Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 12th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

No biking today. My wife and I worked in the yard and it won. Giant Liriope took over two flower beds bordering our front walk. Our job was to remove this stuff but the multitude of roots made this hard work. 4 hours later my legs, back and arms screamed for rest so no bike today.

Lancaster Assistance
www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/
We have reached out to the City of Lancaster regarding the recent tornado. The city is requesting only cash donations for the relief effort. Monetary Donations can be sent by mail or delivered to the Lancaster Outreach Center at 1120 Randlett, Lancaster TX 75134. All checks should be made payable to Lancaster Tornado Relief Fund. The American Red Cross Dallas is also accepting monetary donations for disaster relief. We will have a donation bucket set up at the Registration area on the Rally day.

We have been told that the downtown area and the rally routes are fine.

Which San Antonio trail should we ride?
by Aggie_Biker            forums.mtbr.com
My fiance and I are getting out Saturday morning to do a ride.. we are wanting to do a new trail. I have seen alot about the trails within SA and was wondering which one we should do. We are looking for about a 10 mile ride.

She is kind of a beginner but we have done Reimers, Madrone, Pace Bend, and Purgatory so she can handle some rocks!

So which would you guys vote for? McAllister Park, O.P. Schnabel, Salado Creek, or other??? Should I skip these and just go to Govt Canyon?? …

Want to buy your next custom bike at a kiosk?

Big Shot offers IBDs a bike-ordering kiosk
FT. COLLINS, CO (BRAIN) Thursday April 12 2012 3:20 PM MT—Big Shot Bikes, a three-year-old company that allows consumers to build and order custom fixie bikes online, is now opening dealers.

Besides offering retailers a line of stock bikes that are sold exclusively through brick-and-morter location, the Colorado-based brand is offering shops a showroom electronic kiosk so consumers can order up a custom bike and have it delivered to the store.

Big Shot offers its custom bikes in eight frame colors and allows consumers to mix-and-match colors of the frame, wheels, tires, chain and other parts, as well as choose the style of handlebar. Regardless of the custom…

SR Suntour fork forces recall of 17,000 bikes
WASHINGTON, DC (BRAIN) Thursday April 12 2012 2:35 PM MT—Three bike manufacturers and SR Suntour are working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 17,000 bikes because the SR Suntour suspension forks can fail.

The forks were on GT, Giant and Trek bikes sold from April 2011 through last month. The bikes retailed for between $400 and $600.

The CPSC said the fork’s “internal support tubes” can break and cause the rider to lose control and crash. SR Suntour has received reports of 12 fork failures including two that resulted in…

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 4/12- 4/18/12
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
It’s going to be a busy weekend! Kick it off with the Political Pedal, then choose between mountain bike racing or city art with some road bike sprinting practice for good measure.

Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all cycling events. As always, if there is an event you know about that’s not on our calendar contact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up. …

Colonel’s Bicycles Is Moving
by The Colonel

OK it’s official, we are moving to 851 Foch street. The shop should be up and running in the new location by early May. Our space is located next door to La Familia Mexican Restaurant. Stay tuned for more details.

Watch the road: Friday is Bike to Work Day in Houston
by Houston Chronicle (blog)
Pump up your tires.  Friday is Houston Bike to Work Day.

You can chart your own path or join the group ride that’s  scheduled to depart at 7 a.m. Friday from the Bike Barn, 5339 Weslayan, to ride to City Hall, 900 Bagby.  Mayor Annise Parker will meet that group about 8:15 a.m.

Sponsored locally by Metro and the City of Houston, Bike to Work Day is a project of the League of American Bicyclists.

Despite 12 years of celebrating Bike to Work Day, Houston still has a lousy reputation as a place to bicycle. …

SFA students support cause with 72-hour bicycle marathon
By Donna McCollum            www.ktre.com

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) – Members of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity are spending 72 hours pedaling on a bicycle, but will never leave the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. They’re hoping their marathon atop a stationary bike will take their fellow students on journey of understanding.

Students are taking turns pedaling non-stop, day and night, to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Push America, the fraternity’s philanthropy, instills a…

Huntsville HS Mountain bike race, Smithville, TX 2012
Video 3

Kids can Bike MS: Jr. to fight multiple sclerosis
By Nancy Churnin – Reporter        healthblog.dallasnews.com
I love when kids get an opportunity to help others while giving a boost to their own health. That’s why I think it’s so cool that the Bike MS: Jr. Ride for kids 5-11 has been added to the 25th annual Bike MS: Sam’s Club Frisco to Texas Motor Speedway Ride.

