Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for May 31st

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“I Declare War” Biking Treasure Hunt
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
“I Declare War” Biking Treasure Hunt, Saturday June 8, 5:30 p.m.
directed by Bike Friendly Oak Cliff and the Oak Cliff Film Festival
THE BACK STORY
Two teams on bikes: Rumblecore vs. The Raging Bulls
Pedaling around Oak Cliff
Scouting 8 different locations
Being quizzed on movie trivia
Getting puzzle pieces directing them to the next location
Putting it all together to find the location of…

Finding Bike Routes via Google Maps
RGV Cycling
While scanning search results on my blog-site, I noticed that people are looking for bike routes in our area. It’s rather easy to do this with Google Maps, but I figure that not everyone is aware of this. So, here I am writing a short post on how to find bike routes via Google Maps. This will work no matter where you live. The larger the city or metropolitan area your in, the greater chance that someone has mapped out routes on Google.

Head on over to maps.google.com and search the area you are interested in. On the right side click on the expand arrow below the Traffic box. Next select the…

First Impressions: iBike Newton
RGV Cycling

I am a big fan of Velocomp’s line of power meters designed around the iPhone. I’ve used the iDash + Power for over a year now and really like cycling with it, but it does have a few issues. Mainly, it’s hard to read the iPhone when the sun at mid-day. The screen just gets washed out completely. Recently, I’ve been thinking of upgrading to the iBike Newton. A stand-alone version of the power meter, no iPhone required. After ordering on Amazon and paying the…

New Mountain Bike Trail Opens in Longview
www.ketknbc.com
Longview, TX (City of Longview) — The City of Longview and the Longview Bicycle Club will celebrate the opening of the Grace Creek Mountain Bike Trail on Saturday, June 1. The unpaved trail allows users to mountain bike, hike, or run approximately three miles of wooded property owned by the City of Longview. The mountain bike trail begins with a trailhead at the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex, 100 Grand Blvd., and continues south along the Grace Creek corridor.

The grand opening of the trail will occur at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 1, at the Maude Cobb Convention Center parking lot. Following a ribbon cutting, the trail will be open for…

National Trails Day & Giving Back
www.texasmountainbiketrails.com
This is a short post today as I’m still getting caught up on everything after last nights wildly popular Erwin Park Summer Series debut.

Click Here For Results | Click Here For Photos

Tomorrow, Saturday June 1st is something very important. It’s National Trails Day which is a day setup to highlight trail awareness and advocacy.

It is also a big workday at many of our Dallas trails, this is your chance to go out there and help maintain the trails that you love so much. Bring work gloves (or MTB gloves), bug spray and dress appropriate for walking through potential poison ivy, mud and more. Long sleeves and pants are recommended.

Here is a list of several of the trail workdays that we have going on here in DFW. …

East Texas cyclist in serious condition after collision with car
By Whitley Bonnette            www.kltv.com
KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News
On Wednesday, the Longview Police Department dispatched officers to an accident near the intersection of Premier Road and Harrison Road.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found that a bicyclist had collided with a vehicle after failing to stop at a stop sign. 14-year-old Michael David Charles Bonham, of Longview, had been riding his bike in the area when he failed to stop at the intersection. Bonham was struck by a…

ACA Volunteer Picnic And Bike Ride (Velo Vista)
Austin Cycling Association
Sun, 06/02/2013 – Ride 8:00am, Picnic 11am – 2pm
The ride is open to all. The picnic is for ACA volunteers from the past year. Please send an RSVP to dillo@austincycling.org with how many people will be coming and if you prefer vegetarian.The picnic will be from 11am – 2pm. Meet at Brushy Creek Lake Park in Cedar Park for the ride start and picnic. The park is located off of Brushy Creek Road just east of Parmer Lane. Please park at the back of the parking lot near the restrooms and water feature. We will be doing the…

This post on the mtbr.com forum brought out the comments.

What’s living in Texas like?
by sxshep        forums.mtbr.com/texas
I’m 26, single, working a private security job at a medical facility in SW Ohio (Cincinnati). I’m getting burnt out looking for law enforcement positions in this area, and it seems like the departments are always laying people off even after landing a job. It’s not uncommon to have 3k applicants applying for a department that just announced 10 open positions.

Anyhow, I was in uniform standing in line at a grocery store a week ago and struck up a conversation with a guy behind me. He said he had just moved home, but was a Dallas Police officer for a few years and loved it. Said they were always hiring, good job and all but had some familiy issues to attend to and didn’t care for the heat.

So I’m looking into it, and it seems like every city I’m looking at is currently accepting applications (Dallas, Houston, Austin, etc). What’s the deal, are…(lots of replies)

Cross the Basin Time Trial • May 18 2013
Results from the time trials

Cross the Basin Road Race • May 18 2013
Results from the road race

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https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/340563294932852736

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https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/340561544859488256

Soaked Bandana – May 31st Bike Ride

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My bandana was soaked when I finished the ride which speaks to the 91 degrees outside. The mostly cloudy sky offered some relief from the sun but not so much. Wind made the ride challenging whenever I rode to the south since it was 13.8 mph and 23 mph gusts. Riding in the shade felt nice but the trees on the route were not so numerous. I rode to the south and east to Stroker Road and then back to Huffman and then home. The toughest section was from Old Atascocita Road to Stroker Road into the wind. Turning to the north from Stroker Road offered a nice tailwind and I was able to increase my average speed. This route was 39.19 miles and I averaged 15.2 mph.

