Texas Bicycling News January 18th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Everyone Bikes: Anita Mills

Bike Friendly Oak Cliff

Everyone poops and everyone bikes.
This is the first in a series of short bios of neighborhood cyclists.
Meet your neighbor, Anita, she bikes too.
Anita Mills: 66 yrs, Gardening Consultant, Bishop Arts Neighborhood

Cyclist Questionnaire:
1. Why do you ride?
Health – recreation
2. Type of riding? …

La Mesa Hustle

Saturday, Jan 24, 2015, 9:00 AM

River Run Plaza
1071 Country Club Rd El Paso, TX

3 Cyclists Went

Ride to La Mesa and back. 44 miles, 18-20 mph. Rick Rivas,[masked]

Check out this Meetup →

HBC Columbus – North Ride

Houston Bicycle Club

Sat 02/07/15        8:30am
37(C), 42(C), 51(C) miles
Scenic, rolling countryside, worth the trip. Flat to rolling hills, open fields. Good roads and pretty scenery, very little traffic. Short route goes to Fayetteville and back. Longer routes miss Fayetteville, but go through Frelsburg (if it is possible to go “through” Frelsburg). …

No Limits: Lisa Ann Leal

By FREDDY GONZALEZ        www.valleymorningstar.com


As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and for the most part change is never simple; but it is doable.
For Lisa Ann Leal, of San Benito change came as a necessity. For the 50-year-old go-getter, change was the best thing that could have happened to her.
Having been overweight and diagnosed with high blood pressure, Leal decided to join a gym and like many other examples the weight began to come off …

El Paso Puzzler 2015

SportsTown El Paso


A record number of mountain bikers turned out for the 8th annual El Paso Puzzler race. (El Paso, TX). Interviews with winners and footage of race.

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Austin, TX
3,937 Mountain Bikers

Meet other local mountain bikers to organize rides, review trails, gear and trade tips. All skill-levels welcome. We’ll try to organize rides that fit all experience levels. M…

Check out this Meetup Group →

 

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/jennjenn_12/status/556997772143235072

https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/556980394646835200

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/556945745853829120

https://twitter.com/RandyATX/status/556927312143212544

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/556926922039787522

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/556918061253820418

Event Reminder

A Chilly Wind Didn’t Overcome A Good Bike Kit

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I rode today which means it is two days in a row. My home weather station was optimistic with the temperature at 76 degrees when I got back home at 1:33. The wind was chilly and biting whenever I was in the shade. I think it was more like 67. Thank goodness for the sun to warm me up plus I wore a cool weather kit of jacket, shorts, leg warmers, long sleeve jersey and a new pair of Pearl Izumi red gloves. digging around in my closet yesterday I found two new pairs of Voler shorts. I may replace some of the older ones shortly.

The route was slightly different from the past Oakhurst – Valley Ranch ones. I didn’t go west on Old Sorters Road and FM1314 east to Valley Ranch Parkway. I wanted to ride about 25 miles since I am coming off a period of no riding. I rode 25.25 miles which is pretty close. When I reached Old Sorters Road I turned right to FM1314 and then through Valley Ranch. On US59 south service road I rode all the way to Northpark Drive rather than turning left onto FM1314 and then Loop 494 south to Knox Road. By going to Northpark and then north along US59 I got to the same entrance back to Kingwood but avoided the traffic on Loop 494 and the concrete debris in front of Porter Ready-Mix on the shoulder.

Every time I turned into the wind I was glad I was dressed for it. I could’ve been fooled by my home weather station and paid a chilly price.

I imported the Garmin data into Golden Cheetah but for some reason the summary page did not format right. Hopefully the next ride doesn’t have this problem.

Monday and Tuesday look good weather wise for biking. I plan on taking advantage of it. Wednesday weather takes a dip to cooler temperature maybe below 60.

January mileage is now 73.68. My sit bones are complaining some after the long time of not riding.

RidewithGPS map, metrics and charts.

[iframe http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/676960363 470px 500px]

Texas Bicycling News Digest January 17th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Theft Ring Busted But Bicycle Thefts Remain Big Problem

www.keyetv.com


(Video)
Law enforcement agencies from across the state worked together to bust a bicycle theft ring Tuesday. According to Austin Police, the theft ring rented, failed to return and then sold high-end bicycles across Texas. APD says each of the bikes cost between $3,000 and $4,000.
“They had recently rented a bike in Plano, and the officers found that the bike — within hours — here in Austin on Craigslist,” explained APD Downtown Area Commander Troy Officer.
Austin’s own Bicycle Sport Shop and Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop …

Project Pedal On: Local Student Addresses Paris City Council

www.eparisextra.com

Paris Jr. High student, Sahil Prakash presented a bicycle awareness project to the Paris City Council Monday night.  In an effort to make Paris a more bike-friendly town, Prakash spoke about Project Pedal On.
Prakash began, “This year my goal is to get more people on bikes.  Project Pedal On is dedicated to increasing bicycle riding resources in Paris, so that more …

