Texas Bicycling News Roundup January 6th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bayou Greenway Day 2015

houstonparksboard.org

April 4, 2015
Description
On Bayou Greenway Day, Houstonians are invited to experience the transformation happening along the city’s bayous as a result of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project.
This free, day-long event will offer families the chance to walk, bike, run, stroll, play and paddle between park sites along the Brays Bayou Greenway.
The event will have three “hubs,” which will feature a variety of fun activities for all ages in a festival-like atmosphere
– Fonde Park
– Spurlock Park and
– Mason Park
Participants can begin at any of these three hubs and explore the greenway and trail that connects them.
A variety of nonprofit and neighborhood organizations, including
-Recipe for Success
-the East End Management District
-The Bayou Preservation Association
-University of Houston student service organizations
-B.O.U.N.C.E.
-Bike Houston
and others are planning activities! …

Investigation continues into teen killed while riding bike

by Ashly Custer        www.valleycentral.com

(Video)
A teenager is fighting for his life after he was hit by a driver while riding a bicycle.
His fellow bicyclist died on scene.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers are working to find out how this accident occurred.
They are reconstructing the scene and interviewing witnesses.
Juan Cardova, 15, died at the scene on Saturday after he and his friend were struck by a vehicle on Minnesota Road near Val Verde Road in Donna.
DPS Sergeant Johnny Hernandez said Cardova’s friend and the driver right now remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Hernandez said there may have been several factors that contribute to his …

H-GAC regional bike, pedestrian plan open for public comments

By Jocelyn Kerr        www.yourhoustonnews.com


How will Houston pedestrians and cyclists get around the city in coming decades? As part of the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is tackling long-range transportation planning guidelines, including plans for pedestrians and cyclists.
A draft of the Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan has been released on the H-GAC website, and planners want the public’s input until Jan. 9.
The plan serves as a long-range policy guide for projects and investment in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. It’s a sub-plan within a larger, eight …

Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan

www.h-gac.com

The draft Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan is available online for public review!
Over the past few years, H-GAC has been working with stakeholders to develop the 2040 Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan. Click here to review the draft plan. H-GAC will be soliciting public comments from November 21, 2014 through January 9, 2015. Feedback can be submitted at the bottom of this page.
What is the Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan?
The Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan is a long-range planning document that describes our region’s vision for enhancing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure within the eight-county Transportation Management Area (TMA). It supports the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), a long-range, multi-modal transportation plan that guides investment in all types of transportation infrastructure throughout the Houston-Galveston area.
Why do we need the Regional Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan?
Our region is home to more than six million people, who live in rural towns, suburban communities, and dense urban centers. By 2040, our region is expected to have 3.2 million more residents. As our region grows, greater …

Let 2015 be the year you excel and become your best!

bikebarn.com

Whether you are a Cyclist, Runner or Triathlete you need to join Bike Barn and OutRival Racing for an informative evening. Hear from the best coaches in Houston, learn how to set achievable goals, improve your competitive performance and learn the secrets of a successful training program. Plus, meet factory reps, enjoy breakout-discussions with coaches and find out more about group training opportunities.
There will be door prizes and special discounts for those attending. Complimentary drinks and snacks will be provided as well.
What:
An Evening Full of Coaching and Goal Setting
– Baker’s Dozen: Tips for Endurance Athletes – Presented by Michelle LeBlanc of OutRival Racing
– Also featuring several industry experts and manufacturers to answer any other questions you might have.
Where: …

Muenster Germanfest Bike Rally

Saturday, Apr 25, 2015, 7:30 AM

Location details are available to members only.

38 Members Went

Spring rallies are just around the corner. First one of the season for many of us is Muenster. We had a blast last year at the festival afterwards. Damon looked great in the chicken hat. 🙂 Come on and join the fun. You get free admission to the festival and two free beers. Hope you can join us!Here is the link to register http://www.active.com/m…