Riding in the late morning I did not expect to see any other bikers but I met one on Old Atascocita Road as I headed west he was going east.

My May mileage totals 346 miles, well short of last years 800 miles. With all of the other things going on this month I rode 11 days. Year to date I have biked 2439 miles.

I am looking forward to June. Last year I biked 524 miles so that will be my goal for June.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for May 30th

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National Trails Day to be observed at Brazos Bend State Park
www.fortbendstar.com
Now in its 21st year, National Trails Day is an opportunity for everyone regardless of the level of knowledge, experience or physical condition to get out and enjoy and explore the great outdoors in their area.   Brazos Bend State Park offers nearly 35 miles of Hiking, Biking and Equestrian trials that allow visitors to experience a sense of nature that is hard to come by this close to a major urban area.  Experience a hike thorough a pristine hardwood forest, along huge freshwater marshes and swamps, teaming with wildlife and…

BCM student plans 2,100 mile journey to Houston on bike
by Dipali Pathak        www.bcm.edu
HOUSTON — (May 30, 2013) — Baylor College of Medicine student Jared Rammell is taking the idea of biking to school to the next level by biking from Boise, Idaho, to Houston for his orientation into the new Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics program this June.

Rammell embarks on his 2,100 mile journey today and plans to be in Houston in time for his first day of orientation on June 24, meaning he will average roughly 90 miles per day on his journey.

The new master’s program in the School of Allied Health Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine trains orthotists and prosthetists who design, build, fit and maintain prosthetic limbs and…

Soleus entering bike market with GPS-enabled Draft computer
by BRAIN Staff

AUSTIN, TX (BRAIN) — Soleus, a major supplier of sports watches to the running and fitness market, is entering the bike world with a GPS-enabled bike computer that will retail for $99.

Soleus’ parent company, ADAO Global, has made sports watches for Nike, Converse and Columbia, among other brands. The new bike computer, called the GPS Draft, complements its popular GPS Fit running watch.

“We have been in the sports watch company for a long time, and we know the importance of accuracy and simplicity for athletes,” said David Arnold, founder and…

June Babies Birthday Ride
El Paso Bicycle Club
Sunday, June 16        7:30AM
Description:     Meet at 6049 Ojo de Agua for this annual ride where the route will be 1 mile for every year-baseline is ride leader’s 46th birthday. This is always a hot ride with a large climb at the end. Please arrive to leave at 7:30AM Food and treats will be available afterward. Bring your bathing suit! Please park on Via Descanso behind our house. Moderate pace. Patty Van Tine…

Pantego to Lillian
Lone Star Cyclists
Pace: Touring (a varied pace with frequent stops averaging 12-15 mph)
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2013 – 8:00am
Location: Pantego Christian Academy, 2201 W Park Row Dr, Arlington (between Bowen and Fielder)

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. It just happens to be an…

Lindsey Park Tyler Texas MTB Riding
by HAL 9000            forums.mtbr.com/texas
Some riding videos (change setting to HD) I’m following a local and my wife on their SS bikes fun times this weekend!

Road HRM Testing
www.turnincranks.com
Well, the spring races are done and with my wife’s upcoming recital, and work overload, I’ve been completely swamped with things to do. I haven’t been on the bike in 10 days, which hasn’t happened since January.

Obviously that isn’t for lack of want, just lack of time! As usual!

With the break, I decided to go out for a max HR test today. I used the Time Crunched Training Plan’s CTS Field Test, which is basically a warm up followed by 2 8 minute all out efforts.

As I was rolling out, I could tell that I hadn’t been on the bike in over a week. While legs…

Bicycling tragedy memorial set
By ABIGAIL LOOP The Brownsville Herald
While people come and go, they are never truly forgotten.

Five years ago on June 3, cyclists participating in the third annual Bike Tour Matamoros-Playa Bagdad were struck by a car whose driver was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, officials had said.

While a Brownsville man died on the scene alongside 14 others who were injured and taken to hospitals, the day was filled with pain, fear, and…

Bangs Graduate to Ride in Texas 4000
by Lisa Tipton        www.brownwoodnews.com

A 2010 graduate of Bangs High School and now University of Texas student Brittany Petty will begin a 4000 mile journey biking from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, June 1st in the 10th annual Texas 4000.

Texas 4000 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and fighting cancer. Each year a team of dedicated University of Texas students brave the elements to complete a more than 4,000-mile bike ride from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska sharing hope, knowledge and charity along the way.  Their goal is to cultivate the next generation to lead the fight against…

Transportation Commission postpones vote on bicycle access on tollways
By Shaley Sanders            www.kltv.com
KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News
(KLTV) – The Texas Transportation Commission has postponed voting on prohibiting bicycles on limited-access and controlled-access toll roads. The commission decided to table the topic until they had a chance to consider other options.

