Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 26th

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Spinlister Peer-to-Peer Bike Rental Goes Nationwide
urbanvelo.org
Beginning today, Spinlister is rolling out nationwide, facilitating peer-to-peer bicycle rental for travelers and short-term visitors beyond the New York City and San Francisco test markets it launched in earlier this year. Similar in concept to Airbnb, Spinlister is way for visitors to find two wheeled rentals from fellow cyclists, bringing in a few extra dollars for your unused bike and hooking up a traveler with a bike more suited to…

Cyclesomatic 2012: Cargo Bike Build Workshop, October 13th – 14th
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff

Tom LaBonty, from Portland, Oregon, is not your typical bicycle manufacturer.  He’s not a trained mechanic, but he is truly skilled at his craft.  He builds Dutch style cargo bikes for people around the country interested in using them for fun, like his beer bike, or for replacing their car or truck to use for errands around town.  We reached out to him after seeing this documentary (trailer) at a Dinner and Bikes event in Ft. Worth a few months back.  Seems he had been thinking about doing a workshop already, yet he had no idea his first wouldn’t be in one of…

The North Face honors Austin retailer
by Steve Frothingham
LAS VEGAS, NV (BRAIN)—Bicycle Sports Shop of Austin, Texas, was honored at Interbike last week with The North Face Never Stop Exploring Award, which recognizes specialty dealers for strengthening their communities by encouraging outdoor exploration.

The award was originally developed in 2010 to recognize specialty running dealers, but this year was expanded to honor retailers in specialty outdoor (at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market), bike (at Interbike), running (at The Running Event) and winter sports (at…

El Paso cyclists go from spin to streets
By Victor R. Martinez \ EL PASO TIMES

Sitting in their spin class almost three years ago, cousins Manuel Valadez and Alberto Salazar knew there had to be more to their cardiovascular workout.

“We were doing those spinning classes for about a year,” Valadez said. “My cousin and I wanted to do something more exciting, so he said, ‘Let’s just order some bikes.’ We didn’t know anything about cycling. In fact, the first time we went out, we got…

I hear the steel wheels calling
By: Mauricio Cuellar            www.alicetx.com
I’ve been reading a lot about bicycles lately.

I came to the subject after watching a documentary on youtube about bike messengers. These men and women ride through major cities all day long, carrying packages and documents to law offices, businesses and government entities. I’m not sure how many miles they cover in one day, but with 20 to 30 stops on average, stretched over anywhere from 8 to 12 hours, I’m sure they are putting the durability of their bikes to the test.

These aren’t the “Tour de France” racing bikes you see on TV. These companies take all kinds. Mountain bikes, touring bikes, fixed speed and multi-speed bikes. Even large utility bikes with baskets or containers attached were shown whizzing between…

Recreational Sports Calendar & Sign-up Sheet – Sept. 26, 2012
San Antonio Express-News
Bicycling: Today, 8 a.m., Wheelers Senior Ride, 30 miles, Floore’s Country Store, Helotes. 210-643-0314.

Running: Today, 6:15 p.m., SARR Wednesday Night Zoo Run, Brackenridge Park. 210-286-6291.

Bicycling: Saturday, 7:30 a.m., eRock the Ride Bike Tour, JW Marriott SA Hill Country Resort and Spa, erocktheride.com

Bicycling: Saturday, 8 a.m., Our Lady of Perpetual…

Car hits child on bike – but – Insurance company GEICO denies claim!
by WB admin            The Wheel Brothers – Cycling in Texas
Every once in a while you run across the story that leaves you shaking your head.

This craziness is happening to Brady, a fellow cyclist who happens to be a father, locally in the DFW metroplex.  We contacted GEICO through 4 different channels (including Facebook and social media) for comment and to get their side of the story but so far just crickets…

As soon as they respond I will update this post but remember, as of now we only have one side of the story.

