Ever wondered how bikes are made? This short video of a New Hampshire (yes, there are still frames being made in the US) offers a tour through a new factory.

Indy Fab Bike Factory NH Video
urbanvelo.org

Independent Fabrication from Logan Hodson on Vimeo.

We had the chance to visit the New Hampshire Bike Factory this past summer and posted a photo preview as it was under construction, a couple of weeks from being operational. Now it is fully up and running, producing Independent Fabrication bikes as you can see here.

Importers recall some Nitto handlebars
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) Jan 25, 10:07 MT—Three importers are working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada to recall about 2,000 Nitto aluminum handlebars that can break.

The B259AA bars were sold from January 2008 through July 2011 for between $60 and $80. Two incidents in which the bars broke have been reported. One of the incidents involved a fall and a cut to the rider’s leg.

The bars were imported and distributed to dealers by Euro Asia Imports, The Merry Sales Co., and Bicycle Technologies International. …

2012 Reveille Roubaix Volunteers
The Grit & Gravel Challenge can not happen without great volunteers! Being a volunteer is all about making the event a safe and memorable experience for everyone. All volunteers will receive a volunteer t-shirt, free food, and souvenir pint glass. Review our volunteer opportunities and register today.
Volunteers will be needed for the following: …

Sarah Ginsbach prefers to go long new
Written by: Timothy Carlson            www.slowtwitch.com
Exuberant age grouper Sarah Ginsbach is 27, was born in Oregon City, Oregon and lives in Spring Texas. She works as an educator for lululemon athletica, a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company which makes…

In 2011, Ginsbach won her 25-29 age group at XTERRA Austin, beating 20-24 and 30-34 winners by 33 and 20 minutes respectively. She qualified for the XTERRA World Championship in Maui, but had an off day, finishing 13th in her age group and 406th overall.

Her most impressive performances have been in cross country cycling. At the 2011 Sun and Ski Sports SS Trails Excruciation, she won 19-29 and finished the tough 100k course in 7:11:40. Her improvement curve is…

5th annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour offers Houston-area cyclists some hilly terrain
By Rex Knepp, Houston Cycling Examiner
I don’t know about you, but it seems that almost every organized ride I see in the Houston area winds up following one of about three or four routes. Sometimes I think my bike could find its way home from the finish line without me, like Lassie trotting home to tell Timmy’s dad that he’s stuck in the well. If you’re tired of seeing the same billboards and barns every weekend, though, there is an alternative: the 5th Annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, out yonder in the Texas Hill Country.

This year’s LBJ classic will fall on Sunday, March 24th, starting at the 36th President’s family ranch near the little town of Stonewall, between Johnson City and Fredericksburg. That location’s about 65 miles west of Austin or 80 miles north…

Group Riding: The Rotating Paceline
by sooner1                Shawnee Trail Cycling Club

Some of our rides for more experienced cyclists utilize a rotating paceline to better involve everyone in the efforts and to take advantage of everyone for periodic blocking  of the wind and drafting.  Below are some of the techniques we as a club expect when you participate in our pacelines.  We do recommend, if you aren’t sure of the technique, or haven’t been…

Quick Tip – Relax
by Shawn            Texas Mountain Bike Trails
Your hammering through a trail, leaning into corners, heart rate through the roof. You are pushing as hard as you have ever pushed in your life.

You are also stressed, worried about your cadence, or nutrition, or some other thing. Overall, you stopped having fun.
News Flash:
Mountain Biking is Crazy Fun! …

Toyota Applewhite Ride – Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
Start: January 22, 2012 8:30 am
End:   January 22, 2012 12:00 pm
Venue: Bill Millers BBQ
Address: 7081 Rockport Road, San Antonio, TX
Meet at 8:30 in the parking lot across from Bill Miller’s BBQ at the intersection of Hwy 16 South and 1604 for a 27 or 36 mile ride on the Southside near the Toyota plant on Applewhite road.  This ride is mostly flat with some rolling hills.  Directions:  From the north side of San Antonio take Hwy 35 south towards Laredo, exit Palo Alto Rod (Hwy 16), and proceed south past 410 until you reach 1604.  Turn left and the parking lot will be on your left.  From the west side, take 410 south, exit Hwy 16 South, and proceed south until you reach 1604 and turn left.  Lunch will be decided upon at the time of the ride. For more information contact ride leaders Diana Valdez (210-535-3373) or Randy Frazier (210-237-8740).

