Texas Bicycling Blog and News Digest June 5th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Adults soon may be able to leave bike helmets at home

By TOM BENNING, Staff Writer        www.dallasnews.com


The Dallas City Council is poised to scrap a helmet requirement for adult bicyclists.
A majority of council members voiced support Wednesday for retaining the helmet law only for riders younger than 17.
Two council members who are avid cyclists, Lee Kleinman and Philip Kingston, said they’d like to see the helmet rules eliminated altogether.
A formal vote is scheduled for next week.
Dallas officials have been looking for ways to encourage more cycling while also promoting safety. The discussion got a jump-start from a plan to open a bike rental program this summer at Fair Park and to…

Group Bike Ride

www.beaumontcvb.com

June 07, 2014
Every Saturday
8:00 am
Colonade Shopping Center
6410 Phelan Blvd
Beaumont, TX 77706
409-656-3372
Three levels of ride, fast-greater than 20 mph; medium, generally a no drop ride 17-20mph; no drop 10-15 mph. Rides generally last 3-4 hours through the countryside around Beaumont and surrounding communities. The no drop group meets closest to Elena’s restaurant at the Colonade Shopping center, the others in front of Goodwill. Rides may start later when weather is colder. Helmets required

National Trails Day- Guided Mountain Bike Ride

events.austin360.com

Saturday, Jun 7 9:00a
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Austin, TX
Come enjoy the rugged trails at Colorado Bend on two wheels. Meet at the park office at 8:40 am to fill out and sign release forms.
You need to have experience and endurance and be able to handle the heat for this loop of 18-22 miles. The pace will be moderate and you will be led by one of our trail builders.
You will need your mountain bike, helmet (required), hydration backpack, self-sealing (slime) tubes in your…

Man critically injured in downtown bicycle crash

By Alia Malik, San Antonio Express-News

SAN ANTONIO — A man was critically injured early Thursday when he ran a red light on a bicycle and hit an SUV downtown, according to police.
Sebastian Alaniz, 20, was riding northbound on South Main Avenue just after 1:30 a.m. and failed to stop at the red light at East Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, according to police. Alaniz hit the passenger side of a Ford Expedition, which was driving eastbound on Cesar Chavez, police said.
The Expedition’s driver stopped to…

Henderson cyclist riding to Dallas in memory of 4-year-old niece’s battle with brain cancer

By MICHAEL LYLE, View Staff Writer        www.reviewjournal.com


Keith Davis is ready to do his part to end cancer.
The 50-year-old Henderson resident pledged to complete a bike ride from Las Vegas to Dallas in hopes of raising $10,000 and awareness about the disease. He plans to start June 13.
“I’m doing this in honor of my niece Holland (Young),” he said. “I enjoy cycling, so I thought I could turn it into a fundraiser.”
Cancer has touched Davis’ family periodically throughout his life.
“It has definitely made our children, my children, more aware of cancer,” he said. “Everyone is more conscious.”
Davis’ mother died of pancreatic cancer eight years ago.
Last year, his 4-year-old niece died of brain cancer.
“She had a tumor on her brain,” said Bryan Young, the girl’s father. “They removed it, but…

Owens Ride Time Change

Tyler Bicycle Club

The Owens Ride is changing to an evening ride for the summer.  The long route, 40+ miles, will start at 5:00 pm and the short route, 23 miles, will start at 5:30 pm.  We will be adding an additional route that will start at 5:30 pm.  The new route will follow the 23 mile route to Teaselville, but we will be adding an additional loop that will add about 5 miles to the ride, for a total of 29 to 30 miles.  Hope to see everyone on Sunday!