Toll roads, like Toll 49 in Smith County, are managed and designed to have higher operation speeds. Because of this, the Texas Transportation Commission is considering prohibiting bicyclists from using these roads.

However, Robin Stalling, executive director of BikeTexas, is asking the…

National Trails Day 2013 Saturday June 1st From Bill at APF:
Austin Ridge Riders
National Trails Day 2013 is this Saturday June 1st and I need your help to get the word out as we have several park projects that need volunteers.

If you are free this Saturday morning feel free yourself to volunteer for one of the park projects listed, and please forward to your extended lists of volunteers!   http://www.austinparks.org/multi-project-list.html

The event this year is similar to past years with an Appreciation Party at Zilker Park:

Following the morning’s projects, join non-profit partners, REI, Freebirds World Burritos, Honest Tea and locally brewed beer for a Volunteer Appreciation Party from 12:00pm-1:30pm at the…

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for May 29th

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Biking for work: Entrepreneur ditches the corporate life to give Houston a unique pedal shop
By Whitney Radley            houston.culturemap.com

Michael Dinh’s path to Bici Cyclery isn’t a unique one among my generation. A successful corporate career left him unfulfilled and, upon returning from a trip to Coachella in the spring of 2012, he just never went back into the office.

The native Houstonian knew that he wanted to forge a more creative lifestyle, one more aligned with Main Street than Wall Street, and was desperate to open his own business. Dinh didn’t care what it was.

Lucky for Montrose residents, that “something” happened to be a bike shop — one that, Dinh tells CultureMap, nine months into business, runs on a…

Texas State Criterium Championship
by Ian Pike            cyclingillustrated.com

by Heath Blackgrove (Elbowz Racing p/b Boneshaker Project)
The Texas State Criterium Championship was held on a brand new course around Frisco Square. And what a great course befitting the state champs it was.  With 9 corners and a fairly stiff wind, it was going to be a hard race, but also a hard course to make a move stick. Numerous attacks tried from the start and the bunch seemed strung out, but nothing could get more than…

Barton Creek Greenbelt Intermediate/Advanced Ride
The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group
Sunday, June 2, 2013        4:00 PM
Barton Creek Greenbelt – 360 Access (beside brick office building)
3755-B Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin, TX (map)

Meet in the parking lot by the Barton Creek gate access
Ride call for Barton Creek Green Belt.

Ride will include many back country trails of varied difficulty from green circles to black diamonds.  Participants should be aware that there will be significant drops, step-ups, and rock gardens to negotiate.

Pace will be slow on the climbs, moderate on the flats, and…

Tuesday Ride at BCGB – Intermediate ride level
The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group
Tuesday, June 4, 2013        5:30 PM
Barton Creek Greenbelt – 360 Access (beside brick office building)
3755-B Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin, TX (map)

Back to normal summer hours.
Please be there and be ready to roll by 5:30 pm. We will meet in the parking lot of the office building

Any question please call/text  me at…

Corinth Cycling
Denton Police are offering a free bicycle safety class for children ages 4 – 8 at 9:00am Saturday, June 1st during the Denton Community Market, at the corner of Mulberry and Carroll Blvd. Children must bring their own bicycle and helmet.

To register, email Amber Briggle at earthgoddess23@hotmail.com or call 940-536-8720.

Corinth Cycling

Bob warming up, here we go again…

Bike Repair Clinic
El Paso Bicycle Club
Saturday, June 15    3:30
Description:     Help kids get back on their bikes! 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Sandoval Apartments, 5353 Ridge on the West Side (two blocks north of Thorn — look for covered patio in middle of housing complex). Fix flats, make minor repairs and adjustments. Tire patching supplies provided; you may want to bring crescent wrench and other basic tools. Randy Limbird…

Texas 4000 Hosts Atlas Ride for the Fight Against Cancer
www.blanconews.com
Not many people in the world can say that they have ridden a bicycle over 4,500 miles during the summer, striving through rain, sleet, snow, wind and heat throughout North America. Not many people can say that they have contributed to the longest annual charity ride in the world. A selective group of students from The University of Texas at Austin can.

These students are a part of a UT non-profit, student run organization, Texas 4000, which raises money for cancer research at MD Anderson, and the riders dedicate over a year of training to prepare for this 70 day journey from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska. The organization does not only consist of raising…

Santa Fe Trail to The Lot
by Eliot Landrum        www.bikingindallas.com

From the “More Cool Places to Ride Your Bike” Department: a beautiful new bridge connection from the Santa Fe Trail to The Lot. Thanks to some hard work between The Lot and City of Dallas Hike & Bike Trails, you can easily hop off the trail and enjoy a bite and some brews at…

BikeTexas KidsKup Thanks Rick Wetherald

Rick Wetherald shows eager racers what can happen to your brain without a helmet.For five years, Rick Wetherald has been a constant presence at BikeTexas KidsKups–running the races, keeping the kids’ attention, and cheering for and congratulating all participants. Beginning with the Fall 2013 races, though, that spot will be filled by someone else– Rick is moving to Utah to…

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