For now, please let us know your thoughts in the comments below and make sure you share it with your friends.

Let’s help get this resolved!!!!

This story is reprinted here with permission from Brady’s Blog:
Car Hits Child on Bike, GEICO Denies Claim!
By Brady Polansky
Picture this in your mind… A backpack-clad child is riding his bike to school on a designated “Safe Routes to School” multi-purpose trail on school property.  He notices a car pull up to a stop sign, which intersects the trail. …

Rocky Hill Ranch 2nd Annual Fofenique Poker Ride and Chili Cook-Off
by soccerdude                forums.mtbr.com
Rocky Hill Ranch manager Greg Maxwell recently found out his lovely daughter Jordan has Systimic Lupus as well as Juvenile Arthritis so they’re dedicating the 2nd annual Fofenique Poker Ride and Chili Cookoff towards raising funds for the Lupus Foundation of America and other children who may not have the resources they need to deal with the disease.

Registration is $30 per person, kids 14 and under are free. Fee includes day use for Saturday and Sunday, one night camping, parking, the Chili Cook-Off and 1 free drink. There is no entry fee for the Poker Ride or the Chili cook-off. Please come out out and enter your…

PEDERNALES FALLS!! womp womp lol.
GreyNinja137            forums.mtbr.com
soo i went out to this park over the weekend and was a bit let down on the trail side of things. the upper part of the park (across the river) was rather tame. it had it’s challenges but they were rather minor to be honest. the hiking/climbing was too much for the actual riding parts. i may be new to this, but i still say OP has the upper hand as far as these two trails go. also there was way too much sand on this trail. not dirt but actual sand. like beach sand.

as for the camping aspect, that was pretty fresh. it got waaay colder than expected tho lol. if you havent ever been here and plan on camping, watch out after sundown–SPIDERS COME OUT!! in full force, daddy long legs EVERYWHERE. kinda cool but kinda…

DATES Events
Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts
DATES Uptown TOTS
October 7th @ 8:30 AM

Clarksville Tandem Rally
October 12th – October 14th

DATES New Member Ride
October 21st @ 10:00 AM

DATES Halloween Ride
October 27th – October 28th

DATES Business Meeting
November 4th @ 5:30 PM

Southwest Tandem Rally
April 26-28, 2013

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 25th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

GHORBA Beginners Only Group Ride at Sugar Land Memorial!
by soccerdude                forums.mtbr.com
If you enjoyed our last beginners only ride at Timberlane Trails you’ll really enjoy our next get-together on the Justin P. Brindley trail at Sugar Land Memorial Park! Located in where else but Sugar Land, TX this short 1 1/4 mile trail is perfect for those who have just started mountain biking as well as those who have been riding for awhile. Much of the well shaded, triple-wide track runs along the banks of the Brazos River which offers a couple of nice views from high up. Roots, rocks, and long climbs are nowhere to be found! Instead the Justin P. Brindley trail offers smooth, flowy, and fun track with minimal sand and a couple of very short uphills. Perfect for new riders looking to improve their bike handling skills. There’s also a 2+ mile walking/biking trail that runs around the main park for those that want some…

West Texas Cycling Association Club Rides
Whether you are a beginner or have been riding since the two wheeler was invented, the WTCA has a ride for you. To assist you in choosing a ride that matches your current skill level, we have rated the rides by length and average speed. Everyone is welcome so come on out and enjoy a ride with us.

Specialized recalls about 12,000 Globe bikes
by Steve Frothingham

WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN) — Specialized is recalling about 12,000 Globe bike models because the fork can break. The company has received four reports of the forks breaking, resulting in facial, head and shoulder injuries.

The recalled bikes are 2008 and 2009 models, sold from July 2007 through July of this year. Consumers are being advised to stop using the bikes immediately.

