Texas Bicycling Blog and News Digest March 28th

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Biking through Big Bend

By PAM LeBLANC        Austin American-Statesman


TERLINGUA — You haven’t really bicycled Texas until you’ve ridden the West Texas desert, weaving past flat-topped mesas and cactuses that snag your legs just for spite, one eye constantly peeled for a hairy-legged tarantula.
Road riding’s fine, and commuting gets you where you’re going, but biking through Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like visiting the moon. Beyond crunching gravel and clattering stones, you spin through a world that’s eerily quiet, except for the wind. It’s beautiful — thorny plants, jagged rocks and all.
Last month I made my third multiday mountain biking trek through the park. The adventure coincided with the annual Chihuahuan Desert Bike Festival, a gathering of mountain biking geeks that features guided and…

Meet by the bike rack. At the front of the Y.

Katy Bicycle fun riders

Thursday, April 3, 2014
6:30 PM
Katy Family YMCA
22807 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy, TX

Why the Race You Lose is the Most Important

Texas Mountain Bike Trails

It’s something I feel extremely strongly about and something that I have a lot of experience doing.
Losing races.
I’ve never won a race, not ever.
I’ve been on a podium only twice in nearly 10 years of racing in multiple cycling sports (triathlon, road racing, mtb) and one of those was a misprint on the officials part.
I have been dead last in races and I’ve also missed first place by only 10 seconds. I’ve even gone from 2nd place to missing the podium entirely due to a flat in literally the final mile. I feel like I’ve seen about every…

Tweets

https://twitter.com/IamWillPowers/status/449674704669130752

https://twitter.com/BSS_Road_Club/status/449716401142374400

https://twitter.com/VILLARREAL_14/status/449728444692041728

https://twitter.com/Ride_2_Recovery/status/44956906509566361

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Digest March 27th

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Fair Park bike-share program launched with $125,000

By TOM BENNING, Staff Writer        www.dallasnews.com


Dallas’ first bike-share program — something common in many other major U.S. cities — will make its debut this summer in Fair Park.
The City Council on Wednesday approved giving $125,000 to the nonprofit Friends of Fair Park to install and operate a bicycle rental program at the 277-acre park. Officials hope to launch the effort with around 20 bikes and two or three rental stations.
The approval came despite objections from several council members over the effort’s compatibility with plans for a citywide bike-share program, its potential for failure and complications related to…

2014 MS 150 Route Maps – Houston to Austin

Bike Brookshire

Here it is, the 2014 MS150 Route Map.  This years event takes place on April 13-14, 2014.  Again with 3 different starts points to customize the length of the ride to your ability.  Good luck and keep the rubber side down.

LBJ 100, Get Your Rear in Gear this weekend

By Pam LeBlanc        www.austin360.com

More awesome weekend happenings:
LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour – Cyclists choose from routes of 10, 30, 42, 62 or 85 miles in this non-competitive group bike ride, which rolls off at 9 a.m. Saturday from the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall. All courses begin and end on the LBJ Ranch airstrip, cover quiet country roads and pass historical landmarks that figured prominently in U. S. Presidential history. Registration is $50 for adults, $30 for ages 12 and under, $85 per tandem,$105 per family or $45 for members of…

Gone Over to the Dark Side?

Bike Noob

Last Sunday morning dawned overcast and windy in Austin. It wasn’t the kind of weather to make one enthusiastic about biking.
I stared out the window as I breakfasted on scrambled eggs and coffee, wondering if I would even get up the energy to get out and ride. Heck, it was Sunday morning! If I’m going to ride at all during the week, that is THE day to go out.
I pondered some more.
Then, I got a crazy idea. My mountain bike hangs from the garage…

Wednesday Walnut Creek Social

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Wednesday, April 2, 2014    6:00 PM
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX (map)
We will be meeting at 5:45 pm to air up, tune and hit the Walnut Creek trail wheels down at 6:00 pm for a 10 to 12 mile circuit, this will be a Beginner to Intermediate ride for folks who just want to ride Walnut at a group pace and we will do…

B/IG-Mind Your Manners

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride

Description:     Mind your Manners-Basic Rules and Etiquette for riding in a group
Tuesday, April 8 5:45PM
April 8 program is Mind your Manners- Basic Rules and Etiquette for riding in a group. Beginner, Beginner/Intermediate and Intermediate Level Rides to follow.
Program starts at 5:45pm and the ride takes off at 6:00pm. All riders should be there at least 15 minutes early. Meet at Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Road at the intersection of Artcraft & Upper Valley.
For questions or more information please contact Margaret O’Kelley, (915) 588-3825 or check out the B/IG web page.
Helmets are required for all riders.
Resources: …

