Apparently moving about 4 cubic yards of mulch in a wheelbarrow did not inhibit me from biking today. The yard work continued today under beautiful weather that stayed with us while I biked. Those 4 yards got moved in about 2 hours. Tomorrow we hit the pile again. I think the weather should repeat as well. Today’s biking weather fit the dream scenario very well: 88 degrees, clear sky, 5 mph NW wind. When I rode in the shade the light breeze plus my riding produced a pleasant feeling of comfort. Tomorrow when I get up I will see if the wheelbarrow trips did me in.
With the NW breeze I decided to go on my northerly route since it rotated into position from my southeast route of yesterday. I was able to pedal at a good pace and made up my deficit time to get my average speed to 15 or more by the time I got to the 10 mile point. With my repaired bottom bracket I can pedal smoother than before although this may be more mental than actual. The sounds are much less and the movement of the chain over the derailleur and cogs smoother. No other bikers out today that I saw.
The Tour of the Basque Country continued today with an up hill finish. No hills like that around here though so I need to charge up the overpasses if I want to simulate this in a mild manner.
Today’s ride recap:
1:56:24 moving ride time
15.3 mph average speed (4 of the 5 mile laps above 16.0 mph)
From Community Cycling Center volunteer to professional mechanic…in Texas!
By Britt Appleton, Social Media Specialist
In January we wrote about one of our volunteers, Ashley Haire. When we met Ashley she was new to fixing bikes. She said in the Volunteer Spotlight that she could “sort of change a bike tire.†Ashley threw herself into our volunteer program and before long she…
…Recently we heard from Ashley that she is now working for a bike shop in Denton, TX on Saturdays. She found their post while looking on Craigslist for bikes. Originally, Ashley was interested in keeping up her mechanic skills in a…
El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Sunday, April 15
Heart of El Paso
Description: Â Â Â Leave from Starbucks in Kern Place (N. Mesa at Kirby). Head over Scenic Drive, wind through neighborhoods on the east side of town, down Viscount and Hunter to North Loop, with a loop or two through Ascarate Park, then return via Executive Center and back on Mesa. About 30 miles, intermediate pace (16-19 mph). Rebecca Reza, 225-0011.
Fort Worth Bicycling Association
Our most recent Paceline (the club’s online newsletter) is available below.
From the newsletter:
I can’t believe it is finally here. The 2012 Easter Hill Country Tour is upon us and the club is hosting the event.   I am hoping that this year’s ride will be like the one in 2008, where the participants had the best EHCT since the last time the FWBA hosted. You don’t know how many people have mentioned in the last three tours that they look forward to our club hosting the…
Ride Around Ovilla
Lone Star Cyclists
Pace: Easy and Touring
Date: Saturday, April 14, 2012 – 8:00am
Location: Cedar Hill High School (East side of Hwy 67 and Cooper Street)
From Cedar Hill High School we will head east and loop around and through Ovilla on routes of 49 or 26 miles. The 26 mile route is fairly flat without any major hills so if it has been awhile since you’ve been on your bike, this would be a good ride. The 49 mile route will loop farther east past the Red Oak High School. It is also a relatively…
Save the Date! 2012 Cyclist Census
by UrbanPedal      Dallas Cycle Chic
April 21st 10am – 2pm all over Dallas
Come be counted in the 2012 Dallas Cyclist Census and be entered in the running for the people’s choice Face of Biking in Dallas! Photographers will be stationed around Dallas taking photos of cyclists.
Winner gets cool swag from Linus, Richardson Bike Mart, Transit Bikes, Oak Cliff Bicycle Co and more. Not to mention bragging rights. …
San Antonio resident Glenn Stuart is doing a fundraiser with the goal of raising $30,000 to help the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living to help pay to replace the trailer and recreation equipment…
LETTER: City needs bike lanes
by San Angelo Standard Times
Believe it or not, making a bike lane on streets is an answer to both of these questions. A bike lane would allow for people to ride safely, and also save money on gas. Adding a lane for bikes can reduce collisions by 40 percent. …
Jackson misses out on national cycle program
By Tram Whitehurst, Jackson Hole Daily
The town of Jackson failed to make the cut for a national program meant to help cities make streets easier and safer for cyclists to use.
