24 Hours of Rocky Hill – Smithville, TX

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24 Hours of Rocky Hill
578A FM 153, Smithville, TX 78957 (Rocky Hill Ranch)
The Race
A 24 hour mountain bike relay race on approximately 10-mile course. Teams try to log as many laps as possible, with only 1 member riding at a time. The team with the most laps in the 24 hour time period wins.

Course Description
Short Description: A 10-mile (approx) loop, 80% single track and 20% jeep road with several creek crossings. The single track winds through oak and pine groves combining quick down hills and technical sections. The course is marked with arrows for day riding, reflective tape for night riding. Map of course: 24hr-MAP (updated 10/18/2010)

Long Description: RHR provides you with steep climbs, tight, fast single-track and fast downhills. From the start, RHR will let you know just how good of a climber you are (or aren’t) thanks to the multiple steep climbs of ‘Fat Chuck’s Demise’. If you don’t make it, don’t feel bad – just lay down next to Chuck’s headstone and admit defeat. Next comes a fast winding trail called ‘Karaway’ that leads to ‘Off the Lip’, a parade of whoop-dee-doo’s that wind in and out of a dry creek bed. ‘Off the Lip’ will put a huge smile on your face. After the ‘Lip’, you hit the service road for a very short stretch until you reach Water Station 2 and on to ‘Longhorn Loop’. ‘Longhorn Loop’ is followed by ‘Tris Cross’ and both are nice stretches of single-track on your way to ‘Omar’s Howl’. Towards the end is ‘Black Trac’, described as the grand finale of RHR, and rightfully so. Imagine the best of RHR all at once. Right before you think it’s all over you come to ‘The Wall’ – think whoop-dee-doo on crack.

Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup September 16th

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KidTrips August 27, 2011 Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area
Austin Ridge Riders

Thanks to the efforts of Brian Beaulieu, Director of Operations with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, fourteen boys and girls hit the trails at the Slaughter Trail for a KidTrips adventure they will never forget. Before the ride, the six basic International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) Rules of the Trail were discussed and emphasis is placed on the significance of…

The 2011 Calavera @ the Ranch (Reveille Peak, that is!)
Submitted by Laura Scagno        Austin Ridge Riders
Saturday, October 29 at 12:00pm- October 30 at 12:00pm
Location: Reveille Peak Ranch
105 CR 114, Burnet, Texas
The Calavera at the Ranch is a 24-hour mountain biking festival held at the beautiful Reveille Peak Ranch on Halloween weekend. The event will contain a race for our competitive riders and a Just-for-Fun ride for the mountain bikers who want to have a good time. …

Tuesday Night Time Trials
Fort Worth Mountain Bikers’ Association
they’re back, and with a variety of NEW GAMES!!!
I’ll send out a more formal announcement, but for now I’ll give you the basic schedule:
October 4th
October 11th
October 25th
November 1st
November 8th
November 15th
Each event will feature a “special twist” and we are going to incorporate the Trinity Trail as ONE of our venues… get ready for some high speed action, and spread the word about these FREE, super FUN off-road events!!!

We won! Federal support for bicycling is preserved
peopleforbikes.org
The U.S. Senate affirmed its time-tested support of bicycling Thursday by forcing Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma to withdraw his proposal to eliminate dedicated funding for the Transportation Enhancements program.

Peopleforbikes.org supporters and our advocacy partners influenced this outcome by sending close to 50,000 emails and making thousands of phone calls to their U.S. Senators in just 48 hours. Thank you! …

Making streets safer for our kids and ignoring the bull
by elliott        Austin on Two Wheels
This morning I attended an exciting meeting at my children’s elementary school put on by the City of Austin’s Safe Routes to School program. We have been chosen as one of 6 campuses to receive support from the program designed to encourage parents to skip being a juvenile’s chauffeur and let kids do what they used to do for decades: walk and bike to school. …

Commuter Buddy
by minorbaker        Austin on Two Wheels
I have been using my bike as a mode of transportation on and off for the last 10 years. At this point, it does not seem extraordinary to ride to the store to get a sixer of Fat Tire, take the boys to get donuts on a Saturday morning, or to ride to work.  Maybe I am getting old, or maybe it wasn’t that significant, but I don’t remember that first time I rode my bike to work.  I wanted to try and remember what that felt like, so in my post a couple of…

Please Be Kind to Cyclists ride on Sunday
By Pam LeBlanc        Fit City

Here’s a pedal-pumping good deal: A group bike ride that celebrates cycling, doesn’t cost anything and includes free food.

Please Be Kind to Cyclists, the non-profit organization responsible for those animosity-easing bumper stickers all over town, is hosting its fourth annual group bike ride starting at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at Pure Austin, 907 W. Fifth Street. …

Beilue: Vietnam veteran rides toward another miracle
By JON MARK BEILUE

Bob Wieland’s first letter to his parents from a Vietnam hospital bed after his legs were blown off when he stepped on a 82-mm mortar round gives a quick glimpse at an unquenchable spirit:

Dear Mom and Dad,
I am in the hospital. Everything is going to be OK. People here take good care of me. I don’t think it will be much of an adjustment. Please don’t worry about me. …

Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup – September 15th

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High school racing continues to grow in United States
By: Cycling News
NICA announces expanded mountain bike programs
The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) announced expansion plans featuring two programs while at Interbike in Las Vegas, Nevada this week. The American organization behind high school racing launched a new program called the 50-State Coach and Club program and announced a new league.