Rocky Hill Ranch Kids Kup Mountain Bike Race

Turnin’ Cranks

Get Involved! Your Path to Austin

bicyclesportshop.wordpress.com

From our friends at the City of Austin Bicycle Program: “Imagine a system of connected trails and on-street bikeways that could get you from north to south, east to west and everywhere in between. Now imagine these paths as protected areas away from cars – increasing safety so you can get there by bike, or on foot – regardless of your age or ability. To achieve this vision, the City of Austin is creating an Urban Trails Master Plan and updating the existing Bicycle Master Plan.”
With ample opportunity to participate in this exciting vision, another chance to…

New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

Tweets

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Event Reminders

Texas Bicycling News Digest March 26th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Ride 2 Recovery cycles through Killeen

Courtney Griffin | Herald staff writer        kdhnews.com


Veterans from across the nation will ride through Killeen on Tuesday and then continue onto post the next day.
Ride 2 Recovery is a nonprofit organization that helps injured veterans improve their health and wellness through individual and group cycling.
More than 200 injured veterans and their supporters set off…

Wounded Veterans Bike Across Texas

www.keyetv.com

Hundreds of wounded veterans and their supporters are biking across Texas this week.
The 590-mile ride is organized by Ride 2 Recovery, a group that provides support to veterans worldwide.
The ride kicked off in Houston on Sunday and ended in College Station. On Monday, the caravan rolled on to…

Saturday Morning Ride from McKinney to Weston and Back

Dallas Cycling Trail Riders and Weekend Pub Crawlers

Saturday, March 29, 2014    8:00 AM
Lifetime Fitness
971 State Highway 121, Allen, TX (map)
If anyone is looking for a fun ride in the country this Saturday morning, consider the Allen Lifetime Fitness ride (no requirement to be a member – I’m not). Ride info: 4 groups: 45 miles at 20mph, 45 miles at 18mph, 45 miles at 16mph, and 10-30 miles at 15mph All rides have experienced ride leads and…

Coordinated Voodoo effort puts Kent 1st place in the Cat 3 GC at the 2014 Corsicana Stage Race!

Voodoo Racing

The following are Kent Myer’s own words about the brilliant coordinated efforts of our Cat 3 squad (Kent, Nate Sheetz, and Aaron Wade) that helped him win the Cat 3 GC at Corsicana this year:
Corsicana was one of the first stage races I did last year right after getting my cat 3 upgrade, I had such a great time I was looking forward to the race this year as all of the courses fit my strengths pretty well. We rolled into the host hotel early evening on Friday to find they had managed to lose our reservation, but luckily had a few teammates to bunk up with on rollaway beds.

It was really nice to wake up at a somewhat normal hour before a bike race Saturday morning and have time to eat, shower, shave, etc without rushing before the…

Get Ready For Siclovia This Sunday In Southtown

By Joey Palacios        Texas Public Radio


The sixth semi-annual Síclovía will turn roadways into bike lanes this weekend as thousands of San Antonians are expected to flock to the streets.
San Antonio’s Síclovía started in October 2011 and is based off a similar event in the country of Colombia. The streets are shut down to give cyclists and runners a clear path to exercise.
Since it’s first inception, attendance has soared from 30,000 to 75,000 people, and even more are expected this Sunday. Monica Garza, director of Síclovía with the YMCA, said while cycling and other physical activity is the…

Pedernales Falls State Park TRAIL BUILD & RIDE!

