Biking After 1 Wet and 2 Chilly Days – April 5th Bike Ride

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At 7 AM this morning it was 47 degrees. This meant I needed to be very optimistic that it would go up 25 degrees to reach the 72 degrees in the forecast. While I waited on the weather to heat up I watched the Tour of the Basque Country. As I ate lunch the temperature fluctuated between 68 and 70. Finally as I left the house on my ride at 2:00 PM my weather station reached 71 degrees. At first I was going to wear a long sleeve and short sleeve jerseys but i changed my mind to a long sleeve jersey and windbreaker jacket and no leg warmers. This turned out to be a good decision with the sunshine and calm wind. I was very comfortable and when i got back home I saw the temperature moved up to 76. After two days of overcast skies, rain on Wednesday and 55 degree max on Thursday it was great to get back on the bike.

I chose today’s route to get some extra miles to make up for the shorter routes on the two rides earlier this week. Riding north to New Caney and west on FM1485 this route totaled 37.66 miles, above the 32 miles I averaged per ride in April 2012. The calm wind helped me ride at 15.8 mph on average today and the two rest days probably played a part. April miles now total 95.93 and 1410.57 miles year to date. I did stop in Porter on the way back home to rest. I enjoyed the sun and Diet Pepsi as I sat on the concrete.

Tomorrow I will ride with the Houston Cycling Club Kingwood/Humble group. So far 3 of us plan on heading south and east through Huffman to the Liberty County line.  The weather looks like it will be slightly warmer on Saturday. This route should be around 40 miles.

Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.com alternate route maps and stats.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 4th

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Houston Bike SHARE Program Expands
By: CICELY MITCHELL            houston.cbslocal.com
HOUSTON (CBS Houston) Bicycle riding in Houston just got easier and friendlier, thanks to the city of Houston expanding and adding several bicycle stations.

This week, the city of Houston’s “Bike Share Program” is expanding, with the help of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ (BCBSTX) $750,000 commitment, U.S. DOE funding, widespread use of bicycles and…

Franklin Mountains State Park adds land
By Pam LeBlanc             Fit City

A West Texas park is about to grow by more than 600 acres.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the purchase of about 658 acres to expand Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso.

The addition will expand the park into the high desert country to the west, bringing its total acreage to more than…

Regional Connections Before Local Connections #2
Bike Friendly Arlington
Disappointment.

That’s what we feel. Nearly 2 years since we fought for on-street bicycle infrastructure in Arlington, to make the city safer, and more accessible by its residents, the city has yet to install any of the planned bike routes.

To add to the disappointment is the finger-in-the-eye announcement that the city is funding a multi-year bus pilot program at the cost of $350,000 a year i.e. Pilot bus project could begin rolling in Arlington by August, and Passengers would pay $5 to $8 fare on Arlington bus service to Centre Port. In terms of bike infrastructure, that is the entire on-street portion…

Walnut Wednesday Workday
The Austin Mountain Bikers Meetup Group
Wednesday, April 10, 2013        5:30 PM
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park
12138 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX (map)
western edge of the parking lot
Walnut Wednesday Workday April 10th from 5:30 PM til Dark

All:
We will be conducting a Walnut Wednesday Workday on Wednesday April 10th from 5:30PM til dark.
If you cannot meet us on the western edge of the parking lot, we will be working at the bottom of the Powerline Hill repairing erosion and…

Why More Bicycle Rental Stations Could Improve Houston’s Bike Friendliness
by: Florian Martin            kuhf.org

During the official launch of the completion of Phase II of the “Houston B-Cycle” bike sharing program, Mayor Annise Parker says less than a year ago, there were many who questioned the wisdom of offering the program here.

“People that are downtown, you know, they’re in their business suits. They’re not going to want to ride around. Where would you even go downtown?”

But almost a year later, the model turned out to be quite successful. So successful that the program has now been expanded to 21 stations with 175 bikes from the initial…

April 12, 2013: Bike to Work Day
www.bikehouston.org
The City of Houston is working towards providing a city-wide bikeway network to enhance mobility for all skill levels of bicyclists and for all transportation purposes: commuter, recreation, social and tourism. Although more than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, lack of knowledge and incentive has deterred many from commuting by bike. Hundreds of U.S. cities have been successful in increasing bicycle commuters by offering enticements on Bike to Work Day. …

You Can Bike on Austin Highways (And Yes, It’s a Horrible Idea)
By Bobby Blanchard        www.kutnews.org

Despite general public perception – and all standards of common sense – it’s actually legal to ride bicycles on the state highway.