Recalled models include the Globe Elite, Globe Sport, Globe Sport Disc, Globe Centrum Comp, Globe Centrum Elite, Globe City 6, Globe Vienna 3, Globe Vienna 3 Disc, Globe Vienna 4, Globe Vienna Deluxe 3, Globe Vienna Deluxe 4, Globe Vienna Deluxe 5 and Globe Vienna Deluxe 6 bicycles. The bicycles were sold in various colors, including gun, silver, black, khaki, navy, bone, blue, charcoal, burgundy and gold. …

CU’s 2nd annual Spooks and Spokes Ghost Tour of Edinburg
by Ray Garza            Ciclistas Urbanos
Save the date, CU’s 2nd annual Spooks and Spokes Ghost Tour of Edinburg on bicycles will be held Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 7pm. More details will be made available in a few weeks as the plans are ironed out.

We are taking suggestions for any possible haunted dwellings in the Edinburg area or of individuals with personal experience of ghostly hauntings. Drop us a line in the comments section.

Last year, if you recall, we visited many sites in the Edinburg area such as the old jail house behind the Museum, Stephen F Austin elementary school, the spooky Hillcrest Memorial Park at night and many other…

Downtown McKinney Chosen as New Location for Wish 100 Cycling Event
The City of McKinney in partnership with Make-A-Wish® North Texas, McKinney Velo Club  and Matrix Cycling Club is proud to announce the 4th annual Wish 100 cycling event taking place on Oct. 6 in Historic Downtown McKinney.

This 60-mile ride through McKinney and surrounding cities in Collin County will bring North Texas cycling enthusiasts together to raise funds for wishes of children battling life-threatening medical conditions. Last year, Wish 100 raised more than $173,000, granted more than 500 wishes in North Texas and brought out over 1,250 riders. There are three planned ride distances  – 62 miles, 42 miles and 12 miles. …

APD tracks cyclist-versus-car crashes
Drivers at fault more often in crashes with bikes
by Shannon Wolfson            www.kxan.com
AUSTIN (KXAN) – In the wake of a deadly crash that killed an Austin man riding his bicycle, police said statistics show most bicycle-versus-car crashes are the fault of the driver, not the cyclist.

So far in 2012, 21 percent of crashes between cyclists and cars have been the fault of the cyclist.

“Many people who probably think the other way around. But in fact, most bicyclists do obey the law,” said Robin Stallings, executive director of Bike Texas . “They do try to…

Health Sciences Center hosts bike rodeo
SPAN children to learn to ride bikes
The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Allied Health Sciences’ South Plains Autism Network at the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic will kick off the school year with a bike rodeo at 6:30 p.m. today at the Texas Tech Exercise and Sports Sciences building, at Flint Avenue and Main Street.

Speech, language and hearing students will collaborate with occupational therapy and exercise and sports sciences students to provide activities for children in the SPAN program while their parents attend an informative meeting. The students will…

Soldier rides bike 800 miles to raise cancer awareness
(video)
NBC NATIONAL NEWS — Family and friends cheered from the finish line as Army soldier Douglas McBroom, 24, completed his epic trek.

After receiving orders for a transfer to Corpus Christi from his home in Alabama, this Coastal Bend native decided to use his move to give a message.

After his mother was diagnosed last year in July, Douglas has been looking for a way to raise…

Legs Tired and Slower – September 25th Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I rode to the south today going through Atascocita, Walden at Lake Houston and on to Huffman before turning back to Kingwood. I started earlier today at 10:07 under scattered clouds, 81 degrees and a light 8 mph south wind. When I finished my home weather station reported 91 degrees. After yesterday’s fast pace I rode a little slower today at a 15.0 mph average speed. Along the route SportTracks thinks I hit 27.7 mph top speed but Garmin Connect says only 21.0 mph. My legs could not put out enough power to go faster when I rode into the wind. The times I rode with the wind I managed a nice steady pace.