San Antonio Wheelmen
Upcoming Rides and Events:
Saturday, January 21:  Big Joshua Creek Ride
Sunday, January 22:  Elmendorf Ride
Sunday, January 22:  Leon Springs Ride (Leaderless)
Saturday, January 28: Cibolo Ride
Sunday, January 29:  Urban Breakfast Ride
Sunday, January 29:  Comfort-Ladybird Loop Ride

Giant road bikes recalled because of forks
www.bicycleretailer.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) —Giant Bicycle is working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 900 road bikes because their forks can crack.

No injuries have been reported as a result of the fork problem.

The recall involves all 2012 model year men’s Giant Defy Advanced 0, 1 and 2 model bicycles and the women’s Giant Avail Advanced 0, 1, and 2 model bicycles.

The bikes were sold from August 2011 through November 2011 for between $3,000 and $4,550. …

Using P90X2 to Improve Your Cycling
by Darryl        lovingthebike.com
Odds are that you’ve heard of the P90X home workout program, but what about using it to improve your cycling?  I was contacted by Denis Faye, a writer for Beachbody, about posting an article on using the P90X2 program to help make you a better cyclist.  Beachbody is the maker of several fitness products, including this and other home based fitness programs and they have done quite well for themselves….and the P90X is definitely their…

Setting the 2012 Results Bar High…
by Doc            McKinney Velo Club
Congratulations to MV’s Julian Howitt who secured MV’s first road race 1st place (the rhyme rolls off the tongue much like Julian rolled across the line) of 2012 in the first road race of 2012 – the 1/14/2012 TRP Winter Crits. Julian took the victory in the 3/4 crit and then for good measure, placed 4th in the 4/5 race that followed. Way to set…

Bike Rage
by katiejo            Austin on Two Wheels

For the  most part, bicycles ride are peaceful and fun. If bicycle rides weren’t something I enjoyed I would not ride nearly as much or at all. Basic Pavlovian response stuff. I do what feels good to me. Yet, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows and unicorns all the time when on two wheels.

Similar to road rage, there is a feeling of aggressiveness that surges up at times when on the road on a bicycle seat. Naming this feeling “Bike Rage” (like Road Rage when in a car)  is not quite right. I rather like to think of it as Bike Pet Peeves. *Note: Multiple occurrences of Bike Pet Peeves in one day could steer any cyclists down…

Plano On-Street Bicycle Signs and Routes
by bergerandfries        Bike Friendly Richardson
Hello there, bergerandfries with my first BFR posting. Our friends in Plano have kicked off a project to make Plano easier to ride by bicycle!  Plano has a great off street Multi-Use Path system, but now they are implementing On-Street bicycle signs and routes.

What will the signage be?
The signage is in accordance with the Texas Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a code that regulates traffic signage at the state level, ensuring that all traffic signage is consistent. This code also dictates how signs are placed in terms of location and frequency and how they are displayed. Most of the signage is green and…

Mostly Annual Farm to Ranch ReTREEt – Bastrop
by The Announcer Guy         Biking in Dallas
Local cyclist, Grady McGahan, is organizing an effort to replant native trees and other growing things as they cycle the gorgeous area around Bastrop, Texas this Friday, January 20th.

Join us as we ride from Austin to Bastrop and Paige for a few days of roving reforestation. Our merry band of reTREEters will work with local nurseries to plant native trees on private property, where people are more likely to do what is needed to keep them going for the long haul. …

Girl on Bicycle Struck by Vehicle
by MyFox Houston
SPRING, Texas – A second grade student in the Klein Independent School District was taken to a hospital after she was struck by a vehicle as she rode a bicycle in northwest Harris County. The accident took place around 8 am on Castlemont Lane near Lost…

Mellow Johnny’s race expands in fourth year at new venue
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
AUSTIN, TX (BRAIN) — Lance Armstrong’s bike shop, Mellow Johnny’s, continues to support the Mellow Johnny’s Spring Classic, which is the kick off event of USA Cycling’s Pro XCT series. The race is March 3-4.

