Texas Bicycling News Roundup March 6th

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Mountain Biking – Barton Creek Greenbelt – Austin, TX

by sabotoothtiger


My buddy Ritivik and I went riding down at Barton Creek. It got pretty muddy but nothing too bad. Sorry for the shaky cam. It was my first time with the chesty mount. Ignore the black strap in the top right corner, it’ll be gone next video.

Scenic Bike Ride Through Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX

churchofgrace


My wife and I love to bike ride along the seawall through Ocean Drive in Corpus Christ, TX. The scenery and atmosphere is beautiful.

White Oak Bayou “Bridge Bash”

houstonparksboard.org

March 21, 2015 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Summary: Join us to celebrate the new White Oak Bayou Greenway bridge and trails with a dedication ceremony and free, family-friendly activities.
Description: Mayor Annise Parker, City Councilmember Ellen Cohen, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority & TIRZ 5, and the Houston Parks Board will host a “Bridge Bash” to celebrate the completion of a new segment of White Oak Bayou Greenway. Part of Bayou Greenways 2020, the new segment includes new trails and a pedestrian bridge over White Oak Bayou that connect to the Heights trail. The new bridge replaces the former MKT Railroad Bridge (known to some as the “BBQ Bridge”) between Shepherd Drive and Moy Street.
With these additions, Houstonians now have …

SCCCC: Texas State University Weekend – Kyle Walker

www.usacycling.org


The women’s B/c braves the elements at Texas State, including Leah Taylor (UTSA), Danielle Legeai (Tulane) and Stella Yan (UTD).

The South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference kicked off their road season at Texas State University’s Ultra Road Race in San Marcos, TX.
Icy and wet weather conditions played a major role in the races this weekend. Due to icy conditions Saturday morning, the road race start was delayed one hour before the riders took off through a scenic and hilly 12 mile loop. In the women’s A race, UT-Dallas rider, Flora Yan, was caught up early in a crash. In a heroic effort, she bridged back to the field and won the sprint finish. In the Men’s A race, Texas State’s team effort of …

Texas State Rising Stars: Area native driven toward business degree

www.statesman.com

Editor’s note: Texas State University Round Rock Campus provides upper-division bachelor’s and complete master’s programs in a number of academic fields during the daytime, evenings, Saturdays, and online. The Round Rock Campus brings students in Central Texas and Williamson County the same educational experience offered at its San Marcos campus. The Round Rock Leader is proud to present profiles on some of the faculty and students who make Texas State University Round Rock what it is today.
Carlos Rodriguez, 39, Austin

1. What is your field of study/major?
Business management …
… I have advanced open water scuba diving and enriched air certifications, with a master diving certification aspiration for the summer of 2015. As an adult, I enjoy racing competitively in track and field, triathlon, cycling, running and obstacle course events. …

2015 April Fools Day Rally

www.active.com

Dear Past Turkey Roll Rider:
The Denton Breakfast Kiwanis Club invites you to our first and probably only April Fools’ Day Bicycle Rally on April 1, 2015.
As you remember, our last two November rallies were fraught with bad weather –- ice in 2013 and cold rain in 2014. Some of you braved the weather, but our numbers were too low to take care of our charitable projects in Denton. In particular our Eliminate Project, the Back-to-School Project, and our Sponsored Youth Clubs.
We hope to raise those needed funds by offering you an April Fools’ Day Bicycle Rally this year. You will receive a T-shirt designed for this very special event, but you will be spared the pitfalls and potholes of a traditional bicycle rally, because no ride will be involved.
A minimum $20 contribution will cover all shipping & handling, processing fees, and the cost of the T-shirt. We estimate a $10 tax-deductible portion for your gift.
Just think of the advantages: …

