Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for February 16th

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Cycling across the U.S.
Portland, ME to Portland, OR in 210 Days
October 14th 2012 – Till completed
In early 2012 Chris ran across the U.S. becoming the 30th individual to run solo across the U.S.. In October of 2012 (the same year), Chris began an attempt to become the first person to run TWICE within 12 consecutive months across the U.S.. That run fell short 1,000 miles in due to knee issues and instead of stopping, Chris is finishing the…

Feb. 12, 2013 Beaumont, TX 37.6
Feb. 13, 2013 Liberty, TX 41.3
Feb. 14, 2013 Houston, TX 38.6
Feb. 15, 2013 Brookshire, TX 40.1
Feb. 16, 2013 Columbus, TX 40.9
Feb. 17, 2013 Flatonia, TX 33.2
Feb. 18, 2013 Luling, TX 34.3
Feb. 19, 2013 New Braunfels, TX 31.8
Feb. 20, 2013 Boerne, TX 43.8
Feb. 21, 2013 Kerrville, TX 41.9
Feb. 22, 2013 E. Junction, TX 37.3
Feb. 23, 2013 W. Juntion, TX 25.6
Feb. 24, 2013 Sonora, TX 42.3
Feb. 25, 2013 Ozona, TX 37.2
Feb. 26, 2013 Iraan, TX 51.1
Feb. 27, 2013 E. Fort Stockton, TX 26.4
Feb. 28, 2013 Fort Stockton, TX 38.5
Mar. 01, 2013 Balmorhea, TX 49.9
Mar. 02, 2013 E. Vanhorn, TX 49
Mar. 03, 2013 VanHorn, TX 20.3
Mar. 04, 2013 Sierra Blanca, TX 31.5
Mar. 05, 2013 Fort Hancock, TX 33.5
Mar. 06, 2013 Clint, TX 32.1
Mar. 07, 2013 El Paso, TX 29.3

Houston SpinStart 2013
gcca.com
Houston SpinStart 2013 provides an opportunity for kids between the ages of 7-14 to participate in group rides. This year the program will include three organized rides designed to help kids feel confident and safe on their bicycles, and showcase some of Houston’s best cycling pathways.

Goals of the program:
Introduce kids to both recreational and competitive cycling
Highlight the fun and supportive atmosphere of group rides
Reinforce safe riding practices
Provide an activity in which parents can participate with their children
Expose Houston’s bike trail system

Details of the rides:
Dates for the rides are March 10, April 14, and May 5…

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Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup February 15th

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Riding our bikes into the sunset
By Kathleen            bicyclesoutbackracing.net

Before we began dating, we spent a lot of time together.  Our worlds came together for the first time when Matt began working at the Blinn College Learning Center with me.  We sat behind the help desk together waiting to offer students help with their schoolwork.  Our…

Bicycle Brewery Tour, February 17th
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
We all know that beer and bicycles fit like mustard and hot dogs.  It just feels right!  So, now that Dallas’ craft brewery scene is exploding and opening up new…

HBC Around The Loop Ride
Houston Bicycle Club
Sunday February 17, 2013    9:00AM
This is a challenging in-town ride similar to the Urban Challenge Rides, but farther. We’ll be circling the city near or outside Loop 610. Experience the many faces of Houston and see the downtown skyline from every angle. This is a leader led ride, but you should be able to maintain a 14 to 16 mph pace with three rest stops along the way.

Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts
The February edition of the DATES-Line Newsletter is published and available for download from the newsletters page. This month’s edition includes the following:
Fresh DATES
Upcoming Rides
Ben Wheeler Ride
Southwest Tandem Rally
A Cycling Tip
Ride Report
Christmas Lights Ride
DATES Annual Dinner and Meeting
Calling All Potential Ride Leaders
DATES Rides & Activities

Adopt a Highway – Community Service Day
Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
Saturday, March 16th:  Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the entrance to Government Canyon State Natural Area on Galm Road.  Bring your family and friends for our litter pickup along two miles of Galm Road.  Remember to wear long pants, sturdy shoes and your yellow volunteer HCBTC T-shirt.  If you don’t have…

