Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup December 10th

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Road Bike Party 2 – Martyn Ashton

Road Bike Party 2 is here! Martyn Ashton and two very special guests take you on a new journey with a new bike in RBP 2.
Follow GCN on YouTube: http://gcn.eu/gcnsubs
Incredible stunts and amazing tricks all completed on a £15,000 Colnago C59 Italia? It can only be a Road Bike Party! Lycra-clad trials legend Martyn Ashton’s first Road Bike Party was a YouTube sensation, so a sequel HAD to be made, bigger and better than before! Martyn was in the middle of filming when his life was…

Volunteers Needed at Fat Chuck’s Revenge Saturday December 21st!
Austin Ridge Riders

Volunteers needed for Fat Chuck’s Revenge at Rocky Hill Ranch on Saturday, 12/21.  Tshirts, food, and of course SHINER BEER!! Contact Amy Miller…

Bike tragedy remains unsolved: Search for hit-and-run driver continues

Excerpted from CultureMap:
BY TYLER RUDICK        www.bikehouston.org
Chelsea-Norman-memorial-December-2013_105309Without any leads or suspects, the Houston Police Department’s hit-and-run unit continues its investigation into the death of Chelsea Norman — a Whole Foods staffer who was fatally struck by an unknown driver while cycling home from work on Sunday night.

Friends and family have set up a makeshift memorial for the 24-year-old San Antonio native, piling flowers and candles at the scene of the accident on Waugh Drive just south of West Gray.

One of the few bystanders, a man who made the 911 call, told KHOU Channel 11 that he…

New Year’s Day Family Ride
Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
Event:     New Year’s Day Family Ride
Start:     January 1, 2014 10:00 am
End:     January 1, 2014 12:30 pm

Venue:     Ingram Park Trailhead
Wednesday, January 1st:  Let’s start out 2014 with a leisurely bike ride (or go as fast as you can safely), with plenty of time to sleep into the New Year. The ride will start at 10 a.m. from the Ingram Park Via bus station (410 & Ingram Rd.).  This ride on the Leon Creek Trails Trail-head to its end at the Valero Trailhead (at IH 10) is approximately 24 miles in length with shorter route options. The trails are mostly flat with a few small rolling hills. Bring the family, kiddy trailer & …

TRP Spyre / Spyre SLC Recall Notice
by Bike Rob        www.bikerumor.com

Tektro USA/TRP Brakes has issued a voluntary recall notice affecting about 4000 Spyre and Spyre SLC mechanical dual piston disc brake calipers sold from April 2013 to December 6, 2013. This includes both black anodized and silver finishes, sold with 140mm or 160mm rotors. The company has also filed a report with the CPSC in accordance with their guidelines.

In a statement released earlier today, TRP stated “We have identified a specific condition that could result in failure or one or both of the brakes when installed on a bicycle.”

The Spyre caliper uses a dual piston design in which ball bearings move within opposing ramps. We have discovered that in a specific scenario, the balls can be…

27.5 Mountain Bikes: Are They Worth The Hype?
Texas Mountain Bike Trails
If you have been following the bike industry, you no-doubt have heard plenty of hype about the new (or old) 27.5 wheelsize. Unless you’re under a rock somewhere I would almost guarantee that you have.

But, is the hype worth it? Here’s my thoughts after riding roughly 8 different 27.5 bikes from 4 different brands, plus you definitely want to check out the great infographic from Singletracks.com.
27.5 Mountain Bikes

Many of you guys may recall that I have been pretty skeptical of the wheelsize, relegating it to an automatic second place in XC behind 29ers. I didn’t buy into the marketing hype that I seemed to be getting fed by…

PBA Bike Build/Children’s Advocacy Center Bike Build
Plano Bicycle Association
Children’s Advocacy Center bike build- Alright folks, the CAC should be receiving 50 bikes in today for a total of about 65. They are asking if we can come Wednesday to tweak the bikes and put some of them together. I won’t be able to make it until about 6 PM, but if anyone can make it earlier let me know that…
Both the 12/7 bike build and the 12/8 Children’s Advocacy Center bike build are canceled and will be rescheduled due to the weather.
Standby for the reschedule dates and times.

