Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for April 5th

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Bike Trails on Utility Easements
from bikehouston.org
Want more bike trails in Houston?  Want A LOT more bike trails in Houston? There is a bill in the Texas legislature that would allow trails to be built along utility easements; imagine the possibilities! BikeHouston has sent 40 letters to senators and representatives supporting this bill, but now we need your help.  Find…

San Antonio Wheelmen Rides
Saturday, April 9 at 9 AM:  Boerne “Is This the Last Hill” Ride
Sunday, April 10 at 9 AM:  Women Hollering Creek Ride
Optional Ride with Austin Cycling Association: Sunday, April 10 at 9 AM: Stonewall Slog

Texas Bicycle Racing Association
The 6th Annual Belterra Hill Country Classic
Tyler Texas Road Race

Denton council unanimously approves Safe Passing ordinance
by bikedenton
Denton is the eighth Texas city to approve the Vulnerable Road User ordinance, aka Safe Passing, by a unanimous city council vote. Council member Dalton Gregory first brought up the idea in February of 2010, and after discussion this afternoon, the ordinance sailed through council at the evening meeting. The ordinance says…

BikeTexas partners with the NAACP on Southwestern Regional Conference Bike Ride
by jack@biketexas.org (Jack Sanford)
On Saturday, April 2, 2011, the NAACP partnered with BikeTexas to host a bike ride for the 2011 NAACP Southwestern Regional Conference

The two organizations initially joined forces last October when the Texas NAACP organized a…

Makeover For The Margaret McDermott “Designer” Bridge
by KERA
It calls for noted Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to tweak the design for the I-30 Margaret McDermott Bridge to fit within a smaller budget, as well as add pedestrian and bicycle components. The price tag on the original Calatrava design for the …

3 Medal of Honor recipients join 350-mile bike ride to unite nation, wounded
by United States Army (press release)


On the fourth of their six-day, 350-mile Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge, more than 200 injured veterans and their supporters cycle through Fort Hood, Texas, March 31. The bicycle ride began March 28 from the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army …

Bicycling the Southern Tier, Navasota TX to Silsbee TX
from www.youtube.com

This video covers Navasota, Anderson, Richards, New Waverely, Evergreen, Coldspring, Shephard, Dolen, Rye, Votaw, Thicket, Honey Island, Kountze, Silsbee. …

Daily News Roundup April 4th – Texas Bicycling

Texbiker.net Posted on by

Mellow Johnny’s Spring Classic kick-off party to benefit young racers
from cyclingnews.com
Texas High School Mountain Bike League gets boost from US Pro XCT event

The third annual Mellow Johnny’s Spring Classic Kick-Off Party, held on the eve of the Mellow Johnny’s US Pro XCT race, will benefit the Texas High School Mountain Bike League for the first time ever. The party…

How to beat a backlash against bikes: Lessons from Minneapolis
from peopleforbikes.org
Are we witnessing the start of a national backlash against bikes?

Until recently, everyone seemed to love biking. Cities from Long Beach to Omaha to Greenville, South Carolina, implemented ambitious plans to build new biking facilities. The federal transportation bills of 1991, 1998 and 2005 continually expanded funding to improve biking and walking conditions across the U.S, enjoying…

Katy Ram Challenge – April 9, 2011
from bikebrookshire.com
MS150 Recommended Ride – Katy Ram ChallengeThe Katy Ram Challenge is on Saturday, April 9, 2011 starting from Sun & Ski Sports, Katy Mills Mall in Katy, TX at 8 am. It winds it way around Waller County and travels thru podunk towns like Monaville and Pattison. Don’t forget to check out all the interesting sites as you roll thru on this great MS150 training ride. …

City to vote on Safe Passing ordinance
by bikedenton
Tomorrow at 3PM, city council will hold a work session at which citizens may speak regarding the Vulnerable Road User ordinance, aka Safe Passing. In addition to requiring safe passing distance, the ordinance also criminalizes harassment or intimidation of a vulnerable road user. The ordinance seeks to protect…

Look for BikeDFW at These Events in April
by marc@mcmumby.com
BikeDFW will be at these great events with information on street smarts for better and safer urban cycling; tips and tricks for bike commuting; and etiquette for safe riding on hike and bike trails. Oh!… and we’ll be giving away…

NuVinci Continuously-Variable Bicycle Hub
by Justin Husman

As cyclists, all of us are used to having a certain number of gear choices available to us – from one to 27. Most of us are also used to never being able to find …

70 MPH, no shoulder, hilly, turns and Bicycles!!! (near Leakey…
Originally Posted by cinnamon_toast I am a cyclist. Most cars are very courteous and pull out into the other lane to pass me. If they can’t see around. …

MSU Results
by League Director, www.texashighschoolcycling.org
Weekend and new overall results have been posted from this past weekend’s racing at MSU in Wichita Falls.  Check out the race series tab of this website.   Some great racing and once again a bit of a shake-up in the team and individual standings.  The competition is really heating up so be sure to check out the full league standings and plan to make it out to the remaining races when they visit Lubbock and Houston.

After the cool front pushed through… – April 4th Bike Ride

Texbiker.net Posted on by

After the cool front pushed through the area without leaving any badly needed rain I was greeted by 71 degrees, clear skies and a strong 19 mph north wind when I got home from work. I was delayed getting home so I was concerned that I would run out of daylight on my planned route but thanks to the clear skies the sun did not totally disappear before I got back from my ride. With the strong wind I dressed a little heavier than I would normally for 71 degrees. A long sleeve jersey and wind breaker jacket were perfect but I did not need the leg warmers or full finger gloves.

Like yesterday the tailwind for the first 10 miles was a biker’s delight. Heading back home into the wind was not so delightful. I was thinking my legs would still be trying to recover from the last two days of riding but they did not complain though my speed was slower. Even with that I was able to it a max of 24 mph. Traffic on my route was normal for this time of day. No other bikers were spotted.

April mileage update:

  • April miles 98.97
  • YTD 925.64

4-04-2011 Ride Data and Map

4-4-2011 Home Weathr Station at the end of the ride

Additional charts, weather and map.

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The Belterra Hill Country Classic – Austin, TX

Texbiker.net Posted on by

The Belterra Hill Country Classic
Presented by HOLLAND RACING & 787 Racing & Shama Cycles
Austin, TX
Saturday, May 21, 2011
USA Cycling Event USA Cycling Permit # 2011-1568
Online Registration Closes Friday, May 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM ET
The 6th Annual Belterra Hill Country Classic returns Saturday May 21, 2011. Gear up for the State Criterium the following weekend with some closed course circuit racing just 15 minutes west of Austin. That’s right, a closed course with no cars.

Course is a 2-mile circuit closed to traffic on super smooth asphalt 15 minutes west of Austin in the Belterra subdivision. Course is L shaped with one long gradual hill and one short roller of a hill close at finish line. Both hills can be big ringed but duration and preference may dictate use of the small chain ring.

Free Belterra Hill Country Classic coffee mugs to the first 300 registrants.
Entry Fee is FREE for juniors. Collegiate students with valid Student ID at registration get $10 off their total. If you pre-reg and show your student ID day of at reg we will give you $10 back.
For everyone else, the entry fee starts at $30. At 12:15AM May 14th it goes to $35. There is a $10 late fee for folks registering day of the event.
No pre-packet pick up. Just show up and pin up.
Numbers on the right!
Sponsoring clubs are Holland Racing, 787 Racing, and Shama Cycles.