Austin retailer opens bike-themed bar

by Val Vanderpool        www.bicycleretailer.com


AUSTIN, Texas (BRAIN) — Longtime bike retailer Jack Murray, owner of Jack & Adam’s Bicycles, recently opened his second bar in Austin. Murray partnered with Matt Luckie, Anggay Tenney and Max Moreland — who own Austin watering holes Mean Eyed Cat, Lavaca Street Bar and Gibson Street Bar — to open The Wheel in late February. Murray is also part-owner of Gibson Street Bar.
Located on Austin’s East side, The Wheel serves craft beer and cocktails, including daily $4 whiskey specials, in a relaxed atmosphere. Customers can also work on their bike using repair stands and tools provided by …

Cyclist ran red light, struck by DART train Friday morning in downtown Dallas

by Tasha Tsiaperas        thescoopblog.dallasnews.com

A man was hospitalized Friday morning after being hit by a DART train downtown.
The man was riding his bike when he ran a red light around 8:40 a.m. at the Pearl Station near Bryan Street. He was struck by a southbound Blue Line train, said Dallas Area Rapid Transit spokesman Mark Ball.
The man, who has not been publicly identified, was sitting up after the accident. He was …

Family fight: Frisco boy bikes for MS cure for grandmother

by Lance Rinker        starlocalmedia.com

More than 2.3 million people worldwide suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
One of  them is Nancy Siebert, a Frisco grandmother, known affectionately as “Nanna Jo” to her grandson Gavin, who was first diagnosed with MS about 13 years ago. Her son, Keith Siebert, then became involved with Bike MS: Sam’s Club Round-Up Ride to support research for his mother.
Gavin, 6, is following in his father’s footsteps and …

Fort Worth Bike Sharing receives $35,000 donation to add solar panels to bike sharing stations

By Joey McReynolds        www.the109.org


After a week of cloudy weather, the sun finally broke through Thursday to highlight the $35,000 donation to Fort Worth Bike Sharing that will build solar panels across the city.
The solar panels will power kiosks at nine new, and one existing, bike sharing stations throughout Fort Worth. The solar panels are part of the group’s mission to provide “an affordable, efficient, environmentally-friendly bike share program,” according to a press release.
The donation comes from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, which aims to promote sustainable nonprofits across the state of Texas, said Tony Napolillo, the program manager for Green Mountain Energy.
Fort Worth Bike Sharing applied for a grant from the club last year. Napolillo said they receive about …

More VCers on the Podium!

The Violet Crown Sports Association


Dan Piercy digs deep in the sprint to the line in the Pace Bend 40+ 1/2/3/4 race. The season is young and lots of Violet Crown racers are already ending up on …

Austin on a Bike’s Alternative Bike Routes: The Northern Hipster Highways

Austin on a Bike


Last week, we started off with “The Southern Hippie Highway“, our first in a series of posts describing better ways to get around town than those tired, trafficked, smog-filled routes you’re used to taking with your car. This week, we tackle heading north.
For those headed north, the most common route is likely the one straight through the center of town – head up Lavaca, ride through the Drag, and keep going on Guadalupe. While this is fine and dandy, the route is hilly at the beginning and you share much of it with buses pulling in and out of the bike lane. And even though the Drag is admittedly better than it was before, it’s still the only place I’ve been hit in town – in stand-still traffic – and I generally regard it as a terrible place to ride a bike, especially during rush hour.
On the south side, you pretty much have Congress or the Southern Hippie Highway for good bike routes. Up north, the options are more varied and for this week we’ll discuss two primary routes (with a central offshoot) I take that keep you going north between the two big highways. We can delve into the east side and the west side at a later date.
So, without further ado, I give you my poorly-named routes, The Northwestern Hipster Highway, The Hipster Highway North Central Spur  and the Northeastern-ish Hipster Highway. As a reminder, to get the full route, click on one of the links above or …

RIDE SCHEDULE – March

Georgetown Cyclopaths

Day Date Time Meet at Miles Map Miles Map
Saturday 3/7/2015 9:00 AM Union State Bank in Florence 34 miles F2 43 miles F3
Sunday 3/8/2015 1:30 PM Berry Springs Park 32 miles B39
Saturday 3/14/2015 9:00 AM Dale’s Essenhaus Restaurant in Walburg 28 miles WA5 41 miles WA9
Sunday 3/15/2015 1:30 PM Berry Springs Park 35 miles B45
Saturday 3/21/2015 9:00 AM Catholic Church in Andice 35 miles A3 48 miles A4
Sunday 3/22/2015 1:30 PM Berry Springs Park 34 miles B55
Saturday 3/28/2015 9:00 AM Berry Springs Park 35 miles B24 46 miles B16
Sunday 3/29/2015 1:30 PM Berry Springs Park 34 miles B55