Tuesday: Intermediate/Advanced Mountain Bike Ride at the Ant Hills

Tuesday, Jun 17, 2014, 6:15 PM

15200 Memorial Dr
15200 Memorial Dr Houston, Te

1 cyclists Went

This will be a medium to fast pace ride through the Ant Hills of Hershey Park! Bring WATER, spare tube/tire, snacks, etc…Helmets required. Call if you are going to be late so we can wait for you. Wheels rolling by 6:30! See you there

Check out this Meetup →

TPWD Announces New Rec Trails Projects

BikeTexas


Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has recently announced $5.25 million in federal grants will be used for 38 recreational trail projects (chosen from the 82 proposals submitted) across the state.
Riding a trailBikeTexas is proud to have been part of this process. In a collaborative effort with national bike and trail organizations and bike organizations from other states, BikeTexas worked with members of our congressional delegation to keep Rec Trails funding in the federal transportation bill in 2012. BikeTexas then worked with leaders at TxDOT and TPWD to save Rec Trails funding from being…

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 →

Riding a Double Metric Century (Part 2)

Bike Noob

Guest poster Don Blount continues his account of his metric double century, a ride he’s using to prepare for his killer “death ride” next month.
BlountOnBikingI was nearly halfway through the Tierra Bella Double Metric Century in Gilroy, Calif. as the voices began getting louder in my head. I had been riding for nearly 4½ hours, which is a long time to spend with your thoughts. When doubt takes a seat in there, strange things happen.
And as I thought about being able to stop if I had a mechanical problem with my bike, an unsettling crunching sound came from my cranks and they jammed.
I got off the bike, looked and tried pedaling them again. Nothing.
The front derailleur had fallen into the big chainring. As I fiddled with it, one rider stopped to help and another. One held the bike, while the…

Wednesday Night Ride

Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014, 5:45 PM

Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Road
at Artcraft (parking lot next to Little Caesars_ El Paso, TX

1 Cyclists Went

These are leaderless rides of 17-22 miles leaving from Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Rd (at Artcraft). The most popular route is a 19-mile loop to Gadsden H.S. Riders begin around 6:00 p.m. this time of year; some may leave earlier. And if it’s really hot, you may want to leave as late as possible since it stays light until about 8 p.m.Optional di…

Check out this Meetup →

Tour de Cure rolls again September 20, training kick-off June 14

BikeHouston

The American Diabetes Association will hold the 6th Annual Houston Tour de Cure on September 20, 2014, at Katy Mills Mall in Katy, Texas. Families, friends and co-workers in and around the Houston area are all invited to join in a nationwide campaign to raise money to help fund diabetes research, education and advocacy. Tour de Cure is the only cycling event in Texas dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes. This event offers a memorable day of cycling and fun through beautiful country, as well as the personal satisfaction of completing a challenging ride and doing your part in the fight against diabetes.
Whether you’re a novice, an occasional rider or expert cyclist, we have a route that matches your ability. All riders will enjoy a safe and well-marked route, superior SAG (support and gear) and medical support, and outstanding volunteer support. We have improved routes, increased safety…

John Evans wins 24hour Endurance Ride

Plano Bicycle Association

Visiting cyclists fight cancer on two wheels

By JOSIE MUSICO        lubbockonline.com


Andy Escobar is cycling for his grandmother.
Kirby Orosco rides in honor of her stepfather.
Twenty-five Texas 4000 cyclists are about a week into their cross-country cancer fight. And when temperatures soar and energy levels drop, they know the loved ones they’re riding for have faced even…

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Event Reminders

I am riding the Spindletopspin

School Kids on the Loose

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Riding through Eagle Springs – Walden – Huffman is a longer version of the usual ride through Atascocita – Walden – Huffman. The Eagle Springs route takes me on the street where I had my collision last September. School is going to be out but I timed today’s ride to pass the spot around 10:30 when students were not leaving.