For $25, kids can register to take several laps around a “lil” Texas Motor Speedway, which will be set up right nest to the bike compound on Saturday, May 5, with the proceeds supporting…

Cleburne council declares R2R Day
By Matt Smith            cleburnetimesreview.com
Cleburne Mayor Justin Hewlett and the Cleburne City Council declared April 20 as Ride 2 Recovery Day in Cleburne during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Founded by former pro cyclist John Wordin, R2R sponsors bicycle rides throughout America to raise funding for therapy, recovery labs and other programs to assist veterans to overcome physical and mental injuries and other obstacles they face. …

Texas Tech Bicycle Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uupluYuiaA
My video for Texas Tech ISQS class

Ride 2 Recovery through Kyle and Buda
haysfreepress.com

More than 200 wounded U.S. veterans and support personnel will be cycling through Hays County on Tuesday on a statewide journey of recovery and rehabilitation.

Adorned in red, white and blue, some of the participants in the Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge will be pedaling with prosthetic legs. A few will be riding souped-up tricycles.

On April 16, they’ll leave the Center for the Intrepid, a unit for burn and…

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 11th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The 18th Annual Armadillo Hill Country Classic
Austin Cycling Association
The ACA needs you! Be sure to join us and volunteer for the 18th annual Armadillo Hill Country Classic ride on May 12th from Liberty Hill High School!

The Armadillo Hill Country Classic is a multi-distance, fully supported bike course that depends on 100+ volunteers for it’s success.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of the…

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Caterpillar Crawl Sunday, April 22
Description:     Meet at Rio Plaza for a very moderate climb over Transmountain then back via Anthony Gap. 45 miles. Larry Reid, 915-241-7160.

Zavala Elementary: Model of a Successful Elementary School Bike Club
www.biketexas.org
The success of the Zavala Elementary School bike club, The Freewheelin’ Mustangs, is a model for increasing biking and walking. The National Center for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) releases new travel mode report on characteristics called Shifting Modes: A comparative Analysis of SRTS Program Elements and Travel Mode Outcomes that identify the following four key factors that make a SRTS program…

Houston bicyclist aims to ride 24 hours, 500 miles, with no brakes.
Houston Chronicle


Cyclist willing to ride in circles for his cause While thousands prepare for the two-day MS 150 ride from Houston to Austin, Walter Dawes, a local bike mechanic, is readying himself for something more daunting and solitary. The disease primarily strikes children, and can cause cancer-like damage to the body. The feat, billed as “Big Fix 24,” is a throwback to tough times generations ago when people held 24-hour dance-a-thons and sat on flag poles, he said. In 2008, he was on his way to a similar goal at the track, which is owned by the city and run by the Greater Houston Cycling Foundation, when a fellow cyclist, riding nearby to encourage him, slid on dew…

Let’s Talk About Riding at Different Times of Day
by Darryl            lovingthebike.com
What is your ideal time of day to ride your bike, and why?

I spent a couple days on Lake Dunlap (outside of New Braunfels, Texas) last week and in the video below I throw out this question based on riding at different times of the day.  As with all our “Let’s Talk” posts, this one will be created by you.  Give us your comments, tips, and ideas on riding at different times of the day and let’s build this post up.

Have a look at the short video below to get you in the Let’s Talk spirit, and then let your comments fly. …

Lancaster Country Ride in Lancaster, TX
by WB admin            The Wheel Brothers – Cycling in Texas
The 15th annual Lancaster Country Ride benefiting various charities and the local communities invites you to join their ride happening on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Town Square Lancaster, TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Mike Eipper of Lancaster Country Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

1. Why participate in the Lancaster County Ride?
The Lancaster Country (not ‘County’) Ride is the prettiest lil’ ride in Texas….! It has wildflowers, rides on part of the Bluebonnet Trail near Ennis, and other scenic wonders, like several exotic animal farms…Keep your eyes peeled, and you’re likely to see Zebras, Camels, and other animals that make you smile on the route! Our route was mentioned as ‘…One of the 10 Best Rides in Texas’ in Texas Monthly, Oct, 2004, and we’re still riding the…

Great job to all the Brain & Spiners who raced Come and Take It!
Austin Cycling Association
Day 1 Crit:
Women’s Open:  Jenny Park – 5th, Kim Ciolli – 16th, Rheannon Cunningham – 21st, Lindy Alton – 25th.
Women’s Cat 4:  Kristen Kjellberg – 4th, Allison Floyd – 6th, Kelley Martin – 8th, Kelly Martinez – 10th.
Mens 40+:  James Murff – 8th, Larry Blanchard – 22nd, Gary Obernolte – 34th

Day 2 Road Race:…

LOBV endorsements, Political Pedal this Friday
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
This week the League of Bicycling Voters released their endorsements for the Saturday, May 12 City Council election:
Mayor: Both Lee Leffingwell and Brigid Shea
Place 2: Mike Martinez
Place 5: Bill Spelman
Place 6: Sheryl Cole

Visit their site for a full list of reasons behind the endorsements. If you want to vote in the May 12 election you have until this Thursday, April 12 to register with the Tax Assessor’s office.

