Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail in the Sam Houston National Forest is open, according to Forest Supervisor Mark Van Every.
Trails, trailheads and other areas where the public gathers in the forest were closed in March when it became apparent that the large number of dead trees killed in the drought created a safety hazard.
Trail sections open in the Sam Houston National Forest include:
Double Lake Mountain Bike Trail in Double Lake Recreation Area.
3 miles of the Lone Star Hiking trail from Forest Service Road 219 Trailhead parking lot (the Lone Star Hiking Trail Club Trailhead No. 1) to FM 149 South Trailhead parking lot (Lone Star Hiking Trail Club Trailhead No. 4).
Three miles of the Lone Star Hiking Trail from the parking lot on the I-45 feeder road north of Huntsville State Park (Lone Star Hiking Trail Club Trailhead No. 7) to the Camella Lake spillway.
One mile adjacent to the Ranger’s office in New Waverly.
Let’s Talk About Planning Your Ride
by Darryl         lovingthebike.com
What is your methodology for planning out your ride? This is another of our Let’s Talk posts that will be built by you so let’s hear all you have to say about your pre-ride strategy. What determines how far you’ll ride or what route you’ll take? Do you follow a training program? We want to hear about your comments, suggestions, and opinions about everything having to do with planning out your ride.
The video below serves as a prelude to generating comments to this topic, but feel free to…
The Myth of the Bicycle Helmet
by Mark Stewart       www.risksense.org
Don’t worry; I am talking to myself, not to you. I am warning myself before I take the leap into a realm of challenging a truism. In a recent survey, 92% of respondents reported that they are in favor of mandatory bicycle helmet laws for children, and 83% are in favor of helmet laws for all cyclists. Groups as disparate as the American Pediatric Association and various State Departments of Transportation recommend the usage of helmets for cyclists. And, on and on. Yet, they might all be wrong. Bicycle helmets…
Seven New Campaigns Launched at Winning Campaigns Training in Houston, Texas
Alliance for Biking & Walking: People Powered Blog
Over the second weekend in June, the Alliance held the third Winning Campaigns Training of the year in Houston, Texas. The training, hosted by BikeHouston and Citizens’ Transportation Coalition, had participants representing nine different organizations from across the state.
The training was a great way for the participants to kick off this summer, with seven outstanding campaigns geared towards improving biking and walking in communities across Texas. Marissa Taler from Bike Houston, who created a campaign to launch an open streets initiative in Houston, stated that the Winning Campaigns…
Grab your bike: Urban Assault set for Sunday
By Pam LeBlanc      Fit City
If you’d rather fling a Frisbee, power slide a Big Wheel and leap into a foamy pit of suds than simply swim, bike or run, you need to check out the New Belgium Urban Assault Ride.
I did the ride a few years ago, and found myself rambling all over the city on my bicycle, paddling an oversized inflatable ducky through Lady Bird Lake at one point, jousting on a bike at another and solving word puzzles in…
Getting his kicks on Route 66
www.beverleyguardian.co.uk
With this week being National Bike Week, how would you like to cycle 2,451 miles in three weeks?
Well, that’s exactly what Jim Windass will be doing when he tackles America’s historic Route 66, to try to raise in excess of £10,000 for Dove House Hospice in Hull.
As a training ride for the main ‘Cycle 66’ event, Jim cycled along part of the UK’s National Cycle Route 66 on Saturday, starting from his home in Hull and finishing at the Dove House Hospice shop in Market Weighton – a distance of 22 miles.
Jim, 63, will begin his mammoth 2,451-mile journey at Loving Heart Hospice in Los Angeles, California, before winding through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and…
1,700 riders & $5,000 donated to @bambergerranch! Thanks sponsors, volunteers, & all the riders! See you all next year! cc: @RealAleBrewing
Gonna be in Houston, need a bike.
by MuppetMower         www.bikeforums.net
I’m going to be flying to Houston for 2-3 weeks and I would like to find a road bike to use while I’m there. I’d really rather not fly with my bike because I have had good friends have bad experiences recently. It doesnt need to be anything fancy, and I ride a 56cm which is probably easier to find. Obviously, I would be…
7/21 Midnight Massacre Gravel Grinder
Midnight Massacre 7/21!!!!!!! | The Spinistry
USA Cycling Permit # 2012-2688
The Midnight Massacre is a metric century(ish) gravel grinder starting at 8 pm near Ponder, TX. The route will primarily be made up of dirt/gravel roads as well as some short and desolate paved segments. Headlights and tail lights are required but this should be an excellent way to beat the summer heat in Texas and take in a new type of adventure.
