First time racing the Excruciation Exam by Luke Fletcher (Houston)

Here’s the scoop on my first excruciation exam race.  My long-time friend Chris Sechelski told me about E2 when he started training [...]]]> A friend of mine sent me an email with some thoughts and experiences from the Excruciation Exam mountain bike race earlier this month.

First time racing the Excruciation Exam
by Luke Fletcher (Houston)

Here’s the scoop on my first excruciation exam race.  My long-time friend Chris Sechelski told me about E2 when he started training for it around the end of summer 2011.  I decided to race E2 and started training at Thanksgiving; giving me about 6 weeks to get into better shape.  In addition to my normal mountain biking, I put my semi-slicks on my mountain bike (I rode my 2010 Specialized Stumpjumper hard tail, 26er) and started doing some road riding as well.  Some of the best workouts were trying to keep up with the roadies from Bike Barn (at Cypresswood and Steubner Airline) during their 40 mile rides on Saturday mornings.  They would usually leave me in the dust a couple of times on the ride but I worked hard and always caught up with them down the road.

My friend Chris’ computer showed 80.12 miles total distance.  I forgot to set my computer until after we came out of the woods at Warda (about 4 miles  or so after we started) so my computer showed 74.88 miles, max speed of 36.1 mph, an average of 13.1 mph and total ride time of 5:45.32; so I spent about 51 minutes not riding (eating, drinking, catching my breath, fixing a flat tire, etc…).

It was a blast but one ultra-marathon may be enough for this rider…. we definitely did one of the best since it included 2 very fun trails (Warda and Rocky Hill Ranch) and the scenery was pretty while on the road. And we had really good weather and trail conditions…. it was tough but a lot of fun.  It’s definitely tempting to race it again though because you always feel like you can do better and take off time here or there.  Chris and I mainly just wanted to finish and have a good time…. mission accomplished.

And the training for it was fun too for the most part; I like the road riding so much that I want to definitely do more group rides with Bike Barn, etc…. in NW Houston but I need to find a new job and then I’ll either have some work done on my old, Centurion road bike or maybe add a new road bike to my collection.

HARD RIGHT
by Steve A            DFW Point-to-Point

Entirely by accident, I almost witnessed a “right hook” collision on my way home from work. No, I was not an involved party, but I have to admit it was fascinating to watch the scenario unfold. It should remind us once again that it is unwise to pass on the right.

I was northbound, taking the role of the “red arrow” in the aerial view of Pipeline Road in Hurst, Texas. Pipeline is a somewhat conflicted five lane road. I had come upon the intersection and was watching the oncoming, eastbound traffic for a gap I could safely enter. Coming on, in the right lane (the lane of the green arrow, I saw an…

Georgetown to host bike races in May
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City

Big news, bike racing fans.

Come May, bicyclists will zip around downtown Georgetown during the Georgetown Grand Cycling Race in the Streets.

Eight hundred cyclists, including professional and Olympic cyclists from around the country, and 5,000 spectators are expected for the races on May 19-20.

The headline event, a criterium race staged by Holland Racing on a USA Cycling-sanctioned course, will double as the state criterium championship weekend for the Texas Bicycle Racing Association. A criterium is a closed-circuit race on a 1 or 2-mile course. …

]]> Excruciation Exam
Presented by S&S Trail Services and Southern Elite/Sun&Ski/APARD
Warda, TX
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Online Registration Closes Friday, January 07, 2011 at 1:00 PM ET

City offers [...]]]> McCanalEnburg Bike Race
from www.youtube.com  03:33
Los Caminos del Rio, in partnership with the City of Edinburg, the City of Mcallen and Hidalgo County Irrigation District 1, held the third annual McCANALenBurg Challenge, an off-road bike race and community ride between McAllen and Edinburg along the scenic and historic Edinburg Main Canal…

City offers more options positions harden at second bike boulevard …
from austinontwowheels.org
The concept of a bicycle boulevard has ignited passionate responses on both sides of the debate and after a …. Austin and Texas Bicycle Framebuilders …

Bike Denton To Host World’s First Denim Group Ride Jan 23rd
Submitted by Chris on January 14, 2010 – 4:09 am
Bike Denton has announced they’re having the world’s first Denim Ride on Saturday, January 23rd.  They are meeting at 1:30 at the corner of Fry and Hickory in, well, Denton.  Denton is known for it’s charming downtown square, the “Mean Green” and of course, the University of North Texas’ College of Music. …

Commissioners briefed on possible bike race at Graford
by Lake Country Sun
“This is one of the most popular places to bicycle in all of North Texas.” He said two years ago began the Graford Road Race and Time Trial, …

Methodist Children’s Home – Inside Out Blog: Bicycle Blessings
by Methodist Children’s Home
Bicycle Blessings. This Christmas, the First United Methodist Church of Grapevine, Texas gave three truckloads of bicycles to the children of Methodist Children’s Home. And this year wasn’t the first time the church has given… it was …

The Recumbent Blog » Blog Archive » Heart of Texas Catrike Rally
by Rob
Easy Street Recumbents is hosting the first annual Heart of Texas Catrike rally April 16th – 18th, 2010, in sunny Austin, Texas. Registration is $60 for the weekend, per person. Attendees get discounted hotel rates close to the shop, convenient trike storage at Easy Street, discounts on meals, deals on trike parts, a commemorative T-Shirt, one free raffle ticket, free Saturday night buffet, and other stuff that we’ll think of. All cyclists, whatever they ride, are welcome. …

Mineral Wells, TX – Cycling event gets reluctant approval
Some county officials express concerns while supporters tout economic benefits
By Libby Cluett
PALO PINTO – Each year, for the past eight or more years, Team Bicycles Inc. has hosted a spring bike race. This year, race organizers have asked to include an added attraction, which is expected to bring more cyclists to a “bigger and better” event.

