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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 14th

Rick Ankrum — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:03:46 +0000

It is the early part of winter and thinking of heat is just a dream. Summer will return and planning ahead is good.

Fluid Intake While Cycling
by Kelli lovingthebike.com
During the summer, I got in the habit of weighing myself before and after training to monitor my fluid losses. When it was hot, I lost 35-40 oz. per hour – this seems like too much to try to drink while riding. What are your thoughts?

Great job with weighing yourself to monitor fluid losses – this is a great practice to determine individual fluid needs! That said, it doesn’t mean that you need to recover all these fluids while riding, but a combo of during and after riding. While riding, do aim for ~16-24 oz. per hour with average conditions, and up to 32 oz. per hour…

April is Dallas Cycle Chic
by Christopher Curnutt Biking in Dallas

April in Dallas means only one thing – Dallas Cycle Chic mania!
Mark your calendars because Dallas Cycle Chic is busy planning their annual series of events for April, 2012. This year is going to include a cycle themed fashion show, and more. We’ll be bringing more details and such in the near future (and seeking sponsor support too). But for now here’s their initial announcement: …

Watch your head – Dallas isn’t Copenhagen.
by UrbanPedal
I’ve finally settled into the harsh reality that Dallas isn’t Copenhagen. And have therefore decided to wear a bike helmet more often.

The Bishop Arts District and N Oak Cliff are pretty dreamy. …

Texas Independence Bicycle Tour set for Jan. 28
By RICHARD TEW www.yourhoustonnews.com

Going on their third year hosting the Texas Independence Bicycle Tour, the Deer Park Rotary Club hopes to build upon the success of the previous two years.
The bike tour was conceived as both a fundraiser for the Rotary Club’s scholarship fund, which benefits Deer Park seniors each year, but also as a chance to promote Deer Park. …

Cops and Kids Go On Community Bike Ride
Members of the College Station Police Department Bicycle Unit and area families went for a bicycle safety ride at Bee Creek Park.
Reporter: Clay Falls www.kbtx.com

Cops and kids hit the pavement Saturday to learn about bicycle safety.
More than 20 kids received new bicycles and helmets around Christmastime thanks to the College Station Police’s Badges and Bikes Program.
On Saturday those kids, family members and anyone else who wanted to participate, went for a two mile bike ride around Bee Creek Park. …

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 6th

Rick Ankrum — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:20:11 +0000

Tyler Bicycle Club Meeting, January 9, 2012
Please join us for an important Tyler Bicycle Club meeting on January 9th at First Christian Church. (Corner of Broadway and the Loop). The meeting will start promptly at 6:30 PM. Park on the Broadway side of the church and enter the building to the left of the sanctuary door (admin area). We will have someone stationed at the door to guide you to the room. There are several items on the B & B agenda that we need help with. Please show up! Thanks to you all for your support of the club and the the Beauty and the Beast Bicycle Tour!
Agenda items include:
-election of board officers for 2012
-update from the trails and paths committee (Lindsey Park)
-planning of the Beauty and Beast. (exciting updates and several key needs)

Triple Eight recalls 30,000 kid helmets
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—Triple Eight Distribution is working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall more than 30,000 kids helmets that do not comply with CPSC safety regulations.

The helmets were sold under the Little Tricky, Triple 8 and Sector 9 brands in bike and sports store and other outlets between August 2006 and November 2011. …

Loving the Commute: Edition #2
by Darryl
This is Edition two of a series on bicycle commuting by guest contributor, Aaron Madrid. These posts are all about Aaron’s experiences as a newcomer to commuting, and he’s here to share it with you. We’re hoping this series will encourage you to become a commuter yourself? Be sure to check out Loving the Commute: Edition #1 as well.

Loving the Commute: An Interview With Mike Kumlin
by Aaron Madrid
Mike Kumlin is a New England resident that I met several years ago at my first New York Comic Con. We became friends thanks to twitter and other various social networking sites and eventually he gave me my first opportunity to try on my writing legs. Since then we have stayed pretty close. Mike’s decision to get off the couch and get back in shape was one that inspired me to do the same. Mike’s advice was invaluable when I got…

The first one about the water bottle freezing is foreign to me but I guess that could happen somewhere in Texas.

10 Worst Mistakes to Make Winter Riding
by Singletrack.com
We’ve all done it: overestimated the temperature outside, hammered up a climb in the cold only to freeze in our own sweat on the descent, put on that extra pair of socks in an attempt to keep feet warm only to have all blood circulation cut off from the tight fit, accidentally stayed out after the sun had dipped below the horizon. There are hundreds of ways to mess up a winter ride with more dire consequences in the winter than the summer.

