{"id":21854,"date":"2013-07-09T00:15:05","date_gmt":"2013-07-09T05:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=21854"},"modified":"2013-07-09T00:15:05","modified_gmt":"2013-07-09T05:15:05","slug":"texas-bicycling-blog-and-news-roundup-for-july-8th-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2013\/07\/09\/texas-bicycling-blog-and-news-roundup-for-july-8th-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for July 8th"},"content":{"rendered":"

Midland Cyclists raise money for MS, train for 150-mile bike ride<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBy Tyler White\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.mywesttexas.com
\n\"\"
\nAs Betty Shaffer pedaled stationary bicycle on Sunday outside of Sam\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Club, a blender retrofitted into the bike\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s frame crushed and pulsed ice cubes, milk, assorted fruits and ice cream — the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153key ingredient\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of a good smoothie.<\/p>\n

Shaffer and several other volunteers took turns peddling $3 and $5 smoothies from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Spinathon fundraiser leading up to Cactus & Crude Ride, which is July 20-21.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re on a mission to wipe out MS,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Tammie Porter, a volunteer with the…<\/p>\n

\n

El Paso City Council to mull details of bike-sharing plan<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBy Cindy Ramirez \\ El Paso Times
\nA planned citywide bicycle-sharing program could get a boost Tuesday, when the City Council is expected to consider approving an interlocal agreement among several transportation organizations that would help fund and manage it.<\/p>\n

The proposed BikeShare Program would allow riders to check out the bicycles for a fee at several stations across the city, including Downtown and near the University of Texas at El Paso.<\/p>\n

Actual locations would be determined later, but it’s projected that 20 automated kiosks would house 10 bicycles apiece, according to city documents. Global Positioning Systems would likely be used to calculate miles traveled and to…<\/p>\n

\n

High School MTB Camp in Colorado in the Gunnison Crested Butte Area<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nby GunnisonTrail\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0forums.mtbr.com\/texas
\nCoaches\/staff include Dave Wiens, Jennifer Smith, Bryan Dillon and members of the Western State Colorado University cycling team. Special guests will include Susan DeMattei, Kane Leonard, Dr. Rhett Griggs of Griggs Orthopedics and Bryan Smith.<\/p>\n

Room and board will be on the beautiful Western State Colorado University (aka, “Western”) campus and riding will be around Gunnison, including at Hartman Rocks, at Crested Butte Resort and a special introduction to…<\/p>\n

\n

Man on bicycle hit by SUV<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nwww.chron.com
\nHOUSTON –
\nA man was taken to the hospital in serious condition after he was hit by an SUV Monday morning.
\nInvestigators said a man was riding his bicycle and had just crossed a median on the 8200 block of Fulton near Julia Street when he collided with the SUV.
\nAuthorities said the man was…<\/p>\n

\n

Museum District Aesthetic Plastic Surgery<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBabs Eaker and I finish 49 miles in the Tour de Bike Barn!
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

\n

A \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcCycling Madman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Pedals His Way Across the World<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBy COREY KILGANNON and JEFFREY E. SINGER\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
\n\"\"
\nLai Likun, 41, of China, is visiting New York City, but he does not plan on renting a CitiBike.<\/p>\n

Short-term rentals are not useful to Mr. Lai. He has already been through six sturdy bikes over the past three years, having pedaled 31,000 miles through four continents and nearly 25 countries as part of a five-year solo bicycle tour around the world.<\/p>\n

Mr. Lai, a factory manager, says his next destination is South America and is flying to Beijing on Tuesday to straighten out his visa. Then he will head to the Pacific islands. …<\/p>\n

… Mr. Lai came to the United States last December, arriving in New York City, before making his way to Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, then to Texas and into Mexico. After a side trip to…<\/p>\n

\n

I want my Rack Back At My HEB Plus\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6Please!<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nby Matthew\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0bike4heck.com
\n\"\"
\nMy Letter to HEB Customer Service sent on 7\/2\/13:
\nDear HEB #623 Plus Store Manager of
\n9238 North Loop 1604 West
\nSan Antonio, TX 78249
\nI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so glad that the new HEB Plus near my house has bicycle racks.
\nBut sadly I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen them reduced to shopping cart storage, motorcycle parking and picnic table storage. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve live less than a mile a away and often take my bicycle to go grocery shopping at this great store.<\/p>\n

But lately finding a place to lock up is becoming rare. Can we please have the bicycle racks for Bicycles! Not Motorcycles, golf carts, shopping carts and picnic tables. I often blog about my cycling trips and have…<\/p>\n

\n

NCC: Events on both coasts bring little change to standings<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nwww.usacycling.org
\nWith scoring opportunities dwindling, the USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) had a pair of races this weekend – one on each coast. On Saturday, the men were in West Chester, Pa., to compete in the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium before the women rejoined the fray in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Sunday to contest the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix. …<\/p>\n