UPDATE…We will be offering a shorter 41 mile route as an alternate. This would make a great intro to gravel grinding or…
Strava sued for negligence in cyclist’s death
www.bicycleretailer.com
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (BRAIN)—The family of a San Francisco cyclist killed two years ago when he crashed into a car while speeding on his bike has sued Strava for encouraging dangerous behavior to win challenges on the popular social networking website.
In a seven-page negligence lawsuit filed Monday in San Francisco’s Superior Court, the parents of Kim Flint Jr., 41, claim their son crashed while he was attempting to defend his “King of the Mountain†title in Orinda, California’s Tilden Park on June 19, 2010. …
Tips from a pro mechanic #2 – Postride checks
www.peopleforbikes.org/
Whether you are new to bicycling or an experienced rider, it can never hurt to brush up on tips to help you take care of your bike. That’s why we’ve asked pro bike mechanic, local bike shop owner, and friend of PeopleForBikes.org Daimeon Shanks to help us with a four-part series on bike mechanics and maintenance. This post explains the ideal technique for washing your bike.
Topic 2 of 4 – Postride Checks
After your ride, you’ll need to determine whether you should do a full bike wash or whether you can get away with a simple wipe down. If you’re like me and you live in a moderate climate, such as Colorado’s, then most days your bike won’t be exposed to much of the elements and you can simply wipe down your bike and put it…
As promised, we have some brilliantly inspirational stories coming up in a series of posts from the #bikeschool & LovingTheBike.com communities. First up is Part 1 of ‘Century’ by Aaron Madrid (@Aaronthestrong). Our thanks go out to Aaron for putting a load of effort into his writing, I’m sure you’re going to enjoy what he has to say.
Joining the Century Club- Part 1
This past Saturday I accomplished one of my major cycling goals… I rode a century. For those that might not be up on the “lingo†a century means 100 miles. Yes, I know…I am awesome. Forgive me if I sound a bit egotistical, but as I write this it is still only a couple days since the big ride, and I feel like I am pretty much invincible. Those that have been there will likely understand, and the rest of you can just think I’m egotistical for a bit. For me it wasn’t just 100 miles that made it such an accomplishment and memorable day, but I’m getting…
In an effort to get messages about track conditions and cancellations out faster and more efficiently, we've… http://t.co/gkRmy3p9
When We Ride – a film by Kato Bentley
by Christopher Curnutt      Biking in Dallas
Some of you have seen this video made by local photographer, videographer and musician, Kato Bentley. For those of you who haven’t you’re in for a treat. Most of it was filmed at the Tits Tuesday or Monday Night Mash rides. I think he does a nice job capturing the community and adventure of cycling in Dallas. …
CU Member In Focus
by Ray Garza      Ciclistas Urbanos
While looking over other cycling blogs of cycling groups similar to Ciclistas Urbanos (CU), I noticed that a few of them offered a spotlight on certain members. Be it a new member or someone that recently accomplished a goal, there was a small write up on them. I was thinking what a great idea that was and why can’t we do that with our blog. Recently, CU ranks have been growing at a fast clip so I have a large pool of cyclist to choose from. After a quick thought, one new member stood out, Leticia Lopez.
It was about January 2012 that Leticia found the CU Facebook site and started posting inquiries about the club and wanting to ride. Here are some of her quotes from Facebook: …
Cycling: Criteriums move south
By Tom Behrens         www.chron.com
The annual summer cycling criteriums that were held for 20 years at Memorial Park will not be racing at the park this summer. On Wednesday, June 6, the first race of the popular criterium season was held in the Joe K. Butler Stadium parking lot, 13755 South Main. Neither Greg Bauer, organizer for the criteriums, nor a spokesperson for the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department would comment on the reasons for the change, however it was rumored the change was brought about because of possible safety issues along the bicycle race route in the park.
In February of 2011 KRIV-TV reported a bicyclist was possibly paralyzed after he fell, hitting a wooden post along the bike race route. It was also reported another…
Pro-Biking Mayor Recovering after Bike Accident
Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price suffered a concussion and broken collarbone after taking a spill on a bad patch of gravel.