The 50-State Coach and Club program is the most far-reaching program yet. “With the 50-State Indie Club program, we are excited to reinstate our ground-up approach to creating leagues, which originated in 1998 when four…

Man, 79, collides with truck while bicycling
By Hayley Kappes / El Paso Times
A 79-year-old bicycle rider suffered serious injuries Thursday morning when he collided with a truck on Alameda Avenue, police said.

The man driving a 1980 white pickup was heading east in the 6700 block of Alameda when the cyclist, who was traveling north on Seville, entered Alameda and hit the passenger side of the truck at 10:25 a.m., police said. …

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 9/15- 9/21/11
by elliott        Austin on Two Wheels
This weekend is the Austin City Limits Festival, and if you plan on going, please be sure to ride your bike. There is plenty of bike parking! If ACL isn’t your thing, there are some get events to benefit others coming up including the Rocky Hill Ranch Fundraiser for Bastrop County Wild Fire Victims on Friday and Saturday, the 4th Annual Please Be Kind to Cyclists Ride on Sunday, and the Lend Your Legs: Social Cycling Austin + Texas School for…

Oct. 5 is International Bike and Walk to School Day
by emma@biketexas.org (Emma Cravey)

bike and walk to school pic2Wednesday, October 5, 2011 is International Walk and Bike to School Day.  This is a special day to join schools around the globe in promoting safe walking and bicycling.  The event could start a trend that can continue throughout the year. …

Welcome New Board Members!
by emma@biketexas.org (Emma Cravey)
We had another successful annual meeting this year, which took place on August 13, 2011 at the BikeTexas office in Austin.  Thanks especially to everyone who came out to the party we had honoring the retirement of Paul Douglas, the TxDOT bicycle coordinator for many years and a great ally for cyclists! …

Great News from San Antonio!
by emma@biketexas.org (Emma Cravey)

San Antonio has been making great strides in bike-friendliness the last few years, and we are happy to pass along yet two more exciting developments: an international award for their bike share program (the first in Texas), and the scheduling of their first ciclovia! …

New TxDOT Bike/Ped Coordinator is On the Job
by emma@biketexas.org (Emma Cravey)

Charles Riou at BikeTexas Though we were sad to say goodbye to retiring TxDOT bicycle and pedestrian coordinator Paul Douglas, we couldn’t have asked for a better person to take his place: Professional Engineer and daily bike commuter Charles Riou!  He began his tenure as bike/ped coordinator on September 1, 2011. …

Cyclesomatic 2011 is Oct 7th – 29th
by The Announcer Guy        Bikeing in Dallas
BFOC presents the third annual Cyclesomatic, a celebration of the bicycle. Back and better than ever, this year’s event will span most of the month of October, the best month for riding in North Texas.

Featured events will include, Tour to the Lake Ride, Bike the Oak Cliff Home Tour, iBike Rosemont Week , Bike to City Hall, Blues Bandits & BBQ featuring a Cyclesomatic Bicycle Fair, Trinity Trails Bike and Run, Cyclecross…

LSR Journal:Pedalling — and padding — his way to Zen
M.M. Adjarian  |  Contributing Writer
editor@dallasvoice.com
If you had told Kerry Chace a few years ago that cycling would one day become akin to a spiritual practice, he would’ve thought you were joking. But now, the joke’s on him.

This second-year Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS cyclist can’t imagine not spending his spare time pedalling for his body and mind as…

Wheelbrothers ride report: Assault on Pikes Peak!
by WB admin            The Wheel Brothers – Cycling in Texas
While most of the Wheelbrothers ride only local races, our resident ‘racer’ Ron rides all over the United States.  While the Wheelbrothers participated in the Hotter ‘n Hell 100 bike ride in Wichita Falls, his latest adventure was the ‘Assault on Pikes Peak’ which is a 24.5 mile bike ride in Colorado.

Don’t quite get it but apparently he really enjoys the pain and suffering going up mountains.  According to him though, it’s one of THE best bike rides you can participate in the United States. …

Chappell Hill Road Race 2011
by Ken        Texas Racing Life
In 2009’s edition of this race, I believe it was raining steadily. In stark contrast, this year the course was in jeopardy of being burned to the ground.  The race flyer says rain or shine, but has no mention of whether the race will continue through un-breathable smoke.  Fortunately, the Race Gods delighted us with blue skys with only a slight tinge of acrid haze.  Good enough to race.

I was worried from the beginning, especially because of my stomach’s refusal to take calories before the race.  I stuffed my pockets full of CliffShots, Gummies, and cold potatoes covered in salt.  From the start, we were flying near 30+ mph, with attacks going off the front.  I followed moves and stayed aggressive, but in the back of mind I was thinking, ” wait, how long is this race? Can I sustain this for another 3.5 hours?”  For the first hour, attacks…

Things I’ve Learned This Season
by Ken        Texas Racing Life
From February up until now, racing has been on my brain.  I have worked hard and had some great successes. I have met my goals, including get my Cat 2 upgrade, win a race, have fun, don’t get seriously hurt or injured, and work on eating better.  Nutrition is still a work in progress.

Occasionally I think back to times in my life that seem like only yesterday in the grand scheme of things, but I have grown and transformed so much since then, it seems like I am remembering a story told by a totally different person.  Reminiscing about a whole cycling season is similar to this. Now that it is almost over, I am…