Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 26th

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Volkswagen announces two-year partnership with Peopleforbikes.org and Bikes Belong
Peopleforbikes.org
Our movement is taking a major step forward today. Leading auto company Volkswagen of America announced its sponsorship of Peopleforbikes.org and our parent organization, the Bikes Belong Foundation. VW will donate significant funding to support our key initiatives to improve bicycling in the U.S., including the PFB movement and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, which is dedicated to getting more kids safely biking and walking to school.

We are working with VW as part of its Think Blue initiative, which encompasses all of the company’s efforts to promote eco-friendly mobility and encourage environmentally conscious behavior. VW has a history of working to improve its sustainability. Its factory in Chattanooga is the only auto manufacturing plant in the world to be…

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 1/26- 2/1/12
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 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.
Thursday, January 26
Thursday Night Bike Polo
5:00 PM, Metz Park, 2407 Canterbury St
The Austin Bike Polo Club’s holds 3 hardcourt matches a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, at Metz Park. All bikes and skill levels are welcome and spare mallets and balls are available if you don’t have any. …

FrankenBike is taking over the world! (Plus canoe races and swim clinics)
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City

Six thousand runners, including me, have registered for Sunday’s 3M Half Marathon & Marathon Relay on Sunday, but three other cool outdoorsy events are planned for this weekend.

Prefer biking? …

Asheville bids for 2014-15 cyclo-cross nationals
by Neil             carolinacyclingnews.com
Asheville bid organizer Will Black
Three cities are in the running to host the 2014 and 2015 cyclo-cross National Championships: Boulder, Colorado; Austin, Texas; and Asheville, North Carolina.

To determine viability, USA Cycling examines the strength of each bid after reviewing the proposed course, venue location and available facilities. Additionally, USA Cycling meets with the local convention and visitors bureau and sports commission staff. …

Recent downpour puts temporary damper on cyclist’s quest
By Rachel Mehlhaff / Staff Writer            Denton Record-Chronicle
Rain slowed Michael Hunter down a bit as he makes his estimated 25,000-mile trek around the United States to raise money for a youth mentoring organization.

“Riding in this kind of rain isn’t on my to-do list,” Hunter said Wednesday.

To follow the journey, visit www.tinyurl.com/7uxg6dc

So far, the 22-year-old has traveled more than 4,000 miles, reached 13…

Severe storms drench Texas, spawning tornadoes 1/25/2012
www.cbsnews.com
HOUSTON — Buckets of rain and powerful winds that apparently spawned several tornadoes swept across Texas on Wednesday, forcing drivers to abandon cars on flooded roads but not dropping enough water to make up for a historic dry spell.

The squall of storms swept from north to south, first pounding Dallas and Fort Worth overnight. At dawn, rescue workers were able to peek into car windows to make sure people weren’t stuck in cars stranded in windshield-high water. …

…By midday in Houston, some roads and freeways were flooded, and the Houston Independent School District cancelled all afterschool activities. The National Weather Service also confirmed that a weak tornado tore the roof from a bicycle shop in Pearland, about 18 miles south of Houston. …

Hyundai Weekend Outdoor Report – Texas Independence Bike Tour
www.myfoxhouston.com
DR. JIM SIEBERT  Chief Meteorologist
Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night on FOX 26 News at Nine, Chief Meteorologist Dr. Jim Siebert features a weekend outdoor event as part of the Hyundai Weekend Outdoor Report. Below you’ll find the most recent even mentioned on-air.

Summary:
The Texas Independence Bike Tour is a one day event bringing cyclists from the Houston area together to tour the San Jacinto Battleground and adjacent communities raising funds to support the Deer Park Rotary Club…

Schedule of Events – 2012
www.texsunrandonneurs.com
Endurance cycling across south Texas
Official cue sheets, which may include revisions, will be available at the ride start. Start times will be sharp.  Please arrive with sufficient time to depart on schedule.  There is no guarantee that someone will be available to provide ride materials after the official start time.
There are no fees to ride. In the spirit of randonneuring, these rides emphasize self-sufficiency. There is NO formal SAG or other support. Riders may receive personal support only at the control stops along the route.

January 28
200KM ACP Brevet
Port Isabel, Texas – Lighthouse Square
Sign-in: 06:30 – 07:15 / Start Time: 07:30
Pre-registration only. Registration must be received by January 25.
February 25
200KM ACP Brevet
300KM ACP Brevet
Port Isabel, Texas – Lighthouse Square
Sign-in: 06:00 – 06:45 / Start Time: 07:00
Pre-registration only. Registration must be received by February 22.

