Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for July 15th

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Cycle in Cinema and Pedal Powered: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
by Matthew            bike4heck.com

I’ve been a fan of pedal powered events for a few years. My Yuba Mundo came from “Rock the Bike” the group who heads up the Pedal Powered Bicycle Music Festival out on the West Coast. They have an impressive pedal powered setup with highly modified Yuba Mundo Cargo Bikes.

Thanks to social networking (i.e. Facebook) my wife and I found out that the July 11th there would be a pedal powered event held at Main Plaza in downtown San Antonio. It was sponsored by SATX Pedal Power and Main Plaza Conservancy. My parents were in town visiting from San Angelo, Texas and they brought their Townie 3i’s along so we decided to…

Questionable arguments made by NET RMA for banning bikes
By Laura Sadler            www.kltv.com
KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News
Tyler, Texas – The Tyler Biking Club is mulling over a new plan after being told they will not be allowed on Toll Road 49.
Last Thursday, North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority made the ruling against the Tyler Biking Club.
The club is now left with more than $60,000 that the club had raised for the stripping and signage to ride on Toll Road 49.
“I was disappointed with the decision in Texarkana,” said John Adair, a cyclist who has contributed to the funds needed to ride on the toll road.
There were many arguments NET RMA used to ban cyclists from the toll road that…

All Level Ride @ Walnut Creek Spring/Summer hours
The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group
Sunday, July 21, 2013        9:30 AM
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX (map)
We set up under the trees in the parking lot near the swimming pool. Look for the ARR Banner.
New Spring/Summer hours to help when the weather gets hotter.  Starting 3/31 we go to 9:30 am.
We know that this time change doesn’t work for everyone so we hope you considering hosting a ride for yourself and those who might want to ride at a different time or on a different day.
You do NOT have to be a ARR member to attend most club riders. You will need to sign a waiver and wear a helmets when riding.
This is for all levels of riders, which will break into groups according to ability. Beginners are welcome, and there will be no drops. Meet in the…

Austin bike selection
by mack_turtle            forums.mtbr.com/texas
I moved to Austin from Atlanta a few weeks ago and finally got to ride Walnut and BCGB in the last few days. I am riding a single-speed Vassago Jabberwocky with a 80mm fork (as much travel as the Jabber can handle), wide bars, and fat, tubeless tires. I don’t have much confidence on the rocks in Walnut and ate sh!t a few times at Barton (and got really lost). I spent more time carrying my bike than riding Barton. I think my frame is not exactly “confidence inspiring” due to the uber-long chainstays, so I am looking into replacing my frame with something morer flickable with a shorter CS and maybe a shorter TT.

I felt fine in northern Georgia on this bike although the long backend was a bit annoying. Trails up there have long climbs, far fewer rocks, and more linear systems. I could ride fast and confident there. Riding Austin trails has… (numerous replies)

NTC: New names emerge throughout NTC standings
www.usacycling.org
After a pair of events, the USA Cycling National Track Calendar (NTC) standings boast the same leaders, but many new faces. After the Hellyer Velodrome Challenge at the Hellyer Velodrome in San Jose, Calif., from June 28-29 and the U.S. Grand Prix of Sprinting at the Velodrome at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs, Colo., from July 12-13, there are several new names animating the standings.

Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore./Sizzle Pie Cycling p/b Velodforma) has taken a commanding lead in the NTC men’s endurance standings with 116 points. His closest competitor, Keith Hillier (Millbrae, Calif./Marc Pro-Strava), has 48 points. A pair of riders, Zachary Carlson (Plano, Texas/Matrix-RBM) and…

Galveston Bike Social

A few photos from Sunday July 14’s Walnut Creek ride
Austin Ridge Riders

Le Tour Tandemonium Was Not Meant to Be
by Christopher Curnutt            www.bikingindalas.com

Sadly we had a steady drizzle all day Sunday which made the roads not very bike race friendly so the le Tour Tandemonium never got off the starting line.  Nonetheless the Oak Cliff Bastille Day celebration provided a good reason to stick around and have fun.  Here are a few snapshots I took: …

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One Went Soft – July 15th Bike Ride

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As I walked into the garage to start the ride I went through my ritual of squeezing each tire. The rear tire came back firm but the front one went soft between my fingers. After the July 12th ride problems I did not expect another flat quite so soon. Removing the wheel I spun it around to check for the problem. I could see anything from the outside so I gathered my tire tools, patch kit and floor pump and went inside to find the culprit. Pulling the tube out and pumping it up it took a couple of minutes to locate the tiny hole. Once I found the hole I started checking the inside of the tire and found a tiny piece of wire just barely sticking into the tire. I could not get a grip on it so I used a push pin to work it out and it popped into the sink. Now I patched the tube but three of the patches I attempted to use were no good because the foil backing had rubbed the adhesive off. I never had that problem so again I was glad this was a repair at home. Working inside was nice too.

