Texas Bicycling News December 24th

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Somebody Designed a Poncho For Bike Riders

curbed.com


The best ideas are the ones that make you say, “Wait, how did this not exist already?” and the BONCHO, a poncho that fits over the handlebars of your bike, definitely fits into that category. It is currently well on its way to meeting its $16,298 Kickstarter goal, having raised $10,312 via 178 backers, with 28 days left to …

First Day Hikes let revelers walk it off

By John Goodspeed        www.expressnews.com

State parks to greet New Year with runs, rides and paddles

A group hikers wind their way on a trail on the 2015 First Day Hike at Franklin Mountains State Park at El Paso, one of 75 state parks, natural areas and historic sites that will offer 107 events on Jan. 1.
Health-conscious outdoor enthusiasts can ring in the New Year with First Day Hikes.
Seventy-five state parks, natural areas and historic sites will offer 107 events on Jan. 1 including a First Day Polar Plunge at Balmorhea State Park, a First Day Hike in the Footsteps of Texians at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, a Tot’s First Tromp at Bastrop State Park, a First Day …

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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Texas Bicycling Event Reminders

Texas Bicycling News December 23rd

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4 Places for Biking in Dallas This Winter

Bill Shirer        www.cyclistatlaw.com


Biking during the winter in Dallas is a welcome change from the sweltering heat of a Texas summer. The crisp air can be invigorating and recharging during your ride. Here are the top places to bike this winter in Dallas.
1.  Boulder Park
When you are looking for a bike trail that has some significant climbs, you want to consider Boulder Park. The trail is located in South Dallas at 6600 Pastor Bailey Drive. Hours of the trail are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. There are two loops that have different skill levels. If you are an experienced mountain biker, take a ride on the …

Xing Corpus Christi Bay Bridge

tcs        www.bikeforums.net

I been playing around with possible 2016 tour ideas. Question: how does a cyclist cross the Corpus Christi Bay Bridge?

You used to be able to take a ‘scenic’ detour down Navigation and cross on the old lift bridge…but they tore the lift bridge down. Funny how we can’t afford to maintain the infrastructure we once built.
It seems to be against city ordinance to actually ride across the bridge. This option isn’t terribly appealing anyway – no shoulders & motor vehicle traffic moving at 50+mph relative speed. Fun fact: the current bridge was designed during a ‘bike bust’ period almost …

UPS uses bicycles for holiday deliveries

By Troy Pope        www.fresnobee.com


The program has been going on for at least five years
UPS stores package pods in neighborhoods that cyclists deliver from
UPS trucks are a common sight in Fresno-area neighborhoods as the holiday shipping season reaches its peak. But don’t be surprised if you see UPS using a slower, lower-tech (and quieter) vehicle to deliver packages – a bicycle.
UPS has geared up for the holidays by adding bicycles (and small bike trailers) to its delivery team.
“UPS has about a dozen or so bicycles in some suburban residential areas of Fresno,” said Susan Rosenberg, UPS public relations director. The program has been going on for at least five years.
Bicycles are used in many places including Ventura, Santa Barbara, Portland, areas of Arizona, Texas and …

Pickup hits rider; 2nd bicyclist killed in Austin traffic this year

By Katie Urbaszewski – American-Statesman Staff        www.mystatesman.com


It had looked like Austin might be able to close out the year with only one recorded bicycle fatality, but a second bicyclist died on the city’s roads Tuesday morning.
Stephen Arthur Guiney died after being hit by a pickup headed north on Brodie Lane, just south of …

City of Early awarded nearly half-million for transportation pathways

By Andrew Valderas        www.brownwoodtx.com

The City of Early was included last week in a $25 million project approved by the Texas Transportation Commission that will allow the city to use nearly a half-million dollars to construct approximately one mile of sidewalks and another half-mile of bicycle lanes.
According to a press release from the Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Early will use $492,226 to create sidewalks that will connect campuses within Early Independent School District with area neighborhoods, as well as a new multimodal transportation facility from City and Rural Rides. Bicycle lanes will be …

Mastermind nabbed: High-end bicycle thief caught

By KAYLEIGH SOMMER        www.valleymorningstar.com


HARLINGEN — Police caught what some might call a “serial bicycle thief.”
Austin resident Marcelino Avelar-Rapalo, 30, the mastermind behind the theft of 97 high-end bicycles finally has been arrested.
Rapalo is accused of stealing at least 97 bicycles in the Austin area since 2013.
Some of the stolen bikes turned up as …

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Texas Bicycling Event Reminder

Who Said It Can’t 82 in December Bike Ride

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I try not to lead off with the weather when I write about my bike rides but it is hard to hold back when it is 82 degrees and clear on December 23rd. I probably dressed warmer than I needed to wearing a long sleeve jersey but when I was getting ready to leave the sky was cloudy but as I finished eating a pre-ride snack I saw the blue sky to the north was moving in. I started the ride at 11:41 and as I rolled out the driveway I knew this was going to be a great ride.

