Texas Bicycling News Digest October 20th

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2015 RAT Debrief (Promoter’s perspective)

Spinistry        www.facebook.com

The RAT is an adventure, no doubt about it. It is a challenge of mind, body and equipment. Luck plays a factor too but that is really a small piece of the puzzle. Most everyone who completed the course had to overcome significant obstacles to get to Tucumcari. I am eternally thankful and honored that people would put themselves through what they did to get as far as they did.
Not everyone completed what they intended to this year. Attrition was very high. A record heat wave (over 100 one day),terrible road conditions (sand pits from hell, hundreds of miles of washboard, a carpet of goatheads), with only one day of tailwinds all added up to an extremely …

McAllen B-Cycle open for Riding

By Pedro Perez        www.edinburgreview.com


McALLEN – When commissioner John Ingram was visiting a bigger metro he noticed a bike program and told Mayor Jim Darling the city could do a better job at creating one.
With that conversation the idea was launched to the grants office, the public transportation office, parks and recreation, city manager and city commission. They got together and an idea was realized.
“This is an example of the great team work that we have in McAllen,” the mayor said.
There will be eight stations inside the city limits. Officials with the …

Cyclist left with fractured ribs, partially collapsed lung after getting hit by vehicle

By Imelda Mejia        valleycentral.com


A Valley cyclist spent his birthday recovering from several injuries after a vehicle hit him and drove off, leaving him on the side of the road Saturday morning.
The accident, which happened on 10th street near Freddy Gonzalez in McAllen, left cyclist Raul Guzman Jr. on the side of the road with five fractured ribs, a broken left fibula and a partially collapsed lung.
“I knew I had been hit by a car. My bike – I could see my …

NPD says IBD bike sales up 6% through August

by BRAIN Staff        www.bicycleretailer.com

The retail tracking service says less traditional bikes are driving sales growth
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (BRAIN) —  The NPD Group says IBD bicycle dollar sales grew 6 percent in the 12 months ending in August, driven in large part by growth in sales of electric, hybrid, and mountain bicycles.
“Bicycle sales typically peak in April and May, but are picking up during the fall and early winter months, which coincides with the fact that cycling, regardless of season, has become embedded in the everyday lives of more consumers,” the group said in a press release Tuesday.
“At the same time the number of people traveling to work by bicycle is rising in the U.S., sales of …

The inspiring story behind Austin’s iconic and whimsical Bike Zoo

By KLRU-TV/Austin PBS        austin.culturemap.com

Editor’s note: CultureMap is proud to present the latest installment in our partnership with KLRU’s documentary series Arts in Context. This unique series celebrates stories about the arts in Austin and the people who make this such a vibrant and creative city.
Giant rattlesnakes, bats, and butterflies parade down the streets thanks to the Austin Bike Zoo. This mechanical menagerie is the brainchild of …

Wind In My Wheels- A Journey Across America

By Richard Ostrowski        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Working our Way East: Brenham to Richards
Tuesday October 20, 2015
We continued working our way east cycling 48 miles from Brenham to Richards Texas.
We took a break and toured a State Park and museum at the Washington On The Brazos State Historical Park. It was the site for the signing of the Declaration of Independence for the State of Texas.
Our next stop was Navasota Texas for lunch. Bob and I stopped at the Deli in Brooks Brothers Grocery store. I had a …

Armadillo Classic bike ride returns to Liberty Hill on Saturday

by Pam LeBlanc        fitness.blog.austin360.com


Rolling hills, rest stops stocked with pickles, fruit and sandwiches, and scenery that’ll make the grouchiest armadillo smile are on tap this Saturday when the Armadillo Hill Country Classic returns to Liberty Hill.
The ride, a fund-raiser for Bike Austin, offers distance options of 11, 20, 39, 51, 68 and 103 miles through the Hill Country and Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge.
“The Armadillo is one of Bike Austin’s major fund-raisers and …

Cyclist safety an issue in Valley

By MAY ORTEGA        www.valleymorningstar.com


McALLEN — Yesterday morning marked the third bicyclist to be hit by a vehicle in the Rio Grande Valley this month. The incident, resulting in minor injuries, occurred on 4 Mile Line and N. Shary Road at about 8 a.m. The driver of the vehicle pulled over, which McAllen Commissioner Veronica Whitacre called a blessing.
“Until now we didn’t really have that many cyclists hit,” she said.
Two of the three drivers in the recent accidents pulled over after …

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Texas Bicycling News October 19th

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Deep South Tour – Day 1

MCP

First day of my 2015 Deep South Tour! It was September when I set out in Texas.

Deep South Tour – Day 2

Second day of my deep south tour! Got off the highway for a while this day, giving me a more peaceful ride.