 

Tree Chunks from the Sky – January 26th Bike Ride

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Yesterday the Houston area endured heavy wind and up to 4 inches of rain. I did not ride yesterday needless to say. Now today the wind slowed down some to 18 mph with 23 mph gusts when I started biking. Clouds could not make up their mind as they rotated cloudy to sunny. The weather forecast said 61 degrees for the high but at the start time 66 degrees showed on my weather station falling to 64 when I finished. My weather station showed 2.83 inches of rain on Wednesday so I expected water on the trails. That happened but the number of fallen limbs and branches were high. At two places I encountered workers cutting down trees and clearing the trails. One towered high up a tree cutting 3 or 4 foot chunks from an upright tree. I waited while one fell to the ground. At another spot 6 inches or more of water covered the trail. The workers piled cut branches on the trail but they moved them so I could pass.

After today I will not bike for a few days due to minor surgery on right leg. I wanted to get some miles in before so today’s 18.09 miles was important. With the wind and coolness I chose my Motobecane 700HT mountain over my road bike. I did manage 11.5 mph for an average speed which reflected biking into the wind. My max was 18.2 mph and 73.4 RPM average cadence. January miles total 249.76. Last week I took some pictures of bridges on the trails but did not ride over them. Today I went that way for the first time.

Garmin Connect data link.

RideWithgps.com data link.

1-26-2012 Bike Ride Data and Route Map

 

1-26-2012 Home Weather Station End

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 25th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Heavy rain and high winds moved through southeast Texas so I was not on the bike today.

Ever wondered how bikes are made? This short video of a New Hampshire (yes, there are still frames being made in the US) offers a tour through a new factory.

Indy Fab Bike Factory NH Video
urbanvelo.org

Independent Fabrication from Logan Hodson on Vimeo.

We had the chance to visit the New Hampshire Bike Factory this past summer and posted a photo preview as it was under construction, a couple of weeks from being operational. Now it is fully up and running, producing Independent Fabrication bikes as you can see here.

Importers recall some Nitto handlebars
Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BRAIN) Jan 25, 10:07 MT—Three importers are working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada to recall about 2,000 Nitto aluminum handlebars that can break.

The B259AA bars were sold from January 2008 through July 2011 for between $60 and $80. Two incidents in which the bars broke have been reported. One of the incidents involved a fall and a cut to the rider’s leg.

The bars were imported and distributed to dealers by Euro Asia Imports, The Merry Sales Co., and Bicycle Technologies International. …

2012 Reveille Roubaix Volunteers
The Grit & Gravel Challenge can not happen without great volunteers! Being a volunteer is all about making the event a safe and memorable experience for everyone. All volunteers will receive a volunteer t-shirt, free food, and souvenir pint glass. Review our volunteer opportunities and register today.
Volunteers will be needed for the following: …

Sarah Ginsbach prefers to go long new
Written by: Timothy Carlson            www.slowtwitch.com
Exuberant age grouper Sarah Ginsbach is 27, was born in Oregon City, Oregon and lives in Spring Texas. She works as an educator for lululemon athletica, a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company which makes…

In 2011, Ginsbach won her 25-29 age group at XTERRA Austin, beating 20-24 and 30-34 winners by 33 and 20 minutes respectively. She qualified for the XTERRA World Championship in Maui, but had an off day, finishing 13th in her age group and 406th overall.

Her most impressive performances have been in cross country cycling. At the 2011 Sun and Ski Sports SS Trails Excruciation, she won 19-29 and finished the tough 100k course in 7:11:40. Her improvement curve is…

5th annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour offers Houston-area cyclists some hilly terrain
By Rex Knepp, Houston Cycling Examiner
I don’t know about you, but it seems that almost every organized ride I see in the Houston area winds up following one of about three or four routes. Sometimes I think my bike could find its way home from the finish line without me, like Lassie trotting home to tell Timmy’s dad that he’s stuck in the well. If you’re tired of seeing the same billboards and barns every weekend, though, there is an alternative: the 5th Annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour, out yonder in the Texas Hill Country.

This year’s LBJ classic will fall on Sunday, March 24th, starting at the 36th President’s family ranch near the little town of Stonewall, between Johnson City and Fredericksburg. That location’s about 65 miles west of Austin or 80 miles north…

Group Riding: The Rotating Paceline
by sooner1                Shawnee Trail Cycling Club

Some of our rides for more experienced cyclists utilize a rotating paceline to better involve everyone in the efforts and to take advantage of everyone for periodic blocking  of the wind and drafting.  Below are some of the techniques we as a club expect when you participate in our pacelines.  We do recommend, if you aren’t sure of the technique, or haven’t been…

Quick Tip – Relax
by Shawn            Texas Mountain Bike Trails
Your hammering through a trail, leaning into corners, heart rate through the roof. You are pushing as hard as you have ever pushed in your life.