…WOMEN’S STANDINGS
\nErica Allar (Tucson, Ariz.\/CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 1077
\nTheresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich.\/Fearless Femme p\/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie 13) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 784
\nLaura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa.\/Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 777
\nSamantha Schneider (Milwaukee, Wis.\/TIBO-To the Top) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 504
\nJennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas\/Colavita-Fine Cooking) – 500…<\/p>\n

\n

2013 Hot Rocks Bike Ride offers family fun, racing action<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nblueribbonnews.com
\nRegistration is underway for the 2013 Hot Rocks Bike Ride, presented by the Rockwall Noon Rotary Club.\u00c2\u00a0 The 27th annual cycling event will begin and end at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium on Saturday, August 10th.
\n\"\"
\nEach year the event grows in popularity, attracting cyclists of all skill levels. More than 1,000 participants are expected, from competitive racers and beginners to families with young children. With improved roads and a better course \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including routes of 63-miles (100k), 43-miles, 13.5 miles and a…<\/p>\n

\n

Urban Challenge Ride<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nHouston Bicycle Club
\nSunday 07\/14\/13\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a09:00 a.m.
\n40 to 45 miles
\nThe Urban Challenge Rides are in-town group rides, faster and longer than the EZ Rides, each time taking you to different parts of the city. You should be able to maintain a pace of 15 mph for a distance of 40 to 45 miles, usually with one rest stop.<\/p>\n

\n

BCC Monthly Ride<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBrownwood Cycling Community
\nJuly 20, 2013 @ 8:00 am \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 11:00 am
\nAllcorn Park
\nBrownwood, TX
\nMonthly group ride every 3rd Saturday of each month.\u00c2\u00a0 Meet at Allcorn Park in Brownwood and expect 20-30 miles. No drops, fun ride, great scenery.<\/p>\n

\n

Retailers report positive sales in May<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBicycle Retailer
\nBOULDER, CO (BRAIN) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d After three consecutive months of decline, IBDs rebounded and posted the first month of positive sales this year, according to Leisure Trends Group. Compared with May 2012, all merchandise gained 4 percent in units and 6 percent in dollars to reach $393 million, the largest May dollar volume since at least 2009.<\/p>\n

While a very positive sign, it was not enough to offset a particularly difficult beginning to the year. Through May, all merchandise sales fell 7 percent to settle at $1.3 billion, $93 million shy of the same period last year.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The first four months of 2013 were a stark contrast to the record sales of 2012\u00e2\u20ac\u201dsales at IBDs were down nearly 11 percent. May, with its 6 percent growth compared to last year, provided a…<\/p>\n

\n

NETT Awareness Ride<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nby Shawn\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Texas Mountain Bike Trails
\nThe Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) is a rail-to-trail program that is working to develop a trail system through 19 cities from Famersville to New Boston, 130 miles one way. The vision of the trail is held by the Northeast Texas Trail Coalition who has applied for their 501c status. They are working long-term to develop the full distance of the NETT and its estimated 90-100 bridges. The potential for eco-tourism relative to the trail is tremendous. When the rail was laid steam engines needed water every 8-10 miles so that is where station and later towns were established. Today the NETT is everywhere from pristine asphalt to granite to rail bed to completely overgrown. Some sections are currently impassable due to growth or adjacent landowner disputes over trail use.
\n\"\"
\nTo bring attention to the NETT (and to have a little fun) Dean Nix from Dallas plans to ride the trail from end-to-end and back. This 260 mile ride has never been done but one day it will be…<\/p>\n

\n

In Remembrance<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nPlano Bicycle Association
\n\"\"
\nJuly 7, 2013 marks the anniversary of the loss of PBA member and ride leader Duane Evans to a cycling crash on his DB2 ride. To commemorate his love and devotion to cycling, Duane’s family is traveling to the Tour de France this year to place a small portion of his ashes on the hallowed slopes of…<\/p>\n

\n

The Fixed Touring Mini-Cat<\/strong><\/span><\/a>
\nBiking in Dallas
\nWait, wait! What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a Mini-Cat? Fixed Touring explains:
\n\"\"
\nOn July 13 2013 Fixed Touring will embark upon a mission to provide the city of Dallas with a bicycle race like they have never seen!<\/p>\n

What is the problem with bicycle racing as it is, you say? Well, touring races are very long and fairly uneventful not to mention hard to watch. Criteriums are easier to watch, but repetitive. The Alley-Cat \u00e2\u20ac\u201d now there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a race! However, it is probably the hardest to observe due to the sporadic and unpredictable nature. Solution: we are going to wrap an action packed Alley-Cat around the spectators. Watch as the bravest cyclists in town battle it out through…<\/p>\n

\n

Tweets<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

#WomensRideDay<\/a> is back! July's #ride<\/a> is Saturday. Join us! http:\/\/t.co\/Lx0N6Fe9Gc<\/a>? cc @specializedwmn<\/a><\/p>\n

— Bicycle Sport Shop (@BSS_Austin) July 8, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n