This year the race is not going to be held at Armstrong’s Juan Pelota Ranch, because the Tour de France hero has sold the spread. Instead, the race will be about a mile away at the Flat Creek Crossing Ranch. Flat Creek features eight miles of singletrack and has hosted events in the Texas Mountain Bike Series for years. …

Gore Professional and Low Friction brake cables recalled
by VeloNews.com
Gore is recalling all cables from their Low Friction and Professional road kits.

According to Gore, “When the affected cables are installed in a brake lever using the Campagnolo style termination, it is possible that the termination end of the cable may detach from the cable. We have received only one report of such detachment and no injuries have been reported. However, because the quality and safety of our products is paramount, we are halting sales and initiating a voluntary recall of all affected cables.” …

Trail Hazard Alert – Ice On Owens Trail
by dickdavid        Bike Friendly Richardson

BFR friend Mike Freiberger sent us a note warning us of some dangerous ice conditions on the Owens Trail just west of the bridge (GPS coordinates N32.985141,W-96.690661). Based on these coordinates, it’s the part of the trail between Lookout Park and Sherrill Park Golf Course. According to the city, the problem is a drainage issue. …

el Tour de Taco Sunday the 15th
by The Announcer Guy        Biking in Dallas
So here’s the plan: meet up for a bike ride, log 20 or so miles, find a taco stand and enjoy.
Afterwards we can always go find a local Ellum watering hole to hoist a pint and talk about how good/ bad the last particular taco stop was. I’m gonna get off my bum and start trying to host one of these every month on the middle Sunday with a few ground rules:
The ride will be around 20 miles with a leisure pace and we won’t leave you behind. …

Corinth Cycling Club Rides
8:00am – Cup o Joe
by Scott Franklin
When: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8am to 9:30am  CST
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Description: The Cup o’ Joe is a beginner level ride of around 15 miles. The ride heads south to Hickory Creek and stops for drinks at Starbucks on the way home. The ride leader for this ride is Bob Troyer.
8:00am – Harden Dental Team Ride
by Scott Franklin
When: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8am to 11am  CST
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Description: This is the weekly training ride for the Corinth Cycling/Harden Dental race team. This is a 62 mile loop on an established route. Expect a fast pace and be prepared to fix your own mechanicals. There are no stops on this ride.

Chihuahuan Desert Dirt Fest set for Feb. 16-18
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City

A little over a year ago, I spent four days under the big skies of West Texas, shredding the skin on my legs and blasting my quad muscles on a four-day bike ride through Big Bend Ranch State Park.

That trip made one thing obviously clear: Big Bend Ranch boasts some seriously awesome mountain bike terrain, and there’s no better camping sites than the ones perched atop mesas bristling with cactus in the…

What do primary elections and tandem bike racing have in common?
by Sheryl Devereaux, Houston Political Buzz Examiner
Have you ever ridden a tandem bike?  If so, you know that the most powerful teammate, the Stoker, sits in the rear position. While the Captain, in forward position is responsible for steering , warning  of hazards ahead and balance, the Stoker, in the rear position is the engine—the power of the team.  Most of the forward thrust is dependent upon the stoker because the total weight of the team and their bike requires the most strength to propel the entire tour fastest and with the…

Developing a Habit of Consistent Exercise
by Shawn            Texas Mountain Bike Trails
Welcome back to the third part of this series on how I lost 40 pounds and obliterated my competition. If you didn’t catch part 1 or 2 you can find the links below. Here is the basic breakdown of how this weight loss plan is laid out. Pre-Planning Easily changing your diet in a drastic…

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…

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. …

Pioneer PotterNavi: a 3G bike GPS that encourages you to meander
By Daniel Cooper          www.engadget.com

A GPS that encourages meandering won’t be the dish of the day (month, or year) for hypermilers, but might do well in the slightly more genteel world of cycling. Pioneer’s PotterNavi sits on the handlebars of your velocipede and can let you decide between straight or scenic routes. The 100 gram device packs a 2.4-inch 240 x 320 LCD screen and fortunate Japanese buyers get two years of 3G data for free, courtesy…

Generally I do not include news about electric bicycles since I am a purist but this one looks so much like the people powered bike that I had to.