New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar

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Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup December 9th

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Work Party @ Jack Brooks Park
GHORBA.org
Event category: General
Trail:
Jack Brooks Park
Sunday, December 15, 2013 – 10:00am

Rice Bikes
We are Rice University’s on-campus, student created and run bike shop and bike rental service
Description
Located in room B12, the old Fitness Room in the basement of Sid Richardson College, we offer bicycle repair and maintenance to students, faculty, and staff at a low price and in a convenient location. With service and parts prices significantly lower than the local bike shops around Rice, shop quality equipment, and experienced technicians, we are the best option for all your biking needs. Additionally, we will be selling refurbishing bicycles that have been…

Reveille Peak Ranch…The Off-Season!

A weekend of camping, friends, and fun on two wheels!

ice biking
by Cole Fisher
ice+bicycles=good sliddings

Yule Tide Ride – West Texas Cycling Association
Date: December 16, 2013
Location: Lubbock, TX
Contact:
Details: Marta Rosas has generously offered to host this ride Monday, December 16 at 6:30 at her office on 513 Broadway. There is parking in a lot across the street. Decorate your bike with lights, dress warm, and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere of TTU and the downtown area. Bring a…

Intermediate & Faster Ride – Honea Baptist
Woodlands Cycling Club
Saturday, December 14, 2013, 08:30am – 11:00am
Honea Baptist, 16430 FM 2854 Montgomery
Directions:  I45 North, exit 84B, Loop 336/Frazier St.  Go left on 336 west to FM 2854.  Go west on FM 2854.  The church is just past Honea Egypt Road on the left.  Park in the back.
No restrooms available.  Helmet and hydration required.
Intermediate group:   16-18 mph average
Faster group:  18-20+ mph average
Route is generally decided at the beginning of the ride based on the group and weather.  Usually 40-55 miles for Intermediate group and 55+ for Faster group.
Please plan to arrive in time to be ready to ride at the start time.

Woman accused of striking McAllen cyclist
by Ildefonso Ortiz        www.themonitor.com
McALLEN – Police arrested an Edinburg woman accused of striking a cyclist Sunday morning.
Police responded to the intersection of Nolana and Bicentennial boulevards Sunday shortly after 8 p.m. for a crash involving a Buick passenger vehicle and a…

Yellow Cab Houston builds bikes for Elves and More
yellowcabhouston.wordpress.com

This past Saturday, team Yellow Cab Cares joined hundreds of volunteers to kick off the 10th annual Elves and More Bike Build. Over the next week, over 8,000 bikes will be built for deserving kiddos across Houston. Held in Reliant Center, volunteer groups are given a brief orientation and bike building demonstration. After that, they spread out at hundreds of tables and begin building! This is a family-friendly event and all bikes are…

Accell restructuring U.S. warehouse system
by Marc Sani        www.bicycleretailer.com
KENT, WA (BRAIN) — Seattle Bike Supply has closed its Dallas, Texas, facility as it restructures its warehouse network. It also will close warehouses in Rancho Dominguez, California, and Reynoldsburg, Ohio, within the month.
SBS will merge its Rancho Dominguez and Reynoldsburg warehouses with existing Raleigh facilities in Ontario, California, and Pataskala, Ohio. (Pataskala is near Columbus.) The Reynoldsburg warehouse is 15 miles from Pataskala and the Rancho Dominguez facility is 45 miles from Ontario. SBS will maintain its current distribution center in Kent, Washington.
Greg Blackwell, president of SBS, said the consolidation should be completed in January as Accell North America seeks to boost efficiency, fill rates and deliver…

TWFG Kick Starts “Gran Fondo” Bicycle Ride
www.cbs19.tv
HOUSTON, Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Assuming title sponsorship of the Gran Fondo: Texas TMCOâ„¢ bicycle ride and race for the benefit of the Texas Medical Center Orchestra and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, was a “natural,” according to Gordy Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG). The “Big Ride” will take place on Sunday, March 30, 2014 along a new route through the hills of Southeast Texas with live music at many of the rest stops.