Soldiers bike ride symbol of healing for wounded warriors

By Deborah Wrigley        abc13.com

(Video)
HOUSTON (KTRK) — While most people were dressed in warm coats in what amounted to a very cold morning in Clear Lake, a long line of cyclists rode into Space Center Houston, then to Johnson Space Center next door.
They had a large reception committee, and a round of applause to greet them.
That’s the kind of response Soldier Ride Houston generated Friday. A project of Wounded Warrior Project, it organized for veterans who have physical or emotional scars from their tours of duty.
It’s the 11th year of the ride.
Nick Kraus is one of ..

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Texas Bicycling News Digest March 5th

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Regional West Trials for wounded, injured Soldiers

By Gloria Montgomery, WTU Public Affairs        www.forthoodsentinel.com


More than 40 Soldiers and veterans from Warrior Transition Units in Texas and Oklahoma are at Fort Hood this week competing in trials for archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball competitions.

The Fort Hood Warrior Transition unit kicked off the 2015 Southern Regional Medical Command-West trials for wounded, ill and injured Soldiers Monday at Club Hood.
More than 40 Soldiers and veterans from Warrior Transition Units in Texas and Oklahoma are competing in trials for archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball for an invitation to the 2015 Army trials and a spot to represent Army during this summer’s Department of Defense competition, which was …

CAMPO Public Hearing – Show Up To Support Funding For Bike Projects

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group        www.meetup.com

Monday, March 9, 2015
6:00 PM
LBJ Auditorium
2313 Red River St., Austin, TX (map)
All:
The Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is hosting a public hearing on March 9th, at 6:00 PM at the LBJ Auditorium on  the UT Campus to present the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan for the Central Texas 6-County Area and to receive pubic comment.
This is very important because the powers that be at CAMPO have changed their previous policy of a 15% set aside of federal transportation funding to be used for bike and pedestrian projects to only a target of 15% and not a requirement AND if …

Visit Dallas Cycling Team Kicks Off

www.visitdallas.com


The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) is pleased to announce the sponsorship of a national women’s racing team, named Visit Dallas Cycling. The three-year partnership with the FCS Cycling women’s team and local FCS cycling club highlights Dallas’ commitment to wellness and its growing reputation as an active, outdoor city.
“We’re thrilled to support the women’s riding community with the creation of Visit Dallas Cycling,” said Dallas CVB President Phillip Jones, a fitness enthusiast and triathlete. “Dallas is full of great green space and bike trails, and I can’t wait to cheer the riders on as they represent the city.”
Since the launch of the BIG Things Happen Here brand two years ago, Dallas has been growing in recognition as a …

Spring North Tour: Texas – Ozarks – Big Muddy River

By Richard Hoeg        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Following spring north from the Texas Hill Country, through the Ozark Mountains and along the Missouri River on the Katy Trail
??? days from April 6, 2015 to ???
Intro: Blue Bonnets Here We Come!
As I type this entry, the temperature has fallen to -15F in northern Minnesota on March 5th! In short, an excellent time to plan a spring bike tour. For a number of years my wife and I have had a hankering to see the Texas Blue Bonnets. However, a short tour through the Texas Hill Country did not seem worth the drive south from Minnesota. After some research on the web we realized the AMTRAK Texas Eagle was the answer to our needs. This train will take us from St. Louis south to Dallas. Our car will be left with a cousin in suburban St. Louis, and my wife’s brother will pick us up at the Dallas train station.
Our tour actually starts in the small town of Granbury, Texas. This town is 80 miles SW of Dallas, and provides a perfect starting point for our tour. We will start by riding south to the Hill Country, and then swing NE to tour through the Ozark Mountains (Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri). After the Ozarks we will …