Deep South Tour – Day 3

Day 3 of the tour! Finally crossed in Louisiana after a slow start. Fairly uneventful day to be honest. Came across a neat memorial park for veterans, had some delicious seafood gumbo, and got chased by some dogs somewhere in rural LA. Not much else to report!

Driver who hit cyclist as he texted and drove must be charged and held accountable

by Alfonso Otero        www.change.org


On October 17, 2015, on Blanco Road, Bexar County, Mr. John Lampe, a local radiologist, was struck by a pick up truck as Mr. Lampe rode his bicycle with a group of local cyclists. The driver had run off the road and hit the cyclist because he was texting. Mr. Lampe sustained serious injuries as a result of the hit and was air-lifted to a local hospital for treatment.  He spent the night in the ICU.  He suffered injuries that …

PHOTOS Wolfpack Hustle Series Finale | Austin, TX | October 17, 2015

texasbikeracing.com


Regional bicycle, pedestrian projects get funding

www.austinmonitor.com

As Austin and Central Texas grow and become more congested, city and regional leaders are looking at bicycle and pedestrian projects as ways to cut down on traffic. On Oct. 12, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board took a step in that direction by approving federal funding for almost a dozen such projects in the region.
The board unanimously approved the measure, doling out $10.3 million in funding for 11 projects spread over the next three years across Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Elgin, Lago Vista, Hutto and Williamson County. As part of the …

Wind In My Wheels- A Journey Across America

By Richard Ostrowski        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Do These Hills Ever End?: BastropTo Brenham.
Monday October 19, 2015
We enjoyed a sit down, order what you like, breakfast at a café across the parking lot from our motel. It was succulent. A welcome change from motel food or McDonalds. We even got on the road early at 7 AM because it was going to be a semi-long mileage day. Bob Bernie and I rode together today.
We rode 63 miles, with my average speed of 10.3 mph. The terrain was hilly with rollers that had downhill’s that couldn’t get you up the up hill because of its length.
We were off the ACR route again today because of …

Vote, Vote Smart, Ride Tour de Vote

BikeHouston.org


It’s simple; our elected officials make decisions that hugely affect people on bikes. Starting now (early voting opened on Oct. 19th) the polls are open to vote for the City of Houston mayor, city council, controller and much more. The people elected to these officials will be critical to our ability to pass and implement the Houston Bike Plan.
If you want safe neighborhood streets and bike lanes in your neighborhood and connections to trails, restaurants and schools, then we really need you to vote and vote smart. Find out …

Mesa bike lanes

by Jack        bicycleaustin.info

The City of Austin Transportation Department has proposed REMOVING THE BIKE LANES and REPLACING THEM WITH PARKING SHOULDERS on Mesa Drive between Cat Mountain Dr. and Far West Blvd.PLEASE sign the online petition and attend the upcoming public
meeting on October 22 to tell the TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT that WE …

CRAZY KICKER: A good day to ride

By DAVID MAY        www.mineralwellsindex.com


With 267 riders, 12th Annual Crazy Kicker 100 a success from start to finish
Brittany Buchanan said what likely most, if not all, of the 267 riders in Saturday’s 12th Annual Mineral Wells Crazy Kicker 100 feel.
“Any day you get to ride is a good day,” said the Mineral Wells cyclist and triathlete, who said she often rides and trains with another local cyclist and triathlete, Linda Fewell. …

Crash Video Files – Raymond Lamar Ross Killed In Highway 12 Bicycle Accident In Lamar County, Texas

crashnegligence.com

Raymond Lamar Ross has been named as the bicycle rider killed in this accident, in Orange County, Texas. It was on Highway 12, on Sunday, October 18, 2015.
At about 11 at night, Ross was riding his bicycle in a proper manner on the shoulder of the road. Then, Ralph Bridwell allegedly passed a vehicle on the …

Cyclist killed in Highway 12 crash

By The Enterprise        www.beaumontenterprise.com

A 38-year-old bicyclist was killed Sunday night on Texas Highway 12 in Orange County when the driver of a Camaro apparently attempted to pass another car by using the shoulder, authorities said.
Raymond Lamar Ross, of Orange, was riding a bicycle in the eastbound shoulder of Highway 12 near …

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Chasing Pool Noodles and Sore Muscles

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I wasn’t sure how my muscles would react today. After Saturday’s ride I volunteered at my church’s fall fest. My job was to man the “noodle toss” game. The game has 6 hoops in a wood frame and the object is to throw a short foam pool noodle through one of the hoops. Each child got at least 3 tries, some more. The game itself is not to hard but the wind blew the tossed noodles around the parking lot and I bent over many times to pick them up. My shift lasted 1 1/2 hours and it was harder than biking 53 miles earlier Saturday. My muscles didn’t hurt Saturday but Sunday I was sore from bending over chasing noodles. The lady who replaced me at the end of my shift told me her muscles were very sore too. Last night when I stood up from sitting my leg and back muscles hurt.

