Texas Bicycling News July 16th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

First six titles decided at Mountain Bike Nationals

www.usacycling.org

The five-day 2015 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships kicked off on Wednesday in Mammoth Mountain, Calif., with the first six Stars-and-Stripes jerseys awarded and 24 Category 2 and 3 gold medals settled.
The last race of the day was the most entertaining, with a large field of super-fast Junior 15-18 Cat 1s taking to the Short Track starting line.
Short track cross-country highlighted the first day of competition at the central California ski resort, as men’s and women’s junior and Category 1 divisions ages 9 and up battled for national titles. …
Women 01 17+
5.      Porsha Stockton (Allen, Texas)       Cadence Cyclery
Men 01 Junior 15-18
2.      Bradyn Lange (Austin, Texas)       787 Racing
Men 03 Senior 19-24
2.      Nicholas Olson (Houston, Texas)       Planetary Cycles Racing Team
Men 02 Master 30-34
2.      Christopher Leedy (Austin, Texas)
Women 03 Master 35-39
3.      Geovanna Meyer (Round Rock, Texas)

A Hot July Day In Texas Thinking About Catching A Llama With Maxine

by Durango Texas        durangotexas.blogspot.com


I decided to roll my wheels around the neighborhood again, which is why you are looking at my handlebars under some dark shade looking at the Woodhaven Country Club Golf Course.
I took a hedge clipper with me today to clear the sidewalk trail of vexing mesquite brush which has been …

7/18 and 7/19 Rides! Oasis Brewery! Red Horn Coffee Company!

by Thomas        steinerranchcycling.com

This will be the 3rd Saturday of the month, and that means its time for the Oasis Brewery ride! The ride starts at Cups & Cones at the usual 7:30am departure time and heads out on Lakeline to Nameless Rd and Round Mountain to the store in Liberty Hill for refuel. From there we head back and end the ride at the Oasis for some cold brews and hanging out. The course can be …

River Bend Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancements

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 07/22/15 2:00 PM        Prebid: 07/01/15 9:00 AM
Solicitation Title: River Bend Drive Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancements    Owner Solic Number: 2015-780
Status: bidding        Report: 6408162
Country : United States     State: TX    County: El Paso
Location: Braden Aboud Park and Zach White Elementary School; Along River Bend Drive Between Frontera Road and Turnstone Drive
Est. Low Value: $1,000,000    Est. High Value: $3,500,000
Set Aside Types: MBE/DBE (Minority / Disadvantaged), WBE (Woman Biz Enterprise)
Scope: Works on the project will include a 14′ asphalt pedestrian and bicycle path for the entire length of the corridor; trees and vegetation throughout the corridor with an irrigation system; install chat screening and weed barrier within 10′ of both sides of the pedestrian and bicycle path; install park benches and trash receptacles; install bike racks; texture cross walks at conflict points; Works also include approx 1,553 CY excavation (roadway); 609 TN D-GR HMA Type C PG70-22; 11 EA adjusting manholes; 5,655 LF concrete curb (dowel) (slotted); 67 LF trench excavation protection; 134 LF 18″ RCP Class III; 5,486 LF of 2″ PVC Sch 40 conduit; see attached file.
Notes: A non-mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on July 1, 2015 at 9:00 AM at 218 N. Campbell (City 2), Basement, El Paso, TX 79901.
This solicitation has some or all federal funding, additional requirements may apply. This project has a “prevailing wage” requirement. MBE goal: 57.8%, WBE goal: 6.9% …

Police: Man in pickup took off from crash with bicyclist (Video)

By David Barer        kxan.com

AUSTIN (KXAN) – An Austin man has been charged with felony failure to stop and render aid after police say he drove away following a crash with a bicyclist.
The bicyclist told police he had turned southbound onto Jollyville Road from Barrington Way when a man — later identified as 60-year-old Jerry Doyle Milner — honked at him and “yelled” at him to get into the bike lane, according to an arrest affidavit.
The rider said he wasn’t in the bike lane because of overgrown vegetation. The …

Bicyclist injured in North Austin collision

Samantha Matsumoto, American-Statesman Staff

A bicyclist was injured in a collision with a car in North Austin on Thursday night, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services officials said.
The bicyclist, a man in his 40s, was injured in a crash on 7200 McNeil Drive, officials said.
He was transported to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

Critical Mass Friday!