The Green Lane Project announced Tuesday it selected six cities for the first year of the program. The winners — Chicago; San Francisco; Washington; Austin, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; and Portland, Ore. — will receive funding and advice to help build their bike networks. …
Bikes Belong’s Green Lane Project selects six focus cities
www.bikesbelong.org
Bikes Belong’s Green Lane Project has selected six focus cities that will become national leaders in creating comfortable spaces for people on bikes over the next two years:
Austin, Texas
Chicago, Illinois
Memphis, Tennessee
Portland, Oregon
San Francisco, California
Washington, D.C.
The Green Lane Project is leading the effort to catalyze the installation of world-class bicycling facilities in the U.S. “We are seeing an explosion of interest in making bicycling stress-free on busy city streets, †said Tim Blumenthal, Bikes Belong president. “The selected cities have ambitious goals and a vision…
OPC Buck Creek Mountain Biking: Early Registration Ends TODAY!
techannounce.ttu.edu
Don’t miss out on joining us for a new mountain biking venue! We’re headed to Abilene, TX to ride the local Buck Creek Mountain Biking Trails. With nearly twenty miles of single track, this will be a fantastic opportunity for beginners to try mountain biking for the first time, and for experienced riders to try out a new place! We’ll ride for most of the day, and be back in time for dinner.
Trip Dates: April 14
Early Registration Deadline: April 4…
April Happy Hour!!!!!
Plano Bicycle Association
APRIL HAPPY HOUR
Get to know each other without our helmets on!!
Wednesday, April 18 at 6:30 pm
Kelly’s East Side Pub, a PBA sponsor
1422 Avenus K
Plano, 75074
972-424-9200
Dam to Dam Bike Ride in Jasper, TX
by WB admin            www.wheelbrothers.com
The 9th Annual Dam to Dam Bike Ride benefiting Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to join their ride happening on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Jasper County Courthouse Square 121 Austin Street Jasper, TX
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Amber Lynch of Dam to Dam Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride. …
I am beginning to wonder if digging holes for plants in the yard strengthens leg muscles. My reason for thinking along this line: today for about three or four miles I got in a bigger gear than my usual one and my speed stayed above 20 mph getting up 27.6 mph according to the RideWithGps.com calculation. (SportTracks only showed 22.9 mph) Maybe another reason exists but my effort did not seem too severe or straining. The calm wind meant no tailwind assist either. The cool feeling temperature (83 start, 79 finish) and mostly cloudy skies did not cook my effort so that helped.
Late this morning until about 1:30 my wife and I worked in the yard planting a number of large plants. Digging through tree roots is no fun but I made it. Feeling a whiff of success we stopped for the day and went inside to eat lunch. I planned to get out biking by 2:30 but while we ate the truck arrived with 10 yards of mulch for tomorrow’s activity. I guess I will see if shoveling mulch helps biking muscles too! So I did not get started until 3:54. I did miss most of the school letting out traffic except for the stray bus. Tomorrow’s ride will start in the afternoon if the mulch shoveling does not work me over too much.
The Tour of the Basque Country was on live today via streaming over the internet. I think the commentators spoke Spanish but it might have been Italian. If I keep watching the foreign streaming I might learn another language.
TEXAS QUEST CANCELLATION
Texas Adventure Racing
Folks, I am sad to report that the race must be cancelled due to forest conditions.  The U.S. Forest Service has closed the trails in the Double Lake Recreation Area of the Sam Houston National Forest, including Lone Star Trial, and all other trails, including hiking, mountain-bike, equestrian, jeep and all multi-use trials. The specifics are this: the trails were closed by the Forest Service due to the loss of trees from last year’s drought.
It is sad and frustrating on many levels as the Double Lake Recreation Area mountain bike trails have been shaping up very nicely with GHORBA’s efforts and we have explored…
FrankenBike # The Ultimate Bike Swap
Saturday, April 14, 2012
10:00 AM
Wings N More
509 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
Coming here after the Katy Ram Challenge ? Bring a crate full of your surplus bike stuff, and an appetite. The Wings has great burgers, fries, and beverages that will get your strength back. FrankenBike is what you make it, so load up some stuff, …
Tell us about your bicycle commute or trip
by Paul Sorelle      BikeHouston
It is time again to participate in BikeHouston’s annual Houston Bike Survey. During April when Houston celebrates Bike-to-Work Day and May which is national Bicycle Month, use the survey to let BikeHouston know about bicycle commuting in Houston. BikeHouston will share the results with your elected…
Houston Bike-to-Work Day April 13
by Paul Sorelle      BikeHouston
Bike-to-work day will be held on Friday, April 13th. Rides from various starting points throughout the city will converge at city hall for a brief reception at 8:00 a.m. For more information, please…
Meeting Minutes – April
by salsaTopp      Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association
We would first like to extend a great big, warm WELCOME to the new members and hope that we did not scare you too much. We can’t wait to see you out on group rides with us (if it ever drys out).