TWFG Insurance Services, which is headquartered in The Woodlands, TX,  recently adopted a new slogan – “Our Policy is Caring.” Bunch says: “This sponsorship is just further manifestation of our corporate policy. As an insurance agency protecting up to 200,000 policyholders in 38 states, we know that care begins with physical fitness – both for our policyholders and by assisting those afflicted with unfortunate diseases.”

The TWFG Insurance Services Gran Fondo: Texas TMCOâ„¢ is a bicycle ride and race that is…

Lone Star Trail Building School, February 22-23, 2014
oldtascosacycling.com
The Lone Star Trail Building School is now accepting reservations for the February 2014 class. Sign up as soon as possible if you would like to attend, slots are limited. Reservations will not be confirmed until payment is received. Go to http://www.ntmbp.org/ for additional information and video.

Meet a TXCX Local – Luke Fleming
Minor Baker        texascx.com

Luke using home course advantage to hurt people at the Houston Velodrome

After looking at the oldest cyclocross racer in Texas, this week we turn our attention to one of the youngins. Luke Fleming has been riding away from a majority of the Cat. 3 field all season, and is now playing with the big boys in the P/1/2 races…..all this before he has even received his drivers license.

Thanks for taking the time to answer a couple of questions Luke, tell us about your bike.

I ride a Specialized Crux Pro with State wheels and Sram Force components.

You are based out of the Houston area, so which team have you been riding with this season. …

Ice Crawling
by Eliot Landrum        www.bikingindallas.com

Stewart Ball and I swung by Dallas Bike Works and rented an Origin-8 Crawler fat tire bike–the perfect bike for snow, slush, and ice! Off to Flag Pole Hill for some runs…

Riding the Crawler fat tire on the icy snow was a blast. Several folks stopped and asked us what it was. You feel like you could conquer anything with that thing. Besides the fat tires, the Origin-8 comes standard with a continuously variable drivetrain. I was really impressed with this…

Action Alert: Save Theo and Malone Bike Lanes (San Antonio)
BikeTexas.org
http://www.biketexas.org/images/stories/bikenews/action_alerts/2013_action_alerts/MaloneAve-BikeLane-Theo.jpg
The City of San Antonio is spending $14 million to improve Theo and Malone between S. Flores and Nogalitos– a bond package that promised to improve bike lanes. However, the City’s Capital Improvements Management Services department held a public meeting in April 2013 and recommended that the bike lanes be removed. …

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Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup December 8th

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North Texas Ice Storm 2013
suburbanassault.org

We’re having a true winter storm coming through my town of Richardson, Texas. It’s a big one too, stretching pretty far south while also effecting several states to the north and east of us. Since we don’t have them very often, Texans are usually not prepared and the whole area shuts down. This storm was a bit worse, since we skipped the snow and went straight to ice. The roads are a covered in it and too treacherous for many cars. Most folks just stay home.
Since the roads were mostly empty, I thought I would try my luck getting around on my bike. I didn’t get far, but I was able to survey the storm damage in my neighborhood. It became pretty apparent that nature took a big hit from this storm as well. Since our warm temperatures were lingering through the fall, the leaves on the trees seemed to be taking a bit longer to drop. We also have a lot of like oaks in my neighborhood which drop…

Northeast Texas Trail Ride
www.tamuc.edu
Trip Date: March 1
Early Registration Deadline: February 14
Cost: Early registration $20, Late registration $25, Non Members $30. Cost includes bike rental and lunch. We will transport the bikes, but participants are responsible for getting to the trail. Carpooling is highly encouraged.
This mountain bike trip will take place on a rails to trail system between Wolf City and Celeste. This trip will be less strenuous than our other…

