Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup for February 9th

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This is from Canada but the bike skills could drift down to Texas.

Road bike stunts by Fair Wheel Bikes

Corinth Cycling/Harden Dental Set for 2012 season
The Corinth Cycling/Harden Dental racing team will kick off the 2012 season this weekend at the Cedar Hill Race Festival in Cedar Hill State Park. Racers will compete on Saturday and Sunday for over $1,500 in prizes. Representing the CCHD team this weekend will be Roland San Miguel, David Carter, Luke Slavens, Bob Baatz, Derek Cooley, Paul Wells, Todd Gray and Devon Coetzer. Wells will be making his racing…

2012 Lancaster Rally Musings
www.greaterdallasbicyclists.com/
Rally Pre-Amble as in Ambling down to the site of the rally. GDB Board Members Mike Eipper and Princess made a pilgrimage to the rally site on Thursday, January 26. Checks to various municipalities and cities were distributed for the year’s previous rally. Here’s how it went down:

We ambled into Ferris and meet the City Manager Eric Strong. Presented a check and “checked” out a few things on the rally checklist. We then ambled on to visit the Chief of Police Sam Love. The City of Ferris was more than welcoming to us, and will be helping with traffic control on major intersections…

Willow Park Revisited – Lone Star Cyclists
Pace: Touring, Long & Easy Pace, Fast-Pace Option
Date: Saturday, February 11, 2012 – 8:30am
Location: Aledo
We’re going to Willow Park to re-visit last April’s ride. We’ll explore scenic Willow Park, Lake Weatherford, and the rolling hills and diverse terrain that surround the lake! We’ll have plenty of fun and quality miles with 40ish and 60ish mile routes.

Take I-20 west to the Willow Park / Ranch House Road exit, U-turn onto the service road, and park near the Shell station (in the Brookshires parking lot). …

ARTCRANK…Austin…Be There
by Darryl            lovingthebike.com

The Austin ARTCRANK show is just a couple weeks away, and if you don’t already have plans to be there…let me kick your butt just a little bit harder.  I’ve been actively promoting and recruiting for this fantastic bicycle art event both online and in person, and anticipation of this show is really starting to build.  If you’ll be in or anywhere near Austin on February 24th, you absolutely need to stop in and view all the amazing bicycle inspired…

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 2/9- 2/15/12
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all . 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.

…Friday, February 10
The Soup Peddler 10th Anniversary
4- 7 PM, The Soup Peddler, 2801A South Lamar Blvd.
One of Austin’s first bicycle based businesses celebrates 10 years in business. Live music, games and prizes, free soup, free beer!…

Bike share project rolling along at PAC
By Alicia Millan        www.theranger.org

Mass communication sophomore Justin Overmiller joked around by singing “Do your chain hang low, do it wobble to the flo” (from “Chain Hang Low” by Jibbs ) while holding a bike chain for his partner, Noel Vargas, community volunteer who also donated a bike.

The Go Green! Viva Verde! Committee at Palo Alto College is putting together a bike share program for students and staff to improve air quality, reduce usage of…

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for February 8th

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Pedal Thru the Pine coming March 3rd.
Austin Cycling Association
Pedal Thru the Pines, a fund raiser for the Family Crisis Center in Bastrop, is coming up on, March 3, 2012. Because of the wild fires and the recent floods that damaged park roads there have been significant changes to the routes. In order to provide an event with the quality and safety that participants have come to expect from Pedal Thru the Pines and the Crisis Center, this…

5 Minute Break: Bicycle Wheel Production Line
by Squirrel            Bike Magazine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRYEv2NDdzE
Ever wonder where your wheels came from? This video is informative, fascinating and funny.

Not From Around Here
by Steve A            DFW Point-to-Point
It seems that, lately, I’ve forgotten some of the endearing features of Texas. Today, I got reminded that this place really IS “Like a whole ‘nother country!” And I also got reminded that I will never actually BE a Texan. Not even if I try REAL hard.

It started this morning. On the ride in to work, as usual, I saw nobody on a bike. However, between 6:30 and my arrival at work just a smidge after 7, I was waved to by a guy, in the dark who was walking his dog, another man who was simply standing on his porch, and by three other people including a school crossing guard. It is not…

Bike Poncho
by Darryl        lovingthebike.com

Does your bike spend a lot of time being stored outside or subject to potentially harmful conditions? Hopefully not, but if so then a Bike Ponchoâ„¢ can help you (and your bike) out.  It’s designed to protect your bike while parked on work/campus, traveling on the back of your bike rack, or while being stored outside at home (heaven forbid). …

Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug
by katiejo            Austin on Two Wheels

I can hear the characteristic ding-ding of the train bell announcing its approach.The sound of the bell has become white noise as it rolls through my neighborhood a couple dozen times a day. This morning it’s a siren in my head. I am less than a half mile away and I can see the dual engines pulling into the MLK station. The westward traffic is stopped at the railroad crossing, and I feel a stroke of luck as the east ward traffic is clear. I pedal…

