Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup April 11th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The Great Tire Rotation Debate
www.roadbikerider.com
As our Premium Members know, one of the perks of membership is the Ask RBR a Question form on the Premium Site. Pose a question, and we do our best to give you a meaningful, direct answer.

Some questions, like a recent one from Premium Member Greg Titus about how best to rotate tires, pique my interest in that “I wonder how other riders handle this” way. As is often the case in cycling, there is more than one way to accomplish the same thing. So I routed it around to a few of our RBR crew and…

Shifting Gears Lecture series with transportation expert Dr. John Pucher
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
This came to us from Bike Texas:
We’re bringing the expert and the elected officials and press to you. We need the cycling community to show up in force.

Join BikeTexas, the Irving Chamber of Commerce, state and local elected officials, and supporting organizations on Saturday, April 13 for the Shifting Gears Lecture series with transportation expert Dr. John Pucher!

Dr. Pucher is an excellent and engaging speaker and a world-renowned expert in the planning and policy field.

Dr. Pucher will discuss the impact of Complete Streets on cities across Texas and around the world. He will show how making biking…

Middle School & High School Cyclists Set to Converge in San Marcos, TX for Weekend of Scholastic Racing
by League Director in News            www.texashighschoolcycling.org/
Cyclists from 20 different schools across Texas are expected to compete in a weekend of racing hosted jointly by Texas State University and the Texas High School Cycling League.   The weekend is the 5th of seven stops in the statewide scholastic road cycling series.  Students will compete in team-oriented races by competing in one of four skill-based categories: Boy’s A, Boy’s B, Boy’s C or Girl’s.  Each category will contest three races over the span of the action-packed weekend.  The action starts at…

Weekend Ride Times Move To 7:30am
Corinth Cycling News
Make sure you set your alarm clock before drifting off to sleep on Friday night. Ride start times for the Saturday and Sunday group rides will now depart at 7:30am beginning on April 13th.

As we move into the heat of summer the group ride start times will be adjusted accordingly. Wash your bike, lube the chain and come out and enjoy the terrific weather.

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Lower Valley Loop      Sunday, April 28 9:00AM
Description:     Meet at Cotton-Eyed Joe’s at the I-10 Clint Exit for ride through Lower Valley, including Tornillo and San Elizario. 35 miles, moderate (16-18) pace. Dan Post, …

Car strikes teen cyclist in Harris County
www.chron.com
A motorist struck a teenage bicyclist Thursday night in northwest Harris County, injuring her lower leg, authorities said.

The girl, believed to be about 13, was hit about 8 p.m. while she was riding along Mound near Smalley, Harris County sheriff’s deputies said. …

FIRST FRIDAY – May 3, 2013
www.austincycling.org
This month’s FIRST FRIDAY ride is on May 3rd, 2013 and we will meet at the Capitol Building at 6:30pm for a 7 mile bike ride that will end at Mellow Johnny’s. Before the ride we will talk about some traffic safety tips and then we will roll out on a peaceful and relaxing cruise. After the ride there will be refreshments available and ACA president Stanton Truxillo will briefly talk about important initiatives affecting all cyclists in Austin.

Below is a link to the “Capitol Springs Mellow Johnny’s” route we…

Riding the Sante Fe Trestle Trail
by Eliot Landrum            www.bikingindallas.com
You may have never heard of it… but there it is, quietly connecting the Cedars to Oak Cliff. Sitting next to the DART line and crossing over a failed kayak park is the beautiful Sante Fe Trestle Trail.

Once you descend into the Trinity River area, this trail and bridge is a like a little slice of perfectly maintained apocalypse. No one is here. The roar of downtown Dallas is suddenly…

Irving considers bike-friendly transportation plan
by Amanda Casanova        www.irvingrambler.com
Bicycle enthusiasts and elected officials are meeting this weekend in hopes of spurring Irving to becoming a more bicycle friendly city.

“Biking and walking is important for so many reasons, including public health, quality of life, and mobility for our growing population, including the aging tsunami we are facing,” said Leslie Luciano, Bike Texas community relations and membership coordinator. “The economic benefits of walkable/livable complete streets are attractive to corporations, and attract corporations whose…

Local cyclists closer to goal of paying for Toll 49 access
BY ADAM RUSSELL        www.tylerpaper.com
The bicycling community appears well on its way to raising money to pay for safety improvements along Toll 49 as part of an agreement with the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

Last month, the authority’s board voted to allow bicycle access on Segments 1, 2 and 5, a 10-mile stretch connecting Texas Highway 155 near Noonday to Texas Highway 110 near Whitehouse.

Bicycles are prohibited on…

Ride2Recovery send-off today
www.forthoodsentinel.com
Wounded warriors participating in the Ride2Recovery Texas bicycling challenge will get a Fort Hood welcome at the flagpole outside III Corps Headquarters at 9:30 a.m. today.

