Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 31st

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El Paso Bicycle Club Upcoming Rides

Saturday, February 2
• 9:00 am : Run for the Border Meet at River Run Plaza, 1071 Country Club Rd. Ride to McNutt/Airport Rd then to the border crossing. Return via La Union/Vinton Road. 35 miles, moderate to fast pace depending on riders. Randy Limbird, 915-328-4110.
Sunday, February 3
• 10:00 am : Pre-Super Bowl Warmup Meet at Rio Plaza (Artcraft/Upper Valley Rd) for a very moderate ride to burn some calories before the big game. 30 miles along valley roads, 15-17 mph pace. Tony Casas, 915-820-8333.
Saturday, February 9
• 8:30 am : 3-in-1 Ride Three distances at three different paces, all scheduled to arrive at The Bean in Mesilla at the same time. Group 1 meets at 8:30 a.m. at Rio Plaza (Artcraft at Upper Valley), leaving no later than 7:40 to ride the 32 miles to Mesilla at 20+ mph. Leader: Randy Limbird, 915-328-4110. Group 2 meets at 8:30 a.m. across from La Union Station, leaving promptly at 8:45 for 25-mile ride at about 17 mph. Leader: Margaret O’Kelley, 915-588-3825. Group 3 meets at 9 a.m. in La Mesa across from Eagle Grocery, leaving promptly at 9:15 for 12-mile ride at about 14 mph. Leader: Terry Campbell, 915-497-0882. After coffee/snack break, groups will return at roughly similar paces.
Sunday, February 10
• 8:30 am : Climb-a-thon Meet at the Bagel Shop, 985 N. Resler, for a roller-coaster ride up and down the hills of West El Paso. 3,000 feet of elevation gain! 25-30 miles, moderate pace, but lots of heavy breathing. Olac Fuentes, 915-217-8008.
Saturday, February 16
• 8:30 am : La Mesa Turnaround Meet at River Run Plaza, 1071 Country Club Rd, and ride to La Mesa. 44 miles, 16-18 mph pace (may break into moderate/fast groups depending on who shows up). Rick Rivas, 915-867-7199.

ABC Choices
by Steve A        DFW Point-to-Point
Yes, That IS a Bulge. Illustrating the Value of the “A” Part of “ABC Quick Check”
Hmm, my rear tire’s had a real SLOW leak for about three weeks now. Each morning, I pump it up from about 60psi to somewhere north of 100. Now, It’s developed a “bump bump bump” with each revolution. The symptom isn’t getting better.

Looking at it, there’s a bit of an “owie” on the tread. Look at the picture carefully and you can see it – a reverse curve that represents a bulge in…

Annual Tour de Houston gets green theme, and date
Houston Chronicle
Joe Turner, director for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, said the annual bike ride, which is expected to draw 5,000 riders, raises money for Houston’s parks and green spaces. The RE-Plant Houston campaign was announced in January 2012 after severe drought conditions dramatically increased the need to protect what greenery was left in Houston. The mayor and Roger Plank, president and chief corporate officer of Apache Corp., planted the three-millionth tree in Memorial Park last weekend. …

Group ride to City Council briefing of the Dallas Bike Plan Feb 6th
by The Announcer Guy            Biking In Dallas
We’ll be riding to the council meeting from Oak Cliff to Main St. Garden then over to City Hall. If you’d like to join the ride in Oak Cliff, meet up at Oddfellow’s in the Bishop Arts. If you want to join in downtown, meet at Main St Garden. We will then depart for City Hall to attend the council briefing of the Dallas Bike Plan. It’s important we have as many people there in support. No measures are slated to be voted on, however it’s a state of the bike plan. Please encourage your Bike Friendly groups to meet up at Main St. Garden. Here are the times:

Date: Wednesday, February 6th
Oak Cliff meet up location: Oddfellow’s in the Bishop Arts
Meet up time: 7:40 AM
Departure time: 8:00 AM
Destination: Main St Garden park
Arrival time: 8:30 AM
Departure time: 8:45 AM
Council meeting start time: 9:00 AM

Ride Like a Penguin Saturday Feb 9th
by The Announcer Guy            Biking in Dallas
Critical Manners East Dallas presents:
Ride Like a Penguin!