Houston to Austin, TX March 2015

By Clark Crews        www.crazyguyonabike.com

Slow Ride from Austin to Houston
7 days from March 14, 2015 to March 20, 2015
Retribution
Thursday March 5, 2015
I failed last year to make it from Houston to San Antonio, so this year I plan on being less aggressive, fewer miles and take my time. You can read that disaster here: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/clarkbikes
I will be leaving March 14 and should arrive in Austin on March 20.
My tentative route will take me from close to Downtown Houston out to Katy via Clay Rd. Then to …

Executive Director’s Note March 2015

www.nationalmtb.org


I am happy to report that spring league racing is underway in Texas, NorCal and SoCal while Alabama and New York will both be holding their season openers shortly. Meanwhile, many of our fall leagues are conducting their coaching summits. With 15 leagues currently operating, we have surpassed the milestone of having 5,000 student-athletes participating from over 400 schools! Moreover, we have a number of new regions expressing strong interest in …

Friend or Flow: Are trails being too “dumbed down?”

Words by Sarah Galbraith. Photos by Tristan Von Duntz.        dirtragmag.com


The notion of flow exists in all kinds of sports,” says Mark Eller, Mountain bikers have, of late, seen the development of communications director with the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Eller has worked in skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and climbing, and now mountain biking. He points out that even tennis players are seeking to flow: “It’s not unique to mountain biking.”
Sports-theory academics have put some thought to the concept of flow, producing a long-winded and wonky definition and some papers on the subject. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who has the title “architect of flow,” is also a distinguished professor of psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University, and he has coined a flow theory. He says flow is a rare and dynamic state characterized by dimensions like the merging of action and awareness, concentration on a task, the …

BIKES VS CARS World Premier at SXSW!

www.eventbrite.com

Tina Poppy for BIKES VS CARS // SXSW
Sunday, March 15, 2015 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (CDT)
Austin, TX
Please join us for the WORLD PREMIER of Swedish documentary BIKES VS CARS, directed by Fredrik Gertten (BIG BOYS GONE BANANAS!) and executive produced by Chris Paine (WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?).
An Official Selection of the SXSW Film Festival, this is a special OUTDOOR screening open to all – you do not need a SXSW badge to attend!
This screening finishes off a …

Update: Lamar Bike Lane

www.bikehouston.org


Scroll to page 15 to read a comprehensive update on the Lamar Bike Lane from City of Houston officials, local leaders, and BikeHouston Executive Director, Michael Payne.

Saturday 3/7 and Sunday 3/8 Rides

by Thomas        steinerranchcycling.com

This is another weekend that kinda sucks.  Saturday morning will be a cold one.  If you are badass enough to make it out, please show up at C&C at 8:30 for a ride that can be decided on the spot.  The hammer group will be largely absent due to the Lago Vista race and the BBQ & Beer ride.
Sunday is day 2 of the BBQ & Beer ride (which I am doing) so I won’t be there for the …

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Texas Bicycling News March 4th

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Bike Across America Journal – Saturday, February 28, 2015 (Day 19)

purebound.wordpress.com

Saturday, February 28, 2015 (Day 19)
Start: Carmine, TX
End: Austin, TX
Weather: Cold, Cloudy, then Rainy
Miles: 85+

Left right at 9am this morning to try to make Austin, TX before dark. Spent about 10 miles on farm roads, then I turned right on to Highway 290 (takes you all the way to Austin, TX). Google Maps suggested I ride a parallel road to HWY 290 for some of the miles, but I spent a few miles of the ride on gravel…and I had enough. HWY 290 did not have a shoulder for most of the 40+ miles into Austin, TX with a 70 mph Speed Limit. But I thought it worth the …

Pedernales Falls State Park Trail Build & Ride!