Traffic at the Bernie Beck Gate, the post’s main entrance, could be slowed as the riders enter the installation at approximately 9 a.m., post officials noted.

More than 200 injured veterans and their supporters are taking part in…

PUBLIC SURVEY: Time to talk the walk Pedestrians, cyclists asked what matters
By Monique Ching        San Angelo Standard-Times
SAN ANGELO, Texas — San Angeloans have an opportunity to express their opinions about the city’s bicycle and pedestrian project plan in a public survey.

“We hope to capture the attitude of the citizens,” said Doray Hill Jr., director of the San Angelo Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Developed by the Center for Community Wellness, Engagement and Development at Angelo State University and reviewed by multiple agencies, the survey asks residents…

Tweets

https://twitter.com/JuliaBikes/status/322380234441764864

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 10th

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Ouachita Challenge Report: Richard
www.neilsondevo.com

It’s been close to 40 hours since I finished my first Ouachita Challenge and I feel like I spent almost seven brutal hours on my bike two days ago. Wait, I did. What a great weekend with two of my very best friends suffering in the Arkansas Mountains. Here is how I remember the weekend.

We took off from Houston Saturday morning to drive up to Oden, AR. Patrick drove and because Andrew is a giant I let him have the front seat. Patrick and I were excited and a little nervous (being our first OC) so that directed our conversation to race strategy and some focused coaching from Andrew. We rolled…

What Type of Cycling Route Do You Like Best?
By Darryl            lovingthebike.com
Whether you’re a road cyclist or mountain biker, there are several different types of route types you can take when going for a ride….what type do you like best?

I’m primarily a road cyclist, and my preferred type of ride is one that takes me on a loop from home and back.  When I lived in Austin, I found myself also doing a lot of out and back rides.  For me personally, if it’s this type of ride I prefer the out to be at least 10 or 12 miles so it can be doubled up on the way back.

But I’ve also found myself loving the mountain bike lately and along with this I have learned that there are a whole bunch of ways to classify a route.

So what type do you prefer, and why?  Below is…

Southwest Texas and goat heads
by Yotsko        www.bikeforums.net
Hey folks. I’ll be moving down to Del Rio in a few short weeks was recently reminded of the nasty goatheads I experienced while mountain biking in NM a few years ago. Are goatheads and issue in TX too? Whats the best way to combat flats with those things on the road?

Logic + google seem says conti gatorskins and thick tubes would be a good bet. I’d consider tubeless, but I’m not too keen on converting a set of wheels. Thoughts?

Also – anyone ride around Del Rio? Small town, I know…but not much on the interwebz.

Fort Hood to welcome 200 injured vets for Ride 2 Recovery
www.dvidshub.net
FORT HOOD, Texas – Fort Hood officials will welcome more than 200 injured veterans and their supporters as they cycle through the installation at 9 a.m. April 11 on day four of their seven-day, 350-mile Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge.

Following a short media availability, the riders will depart at 9:30 a.m. from the III Corps Headquarters building for the next leg of their journey.

The bicycle ride began April 8 from the Center for the Intrepid at…

B-Cycle expansion shifts into high gear
B-Cycle expansion has shifted into high gear, but there’s still miles to go before it’s done.
www.chron.com
Houston’s B-Cycle program took off its training wheels last week, growing from a three-station trial program into a fully functioning bicycle rental system. With 21 locations throughout downtown and inching into Midtown, Montrose, the East End and Museum District, these comfortable cruiser bikes are no longer a novelty, but an actual way to get across our surprisingly expansive central business district. Weekend bike-based bar hopping, relaxing rides along Buffalo Bayou or lunchtime jaunts across downtown help make Houston feel more like a…

Heights shop a starting point for Bike to Work Day
blog.chron.com
This Friday is Bike to Work Day in Houston, and with the weather forecast right now set at “amazingly beautiful” (and yes, that is a technical term), Heights area bikers who wish to take part in an organized ride need go no farther than White Oak Drive.

Blue Line Bike Lab, 3302 White Oak, has been listed as one of the official start points for those wishing to join in.  The plan is to get under way by 7:30 a.m., with bikers gathering beginning at about 7 a.m.

The map at left lists seven “official” starting points for Bike to Work Day, which the Houston Bikeway Program points out is a…

Biking Lanes Could Come To San Angelo
By: KLST News
For many people across San Angelo finding a safe place to ride their bike or walk can be troublesome.

That is why the San Angelo Metropolitan Planning Organization released a survey to determine whether or not biking and pedestrian lanes should be built.

Doray Hill is the director of the S.A.M.P.O and he saID the survey is an oppurtunity for the citizens of San Angelo to voice their opinons.

“We put this out because we want to see how many people here are actually interested in biking and sidewalks and if these things were…

Bike Friendly Richardson
Mayor & Council Survey – Paul Voelker
The second response to our questionnaire is from Paul Voelker, Place 5 City Council candidate (running unopposed). This will be Mr. Voelker’s first council term, so it’s great to get an in-advance look at his views on cycling. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

1: Do you (and your family) ride a bicycle on Richardson roads or trails? For what purposes do you ride?

