Texas Biking News February 3rd 2022

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The Broadway debacle is a blow to safe cycling in San Antonio

by Robert Rivard | sanantonioreport.org

San Antonian J. Bruce Bugg Jr., the state’s top transportation political appointee, issued an upbeat statement about Wednesday’s sit-downs with local officials, days after the Jan. 27 decision by the Texas Transportation Commission to abruptly upend the Broadway project.

But the message can’t dress up a TTC action that represents a big setback for both San Antonio and Alamo Heights, as well as the cycling community, pedestrians and all who share a vision for safer streets in San Antonio.

“Two items emerged from the discussions,” Bugg said Wednesday. “First, city leaders acknowledged that Broadway is, in fact, owned by the state of Texas. Second, I am asking TxDOT …

Cyclists Hosted by Farmer Visit Stewart’s Food Store in Olney

By: Ronni Walker | www.olneyenterprise.com

You may have noticed two cyclists traveling through Olney Thursday, Jan. 27. However, if you were near or at Stewart’s Food Store that morning, you would have had an opportunity to meet two of the most intriguing people who decided to quit their jobs and explore the world on bicycles. This exploration has become Tobi and Louisa’s life purpose that they call Chains and Chords.

“We have wanted to travel for a long time, and then we decided that cycling is a nice way to travel and explore the world,” Louisa said.

A world tour by automobile is an intimating thought for some. Can you imagine the motivation required to travel the world on your bike? According to Space.com, the distance across the globe is 24,901 miles. Tobi and Louisa started in …

Houston has a plan for making 11th Street safer by reducing vehicle lanes to add space for cyclists

Dug Begley | www.houstonchronicle.com

Traffic moves along 11th Street near Nicholson where the Heights Hike and Bike Trails crosses 11th Street shown Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 in Houston. Officials plan to rebuild 11th with one vehicle lane in each direction and a median to improve safety crossing the street.

A main thoroughfare through Houston’s Heights is the latest street where city officials are preparing for fewer car lanes, in an effort to consider more ways that people get around.

The plan by the city’s planning and public works departments is to transform 11th Street from two vehicle lanes in each direction to one, with bike lanes and occasional turn lanes.

The changes, which city officials argue will not severely impact drivers but will provide huge safety benefits, come as many communities struggle to …

NCTOG Hybrid Public Meeting On February 7, Updates On Long-Range Transportation

www.focusdailynews.com

Arlington, Texas — The North Central Texas Council of Governments will host a hybrid public meeting in February to provide an update on the region’s long-range transportation plan, an effort to develop a unified brand for a bicycle-pedestrian trail that will run from Fort Worth to Dallas and other planning initiatives.

The meeting will take place at noon Feb. 7 at NCTCOG’s Arlington offices, 616 Six Flags Drive. Attend in person or watch the presentations live at www.nctcog.org/input. A video recording will be made available afterward, and residents can comment online through March 8.

Those attending in person are encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing.

One of the primary responsibilities of a Metropolitan Planning Organization is the development …

High Five to the recumbent out there this morning! from BikingATX

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Texas Biking News February 2nd 2022

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Bicycle House – new bike shop on Burnet Road

By June Bug | austinmountainbiking.com

Bicycle House: New bike shop going in on Burnet, north of the Burnet/Koenig intersection, just past Lamar Middle School. Sales, repair, bike fit and will carry Giant, Liv, Scott and BMC. Not open yet, although they’ll do consults on finding a bike.

James Balentine and Thomas Miller are the principals, sounds like lots of solid experience, if anyone has come across them at Jack and Adams, Mellow Johnny’s or the mtn bike/bmx race scene.

Bicycle House – Who we are

Speak up for safe streets this month

BikeHouston | www.bikehouston.org

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Third Ward Bikeways Virtual Meeting

Thursday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m. Cleburne and Blodgett streets serve as critical connections through Third Ward, but there are gaps in the neighborhood’s east-west bikeways. The City of Houston is exploring how to fill in those gaps, and they want to hear from you. Learn more about the effort and join the virtual meeting via Houston Bikeways.

First Sunday Ride Sunday, February 6 at 8 a.m. Join us this Sunday morning for a ride to check out new and upcoming bikeways around town. As always, we’ll get rolling from Market Square in downtown Houston at 8 a.m. All are welcome.

11th Street Safety Improvements Project Update Monday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. On Monday, planners from the City of Houston will present their final update on the 11th Street Safety Improvements project. If you support safe, multimodal streets, please join the virtual meeting and make sure your voice is heard.

woom bikes Announces New Executive Leadership Team

www.bicycleretailer.com

Austin-based Mathias Ihlenfeld Promoted to Global CEO

AUSTIN, Texas – Feb. 2, 2022 – woom bikes, the fastest-growing kids’ bike brand in North America, has announced a new executive leadership team to guide the brand on its quest to become the global market leader in children’s bicycles. woom USA founder, Mathias Ihlenfeld, is now at the helm as the brand’s Global CEO. The company has also announced Paul Fattinger as CFO, and Martin Bartmann as its new interim COO. With this management team, the company is poised for expansion into new markets – a primary focus for the brand as it continues to experience exponential growth globally.