We’re off to the Zoo! It’s $5 days throughout February.

Meet at Hypnotic Donuts (9007 Garland Rd, Dallas, Texas 75218), ride through downtown, and down to the Zoo! This ride will be a little longer than some of our other rides. It is about 10 miles each way. If there’s any concern about getting back, the DART is right there and can be used to return.

As always, bring a good attitude, locks, and a helmet.

Remember, we’re a no-spandex crew! 🙂

Sitting in with Sam and Stephanie
by djcurtin                It’s Time To Ride!

Ever wanted to see how far you could ride your bike? Ever done an errand by bike? Ever wondered how much you could carry on two-wheels? Or maybe even thought about living off your bike?

Bicycle touring might be for you if you followed that or a similar line of thought. But the tought of carrying everything you’d need or want for a trip can be a bit daunting. After all, if you’ve never done it before, how do you know how to do it?

We sat down recently with Sam and Stephanie House to talk bike touring. If you’ve been around the shop or some of our events, you’ve seen Sam and/or Stephanie riding, turning a wrench, helping out, and basically…

Memorial Park Ride then to Outlaw Dave’s
Register Now            GHORBA
A bit of riding and socializing at Outlaw Dave’s

So this all started with a call from Jaime Hellcat who host a car show on Sundays at  Outlaw Dave’s Worldwide Headquarters.  What do hot rods, motorcycles, jeeps, and mountainbikes have in common?  Great passion for our interests/hobbies…. I guess we will find out.  Hellcat has ridden the MP trails on occassion in the past and is fired up about us joining the party.

So we will start (weather permitting) with a group ride at Memorial Park at 11:30 a.m. We’ll meet at the parking lot near the soccer field. This is going to be a laid back ride for everyone.  For those experienced group riders, I have it on good authority Mike Strawn will be there to make sure no rider gets lost or dehydrated.   After riding the trails, we will head over to Outlaw Dave’s (corner of…

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Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup January 30th

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This lock hides inside your bike frame
The InterLock, set to retail for $50, may not thwart the most determined of thieves, but it promises to make quick errands in safe neighborhoods possible without the need for an extra lock.
by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore                news.cnet.com

The InterLock, set to retail for $50, lives inside the seat post.

Here in bike-friendly Portland, hipsters tend to stash their U-locks in their back pockets, which makes for an unfortunate view for the rest of us — the heavy-duty locks can make even the skinniest of skinny jeans sag.

Enter the InterLock, which hides inside the bike frame itself and, with just a few days left on the clock, is nearly funded on Kickstarter. (As of this writing, more than 800 backers…

Upcoming Events
Austin Ridge Riders
Austin Mountain Bike Patrol – Slaughter Creek
02/02/2013 – 9:30am
Sunday All-Level Ride at Walnut Creek
02/03/2013 – 1:30pm
Skills Clinc with Clair of Facet Fitness
02/03/2013 – 1:30pm
February Club Ride @ Pedernales Falls State Park
02/09/2013 – 10:00am
Kid Trips Event – Boys and Girls Club of Austin 2/16/13 at Walnut Creek
02/16/2013 – 9:00am

Photos from our January Happy Hour!
BikeHouston.org

Thanks to everyone who joined us for pizza, tacos and beer at our January Happy Hour at Public House Heights. It was great to see so many new faces!

Mountain bike race series continues this weekend
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City
Anyone who’s pedaled a mountain bike more than a few miles over rock-strewn trails knows that a 100K off-road is a different (quad-crushing, calf-screaming) animal entirely than pumping a roadie down a long stretch of pavement.

With that in mind, let us consider the ATX100K 6-Pack Series, a mind-numbing half dozen mountain bike races staged at local parks.

The second race in the series takes place starting at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, 2820 County Road 414 in Spicewood. (Football fans, that gives you 10 hours to finish before the big football game starts.)