Mellow Johnny’s to open second location

by BRAIN Staff        www.bicycleretailer.com

FORT WORTH, Texas (BRAIN) — Mellow Johnny’s — the Austin, Texas, destination store co-owned by Lance Armstrong — is expanding to a second location to be housed in the new Clearfork Trailhead Cycling and Fitness Center in Fort Worth, set to open in late spring. The full-service shop will also include rentals and training.
Clearfork is a mixed-use development of residential, retail and restaurant businesses next to a cycling and hiking trail that covers more than 40 miles along the …

Texas police charge 4 in high-end bicycle theft ring

www.myfoxaustin.com

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Four people have been charged in a high-end bicycle theft ring in which investigators say they rented bikes from Texas businesses and sold them online.
Austin police say one person was arrested after …

UL Cycling Club gears up for competition in Texas

by Crystal Morgan        thevermilion.com

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Cycling Club is preparing for a cycling competition this March in Austin, Texas.
This spring, UL Lafayette Cycling will participate in the road discipline. Cycling disciplines correspond to different seasons. The road discipline is in the spring, the track discipline is in the summer, the mountain biking discipline is in the fall and the …

Get to Know You Ride and Lunch

Saturday, Jan 24, 2015, 11:00 AM

Location details are available to members only.

31 Members Went

One lap around the lake (about 11 miles). We’ll gather up in the parking lot behind Dallas Bike Works and behind The Lakehouse.Beginner pace (8-10 mph pace): one lap will take about 65 minutes. This is a no-drop ride. We will not leave you.Please wear your helmet and bring something to drink during the ride. Any bicycle in good riding condition w…

Check out this Meetup →

http://www.meetup.com/HoustonCyclingClub/events/219225279/?a=ea2_grp&rv=ea2&_af_eid=219225279&_af=event

Anthills Trail Ride

Tuesday, Jan 20, 2015, 4:15 PM

2 Dirty SOB’s Went

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What happened in Austin: A letter from USA Cycling Events VP Micah Rice

www.usacycling.org

The following letter was sent to 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships riders last night with further explanation of events that transpired over the weekend in Austin. USA Cycling recognizes these issues impact all membership and wanted to make the letter public for its membership to read now that those riders directly impacted have been contacted.
Dear Members,
In light of the events of this past weekend at the 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships, I wanted to take time to address a few of the circumstances, decisions and reasons for those decisions that went into the timeline of events from Sunday morning until the competition’s conclusion on Monday. I hope that the information below will answer some of your questions and provide you with a better understanding of what exactly happened in Austin this past weekend, particularly regarding the Sunday postponement and the decision to …

My First Endorphin Inducing Bike Ride In Texas Of The New Year Has Me Feeling Good

Durango Texas


I did not realize, until this 3rd Saturday of the New Year, how much I have been missing the blue sky of Texas, when the sun which that blue sky lets shine, heats the air to a temperature allowing outer wear of the t-shirt and …

Q&A on Citywide Bicycle Master Plan

BikeHouston

Thank you to Houston Matters for the Q&A with the people responsible for Houston’s Bicycle Master Plan. Read their description and listen below.
“The City of Houston is launching a $500,000 effort to develop a citywide bicycling plan. It’s the first such comprehensive effort since 1994. On this edition of Houston Matters, we discuss efforts underway to develop the bike plan, its potential benefits for the city and …

2014 Protected Bike Lane Study including Austin facilities.

by Jack        bicycleaustin.info

bizikletari wrote:
Jack wrote:
Mostly, it seems to be analysis of “perceived safety” (…), and thin on actual safety
“Perceived Safety” carries a lot more weight than what it seems you imply it has. Perception of safety is one of the main arguments Americans invoke to shy away from bicycling. It is the main cause why Americans do not allow their children to bike to school or other activities. ***
I think it may be useful to rethink the profound impact that perception of safety has in everybody’s lives and use that understanding to build facilities that promote cycling.
A new study on cycling risks, according to this http://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/01/09/s … -you-wear/  “Researchers found that people who were injured while riding on sidewalks or shared-use paths tended to sustain worse injuries, even compared to cyclists riding on major roads with no bike infrastructure. These …

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Austin, TX
3,937 Mountain Bikers

Meet other local mountain bikers to organize rides, review trails, gear and trade tips. All skill-levels welcome. We’ll try to organize rides that fit all experience levels. M…

Check out this Meetup Group →

Police say suspected bicycle theft ring targeted Flower Mound

by Chris Roark        starlocalmedia.com


Three people have been arrested in Austin in connection with a bicycle theft ring that police say targeted several North Texas shops, including one in Flower Mound.
According to a press release from the Austin Police Department, 30-year-old Jonathan Lee Oldham rented “an expensive” bicycle in the …

USA Cycling to restore torn-up Zilker Park after cyclocross race

American-Statesman

Zilker Park, which is now crisscrossed by wide muddy gashes, will be repaired by the cycling organization whose event caused the damage.City officials and a USA Cycling spokesman said Thursday they expect the restoration of Austin’s central park to start in just over a week, with grass sprouting in the torn-up areas within a month. The park will remain open while the grounds are restored….