Ihlenfeld founded woom bikes USA in 2014, one year after the brand was first established in Austria. With an uncompromising direct-to-consumer focus and outstanding customer service, Ihlenfeld succeeded in making woom the fastest-growing kids’ bike brand in the country, and the largest direct-to-consumer brand in the space. Just eight years after it was …

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Texas Biking News February 1st 2022

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Specialized ‘Ship to Home’ option is now live, plus more consumer-direct sales details!

by Zach Overholt | bikerumor.com

As rumored, Specialized is introducing a new way to get your hands on their bikes—one that doesn’t require leaving your house. There are still some limits to what bikes you’ll be able to purchase purely online, but the move is attracting a lot of attention for obvious reasons.

Starting today, you’ll find a new shipping option when you put an adult bicycle in your cart on Specialized.com. The Ship to Home option is what has everyone talking. These bikes will be professionally built and test-ridden (by …

BellVelo & Velodrome Update!

Alkek Velodrome Email

Hi everyone!

I am please to announce that the 2022 track cycling schedule is up! Check out our calendar for details! You can sync it to your own calendar so you never miss a race. We are still waiting on USAC to confirm Junior/Elite and Masters Nats dates which will have a small impact on the schedule.

The big change for this year is regular racing moving from Friday Nights to Tuesday Nights (Starting March 15th). Before that racing kicks off on Sat 12th March with Atomic TT’s p/b Hammertime Pro Shop.

We also have BellVelo #2 on Feb 12th, a track intro class on Feb 19th, Volunteer work days on March 5th & 6th and swap meet on March 20th!

Saenz holds his final State of the City Address

Christian Alejandro Ocampo | www.lmtonline.com

In his final State of the City Address before the end of his second term, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz and city leaders gave brief summaries of the developments, current projects and a review of city logistics in preparation for the coming months of 2022.

An early update within the address showed that as of Sept. 30, 2021, the …

… These improvements include the Springfield Avenue extension project that states it will provide a way to drive from Shiloh going north into the San Isidro area, and includes walk and bike trails. Similarly, the Los Presidents Avenue extension will connect Cuatro Vientos to Concord Hills and will also see walk and bike trails. …

Community meeting set for Thursday on Vince Bayou trail plan

Yvette Orozco | www.houstonchronicle.com

The city of Pasadena is staging an in-person/virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3 to gather public opinion on a planned hike- and-bike trail along Vince Bayou that would aim to increase connectivity throughout the city.

The meeting will be from 6-7 p.m. at the Peter C. Fogo Recreation Center, 914 West Hart Ave., Pasadena 77506. Participants can also attend virtually by registering at https://bityl.co/AkZG.

The Vince Bayou Geenway Project follows a study conducted by the city in 2020 and 2021, funded by the …

Video: Status Bike Park Jam at Spider Mountain Bike Park

www.pinkbike.com

Global STATUS Ambassadors Jacob Lingemann, Alberto Lopez, Corey Martinez, Xylena Hoppen, Chase Hawk, Nina Buitrago, Brendan Conroy, Allan Cooke and Jaime Saenz head to Spyder Mountain Bike Park to jam with the local shredders.

Watch the local Texas riders progress and ride with their hero’s throughout the day as the STATUS crew makes its way through the Spider Mountain Bike Park and session their favorites zones. Even though the reward for progression is progression itself the crew came stocked with STATUS frames, complete bikes, …

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Tour de Zwift Stage 7 Makuri Islands Castle to Castle

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I made a choice today on where to ride. The options were to wait longer to let the streets dry some and the temperature get above 60 or ride Stage 7 of the Tour de Zwift. I chose Stage 7 starting at 11:01 AM. The TdZ is for a limited time and missing some biking days coming up I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to put stage 7 in the books. Hopefully when stage 8 comes in several days I’ll be able to ride for the TdZ kit.

Music during the ride was from Lauren Daigle Radio on Pandora.

Stage 7 was on the Makuri Islands Castle to Castle route. The description showed 14.4 miles and 462 feet of climbing. I rode 14.49 miles and 463 feet of climbing. As you can see in the map below there was a big climb and a few bumps in the road. A short section went on dirt or gravel. ZwiftInsider.com says, “Released in Zwift’s January 2022 update, Castle to Castle draws its name from the two castles you’ll pass along the way – first the castle area in Yumezi, then the imperial palace in the Neokyo’s Castle Park.” The stage title in Zwift, “TdZ Stage 7: Escalator”. I watch the climbing progress as much as the distance count down. It helps knowing when the climbing is almost over.

I rode Group B. At the end there around 1614 nearby Zwifters. I rode in the 1380 to 1390 range most of the ride. Early I was lower but I seem to settle in about 200 or so from the back. Looking at the ZwiftPower.com results I was 794 out of 864 Group B riders. 1138 riders filled Group A, 291 in Group C, and 77 Group D (women only). For a change I wasn’t on the last page of the group rankings. I don’t think ZwiftPower.com includes all riders participating, only those with a profile.

2-1-2022 ZwiftPower.com TdZ Stage Group B Ranking

Some of the roads today were part of the route I rode yesterday. I recognized portions and the scenery.

Since this was the first time on this route I earned 2 top results in Strava: PR on Tower Sprint (34s) and PR on Alley Sprint Reverse (36s). I show the RWGPS map because the climb is more dramatic and the little climbs show better than the Strava map.

2-1-2022 Strava Zwift TdZ Stage 7 Castle to Castle Summary
2-1-2022 Strava Zwift TdZ Stage 7 Castle to Castle Summary
2-1-2022 RWGPS Zwift TdZ Stage 7 Castle to Castle Map
2-1-2022 RWGPS Zwift TdZ Stage 7 Castle to Castle Map