Grace One City e-motorbike review
By Tim Stevens             www.engadget.com

There comes a time in nearly every person’s life when they need to get up, get out the door and get to work. Some drive, some walk, some take one form of public transportation or another — but a noble few do something different. Those people ride their bikes, holding on to the passion gained in a childhood of…

Everyone who rides for very long will have an encounter with a vehicle in some manner. Hopefully it is not tragic but there things you need to know.

How to Handle a Bike Accident With a Vehicle
By Ryan Wood            Active.com
John Duggan was riding along the left side of a lane of vehicles stopped in a traffic jam, when a car pulled out from the lane to make a U-turn right in front of him. The car smacked right into Duggan’s bike, sending him flying.

At the time, Duggan didn’t think he was injured, and he wasn’t sure who was at fault. So both he and the driver mutually agreed to go their…

Trek Recalling 27,000 Bikes
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN)—The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Trek, has issued a voluntary recall of about 27,000 FX and District bikes from the 2012 model year.

The bolt that secures the seat saddle clamp to the seat post can break posing a fall hazard.

Trek has received four reports of incidents with one injury involving a broken tooth and lip injury.

The bicycles affected by this recall include the following models: …

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 10/27- 11/2/11
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
Halloween is nigh so its time to put on a costume and ride your bike… whether it’s for the Thursday Night Social Ride, the special Sunday edition of Frankenbike, or just to head to the 6th street zoo!

Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all cycling events. Thanks to Jason at ATXBS for letting us know about some events we couldn’t find elsewhere. As always, if there is an event you know about that’s not on our calendar contact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up. …

Spreading The Word About Pedal Power – A North Texas Bike Charity
by dickdavid            Bike Friendly Richardson

When we were at the Bike Friendly Oak Cliff, Richardson Bike Mart Cyclesomatic Bicycle Fair last weekend, we discovered a great bicycle charity called Pedal Power. Based out of Mansfield, Texas, Pedal Power is a division of Mansfield Bike Charity, a non-profit organization dedicated to refurbishing and redistributing used bikes. Their bikes benefit kids and adults in need of transportation to school and work, and provide increased…

TAMUG grad bikes 4,000 miles for cancer
By Bronwyn Turner        galvestondailynews.com

GALVESTON — Sam Davenport, of Galveston, never had attempted a long-distance bike ride when he set out alone on a fundraiser earlier this year.

Some 4,000 miles later, he raised $5,000 to donate to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, as well as $10,000 for families with children battling cancer.

He biked from 30 to 130 miles a day, losing 10 pounds and gaining a rubber-meets-the-road message. …

Missoni For Target Bicycle – Completed, With My Thoughts.
by Justin            The Plano Cyclist

Since my blog is now steadily making about two cents a day from clicks on the ads (retirement, here I come) I thought I ‘d give you two of my own since I completed the Missoni for Target “build”. The bike itself is a solid machine, though it came out of the box with a few dings; the fender had a small ding, and the basket had a cut in the rubber it was dipped in. The paint on the bike is solid, and very attractive. However, there is a seam in the…

Social Riding Dirty.
by Justin        The Plano Cyclist
On Saturday the 22nd, there was a bike friendly ride through Ray Charles’ South Dallas. I wasn’t aware that Ray Charles rode bicycles, nor that he lived in Dallas, so I was intrigued by the ride and wanted to go. The stars aligned and I was able to hook up with Hubbard and Curnutt and do a little South Dallas slow riding with Jason Roberts and a bunch of other…

Energy Corridor Shared-Use Pathways Project
by Aaron Chang         BikeHouston
On Monday, October 31 the Energy Corridor District will be submitting a federal grant application (TIGER III) for their Shared-Use Pathways Project. The Energy Corridor District is contributing local matching funds and will be responsible for future maintenance of the project. BikeHouston and numerous local organizations have written letters of support in favor of this important project. …

Violet Crown cyclocrossers are achieving great results throughout the state.
The club will host the annual Webberville Cyclocross race on December 11.
Violet Crown Sporrts Association
October 22-23 | Sugar Cycles Cross Fest, Sugar Land
Saturday
Men 60+ – John Collins 1st
Men 50+ – Jay Bond 6th
Men 3/4 – Jamie Mitchell 28th
Sunday
Men 60+ – John Collins 2nd
Men 50+ – Jay Bond 6th

October 15-16 | Cyclehaus Tough Cyclocross, Fredericksburg
Saturday
Men 60+ – John Bartle 1st, John Collins 2nd
Men 50+ – David Wolfe 4th, Jay Bond 6th
Sunday
Men 60+ – John Collins 1st
Men 50+ – Jay Bond 8th
Men 4 – Michael Gilheany 18th
Men 3/4 – Jamie Mitchell 33rd

Everything but Transmountain
El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Meet at Power Shots, 965 N. Resler, for up and down ride along West Side to Scenic to McKelligon and back. FYI: Transmountain is closed that morning because of the half-marathon race. 40 miles, moderate+ pace. Olac Fuentes,915-217-8008.