You are also stressed, worried about your cadence, or nutrition, or some other thing. Overall, you stopped having fun.
News Flash:
Mountain Biking is Crazy Fun! …

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for January 24th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Lost license plate leads to suspect in traffic death
Houston Chronicle
A suspected drunk driver was arrested in a fatal hit-and-run collision after authorities found the license plate that fell from the van that hit a bicyclist in northwest Harris County late Monday night. Jerad Thomas is charged with driving while intoxicated and failing to stop and render aid in the collision that occurred in the 10500 block of Jones Road near Fallbrook about 11:10 p.m., according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The man took deputies to his…

Major Cities Highlight Biking and Walking as Key Mobility Strategies
Alliance for Biking & Walking: People Powered Blog
imageThis week, more than 11,000 researchers, engineers, advocates and government officials are gathered here in Washington, DC, for the annual Transportation Research Board meeting. Glancing through the 328-page program this weekend, I had to admit that much of the content looked like a foreign language: I can’t say I’m familiar with the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide or well-versed on Inland Waterway Infrastructure. But being at the conference, I’ve discovered there’s a lot of buzz around biking and walking — even in the sessions that don’t have active transportation in the title. …

Trail bridge over Barton Creek closed for repairs
By Pam LeBlanc            Fit City

Heads up, trail users.

The bike and pedestrian bridge over Barton Creek, on the south side of the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake, is closed between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. until Feb. 6 for repairs.

This morning, workers were removing the heavy wooden timbers that pave the bridge, which spans the creek just west of Lamar Boulevard. (I love the sound those boards make when I pedal over them!)…

U.S. states and cities ranked for biking, walking habits
By Jeannine Stein, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog
Alaska has the highest number of bicycle and pedestrian commuters and Alabama has the lowest, according to a new report on bicycling and walking in the U.S.

The Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report, released by the Alliance for Biking & Walking, provides a look at commuting by cycling and walking in the U.S., how safe those commutes are, and where transportation funding is going — or not going — to promote these alternative means of local travel.

The report ranked states and cities on bicycling and walking levels (how many people commute by bike or foot) as well as fatality rates. Boston had the highest level of such commutes, and Fort Worth, Texas, the…

Wilmington, New York to Host Leadville Mountain Bike Qualifier
By AlpineZone News
Wilmington/Whiteface 100 Returns June 17
WILMINGTON, N.Y. —- For mountain bikers who like high elevation racing on the most rugged of terrain, the Leadville Trail 100 is the holy grail. As one of the most well-known mountain bike races, getting into the Leadville Trail 100 has always been difficult. …

…Other LT 100 Qualifiers include the Austin 100, in April 21, in Austin, Texas; the Barn Burner 104, June 2, in Flagstaff, Ariz.; the Leadville Silver Rush 50, July 14, in Leadville, Colo.; the Tahoe Trail 100, July 22, in Lake Tahoe, Calif..; and the Alpine Odyssey 100. This race is slated for Sept. 15 and will serve as the first qualifier for the 2013 Leadville Trail 100.

B-Cycle heads to Houston, TX
By Peter Suciu, in Detroit, MI         by BikeRadar.com
The fourth largest city in the US is working toward a bike-friendly designation

It is often said that in Texas they do things big, and when it comes to bike sharing the state’s biggest city—which now ranks as fourth largest in the country—will take it on in a big way. Last month the Houston City Council approved new green initiatives that include a bike sharing program run by B-Cycle.

This US$105,000 bike-sharing project includes three solar-powered bike kiosks in the city’s downtown, and depending on ridership would expand further out from…

To cycle in Texas State Cemetery, just follow bike etiquette
Ken Herman, Commentary            www.statesman.com

It’s taken six months to get an answer, but we finally have Attorney General Greg Abbott’s official opinion on whether the Texas State Cemetery Committee can ban bicycles from the historic East Austin final resting place of Texans famous and otherwise.

The answer, issued last month, is a firm, unequivocal maybe, all papered up with legalese, footnotes and a reminder that “words and phrases shall be read in context and construed according to the…

Get a load of that head tube!
by Chris Mathews            www.planobicycle.org

This has to be one of the largest legitimate road bikes you will ever see.  The bike builder in the picture on the left is posing in front of his Paris, France bike shop in 1974. He would need a step ladder to mount this baby! Did you know that the bike is owned (and ridden) by an ex-pro basketball player who resides in Plano, Texas? Yep, all 6 feet 9 inches of him.  I have been trying…