Check out this Meetup →

USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships 2015

www.cyclingnews.com

The 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships get underway with a new venue this week – Austin, Texas’ Zilker Park – but racers still sporting frostbite memories from previous editions in Boulder, Colorado, Madison, Wisconsin, and especially Bend, Oregon should not expect a hot, dusty day for their title fight. Thanks to a weather phenomenon known as the “polar vortex”, the icy cold temperatures from the Great White North are whooshing down the continent, bringing …
… Races
Collegiate WomenSaturday, January 10 2015
Collegiate MenSaturday, January 10 2015
Junior WomenSunday, January 11 2015
Junior MenSunday, January 11 2015
U23 MenSunday, January 11 2015
Elite WomenSunday, January 11 2015
Elite MenSunday, January 11 2015

Few citations issued under law protecting cyclists, pedestrians

By Dug Begley        www.houstonchronicle.com


A law authorizing police to ticket drivers for encroaching on bicyclists and pedestrians has yielded fewer than a dozen citations in the 20 months it has been on the books, though law enforcement officials and biking advocates said they are reluctant to use enforcement as a measure of success.
To continue reading this story, you will need to be a digital subscriber to HoustonChronicle.com.

Long Distance Cycling in North Texas

LONE STAR Randonneurs

January 24 0700
300k ACP Brevet
217k RUSA Brevet
Greenville

Crystal Anthony Victorious at Resolution Cross Cup

by Brandon        cyclingillustrated.com

Crystal Anthony claimed her second UCI victory of the season at the Resolution Cross Cup on Saturday in Garland, TX. Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies descended upon the Dallas suburb over the weekend for one last weekend of racing in preparation for next weekend’s national championships in Austin, TX. Anthony recently returned from a block of World Cup ‘cross racing in Europe, where she claimed multiple top 20 results. Her victory in Garland was her first back stateside.
Clearly benefiting from fitness built during recent high-level European racing, Crystal won in dominant fashion on Saturday, crossing the finish a minute ahead of …

Bike/Ped lack funding in Regional Plan

BikeHouston

The Houston Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is the regional planning body that local governments voluntarily participate with in order to coordinate with each other. HGAC has written a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) that guides maintaining and improving the current transportation system, ie how to spend your money on transportation for the next 30 years.
HGAC is only planning to spend 1% on pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure and we don’t think this will be enough to meet our regions goals for a good quality of life, economic vitality, and increased safety and mobility. HGAC own survey shows that the general public would spend 14% on sidewalks and bikeways. We are asking them to …

CoA email about status of Mopac Pedestrian Bridge

bicycleaustin.info

The City of Austin just sent out an email giving the status of the Mopac Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge over the greenbelt.
Here’s the newsletter they gave with the details.
If they stay on schedule, they should be done by December!

This Weekend Rides:

San Antonio Cycling Club
Saturday, Jan 10th,
No local ride scheduled.  Need a ride leader, call Vern.

Sunday, Jan 11th,
Kirby Ride from Lupitas, 26 or 36 miles,
9:00 AM
Meet in parking lot next to Lupitas Mexican Café for an easy 26 mile stay together ride, or an optional 36 mile group ride. Map # E1. This ride has rolling to medium hills, but suitable for intermediate riders. Shorter route available. Ride Leader: Charlie, 210-219-0889. Guests welcome.
Directions: Take IH 10 East to Loop 410. Left (North) on 410 to FM 78 Exit. Right on FM 78 (Old Seguin Rd) for about 1 mile. Lupitas is on right hand side, beyond DQ, and next to the Bank. Please park in the lot next to the bank, NOT in the Lupitas parking lot.

Super Bowl Sunday Ride – Feb. 1, 2015

Greater Dallas Bicyclists


Cycling enthusiasts will ride from all over the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex to the West End in Dallas for the 30th annual GDB Super Bowl Sunday Ride. For the past 29 years, Greater Dallas Bicyclists has partnered with bike shops and bicycle clubs to host a casual-pace bicycle ride that starts everywhere in Dallas-Fort Worth and converges on the West End in downtown Dallas. The ride is free, the people are fun, and the food is great, so don’t miss this DFW cycling tradition.
Find a start location near you, show up at the designated meet-up time, and pedal through the streets of Dallas with plenty of friends. If you wear spandex, wear your club, team, or …

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

https://twitter.com/MitchellGSides/status/552659076568449024

Event Reminders

Breaking the Ice Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Mike and Frank on the TV show American Pickers talk about breaking the ice. I broke the ice today with the first ride of 2015. I was watching the temperature around noontime as it slowly moved to 60 degrees. I was determined to ride today with cold weather supposed to arrive tomorrow and stay with us for 10 days or so.