There are a few classic mistakes, that when avoided, can greatly enhance a winter riding experience. This is by no means an exhaustive list of things that can go wrong, and each point has a dozen variations, but the next…

College Active Transportation Safety
by donna@biketexas.org (Donna Hoffman)
BikeTexas’ College Active Transportation Safety CATS Course

Texas colleges and universities are promoting walking and cycling. They are solving parking problems, accommodating economic abilities, addressing sustainability and air quality concerns, and encouraging active, safe and healthy lifestyles for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Texas has the third highest number of annual bicyclist fatalities in the U.S. The majority (70%) of those fatalities occurred in urban areas. College students moving into urban areas to begin post-secondary studies are more economically and socially inclined to walk or cycle – some of them for the first time and…

This has past but I wanted to recognize the event.

Celebrate the Fort Worth Avenue Bike Lane Fundraising Campaign! Friday Jan 6
by The Announcer Guy
It just goes to show you that public and private sector partnerships can make things happen. Hopefully this effort will become a blueprint for others that want to see cycling improvements in their own neighborhoods. …

Dear Angry Bearded Man …
By Pam LeBlanc Fit City
I hope your day gets better.

It can’t be pleasant starting your day (a Friday, for goodness sake!) by shouting obscenities at a couple of folks riding their bikes along Winsted Lane.

I know, I know. It was 6:30 a.m. and you hadn’t had your coffee yet. Maybe your girlfriend kicked you out of bed. Maybe you were even late to work.

That might explain why you roared south on Winsted in your late model car, traveling well above the speed limit. …

Early regiment got in gear with trek
By Bill Cullins San Angelo Standard-Times
Do you think you’re a strong cyclist, able to ride long distances in harsh conditions over rough terrain? Could you do a long bike tour carrying camping equipment and food on your bike?

If so, try replicating the ride that a group of Army soldiers in the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps did in June and July 1897.

As part of a “field test” to determine the effectiveness of bicycles for transporting infantry troops long distances, this group of hardy cyclists rode, pushed and carried…

Biking community pushes for safer roads

AMARILLO, Texas – On the heels of a tragic incident, Amarillo’s biking community continues to push for safer roads.

46-year-old David Isom and 47-year-old Anna Isom of Amarillo were riding their bikes together Thursday when a car struck them, claiming David’s life and leaving Anna hospitalized at Northwest Texas Healthcare, where she remains in critical condition.

Amarillo’s Share The Road chapter president, Kenneth Graham, says it is the fourth fatal…

NICA High School Cycling News Round-up
By: Cycling News
…In 2012, three new leagues will each run a race series: Minnesota, Texas and Utah. This rapid growth is expected to double the number of student athletes to more than 2,000 overall. NICA plans 32 races in 2012, 21 camps for student athletes, an expected 220 teams, and an expected 690,000 hours of student athlete participation. …

Charlie writes “
Old Tascosa Cycling Club
Yesterday was another sad day for bicyclers in our area. I happened to ride upon the accident and saw firsthand just how tragic an accident like this can be. I woke up this morning thinking about what we can do as a club to make our area more bicycle friendly. A few suggestions are: have more frequent meetings with programs, outreach to local civic clubs to provide speakers for club meetings, try to get to speak at small towns along our regular bicycling routes so that we can communicate to the farmers and ranchers who we share the secondary roads with. The terrible accident yesterday won’t stop the national trend of having more and more bicyclers on the nation’s roadway. OTC will continue to grow and we need to grow our programs to meet the needs of our membership. We’re about to be put on the map as Adventure Cycling completes the Route 66 bicycle route mapping. By next summer, we should start seeing “thousands” of bicyclers coming through the Panhandle on the Route 66 tour. This means the…

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 4th

Rick Ankrum — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:57:54 +0000

Performance recalls 2,900 Forte pedals
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
CHAPEL HILL, NC (BRAIN)—Performance, Inc., is working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 2,900 Forte Pro Carbon road pedals. The pedal body can break, causing the rider to lose control. The company has received reports of three pedals breaking; no injuries were reported.

The 2011 model year pedals have black bodies made of a carbon-injected thermoplastic. The front, top of the pedal has “Carbon” printed in red; the top middle has “EPS-R” embossed in the body with the “R” in red and on…

Safety in numbers: more walkers and bicyclists, safer walking and bicycling.
by: P. L. Jacobsen
Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, Vol. 9, No. 3. (1 September 2003), pp. 205-209.
X Abstract

A motorist is less likely to collide with a person walking and bicycling if more people walk or bicycle. Policies that increase the numbers of people walking and bicycling appear to be an effective route to improving the safety of people walking and bicycling.

With all of the trees being cut down due to the drought and pine bark beatles this is a way to use some of the output.

Converting Condemned Trees into Bikes
by Mark Frauenfelder Make Magazine

Urban Tree to Bicycle from Spots Unknown on Vimeo.