Friday, Jul 31, 2015, 6:30 PM

Barnaby’s Cafe
801 Congress St Houston, TX

3 Cyclers Went

We’ll be joining our fellow Houstonians in Critical Mass, July 31 at 6:30 pm. Meet me at Barnaby’s Café, 801 Congress, near Market Square Park. For your reference, this ride will likely finish where we started at 9:30 to 10:00 pm. Details on exact meetup location pending.For the unfamiliar, Critical Mass is a semi-organized, secretly routed bicycl…

Check out this Meetup →

Tweets About Texas Bicycling

https://twitter.com/bicyclesplus/status/621754478144921601

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/621729606542979073

https://twitter.com/GWCChuck/status/621688858758004737

Texas Bicycling Upcoming Event Reminders

Texas Bicycling News July 15th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Klaus’ medical expenses

www.gofundme.com


Klaus Gutbier- beloved father of 8 and devoted husband was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Grapevine, Texas on Tuesday July 7, 2015. This was a hit and run accident. He suffered breaks in the neck and spine and has limited mobility and little to no use of hands and arms. He spent days in Surgical ICU at Parkland Hospital in Dallas waiting for surgery. He was moved after surgery, and several days in the ICU to the bone break unit while awaiting …

City seeks input for bike trail planning

by Bruce Olson        ourtribune.com

Houston’s Bike Plan project is now getting underway. Attendees at last week’s Kingwood Service Association Parks Committee meeting received an update on the project and the need for public input.
“Houston is upgrading its Bike Plan for the first time in 20 years,” said Cathy Halka of Houston’s City Planning and Development Department. “A lot has changed since 1993 and recently we have some new policy direction. Mayor Parker adopted an executive order on Complete Streets, which provides policy guidance. Rebuild Houston is a program that rebuilds our streets so there are opportunities to include bike corridors along our streets.”
Halka also noted the Bayou Greenway Initiative, passed by a bond initiative, provides more than 150 miles of greenways and the use of all of these opportunities is a great way to build a comprehensive plan.
Halka said the plan is an opportunity to provide a safe and more comfortable …

Specialized recalling Body Geometry pedal extenders

by BRAIN Staff        www.bicycleretailer.com


WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — Specialized is working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Canadian consumer safety officials to recall about 6,500 pedal axle extenders, used for bike fits.
The recalled axle extenders are made of stainless steel and fit a 9/16-inch pedal thread. They are labeled with an “L” and an “R.”
About 6,500 of the extenders were sold in the U.S. and 380 in Canada from January 2009 to June 2015 for about $40. There have been 10 reports of the pedal extenders …

Bike Austin’s Hottest Day of the Year Ride set for Aug. 8

by Pam LeBlanc        fitness.blog.austin360.com


Looks like it’s going to get hot this summer after all, so we might as well embrace the heat by pedaling around Austin on a bicycle and jumping into as many swimming holes as possible.
Join Bike Austin for its scorching annual Hottest Day of the Year Ride on Saturday, Aug. 8. The ride begins at 2 p.m. at three separate locations – Wheatsville South, 4001 South Lamar Boulevard; Performance Bike, 2900 West Anderson Lane; and in.gredients, 2610 Manor Road. Routes vary from 6 to 11 miles. …