I started getting ready to ride donning two long sleeve jerseys, leg warmers, shorts, jacket and full finger gloves. I figured riding the Kingwood trails I would be in the shade a lot and it could be chilly plus I could sweat off some of the extra pounds I put on over the holidays. I pressed the start button on the Garmin 510 at 12:51 and finished at 2:37. It did warm up to 66 when I got home but it still felt chilly. I did not regret wearing the cloths.

There was nothing exotic about the route other than I wanted to go at least 15 miles. I ended up riding 18.86 miles. Being on my MTB I didn’t set any fast average speed but I did realize the extra weight of this bike can wear me out even going up the few inclines around here. I wandered around the trails north of the river and crossed over the river into Atascocita to get those extra miles.

A few other bikers were on the trails and most were not dressed to the extent I was. Two riders I came upon were wearing shorts and T-shirts. This is way too under dressed for my thin blood. Another lady was dressed similar to me but no helmet. Not a good idea with the sudden trail turns and uneven surface in places. Yesterday I needed a helmet at home when I was putting away Christmas decorations. A tall candle stand with a large candle on the top fell over from the shelf above my head with the candle landed solidly on my head. That HURT! I stopped and took a break to get my senses back.

Charts and stuff from the ride: (click the image to see it full size)

Ride route today
Today’s ride metrics
Home weather at the end of the ride
Weather at the airport at the end of the ride

Texas Bicycling News Digest January 5th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Reveille Peak Ranch – Sweet Skull JUMP session video

by hunrugger        forums.mtbr.com

First, I want to say that RPR is tits, even after a couple of days of rain. The day and night before we rode on Sat was raining just about all day and all night, but RPR was in excellent shape. There is NO mud there. The water on the rocks at VERY few spots can get slick, but nothing like limestone. Personally, I think the water make RPR come alive – all the creeks and …

Family of teen killed in bicycle accident speaks out

by Nora Salinas        www.valleycentral.com


Family members say 15 year-old Juan Manuel Cordova and his friend were riding their bikes, when a car hit both teens head on.
One of the teens was critically injured, while Cordova died immediately at the scene.
Texas Department of Public Safety says it happened on Saturday night on Minnesota Road east of Val Verde Road in Donna.
Cordova’s mother tells Action 4 she fell into shock when she heard the tragic news about her son.
“It was like 10 or 10:30, I got a message saying my son had an accident and he …

http://www.meetup.com/10-Miles-a-Ride/events/219055205/?a=me1_grp&rv=me1&_af_eid=219055205&_af=event

Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run on the Southeast Side

By Mark D. Wilson        www.mysanantonio.com


SAN ANTONIO — A bicyclist died Sunday morning after being hit by a car on the Southwest Side.
The bicyclist, identified by police as Melvin Lee Etchison, 46, had been riding south in the middle of the northbound traffic lane of the 1100 block of Dollarhide around 2 a.m., according to police.
An unknown vehicle headed the opposite direction slammed into Etchison, whose bicycle was not equipped with lights, according to police.
The driver of the vehicle took off …

Corinth Cycling Is Moving

corinthcycling.wordpress.com

We have decided to change the start locations for our Saturday and Sunday group rides.   These rides will now be departing from the North Central Texas College parking lot at 1500 North Corinth Street in Corinth.  Please park or meet in the northwest parking lot which is identified by a red maker in map found at the URL below.
http://goo.gl/yMuljF
We are making this change for a number of reasons:
1)There is a donut shop and two restaurants across from the NCTC campus.  This not only allows riders a chance to grab some coffee or …

Jonathan

by Bike Friendly Fort Worth


Name: Jonathan McMillan, BFFW Board Member
Age: 35
Hometown: Truro, NS, Canada
Lived in Fort Worth: 13 years
Occupation:IT

Tell us about one of the bikes you own and what kind of cycling you usually do.
I own an All City Space Horse. It’s a road bike with a comfortable geometry and largish tires for a smooth ride. Most of the riding I do is in the city for fun with friends and family. My wife and I like riding to neighborhood restaurants and pubs when we go out. Living in a tight-knit community means that we often see friends riding or walking too, and it’s …