Fast forward to biking today. I got out the door at 12:22 waiting for the temperature to warm up some. It was 79 then and the wind was chilly (from the east at 9 mph). I am glad I wore a long sleeve jersey. In the sun it was just right. I didn’t want to ride too far so I chose the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route and rode a total of 31.73 miles. This was significant putting October miles over the 600 mark and the year to date over 6100 miles.

Nothing unusual happened on the ride. I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for a break at 19.98 miles into the ride. I ate a snack and drank some Powerade. The 22% humidity dried me out and I needed to hydrate. I wasn’t there too long because I wanted to get across Kingwood Drive before the Kingwood High School let out. That was about 9 miles away. I rolled away at 2:11 heading west on FM1960 with a nice tailwind.Weather screenshots while I was at the Chevron.

Near the west end of the causeway another biker caught up with me and passed. We exchanged hellos as he rode by. He wore a QLS jersey and I don’t remember seeing him before. He turned right onto Atascocita Shores Drive and then right at the first stop sign. As I rode past that intersection I saw another rider going opposite of me and waved. He waved back.

From there I rode towards my goal of crossing Kingwood Drive before the high school traffic. I made it and quickly got across the east bound lanes and after a brief stop I rode across the west bound lanes. Home was about 2 miles away. I got there at 2:59.

The great weather could change starting tomorrow if the forecast is true. Rain moves in later this week. I will ride when it is dry.

[iframe https://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/932569160 465px 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/416335149/embed/c73e9c52c68eae36312827f006702f368eecbb85 590px 500px]

Texas Bicycling News October 18th

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Webberville CX

Texas Cyclocross Project

Machado concentrated leading the U10 race at Webberville CX p / b @RCMHitSquad #FutureofTXCyclocross #HealthyKids #ActiveKids @TexasCXProject — in Webberville, Texas

Six bicyclists involved in crash in Fulshear

KHOU Staff, KHOU.com

One person has been transported by Life Flight to a ​nearby hospital
FULSHEAR, Texas — One person has been transported by Life Flight to a ​nearby hospital after a crash involving six bicyclists at Winner Foster Road and Bois D Arc Lane in Fulshear, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
The accident happened around …

Las Cruces-Sonoma Ranch and North Valley

Saturday, Oct 24, 2015, 7:45 AM

Mesilla Municipal Parking Lot (just south of The Bean)
Avenida de Mesilla (NM Hwy 28) Mesilla, NM

1 Cyclists Went

Meet at 7:45 a.m. (roll out at 8 a.m.) at the municipal parking lot in Mesilla on NM 28 just south of The Bean. Ride through the NMSU campus, then east on University to Sonoma Ranch, north to Doña Ana, west to North Valley and return to The Bean. Leader: Larry Reid,[masked]

Check out this Meetup →

Wind In My Wheels- A Journey Across America

By Richard Ostrowski        www.crazyguyonabike.com

A Pleasant Ride Without the Hills: Austin to Bastrop, Texas
Sunday October 18, 2015
Our ride today involved very little hills and light wind making it a pleasant ride for a Sunday morning. We traveled a distance of 35 miles. I averaged 9.7 mph. Bob and I ventured off the designated ACR route and traveled a more direct route on Farm Road 969 into Bastrop.
The landscape consisted of ranch and farm land. Saw a lot of certified Texas Angus cattle grazing. Many of the farms advertised hay for sale, round or square. Actually the bales are rectangles, not sure why they call them square. There were no mountains in sight, which didn’t bother me one bit.
Traffic was light on farm road 969 and for the most part had …

Mellow Johnny’s Mellow Swap Meet Nov. 7th

www.cycleaustin.com


Mellow Swap Meet – November 7 October 7, 2015 Mark your calendars! On Saturday, November 7th (9am – 3pm) we will open our parking lot to a ton of different vendors showcasing …

Texas 4000 alumni roll through S.A. to raise awareness

By Peggy O’Hare        www.expressnews.com


Each year, a University of Texas at Austin student group bicycles 4,000 miles to Alaska to raise money to fight cancer and support patients battling the illness.
On Sunday, alumni from the Texas 4000 nonprofit rolled through San Antonio and Hollywood Park to spotlight the group’s mission. Among them were UT graduates Cindy Yang, 22, and Josh Walther, 23, both in their first year of medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Those who successfully …

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