Season Finale 2013
By Kim            bicyclesoutbackracing.net
Another solid year in the books. What started off as an idea at a winter trainer night session in Waco almost three years ago, has turned into quite the epic journey. Building something from the ground up, based on ideas about what we thought was women’s racing, was quite an eye opening process. Not only did we want to create a strong presence in the peloton, we wanted to make a difference in the cycling community and shed some limelight on the women’s side of racing. We wanted to share our love of racing and help others become just as excited to watch the women compete as the men.
We accomplished this first goal of creating a dominating team, taking 5 of the top ten spots for the Texas Cup Road Women’s rankings in 2013. Kim 2nd, Sheri 3rd, Michelle 4th, Kathleen 6th, and Danielle 10th. Claire won the biggest beer mug in TX at the Houston Grand. We also won the Texas Cup Road Discipline as the best Elite Women’s Team. We had 21 wins, and over 50 top 3 podium finishes this year. The second place team was nearly…

The Tweed Ride is Rescheduled to next weekend, Sat. Dec 14th!
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
UPDATE! We’re rescheduling the Tweed Ride to next weekend, Saturday (not Sunday!) at 3:30PM due to the freeze. We’re still meeting at the Grassy Knoll downtown. If you’re like us, this gives you an extra weekend to grab your tweed outfit you waited to buy until the last minute! The next day is the Holiday Lights Ride, so two great events in one weekend! Check back for more updates soon. …

In the field: Getting in one more ride
By AMBER TRAVSKY / Contributing outdoors columnist        www.laramieboomerang.com

It was a cold and wet bicycle ride along the Rio Grande River in Texas. Training for the bike tour in Wyoming helped, though, to increase cold tolerance. The key to riding in the rain — or the chill of a Wyoming December — is the proper clothing. Photo courtesy of Amber Travsky

My ensemble was complete. Wind-proof pants — check; bright yellow ski parka — check; mittens — check. I also wore two layers under the parka, a hat under my helmet and a neck gaiter to keep the cold from seeping in around my coat collar. For my feet, I had wool socks, bike shoes and wind-proof bike shoe covers.
This was three days ago. I bundled up to hop on my bicycle for one more highway ride before the big storm. It was a warmish 30 degrees with about a 10 mph breeze. Add in the wind chill created by biking itself, though, and I knew I would welcome all the layers of clothing. The forecast was for snow and Arctic cold to swoop in and deliver a true wintery blast, but, as the day’s light was just filtering through in the east, the…

December ARR/RLAG Club Ride @ Reimers Ranch
The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group
Saturday, December 14, 2013        10:00 AM
Reimers Ranch Park
23610 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, TX (map)
December Austin Ridge Rider + Ride Like A Girl Club Ride @ Reimers Ranch Park
Saturday, December 14, 2013 – 10:00am
All are welcome, leaders will be selected and riders will break into groups based on riding abilities:
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate/advanced
• Endurance: length of ride
• Pace: fast vs. casual
This is a No Drop ride so no one gets left behind or lost, we will get you back to the trail head for the after party;)
Remember to bring your helmet, bike, and plenty of water.
Everyone is also invited to bring…

Cyclocross Project 2015

Jake in action this week at the Bikesports CX Challenge. Great Job Jake! cc: @Sandy Batson

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup December 7th

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Icemaggedon 2013!
TexasMTBtrails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9bC0ywXPGJA
Spent the day enjoying the ice and falling. Not exactly your typical Texas riding.

This Week’s Activities
Fort Worth Bicycling Association
The Rusty Chain Gang Ramble
Tuesday, December 10, 2013 9:00 am
Fort Worth: Columbus Trail City Building

Burleson and Beyond
Thursday, December 12, 2013 9:00 am
Burleson: Commerce Street

The Rusty Chain Gang Romp
Thursday, December 12, 2013 9:00 am
Benbrook: YMCA

RUSA 200K Brevet
Saturday, December 14, 2013 7:00 am
Grand Prairie: Lynn Creek Marina

Xmas Hay(es) Ride
Saturday, December 14, 2013 9:00 am
Weatherford: TXDot

Joe Pool Lake
Saturday, December 14, 2013 9:00 am
Grand Prairie: Lynn Creek Marina

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