Texas Bicycling News May 17th 2017

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Day Zero: Texas 4000’s Longest Annual Charity Bike Ride Kick Off

do512.com

Fri Jun 2 12:00PM
LBJ Lawn
Texas 4000, the nonprofit organization dedicated to the fight against cancer, begins its 70-day summer ride from Austin to Alaska on June 2nd with an unofficial send-off party at the LBJ Lawn on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The public celebration known as “Day Zero” occurs the day prior to the ATLAS Ride, where supporters can register and ride the first 25, 50 or 70 miles with the Texas 4000 team — the first day of …

Houston Police Set Up Stings To Catch Drivers Who Endanger Cyclists

By Stephen Paulsen | www.houstonpress.com


Six bike riders have been killed in the Houston area so far this year, according to advocacy group BikeHouston, but the Houston Police Department is now setting up regular stings for drivers who endanger cyclists.
In March, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announced he’d start going after drivers who pass bikes without the minimum three feet of space, using plainclothes bike cops equipped with a high-tech “C3FT” device. It’s part of a …

Day 27: Sweetwater, TX to Abilene, TX

Bill Rogan | bicycletrip.net


The highlight of the day, and perhaps the highlight among all highlights, is when Bill Rogan of Denver surprised me on the road. I was riding east on an I-20 frontage road (east of Trent) when in the distance I saw a cyclist coming towards me. As he approached, he did a 180-degree turn and joined me. “Hey Steve,” he said. It was Bill Rogan. I was stunned! Yes folks, my friend Bill Rogan drove eleven hours from Denver, Colorado to Abilene, Texas to join me. Talk about getting a …

City Council Approves New Downtown Reconstruction Project

By Maura Ballard | sanangelolive.com


SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – The city council, in a 6-0 vote, has approved the adoption of a resolution for a new construction project, the Chadbourne Street Corridor Project, and the funding mechanisms proposed for the Project.
… The TA Set-Aside Program provides funding to construct a variety of alternative transportation projects that improve mobility for non-motorized users and constructs on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. Furthermore, the TA Set-Aside Program, provides funding for …

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Texas Bicycling News May 16th 2017

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Texoma Cycling Club sponsors Ride of Silence on May 17

By media release | www.ntxe-news.com


Sherman — The Texoma Cycling Club (www.texoma.cc) is sponsoring this year’s Ride of Silence on May 17 at 7:00 p.m. The ride will start in Zauk Circle at Austin College. The Ride of Silence in Sherman, Texas will leave from Austin College located at 900 N Grand Ave, Sherman, Texas. Please park in lots at corner of Grand Ave and Brockett. Ride will begin in Zauk Circle. Campus map and driving directions: …

Man accused in hit-and-run death of cyclist has courtroom outburst

Krista M Torralva | www.caller.com


After a courtroom outburst, a man accused of a hit-and-run that killed cyclist and AEP communications director Andy Heines said he doesn’t want his family sharing in his public scrutiny. …

DART cranks up to speed for Dallas’ Bike to Work Day festivities

By Teresa Gubbins | dallas.culturemap.com


May 19 is National Bike to Work Day and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is hosting events to encourage commuters to get on two wheels.
It’s being visioned as a bike-crazy day with cyclists pedaling to work, appointments, and shopping. DART has set up several “energizer” stations where bike enthusiasts can celebrate Bike to Work Day activity.
From 7-9 am, organizations such as Bike DFW, North Central Texas Council of Governments, local bike groups, shops, and …

Austin Nonprofit Hosts Bike to Work Day

By Meg Bonacorsi | www.twcnews.com

AUSTIN, Texas — Bike Austin is gearing up to host its sixth annual Bike to Work Day on May 19.
The event is meant to encourage people to bike to work throughout the year, as well as celebrate bicycle safety and advocacy in the Austin community.
Bike Austin has partnered with …

Parks master plan prioritizes trails, dog park

By William C. Wadsack | www.heralddemocrat.com


Sherman is moving forward with plans for a dog park, skate park and connected hiking and biking trails at city parks.
Those items were among the priorities in the 2017 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan the City Council unanimously adopting during its meeting Monday. Director of Public Services Steve Ayers said the approximately year of work on the master plan was a collaboration between the …

Across the USA 45 years late

By David Kelly | www.crazyguyonabike.com

Day 32: Second Texas day same as the first, only with more wind
Monday May 15, 2017, 61 miles (98 km) – Total so far: 1,750 miles (2,816 km)
Much of yesterday and today must rate as the most unenjoyable sections of my tour to this point. The mapped route, being historically faithful to Old Route 66 as well as recognizing few other viable east-west routes, is run largely on frontage roads next to US I-40. The increasing loudness and intensity of freeway traffic throughout the day wears on one’s hearing and one’s nerves. The wind, evidently …

Day 33: Goodbye Texas, Hello Oklahoma
Tuesday May 16, 2017, 52 miles (84 km) – Total so far: 1,802 miles (2,900 km)
The day had an ominous beginning with a weather forecast for scattered thunderstorms along my route beginning in early afternoon. The morning sky seemed to confirm the forecast. …

NY2TXBeer&DinerMeTour2017

By Mark Shearer | www.crazyguyonabike.com

14-Apr-How do we get out of Texas?
Monday May 15, 2017
I’ve done this before, getting out of Texas that is! I was station here back in the 80’s when I was stationed here. Infact our youngest CSsie was born in Texas. I suppose you can call it Texas, we were a stones throw from Mexico and it seemed like another country. But in time we were paroled and allowed to move to another base. Anyway, trying to get to another state seems like an all day task. When they say Texas is big they mean it. Of course we zig zagged around for most of the day hitting different towns to pick up and drop off riders. Kind fun to just watch people do their thing.
I think it was Dallas when we got some new riders and one of them wanted to sit next to …