Progress on Cycing/Ped bridge over railroad tracks near the Domain

Bicycle Austin        bicycleaustin.info

Final span is in place now.  more info facebook: …

Bicycling and walking are strategic components of City’s Multimodal Transportation Plan

www.sanantonio.gov

SAN ANTONIO (July 15, 2015) – The City of San Antonio is studying all modes of transportation in order to prepare for the additional 1.1 million people expected to live in San Antonio by 2040. As the city’s traffic congestion grows more serious every day, bicycling and walking are the most popular travel alternatives to avoid and reduce that traffic.
A recent Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Study indicates there are approximately 325,000 area residents who bicycle at least once a month. City officials have recently renewed their commitment to make transportation safety a top priority for 2015. The majority of bicycle riders are recreational cyclists, 17% bicycle to …

Students cycling across America stop in E. Texas

By Alex Osiadacz        www.kltv.com


LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) –
A group of college students from around the nation are using their summer to help others through cycling.
Members of Pi Kappa Phi are cycling coast-to-coast on their ‘Journey of Hope’ trip. The ride has members raising both money and awareness for people with disabilities.
Passing through East Texas, the group of 35 riders departed Longview just before 7 a.m. Wednesday as they pedal nearly 70 miles to Shreveport. Cyclists riding on the southern route started in Long Beach, California on June 8 and are set to make it to …

ARR Volunteers: Kid Trips – Boys And Girls Club of America

Saturday, Jul 25, 2015, 8:00 AM

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX

10 Mountain Bikers Went

The Austin Ridge Riders Kid Trips July outing is with Boys and Girls Club  of Austin.Where: Walnut Creek ParkWhen: Saturday July 25: 8:00am – 12:00pmThe Kid Trips Program is a focus of the Austin Ridge Riders that works with youth organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, Explore Austin, etc. to in…

Check out this Meetup →

ARR Volunteers: Kid Trips – Boys And Girls Club of America

Saturday, Aug 1, 2015, 8:00 AM

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX

14 Mountain Bikers Went

The Austin Ridge Riders Kid Trips July outing is with Boys and Girls Club  of Austin.Where: Walnut Creek ParkWhen: Saturday August 1: 8:00am – 12:00pmThe Kid Trips Program is a focus of the Austin Ridge Riders that works with youth organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, Explore Austin, etc. to i…

Check out this Meetup →

Ride Along the Surfside Beaches

Sunday, Aug 9, 2015, 7:30 AM

Surfside Jettyview Rest stop
301 Parkview Rd Freeport, TX

13 Cyclists Went

This route will take you along some picturesque levees, bridge, and the beach coastline.  This ride is can be 28 to 45 miles, depending on group.  Afterwards we will stop off for lunch.Map at : http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/408048786Must sign waiver to go on this bike ride.

Check out this Meetup →

Sunday Fulshear Ride

Sunday, Sep 6, 2015, 7:00 AM

Essence House Cafe
8506 FM 359 Rd S Fulshear, TX

9 Cyclists Went

Meet at 7 am behind the Essence Cafe in the parking lot. See this map for exact location.  http://www.meetup.com/Beginners-Road-Cycling-For-BPMS150/photos/22198842/MUST BE 18 TO ATTEND This is a figure 8 type of loop allowing for those who only want to do a 20 mile ride to leave half way through. The total is approximately 43 miles. There is an op…

Check out this Meetup →

Tweets About Texas Bicycling

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/621474265167085568

https://twitter.com/E_Lopez_E/status/621375452335083521

Texas Bicycling Upcoming Event Reminder

A View of Hay Bales At The Top

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I waffled back and forth on today’s route. I didn’t make up my mind until the last opportunity to turn onto Fairlake Drive. I opted to ride “FM1960 to FM686 – Back” for the miles and straight road. It was hot but the clouds were moving around to cover the road in places. Whenever the sun moved behind the clouds I could feel the heat drop down a few degrees. The wind wasn’t much of an issue today barely moving the tree leaves. I was thinking of riding the “Fairlake Drive – May Park Community Center – Huffman” route but I didn’t think it would have as many miles as the “FM1960 to FM686 – Back”. Checking the ride summary on June 29th (after I got back home) it actually was further at 42.37 miles versus today’s 39.37 miles. I didn’t think to check the Garmin Connect app on my phone while I was riding for the distance.