Paul Voelker: I ride bikes with my wife and son (15) in Richardson. We stick mainly to the trail system. We do so for both the exercise and just the pure enjoyment of seeing our…

Tweets

https://twitter.com/BikeMSValero/status/322012625250697217

https://twitter.com/JuliaBikes/status/321976902711652352

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 9th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

“Best Little Bike Ride in Texas” 3/28/13
Southern Tier Comfort Ride

Cloudy, but a warm 54 degrees this morning, and we were happy to take it. We left Austin about 8:30 am on side streets, bike paths, and bike trails. The wind out of the SE continued to hold us hostage today. At about mile 50 we entered Bastrop State Park. Although it was a lot of up and down riding, the park road was smooth asphalt with very little traffic. We then rode right into Buescher State Park which provided us with more of the same type of riding. Both parks had been severely affected by a forest fire that occurred on Labor Day Weekend in 2011. We rode through hundreds of acres of mostly conifers that have died due to the…

Meet the Crews
www.peopleforbikes.org
Every summer, thanks to funding provided by Volkswagen and our bike industry supporters, we send two teams of two on a whirlwind road trip of festivals, races, and rides across the U.S. Their job? Spread the word about bikes far and wide, and encourage more people to ride more often.

We’ve been fortunate to find some amazing, bike-loving folks to represent us since we launched the event program two years ago. Also, every year, at least one crew member has moved on to a full-time job in bicycle advocacy.

For our 2013 event crew positions, we received a record number of applications. We narrowed them down to two fantastic couples. Here they are.

Cyber bike ride “Cyclodeo” serves virtually no purpose, promotes obesity
By Kassidy Turnpaugh        www.houstonianonline.com
The beauty of actually getting outside nowadays is that the weather is a bearable temperature, a rarity in itself within the lovely state of Texas.
A large part of people actually getting exercise are taking advantage of the fantastic activity of biking. There is mountain biking, road biking and track cycling, just to name a few. Now there is even cyber bicycling.
Yes, cyber cycling. Of course if you visit the new Cyclodeo site it will tell you it is made to simulate safety and weather conditions on the road.
The journey is simulated through the application of GPS tracking and a video feed of potential routes. It provides the entire sightseeing adventure of biking within the confines of your own living room. You never even have to…

Flintridge Trail Maintenance – GHORBA
Event category: General
Trail: Flintridge
Saturday, April 13, 2013 – 9:00am
Time for some routine trail maintenance. Clippers and loppers will be provided, feel free to bring any other tools if you prefer your own.

Don’t forget water, going to be 80 on Saturday.

Free Monthly Basic Bicycle Maintenance Workshop hosted by OCBC
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
Let’s face it, everyone could use a little extra maintenance help with their bicycle.  Right?  Well, tomorrow night you’ll get the chance to learn simple and basic tips on keeping your ride always ready to go!

Jeremy Ordaz, owner of Oak Cliff Bicycle Company, will be on hand Wednesday, April 10th at Alta West Davis from 7:30 – 8:30 PM for a…

Houston Bicycle Club

Ride Date Ride Name Start Time Starter
Sat 04/13/13 Sealy West 8:00am Needed
Sat 04/13/13 Fulshear Orientation Ride 8:00 am David O. Wallace
Sun 04/14/13 Urban Challenge Ride 9:00 a.m. David Dick
Sun 04/14/13 Columbus – North 8:00am Needed

Next Club Social Ride

When: Program: Saturday 05/18/13 at: 8:00 am B&PW Park in Sealy This is our annual spring picnic. BBQ will be provided by Hinzes.

Tweets

More Wind – April 9th Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

More wind and a little bit more sun greeted me as I started my ride at 11:43. As I left home wunderground.com said the wind was 20 mph from the Se with 29 mph gusts. I could tell as I rode on the streets in Kingwood on my way to US59 to ride north to New Caney. Every time I rode south or east the pedaling slowed down. This meant the ride from New Caney back home would be a tough one.

It was slightly warmer today at 81 when I got home under an overcast sky. I still wore a long sleeve jersey just in case the stiff wind cooled in the shade. This was a good choice more for the sunscreen properties than cool in the wind. My bandanna was soaked when I got home from all of the effort riding into the wind.

I made decent time until the turn back to the south at FM1485 in New Caney. From then on the wind tried to keep from oving and at times I slowed down to 10 or 11 mph when some gusts would hit. The southbound service road does offer much of a windbreak so I hoped that going through Valley Ranch area would offer some respite but the wind blew right past the trees.

Over the 32.57 mile route I averaged 14.5 mph which was well earned. The ride time totaled 2:14:38. April miles total 232.49 and year to date stands at 1547.13 miles.

With a 70% chance of rain tomorrow I don’t know if I will ride. Thursday after the rain moves out the high is supposed to be 61, another iffy ride day.

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