The Racing Post February Edition
Features
4 FCS Cycling Women’s Elite Team
8 A Picture, A Story
11 Team Focus: River City Market Racing
13 Product Review: Look Keo Flex
16 Wedded Cycling
18 Product Review: Swiftwick Socks
19 MSU’s Sam Croft
21 Texas CX Championships
24 My Winter Break
26 The Mindset of a Winner
29 First Race: Gettin’ Ready
30 Off Road Series in Texas
32 Your First Rally
34 Palo Pinto NYD Ride
35 One year of racing with the Watt Posse
39 Ride Preview: Tour Dallas / Race Dallas
42 Good Bye Bob Pfarr, Jr.
43 Team Focus: Fiat of McKinney / Bicycles Plus Masters Team
46 Product Review: Fiat 500
Regulars
2 Plan Your Road Trip
6 West Texas Wind
9 RBM Raly Report
10 Tales From The Track
11 Tri-Talk
12 The View From Back Here
14 Scholastic Cycling Update – Q & A
20 Love Your Ride
22 Coach Speak
25 Mileage Junkie
33 Girlfriend Rider
36 Think!Fiance ~ Preparation = Reward
38 RBM  What’s New At The Shop
40 Junior Spotlight
44 Gear Girl

Texans Take on the World
txbra.org

Texas was well represented in Louisville at Cyclocross Worlds!
Photo courtesy of Lee McDaniel.

Hike-and-bike trail users asked to share memories
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City
Longest run? First kiss? Bike ride with your grandad?

Users of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail are encouraged to jot down their memories of the 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake on a 35-foot board that will be temporarily installed on the north side of the river, just south of the YMCA. …

Cyclists in Suits
Posted by Marc Mumby        BikeDFW.org

Every two years in Texas, we get a unique opportunity to talk about cycling with people who can make a difference.

Save the date, take the day off and take a road trip with a bunch of friends to Austin to participate in your democracy. You’ll meet the people that represent you and, most importantly, let them know that you think more effort to accommodate bicycling is important for the future of your community and…

Fredericksburg Cyclists Club
A Ride Captian’s Note To Newer Riders

The other day I sent out an email announcing the “No Drop” rides will begin the first weekend of April 2013 with Phil English leading that group.  That email generated a lot of response from some new riders and one question came up I wanted to answer for everyone. The question was, “What do I do when I show up for my first club ride?”

I had that very question in mind before my first ride.  Now, when I get…

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Another Ride on the Trails – February 15th Bike Ride

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I wasn’t sure if I would get to ride today between some chores I needed to do and the cool temperatures but by the time I ate lunch the temperature moved up to 68 degrees, warm enough for a mountain bike ride. The chores were completed so I donned my usual cool weather wardrobe: long sleeve and short sleeve jerseys, shorts, leg warmers and windbreaker jacket. It was warm enough to wear half finger gloves. Mostly cloudy skies kept the sun from warming things up too much and the light 5 mph variable breeze didn’t cause much of an issue either.

Wearing my regular gloves I decided to take my RCA video camera to get more use to using it while I ride. While I am using the mounting bracket on my mountain bike I don’t think I will use it on my road bike. The reason is that it sticks up too high and seems to pick tire noise easier than when I hold it in my hand. Granted the hand held videos shake more but I also can tell when the camera is on which I cannot do easily on the bracket. Maybe the more I use the bracket I will figure out how to solve these problems. I will upload the video to Youtube.com later and add it to this.

Riding my Motobecane 700HT MTB today on the Kingwood trails I wanted to go at least 15 miles and I managed to ride 17.85 miles at a 12.4 mph average speed. If February had 30 days I would be on target to reach my 369 mile goal for the month with 182.15 miles for February. But with only 28 days I am behind so I need to get busy. Tomorrow the Humble Lions Ride is not far away but the temperature is only supposed to reach 59 which is below my 60 degree cutoff. At the start of the ride it could be in the low 40’s, definitely below my tolerance level. My next likely riding day will be Monday which could be in the low 70’s but with a 40% chance of rain.

See the slides below for other data. Links to Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.com.

[wppa type=”slideonlyf” album=”91″][/wppa]

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for February 14th

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Ode to the Bike: Spinning from Stress to Serenity
People for Bikes Blog
It’s going to be one of those days. You just know it. The first inkling came at midnight when you were startled awake by the shrillest alarm ever invented. What on earth? Oh yeah. You remember the three-year-old contentedly standing quietly next to the clock earlier in the day. You should have paid attention.

