Touring market racks up mileage at retail
by Steve Frothingham      Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
From the October 1 issue of Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
By Chris Lesser
It was after completing a 2,300-mile bicycle tour from Oregon to Texas in 1980 that Wayne Borroughs began dreaming of opening up a bike shop to help perpetuate his love of bicycle travel. Borroughs worked at a shop in Fort Collins, Colorado, for seven years before opening up his own store, which he ran for another seven. But neither experience truly scratched his itch for touring bikes.
“If I brought in just a dozen pairs of panniers and some good racks, and sold through them all by the end of the year, then I was doing well,†recalled Borroughs. “Before the Internet it was very difficult to focus on touring in a local market.â€
Of course, then the Internet came, and as it did Borroughs closed his bike shop in order to focus on a touring-specific online store. First he concentrated on eBay sales, but by the early 2000s he began shifting his focus to his consumer-direct website, TheTouringStore.com. Today Burroughs is one of three full-time employees, and…
Tern provides share bikes for SXSW Eco conference
by Steve Frothingham         Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
AUSTIN, TX (BRAIN) — Tern, which provided share bikes at the South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin last spring, will do the same at a related event this month, the SXSW Eco conference.
The Eco conference is Wednesday through Friday at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin. The conference will explore challenges facing the economy, the environment and civil society.
“We’re thrilled to be back to help attendees `practice what they preach’ in terms of sustainability and…
Green Lane Project moves bicycling forward
People for Bikes Blog
PeopleForBikes.org’s parent foundation Bikes Belong is leading the way toward the next generation of bike lanes with the Green Lane Project. The Green Lane Project, launched in late May this year, is working with Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Portland, OR, San Francisco, and Washington, DC to support each city’s development of world-class protected bicycling networks, called green lanes, during the next two years.
Green lanes are safe, comfortable spaces for people on bikes on city streets. They are protected from motor vehicles by curbs, planters, posts, or parked cars. A green lane is an invitation to ride to a whole new range of people who otherwise wouldn’t feel comfortable biking on busy city streets. Green lanes address this fundamental and common concern about safety by creating dedicated spaces and low-stress routes for almost…
How is biking around Lake LBJ?
by JTBiker         www.bikeforums.net
Been biking in Fort Myers for 13 years on our Just Two Bikes (side-by-side) recumbent. We watched way too many Gator Boys & Swamp Wars episodes this summer at our MN lake cabin… wife wants to go where there are no gators, big snakes or lizards, but still be on the water. Many years ago we spent a winter on Lake Travis and drove over to Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay for a brief tour but don’t remember much.
We like to bike 10-20 miles every day, weather permitting. My question is, how hilly are the trails and roads around Lake LBJ and adjacent to the lake? We plan to buy a home or condo on the lake if the biking is suitable for “senior leisure” riders like us. Thanks for your input. …
Ride East From the Oasis
Lone Star Cyclists
Pace: Touring
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012 – 8:00am
Location: Lynn Creek Marina / The Oasis Restaurant, 5700 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie
This Saturday we’ll be meeting at Lynn Creek Marina / The Oasis Restaurant and riding east to Cedar Hill and Lancaster. There are some mighty fine roads on the eastern side and we’ll be exploring them. The rains we’ve had recently have greened things up a bit, so the scenery should be pretty, too. Try to arrive 30 minutes early so we’ll be ready to depart on time.
Distances: 23 and 44 miles
October Meeting Minutes and TT awards
by salsaTopp         Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association
Trail Maintenance will be this Saturday at 8 a.m.
With the heavy rain last weekend, there will likely be some dead fall to clean up. Trimming needs to happen at the bottom of the switchbacks. With the PowePedal coming up, we may do some work on the West loop… Maybe.
Speaking of, the PowePedal is coming up on October 13. Come on out and race!
Camping Nov. 2 at Camp Eagle is officially on the calendar as 2 shelters have been reserved for. BVMBA covers camping costs, but you will need to cover any day-use fee that might apply. ($10 for Camp Eagle?).
The annual trip to Big Bend is around the corner (pun intended!). February 14-16 is coming up fast and you don’t…
7:30am – Cup o Joe
by scottfranklin      Corinth Cycling Club
When: Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:30am to 9am CDT
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
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. …
Tour de Fat stops in Austin Oct. 20
By Pam LeBlanc         Fit City
Ready to take the plunge and trade your car for a bicycle for a year?
Organizers of this year’s Tour de Fat, an all-day cycling circus sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, will hand over a tricked-out commuter bicycle to someone who turns in their car keys and makes the pledge to go car-free for a year.
The swap is part of a free all-day, bicycle-centric festival set for Oct. 20 at Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia Street. Proceeds from food and beer sales will benefit the Austin Cycling Association and…
Photos: 31st annual Chile Pepper Challenge
Rudy Gutierrez / El Paso Times      photos.elpasotimes.com
The 31st annual Chile Pepper Challenge, El Paso area’s biggest cycling event, was based at La Viña Winery in La Union, N.M. The event is sponsored by El Paso Bicycle Club.
About 900 riders took part in rides of 10, 20, 37, 62 and 100 miles. Proceeds benefited several local organizations, including Hospice of El Paso and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of El Paso.
Cyber Race
by Roy and Christine      Pedal Pushers
Our Saturday morning group ride was rained out (I’m not complaining), so I called our LBS (local bike shop)Â and set up an appointment to workout on the CompuTrainer. One can compete against a “pacer” or ride alone. The course I have been using lately is a 10 mile track with intermediate hills (3-7%). On the start line I am in red with the pacer to the right in blue. Everyone is invited to travel with me as I race Mr. Avatar for 10 miles…