Quakertown Park to get new paved paths
by bikedenton

At last night’s city council meeting, the Consent Agenda (a bunch of stuff that passes with one vote, without discussion) included an item for “Pedestrian Trails and Sidewalk Improvements at the City of Denton Quakertown Park.” For $145,776, the city awarded a construction company contract to pour in this new network of concrete paths to connect all those formerly disparate parts of Quakertown Park. Currently, there is no paved path to…

Wheels That Heal by Toni Youngblood
by Toni Youngblood            Biking in Dallas
Something remarkable happened last Sunday in Deep Ellum… The cycling community  in Dallas rallied around one of its own and raised over $3,300 to benefit Misty “Liberty Kat” Green, an Oak Cliff woman who was seriously injured on a special edition “Tits Tuesday” ride 12/31.  Between internet efforts and one helluva party, the contributions totaled over $4,700! …

HANDMADE BIKE CARRIER FOR YOUR ELEMENT, VAN, TRUCK AND S.U.V. !
by Sully        Colonel’s Blog

Tired of laying expensive bicycles against each other when you’re traveling? Check out this custom made birch hardwood bike carrier, complete with alloy bike tite fork fasteners, non skid rubber foot pads and marine grade varnish coating, includes custom Colonel’s Bicycles logo. No more rattling noises, scratched frames or bent spokes, everything is organized and packed tight! This is the first prototype pictured here and it worked perfect in…

The meeting has passed but the information is of interest.

Save Anthills Update – Meeting Tonight!
by Veljko Roskar          GHORBA
The first Charting Buffalo meeting is tonight. Please make plans to attend and read this handout.

It is from 6-8 p.m. at the Tracy Gee Community Center. 3599 Westcenter. Parking and access may be tough, but don’t give up.

Our key position is on the Clodine Waterhole and diverting the water from the Clodine Ditch (and I-10 ditch) currently dumping into BB. It is not a wholesale attack on the plan or some of their ideas—just there are viable alternatives to deforesting the south side of the bayou that still accomplish the goal of reducing floods east of…

The Sufferfest – Hardcore Bike Training
by Shawn            Texas Mountain Bike Trails
Today I want to share one of the premier training products that I have come across. I talked not too long ago about how to keep up your training during the winter, and one of the best ways to do that is to use an indoor trainer or spin bike. …

2012 Alsatian Country Omnium MP12 Pt1
by Ken            Texas Racing Life

Author hurting in the race of truth. Photo by Robert. Check out his Smugmug by clicking on photo

After my spectacular results (for me) last weekend, I was dying to get back on the bike for another weekend of racing.  I was once again hoping for glory.  I always have daydreams of brilliant attacks and sprints during this “season of hope,” where I romantically win races by minutes against the toughest competition and my name is…

2012 Alsatian Country Part 2
by Ken            Texas Racing Life
This is Part 2 of the 2012 Alsatian Country Omnium Race Report. You can find part 1 here!

Thanks to Robert for the great pictures of the races.  For more pictures of the races click here to go to Robert’s Smugmug. Buy some photos if you find some you like!

Road Race
A new course for all the racers, the course was laid out like a lollipop, with and looong out, 3 loops around  bumpy farm roads, and a loooong back.  There was quite a bit of wind and short hills.  With the gameplan to again be aggressive, I first attacked about 10 minutes in, this time at a much more sustainable pace than…

Tantalizing sunshine with a 65 degree temperature – February 8th Bike Ride

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Tantalizing sunshine with a 65 degree temperature pulled me out to ride but the 13 mph north wind chilled me even though I tried to dress for it. I put on a windbreaker which seemed to have holes in it with the wind coming in. My long sleeve jersey over the short sleeve one helped some once I got heated from the exercise but whenever the sun went behind one of the many clouds the chill came on strong. I wore half finger gloves but there times when full finger ones were needed. As long as I was going with the wind I felt warmer but turning into the wind brought the wind chill up. My road bike allowed for more speed than my mountain bike did yesterday and I figured I needed to get some road miles in.

My original plan called for a 24 to 25 mile ride but once the wind chill became apparent I modified this to the 21.73 mile route I ended up with. My average speed stayed above 15 mph until the last 5 miles when I rode mainly into the 13 mph wind. So I ended with 14.8 mph average speed and 22.5 mph max speed. Average cadence ended at 79.7 RPM just .1 RPM below yesterday. February miles: 112.45, YTD miles 379.70. The weather is supposed to be cooler the next two days so I may not get out on the bike.

Garmin Connect data link.                                  RideWithgps.com data link.

2-8-2012 Bike Ride and Route Map

2-8-2012 Home Weather Station End

 

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for February 7th

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Fort Worth Bike Swap Meets: Feb 12 & March 4
by Doohickie @ www.bikeforums.net
Couple of swap meets coming up in Fort Worth. First is the Trinity Bicycles swap meet at the Rahr Brewery, 701 Galveston Avenue, Fort Worth, on Sunday, February 12, from 9 to 2.

The second one is the Great Southwest Bike Swap, at the Tarrant County Resource Connection, 1100 Circle Drive, Building 2300, Fort Worth, on Sunday, March 4, from 9 to 2.