No other bicyclists crossed my route today. As I rode along I thought about how retirement freed up my day to allow me to ride during the day. The route totaled 31.84 miles. The week’s miles total 65.26, 545.11 miles for September and 5262.38 miles YTD. The roads on this route are smooth without chip’n seal. Links for Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.com.

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Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 24th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Cyclesomatic 2012: iBike Rosemont, October 8th – 12th
Bike Friendly Oak Cliff
Not many of our events inspire more than this one.  None of our events we do mean more.  And , none of them have made more of a difference in a child’s life than iBike Rosemont.  This event has led to the actual first and completed buffered bike lane in the city of Dallas to date.  Want to start an iBike program at your local elementary school?  Reply to this post with your name and email address. …

Group Rides Webinar
League of American Bicyclists
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM EDT
Our panel of ride leaders and ride coordinators will discuss all aspects of a successful ride program, including planning and scheduling, communication, ride leader recruitment and training, and pace and safety issues.  Panel will include Steve Diamond of the Morris Area Freewheelers and others to be announced. This webinar is sponsored by BikeStoreGuys.com.

Why Cyclists Annoy You
Even though most aren’t a#$%^&*s like Jim Saksa
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
(Newser) – Jim Saska freely admits he is an “asshole cyclist.” “I’m that jerk weaving in and out of traffic, going the wrong way down a one-way street, and making a left on red. I’m truly a menace on the road,” he writes on Slate. But most cyclists aren’t, so he feels bad when people decry cyclists as a species. Recent studies show that cyclist misbehavior is way down, as are cycling accidents—even though more people are biking. So why do so many drivers hate all cyclists?

This next post will add a touch of class to your home.

Bike Chain Chandelier
By John Baichtal            blog.makezine.com

Facaro, the Etsy boutique of metalworker Carolina Fontoura Alzaga, sells beautiful chandeliers made from reclaimed bicycle parts. [via Arden]

Transportation Services to launch bike-share program
By Julie Blanco                www.thebatt.com
As a college student, the decision to purchase a bicycle can seem like an expensive commitment, particularly if one isn’t sure the bike will be used enough to justify the purchase.

Luckily for students at Texas A&M, Borrow-a-Bike, a short-term bike lease program from Transportation Services, will soon be available.

Students and employees who choose to participate in the new program can borrow a MaroonBike for a short period of time. Bicycles that are leased are due back the next day by 10 a.m. If the student borrows a bicycle on a Friday it must be returned the…

Biker Rides 10 Mile Race With Kitten in Her Bra
by Laura Simpson            www.care2.com
Written by Marjorie Monroy of Texas

One very hot summer day in June in Texas, I was out with my cycling club on a 50 mile ride through the countryside near Pearland.  We were near the end of the ride and going at a pretty good pace, around 20 to 22 mph and one of the girls I ride with asked me if I noticed the kitten.  Not thinking I heard her correctly, I asked her what she meant. She said, “the kitten on the side of the road back there.”  Well, that’s all I needed to hear. I pulled out of the pace line and went back.  At first I didn’t see anything, so I laid my bike down and started to walk in my bike shoes.  I saw some huge buzzards eating something and had a horrible feeling in my stomach.  Thankfully when I got closer, they flew away and they…

Doping: A Great Movie Someday
by Ken                Texas Racing Life
When I think about all the years of doping scandals, I think the whole situation would make one hell of a movie, if people in the US cared about cycling. I have no problem admitting that I am a recovering Armstrong freak; I first entered the sport because of his impressive wins during the Tour de France. I KNEW he wasn’t doping and vilified anyone that said otherwise. I hated dopers and yelled about how much they are ruining everything. I hated people that would question Lance’s domination. It was easy to hate foreigners like Basso or Ullrich when they got popped.

When Floyd tested positive, I simply couldn’t believe it. I look back now and marvel at my ability to circumvent evidence and truth. I wanted to believe these heroes were clean. When Floyd came clean and admitted everything, I HATED him. How could he make up such…