By Aylin Zafar      newsfeed.time.com
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price is an avid cyclist who regularly bikes up to 125 miles a week and organizes rides in the city like “Tour de Fort Worth.†She holds weekly town hall meetings on wheels, which include a bike ride and discussion with fellow cycling members of the community.
Now, Price is recovering following a nasty bike accident Saturday morning, CBS Dallas Fort Worth reports, when she took a bad spill on a dangerous patch of gravel…
Team RAAM Sarcoma powered by Bacchetta Bikes
by sooner1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shawnee Trail Cycling Club
Steve Petty, Shawnee Trail Cycling Club member and dedicated endurance cyclist (with his lovely wife Peggy). Steve is currently involved one of the ultimate feats for someone that loves to ride (and ride, and ride, and…). Steve is a member of Team RAAM Sarcoma, pedaling their way across America.
They are traveling 3,000 miles, climbing 100,000 feet and doing all this in 7 days or less. They are about to complete the crossing of the rockies and heading towards the plains of Kansas.
You can follow Steve and Peggy on the blog we’ve set up for them (click here), with a news feed of posts appearing on the right banner of this site. Peggy and other members of the crew are relaying information to me…
We are combining forces with the ladies for a weekend co-ed ride at MULESHOE Park. Bring your floaties and swimsuit as we’ll make a full day of riding laps under the shade of trees and cooling off in Lake Travis until our toes wrinkle!
Riders will break into groups based on skill level, length of ride and whether one wants to rips up the trails or ride at a social pace and smell the flowers. “No Drop” policy in effect so no one gets left behind or lost. Bring plenty of water and don’t forget your helmet!!ARR will host a post…
Brew and Brats
El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Wednesday, July 4Â Â Â 7:00 PM
Description:    Back by popular demand, 4th of July party on the Clark’s patio followed by fireworks at 9 p.m. courtesy of El Paso Country Club. Bring an appetizer, side dish, or desert. Home brew (Brown Ale, Phatt Tire), some soft drinks, brats & fixins provided. If you want something different to drink, bring your favorite adult beverage. Get that comfy folding chair out of your garage and bring it too. Bob & Connie Clark’s 226 Oleander Way, Please RSVP by July 1 at …
Tour d’Italia 2012 a Success
www.lonestarcyclists.org
Another year of the Tour d’Italia is behind us. One rider commented, “I am new to Texas, and have been doing these rides every weekend, and this is by far the best organized ride I have done.”
Thank you to all of you who volunteered to help with this year’s tour in any way. We will be gathering in July for our post TDI wrap up, and talk about what went well and what things could be done better next year. Details of date and time coming soon!
Super Squadra's Super JETS getting ready to take the line at Junior and U23 Nationals in Augusta! Good luck, fellas! pic.twitter.com/SNTWDGyy
If you’ve ever been out to the Justin P. Brindley trail at Sugar Land Memorial Park you’ve no doubt seen the 14 man-made technical trail features that were installed when the trail was built. Have you ever wished that a real pro could teach you how to ride some of them? Well here’s your chance! Our expert TTF skills instructors Scott McCloskey and Alex Tsounis are ready to show you all you need to know to safely conquer these obstacles and more. We are offering two beginner and two intermediate classes on Saturday July 21st. Each class will have a maximum of 5 students to optimize the amount of one-on-one time. All classes will start out in the field near the pavilion on smaller TTF’s then move to the larger ones out on the trail. Registration is first come first serve so get your email to me quick! Please do not sign up if you have no intention of trying the TTF’s out on the trail. Make room for those who will.
Current GHORBA Membership is required to participate. Click here to Verify Membership Expiration Date (must be logged in) or Contact the Membership Director.
Class Times: (Click each link to register)
In addition to registering you MUST email me, Mike Strawn, Clinics Director to reserve your spot. Just clicking on the register button on this page will NOT guarantee you a spot. Please include which class and at what time you would like to attend. Do to insurance requirements you must be a member of GHORBA to attend this clinic. GHORBA will have water, Gatorade, sodas, and light snacks on hand free of charge for all students. You must bring a bike, helmet, and water bottle or hydration pack to participate.
For more information on what will be taught please check out our Skills Clinic page on the GHORBA website here:Â http://ghorba.org/skills-clinics