Recently, users on the Austin page of Reddit got into a heated discussion about the legality of riding a bike on Mopac, when one user posted a photo of a couple people doing just that.

Some users cited the signs that went up prohibiting bikes on the highway, while others cited reports and ordinances that did not mention a…

Sitting in With Mountain Bike Club Member Grant Spring
Bicycle Sport Shop’s Official Cycling Blog

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day. It’s one of those events where we almost always have an over abundance of participants and volunteers. Everyone wants to be a part of it, because it’s just plain fun. Introducing kids to the joys of cycling and the fun and challenge of riding trails, in an environment where they can learn from peers and eperienced riders alike. What’s not to like?

To hear the kids that participate tell it, it’s a really great event. And for a few kids, it gets them hooked on mountain biking in a way that takes them from cruising neighborhood trails and riding…

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 3rd

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Reveille Peak Ranch
Thomas and Roger from Austin taking a break on the Race Loop.

2013 Educational Series
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
Education is a key component in helping build a bike friendly community, however it usually gets put aside because it’s too expensive, too timely or not cool!

We’d like to help change those notions by introducing an Educational Series that will hopefully encourage more riders to take up bicycling as part of their lifestyle or simply push more people to supplement trips that are less than 3 miles on a bicycle.

Here’s what we’ve got scheduled or are working on scheduling:…

A Mountain Biker’s Take on Commuting
by John            AustinBike.com

There has been a lot of talk in the Austin community lately about bike commuting, so I figured it was time to try to pull together all of that collective knowledge. This blog is by far not the definitive resource on commuting, just one person’s view, but hopefully others can chime in with some options as well.

The way I see it, there are 3 kinds of commuters:

Hardcore: I ride my bike to work every day, regardless of what the conditions are (I might not even own a car)
Moderate: I ride my bike to work most days, but if it is raining or I have another commitment, I will drive
Light: I ride my bike to work occasionally, when the mood hits me
I am clearly in the moderate camp.  If it is raining I will be in my car, or if I have to meet someone for lunch I am not going to show up all sweaty.  When considering what you need to commute, first look at your work patterns and how you will be operating on a…

Devo Wrap: Craddock wields Triptyque mystique
www.usacycling.org
The road portion of the USA Cycling National Development Program (NDP) has kicked into high gear with excellent results from the riders in U23, juniors and women’s programs. The women and U23 men each contested a pair of races while the juniors men toed the line in one race.

U23 Men
Lawson Craddock wore the yellow and green jerseys during Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux. (Photo by Michael Sayers)
The best result of the week came from the group of six U23 men contesting Le Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux in Belgium. Lawson Craddock (Austin, Texas/Bontrager Cycling Team) placed second overall, just one second behind Fabio Silvestre (POR) in the final results after winning Saturday’s stage.

The USA Cycling contingent started the first stage strong as all six riders finished with the main…

Woodlands Cycling Club
April Calendar
Woodlands Cycling

DATES Ride and Event Schedule
Description
Ride:  Pete’s Redneck Ride
When:  Saturday April 6th – Meet at 9:00 AM – Start when everybody is ready
Where:  Sunnyvale City Park (Collins and Tripp)
Distance:  Short route is approximately 35 miles – Long route is approximately 55 miles

April Newsletter Published
Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts
The April edition of the DATES-Line Newsletter is published and available
Dates Newsletter

Fort Worth Bicycling Association
Our most recent Paceline (the club’s online newsletter) was added

FWBA Newsletter

 First Friday Ride set for April 5
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City
Quick! Prepare to enjoy that tiny sliver of spectacular weather between winter (mild) and summer (hotter than hell) at a spring bike ride hosted by the Austin Cycling Association.

The First Friday Ride will roll off at 6:30 p.m. Friday from the south side of the Capitol Building near 11th Street.