Team Bicycles Inc. spokesperson Andy Hollinger presented to commissioners Monday, hoping to get the court and sheriff’s blessing to allow “rolling enclosures” – a type of traffic control used to run a road race – at the April 17-18 bicycle stage race…

CoA presents: Public Workshop on Nueces Bike Boulevard at Pease …
by Jason
Want to impact Austin’s streetscape in a pro-bicycle way which will will affect the way people commute into and from downtown in a BIG way? Then you might want to attend the Nueces Bike Boulevard meeting happening tomorrow at Pease …

Biking In Dallas » Bikes Lane Coming to Oak Cliff
by Chris
Their efforts will soon pay big dividends in the form of a dedicated “cycle track” (or segregated bicycle lane). It’s planned to run along Bishop Blvd between Methodist Hospital and the Bishop Arts District. It’s been named the “Lance Armstrong Gateway” to honor … The 3rd Annual Great Southwest Bike Swap Meet is being held Feb 7th from 9:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. at the Tarrant County Resource Connection (Building 2300) in Fort Worth, Texas. I attended one of their swaps and …

You Don’t Have to be a Bike Racer to Ride with Them
by admin
He rode on an 800 mile tour to celebrate graduation and then started racing under the watchful eye of Kevin Bucy, who at the time was the Texas State Road Champion. In April 2006 Kevin opened the KGS Bikes San Antonio location and the …

Biking In Dallas » Great Southwest Bike Swap Meet Feb 7th
by Chris
The 3rd Annual Great Southwest Bike Swap Meet is being held Feb 7th from 9:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. at the Tarrant County Resource Connection (Building 2300) in Fort Worth, Texas. I attended one of their swaps and it was well … The one I attended had a cyclocross race but I don’t see any mention of one of those this year. It’s close to I-35 and I-20 which puts it on the south west side of Fort Worth. I’m including a map below the graphic. Click on it for sizing or go to their …

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 1/14- 1/21/10 | Austin On Two …
by elliott
Thursday Night Bike Polo
5:30 PM, Eastwoods Park, 3001 Harris Park Ave
Hill Country Ride for Aids Kickoff Party
7 PM, La Zona Rosa, 612 W 4th St
Thursday Night Social Ride
7:30 PM, The Scoot Inn, 1308 E. 4th St. (Corner of 4th and Navasota
Traffic Skills 101 sponsored by Austin Cycling Association
5 PM, REI Gateway, 9901 N Capitol of Texas Hwy, Ste 200
Super Squadra Cycling Clinc Road Ride
9 AM, Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S Lamar Blvd
Texas Age-Based Cyclocross State Championship
9 AM- 5 PM, Travis County East Metro Park, 18667 Blake-Manor Rd
Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Rollingwood and Vine
NEW TIME: 9:30 AM, Mellow Johnny’s, 400 Nueces St
The Revival film premiere & Alleycat Race
7 PM, Hot Mama’s Espresso, 2401 East 6th St
Texas Skill-Based and Single Speed State Championships
8 AM- 3 PM, Travis County East Metro Park, 18667 Blake-Manor Rd
Super Squadra Road Racing Advanced Cycling Skills Clinic and Tactics Seminar
8:30 AM at The Driveway Austin, 8400 Delwau Lane and 12:30 PM at Bicycle Sport Shop Central, 517 S. Lamar Blvd.
Sunday Morning Fixie Ride
10:20 AM, Posse East, 2900 Duval St
Hardcourt Bike Polo
2 PM, Eastwoods Park, 3001 Harris Park Ave
Weekly Ladies Ride presented by Mellow Johnny’s
3:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Show, 400 Nueces St
Hump Day Ride hosted by Social Cycling ATX
11 AM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
Weekly Bike Maintenance and Flat Repair Classes hosted by Mellow Johnny’s
6 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Wednesday Night Road Ride XXVII
7 PM, Check site for start location

A bicycle tour of the city offers a glimpse of the new year
by Robert Rivard
On a chilly January afternoon, I biked down Broadway for a glimpse of San Antonio as it unfolds in the new year. I found inspiration, challenge, success and failure, all on the same ride.

The Pearl Brewery redevelopment is the symbol of how imagination and capitalism can work together to reinvent the fabric of the city. Sometime late this year, the internationally renowned Culinary Institute of America…

Family of Deceased San Antonio Bicyclist Couple File Wrongful …
by sburke@smslegal.com (Blog Author)
Kylie’s parents were killed in October when Sullaway drove his Ford F-150 King Ranch work truck off Texas 16 and hit them while they were riding their tandem bicycle along the highway. The Bruehlers took their safety seriously, …

Who Needs Sleep?: Excruciation Exam 85 Mile MTB
In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been checking out the race scene in Texas. This time it was the 85 mile Excruciation Exam mountain bike race on January 2. Only it wasn’t really 85 miles of mountain biking. It started at Bluff Creek Ranch in Warda, TX with a LeMans run start and an 8 mile lap on the trails. Then we rode our bikes 30 miles on back roads to Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville, TX. After a 21 mile lap there, we were to return using different roads and…