Maxwell Johnston | bikepacking.com
Located less than an hour outside of Austin, Texas, you’ll find an area known for Texas gravel and Texas Barbeque. Lockhart is easily accessible from Austin, San Antonio, and Houston and has become a popular location for gravel enthusiasts. The Texas BBQ Tour Overnighter provides the full Lockhart experience while introducing you to one of Texas’ more unique state parks…
It’s no surprise that Texas has very limited public land for grand adventures compared to much of the American West. However, there are plenty of beautiful state parks that can be strung together with country roads to create a perfect weekend microadventure.
The Texas BBQ Tour Overnighter begins in Lockhart State Park, a small park in the quaint town of Lockhart. Lockhart is known as the “BBQ Capital of Texas” and is home to multiple family-operated BBQ joints that are all worth trying. Great food isn’t the only thing this area of Texas has to offer though. Some of the best gravel and chip seal roads in the region await just minutes outside …
ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE | www.endurancesportswire.com
… PLAYTRI has purchased Buc’s Bike Shop in Round Rock, which has operated in the Austin area for over 30 years with products and support for the biking community. PLAYTRI is dedicated to continuing the strong commitment in the same great location with same excellent staff. With a new name, we will also be bringing a ton more options to meet customer needs. With the purchase of Elite Bicycles in Tyler, TX in August of 2021 and this Austin area location, PLAYTRI continues their expansion across Texas with a goal to open an additional three Texas stores in the next fifteen months.
“We continue to focus our growth across the country by purchasing and franchising stores. With our base of operations in Dallas, our strong Texas following and the continued population growth, expansion in Texas is a strategic opportunity for us.” said Staci Brode, President of Marketing and Finance for Playtri Franchising LLC. …
by: Cynthia Miranda | www.ketk.com
AUSTIN, Texas (KETK)- The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department gave more than $2 million in grants to communities for conservation and recreational activities. Nacogdoches and Tyler are receiving some of the funds.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) provided 41 grants that totaled $2,048,678 to local programs. …
… El Paso Independent School District: $60,000
The Bike On: Bike Safety and Outdoor Learning Program provides middle school physical education teachers with training to deliver a three-week bicycle education curriculum for 1,250 students. Instruction combines the fitness benefits of biking with riding techniques, safety and maintenance. The unit concludes by connecting students to nearby riding trails at Franklin Mountains State Park, with a group bike ride to teach trail safety, etiquette and stewardship. …
By Claus Ovesen | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Kerrville to Lost Maples State Natural Area 54 miles. 2631 ft of gain: Cold then warm.
Sunday February 27, 2022, 54 miles (87 km) – Total so far: 172 miles (277 km)
Another good night of sleep and I got rolling about 830. I couldn’t find much open on a Sunday morning so I stopped at McDonald’s for some breakfast and hot coffee. It was nice to sit indoors and let my hands and feet melt. It was about 33° when I took off from camp. There were a lot of up and downs on my ride. Definitely in Texas Hill country. I stopped in a very small town called Hunt Texas. There was very little in the store but I got a Coke and some Chex mix. I was camping at a state park with no stores so I knew I was going to have to make dinner in camp. The campground was …
Lost Maples State Park to Brackettville Texas 91 miles 3818 of gain: Another cold morning with some serious hills.
Monday February 28, 2022, 91 miles (146 km) – Total so far: 263 miles (423 km)
I knew I had a big day to get to my destinations so I got up early to get rolling. It was a cold night but I slept pretty good and stayed in my tent for about 12 hours. At 6 o’clock I finally forced myself up and realized there was frost on the tent. Burr! I got packed up and cleaned up right before sunrise. I put disposable warmers in my socks and that helped a bit. I couldn’t feel my fingers and some of my toes. luckily there is a 11% grade hill to start my day which help me warm up. There were a lot of ups and downs with a few 11% grades. By the time I got to the town of Leakey for breakfast I was sweating. I had a large …
By Dean Mitchell | www.crazyguyonabike.com
Smithville, TX
Monday February 28, 2022, 95 km (59 miles) – Total so far: 2,085 km (1,296 miles)
I started in the SW part of Austin. I went clear across the city entirely on one road (William Cannon Dr), which was fairly flat and not too bad traffic. I was chased a couple of times by dogs in some rough areas outside of town. Squirt them with water, stops them immediately.
Once out of the city it was mostly flat until near the end at Bastrop. I headed into the Bastrop State Park and went through it to Buescher State Park on Park road 1C. It was 18 km of curvy road with some very steep hills. I would say the grade of a couple were 30% – 40%. This a ACA Southern Tier route section, little traffic, very quiet, and viciously brutal. The last part agravated my groin and shin muscle. All those days of hills caught up. Tomorrow I plan a short day to La Grange. In the tent tonight.
Sunny, light wind, 18c
La Grange, TX
Tuesday March 1, 2022, 45 km (28 miles) – Total so far: 2,130 km (1,324 miles)
I left the state park at noon, I’m doing a short day to let my right leg recover. The ride was quiet with lots of flat and some rolling hills too. I did not push hard so to hopefully not inflame my leg muscles too much. The past few weeks of Texas hills and headwinds put a slow beating on your body.
La Grange appears to be a nice town and I finally got to have some Texas BBQ, very tasty. The owners gave me a pulled pork sandwich with slaw for the road. They don’t get many Nova Scotians in their shop. I must say that the people I have met in Texas have been very friendly. The drivers too almost always slow down and give me plenty of room.
Sunny, light winds, 23c
by Erika Esquivel | cbs4local.com
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Academy Sports + Outdoors donated $5K for bikes and helmets to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office for them to distribute to youth in the county.
The bikes were distributed to fifteen elementary schools including six elementary schools in Clint ISD, four elementary schools in San Elizario ISD and four elementary schools in Canutillo ISD.
The event took place Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Academy store at 201 S. Americas. …
Author: Chloe Alexander | www.khou.com
HOUSTON — The rodeo isn’t the only tradition returning to Houston after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tour de Houston, the city’s annual bike ride, is coming back this year, just in time to commemorate 15 years.
Tour de Houston will take place on April 3.
This bike ride offers Houstonians and visitors a unique way to experience the city. There are three different bike routes, all of which start and end in City Hall, that allow participants to ride …