The ride began at 9:49 under a mostly cloudy sky, 80 degrees, 80% humidity and a light breeze. I returned home at 12:55 still under the mostly cloudy sky (dark clouds gathered while I was stopped in Huffman), 89 degrees, 55% humidity and a 8.1 mph SSE breeze. Around 12:40 when I was in the O’Rielly Auto Parts parking lot going home the Creekwood Middle School must have let out releasing many students to walk down the sidewalk where I cut through the Bank of America to get on the side streets and home. I had to wait about 5 minutes until the big groups passed.

Speaking of passing I saw one other bicyclist while I rode east on Old Atascocita Road and I waved but got no response.

I stopped as usual at the Huffman Chevron for a snack and drink break. I watched the sky as some dark clouds approached then moved to the west. I hoped I didn’t ride in any rain on the way home and I did not. I rode 34.85 miles and averaged 14.7 mph. This ride was an uneventful one with nothing really getting my attention. By starting a little earlier I did get home before the temperature got up to 90. I perspired heavily and my jersey and bandana were soaked when I got home.

Statistics after today: 145.59 miles this week, 174.71 miles in June, 2574 miles for the year.

Tomorrow the weather should repeat today’s. I plan on biking though not more than 30 miles. On Saturday I will ride the Spindletop Spin in Beaumont. I made a hotel reservation using booking.com and while I biking I got a phone call telling me the hotel could not accept my reservation because they did not have any rooms; some error in their computer didn’t update the room inventory. I reserved a room at Super 8 and no problem so far. I used Super 8’s website this time.

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Link to RideWithGPS version of the ride.

Texas Bicycling News Digest June 4th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

With Dallas bike helmet law, rules of the ride enforced unevenly

By TOM BENNING, Staff Writer        www.dallasnews.com


Feel free to ignore Dallas’ bike helmet ordinance with impunity at White Rock Lake, in Lakewood, along the Katy Trail and on other popular biking routes.
But don that helmet downtown, where one enthusiastic police officer has apparently made enforcement of the ordinance his personal mission.
And be sure to cinch up that chin strap in poorer neighborhoods, areas with large minority populations and…

Dallas city officials subvert the spirit of bike helmet law

by James Ragland        www.dallasnews.com


So, it turns out that Dallas isn’t that serious about its bike-helmet ordinance after all.
I say that for two reasons.
The first one is obvious: City officials are backpedaling on the most comprehensive helmet law in the state, one that requires all cyclists to wear helmets.
Some council members want to repeal the whole law. Others want to limit it to cyclists under the age of 17, which seems like a good compromise to me.
The second reason is less apparent but probably the most important: The city hasn’t been enforcing the law how or…

Cyclists on cancer mission roll through Dallas on way to Alaska

By DANIELLE GROBMEIER, Staff Writer        www.dallasnews.com

It has been almost 18 months since 23-year-old Matthew Atwell learned he would bike from Texas to Alaska — a trip of 70 days and more than 4,500 miles.
Atwell, an aerospace engineering graduate from the University of Texas, is part of an annual cancer awareness ride, the Texas 4000, which rolled through Dallas on Wednesday morning from Austin, bound for Alaska. He and 78 other cyclists are dedicating their miles to cancer victims and survivors.
The Texas 4000 was founded in 2004 by Chris Condit, a former UT student who survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma after being diagnosed at age 11.
Fanning out from Austin, the riders set out on…

Saturday Morning Ride in the Countryside

Saturday, Jun 7, 2014, 8:00 AM

Lifetime Fitness
971 State Highway 121 Allen, TX

4 Members Went

Come join the Lifetime Saturday morning ride that heads out into the countryside north of McKinney. The longer rides go up to Weston while the shorter ride cuts some of the tougher hills out. They normally average around 40-50 people total and all speeds/capabilities are accommodated. As always no membership is required.Saturday, June 7th – 8:00a …

