{"id":23569,"date":"2014-03-22T00:04:13","date_gmt":"2014-03-22T05:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/?p=23569"},"modified":"2014-03-22T00:04:13","modified_gmt":"2014-03-22T05:04:13","slug":"texas-bicycle-news-and-blog-digest-march-21st","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texbiker.net\/blog\/2014\/03\/22\/texas-bicycle-news-and-blog-digest-march-21st\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Bicycle News and Blog Digest March 21st"},"content":{"rendered":"

Support our veterans as they cycle through Texas<\/a><\/h2>\n

By Tom Quirk, CEO UnitedHealthcare of Texas\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.yourhoustonnews.com<\/h3>\n

\n Riding a bicycle is one of the great and simple joys of life. The wind in your face, the freedom to propel yourself forward, the challenge of the hill ahead and the exhilaration of coasting downhill. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a wonderful thing.
\n For many injured military veterans, the bicycle is more than a simple two-wheeled machine. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a tool for healing — physically and mentally.
\n Ride 2 Recovery is a nonprofit that supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs for thousands of injured veterans across the United States, featuring cycling as the core activity.
\n From indoor spinning training at military installations to multiday, long-distance rides, Ride 2 Recovery helps injured veterans heal through the challenge of cycling long distances using…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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TMC Individual Time Trial Series<\/a><\/h2>\n

Team McAllen Cycling<\/h3>\n

\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Sunday, March 23rd, 2014 at 8am – 10am
\n Sunday, April 27th, 2014 at 8am – 10am
\n Location: Bentsen Palm Park, located of Inspiration Rd Mission (North of the Veterans Memorial Cemetery)
\n Time: 7:00 AM to register, first rider out at 8:00 AM
\n Cost: FREE TMC members, $10.00 to non-members
\n Open to all classes of bicycle
\n Categories
\n Male & Female
\n Open and Age Groups…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Upcoming Events<\/a><\/h2>\n

West Texas Cycling Association<\/h3>\n

\n Tour de Freedom
\n Date: April 5, 2014
\n Location: Plainview, TX
\n Contact: Aaron Byrd 806-292-8149
\n Details: Rides range from 19, 30, and 60 miles\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Fort Davis Memorial Day Weekend Ride<\/a><\/h2>\n

West Texas Cycling Association<\/h3>\n

\n Date: May 23, 2014 – May 26, 2014
\n Location: Fort Davis, TX
\n Contact: JD & Jill Booker806-317-4644
\n Details: Hosts JD & Jill Booker 806-473-8798, Cost TBA, This is a 3 day event. We provide campsites and lunch and dinner on Saturday, Lunch in camp on Sunday if you are around. The Saturday ride is a 75 mile loop with challenging hill climbs and beautiful scenery. Sunday is a do your own thing day. There are many options for riding such as 36 miles to Balmorhea, 40 miles to Alpine, or 21 miles to Marfa. There are art galleries, the Fort in town, the observatory, hiking options, and many other activities to keep you entertained on Sunday. The Indian Lodge is located in the state park if camping is not your thing. We typically have breakfast at the lodge on Monday before traveling back to Lubbock. …\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Tuesday: Intermediate\/Advanc\u00c2\u00aded Mountain Bike Ride at the Ant Hills<\/a><\/h2>\n

Houston Cycling Club<\/h3>\n

\n Tuesday, April 1, 2014\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 6:15 PM
\n 15200 Memorial Dr, Houston, Te (map)
\n Look for group and ask if it’s us! call me, Jeff @ [masked] if you have any questions or are going to be late.
\n This will be a medium to fast pace ride through the Ant Hills of Hershey Park! Bring WATER, spare tube\/tire, snacks, etc…Helmets required. Call if you are going to be late so we can wait for you. Wheels rolling by 6:30! See you there…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Trail master plan gets honor as city expands system<\/a><\/h2>\n

By TY JOHNSON The Brownsville Herald<\/h3>\n

\n Brownsville is getting some recognition for its bicycle and trail master plan, and city organizers are already making preparations to seek more recognition for the city\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s infrastructure vision.
\n The Texas Trails Network announced this week that Connecting Brownsville: The 2013 Bicycle and Trail Master Plan had been selected to receive the Great Texas Trail Head Award.
\n A press release from the city said the award is given to recognize a completed trail project that demonstrates…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Comparing Bikes<\/a><\/h2>\n

Bike Noob<\/h3>\n

\n A funny thing happened as I was poking around in my blog analytics. I discovered that the readers of this blog really like bikes. Yeah, amazing, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it? Wait a sec \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll see just what I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m getting at.
\n I can take a look at search terms used to find items on this blog, or search terms that will get people to this blog \u00e2\u20ac\u201d whether they want to be here or not And over the last year, the item that keeps coming up as the most searched-for term is: bike comparison.
\n Back in 2011 I did a blog post on a new bike comparison website. There seemed to be enough interest that I put the site\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s link on my home page in the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blogroll.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It keeps drawing the traffic.So much so, that when people search for anything remotely resembling \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bike…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Reflection Ride<\/a><\/h2>\n

Team McAllen Cycling<\/h3>\n

\n Saturday, April 5th, 2014 at 7am – 10am
\n Location: Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – National Shrine
\n The Reflection Ride has been create by TMC member Chaplain John Lafara. The intention is to use this time to reflect on life.
\n 7:00am – Sign Waiver
\n 7:30am – Walk the Fourteen stations of the Cross (optional)
\n 8:00am – Ride Starts on the east side of the Basilica
\n End of Ride: Write down on a piece of paper an intention, prayer, petition, and roll it up and place it on the reflection wall (optional).
\n Route: 30 miles http:\/\/www.mapmyride.com\/routes\/fullscreen\/375767277\/<\/a>
\n Pace: <18 mph; not a race. …
\n \"\"\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Austin Bike Advocacy Groups Merge<\/a><\/h2>\n

By Brandon Mulder\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0www.austinpost.org<\/h3>\n

\n Last month the bicycle advocacy groups Bike Austin and the Austin Cycling Association announced their plans to merge. Throughout 2014, two groups that have led the local fight for cycling-friendly policies and infrastructure will combine to become a single organization aimed at making Austin one of the top cycling cities in the country.
\n Since 1975, the Austin Cycling Association has focused on education, and regularly holds defensive bicycling courses and group rides for all levels of pedaler. Bike Austin, originally founded in 1996 as the League of Bicycling Voters, works with the City to improve cycling laws and infrastructure.
\n Going forward, the two organizations will be merging their leadership, but will keep the entities separate. They will be rechristened the Bike Austin Community Fund, which will act as the financial and…\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar<\/h2>\n
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New Bike Event: Saturday Urban Ride – Houston, TX: When: Sat Apr 19, 2014 8am to 9:30am\u00c2\u00a0
CDTWho: Texas Bicycli… http:\/\/t.co\/Kjc8Vwnbui<\/a><\/p>\n

— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) March 21, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n