The series is free, unsanctioned, unofficial, unsupported and operates on the honor system, according to race organizer Thad Williams. The series was created to help inspire local riders to…

February Club Ride @ Pedernales Falls State Park
by Il Pirate            Austin Ridge Riders
Saturday, February 9, 2013 – 10:00

Never been to Pedernales Falls State Park? Now is your chance! ARR encourages you and your friends to come out and ride with us and learn all about the potential for trail expansion in the beautiful park. Discussions with Texas Parks and Wildlife Staff have already begun and we have big ideas for expanding and improving the trail system for MORE mountain biking.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 29th

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Coming to Austin for 2 months, give me the low down!!
by joeynational            forums.mtbr.com/texas
I’m coming out to Austin this Monday for two months for work. I ride allot here in Phoenix, pretty much all types of riding..Just wanted to ask you locals where I should go? I dont care what kind of trail it is, all mountain, technical whatever just looking to get out and experience TX. I can’t bring my bike so I’ll be renting one I guess, so if anyone could provide a good place to rent a bike that would be great too…(with replies)

Big Bend Tour
West Texas Cycling Association
Date: February 28, 2013 – March 2, 2013
Location: Big Bend, TX
Contact: JD & Jill Booker 806-xxx-xxxx
Details: The fee for the Big Bend trip will be $50. Please let JD or Jill know by this Thursday the 31st if you are going. They will need to have an accurate heat count to reserve camp sites for Feb 28th, Mar 1st and 2nd.

Corinth Cycling/Harden Dental Team Introductions

Orlando Gonzalez (Flo-Rida) – I think we call him Flo-Rida because he is from Florida, I really don’t think he can rap. Although, he really does look like… the one and only, Mr. Worldwide, Pitbull. He probably looks more like Pitbull than Flo-Rida. But who am I to judge. Additionally, Orlando does have that whole Cuban, south beach, coolness about him. You know that thing that most of us think we have but…

KidsKup Spring Races Coming in February
biketexas.org (Susan Wilcox)
The year’s first BikeTexas KidsKup races are coming in February! We saw 276 kids come out for KidsKup races in 2012; will your child be one of them in 2013?

KidsKup Participants at Pace BendKidsKup is a great chance for kids to practice their mountain biking skills, gain confidence, make new friends, enjoy the great outdoors, and get some physical activity without even knowing it! It’s also a great chance for moms and dads to meet other parents with similar interests from their area and across the…

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 28th

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The Official Dallas Tweed Ride, Cancelled; Rescheduled for November 2013
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
Due to unforeseen circumstances, it is with regret and disappointment that we must cancel the Official Dallas Tweed Ride and reschedule for November 2013.

The Tweed Ride has grown to be one of Dallas’ best and most entertaining group rides that Bike Friendly Oak Cliff organizes, and we value it’s popularity and importance to the people who look forward to participating.

We sincerely apologize for the uncertainties that our…

Houston needs a plan
By David Crossley and Joe Douglas Webb        Houston Chronicle
The city of Houston is working on several independent planning processes that feel like Band-Aid fixes to big issues that should be contained in a more comprehensive general plan for the city’s future.

Those include an Urban Houston Framework study to determine new ordinances to guide development in the “urban centers;” a mobility study that includes a recent Inner West Loop Mobility Study; and significant proposed changes to Chapter 42, the City’s development code, and Chapter 26, the parking code.

The city is also an active partner in the 13-county Regional Plan for Sustainable Development and as part of that is expected to come up with some sort of…

Unlike elsewhere in Texas, city lacks bike-car road sharing law
By Dug Begley            Houston Chronicle

Houston has a master plan for creating and improving bicycle and pedestrian paths, an expanding bike-sharing system and a $160 million program to redevelop trails.

But if a truck tailgates Mitch Ware or any other cyclist, there’s little law enforcement can do. Unlike many other Texas cities, Houston hasn’t passed a law requiring drivers to share the road.