The no-drop easy 9-mile bike ride will end at East Side Pedal Pushers, 1414 East Fifth Street, where Real Ale Beer will provide refreshments and…

Plano-based nonprofit City House unveils a new bike path
By Matthew Watkins        planoblog.dallasnews.com

City House, a nonprofit that shelters abused, neglected and homeless kids, celebrated its 25th anniversary this week and dedicated a new bike path this week at a ceremony its Plano headquarters.

Shelter officials said the path will add to the site’s amenities by allowing kids under 17 to bike, skate and ride scooters within a…

Dallas Council members generally positive about bike plan but looking for changes
By Jeff Mosier        cityhallblog.dallasnews.com

The Dallas Bikeway System Plan update got at least a nod of approval from City Council members during Wednesday morning’s briefing.

No one objected to the 10-year plan to massively expand the city’s bike lane miles. But several council members wanted to see the plans tweaked, from some geographic priorities to helmet regulations.

Council member Dwaine Caraway insisted on a bicycle connection between Oak Cliff’s Bishop Arts District and the Cedar Crest Golf Course area of East Oak Cliff. He described that missing connection…

CyberKnife bicycle races slated for Whitehouse
www.tricountyleader.com
Riders will be on area roadways April 6-7
The CyberKnife of Texas 2013 Stage Race hosted by Fresh Racing will be Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7, in Whitehouse.

There will be a $10,000 cash prize purse. Stage 1 will start at 7:30 a.m. and the final start will be at noon. Stage 2 will be a time trial which will begin at 3 p.m. with 30-second intervals. Stage 3 will start at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, and the final start will be at 3:55 p.m.

Whitehouse First Baptist Church will be the staging area for the races. The church is…

Welcome, HammerFest!
www.lavernianews.com

Cyclists from Central Texas, as well as those from across the state, will shift into high gear to participate in the inaugural Arthritis Foundation La Vernia Wild West HammerFest Bicycle Tour this Saturday, April 6. The event, hosted in partnership with the Greater La Vernia Chamber of Commerce, will start and end at La Vernia High School, 225 Bluebonnet Road, beginning at 8 a.m.

Keeping cyclists safe during HammerFest is the first priority. Law enforcement agencies and emergency services from…

At 70, retired teacher embarks on biking adventure
DOUG MOE | Wisconsin State Journal
She woke Easter morning in Sanderson. Pat Calchina had been in Texas a week by then and was enjoying it, the open spaces and vistas, the funky motels on the edge of little towns.

Easter would be a demanding day. One hundred and 11 miles, all the way to Del Rio. She hadn’t biked that far in a day in 30 years, and never on the chip seal surfaces popular in West Texas.

Calchina ate breakfast in the dark. She saw the sun rise from her bicycle. It was stunning. Her legs felt good. She didn’t have to worry about her tires, either. After five…

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 2nd

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Fort Worth Trail Workday – Gateway Park – 4/6/2013 – 8:30am
by beechnut                forums.mtbr.com/texas

Cup of Joe Ride
Corinth Cycling Club
When: Sat Apr 13, 2013 8am to 9:30am  CDT
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Status: confirmed
Event Description: The Cup o’ Joe is a beginner level ride of around 15 miles. The ride heads south to Hickory Creek and stops for drinks at Starbucks on the way home. The ride leader for this ride is Bob Troyer. …

Big Ring Challenge- a time for thanks
GHORBA
A time for thanks.
GHORBA had its most successful Big Ring Challenge to date with 570 racers giving it their all. As a fundraiser, I anticipate it will also be successful. For the past three years, I have been the last person to leave DL after the race clean-up. I am usually exhausted, tired, and a bit sore. I broke camp around 6 p.m. and managed to lose my keys, requiring me to unshove what I had just shoved in my car to locate them. Then my car would not start because I had drained the battery. Despite…

Trail Building- Past and Future
GHORBA

The Big Ring Challenge was a great chance for the past to meet the present. Ross Carrie was originally involved with the building and development of the “old” Double Lake trail. Ross has turned his focus to horses, he wanted to see the MTB community using it first hand. Ross was impressed with both the turnout for the race and how the trail has been maintained and improved over the years. He also had a chance to talk with Susan Stormer and Ryan Spates of S & S Trails, who built the…

New Anthills Bridge Courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 993
GHORBA

The old Anthills 4”x4″ bridge between Dairy Ashford and Kirkwood was replaced this last weekend by Boy Scout Troop 993 as an Eagle Scout project. The scouts also cleared and bench cut about 100 feet of new trail on…

Bicycles needed for job-seeking veterans in ETX
by Stephanie Frazier, KLTV Community Web Producer

According to The Texas Veterans Commission, there is a need for bicycles in East Texas.