Texas Trail Show & Tell

by cykelk        forums.mtbr.com

It struck me that we needed a general place to post up local ride photos and video. If you’ve got some stuff from a recent ride that you don’t feel like starting a new thread for, show it off here!
I’ll kick it off with some footage from last week on Barton Creek side trails. Cool out but very nice riding. …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hGUzMmHfNE

Kickin’ Ash

by Kat Hunter        texasbikeracing.com


Cycling has many breeds: roadies, track racers, mountain bikers, commuters, cyclocrossers, and even stranger subsets of the two-wheeled. Ash Duban is somewhere at the center of cycling’s complicated Venn diagram of how to be on the bike. A 5-foot-2 redhead with a big engine, she’s ridden everything from underground alley cats and cross-country tours to velodrome events and …

Garmin Goes Crazy

Pit’s Fritztown News

Today I did my exercise again, the same route as last time, only a few hundred feet more, to the intersection of Kneese and Lower Crabapple Roads. Everything went well again and I was within the same pace and heart range as before, when all of a sudden, after about three quarters of my walk, my Garmin showed a heart rate of way over 200. The maximum …

The wind between their wheels

BY JARED WILSON        www.oaoa.com


Hundreds compete in Comanche Cross
On Saturday it was a sight that most people in West Texas haven’t seen in a few weeks. The sun was shining and temperatures were optimum but there was …

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/556627678347137025

https://twitter.com/SportsTownEP/status/556477312812605440

https://twitter.com/SportsTownEP/status/554333000960593921

Evacuation From the Cold But Back to Ride Now

Texbiker.net Posted on by

You may have noticed the lack of daily news digests since January 11th. My wife and I couldn’t take the cold any longer and we took a cruise to Merida and Cozumel, Mexico. It was warmer there as promised. I might think of this trip as an evacuation. I have not rode much this month and sticking around to suffer was not good. We got back today with the southeast Texas weather improved over when we left on Monday the 12th. We got back in time to ride this afternoon after doing some unpacking.

I wish I could say I rode enough to make up for the missed days but it is not so. I did ride 29.84 miles on the Atascocita – Walden – Huffman route. Apparently I wasn’t the only person wanting to ride. I saw three other bikers over the route. I might have been the most dressed with windbreaker jacket, leg warmers, shorts, long sleeve jersey and a new pair of half-finger Pearl Izumi Elite Gel Glove. I have had these gloves for almost a year. I hated to stop using one of the old pair but with the new year I decided it was time to retire one old pair. I have two other pair of old gloves that will be retired on each of the next two rides. In the Texas sun the red gloves fade to pink over a few months. Today’s new pair was white and black. They shouldn’t fade as quickly.

This was the first road bike ride of the year (also the second one of the year) and it felt good to be on the bike. The weather was chilly at times when I going into the 12 mph SW wind especially in the shade. When I was getting ready I almost left the leg warmers off but I am glad I didn’t. It was 71 degrees on my home weather station when I left home at 1:55. I figured this being the first road ride I wouldn’t push the speed so much. As a result my average speed topped out at 14.9 mph and settled at 14.7 mph overall.

The road on this route hasn’t changed since my last ride but I did notice some piles of sand on the shoulder of the FM1960 causeway eastbound over Lake Houston. Maybe while I was gone or since my last ride TXDot thought there was a chance of ice.

I want to add a route back to my list this year for some variety. It has been many years since I rode to Dayton on FM1960. I want to go there a few times. It would be about 40 miles round trip. During my absence FM1960 has changed east of the railroad overpass east of Huffman. What used to be chip seal pavement is now asphalt. In some places a center turn lane has been added which compresses the shoulder some but I don’t think it is enough to cause a problem to biking. I am not sure when the first ride will happen though.

So far I have rode 48.7 miles in January. It looks like I will be way short of last year’s 329 but the next few days look promising and I will take advantage where I can.

During our cruise stop in Merida we were talking with one of the tour guides about what he does. Currently cruise ships come to Merida on Tuesday and Wednesday. This leaves the rest of the week and we were curious what Phillipe did. He is a professional photographer most of the time with some part time jobs but most interesting he is starting to race bicycles. He practices several times a week to learn and build up his physical strength. We also learned in August it can get up to 120 degrees which kills the tourist business. During the winter months many US and Canadian citizens come to live. The tour guide pointed out the American stores: Costco, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Office Depot and many fast food places. The population of Merida is over 1 million. On the drive to and from the cruise ship we passed auto dealers for Mercedes, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW plus some that are not in the US.

Now that we are back I hope the weather starts warming up to allow me to ride.

RideWithGPS and Garmin Connect maps, metrics and charts.

Today’s Ride
Ride Route by Google Earth
Home weather end of the ride
WU weather end of the ride
Week to Date Summary
January to date ride summary