Two Wheels of Awesome – Episode 5

The Ghisallo Foundation

At Consuelo Mendez Middle School we’ve been able to get the students off-road more than ever before.
Dove Springs Rec Center has a great network of trails. These are in a beautiful wooded area backed up to Williamson Creek.
This is a type of cycling that few of these kids have ever been exposed to before. They have really taken to the thrill of flying downhill and …

Weekly Slow Intermediate-Level Ride — Reimers Ranch (18 miles)

Sunday, Jan 18, 2015, 12:45 PM

Reimers Ranch Park
23610 Hamilton Pool Road Dripping Springs, TX

17 Mountain Bikers Went

About my riding styleI am a technical rider with advanced skill, but I am not a racer by any means.  My goal is to clean everything, not necessarily to finish quickly.  I like to stop and session the more difficult obstacles, and I may need a breather after the climbs.  Thus, if you’re trying to get the best time on Strava, you might find it annoy…

Check out this Meetup →

A popular place to MTB

San Antonio could annex all of Government Canyon

By Vianna Davila        www.mysanantonio.com


Government Canyon State Natural Area is 12,000 acres of big trees, scrub brush, wildlife and hiking trails, on the edge of a large metropolitan area. But for now, some of the land is still part of unincorporated Bexar County, while the rest is in the city.
Now the entire park — which is the largest preserve of karst limestone caves in the country, according to …

2014 Year in Review

www.wheelbrothers.com

What an amazing year it’s been! Thank you to everyone – thank you for sharing your memories with us… Happy New Year!!

USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships take place at Zilker Park this week

by Pam LeBlanc        fitness.blog.austin360.com


Think of cyclo-cross racing as steeple chase contested on bicycles instead of horses.
Competitors zip around a short course, leaping on and off their bikes, dashing over obstacles like rocky steps, steep hills or downed logs, and getting covered in mud. The fan base mirrors the sport – spectators get rowdy, cheering on their favorite athletes, drinking beer (and even offering it to passing cyclists) and getting splashed with mud themselves.
This week, the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships take place at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road. Cyclists will scramble through woods, cross railroad ties, hop down limestone stairs and over wooden ramps, carrying their bikes on their shoulders at the toughest points as they compete for the national crown.
The athletes ride bikes that combine elements of road racers and mountain bikes – they’re lightweight with …

Nation’s top CX riders to heart of Texas for Nationals

www.usacycling.org

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 5, 2015) – Riders from around the United States, ranging from ages 10-81, will descend on Austin, Texas, Jan. 7-11 for the 2015 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships, where they will vie for more than 40 Stars-and-Stripes jerseys at Austin’s Zilker Park.
Katie Compton looks to defend her title in 2015. (photo by Eddie Clark)
37-FOR-37
The Cyclo-cross National Championships return to Austin for the first time in 37 years, where 37 competitors return to defend their 2014 crowns. Among the defending champions are 2014 elite champions Jeremy Powers (Easthampton, Mass./Rapha-Focus) and Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Trek Cyclocross Collective), as well …

Weekly Slow Intermediate-Level Ride — Rocky Hill Ranch (16 miles)

Saturday, Jan 31, 2015, 10:45 AM

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

23 Mountain Bikers Went

About my riding styleI am a technical rider with advanced skill, but I am not a racer by any means.  My goal is to clean everything, not necessarily to finish quickly.  I like to stop and session the more difficult obstacles, and I may need a breather after the climbs.  Thus, if you’re trying to get the best time on Strava, you might find it annoy…

Check out this Meetup →

Announcing the 2015 Elevate Cycling Team

texasbikeracing.com


2015 looks to be another big year for the Ft. Worth, Texas based Elevate Cycling Team (formerly Think Finance). Following a merger with Boneshaker D1 Racing, the team has now set its sights toward developing the best amateur riders in the country, with the goal of placing them in a UCI Professional Team. Elevate Cycling will target UCI Americas Tour, USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar (NRC), selected National Criterium Calendar (NCC) events and major Texas races (TXBRA).
“The merger adds more depth and experience to the roster. Elevate Cycling will be great for rider development both on the bike and in ‘real life.’ 2015 should be …