Ride of Silence: May 17th, 2017, 6:30pm, Pfluger Ped Bridge

by dougmc | bicycleaustin.info

On May 17, 2017 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
We will meet on the Pfluger (Lamar) Street Pedestrian Bridge at 6:30pm and start rolling at 7pm. You can see the entire route here http://www.strava.com/routes/2138595. We will be providing ribbons. We will …

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Marathon to Key West FL Bike Ride

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When I walked out of the hotel this morning in Marathon I saw a decked out touring bicycle in the lobby. The rider was talking to the desk person but when I came back in he sat on a chair and I started talking with him. He was riding to Key West like me and while chatting we agreed to ride together. While talking I learned he had biked from Palm Beach where he lived to Marathon yesterday. This was his twentieth time biking to Key West so I figured he knew a lot more about the route than I did. His name was Jim and his touring bike included a trailer.

Jim is what I would call a loaded touring biker.

After helping my wife load our suitcases into the Jeep I finished dressing and waited for Jim to come out of the hotel. We rolled out of the hotel parking lot and crossed US 1 to begin the ride to Key West at 11:00 AM. Jim told me he didn’t ride fast with the trailer and I agreed that I wasn’t in a hurry and the 12+ mph average was okay with me. It was encouraging to have an experienced Key West biker leading the way. Riding with Jim I didn’t stop to take pictures like yesterday. I did take some whenever we stopped.

The 7 mile bridge was a concern because I wasn’t sure what the shoulder would be like. Jim told me it was about 6 feet wide. Biking over the bridge was beautiful and the shoulder was as Jim said. Road debris was nonexistent which made the ride good.

After crossing the bridge we stopped at a Chevron station to rest and refill water bottles. Jim liked to talked to everyone who stopped at the store and we had great conversations with a number of people. After some time two other bicyclists rode into the station and the conversations ensued. They also were on the way to Key West having started in Marathon like us. They had planned to ride from Key Largo yesterday but the weather canceled that plan. We agreed to ride together and found out their names were Peter and Sandrine from Toronto. While talking with the newcomers we had many laughs and learned a lot about each other. After they filled up their bottles we hit the road. Jim was in the lead, I followed him, Sandrine next and Peter last.

Peter, Jim and Sandrine (left to right)

We rode around 12 to 14 mph and stayed on the west bound shoulder with Jim’s three orange flags deployed to alert motorists and his numerous taillights flashing.

We came to one town and Jim wanted to stop at the Bucktooth Restaurant but a man came out and told us they were closed today due to some kitchen upgrades he was doing. With that place out Jim asked for a recommendation farther down the road. Later after we crossed one of the bridges Jim pointed out Kiki’s Restaurant off to the right. We made a turn onto a side road and a few hundred yards later we pulled into the parking lot for lunch. I had eaten a large breakfast thinking I would ride the 52.3 miles without a break. I brought two trail mix bars in case I needed to eat.

Kiki’s Restaurant

Kiki’s is a dog friendly place and Sandrine went to met each dog. After everyone ate we got back on the bikes and headed back to US 1. During the ride we learned Sandrine’s pet name for Peter was “Baby”. Later this would cause us to stop at a place with a connection to his pet name.

On the left Jim spotted a store with the name Baby’s Coffee and we all rode to the south side of the road for Sandrine to take some pictures and we could fill our bottles again. Inside we met a friendly lady behind the counter who filled our bottles with ice and water. Sandrine noticed several shelves near the front door with bike parts and tools and we knew they were bike friendly. Jim, the ready talker, asked people entering if they were new or long time customers. After filling the bottles we went outside and a man was walking his German Shepherd. Everyone moved there and talked with him.

Baby’s Coffee

Back on the road we had about 12+ miles to Key West. Riding about 9 miles we stopped at a gas station for a short break. This is where we decided to each go our way. Jim was camping near where we stopped, Sandrine and Peter were riding to a hotel near downtown Key West and I to a hotel on N. Roosevelt. We shook hands and wished everyone a great time in Key West. I rode away from the station followed by Peter and Sadrine. I could see them in my mirror for a awhile but then I lost sight of them. I pulled into the hotel parking lot a few minutes after 7 PM biking 52.3 miles for a total of 105.7 miles from Key Largo to Key West.

Links to RideWithGPS.com and Strava.com.

Me just before leaving the hotel in Marathon.

Texas Bicycling News May 14th 2017

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Ride of Silence set for Wednesday

BY MELANY COX | www.tdtnews.com


On Wednesday, Central Texas cyclists will participate in the Ride of Silence, an international event designated to raise awareness for cyclists’ safety and to honor those who have been killed or injured.
Cyclists will gather at 6:30 p.m. at Lions Junction Family Water Park, 5000 S. Fifth St. in Temple, and …

Hundreds of helmets given to local kids during Hard Hats for Little Heads event

By VANESSA GARCIA | amarillo.com


Liana Van, 9, received one of about 300 red-and-white bicycle helmets during the Hard Hats for Little Heads event, which gave away free helmets and educated local children on their importance in conjunction with National Bike Month. (Vanessa Garcia / For the Amarillo Globe-News)
Local children received free fitted bicycle helmets and learned of their safety importance Saturday morning during the Hard Hats for Little Heads event — a bicycle helmet giveaway at 850 Martin Road.
Regence Health Network and Potter-Randall County Medical Alliance teamed up with …

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