Your day hasn’t even started and the kids are fighting, the coffee is gone, and the dog has barfed in the heating vent. Again. Weatherman says there’s a fifty percent chance of rain, but you already know that on a day like today, those odds are higher. You’re already running late when you notice the front of your bike listing in a manner that smugly…

Hike and bike a new rail-trail from the Blackland Prairie to the Piney Woods
By Laurence Parent            www.texashighways.com


After running across a brief story on a new rail-trail in northeast Texas, I had to investigate. The 130-mile trail—open to cyclists, runners, walkers, and even equestrians—extends from Farmersville in eastern Collin County to New Boston just west of Texarkana. It travels through seven counties and 19 rural towns. Some sections are paved, some are gravel, and some are the original rough railroad bed. As someone who has written a Texas hiking guide and taken photographs all over the state, I wondered why I’d never heard of it.

It turns out that developing a project like this is a slow process. The idea for the Northeast Texas Trail began in the 1980s when the Santa Fe Railroad discontinued service on the tracks. In such instances, sometimes the right-of-way is sold to adjoining landowners and…

Moving to DFW area from UK
by bish            forums.mtbr.com/texas
Well, happy (sunny) days. Moving to the DFW area with work. Bringing my bikes too (even happier days) What’s the riding like? Will 5 inches of travel be enough/too much? Is it a busy scene?

by 50calray
Welcome to Texas!

The DFW area has one of the largest MTB interest in the state. There is about a dozen trails in the area and you’re generally within 15-30 minutes drive time away from one. As for travel, 5″ is more than enough for most trails while also being over kill on some. Check out DORBA for a list of…

Bicycles And Spouses
by Shawn McAfee            Texas Mountain Bike Trails
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Bicycles and Spouses: A working combination?

For those of you that know me, or even those of you who just follow the TexasMTBtrails facebook page, you know that I’m nuts about bikes. I love bikes about as much as anything else in the entire world.

But there is one thing that I love more than my bikes and that’s my wife Amanda.

We got married in October of 2011, so we are right at the year and a half mark and I am definitely the luckiest man alive. Not only does she put up with my current bike addiction, but she even lets me entertain the thoughts of buying a singlespeed and cyclocross bikes. Can’t get more…

Race Results for Sun and Ski Sports Presents the Rocky Hill Roundup
Smithville, TX            www.usacycling.org
Cross Country on 02/10/2013

Men – SS Open
Place  Points  Name City, State Time USAC # Bib Team
1 420.57 Jason Betz Baton Rouge, LA 01:20:45.000 263143 142 (W)reck.less Racing
2 432.95 Robert McGuire Austin, TX 01:22:22.000 133554 146 Bicycle Sport Shop
3 445.33 Alex Garza San Marcos, TX 01:22:43.000 299037 143 Hub Racing
4 457.72 Richard Hellberg Dallas, TX 01:22:56.000 366128 144 Dallas Bike Works
5 470.10 John Petrosky Houston, TX 01:23:05.000 214208 175 Tile Roofs of Texas/Bike Barn
6 482.48 Scot Pemberton Stiener Ranch, TX 01:24:52.000 114557 147 VooDoo Racing
7 494.86 Nick Carter Austin, TX 01:31:48.000 378309 162 OMW
8 507.24 Fred Willemsen Round Rock, TX 01:32:38.000 243606 148 Team Bicycle Sport Shop
9 Steven Thompson 01:34:40.000 159 BIG PIG RACING
10 532.01 Winfield Haggard Jr Houston, TX 01:37:07.000 308865 176 Tile Roofs of Texas/Bike Barn
11 544.39 William Lamb Crawford, TX 01:52:25.000 364869 145 Bicycles Outback p/b Jubilee Mitsubishi
Men – SS 2/3 – 0-99
Place  Points  Name City, State Time USAC # Bib Team
1 521.49 Mark Wise Houston, TX 01:28:16.000 160025 401 Bike Barn
2 526.76 Chris Trevelise (1 – Cat3) Austin, TX 01:30:35.000 224871 360 Orange Seal
3 532.03 Charles Pipes Brownsboro, TX 01:31:14.000 393344 347 SimpsonSports.com

more results…

Bicycle Theft and Prevention – What to Know!
By Luke Slavens
Lewisville Police Department
Ahhhhhh, the never ending bicycle thefts! They become rampant this time of year with Spring just around the corner. In the United States an average of 250,000 bicycles are annually reported stolen, not including the ones that go unreported. Now that’s a lot of bicycles!

Whether it’s someone looking to score a joy ride across town, a schmuck looking to make some cash to support his habit, or just a punk trading up to a nicer ride. These are the primary reasons bicycles are stolen, accompanied by the “opportunity” and a false sense of security in our little wonderlands. Thieves are out there; they are lurking and always looking for that opportunity. One only…

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