Jeff Diehl made this short film about Bill Holloway and Mauro Hernandez, of Masterworks Woodworking, who “salvage condemned city trees, then build beautiful bicycles out of them.”

He says:
The story of these bikes goes from the felling of a family’s guardian tree, through the woodworking process, and finally, the completion of art you can ride.

They’re self-taught, and the custom bikes are an offshoot of their larger woodworking and detailing business. Bill is a native San Franciscan, and his family has deep roots here. The dynamic between him and Mauro is a compelling…

Kid Trips Event – Austin Ridge Riders
Saturday, January 14, 2012 – 13:00 – 16:00
Kid Trips will be conducting our 4th annual Girl Scouts ride at Colorado Bend State Park near Lampassas on Saturday January 14. We will carpool from Austin leaving at 9:45 a.m. to arrive by 11 a.m. to be ready for the Kid Trips ride with the girl scouts beginning at 1 p.m. (to conclude around 4 p.m.).
If you haven’t been to Colorado Bend you’re missing a great ride venue. And the girls scouts are a pure joy to ride along with. …

Trail Section to Close for Implosion
by Paul Sorelle bikehouston.org
A section of the Brays Bike Trail in the Texas Medical Center will be closed Sunday morning from 6:45 a.m. to noon while contractors implode the Houston Main Building for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The section of the trail from Fannin St. to Bertner Ave. will be closed to bicyclists and pedestrians. Bicyclists can use Braeswood Blvd. as an alternate route during the trail closure.

See Safety Perimeter for Implosion for information on street closures.

Georgetown Cyclopaths of Texas Ride Schedule

San Angelo Bicycling Association
Concho Bike
Randy’s Bike and Run
January 7 and 14
9 a.m-3 p.m.
Club officers and members will be on site each day to assist the application process. Dry shirt will be available at the January 17 meeting.
Membership Meeting
January 17, 2012
7 p.m.
Hospitality House, across the street from the Harris Avenue Baptist Church, 1026 E. Harris.
The club will be providing beverages. Please bring snacks.
Club t-shirts (dry-fit) will be available at this meeting for members to pick up. Each membership comes with one t-shirt. You will need to purchase any extras you may need for $9.95.

Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
BERKELEY, CA (BRAIN)—The National Interscholastic Cycling Association, which organizes high school mountain bike racing leagues in several states, says it expects to have licensed 1,000 mountain bike coaches in the U.S. by the end of 2012.

NICA trained 250 coaches in 2011. The coaches are trained in cycling and coaching skills and wilderness first aid. There are now more than 500 licensed NICA coaches.

NICA will hold Leaders’ Summits and wilderness first aid courses this spring in Utah, Minnesota and Colorado, and this fall in Northern California, Southern California, Texas, …

USA Cycling to provide live online video of elite ‘cross championships
By: Cycling News
Watch all the women’s and men’s action from Madison, Wisconsin
You don’t have to brave the elements in Madison, Wisconsin this weekend to watch all the action from the elite/U23 women’s and elite men’s races at the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships.

USA Cycling is providing live streaming video coverage of both the elite/U23 women’s and elite men’s national cyclo-cross championships from Badger Prairie Park on Sunday, January 8. …

5th Annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour Jerseys Have Arrived!
Those planning to ride in this iconic Texas ride in the magnificent Texas Hill Country just west of Austin will find these jerseys available for purchase at any of the three Ride Away Bicycles locations in San Antonio (Huebner Oaks Center, 1604 @ Redland, and 1604 @ Culebra).

Those riders outside the San Antonio area wishing to order one may do so as follows: Send check for $90 ($85 jersey cost + $5 S&H), payable to “Friends of LBJ NHP”, to:
Nolan Kuehn, LBJ 100 Ride Chair
29370 Duberry Ridge
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015
For details of jersey design, go to the ride web site, www.LBJ100BicycleTour.org

Corinth trail beauty
by bikedenton

I haven’t written much for BikeDenton lately, but I’m still riding around and taking photos. We’ve had some golden weather, and I’ve taken my own advice to get off the internet and ride a bike. As often as possible.