The 16th annual Political Pedal this Friday
Since 1997 each year we help connect the Austin City Council candidates, the Travis County candidates and other candidates with the cycling community while riding on the common…

National Bike Challenge Starts May 1st!
by marc@mcmumby.com         BikeDFW
Ride your bike, challenge yourself, compete for your team, compete for Texas, save the planet!

BikeDFW is the regional host organization for The National Bike Challenge, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, the Bikes Belong Coalition, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and powered by Endomondo. The Challenge is designed to inspire Americans to get up and ride bicycles more often.

Record your bike rides online and you’ll automatically see the miles you’ve ridden, the calories you’ve burned, and the gas money you’ve saved.  You can connect and share stories with other riders and follow The Challenge…

Opportunity to discuss Anthills with Mayor Parker this Sat. April 14
GHORBA
Who: Mayor Annise Parker
What: Three Minutes with the Mayor (Neighborhood Office Hours)
When: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2012
Where: Hillendahl Neighborhood Library, 2436 Gessner Rd, Houston, Texas 77080

Notes: Mayor Parker is taking her Three Minutes with the Mayor neighborhood office hours on the road again. This time the destination is Spring Branch. The mayor is traveling to a different neighborhood once every quarter because she knows many Houstonians are unable to bring their questions and concerns to her at city hall. Three Minutes with the…

Auto-bicycle accident injures Blanton Elementary Student
Eric Williams            www.thenewsconnection.com
Early morning accident at busy school crossing strikes nerve of school officials and residents.

A Lantana eight-year-old whose bicycle was struck by an automobile was resting comfortably Wednesday afternoon with an icepack on her ankle after being rushed to the hospital because of an accident near the intersection of Lantana Trail and Stacee Lane. The girl was one her way to Blanton Elementary School at about 7:30 a.m.

“She had her helmet on,” said Cathi Ledet, mother of Abbey Spencer, the second grader who sustained a few bruises and scrapes when her bicycle was struck by an automobile crossing…

Cycling efforts of other colleges
By Pete Shannon                www.richlandchronicle.com
The League of American Bicyclists has a longstanding program called The Bicycle Friendly University.  It recognizes institutions of higher education for promoting and providing a more bicycle-friendly campus for students, staff and visitors.

The BFU program provides a roadmap and other technical assistance to create great campuses for cycling through an extensive checklist and a formal application process.  The second round of recognition for Bicycle Friendly Universities was recently announced and 26 schools were given Platinum, Gold and Silver Awards.  Fourteen more earned Honorable Mentions.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, based in Lexington, Ky., also lists 61 free…

Veterans cycle cross country for a cause (Video)
Author: Julie Parr            www.ktbs.com
Texarkana, TX – Two Iraq war veterans, bicycling across the country to raise awareness for veteran issues, made a stop in Texarkana.

The pair is half way through their 100 day cross-country “Wall-to-Wall” bike ride. Jeremy Staat is an Iraq veteran and a former NFL player.

He says they hope their journey will spotlight issues such as veteran suicide and childhood obesity, as well as, support…

San Marcos to welcome returning wounded vets
by PAT MURDOCK            smmercury.com
More than 200 wounded U.S. veterans and support personnel participating in the Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge will come rolling into San Marcos between 2 and 3 p.m. Monday, April 16, for the first top on their six-day trek to Arlington.

For the fourth consecutive year, the San Marcos community will welcome the heroes participating in the cycling program that is presented by…

Courage, Humility and the Fundraising “Ask”
Written by Yijiao Zhuang      www.nonprofitquarterly.org
Greens. Banknotes. Moolah. No matter what you call it, dollars lie at the heart of every nonprofit organization. And if “money” were the noun in this old school SAT analogy, then “fundraising” would most certainly be the verb. While the big, national nonprofit organizations have the resources and the luxury to create fancy, media-driven fundraising campaigns, when I was working with my first nonprofit in college, we were a small, local organization and about as grassroots as it got.