Sunday, Mar 22, 2015, 9:00 AM

Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Road 6026 Johnson City, TX

1 Mountain Bikers Went

Pedernales Falls State Park TRAIL BUILD & RIDE!BRING YOUR PAYDIRT FORMS! http://www.tmbra.org/paydirt/paydirt.htmThe completed sections of the new trail were a hit at the 2014 Cranksgiving!  BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!  5+ miles of trail are still under development!These sections, not yet open to the public, have lots of elevation changes, G-outs an…

Check out this Meetup →

Bicycling Community Meets with CapMetro

www.keyetv.com

(Video)
Bicyclists unite: Tuesday night in East Austin from 5:30-8pm is hosting an open house to hear from the bicycle community. Capitol Metro hosted the event at Eastcycle, but if you missed it,  CapMetro is holding a webinar today at noon.
Russell Pickavance is the owner of Eastcycle and became a bicycle enthusiast a decade ago.
“As we get more and more traffic, more and more people turn to bicycles,” says Pickavance.
CapMetro agrees.
“As people try alternatives commuting options, more and more folks are looking to bring their bikes along when riding the bus or the train,” says Melissa Ayala, spokesperson for CapMetro.
That’s why Pickavance offered his …

Gene Novogrodsky Biked 300 Miles To Support Planned Parenthood & Affordable Healthcare

by Alicia Lu        www.bustle.com

As the Supreme Court prepared to hear King v. Burwell on Wednesday, which will decide the fate of Obamacare in 37 states, one Texas man was supporting affordable healthcare in his own way. Brownsville resident Eugene “Gene” Novogrodsky biked 300 miles to support Planned Parenthood so that his community and nearby communities can have access to affordable healthcare. The name of the trip was “The Spirit of 76,” which carries a special meaning for both Novogrodsky and Planned Parenthood. After leaving last Thursday, Novogrodsky ended his solo bike journey on Tuesday in …

March Newsletter Published

Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts

The March edition of the DATES-Line Newsletter is published and available for download from the newsletters page. This month’s edition includes the following:
DATES Dallas Shamrock Ride
DATES Ben Wheeler St. Patrick’s Day Ride
DATES Round and Round the Lake Ride
DATES Loop The Lake Ride
Fresh DATES
Save The Date! – DATES Social
GDB Lancaster Country Ride
Honor Ride Clay Hunt
DATES Annual Meeting and Dinner Report
DATES 25th Anniversary Ride Report

Race, ethnicity, class and protected bike lanes: An idea book for fairer cities

Michael Andersen, Green Lane Project staff writer        www.peopleforbikes.org


Austin, Texas.
Diversity created the city. But diversity has never been easy.
Almost as soon as PeopleForBikes selected its first six Green Lane Project focus cities, we started hearing from their staffers that they wanted to better understand how the values of diversity and equity – of race, of ethnicity, of class – could improve their work to make bicycling mainstream.
The four of us on the Green Lane Project team share those values. But we’re not diversity or equity experts; we’re infrastructure experts.
So, to help city staffers and advocates across the country think about these issues, we’ve teamed up with the Alliance for Biking and Walking and spent the last eight months talking to people who live …

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One More Bike Ride Before the Cold Hits Again

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The weather held up for today’s ride. I was able to leave earlier (11:21) than yesterday. It was 78 at the start and 82 at the end. This won’t last long with the next cold front supposed to arrive around sunset today. I rode the Atascocita – Walden – Huffman route but added the miles I left off yesterday’s ride coming in at 32.66 miles averaging 15.0 mph. Riding across Lake Houston on FM1960 did not seem so chilly today. Maybe two days of high 70’s warmed the water some.

It felt great to be riding even though the wind wanted to slow me down. It was from the south at 10 mph but the gusts were 24 mph when I left home dropping down to 18 mph by the time I got home at 1:44. I didn’t see any other bikers today. I made a brief stop at the Huffman Chevron to eat a trail mix bar and refill my water bottle for the ride home. Surprisingly my legs were not real tired from the day before. I hope to get some conditioning back but with the cold front it looks like no more riding until Monday or Tuesday.

March miles jumped up to 61.99, the same as the week’s total. Year to date I am at 497 miles.

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