Check out this Meetup →

Thanks to CenterPoint, We’ll Get Biking Trails and LED Streetlights

By Aaron Reiss            blogs.houstonpress.com

We told you last week that a bike plan was on the way for Houston. Thanks to CenterPoint Energy, Houston cyclists have another win to celebrate.
Hiking and biking trails will be allowed along CenterPoint’s utility ROWs (that’s right-of-ways). According to a press release from the mayor’s office, the ROWs will provide north-south connections to Houston’s growing network of trails, most of which either run east and west or are planned to do so.
CenterPoint is giving Houston $1.5 million for trail construction.
The agreement comes after the passage of legislation that allows CenterPoint to grant…

Bike ride at George Bush Park

Sunday, Jun 8, 2014, 9:00 AM

Fun Fair Positive Soccer – Westheimer Pkwy
20150 Westheimer Pkwy Houston, TX

5 Katy bicyclist fun riders Went

Check out this Meetup →

Farmers Market Ride & Giveaway

BikeHouston

When: June 14, 2014 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Market Square
301 Milam Street
Houston, TX 77002
Cost: Free
Houston’s on a roll and so is Bayou City Outdoors. We want you to join us on Saturday, June 14th where we will be holding a special summer Farmers Market Ride. You might just ride away with a $250 gift certificate, compliments of Bayou City Outdoors and Urban Bicycle Gallery. Biking in Houston is getting better and better, and we want everyone to have the…

B/IG Intervals

Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014, 5:45 PM

Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Road
at Artcraft (parking lot next to Little Caesars_ El Paso, TX

14 Cyclists Went

Beginner/Intermediate Group (B/IG ) presentation and ride. Meet at Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Rd (at Arcraft). Lesson is Interval Training. The wonderful whirr of the whistles are back by popular demand. On this ride we will introduce interval training to build endurance and strength. Each Tuesday’s program starts at 5:45 p.m. and the ride begins…

Check out this Meetup →

Spoke cards advertising St. David’s bike parking feature Jesus with a fixie

By Pam LeBlanc        www.austin360.com


Jesus has ridden. And he wants you to ride, also.
I love these groovy bicycle spoke cards, which advertise the bike parking and showers available for commuters at St. David’s Episcopal Church downtown.
Lisa Kay Pfannenstiel, special events coordinator at St. David’s, helped dream up the laminated advertisements, which feature a photo of her husband, posing with a blue…

Should You Carry A Gun While Riding?

Texas Mountain Bike Trails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ECs8ZrmH8D8
Today a video is going viral of a man being held at gunpoint while on a mountain bike ride and having his bike, keys, wallet, phone and more Taken from him.
Several comments on social media sites like Facebook and YouTube seem to think that carrying a gun of your own with you would be helpful in a situation like this.
I’m as Texan as they get and I love me some guns, but I don’t know that it is the…

Rolling My Wheels With The Fishes & Turtles In Fort Worth’s Gateway Park

Durango Texas


I was back rolling my wheels in Fort Worth today, doing the rolling on the Gateway Park mountain bike trails.
At my favorite Gateway Park photo op location today I almost managed to take a picture which sort of indicates my handlebars are perched near the…

San Antonio City Council Votes to Remove Bike Lanes on S. Flores

BikeTexas

Like many of you, we watched the San Antonio City Council’s decision to remove S. Flores bike lanes with disbelief and disappointment. Despite hearing from many people who ride bikes, including one gentleman who indicated he and his wife began riding for their health after the S. Flores lanes were installed, the city council voted 10-1 remove the bike lanes at a cost to the city of up to $700,000. Council member Shirley Gonzales (District 5) was the lone vote in favor of keeping the bike lanes. (Watch the video of the council meeting here; the bike lanes item begins at 2:27:38).
Image from The Rivard Report.
This decision is a major step backward for a city that claims to be committed to building a bike network. Council Member Shirley Gonzales gave an impassioned speech (watch here beginning at 3:26:36) reminding her fellow members that San Antonio is committed to a…

