Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 7th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

In Houston for the week. Looking for a ride. 😉
by [dB]Will            forums.mtbr.com
Hey everyone! I’m in Houston for the week trying to get my girlfriend settled in and then I’ll be moving out here in mid- to late-November. I have a lot of time on my hands this week as she’s started her new job and is busy getting up to speed there. I was hoping/seeing if anyone in the area had an extra bike they’d like to lend and go for a little ride during the week. I was wanting to check out Memorial Park as it’s the closest trailhead to where we’re looking of moving and I heard they were pretty laid-back. I’m not looking for a leg-killing…

Houston Bicycle Club September Meeting
When: Program: Tuesday 09/11/12 at: 7:00 PM HEB Community Room at I-10 and Bunker Hill Our speaker will be Robert Rowley, who bicycled across Africa. He will share his adventures and he has a short video to show us.

El Paso Bicycle Club Rides & Events
09/09/2012 – 09/15/2012
Sunday, September 9
• 6:30 am : The B/IG Century
Monday, September 10
• 5:45 pm : Monday Training Ride Meet at Rio Plaza (6205 Upper Valley Rd at Artcraft) for a one-hour hard-core leaderless ride up Artcraft to Border Crossing and back. 20 miles.
Tuesday, September 11
• 6:30 pm : B/IG Graduation
Wednesday, September 12
• 5:45 pm : Wednesday night ride Leave from Rio Plaza (6205 Upper Valley, at Art Craft) and go 18-20 miles through the Upper Valley to…
Saturday, September 15
• 7:30 am : Valley and Vado Meet at Rio Plaza, Artcraft and Upper Valley. Ride to La Mesa via the Valley then on to Vado and return on the rollers. 40…

Fixed Touring Hosts Weekly Saturday Morning Slaughter Group Ride
Submitted by The Announcer Guy        Biking in Dallas
Fixed Touring hosts a ride each Saturday called “Saturday Morning Slaughter“.  From their website:
If you are a novice who wants to ride Further, Faster, Stronger, come to the
SATURDAY MORNING SLAUGHTER

We meet every Saturday morning and ride on average 50 miles, at least 30, at most 80.  This is a NON-DROP ride, if you need to drop out we will ride you to a safe drop point. However all riders should expect to put in some miles. average pace is probably around…

7:30am – Harden Dental Team Ride
by Scott Franklin            Corinth Cycling Club
When: Sat Sep 15, 2012 7:30am to 10:30am  CDT
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Description: This is the weekly training ride for the Corinth Cycling/Harden Dental race team. This is a 62 mile loop on an established route. Expect a fast pace and be prepared to fix your own mechanicals. There are no stops on this ride.

Upcoming September Events
by bobdole            GHORBA
Article category: General
Group Rides – Two group rides will be held in September. A beginners only ride will be held at Timberlane Trails on September 8th 9AM and an all level ride will be held at The Anthills on September 15th. These rides are free of charge and open to all riders so come on out and experience a new trail or ride an old trail with friends and try some new challenges.

Trail Building/Maintenance Clinic – GHORBA will be hosting a two day trail building and maintenance clinic, taught by S&S Trails, on September 22nd and 23rd. If you’re interested in learning more about sustainable trail building techniques and proper maintenance techniques, this is the place to learn it. Space is extremely limited for this clinic and you must have a confirmed registration to attend. More information is available on the clinic here and questions can be sent to the VP trails. The clinic itself is free and is provided via a TPWD RTP Grant.

For all you racers out there (or those wanting to get started!) the TMBRA Fall Series kicks off Labor Day weekend with the Camp Eagle Classic. Check out tmbra.org for more information.

STS Results
by bobdole            GHORBA
Article category: General
The STS results are here! PDF files for each race as well as the series overall are listed in the links below. The series is 3 out of 4 races and you must have participated in a minimum of three races to take an overall win in your Category.

How to read the results:
In the final file there are some points listed in red and in green.  The red stands for changes in Cat (up or down). Example, if you are in Cat 3 but you race one time in Cat 2 you will be awarded one level up, the opposite will…

Testimony concludes at bicycle deaths trial
By Craig Kapitan        www.mysanantonio.com
Despite having caused the deaths of a married couple on a tandem bicycle three years ago, Gilbert John Sullaway Jr. has a reputation for being peaceful and law-abiding, his priest and other acquaintances said Thursday as testimony concluded in his criminally negligent homicide trial.

Jurors, who have been listening to testimony in the 144th state District Court since last week, are expected to…

Driver cleared in cyclists’ deaths
By Craig Kapitan        www.mysanantonio.com
A wreck that resulted in the deaths of two bicyclists — and sparked outrage in San Antonio’s cycling community — did not amount to a felony, a jury decided Friday after two hours of deliberations.