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Saturday, March 29, 2014    9:00 AM
Pedernales Falls State Park
2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, TX (map)
Pedernales Falls State Park TRAIL BUILD & RIDE!
Build and RIDE NEW TRAIL that Austin Ridge Riders is building at the park.
MEET AT 9:00 AM at Pedernales Falls State Park equestrian camp gate along CR 201 – see map: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4507_0026n.pdf
NO TRAIL BUILDING EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Austin Ridge Riders will provide tools & guidance for volunteers, as well as a prize raffle after the work. Volunteers get into the park for free on trail building days.
We will stage building from the pipeline corridor north of the Equestrian Camp and put priority on the section near…

Dallas City Council approves idea to start bike share program in Fair Park

By Tom Benning        cityhallblog.dallasnews.com

Dallas’ first bike share program – an amenity already common in many other major U.S. cities – will make its debut this summer in Fair Park.
The City Council approved on Wednesday giving $125,000 to the nonprofit Friends of Fair Park to install and operate a bicycle rental program at the 277-acre park. Officials hope to launch the effort with around 20 bikes and two or three rental stations.
The OK came despite objections from several council members over the effort’s compatibility with plans for a citywide bike share program, its potential for failure and its…

Mon Road Ride

San Angelo Bicycle Association

Mary E Lee Park
Mary E. Lee Rd – San Angelo
Date(s) – 03/31/2014
6:00 pm – 7:45 pm
Location: Mary E Lee Park
Categories
No Drop Ride
Road Ride
Riders meet at Mary E Lee Road (Nasworthy beach) and ride about 12 miles. This ride is a social (no-drop) ride. Don’t worry about getting left behind on this one. Group leaves out at 6:00PM.

WTCA Post to Gail Ride

West Texas Cycling Association

Date: April 5, 2014
Location: Post, TX
Contact: Pat Crawford
Details: The Post to Gail Ride is scheduled for April 5th and leaving from the Post courthouse parking lot at 9:00 AM. Pat Crawford and Robbie Thrasher are hosting. Cost is $5 for club members. Non-Club Members must join and pay the $20 membership fee to ride. Please RSVP to Pat by April 2nd so they can plan for supplies. Pay Pat or…

See you Gateway trailhead for April’s club meeting….No Foolin’!!

Fort Worth Mountain Bikers’ Association

In an effort to engage the membership and build community, we’ll be kicking off the season of trailhead club meetings on April 1st at Gateway Park.  Please spread the word that we will NOT be meeting at Backwoods again until the clocks fall back in November.  We will be alternating between our two trails.  May’s meeting will be at Marion Sansom Park 7:00pm.
The trail stewards will be firing up the grill after 6:00pm, and we’ll start the meeting at 7:00pm as usual.  Join us for a brat and a ride, and then get the latest on club happenings.  There’s plenty…

Rocky Tuesday. City Park (Emma Long). Intermediate pace, hard terrain

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 5:15 PM    to Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 7:45 PM
City Park – Emma Long Motorcycle Trails
7548 Oak Shores Dr, Austin, TX (map)
Look for the guy on the red Santa Cruz Nomad.
This is not a ride for beginners.  The terrain is rocky, dangerous, difficult.  This is a drop ride meaning that if you are unable to keep pace, you may be left behind.  If you are left behind, there…

DFW Summer Series 2014

Texas Mountain Bike Trails

2014 DFW Summer Series at Boulder Park & Erwin Park
Starting May 6th the weeknight party returns to Erwin Park in McKinney and debuts at Boulder Park in Dallas. This year we have 2 awesome locations and 2 separate summer series full of action packed racing!
Boulder Park in Dallas
Tuesdays 6pm & 7pm
Series 1: May 6 – June 10
Series 2: July 29 – September 2
Rainout Dates for series 1 are June 17 & June 24)
Erwin Park in McKinney
Thursdays 6pm & 7pm
Series 1: May 8 – June 12
Series 2: July 31 – September 4
(Rainout dates for series 1 are June 19 & June 26)…

Bessies Creek 24 – April 4-5, 2014

Bike Brookshire

Brookshire Texas’ only 24 hour time trail race is right around the corner.  This year the time trials take place at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Brookshire Texas.
Test your speed in one of the different time distance categories.
6 hr, 12 hr or the ultra 24 hrs of racing on your bike around the 21 mile loop from Brookshire, Fulshear, to Simonton and back to Brookshire.
Event Details at www.bessiescreek24.com.