After turning around at FM686 I refilled my water bottle at the Dayton Feed and Fuel store. On the way there I saw a field of freshly cut hay bales and thought I should take a picture on the way back to Huffman. At the top of the railroad overpass on FM1960 I took these pictures. (Click to enlarge them) The railroad overpass was nothing compared to the mountains in stage 11 of the Tour. For me, the flatland biker, the overpass is a tough one. I get out of the saddle about 1/3 of the way to the top to keep moving at a decent speed to the flat section above the tracks and enjoy the ride down the other side. I would guess the elevation gain is 30 to 40 feet to the top in about 2/10’s of a mile.

Hay bales
Horses in the pasture

On the way to FM686 there was another field south of FM1960 with a tractor moving hay getting ready to roll it into those large round bales.

At 27.7 miles I was back in Huffman stopping at the Chevron station for a much needed snack and Powerade. I was sweating heavily and it took awhile sitting in the shade to cool down enough for it to dry up. The weather when I stopped.

After about 30 minutes at the Chevron I was back on the bike for the 11 miles to home. No other bikers on the route today. I was the only one crazy enough to ride in the heat.

Update: I tightened the rear derailleur barrel adjustment and the gear changes are back to the crisp 1 gear at a time. I am not sure how this loosened.

No biking tomorrow (Thursday). I am taking my wife to the Texas Medical Center.

[iframe https://connect.garmin.com/activity/embed/834361670 465px 500px] [iframe https://www.strava.com/activities/346824758/embed/94db5761ebd8de0c5da7f3e6ace8fb7ee7fe085f 590px 500px]

Texas Bicycling News July 14th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Texas 4000 to make stop in Grande Prairie

By Alexa Huffman, Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune


Twenty-eight cyclists from Austin, Texas will soon be rolling into Grande Prairie during the longest annual charity bike ride in the world.
Thursday, the cyclists will stay at Bowes Family Garden at Revolution Place before departing the next morning at 8 a.m. to continue the Texas 4000 bicycle ride.
“We work with them so they can be comfortable and feel like their at home even though they’re in an 18,000 square-foot room,” said Jane Cada-Sharp, general manager of Revolution Place.
“We just do our best to look after them and make them feel welcome not only to …

SSSSSSSnake!

by June Bug        www.bikemojo.com

Me and the mister went for a morning ride @ WC. On the next little side loop past Severe Consequences (going north, between trail markers 208 and 204) there is a short but steep little drop into the loop. Mr. JB had just gone down it when I noticed the south end of a snake on the left side of the trail. I got a little closer and snaky Snake was just hanging out, flicking its little red tongue to check things out. I didn’t want to roll down with the snake RIGHT THERE, so I decided to just go straight and meet Mr. JB at the exit of the loop. About the time I start to roll, snaky Snake starts to crawl off and just….disappears. I took a second to look and I realized Snake had crawled over a piece of square-edged limestone about 10 inches high, aligned it’s snaky body along the bottom edge of the stone, with its head held up a few inches — the most perfect ambush position for any little unsuspecting critter that came along over …

The Adventure Bike Park lives!

by dimitrin        www.bikemojo.com

Ok, those of you that have been around awhile know that a group of Cedar Park riders have been kicking this along for a few years now. The project stalled for awhile but tonight it came roaring back to life with full support of the current parks board. It looks like a committee or workgroup will be developed to define and continue the progress. The initial thoughts are that the committee will consist of 3 parks board members, 1 or 2 city council members and 2 or 3 additional mountain biking citizens. This means it may be a good time for any of you mountain biking Cedar Park residents to get on board and help move this project along.
Meetings are always the second Monday of each month at the city buildings on 450 Cypress creek rd. In fact, some of the staff approached me about taking them on a group mountain bike ride that will terminate at the Dig Pub with beers. Imagine that.
I was actually impressed at the amount of support we had by the end of the meeting.
Seems like a lot of folks are interested in this mountain bike thing!
Big props go to …

