News Digest February 14th 2016

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Tom Goes West 2016

By Thomas King* www.crazyguyonabike.com

Introduction – Aren’t the Prevailing Winds from the West?: Why are you riding west?
Saturday February 13, 2016
1. Winter legs – I don’t want to face the mountain climbs at the start.
2. With shorter rides to start, averaging 50 mi per day there’s more to do & see & more flexibility for end of the day stops starting in Florida.
3. I like Florida
4. I’ve read with the winds off the Gulf, more often the prevailing wind is from the east. We’ll see! (When you’re riding you always have the headwind!)
5. More familiar to less familiar.
6. I like different. (Tours & most riders start in San Diego riding east)
Basics: I’m riding the Adventure Cycling Association Southern Tier mapped route which …

GHORBA Monthly Ride- Lake Houston Wilderness Park!

GHORBA.org


Trail: Lake Houston Wilderness Park
Sunday, March 13, 2016 – 10:00am
Join us for the next GHORBA ride! Lake Houston Wilderness Park in New Caney TX on Sunday March 13th at 10am. $3 per person entry fee.
We will bring the GHORBA tent, a Gatorade and water canister, and some snacks.
Please bring your water bottles or Camelback
Damian Pool, our GHORBA trail steward, will …

Hausman Multi-Use Path will increase ridership ATX put on notice!

by Matthew bike4heck.com


This path is still under construction, but soon it will become a major path that I will use to access the linear creek ways of San Antonio. It starts on Hausman road near Loop 1604 and will run about 3.25 miles to nearly Interstate 10. This will allow access to the shopping centers at DeZevala and I10 which includes Sam’s Club, Walmart, Home Depot, Good Sports, Goodwill, Party City, HEB, Office Max.
Many of the stores I have closer access to, but considering this path is going right past some college housing, I’m sure it will increase ridership out here in the suburbs of San Antonio. It will also connect landlocked (neighborhoods with only …

More gravel than ever!

The Spinistry us9.campaign-archive2.com

We will try to keep this brief but we have so much to talk about this month. We have added event to the calendar throughout the year (and more are still coming). Be sure to like our Facebook page and follow the Spinistry Events there for the most up to date info.
More details below but this month’s notes include: Gravelthon T-shirt deadline is approaching, Red River Riot will give away …

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