Cat C Official’s Clinic
9/21/2011: This class as been postponed and will be rescheduled for the near future (was scheduled for 10/8/2011).

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 9/22- 9/28/11
by elliott        Austin On Two Wheels
Cyclocross season is at hand! This Sunday we’ll be host the last of our weekly CX practice sessions to prep for the season with the Dirt Derby starting on Tuesday, September 27. There is also lots of opportunities to ride and race mountain plus Frankenbike’s monthly chance to build up the bike you’ve always wanted.

Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all cycling events. Thanks to Jason at ATXBS for letting us know about some events we couldn’t find elsewhere. As…

Buescher Park unscathed by fires
By Pam LeBlanc        Fit City

Most of Bastrop State Park may have burned in the recent wildfires, but Buescher State Park, just up the road, was unscathed.

That reminder this morning via a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department press release.

Buescher State Park, a 1,017-acre park 13 miles east of Bastrop State Park, reopened this week after being closed since Sept. 4. …

Bike vs. Bike
Which is the best city for cyclists: Big D or Cowtown? Both cities have plans in place now to create safer, more convenient options for riders
DAVID TAFFET  |  Staff Writer    taffet@dallasvoice.com
This weekend, Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS riders can decide for themselves which city is more bike-friendly — Dallas or Fort Worth — as the fundraising cyclists ride through Cowtown on Saturday, and Big D on Sunday (see separate story, New Routes, LSRFA).

Both cities have bike plans in place to increase bicycling for fun and fitness and to encourage two-wheel transportation as a viable means of commuting. But which city’s plan is the best? …

Highland Village bicycle race for families of fallen officers
Eric Williams        www.thenewsconnection.com
Five bicycle teams, loads of local volunteers and generous sponsors helped make a success of the 4th Annual Fallen Heroes Bike Race in Highland Village. The event raised $10,000 to help families of Texas police officers killed in the line of duty.

“We honored three of the sponsors at the race,” said Corporal David Harney, one of the race coordinators. The platinum sponsor was Scorz Sports Bar and Grill, which donated $3,000 for the event. Mr. Restore, with a $1,200 donation was the gold sponsor and Anderson Roofing, which gave $1,000, was the silver…

Parking, schmarking. UL plans bike-leasing program
Written by: Heather Miller      www.theind.com
A weather-resistant, smooth pedaling bicycle will be an added transit option for UL students soon when Rugged Cycles rolls out the Cajun bike.

According to The Vermilion, the campus newspaper that finally recently unveiled its new website, university officials are working with bicycle manufacturer Rugged Cycles to offer high-quality, chainless bicycles for students to lease for about $1 a day.

The Texas company was started by UL graduates and has already tried pilot bicycle leasing programs at two Texas A&M campuses . UL will be the third…

USA Cycling announces 2012 Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour (Pro XCT)
by Ron Callahan
USA Cycling announced today the 2012 edition of the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour (Pro XCT).  In its fourth year, the Pro XCT will feature six events at which world-class athletes will race for UCI ranking points and prize purses.

Mountain bike season will unofficially kick off in the U.S. at Lance Armstrong’s ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas as the Pro XCT makes its first stop with UCI C1 event, The Mellow Johnny’s Classic on March 3. …

Specialized Bicycle Components Recalls Bicycles Due to Fall Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Bicycles with Advanced Group carbon forks
Units: About 14,200
Distributor: Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., of Morgan Hill, Calif.
Manufacturer: Advanced Group, of Taiwan

Hazard: The brake component housed within the bicycle’s carbon fork can disengage from the fork and allow the brake assembly to contact the wheel spokes while rotating, posing a fall hazard. …