Just before the new year, I went out and explored the Corinth mountain bike trails on my CX bike, and I snapped these photos on the first section, just off the Denton Katy rail trail. It’s the least challenging section of the trails, but I really like the aesthetic. Creek, grazing horses and cows, barns, timber fence. The rest of the trail is twisty, as it has to be in such a small space, but it’s still fun to ride and easy enough that I’ve done it on wider road tires…

Our Thoughts are with Liberty Kat aka Misty
by Christopher Curnutt Biking in Dallas

For those of you who are not aware, last Saturday Kat crashed during a downhill on the group ride in McKinney. Someone who was with her said that they noticed her front wheel began to wobble and the next thing they knew she was down. After the crash her chain was undone but that could have been a result of the…

Taking your dream out for a spin from the Pacific to the Atlantic
M. Kate West, Chester Editor plumasnews.com
After cycling for more than two months across the southern United States, Seneca Healthcare District CEO Doug Self treats himself to a bit of well-earned fun in the surf when he reaches his destination Nov 18: Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

“I’ve been a cyclist since I was a young teen. I bought my first bike, a Schwinn model, for $150, with money I earned working 30 hours a week in a fast food restaurant,” said Seneca Healthcare District Chief Executive Officer Doug Self.

He grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, where there is an annual bike ride called the “Hotter than Hell 100.” …

Recreational Sports Calendar & Sign-up Sheet – Jan. 4, 2012
San Antonio Express-News
Bicycling: Today, 8 a.m., Wheelers Senior Ride, 30 miles, Floore’s Country Store, Helotes. 210-643-0314.

Bicycling: Saturday, 9 a.m., Bullis Park Ride, 21, 34, 48 and 66 miles, Bullis County Park. 210-862-6559. …More

2012 Hill Country Ride For AIDS: Annual Texas Bike Ride
BY Rebekkah Adams askmissa.com
Although it is still winter, here in Texas we are already gearing up for the summer weather and all that it brings. Included in this is one of the best forms of exercise: biking. Of course, this is good to do recreationally for health and fitness but in Austin we also host a number of charity rides. The Hill Country Ride for AIDS, an annual Texas bike ride, does not take place until April 28th but it is never too early to start training. To build up expectations and encourage participants to train, they are holding a series of events between now and the ride itself. It all begins on January 13th with the Kick-Off Party at Austin Music Hall. …

Why Be Offended By Winning?
By Justin The Plano Cyclist
I finally got my trophy from the 2011 Tour De BBQ in the mail the other day. I was (to say the least) very excited to receive it. I haven’t won an award of any type in years, and sometimes, like a 12 year old, I need validation. I’m not proud of it, but I am honest about it. Thanks to lots of fundraising, emailing, begging, and cajoling, I was indeed the first place fundraiser for the ride this year. Not second, not third, or someone who merely met their goal, but number one. …

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for December 29th

Rick Ankrum — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:43:32 +0000

The Racing Post – January 2012 Issue
The Racing Post is a monthly magazine dedicated to those who ride bicycles and like to ride them – fast. Event coverage includes Road racing, Off-road racing, Track racing, Triathlons, Bicycle rallies, and all levels of bicycle training.

New Years Day ride at Flat Rock Ranch
by Laura Scagno Austin Ridge Riders
This is a Public Event posted by Doug with our friends at STORM (South Texas Off-Road Mountain Bikers)
Sunday January 1, 2012 Start Time 10 a.m.
Flat Rock Ranch, 342 Flat Rock Creek Road, Comfort, Tx 78013

New Years Day ride at Flat Rock Ranch. Wheels down at 10:00 am in the parking area. This will be a good ride for anyone who is not familiar wtth the ranch trail system. I plan to lead a no drop ride ride on the Lower Loop. If anyone wants to ride faster they are welcome to go on ahead.

The Centex Mountain Bikers and Racer’s Edge (CMBRE) is a meetup group of riders and racers in Central Texas. CMBRE will be an organized scheduler for races and other events, assisting racers in keeping up to date on what is happening where and when. CMBRE will also include scheduled ride calls at various trails around the state and even a few trips out of state. There will be skills clinics, some for free and some for a fee to help riders…

The following two articles show how the sellers are trying to limit the buyers (you and me) from finding bargains.

Sinyard letter spurs discussion
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
Mike Sinyard’s letter to retailers this week regarding Amazon’s Price Check App is escalating an industry-wide conversation and examination of the interaction between brick-and-mortar stores and the many alternate retailing channels popping up online.

Sinyard, the founder and president of Specialized Bicycle Components, warned his dealers about the new app and urged them to consider their loyalty to brands whose products are available through Amazon. He named…

Cateye cleaning up discounters
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN)—Cateye USA president Thomas Prehn went on an Amazon buying spree of sorts last spring and summer. He has an office full of receipts and packages to prove it.

“I was probably Amazon’s best Cateye customer,” Prehn said Thursday.

Prehn was buying his company’s own products off of Amazon to try to identify their source so he could shut down deep discounters.

While Cateye sells some products direct to Amazon, oftentimes its products show up at discounts from unauthorized sources. While Cateye can’t tell a retailer what price to sell at, the company can identify…

After my bike ride on Tuesday saddles were on my mind thus this review made Texbiker.net today.