Houston undercover stings target drivers endangering bicyclists (Video)

www.kens5.com    by Doug Miller / KHOU 11 News

HOUSTON — Next time you drive past a bicyclist on the streets of Houston, mind your manners. The bike rider just might be an undercover cop.
Houston police have adopted an unorthodox enforcement tactic, deploying plainclothes officers pedaling along streets to catch drivers disobeying a bicycle safety ordinance.
“What that simply means is that there are officers out there on bicycles, dressed as normal citizens, who are just riding around town,” says Mark Eisenman, an HPD assistant chief.
The enforcement effort that started three weeks ago focuses mainly on Houston’s Safe Passing Ordinance, which dictates that drivers should stay…

Ride 2 Recovery cyclists roll through Waco

By STEPHANIE BUTTS         www.wacotrib.com


U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Lori Kuczmanski was one of many soldiers whose eyes welled up with tears when asked why they participated in the Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge, a rehabilitation bicycle ride to help veterans and active-duty military heal from physical and mental wounds.
“Right when you want to give up, you see a triple amputee next to you and you can’t quit,” Kuczmanski said. “I’m truly amazed and inspired by…

Tweets

Texas Bicycling News Digest March 25th

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Bike safety plan aims to eliminate fatalities

By Jayme Fraser        www.chron.com

City leaders and safe-biking activists announced a plan Tuesday to reduce fatalities from bicycle-car collisions to “Goal Zero.”
Mayor Annise Parker said the city was dedicating $50,000 toward hiring a firm to create a Bicycle Management Plan that will guide infrastructure development and recommend locations for dedicated bike lanes on Houston roads.
The plan also will involve stepping up enforcement and penalties for reckless drivers and cyclists and launching a public awareness campaign that could integrate with the drivers license test.
“I want to ensure everyone feels safe on Houston’s streets,” Parker said in a press release. “By working together we can become one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the nation.”
Last month, the Houston Chronicle reported that at least 23 bike riders were killed on Houston streets in the…

Casual bike ride

Katy Bicycle fun riders

Thursday, March 27, 2014    6:30 PM
Katy Family YMCA
22807 Westheimer Pkwy, Katy, TX (map)
Meet at the Y on Peek and Westheimer.
Meet and ride from the Y. Everyone is welcomed! Very easy riding.

Wednesday Walnut Creek Social

The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group

Wednesday, March 26, 2014    6:00 PM
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX (map)
We will be meeting at 5:45 pm to air up, tune and hit the Walnut Creek trail wheels down at 6:00 pm for a 10 to 12 mile circuit, this will be a Beginner to Intermediate ride for folks who just want to ride Walnut at a group pace and we will do a…

Second Annual Greater Dallas 100; Sunday May 18th!

The Pondering Cyclist

I, for one, am very excited to ride the Greater Dallas 100. Like the name implies, the route is a century around the Metroplex, around Beltline Road.
Many cyclists in Dallas believe that the city is getting an unfair reputation as being unfriendly to bicycle riders. So, a handful of Dallas area cyclists are working on a new bike ride in the DFW metro area called the Greater Dallas 100.
But this isn’t your ordinary t-shirt Century ride. No, this ride uses a special format: There will be no entry fee and neither a Start or Finish line. The idea is that since Beltline loops around the greater Dallas area riders from around the Metroplex can travel to the nearest point to them on the route and start there. It’s made this way so groups can ride this route the way they want to. In either direction.
I like the idea, personally. I believe that especially when you combine this with DART’s light rail system you can make a good time of it. Be adventurous and go out, do your own route but still with other people! …

Cyclist struck by vehicle at Tech campus

lubbockonline.com

3:39 p.m. —A Texas Tech Officer investigated a traffic accident with minor injuries in the intersection of 18th Street and Boston Avenue. A cyclist failed to yield right of way at an intersection and was struck by a motor vehicle. The cyclist was taken by emergency medical services to the University Medical Center emergency room.

Guinn Road Is A Ride Through West Texas History

San Angelo Bicycle Association

With the increase in truck traffic on major highways, some area cyclists have been mapping out cycling routes that take them off the beaten path on rural back country roads.
One of the newest rides, pioneered by San Angelo cyclist Rick Ogan, is on Guinn Road from the town of Knickerbocker to FM 915 southwest of Mertzon.
This 29-mile out-and-back ride offers a great combination of low-traffic smooth pavement mixed with some rough-but-scenic dirt road. Since over half of the route is unpaved, you’ll be a lot happier on a touring bike with fat tires (700×32 or larger) or on a mountain bike.
It’s also an out-and-back route so you…

Weekly Group Rides

Old Tascosa Cycling Club

The weekly group rides will start at 6:30 beginning Monday March 31st. Hopefully the wind will cooperate, please spread the word!!!