Trinity River Revel in Dallas on June 15

BikeTexas

Join people on bikes and local dignitaries on Sunday, June 15 at 2 PM as we inaugurate the refurbished Continental Bike/Ped Bridge, the opening of the Trinity Skyline Trail, the new Sylvan Avenue Bridge, and the brand new West Dallas Gateway Plaza with a bike ride and rolling ribbon cutting. You don’t want to miss this!
Register for this family-friendly bike ride to four new major attractions in Dallas and be entered for a chance to win a new bike donated by Richardson Bike Mart! You must…

City of Richardson Bike Parking Initiative

Bike Friendly Richardson


Increased bike parking has always been one of the goals of Bike Friendly Richardson. More bike parking provides incentive for folks to ride their bikes to local destinations, like parks, libraries and local businesses. We have a great city to ride, and now it’s time to work harder on our destinations.
Recently, we were asked by City Council member, Scott Dunn, to present information about creating a functional and comprehensive bike parking plan that would benefit, not only cyclists, but local business owners as well as the…

Day 8 Texarkana, TX to Idabel, OK

2 on a tandem

Wednesday, June 4, 2014
70.8 miles
4:47 ST
14.7 avg
We knew today was going to be long and hot so we got on the road quite early – 6:30. Starting out of Texarkana was quite fun as we headed slightly down hill. Goodbye, Texas Hill Country!

Bicycle rally hopes to show riders, drivers can share the road

By Mitchell Ferman, San Antonio Express-News


SAN ANTONIO — A group of 40 to 50 bicyclists met at La Tuna Grill on the South Side on Wednesday to ride in a bicycle lane that won’t exist for much longer.
The cyclists formed what Monica Walker and Jaime Santillan called a “solidarity ride” south on South Flores Street before reversing the other direction toward downtown San Antonio.
Walker and Santillan organized the ride after a recent City Council vote to reroute the bike lane away from South Flores.
The city put nearly $1 million into the bike route in April 2013, but last week the City Council voted 10-1 to eliminate and reroute the lanes, which city officials said will…

Tweets

https://twitter.com/Zamastil/status/474190979591725056

Event Reminder

Giant Wind Turbine Blades Standing Still

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Rode to the north today. The route went north parallel or on the US59 service road most of the way to SR242 before turning to the west. Between Roman Forest Blvd and SR242 there were three of those giant wind turbine blades parked on the side of the road. Two of the trucks were gone and the third truck was still attached to the trailer. When these things go by you on the freeway they look big but when you ride a bike beside one standing still they go on forever. I never noticed the curve of the blades until today. A community travels with these blades; three or four wide load pilot cars plus a couple of service trucks.

The goal was get 40 miles or more. I ended up just over that at 40.51 miles. Average speed was 15.0 mph. I didn’t start quite as early as I wanted leaving home at 10:14 and finishing at 1:45. The weather was great: mostly cloudy sky, 81 degrees at the start, 88 at the finish. Humidity ranged from 71% to 53% at the end. Perspiration flowed heavily. My bandana was soaked and when I stopped at the Stripes station on FM1314 I used a couple of paper towels to dry it off some. As I rode on FM1314 sweat was dripping from an end of the bandana and I thought it would get on my glasses but the breeze blew it off to my left side. Like yesterday I kept dipping my chin to the right to drain the moisture away.

Its been a couple of months since I been on this route. The last time I was looking for a new theme park that is supposed to be built on SR242. Today I saw a sign (not real large) and two excavators sitting in a field. A new storage building was nearby but no work going on. Maybe this thing will happen someday. The roads on this route are good for biking with 8 foot shoulders on US59, SR242 and FM1314. Traffic is not too heavy either.

Mileage: 110.74 miles this week, 139.86 miles in June, 2539 miles this year.

I am thinking about riding the Spindletop Spin in Beaumont this Saturday.

The SW breeze is warming the temperature and pushing out the rain. El Paso and Lubbock are over 100 degrees today. I plan on biking tomorrow, probably to the south and Huffman.

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