Review: Syncros FL Carbon Rail Mountain Bike Saddle
posted by Tyler (Editor) www.bikerumor.com

Syncros’ FL product family is their lightweight, XC-oriented group of components. FL stands for “Freakin’ Light” and thus far, we haven’t been disappointed when we’ve thrown FL goodies on the scale. Most recently, I reviewed their FLavor tires and, despite a thick coating of leaves and mud on the trail, can’t bring myself to take…

Why You Should Check Your Chainring Bolts
posted by Tyler (Editor) www.bikerumor.com

…So this doesn’t happen to you mid-ride.

While bike shops and warranty departments hate to hear it, this truly did happen while Just Riding Along (aka JRA). Coming around a corner, I put a mild amount of acceleration into my ride simultaneously heard and felt a crunch. The bike came to an immediate stop. Looking down, I assumed the chain had simply fallen off or…

Bicycle Safety Ordinances Considered
by Plano Star Courier
By Bill Conrad
One of the goals of the Plano Bicycle Association is to increase rider safety through education of both cyclists and motorists. A new ordinance being considered by the city council may make its job a little bit easier.

Earlier this month, the council heard a report from Police Chief Greg Rushin concerning an ordinance drafted by his department, with strong input from the association. It is modeled after a bill that was passed by…

Del Rio man completes cross-country bike race
Tumbleweed Smith www.mywesttexas.com

The Race Across America, known as RAAM to bicycle racers around the world, is an endurance race that started in 1982 when four individuals raced from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles to the Empire State Building in New York City. Racers who finish RAAM are in a unique group of athletes who have unbelievable strength and determination. A privately owned enterprise, RAAM has more distance and more varieties of terrain and weather than any other bike race. At 3,000 miles, it is 30 percent longer than the…

Tour de Life – Steve
WHAT’S GOIN’ ON…
I’m going to be biking all around:
Texas for 3 months, from January-March, 2012 (around 4000 miles)
Louisiana during April 2012 (around 1000 miles)
WHERE EXACTLY IN TX & LA ARE YOU GOIN’?
I have a little site that shows the route plan that I’ve come up with thus far. That address is: trackmytour.com/6434

There you’ll find a stop-by-stop text itinerary as well as an interactive map for the tour. From the tour route, I plan on sending in frequent dispatches from the road via writings/photos/videos…

I had to include at least one person who reflected on the year and what he plans to do in 2012.

So How Did I Do?
By Justin The Plano Cyclist
Every year I have made some New Year’s resolutions for myself on the blog, and I like to check in at the end of the year and see how well I kept them. This year is no different – well, generally the check and the new resolutions are in the same post, but this year they will be…

Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup for September 27th

Rick Ankrum — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:11:49 +0000

Biking to Work Is Ruining Your Lungs
gawker.com
Aside from the issues of safety and the ongoing bike lane wars there’s another reason that riding your bike in the city sucks: it makes your lungs black.

A new study in London found that bicycle commuters had 2.3 times as much black carbon in their lungs as those who get to work on foot. What does that mean? Well, cyclists breathe harder so…

Three Exciting Bike Happenings in San Antonio!
www.biketexas.org
San Antonio cyclists – mark your calendars for three important bike events in the next week:

The San Antonio Bike Plan. The bike master plan will be at city council this Thursday, Sept. 29 as item #27 on the agenda. If you’d like to speak on the plan, to offer comments or support, you should arrive at Council Chambers before 9 a.m. to sign up. (City Council Chambers are located in the Municipal Plaza…

SWCC Race Team Party
The SWCC Race Team will hold an end of season party on Friday, September 30th from 6-8 PM. If you are a current SWCC racer or are interested in racing for SWCC you are invited. Contact Race Team Director Jeff Dingler (jeffrey.dingler@gmail.com) for more information.

The Peddler Dirt Derby mountain bike & cyclocross series starts tonight!
by elliott Austin On Two Wheels
Tonight is the season kickoff of The Peddler Dirt Derby now entering its 5th season of dirty fun. The weekly Tuesday night affair offers a lighted course for short course mountain biking and cyclocross at the Del Valle Motorcross. The guys at the Derby are kicking it off in style with a Ladies Night for the opener: all ladies and…

Mother’s diagnosis of cancer motivates daughter to ride
By JENNIFER SUMMER www.yourhoustonnews.com
The first in her family, the diagnosis of breast cancer was a surprise for Heather Zeboski.

During a routine check-up in March, her doctor found a lump that she had not felt herself through self-examinations and immediately scheduled a biopsy.

When the lump was removed, doctors realized the severity of the lump as Zeboski was diagnosed with invasive ductal incarcinoma, which could have spread if it had not been caught in the early stages.

