Post Turkey Day (aka llama) ride – Granbury, TX

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Post Turkey Day (aka llama) ride
Granbury, TX
The Traditional Post-Turkey Day Ride!
(AKA the llegendary llama llives!)

Burn off that turkey and dressing … join us for our traditional ride on Friday, November 25th at 9:00 AM.  We’ll meet near Granbury for a fun ride in the hills.  Maps provided, and we will regroup a few times.

This ride features some of the best views in this part of Texas, very little traffic, rednecks or dogs, and even paved roads except where they aren’t.  As usual, we will split up and regroup for those who want to do an optional unpaved section through ¡§Deliverance¡¨ country where we¡¦ve met up with the infamous bike-chasing llama.  This section passes through water crossings, numerous cattleguards and two exotic animal ranches!  Be prepared for anything.  Remember, this part is optional and not for the faint of heart.

When:  Friday 11/25 starting at 9:00 AM
Where:  FM 51 at Brushy Road (approx 4 miles south of Granbury)

Why:   You ate too much, you need a break from the relatives, you’ve never been out that way and you like an adventure, you’re tired of the same old ride, you crave quiet roads for a change …

Who:  YOU.  All are invited…but no whining.

How long:  Ride can be 40 to 80 miles. We might adjust that day based on weather and who wants what.  I’ll provide maps in case you want to do your own thing.  There are NO stores on this ride!  Be prepared!

*** This is a no drop ride ¡V it¡¦s November! ¡V but the pace will be high at times, especially on the optional unpaved section. Be prepared for an 18mph average, but if you want to hammer, go for it.  The lemmings will follow and we¡¦ll see you back at the parking lot.  The rest of us will enjoy the scenery and regroup at major intersections.

More info:  Call Mike Reade at (817) 578-0531

Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup for November 12th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

This ride was back in March but I just found the blog. This is the first day he was in Texas for the full day.

Day 18: Seminole, TX to Lamesa, TX
Bike Across America 2011         www.BikeAcrossAmerica.net
by Steve Garufi
45 Miles – Bicycling On The Wide Open West Texas Plains; Hosted By Kennedy Family In Ackerly, TX – March 9, 2011
Shocked at the expensive rates from two nights in motels in Artesia, NM and Seminole, TX, I was quite upset. I faced the reality that the cheapest motel rooms across the country were rarely under $50. $50-$60 was the norm, with an occasional cheap, no-frills place for $40-$45, if I was lucky.

I recounted how I had gotten to this point: I worked and saved as much as I could. I raised money before and during the ride. And there was no question in my heart, mind and soul that I was called to do this ride. Still, the financial matter…

Spring Creek Trail Extension Officially Open
by dickdavid            Bike Friendly Richardson
If you’ve been following us for the past couple of years, we kept you updated on the progress of extensions of the Spring Creek Trail. These new extensions provide…

6:30pm – Bicycle Path Time Trial Series
by Scott Franklin            Corinth Cycling Club
When: Wed Nov 23, 2011 6:30pm to 7:30pm  CST
Where: Denton Airport
Event Description: http://www.thebicyclepath.com/community The Bicycle Path will be hosting the Wednesday Night Time trials once again! All levels of riders are encouraged to attend and there is no cost. 6:30pm For more information visit www.thebicyclepath.com or come by the shop
11:36 AM (11 hours ago)

8:00am – Corinth Cycling Group Rides
by Scott Franklin
When: Sat Nov 26, 2011 8am to 11am  CST
Where: Ronny Crownover Middle School
Event Description: Corinth Cycling Saturday morning group rides. Please visit http://www.corinthcycling.com/cccriderules.pdf for additional information. and more…

Hercules on Two Wheels
By Mike Crissey            www.austinchronicle.com
Why isn’t the Tour de France in America? I mean, besides the obvious fact that the French started it 108 years ago and it takes place over three weeks through roughly 2,000 miles of countryside there. Hear me out.
I know, bicycles are “alternative transportation.” They are the puerile, pedal-powered playthings of likely unshaven, eccentric malcontents and ne’er-do-wells who refuse to grow up and accept the internal combustion engine. I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Paul Revere’s Ride was all about protecting…

Students race to mountain biking team
By Tori Brock Staff Reporter        itemonline.com
HUNTSVILLE — Many Huntsville students started spinning their wheels about a month ago when the high school started its first ever mountain biking team.

About 35 students have joined the team to date, and more registrations are expected. Brad Didier, chemistry teacher at Huntsville High School, said he wanted to introduce students to a lifelong love of cycling.

“I got attracted first to the mission,” Didier said, of the Texas High School Mountain Bike League. “They want to provide students who have desire to mountain bike with coaching and…

Two Women Walking a Sheep – November 12th Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Today was a grueling day. Not from biking but from having a garage sale. This week my wife and I were gathering stuff for the sale and today was the sale day. I was up at 5:45AM to get ready and move some last minute items out to the garage. Shortly after 7:00AM the people started to arrive. I had put a sign out but I noticed when cars parked to shop the sign was hidden. So I decided I would stand and hold the sign which was about 2 ft. x 2 ft. 1/4″ plywood with big green letters. At first the sign was not so heavy but as the time turned into 4 hours my arms and hands were getting very tired. I got many comments about my sign holding technique. Most said they stopped just because of me holding the sign. It helped that we live on the main entrance into our village.

Now after all that I still had some strength left for a late afternoon mountain bike ride. I hit the dirt for part of the ride (see the pictures below) along side one of the drainage bayous. The cutup tree beside the trail is from the drought and removal crews. I was not alone as several other people were there as well but I was the only one on a bike. At one point I thought I was going to have a problem with a dog. I came up to a couple walking with their collie without a leash. As I announced “on the left” and  started to go around them the collie charged me and acted like he was going for my left leg but the man called him and he stopped short of biting me. I stopped the bike and the man got the dog to the other side and I was able to ride on. After that the only other unusual thing was to pass two women walking a sheep on the trail. The sheep was on a halter so no problem there. I suspect the sheep was the younger woman’s FFA project since the barn was not too far away.

Kingwood bayou trail

Kingwood trail along a bayou

Weather wise the clouds have rolled in to become mostly cloudy. The wind came with them at a SSE 18 mph clip with gusts to 28 mph. This was not so noticeable in the woods but it slow my speed down when I was going into it. The temperature did not quite make it up to the forecast and was 75 at the start cooling to 73 when I finished.

The route was a little shorter than my typical Saturday since I am riding my mountain bike this week at 13.36 miles. My average speed was 11.2 mph (very slow compared to my road bike average) and my max speed was 22.7 mph. Average cadence was 77.1 RPM, almost identical to yesterday’s. November miles are creeping up to 193.73 and year to date I am at 5177.23 miles. Next week I plan on going back to my road bike for some days at least to put some serious mileage on.

11-12-2011 Bike Ride Data and Route Map

[iframe http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/128216502 470 570]

Link to the route map and ride data at RidewithGPS.com.

11-12-2011 Home Weather End

Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup for November 11th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Ride Review – 2011 Shiner GASP (Great Austin to Shiner Pedal)
Readyforplanb.com
May 7th, 2011

Ride review for the 100 mile 2011 Shiner GASP (Great Austin to Shiner Pedal)

This ride was really special for me because I was able to do it with Jen, my two brothers and my riding buddy Ryan.  This was also a goal that all of us had taken on at the start of the year and Goal #1 on my way to plant based cyclist!  Year to date heading into the Shiner GASP I had logged 1,777 miles, I was down 15.6 pounds and I felt great.

With Austin as the backdrop we had an easy decision to turn this ride into an entire…

Schwinn Twinn Project Beginnings.
by Justin            The Plano Cyclist
A few years ago, I was riding my bike with my daughter in her trailer, and I saw a dad and his daughter riding a tandem together. Shortly after I saw an ad for a Schwinn Twinn on Craigslist, so I rushed to North Dallas to pick it up, with visions of taking Anna to school on our tandem when she gets a little older. Once I brought it home I left it on my back driveway for a long time – it had already spent the past decade outside, and I didn’t figure it would hurt having it outside at my place for a little while. I had every intention of rebuilding it, but that was when Reed started having health problems, and it kind of got pushed to the back of…

Mellow Johhny’s and Mix 94.7 gear up for 15th annual Bikes for Kids holiday giveaway
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
Program to help children in need looking for volunteers

For over a decade, Mix 94.7 DJs JB & Sandy’s has been bringing holiday cheer to local children with their Bikes for Kids giveaway. To date, the program has given away 10,000 Trek bicycles to families in need throughout the central Texas community. This year, the giveaway event will happen on Friday, December 16, 2011 from 6-9 a.m. at Mellow Johnny’s. If you know of a child who could…

Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference and Texas Bike/Ped Summit, Feb. 1-3, 2012, San Antonio
League of Bicycling Voters
The Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference and Texas Bike/Ped Summit will be in San Antonio, February 1-3, 2012. This is a unique opportunity to build strong relationships with your peers in other Texas cities and to learn from leaders from around the world to make our movement even stronger.

You will have the opportunity to meet state, national, and international leaders in bicycling and walking. Keynotes include Jan Gehl, urban architect from Copenhagen, who popularized the phrase “there is no such thing as bad…