Pedestrian/cycling bridge nearly done
By Allen Jones            Houston Chronicle

Workers are constructing a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists near McGregor Way across Brays Bayou that will tie into Hermann Park’s hike-and-bike trails. The bridges are part of a $10 million partnership between Houston’s Public Works and Engineering Department and the Texas Department of Transportation. The Tierwester bridge provides connections to bike routes north and south of the bayou so that cyclists can have better access to the main campus of the University of Houston as well as to Texas Southern University. The Harris County Flood Control District, in partnership with…

Mellow Johnny’s Giant Bikes Demos in 2012
by Il Pirate         Austin Ridge Riders
Giant Bicycles Demo Event 2012
Saturday February 25, 2012  9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park 12138 N Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78758
Join Mellow Johnny’s for a great day of demo bike riding at Walnut Creek Park. The event hosted by Giant Bicycles and Mellow Johnny’s Staff, will give you a chance to ride select Giant road and mountain bike models. Helmets required for all rides and demos (limited number of demo helmets available). All Demo Participants must bring with them a valid photo ID and a credit card. …

After Big Rains in January, FWMBA Maintains Momentum at the February Workfest
by M2Rider FWMBA President

On Saturday, February 4, 2012 the Fort Worth Mountain Bikers’ Association (FWMBA) held our forth Workfest of the 2011-2012 trail building season at Gateway Park. Texas weather is full of extremes. The 2011 summer heat wave and drought are still fresh on our minds. When it started raining in late January 2012 who knew we’d see the 10th wettest January ever. Many areas of Fort Worth received over 5.5” of rain last week. The all-volunteer FWMBA trail crew was anxious to see how our work to date held up after the big rains. …

Episode 17 The Whisperer Gets Whispered with LC
www.fwmba.org
MBW Radio is back! After a too long an absence, MBW Radio host and FWMBA president, Larry Colvin is in the interviewee seat as Josh Clark asks him a bunch of questions. Find out about LC’s take on the state of the club, his love of the job of being a mountain bike president, how us mountain bikers’ owe a debt of gratitude to the moto people and dreams of black rimmed bicycles. …

Time for a Dreamslide
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City
If bikes roll, Dreamslides sashay.

I jumped aboard one of the two-wheeled contraptions, imported from France, yesterday when Miguel Ferguson dropped by the newspaper offices, proud as a papa to show it off.

Ferguson, a 46-year-old professor of public policy in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas, ordered a pair of the ‘Slides last year. Now he zips around town on the scooter-like vehicle, garnering admiring…

Recreational bicycling on the rise
www.news-journal.com
The number of recreational bicyclists in Panola County is on the increase. Many people have turned to bicycling as a healthy activity that can be beneficial.

According to chapter 13 of the Texas Drivers Handbook, “bicycles” means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than 14 inches in diameter. “Vehicle” means a device, in, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a public…

Park to host Bayou Adventure Race
www.chron.com
The Bayou Preservation Association will present its first Bayou Adventure Race Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. at Terry Hershey Park consisting of a 5K run, a 3K paddle trip and bicycle rides of 10K and 15K.

The race offers a different kind of triathlon, substituting kayaking for swimming.

Organized by Texas Adventure Racing, the event begins in Terry Hershey Park in West Houston at South Mayde Creek Drive with an out-and-back run. Next, the paddle portion goes from Langham Creek/Buffalo Bayou to the Dairy Ashford Canoe Launch. Contestants…

Driver in accident that killed 3 arrested
The Associated Press        www.kfoxtv.com
LUBBOCK, Texas — A 26-year-old man has been indicted on intoxication manslaughter and aggravated assault counts in a crash that killed three men on a road next to the Texas Tech campus.

The Lubbock County grand jury indicted Texas Tech University student Brian Cody Hawthorne on Tuesday in the Jan. 29 crash that killed passengers Hernandez Almaguer and Kendrick Lamaar Johnson and bicyclist Courtland Whitmore. …

2012 Tour of New Braunfels
by Ken            Texas Racing Life
Thank God the season has started.  With months of looking forward, I was finally at a race day.  I was not surprised to find myself so anxious and ready to see how I matched up against the P12’s after a lot of work in the offseason.

Omloop
The first race on tap for the weekend was the Omloop.  This is a small circuit race that has a huge downhill with the rest of the course gradually returning to the starting elevation.  After the gun, it was evident that I was not alone in my nervousness, and there were many near crashes in the first few laps.  My plan for the race was to…

New Nationwide Gran Fondo Series
endurancesportswire.com     (found this on Twitter)
RAAM Cycling Challenge Kicks Off in Texas As Part of Nationwide Cycling Events Series

Boulder, CO – The 2012 RAAM Cycling Challenge gets started in Austin, Texas on March 17th as part of a nationwide series of “Gran Fondo” cycling events. Operating under the iconic cycling event brand, Race Across America, RAAM Cycling Challenge is a nine-city series of Gran Fondo events.  With the Gran Fondo distance of 120 miles as the main attraction, each event will also consist of…