Texas 4000 is an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit committed to spreading hope, knowledge, and charity about cancer. Our cornerstone event is a 4,500-mile bike ride from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska undertaken by 50 University of Texas students every summer. Each rider had to raise a minimum of $4,500, a meaningful…

Bike Guru Gil Penalosa: Striped Bike Lanes Aren’t Enough to Make Dallas a Cycling City
By Patrick Williams                blogs.dallasobserver.com

The City Hall staffers who last year tried to toss road blocks in the path of a City Council plan to stripe 840 miles of bike lanes in Dallas — that’s 840 miles more than what the city has now — might be pleasantly surprised by part of what Gil Penalosa will have to say at his “Urban Bike Systems” presentation at 6 p.m. today at 1500 Marilla. (UPDATE: Everyone’s invited.) Turns out that Penalosa, an internationally renowned advocate for making cities…

Varied Route, Upped Average Speed – April 11th Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

I varied my route to Huffman today going further east to the Liberty County line on FM1960. The section east of FM2100 sports nice wide shoulders. I would like to go further east on FM1960 but TXdot resurfaced the road with chip’n seal a few years ago and I don’t need my teeth to be vibrated and my hands shook. Along with the route I upped my average speed to 15.7 mph (15.9 mph in Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.com). RideWithGPS.com calculated my max speed at 29.6 mph and Garmin Connect shows 21.0 mph which almost agrees with SportTracks 21.6 mph. With the varied route I increased the distance to 33.91 miles.

A  late morning start (11:21 AM) meant the weather warmed up some but not too much. 80 degrees at the start and 87 at the end. Humidity dropped from 60% to 43% offsetting the temperature change. Wearing the Solo Classic Konig jersey kept me quite comfortable. This is the third time to wear this jersey and it performs very well. I feel cooler with the wicking properties. The Konig jersey is more upscale than what I normally wear. (There is a special offer from Solo, see the comment below for details.) Scattered clouds with a 7 mph south breeze complimented the temperature. Looks like the great biking weather will hang around for several days.

It looks like other bikers do not ride when I do. Probably this is because they work and I am retired?

Some ride information:

  • 2:09:13 riding time
  • 82.1 RPM average cadence
  • 3:49 average pace (minutes to ride 1 mile)
  • 89.96 miles this week
  • 269.36 miles biked in April
  • 1488.71 miles YTD
  • RideWithGPS.com data link

[iframe http://connect.garmin.com/activity/167127891 98% 700]

4-11-2012 Home Weather Station End

4-11-2012 Home Weather Station End

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 10th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Cyclists take part in 39th Easter Hill Country Tour
dailytimes.com

About 1,000 riders from across the state took part in the Easter Hill Country Tour on Saturday. In total there are 11 routes, with five of those featured Saturday, ranging in distance from a 33-mile ride to a 103-mile trek. …

Easter Hill Country Tour Comment
Chris Tucker via email to Texbiker.net
Local coverage of the Easter Hill Country Tour. The actual print article isn’t much longer.

Over all, as a newbie to the ride, I’d say it was a great success. People of all levels of riding going over the same routes will great support from the DFW club who put on this years race! Good routes. I rode Saturday and Sunday, 31 mile route (36 from my house) and 20 Sun. (26 from my house).

Challenging routes but achievable for people not into shape yet. Loved the fact that the rest stops included sliced pickles. Real sodium replacement! Bananas and Oranges for potassium replacement! Water and Gatorade for those who weren’t supported by their Camelbak (like I was).

Makes me sorry that this is the only Kerrville based ride!

Any Adventurous Riders in the Rio Grande Valley? (McAllen area)
by El_Guapo                www.bikeforums.net
Trying to find some local cyclists who might be up for some backroads exploration riding. Most of my friends are road-only types, but I prefer hybrids and enjoy exploring the back roads and trails that most cyclists don’t frequent. I would love to meet some like-minded riders and go out as a group.

Ride To Dallas’ First Ciclovia – This Saturday
by dickdavid        Bike Friendly Richardson
A couple of us are volunteers for the Ciclovia de Dallas – happening this Saturday, April 14 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm., and we’re heading down there by DART and bike. Our goal is to arrive at 8:00 (an hour before it actually opens) to help set up. Click here for more information about Ciclovia de Dallas.