The ride started about 20 minutes later  and I left at 1:53. Riding out of the driveway I liked getting a solid thump as the tires went over the bump and onto the street. Rain clouds roamed around the area today and I headed to the south to Atascocita, Walden and Huffman. I added a couple of extra streets to increase the mileage and came in at 33.27 miles and average speed held at 15.4 mph. The temperature moderated today at 87 to 88 while I biked. The rain stayed away but when I rode west over Lake Houston on FM1960 I saw a lightning bolt in the far distance but nothing came of it all the way home. There is a 60% chance of rain tomorrow so biking could be interrupted. July miles moved up to 427.79 and year to date now is 3753. Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.com maps and metrics.

Nothing unusual on the ride today and both tires were still firm when I rolled into the garage. No other bicyclists appeared.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for July 14th

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Montgomery County doctors get taste of Tour de France
By Chris Cotelesse        Spring The Observer

Beginning today, two Montgomery County doctors will be biking through the French Alps and watching three stages of the 2013 Tour de France.
Over five days, Ken Davis, 66, of Conroe, and Michael Dwyer, 63, a world-class triathlete with offices in Conroe and The Woodlands, will bike nearly 300 miles along the course that the Tour de France cyclists will…

Hill Country Bike and Wine Tour offers a new way to experience Texas wineries
By Margaret Shugart            austin.culturemap.com

We traded the sound of cars for the songs of birds as we veered left off the highway. The road was ours, and all its sights and smells were at our fingertips. Even in mid-June, the wildflowers were still bright and welcoming, red and yellow paintbrushes forming a carpet by our pedals, purple thistle taller than our bikes. You don’t get this experience in a car.
Our experience on the Hill Country Bike and Wine Tour took us between three wineries: Pedernales Cellars, William Chris Vineyards and Woodrose Winery. We were led by two talented guides, Julie Doheney a Boston native and avid cyclist now working at Mellow Johnny’s, and the founder of Hill Country Bike and…

HEB’s Bike Parking Update: Success!
by Matthew        bike4heck.com

I am very happy to report that I got a phone call earlier this week from the manager at the HEB grocery store. He was very polite and said the after reading my email he went outside to look at the bike racks and was very embarrassed because it was clear to him that they were in fact blocking the racks. He was happy to report to me that he had the racks cleared and they would remain that way. I expected this response because HEB is a great company that takes pride in great customer service. I followed up with visits recently can confirm that the bike…

Peach Pedal 2013 Photos
felix d jimenez - fotographer: Los Arboles 08:45 &emdash; pp3-1461

TBC / ETT / LAMA Time Trial Series
Tyler Bicycle Club
The Killer Hill TT began on July 11th. We will have a series of four events happening every other week. Riders will have a choice between a 20k and a 40k course. The TT is sponsored by Simpson’s Adventure Sports with a prize to be determined. Remember, you have to be a current member of one the three clubs to participate.

Upcoming Rides and Events
San Antonio Wheelmen
Saturday, 7/20:     Cibolo Ride Sunday, 7/21:       Kendalia-Crabapple Ride

July 13 Pace Bend Ride
Austin Ridge Riders

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for July 13th

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Ultra cycling competition returns to Waco
By BRICE CHERRY        www.wacotrib.com

With high temperatures expected to reach triple digits Saturday, it wouldn’t seem like an ideal day for a bike ride.

Yet that won’t stop several dozen cyclists from burning up the road in the Tonkawa Ultra Cup Race.

The event is new to Waco, and it’s drawing competitors from both the Central Texas area and all…

90 for Dad Bike Ride Wraps Up Strong Fifth Year
By: Summer Rascoll        texomashomepage.com
(Video)
Wichita Falls, TX. – If you were driving around Texoma Saturday you may have been stopped by a caravan of bikes and cars.

Police escorted dozens of bike riders and their support team for the fifth annual 90 for Dad bike ride.

And friends and family were at the finish line to welcome home the riders who biked 90 miles to raise money for Hospice of Wichita Falls.

It’s organized each year by Wichita Falls resident Dail Neely, as a thank you to…

Erwin Park Summer Series July 18th Race
Texas Mountain Bike Trails
To register for the July 18th Erwin Park Summer Series race, follow the link below.

This is the first race of Series #2. It’s all about consistency for the overall series points, so come on out and enjoy some great racing! …

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