TVC Local Veterans Employment Representative Teresa Maryska says that at any given time, there are four or five veterans in need of bicycles for transportation to find jobs and  to get to those jobs.

If you have a new or good used bicycle to donate to veterans, please contact…

Bicycle Tour de Funky Chickens
A day for chickenists and cyclists
By Margaret Shugart            www.austinchronicle.com

It was the first year for an official cycling portion of the Funky Chicken Coop Tour, but not the first year de Leon designed a route through the coops. Last year, he bought a map early and planned a ride between eight stops, then followed it solo, picking up one other person along the way. He said it was so enjoyable, he contacted the Urban Poultry Association of Texas, organizers of Funky Chicken Coop Tour, and Bike Austin to see if he could arrange a public one for this year. Both organizations were supportive and, while de Leon mapped the route and…

Cyclists visit with police chief about road safety
by SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News

AUSTIN — Dozens of Austin cyclists sat down to have a “Chat with the Chief” Thursday night at a South Austin bicycle shop.

The event sponsored by the Austin Cycling Association and Please Be Kind to Cyclists is in its fifth year.
Local bike riders were armed with questions about the legal system and its inner workings.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo was joined by deputies from other law enforcement agencies, a representative from Austin Municipal Court, a Municipal judge and…

 Pics From Cyclists In Suits – Bicycle Lobby Day in Texas
suburbanassault.org

I’m back from the Cyclists in Suits event that was hosted by BikeTexas in Austin. It was an exhausting day that involved getting up by 3:00 am to catch a 5:00 am bus. After a 3+ hour trip from Dallas to Austin, we spent the day lobbying for cyclist to our state officials, only to repeat the same trip back that evening. It was a…

Wounded warriors have until Friday to apply for Bush’s bike ride
www.theleafchronicle.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wounded service members have until April 5 to apply for former President George W. Bush’s annual 100-km mountain bike ride.

The event, which is scheduled for May 23-25, near Waco, Texas, is for qualified active duty, retired or honorably discharged members who were seriously wounded in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Bush Center will select about 20 participants for the challenging, three-day ride. All travel and lodging expenses for the cyclists will be covered.

Bush held the first ride in 2011 as a way to spend time with wounded members, honor their service and remind the nation of the courage and sacrifice of those who have served.

To apply, please visit: http://www.bushcenter.org/military-service-initiative/w100k.

Rattlesnakes and cactus
By Pat Rush            www.dailygazette.com
(Editor’s note: Schenectady’s Pat Rush is now cycling through Texas with the group, and reports that they may take 20 days just to cross the wide expanse of the Lone Star State. Wifi connection is spotty, she reports).

The following are the major stops on the Southern Tier ride:
San Diego, California
Phoenix, Arizona
Silver City, New Mexico
El Paso, Texas
Marathon, Texas
Cleveland, Texas (near Houston)
Lafayette, Louisiana
Moss Point, Mississippi
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Pensacola, Florida
Perry, Florida
St. Augustine, Florida…

Bill’s 5th Annual Birthday Bluebonnet BBQ Blues Bike Bash
Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
Saturday, April 27th:  For your evening entertainment, the Terry’s are hosting Bill’s 5th annual Birthday-Bluebonnet-Blues-BBQ-Bike-Bash at their lake house in Kingsland. Please RSVP to Phyllis Terry by April 21st if you plan on attending the birthday party and include the number in your group. Barbecue will be served. Please also confirm if you will be joining us for the bike ride.  We need a count for the meal, as the meal will be catered and we need to know how many to plan for.  We will have dinner at 6:00 and live music by the great blues legend Seth Walker starting at…

Sunday Breakfast Ride, April 7th
Shawnee Trail Cycling Club
The bad news this week is that we’re moving our Sunday rides to their summer start time of 7:30 am.  To lessen the blow, we’re doing our long overdue breakfast ride.  Our three groups this Sunday will be taking slightly different routes, but for good reason.  We’re stopping at The Lemon Bar & Grill for brunch towards…

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