Anybody is welcome to join us. IF you want to volunteer, click here to sign up. OR, If you just want ride with us, then tool around downtown Dallas for an hour until it opens, you are more than welcome to do that as well. …

Urban Bike Systems presentation at City Hall Wednesday April 11th
by The Announcer Guy        Biking in Dallas
From the press release:
Public Information Office www.dallascityhall.com City of Dallas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public invited to Urban Bike Systems presentation at City Hall
What: Gil Penalosa, an internationally renowned leader in creating great cities and communities through active public spaces will give a presentation on urban bike systems and pedestrianism as the City prepares to implement…

Deep Ellum Bike Co-op Fundraising Shin-dig Sunday April 15th
by The Announcer Guy        Biking in Dallas
From the Facebook Event Page:
Deep Ellum Bike Co-op Fundraising Shin-dig: “One-Eyed, One-Horned, Bikin’ Purple People Eater”
Sunday April 15th @ 1pm 3615 Parry Avenue Dallas, Texas
Join us for a BIKE RIDE FUNDRAISER PARTY to build up the Deep Ellum Bike Co-op!Come dressed in PURPLE, decorate your bike in purple, come with one eye one horn.. because themes are fun. We will have a leisure cruise then stop for a party in Expo Park with booze, bikes, bbq, bikes, …

Bike to Work Day Approaches
by Ultimate West U
The April 13 event is the first of three Bike to Work Days to be held in 2012. The forthcoming Bike to Work Days will feature a ride in the Energy Corridor on May 17 and a ride to the new Texas Medical Center on May 18. Bicyclists are urged to prepare …

Cycling mantra: Be prepared
By Andy Olin        www.chron.com
Almost as important as knowing how to repair a flat tire is being equipped to actually fix it. And while not everyone is the DIY-type, anyone who spends much time and money riding a bike should at least know how to do that.

If not more.

About 48 miles into the recent Gran Fondo Texas TMCO ride, a snapped chain left me on the side of the road assuming my day was done. The biggest problem I was prepared for was a busted tire. Lucky for me, the…

Sitting In With Cycle Camp USA!
by djcurtin            It’s Time to Ride
If’ you’ve been getting our newsletter or checking out our website or our Twitter or Facebook feeds, you’ve likely seen that we’ve partnered with Cycle Camp USA on some clinics this year. I first checked out nearly two years ago. Since then their name has changed, their program has changed some, but their goal—being your road to better bike fitness—has stayed the same. I recently sat down with Cycle Camp USA’s founders, Trey Steele and Dave Appel, for a chat about what’s new with the guys in blue.

So.  What’s up? Seriously, let’s start with the name. Why the change?

TS:  The goal was always to grow the business and take what we think is the right tool for most riders looking to get stronger on the bike to a wider audience. When we decided to expand nationwide, we wanted to have one…

Stampede on the Chisholm Trail in Belton, TX
by WB admin            The Wheel Brothers
The 2nd Annual Belton Lions Club – Stampede on the Chisholm Trail benefiting the Belton Lions Club invites you to join their ride happening on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Belton Park and Ride at Confederate Park  505 East Avenue C @ IH 35  – Belton, Texas

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Robert Jones of Stampede on the Chisholm Trail to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

1. Why participate in The Stampede on the Chisholm Trail?
The ride is a project of the Belton Lions Club in Belton, Texas. The motto of Lions Clubs worldwide is, “We Serve.” Your participation in our event will help us to continue to serve the greater Belton community. The ride begins with a stroll through downtown historic Belton, across Nolan Creek and the Hike and Bike Trail out west…

Time Trial Series
Tyler Bicycle club
Time Trial Series will resume on April 12, at 6:30 PM.  Elite Bicycles is donating a $1,200 Roval wheel set to a random participant! Click the link above for details!

SB 250 Jersey designs…
Team McAllen

ARE IN!!
The jerseys look awesome and amazing thanks to Wally at Wally’s Bicycles and Castelli!
Sign up for the SB 250 to get your jersey!

Tuesday Rides – Waco Bicycle club
Cameron Park Beginner Mountain Bike Ride
Tuesday 05:30 PM
Mountain/beginner More

Waco Dam
Tuesday 05:30 PM
Road/all levels More

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Thursday, April 19
Pace Lines – B/IG
Description: Introduction to Pace Lines
On this ride we will introduce riding as a group in a pace line. Learn how to pull (you will be the hero of the next group ride) and rotate (it is an acquired skill) as a pace line. Program starts at 5:50pm and the ride takes off at 6:05pm. All riders should be there at least 15 minutes early. Meet at Rio Plaza at Artcraft & Upper Valley. …

BSS_Austin 2 hrs        via Twitter
Super Squadra’s 1st 2012 DLA Piper Driveway Academy Clinic was a hit! If you missed tonight, the next one is May 8th.

Texas MTB is like Road Riding?
By Shawn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mISZDFhwIg
http://www.texasmountainbiketrails.com/texasmtb – I saw a video yesterday that said mountain biking in Texas was like riding on the road. I disagree 100%, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on that question.

So what do you think? Is Texas Mountain Biking the same as road riding?