“The diagnosis changed everything. For years, I had regular mammograms, but last year was the first year I missed an exam. My well woman doctor had left so I was referred to a new doctor, but when I went they would no…

Local Cyclist Tries To Raise Bike Safety Awareness After Being Hit By Car
By Braid Blanks, KTXS News
ABILENE, Texas — An Abilene man was hit while biking on a busy roadway this past Saturday.

Former KTXS sports director and Football Friday Night contributor, Mark Rogers, was riding down Highway 351 when a car hit him. It was a very close call.

Rogers said he wants to use this accident to remind people about staying safe while sharing the roadways. …

Ride Recap 9/26/11, River Legacy
by Shawn Texas Mountain Bike Trails
Tonight was perfect for a quick mountain bike ride. My wedding is only 12 days away (holy crap!) and I needed a little time in the trees after work tonight. Since River Legacy is only about 9 miles from my Bedford office I decided this morning to take full advantage of it.

River Legacy is in tremendous shape after the rain we got in the prior weeks. I rode the trail for the first time about one month ago and it wasn’t looking great. The soil then was cracked and brittle making some of the hard cornering a little more difficult. Today the trail was smooth and the flow was…

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for August 29th

Rick Ankrum — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:28:46 +0000

Leakey Death Ride October 14 – 16, 2011
Fort Worth Bicycling Association

The Leakey Death Ride is always the third weekend in October and the dates for this year are October 14-16, 2011. For those of you who participated in the Leakey Death Ride in the past couple of years, you found there were some major changes from prior years. Like the last few years, in 2011, all routes will start and end at the Leakey headquarters at the Frio Pecan Farm. You will still be able to enjoy three days of biking and eating in…

Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club Rides
September 3, 2011 8:00 am
Castroville-Lytle Ride
Sammy’s Restaurant, 202 US Highway 90 East, Castroville

September 11, 2011 7:30 am
Somerset / Poteet Two-Step Ride
Park ‘n Ride near Bill Miller’s, 7081 Rockport Rd, Von Ormy

September 17, 2011 7:30 am
Bear Moon Bakery Ride
Leon Springs Park and Ride, Boerne Stage Road, Leon Springs

September 18, 2011 7:30 am
Breakfast Ride with Ethel and Amanda
Port San Antonio, General McMullan & Foulois St., San Antonio

September 24, 2011 8:00 am
Rudy’s Ride
Rudy’s BBQ, 10623 Westover Hills Blvd, San Antonio

To Granny’s House We Go Lone Star Cyclists
Pace: Touring
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2011 – 8:30am
Location: Gateway Park, Fort Worth
From I-30 just east of downtown Fort Worth, take the Beach Street Exit (16C), and go north about a half mile to the Gateway park entrance on the right. Look for the tall skinny retired guy on a gang green colored Bianci Touring Bike. Distance: 40 miles with 50 mile option. Sing, “Over the River (the Trinity) and through the woods (Forest Park) to Grandmother’s house (Dan’s mom’s house) we go! The horse (Dan) knows the way …” Ride the Trinity…

Roadways Bicyclists, motorists mix in close quarters
By Susan McFarland
Riding solo, in pairs or packs, bicyclists in northeast Tarrant County can be seen on any given day along the hills of Keller, Westlake, Roanoke and Trophy Club.

Sam Sellers is among them.

The 54-year-old Keller resident is an avid bicyclist who rides 20 to 30 miles per day, even in the heat. …

Bicycle safety can save your child’s life
By Sarah Tindall www.caller.com
CORPUS CHRISTI — Texas ranks third in the country in bicycle fatalities with 53 deaths as of the last compilation of data in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 23,000 children receive head injuries each year in the country from bicycle accidents. That figure doesn’t include injuries to the face, just the head. Bicycle injuries also continue to be the leading…

Daily News Roundup May 25th – Texas Bicycling

Rick Ankrum — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:38:05 +0000

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Cloudcroft Challenge Ride
Description: Meet at the US Forest Service Office in Cloudcroft at 9am on June 12th for a 35 mile ride to Sunspot. Options for lunch afterwards.

Belterra Circuit Race P/1/2 2011
from Texas Racing Life
by Ken
This race was mostly an exercise in futility for me. Preparing for the Coldspring Road Race, I had done 1 week of taper. Then after the race, I was gone for 2 weeks on a business trip to Colorado and eastern Utah. I tried my best to keep some fitness with running, but without specific bike workouts, I was not feeling confident about…

Is it safe to ride a bike in Southeast Texas?
from blog.beaumontenterprise.com
Cyclist Claud Perry, 63, was riding his bicycle early Tuesday morning when he was struck by a pickup truck on Folsom Drive at Crow Road. When the driver of the car checked on the injured Perry, a second car fatally struck Perry. The driver of that car then fled. …

Bike the Bricks brings racing excitement to downtown McKinney
By City of McKinney
McKINNEY, TEXAS – McKinney Main Street is teaming up with local cycling organization McKinney Velo to host the Second Annual Historic Downtown McKinney Bike the Bricks Criterium race on Friday, May 27.