“It happens all the time,” Ware said when asked about cars crowding him on roads such as Alabama, where he rides almost every day. “You can’t believe how many close calls I’ve…

Petition for President Obama to ride in Ride of Silence on May 15
May 15 is the date of the National Ride of Silence.
BikeHouston.org
Chris Phelan, founder of the Ride of Silence, has started a petition at www.whitehouse.gov to see if we can get President Obama out on this bike on May 15th in support of the cause. In order for the petition to be considered by the White House, we must receive 30,000 signatures by February 15th. Currently…

Spring Six Pack MTB Race Series – Race 1
www.bikewtca.org/
Date: March 17, 2013
Location: Amarillo, TX
Contact: Sun Adventure Sports Amarillo
Details: Spring MTB race series @ Girl Scout Trails. Cat 1,2,and 3 with age groups. $ payouts in each cat and age group, $ for end of series top finishers in each cat and age group. 25$ entry and you can drop one race in series standings, only five races count towards series totals.

Corinth Cycling/Harden Dental Team Introductions

Luke Slavens – (The Shield). Our peloton is most at peace, when the Shield is present. Luke’s a cop. Five-0, Fuzz, Po-Po, Black & White, Flat Foot, The Man, Bacon, Doughnut Commando, ok, that’s probably over the line. We feel fairly comfortable doing just about anything on a bike when Luke’s in the peloton. Sure we have our share of engineers, doctors, dentists and pilots, but the one we…

Roosevelt Park – Southton Road Ride
Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
Roosevelt Park Trailhead
San Antonio, TX, 78210
Ride starts at 9:00 at the Roosevelt Park Trailhead of the Mission Reach Trail.  This 22 mile ride will be along the Mission Reach Trail, then on local roads as far as the Shell Station on Southton Road. This is an out and back ride suitable for beginners since you can ride as far as you wish and turn around.  Those wanting to do more miles can ride the Braunig Loop and back along Southton for a 30 + mile ride.  For more information contact ride leaders…

CyclingSavvy Workshop Schedule
cyclingsavvydfw.org
Through our interactive and engaging workshop, you will learn strategies for safe, stress-free cycling. You will have the tools to read and problem-solve any traffic situation or road configuration. This isn’t a boring, waste-of-time, forgetful workshop. You will cycle away excited, empowered, and ready to enjoy cycling anywhere in Dallas/Fort Worth. …

Date Location Sessions Register
March 8 – Friday 6-9p
March 9 – Saturday 8a-4p		 Northway Christian Church
Dallas (map)		 Truth & Techniques
Train Your Bike
Tour of Dallas		 Register
$75 for all three sessions
Closes March 3
May 10 – Friday 6-9p
May 11 – Saturday 8a-4p		 Northway Christian Church
Dallas (map)		 Truth & Techniques
Train Your Bike
Tour of Dallas		 Register
$75 for all three sessions
Closes May 5

 

 

Miles of DisComfort 2013 Team Report
by Andrew            Neilson Development Team
This weekend the team traveled to Flat Rock Ranch in Comfort, TX for our first race of the 2013 season. After arriving early Friday afternoon, we set up camp and went out for a preride to check out the course. This was the first time on rocks and hills like this for Justin and Patrick, so it was good to let them experience it some before the race. A flat tire for Patrick early in the ride revealed a tire dry of sealant, so it was good to get that sorted out before race day.

Taking a break on a hilltop
On his first time riding this type of rocky terrain Justin decided to ride one of the hardest drops on the…

STCC SuperBowl Spin 2013
by sooner1        Shawnee Trail Cycling Club
Are you a Ravens fan? Or do cheer for the 49ers? Save all that for the game and come join Shawnee Trail Cycling Club for a cool spin around North Texas, with a chance to grab a bite with your friends afterwards.
This year, just to be different, we’re keeping our Superbowl Ride in the area. Just as good a time with some great scenery. We’re offering at least two distances and multiple paces, just for your riding pleasure! And if you’re on the longer distances, you’ll get to say you’ve done Blackjack Hill! Everyone’s welcome, although non-members will have to sign that pesky waiver.

This is being treated as a regular group ride, so there’s no SAG and you will be with a group on the ride. There are two designated refresh stations, one is the 7-11 in Celina, at Preston and Oklahoma. The second is the convenience store in Aubrey, on the corner of FM428 and US377. Same rules as…

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