Night TT Awards
Overall Points awards went to……………. drum roll please!………..
1st place: J-P!
2nd place: Travis!
Fastest Lap awards went to…………….. fast drum roll please!………
1st place: Mike Record!
2nd place: Boone Flynn!
Congrats to everyone who came out and enjoyed themselves…
Part of River Place nature trail closed
By Pamela LeBlanc         Fit City
Part of a steep nature trail that winds through canyons and hilltops in the River Place subdivision has been closed because it encroaches on land set aside as habitat for endangered species including the Golden-cheeked warbler.
The City of Austin and River Place Municipal Utility District manage adjoining pieces of land that are part of the Balcones Canyonland Preserve.
Several years ago, River Place officials approached City of Austin officials about building a trail through the land. “We said we didn’t think the trail was a good idea and did not want it built on our property,†said Kevin…
Lions Club Bike ride
www.beltonjournal.com
A stampede is coming — the “Stampede on the Chisholm Trail”, the Belton Lions Club’s 2nd annual “Cycling for Sight”.
The event will take place Saturday, April 14 and will include a 25 mile ride, 50 mile or Half Century ride and a 62 mile or Metric Century ride.
“We started the ride last year, mainly as a fundraiser to promote the different Lions Club activities and it was such a success we wanted to build on that,” explained this year’s chairman for the event, Lion Robert Jones. ” We had a good turnout….about 75 last year….and the riders commented that they liked it and liked the way it was run, so we expect even more this year based on the response…
UT / Texas State Race Report
UT Race
Jahshan Bhatti
On Saturday, the University of Texas at Austin hosted a road race and team time trial at Pace Bend park. The location was perfect–seeing the stars out so bright before sunrise and the park’s beauty (so many bluebonnets!) in daylight. For the first wave of the road race, I was corner marshalling and got excellent glimpses of the upper category fields as they passed (and mixed–the Garmin Dev. Team is fast!). Given that this weekend was my second cycling competition ever (and I’m not very fast), I was just hoping to…
Aero Road Bikes—Are They For You?
by djcurtin         It’s Time To Ride!
Us road riders have shown a growing concern with aerodynamics since at least 1989 when Greg LeMond won the Tour de France over Laurnet Fignon by 58 seconds in the final stage time trial. Since then, the advent of aero wheels, helmets, and even clothing specifically designed for road racing as opposed to time trialing has grown exponentially. While many of the aerodynamic advancements have come from the world of triathlon, it wasn’t until fairly recently that road bikes themselves became more like their time trial and tri cousins. And while a…
Toutant-Beauregard Ride
San Antonio Wheelmen
Date: Â Â Â 04/14/2012
Time: Â Â Â 08:00 AM-11:00 AM
Location: Â Â Â Helotes, TX
Details: Toutant-Beauregard Ride (NW) [H]. Routes of 21, 35, 47 and 58 miles.
Take the “Scenic Loop†through Grey Forest to Boerne and ride some serious hills. Meet in Old Town Helotes, across from Floore Country Store. Take Bandera Road (Hwy 16) 2.5 miles outside Loop 1604, then turn left onto Old Bandera Road. Park across from Floore’s or in the parking lot next to Roger Soler’s.  Contact: Cliff Hickel, 210-884-9470
2012 Spring Road Race Series: Our 7th season.
Texas High School Cycling League
Featuring:
Girl’s Division A, Boy’s Division A, B, and new this year a Boy’s C division. (Boys A = 1-3, Boys B = 3-4 but mostly 4, Boys C = 4-5 but mostly 5)
The leader of the Boy’s and Girls’ A division overall standings at the end of each race weekend will get a brand new series Leader’s Jersey which is sure to become a hotly contested item.
Also, the winner of the Boy’s and Girl’s Division A overall series will once again gain a secured entry spot in the USA Cycling South Central Athlete Development Camp to…
Tyler Bicycle Club
Out of respect for our fallen cyclist & friend, Lee, we have decided to cancel the time trial Thursday. Time Trial Series will resume on April 12, at 6:30 PM.