2015 Texas Cross Country MTNBike State Championship Series

tmbra.org

Sun & Ski presents The Rocky Hill Roundup
Feb. 8, 2015
Rocky Hill Ranch
Smithville, TX
Mellow Johnnys Classic
Feb 28 – March. 1, 2015
Flat Creek Crossing Ranch
West of Austin, TX
Hill Country Mountain Bike Challenge
March 15, 2015
Flat Rock Ranch
Comfort, TX
Bent Wheel Bash
March 29, 2015
Buck Creek Trails
Abilene, TX
Bicycle Sport Shop Pace Bend Mtn Bike Fest
April 12, 2015
Pace Bend Park
Austin, TX
DORBA Prayer Mountain Pedal
April 25, 2015
Big Cedar Wilderness
Dallas, TX
GHORBA Big Ring Challenge
May 3, 2015
Double Lake Recreation Area
Coldspring, TX
Sugar Cycles presents The Warda Race
May 17, 2015
Bluff Creek Ranch
Warda, TX

Ride Across Texas early bird registration now open

Spinistry        forums.mtbr.com

Registration now open for Solo-Self Supported
The Ride Across Texas will start in Texarkana, AR and end in Tucumcari, NM. The total route will be about 900 miles with 25,000 feet of climbing according to ridewithgps. Please note, the course is intended to be over 90% dirt/gravel roads. The Solo Self Supported category will essentially follow Tour Divide inspired rules. Other categories could be added later in the year (solo supported, relay teams etc). We are now only accepting registrations for solo self supported riders.

Legally blind six-year-old can finally ride bikes with sister

Ashley Claster        texas.icito.com

Hundreds of high school basketball players, their families, and fans traveled to Lubbock for the 56th Annual Fibermax Caprock Classic. Net proceeds from the tournament go to local charities and towards the Lubbock Caprock AMBUC’s Chapter’s goal of creating independence and mobility for people with disabilities. The many stand-out sports highlights from the championship games shared the spotlight with several recipients of adaptive bikes the AMBUC’s club provides called Amtrykes.
Meanwhile during the tournament, we caught up with previous recipients to check how the Amtryke is affecting their lives.
Bryce Johnston is learning to read braille.
“Right now, Bryce is legally blind, and in some lighting she is completely blind.  In some lighting, she can see a little bit,” Bryce’s mother Cassie Johnston said. “Her hearing is still very good right now.  But …

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Event Reminders

A Tale of Woe from a Texas Biker

Texbiker.net Posted on by

It’s 5 days into 2015. I am starting to get cabin fever from not biking. Today I looked at my riding history from January 2014. Back then I rode 329 miles but I am beginning to doubt that I can replicate that mileage this year. The weather has not reached 60 degrees yet and the one day it got close it rained. I am a temperature wimp who can’t bring himself to ride when it is below 60 degrees.

By coincidence my wife and I both looked up the weather for Key West, FL. Today it was 84 degrees and the rest of the week the forecast calls for 79 degrees. We visited there last year in May but I am wanting to go there now to escape this cold weather. The problem is taking my bike with me on the airline. There are bike rentals there but not like the bike I ride.

I used to think Houston was far enough south to ride almost every week. The last time I was on my road bike was December 22nd. The weather forecast:

1-5-2015 WU 10 Day Forecast

Not one day gets to or above 60 degrees. Some days even have rain.

A tale of woe!!!

Update: I forgot to mention that last night while we were watching TV we heard a hissing sound behind us. I got up and tried to locate the noise. Entering the utility room I saw water spraying from the wall behind the washer. The cold water hose was spewing water near the valve in the wall. The valve had not been turned for over 20 years and I had to work on it to get it to turn. I grabbed a towel to deflect the water so that I could see. I turned the washing machine on to lower the water pressure (not sure this did anything) and finally got the valve turned off. Cleaning up the mess I couldn’t move the washer out very far since it was 1/2 full of water.

This morning I went to Lowes for replacement hoses. I got the washer empty and pulled it out. As I was unhooking the cold water hose from the washer I saw that end was shot as well. I went ahead and replaced both hoses. Hopefully they last another 20+ years. This gave me something to do while I couldn’t bike.

It was good that we were home to stop the flooding. 30 years ago in our previous house we were not so fortunate when the washer mixing valve burst and we ended up with 2 – 3 inches of water in the utility room. We were not home then.