Gilbert John Sullaway Jr., 43, could have faced up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of criminally negligent homicide for the Oct. 1, 2009, deaths of Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler. …

What makes a good trail?
by Shawn McAfee            Texas Mountain Bike Trails
I’ve been thinking a lot about which trails here in Dallas-Fort Worth would make my top 5 trails list. The big question in my head, what makes a good trail.

You’re probably already thinking of your top 5 in your head, I’m sure everyone has at least 2 of the same ones in mind.

The reason that I keep deliberating back and forth is because there is so much variety here in DFW, and in all of Texas really. …

https://twitter.com/MitchellGSides/status/244289201393250304

Late Start in the Heat – September 7th Bicycle Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

This could be the last day of high 90’s temperatures for several days. It was 97 degrees when I finished riding and Weather Underground said it felt like 111 degrees, combining the heat and humidity. I got a late start (11:37 am) because I was watching stage 19 of the Vuelta a Espana. My watching came to an abrupt end when the interest video stream stopped with about 35 kilometers to the finish. I tried to find another stream but no success. (I watched the recap when I got back from riding) I rode the Huffman TX route with the thought of not riding that far but I ended up going 28.71 miles. This route avoids the Love bugs mostly but there were a few at the Huffman Chevron station while I drank a Sunkist Diet Orange. I wrung out my wrist bands while I rested but my gloves were only half wet. The station was busy and several people commented about the heat and riding. I averaged 15.4 mph with a 21.1 mph max speed and 79.1 RPM average cadence. The scattered clouds and calm wind accentuated the heat feeling. I did see a couple of other bicyclists today in Kingwood.

Other metrics:

  • 1:51:34 moving time, 26:30 time stopped
  • 130.41 miles this week
  • 146.73 miles in September (almost up to last year’s monthly total with 23 days to go)
  • 4864.0 miles YTD
  • RidewithGPS.com map and metrics

I will not ride the next two days due to other commitments.

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What makes a good trail?

Texbiker.net Posted on by

What Makes A Good Trail?

I’ve been thinking a lot about which trails here in Dallas-Fort Worth would make my top 5 trails list. The big question in my head, what makes a good trail.

You’re probably already thinking of your top 5 in your head, I’m sure everyone has at least 2 of the same ones in mind.

The reason that I keep diliberating back and forth is because there is so much variety here in DFW, and in all of Texas really.

What is the criteria that you make your picks based on? 

Would you base your top trails on the fact that they are the most scenic? What about the most technical, or most climbing. What about the trails with the best flow or maybe even just simple convenience to where you live.

There are so many different things you could list as being the reason you chose a particular trail. It makes the question so much more difficult.

If you were going to pick your top 5 trails, what criteria would you use to choose?

I would for you to share your thoughts with the world on what makes a good trail.

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.

-Shawn

The post What makes a good trail? appeared first on Texas Mountain Bike Trails.

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 6th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

GHORBA All-Level Group Ride at the Anthills!
by soccerdude        forums.mtbr.com
As many of you know, The Anthills were recently added as one of GHORBA’s official trails and since that time the trail gnomes have been hard at work armoring weak spots, working to improve flow, and rebuilding bridges to make this one of Houston’s top trails. If you’ve ever had trouble finding the trails, or you don’t know the best direction to take, or maybe you want to ride the ‘secret’ jumps then now’s your chance! Join us on Saturday September 15th at 9:00 am and let our team of expert ride leaders show you the best The Anthills has to offer and all for free! Don’t miss this opportunity to ride one of the best trails in town and hang out with your fellow riders. GHORBA will have…

First Social Ride for Fall 2012
Bronc Cycling Team
Great turn out at Bucky’s Block Party last Thursday! Come and join us for our first Social Ride of the year on Wednesday, September 19th at 6 PM! We’ll have have more information about the spring semester and information regarding the team, so come on out! We will meet at the Quad in the middle of campus! Hope to see you there!

Prosecutors rest at bicycle death trial
By Craig Kapitan        www.mysanantonio.com

Prosecutors rested their case Wednesday in the criminally negligent homicide trial of Gilbert John Sullaway Jr., who could face up to 10 years behind bars if jurors decide a wreck he caused that killed two bicyclists amounts to a felony.

Sullaway, 43, swerved off Texas 16 and onto an improved shoulder, hitting Gregory and Alexandra Bruehler as they…

Upcoming Rides
Bike Barn Houston
At Bike Barn we pride ourselves on supporting the Houston Cycling Community.  We show that support through our commitments with various rides and charities around the greater Houston area.  In addition we strive to enhance your experience and share our passion for cycling by providing free weekly rides and one free monthly group ride.  The weekly rides start from each of our store locations and are very casual, our monthly ride location…

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