Brays Bayou Tiger #6 Trails Improvements

www.texasbids.net

Bid Date & Time: 07/30/15 10:30 AM        Prebid: 07/21/15 1:00 PM
Solicitation Title: Brays Bayou Tiger #6 Trails Improvements        Owner Solic Number: F-TIGER4-0006-4
Status: bidding            Report: 6440028
Country : United States     State: TX    County: Harris        Location: Houston
Est. Low Value: $1,940,000    Est. High Value: $1,940,000
Scope: Work includes 1.6 miles of new concrete trail, structural canopy, pedestrian railing, grading and drainage, storm sewer, SWPPP, fencing, site amenities, trail signage and landscaping.
Notes: A pre-bid meeting will be held at Conference Room 246 at City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, 2nd Floor.
Plans: From Owner.        Owner Type: Public
Buyer: Houston, City of
Address: PO Box 1562 900 Bagby St, Room P101
City: Houston    State: TX    Zip/Postal Code: 77002
TEL: 713-837-0311    FAX: 713-247-1811
Website: http://www.houstontx.gov
Contact: Richard Odlozil …

ARR – Trail Work Day – Rocky Hill Ranch

Saturday, Jul 18, 2015, 9:00 AM

Rocky Hill Ranch
578 Farm-to-Market 153 Smithville, TX

7 Mountain Bikers Went

It’s time for a trail work day on the trails out at Rocky Hill Ranch!Come on out on Saturday, July 18th at 9:00am and join the Austin Ridge Riders and our Trial Steward Lee as we clean up the storm damage on the trails. Focus will be on the  trails up to the power line with Pulaski, McLeod, and rogue hoe work.Please bring jeans, work shoes/boots …

Check out this Meetup →

Few bike renters at Fair Park, Observer finds

Elizabeth Findell        cityhallblog.dallasnews.com


Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and City Council member Carolyn Davis try out the city’s first bike-share program at Fair Park Nov. 13, 2013.
The city of Dallas’ much-touted $125,000 bike-share program at Fair Park logged only 73 paying customers during the first half of 2015, according to numbers leaked to The Dallas Observer.
The Observer had previously reported on how its efforts to get any information on the bike-share program were rebuffed by Friends of Fair Park, a nonprofit which operates the bike program. The Texas Attorney General’s Office said the group was not a government entity subject to open records requirements, despite the fact that the city …

Cowtown’s Bluster & Blather Makes Some Ill While I Am Annoyed At Non-Presidential Bushes

by Durango Texas        durangotexas.blogspot.com


I decided to take my handlebars on a roll around the neighborhood today. Upon doing so I soon came upon the obstruction you see here, obstructing the already narrow sidewalk.
My opinion about this Fort Worth obstruction will likely be a bit negative. So, be …

Houston’s Vision Zero

BikeHouston


BikeHouston asks that Houston focus on reducing road fatalities for all road users
BikeHouston asks that the Mayor of Houston and all community leaders in the metro area to adopt a Vision Zero Fatalities campaign by 2025 for all road users.  Looking broadly at our roads we see that 227 people died in road violence in Houston 2014 (~ 2 people every 3 days) which is on par with our 239 homicides. Tragically by 2009 Houston road fatality rates were 50% higher than in Austin, Dallas or Fort Worth. Unfortunately TxDOT data reveals that vehicles collided with people on bikes or on foot 940 times last year in Houston, a 63 percent increase from …

Who wants to be a Metroplex BIKE STAR???

bikeabledallas.com

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG, http://www.nctcog.org/) is putting together an educational campaign to reach motorists, pedestrians, and people riding bicycles. The goal of the campaign is to bring awareness to road safety and encourage us all to look out for each other and be cautious when out and about. The theme of the campaign is “Look Out Texans: Bike, Walk, and Drive Safely”.
NCTCOG’s Active Transportation Team is looking for volunteers to participate in a photo shoot next …

Tweets About Texas Bicycling

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/621042989129797632

https://twitter.com/BSS_Road_Club/status/621023082350804993

Texas Bicycling Upcoming Event Reminders