Bike the Bricks features several interval races, a mayoral cup invitational and a purse worth $20,000. Warm-up starts at 4:30 p.m. and the races kick…

Daily News Roundup May 22nd – Texas Bicycling

Rick Ankrum — Mon, 23 May 2011 04:12:56 +0000

Fort Davis Memorial Day Weekend Ride
Date: May 27, 2011 – May 30, 2011
Location: Fort Davis, TX
Contact: JD Booker806-473-8798
Details: We will have campsites for May 27-30, and will ride on Saturday May 28 & Sunday May 29. We’ll serve breakfast in camp all 3 days, lunch on the ride on Saturday and in camp on Sunday. We’ll be going into Fort Davis for dinner in order to support their community after the devastating fires earlier this month. To cover meals, campsites, and fuel for the SAG vehicles the ride will cost $25/person. There will be a discount if you…

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
B/IG Ride – Nutrition/Hydration
Description: Nutrition/Hydration Leader- Henry Payan (915)355-6506 Visit the B/IG webpage for more information about the B/IG program.
Training Material – Hydration
Basic rules for all B/IG rides
Helmets are required for all riders on all club sponsored rides
No Ear Buds
Bring Water
Arrive 15 Minutes Early

CLUB MEETING, VENUE AND TIME CHANGE!
FWMBA will hold a club meeting at GATEWAY PArk on Tuesday June 7 prior to the 6:30pm time trial. Major news will be annouced.
Agenda
The Fort Worth Fat Tire Festival
July 10th, 2011, 8am-2pm at Gateway Park. Also on Facebook @FWFTF

Safety Fair helps children
by LubbockOnline.com
The Texas Medical Association provided the first 100 children at the event with free bicycle helmets while the Managed Care Center of Lubbock provided information about the ill effects of smoking tobacco. “The whole purpose is just to educate the kids…

Ride of Silence – Fort Worth Interview
Here is a quick interview with Scott Strom who is helping to organize the Fort Worth ‘Ride of Silence’ event and was kind enough to do a quick interview with us today.

Please be so kind and introduce the Ride of Silence to folks that are not familiar with it.

On the third Wednesday of May, at 7 PM local around the world, cyclists will take to the roads in a silent protest of the carnage taking place on the streets.

Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas in 2003 after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus mirror on an empty road. The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to…

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for May 21st

Rick Ankrum — Sun, 22 May 2011 04:16:46 +0000

7:00am – Corinth Cycling Group Rides
by Scott Franklin
When: Sat May 28, 2011 7am to 10am CDT
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Description: Corinth Cycling Saturday morning group rides. Please visit http://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf for additional information.

Family of triathlete enjoys Ironman Texas

by Your Houston News
Motorists watch as a triathlete competes in the cycling portion of the inaugural Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas on Saturday in The Woodlands. A young boy watches from his bicycle on Woodlands Parkway as a triathlete competes in the cycling portion of …

TPD talk bicycle safety
by KYTX
By Amanda Roberson – email TYLER (KYTX) – Just in time to hit the roads this summer, dozens of East Texas children got bicycle ready Saturday with Tyler Police officers. From a winding bike course, to road sign reviews, kids got a few safety pointers …

Cyclists urge Fort Worth to continue to make city more bike-friendly
By Gordon Dickson
FORT WORTH — For Doug Black, the 3-mile bicycle ride to work is relatively safe and easy. He sticks mostly to streets such as Magnolia and Jennings avenues, where bike lanes are striped on the pavement. …

Memorial Day, McKinney style: ‘Bike the Bricks’ kicks off weekend
Marthe Stinton

The city of McKinney is preparing for a Memorial Day weekend with events that range from biking and racing to remembering. “Bike The Bricks” kicks off the weekend Friday night in Downtown McKinney. The annual event drew more than 3,500 spectators and 500…

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for May 17th

Rick Ankrum — Wed, 18 May 2011 04:34:14 +0000

I notice many biking accidents happen when it is dark. This project might help.

Project Aura: A Bicycle Safety Lighting System
via Make: Online by John Baichtal

Riding at night can be a daunting and dangerous task; many biking commuters are faced with the issue of being obscured when riding on the streets. Visibility at night is a vital component of biker safety, hence the need for reflectors and attachable lights. However, some of these devices are not always effective especially from the side. …

Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club
Ride Like A Girl – BCGB 360 Access
Monday, May 23, 2011 – 18:00 – 20:00
We will be riding the Barton Creek Green Belt starting at the 360 Access. Please arrive 15 minutes before ride start time to sign your waiver, find your group etc.