The route I chose, “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch, is one I rode many times before the Grand Parkway construction began but checking my records this is the first time riding this route in 2015. The main reason I could ride was the new streets by the New Caney ISD stadium let me get around the construction area. As I was riding to Roman Forest Blvd. the wind helped me along and I figured when I turned back to the south there the wind would be a problem but it must have slowed down some from the 24 mph gusts I saw before I left home. I had to pedal hard but I was able to keep my speed at 17 mph or above. Riding west around the stadium the wind was stronger but I stopped twice to take some pictures and this broke up the hard pedaling enough.

Riding south on Valley Ranch Parkway I stopped at the Stripes station at FM1314. At that point I was 21.52 miles into the ride. I took a 30 minute break eating two trail mix bars and drinking some Gatorade. I stood under the pump canopy and was comfortable since it was so warm. From there I rode south through Briar Tree and Oakhurst before getting back to the US59 southbound service road just north of Kingwood Drive. This is where I make my way back into Kingwood on side streets. When I started the ride I took the new street I found on another ride through Woodridge Forest.

Woodland Hills Drive leaving Kingwood

Tavola Lake at Roman Forest Blvd

New Caney ISD Stadium looking west

New Caney ISD Stadium scoreboard looking north

 

Weather at the Stripes rest stop.

I got home at 2:37 feeling great to be able to ride in this weather on December 23rd. Thursday and Friday are forecast to be as warm but Christmas may be wet as well. No matter, no bike ride on Christmas.

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Texas Bicycling News December 22nd

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Happy Winter Solstice. Now the daylight begins getting longer which means more time to ride!!!

El Paso County Attorney awards scholarships to violence victims through Cycle for Change program

By Estefania Seyffert        borderzine.com


Overseeing daily cases of domestic violence prompted El Paso County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal and her staff to develop an idea for partnering with women to break the cycle of violence and help them to thrive.
The idea gave birth to Cycle for Change, an annual cycling tour that began in 2013 to raise money for scholarships for women who are trying to move beyond a past of domestic violence. The scholarships can be used in pursuit of any endeavor, whether it be academic or therapeutic
El Paso’s county attorney’s office helps obtain protective orders for …

Santa comes early: Bicycles bring smiles

By Deanna Kirk        www.corsicanadailysun.com


On Friday, when the kids got off the bus at the Boys and Girls Club, they were excited about being out of school for two weeks, happy about the Christmas party they would have later that afternoon, and anticipating Christmas.
But they had no idea what was about to happen.
When the children were led around the back of the building, row upon row of pink and blue bicycles met their gaze. Every child received a bicycle, thanks to the …

Pro CX: Driscoll, Mani closing in on titles

www.usacycling.org


Jamey Driscoll took two wins on the weekend to grow his lead in the standings. (photo by Bo Bickerstaff/CX Magazine)
Jamey Driscoll (Park City, Utah/Raleigh Clement) took two wins at the Dec. 19-20 Highlander Cross Cup in Waco, Texas, inching closer to the Professional Cyclo-Cross Calendar (Pro CX) championship.
Although she did not record any points on the weekend, Caroline Mani (Littleton, Calif./Raleigh-Clement) holds a large lead in the women’s standings, ranking first with 818 points.
Highlander Cross Cup Men’s and Women’s Day 1 and Men’s and Women’s race recaps (CX Magazine).
Highlander Cross Cup results.
Pro CX standings: …

Cyclist killed in crash with truck on Brodie Lane

By Andy Jechow        kxan.com

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A cyclist was killed in South Austin after colliding with a truck, Tuesday morning.
Medics responded at around 6:30 a.m. to the 10200 block of Brodie Lane, just a few blocks south of Slaughter Lane.
Austin-Travis County EMS say CPR was attempted on the bicyclist but …

Amanda Nauman Wins Day Two of Highlander Cross Cup – Full Results

by John Proppe        www.cxmagazine.com


Day two of the Highlander Cross Cup in Waco, T.X. got off to a quick start as day one winner and undisputed favorite, Amanda Nauman (SDG-Muscle Monster) took the holeshot. Nauman was joined by Emily Kachorek (Squid Bikes), Christina Gokey-Smith (Dallas Bike Works) and Kathryn Cumming (Cyclocross Magazine Racing). Sally Annis (pedalpowertraining.com) would quickly join the lead group as they worked to …

This Week’s Activities

Fort Worth Bicycling Association

Burleson and Beyond
Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:00 am
Burleson: Commerce Street

Rusty Chain Gang Romp
Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:00 am
Benbrook: YMCA

Joe Pool Lake Marina
Saturday, December 26, 2015 8:00 am
Joe Pool Lake Lynn Creek Marina

The Rusty Chain Gang Ramble
Tuesday, December 29, 2015 9:00 am
Ft Worth: Christ Lutheran Church

Texas Bicycling from Twitter

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New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar