Cranksgiving 6 Hour Benefit Ride @ Pace Bend
Austin Ridge Riders
Saturday, November 26, 2011 – 09:00
We’re back!
Join us at our Fall grassroots ride at beuatiful Pace Bend Park! See how many laps of this amazing trail you can complete in 6 hours. There will be fun and food post ride and everyone raved about the trail and event last year.
Power/Heart Rate Analysis
by Ken      Texas Racing Life
Heart rate is not usually a very good indicator of how you are working on the bike because it is so variable. The variation comes from the fact that your heart rate depends on many factors of your whole body, including sleep, stress, nutrition, time of day, how hard the effort is, etc. In other words, there is a lot of variation and error to the heart rate numbers. My guess is heart rate can be as much as +/- 5%.  This can make HR changes irrelevant…
Ask the Agency – Central Texas Bicycle Infrastructure Update Wed Nov 2nd 6pm
League of Bicycle Voters
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Ask the Agency – Central Texas Bicycle Infrastructure Update Wed Nov 2nd 6pm
From: Eileen Schaubert
The November Austin Cycling Association meeting gives a chance for cyclists to ask questions and get answers from the agencies that are building the roadways and bikeways in Central Texas. email your questions NOW to vp@austincycling.org so the reps have time to research real answers.
We’ll have representatives from: TXDoT – both the Austin District office and the new Statewide Bike / Pedestrian Coordinator (how do you like the Parmer bike lanes?), …
Bicyclists: Light up when it’s dark!
By Pam LeBlanc      Fit City
I ride my bike a lot early in the morning or after work, when it’s dark outside. That’s why my bike practically bristles with flashing, blinking and solid lights, from tip to tail.
In Austin, cyclists are required by law to use a solid white headlight visible for at least 500 feet. A rear red reflector is also required, but it’s even better to attach a bright red blinkie light in back, too.
Besides my front Nite Rider MiNewt 150 headlight (about $70) and my Planet Bike Super Flash tail light (about…
Tour Das Hugel … A voyage of transformation, and pain
by robdamico      Austin oin Two Wheels
On a blustery cold December morning last year I saddled my bike and headed out into the hills. It was supposed to be the beginning of a transformation, a year-long effort to mold myself into a cyclist that could conquer Austin’s toughest ride—Tour Das Hugel, 108 miles of punishing ascents meandering through the hills west of town. Since I had never ridden more than 30 or so miles—all flat—my thought was that it would truly be life-changing experience.
I rode about 22 miles that day through the frigid swirling winds along one section of the course, and finished only one of the dozen or so climbs that are considered significant—Lost Creek Boulevard. It was the hardest thing I’d…
Today’s weather is a repeated of yesterday with a few more clouds. The temperature was 79 degrees at the start and 85 degrees at the end. Humidity has went up a few percentage points with the light wind out of the south southeast at 2 mph. Thursday is still being forecast as the arrival of a “cold” front but it is still supposed to reach a high of 81 that day but with some threat of rain. So my riding later in the week may be iffy. In the meantime I will take advantage of the current conditions.
At the 24.1 mile point my average speed was 16.0 mph but it did drop to 15.6 mph by the time I finished. Riding the 50 x 15 gear combination helps me get the speed up and be able to carry it over to the part of the route with a lot stops and starts. I was looking at my Garmin Edge 500 while I was in the “big” gear combination and I was riding at 21 to 22 mph as long as I was headed north. Once I made the turn around at FM1485 the headwind was just enough that could not maintain above 20 mph so I changed to the 43 x 12 gears. My speed dropped to 17 to 19 mph so I was able to keep the average speed up. The route was 29.23 miles long so I am averaging over 29 miles for both days this week. I will try to match that tomorrow. Max speed was 22.4 mph and average cadence was 81.9 RPM, down just a little from yesterday. October miles are 595.03 and year to date is 4836.37 miles.
TRINITY BICYCLES ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR MOVE TO SUNDANCE SQUARE
Press Release
Award-Winning Bike Shop To Be First Downtown Since Departure of Cromer’s Ace Decades Ago
FORT WORTH – Trinity Bicycles announced today that it will move its business to a 1550 square foot space at 343 Throckmorton Street in Sundance Square.
“ This is a tremendous opportunity for us to move our business to the heart of downtown Fort Worth, Sundance Square,†Trinity Bicycles owner Bernie Scheffler said. “As Fort Worth’s premier shop for bicycle commuters, a downtown location is an ideal fit for us.â€
Trinity Bicycles has made a name for itself as one of the few shops in Texas promoting bicycle transportation through education and advocacy, but it sells more than just commuting bikes. Trinity sells and repairs all types of bikes, from high-end competition machines, to daily commuters, to various styles of comfortable bikes perfect for enjoying Fort Worth’s Trinity River Trail system or just cruising the neighborhood.
Trinity Moving to Downtown Fort Worth
bicycleRetailer.com
FORT WORTH, TX (BRAIN)—Trinity Bicycles will move to a new space in Sundance Square, a 35-block retail, residential, entertainment and cultural district in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
The new 1,550-square-foot location should be open in mid-January 2012, with a grand opening targeted for March, said Trinity Bicycles owner Bernie Scheffler. Trinity’s current home is 2,100 square feet, but due to unusable space there, the business will have the same retail and service footprint at the new location—plus…
Years ago I was riding with another guy and he told me about an invention he was going to make that would put turn signals in the ends of the handlebars. I never saw that invention come along but this might be alternative you can make yourself.
Even if you’re fully decked out in reflective coating, riding a bike at night can be a dangerous thing, which is why Instructable user NEIN decided to rig up a simple system to add blinking turn signals to his bicycle.
It’s a bit of a process to outfit the bike, but it’s an inexpensive fix considering you’ll end up with a safe means of transport. Using commercially available parts, NEIN hooked…
Tour de Fat from the eyes of a 7 year old
by elliott         Austin on Two Wheels
When I get on a cargo bike with my children, I think about what effect bicycle transport will have on their future. Will they break the American wealth draining cycle of car ownership? Will they be better prepared for peak oil? I don’t know, but I do know riding with them is a supremely more enjoyable, relationship building experience than sitting in a car.
On Saturday, we rode our Xtracycle to the Tour de Fat for the opening bike parade ride. Coming in near Halloween, it is always a costumed affair and my kids love to see what people wear. This year, my son Miles…
Bike To City Hall Wed Oct 26th
by The Announcer Guy      Biking in Dallas
It’s that time of year again! Along with all the other cycling events going on this month, we can’t forget to show City Hall our continued support for our updated BIKE PLAN!
We all spent hours upon hours pulling together one heck of a Bike Plan for Dallas. Next Wednesday the 26th join Councilman Scott Griggs in gathering to demonstrate how stoked we all are to see our bike lanes, cycle tracks and…
Bent Wheel Bash draws hundreds of cyclists from across Texas
By Greg Kendall Ball    Abilene Reporter-News
About 200 mountain-biking enthusiasts met Sunday for the 2011 Bent Wheel Bash, an off-road race around an 8.5-mile course along the Buck Creek bike trails north of Abilene.
Kelly MacDonald, owner of Bike Town — one of the event’s main sponsors, said the race drew riders from…
Round Rock REI — Central Texas Mountain Biking Basics
Date: 11/8/2011
Event Location: Round Rock REI
Event Fee: Free
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (CST)
Presenter: REI Specialist
Group Size: 30
Description: Central Texas is a great place to take your bike off-road! In this free presentation, an REI mountain biking specialist will give an introduction to the basics of mountain biking. We will share tips on equipment selection, best trails to ride, needed skills, mountain biking resources and more. Whether you’re just thinking about getting into mountain biking or are looking to learn about Austin trails and how to meet other riders , this course will cover what you need to know before getting on your bike.
Spaghetti Warehouse Ride
Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
Start:Â Â Â Â November 6, 2011 9:00 am
End:Â Â Â Â November 6, 2011 11:30 am
Venue:Â Â Â Â Spaghetti Warehouse
Address:Â Â 1226 E. Houston Stree, San Antonio, TX, United States, 78205
Sunday, November 6th: Meet at the Spaghetti Warehouse, located downtown at 1226 E. Houston Street. Ride will start at 9:00 a.m. We will ride for 20 miles through mostly deserted downtown streets and then go on past some of the missions. This ride is mostly flat to slightly hilly. Ride will be at a stop & smell the roses pace. Lunch afterwards at the Spaghetti Warehouse. For more information contact ride leaders Isabel Mendoza at (210) 771-8767, email rimmendoza@satx.rr.com or Karen Zipper at (210) 379-5268 or email kzipper50@yahoo.com
I may be ready to write a really funny book
by Gil Jones      Musings of Captain Justice
I think that I’ve now had enough pain which, according to some is necessary in order to write a funny book. The plan was hatched months ago when ace cycling-buddy and former high school classmate Don Bynum started laying out routes for a Century Ride. I didn’t pay much attention to the notion at first. I should have.
The Plan
Eventually the route from the West side of Lake Buchanan to Junction, Texas was determined and within a matter of days the plan was laid. Thursday saw copious quantities of water quaffed, chasing a spaghetti dinner. Friday saw electrolyte pills, more water and lasagna disappear down the hatch. Several large salads laced with green leafy vegetables mysteriously disappeared. My weight went from 188.2 to 190 by Saturday morning. All…
Trainer’s Tips: Indoor cycling class can heat up winter
by Michelle Zapanta / Guest columnist   El Paso Times
Chasing daylight. It is a favorite pastime of mine — during a morning ride as the sun begins to lift off the horizon or an evening jog as the rays settle down to let night in.
But now that fall is in full swing and winter is waiting in the wings, the temperatures are quickly dropping and the days are getting shorter. I guess it’s time to bid our glorious summer weather au revoir and bring those workouts indoors.
For many exercise junkies, taking the sweatfests indoors to a gym during the colder months can be challenging — at best, unappealing. Perhaps the lack of scenery (besides occasional eye candy) and a…
Saturday November 19
·        All Day Pre-Riding
Sunday November 20
·        6:30 AM Registration opens for Cat 1/Pro
·        7:30 AM Registration closes for Cat1/Pro
·        8:00 AM Pro/Cat 1/SS Cross-Country
·        8:15 AM registration opens for Cat 2
·        10:00 AM KID’S KRIT
·        10:00 AM Registration closes for Cat 2
·        10:30 AM Cat 2/Single Speed Cross-Country
·        10:45 AM Registration opens for Cat 3
·        12:00 PM KID’S KRIT
·        12:30 PM Registration closes for Cat 2
·        1:00 PM Cat 3 Cross-Country
RACE DISTANCES
·        XC Pro/Cat 1 Men and Women – 24 Miles
·        XC Cat 2 Men and Women – 16 miles
·        XC Cat 3 Men and Women – 12 miles
·        XC 10 to 12 – ~3 Miles
·        XC 9 & Under – ~3 miles
AWARDS/PRIZES
·        Pro Open: 100% payout
·        Cat 1: 75% Payout
·        Cat 2: Prizes!
·        Cat 3: Prizes!
*Based on total actual registration moneys received.
**Participants must be present to win.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Rowlett Creek Preserve trail is located in the city of Garland’s public multi-use park at the intersection of Castle and Centerville Roads. The trail is currently over 15 miles long and since it is built on a staked loop system a trail user can choose various loop combinations to obtain distances that vary from 1 to 15 miles. The direction of travel for all loops is CLOCKWISE. About half of the trail mileage is in the trees with some areas that are tight and twisty. The rest is out in open with some fast, straight field sections. Most of the trail is flat with only a few relatively short climbs. There are a number of areas of the trail that come close to an edge mainly along one of the three creeks that pass through the RCP greenbelt.