Bring plenty of water and don’t forget your helmet!

San Antonio Wheelmen
Big Joshua Creek Ride
Date: 05/21/2011
Time: 08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Details: Big Joshua Creek Ride (NW) [R to H].
Routes of 29, 39, and 54 miles. A beautiful Hill Country Loop with stops in Center Point, Comfort and Waring. An optional cruise up Skyline Drive awaits those with strong legs and low gears. Meet across the street from PoPo’s Restaurant in Welfare. Please try to keep the area directly across the highway from the restaurant open for the lunch customers. Travel I-10 West past Boerne and take the Welfare exit (exit 533) to PoPo’s restaurant. Contact: Eileen Lafer, 210/325-3188 or Rui Sousa, 210/771-1354

The Collins Street Bridge
by Adam at Bike Friendly Richardson

The Collins Street Bridge is a popular way for cyclists to cross Central Expressway, partly because it has a relatively low amount of auto traffic compared to Spring Valley, Belt Line, Arapaho, Campbell, and Renner (Richardson Traffic Count Map). However, it is not perfect. The biggest problem is that many motorists tend to drive well above the speed limit when crossing the bridge and, as with other roads that cross Central…

Be Safe Be Bright – BikeTexas Bike Light Giveaway
by emma@biketexas.org (Emma Cravey)
The Scoop
Be Safe Be Bright is a statewide bike light giveaway organized by BikeTexas, and people like you!

Through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program, BikeTexas is purchasing a massive quantity of LED lights to distribute to over 40,000 Texas school children.

The lights quickly attach to any bike without tools or hardware. We are using this opportunity to purchase extra lights for adults and teenagers around the state who can’t afford lights. …

Tyler Police Department sponsors bike rodeo, safety fair
By Cathryn Khalil
The Tyler Police Department, Tyler Fire Department, ETMC EMS, East Texas Triathletes Club, Tyler Bicycle Club and Elite Bicycles, will sponsor a Bike Rodeo and Safety Fair on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Robert E. Lee High School parking lot, located at 411 ESE Loop 323, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. …

Texas Trooper Brandon Speed’s Unity Tour Report
by Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association on Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 9:58am

Today is the first day of the Police Unity Tour bicycle ride and I have to say that the Texas Wheels of Justice group has represented well.

The day began with an 0500 wakeup (which equates to 0300 Mountain Time back home). I was up until 0130 prepping everything, repacking, and sending email and Facebook updates. Time well spent but it was hard to roll out of my warm bed this morning! We rolled out on the ride at 0700-ish. …

Alaska cyclist pedals to beat breast cancer
RIDING ACROSS U.S.: Fenn raises awareness and funds for research.
By MIKE CAMPBELL
…They are blogging as they go. The last entry was Thursday, their 24th day of pedaling, from Del Rio, Texas, where a severe thunderstorm was threatening to deliver hail the size of quarters.

The 3,160-mile trip that began April 19 has already taken Fenn and Harrision through the Arizona desert, over the mountains of New Mexico and into Texas. …

NMTBP Partners with Groundworks Dallas
Postby fsr » May 13th, 2011, 6:51 pm
Great news for the North Texas Mountian Bike Patrol and Groundworks Dallas.

The North Texas Mountain Bike Patrol and Groundwork Dallas have been in discussion regarding a partnership for a common cause; supporting and building more trails in and around Dallas, TX. Both groups will benefit greatly from this arrangement. Our mutual cooperation will serve a catalyst for each group to achieve our mutual goal of creating the best urban trail systems in Texas and quite possibly the United States. Please give your time and effort to support this cause.

Balance Bar Texas MTB Series Race Results from May 14, 2011

Memorial Day Ride & BBQ
by Rusty@PlanoBicycle.Org (Rusty Nail)
Come ride with us on Memorial day and enjoy a nice BBQ lunch with your friends and family after. Rides will start at 8 AM from Hoblitzelle’s park off of Red River and Legacy. Please bring your favorite side dish and a beverage of your choice, we will provide the main dish.

Eight days and still riding to raise money and awareness to fight cancer
by SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News (Video)
There’s a lot of honking going on at the busy intersection of Barton Springs and South Lamar in South Austin and it has nothing to do with the traffic there.
The parking lot of Jack and Adam’s Bicycles on the northeast corner of that intersection is where members of Texas 4000 are having a marathon fundraiser where…

Recent Race Reports
Mik’s Bike blog
We’ve fallen a bit behind on the race reports, so this will be a cumulative report.

Driveway Springs Fling Race Series photos:
Jack took 3rd place for the series, he only made 3 or 4 of the races in the series but scored enough points to hold onto 3rd place. …