Next Event

LONE STAR Randonneurs

April 12 0700
400k, 600k ACP Brevets
206k, 317k RUSA Brevets
Cleburne

2014 Pace Bend Mountain Bike Race

www.turnincranks.com

Finished 9th of 21 starters.
GoPro crapped out a bit into the 2nd lap so only had footage from first lap. Makes for shorter video which is probably better anyway!
Honestly, video is pretty uneventful. Where I started the race, I didn’t do much passing other than earlier age group backmarkers as the only in age group passes I made were on people who pass me and then I pass them back.
Although I finished top 10, I still felt that I could have…

Interview – Katy Ram Challange – Katy, TX

www.wheelbrothers.com

Have you tried the Katy Ram Challenge? If you haven’t been in the last 11 years, you have been missing out. Don’t worry, you still have a chance to get in on this amazing ride. Ride Captain, Andrew Amstutz gave us an exclusive scoop on what to expect from this year’s ride, on April 5th.
Katy Ram Ride 2014
Why join your ride?
The Mayde Creek High School Ram Band Boosters will be sponsoring its 12th annual cycling event known as the Katy Ram Challenge on Saturday, April 5, 2014.
The Katy Ram Challenge is a non-competitive Bike Ride held annually in Katy, TX to benefit the Mayde Creek High School Mighty Ram Band.  The ride includes support and covers several courses ranging from a 12 mile family ride to a 75 mile endurance ride. Riders can expect to experience rolling meadows and rural flatlands around the Katy/Brookshire area. Plus, this a BP MS150 Recommended Ride.
How long has your ride been around? …

March 29th and 30th Bike Rides!

Steiner Ranch Cycling

As you already updated by Thomas, Saturday’s ride was fun and they about 11 riders and they partook in some great food and beer at Brice’s home after the ride.
Sunday was the Steakhouse ride and I was told that a number of SRC riders were in attendance.  I was also told that SRC riders were the first to finish.  Nice job Thomas and Andrew.
Update on the kits is that the order has been placed. Brandon by far did the bulk of the work on this project.  The design work was all him.  We also need to thank Tom Delaney for help us with getting Descente to the table and going beyond his job responsibility in getting us through the process.  From what I’m told we should have our kits in about three weeks.  As always we will have a kit party to hand them out.
LJB 100 – Saturday March 29th at 9:00am at LBJ Ranch
The 7th Annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, Saturday March 29th, 2014, features routes for every skill level, from our family friendly 10 miler to their signature metric century (100 KM) and beyond.  Most of the group will be…

Visiting Arlington’s Village Creek Indian Ghosts Before Biking Through A Forest Of Tires

Durango Texas


I am guessing no one can guess where my handlebars are in the picture on the left.
Well, if you guessed Texas, that would be correct. The Dallas/Fort Worth zone, as a guess, would also be correct. Arlington would also be a correct guess.
But, I don’t think anyone could guess the actual specific location of my…

To tie or not to tie

An Old Guy On Two Wheels

Been going back through the various gospels of wheel building.  I have this nagging question about tying and soldering spokes. Unfortunately there appears to be some disagreement in scripture.
Even the interwebs were not much help.  Some interesting “debates” in several bicycle forums about the lost art of spoke tying and its efficacy (or lack thereof).
The engineer Brandt poo-poos the idea, basing his conclusion on actual tests using gauges.  You know, …

Pantego to Lillian

Lone Star Cyclists

Pace: Touring with a Fast Pace Option (Touring is a varied pace with frequent stops averaging 12-15 mph)
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2014 – 9:00am
Location: Pantego Christian Academy, 2201 W Park Row Dr, Arlington (between Bowen and Fielder)
Google 32.721714,-97.144246
Distances: 20 and 58 Miles
This ride will take you from an urban setting out to the country. Both routes skirt the western shore of Lake Arlington going out and include the scenic Indian Trail on the way back. Lillian is the destination, so if you’re hungry enough you can enjoy a bite at the Lillian convenience store, which is also a BBQ joint. If you’re still hungry after…

Bike lanes in far east El Paso getting makeover

By: Jamel Valencia        KFOX El Paso


EL PASO, Texas – Concerns about bike lanes being removed from an area in far east El Paso has avid bicyclists looking for answers.
Members of El Paso Bicycle Club’s Facebook page posted pictures of bike lanes near Pebble Hills Boulevard and John Hayes Street that don’t have white lines.
KFOX14 reached out to the city and…

Tweets

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Event Reminders