The Houston City Council had some fireworks over bike paths. Two council members sparred over spending in their districts in public. Interestingly the one council member that objected to spending in another district voted for spending in her district.

City Council dust-up pits newcomer against veteran
By Chris Moran, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
It was about a bike path. But it was about so much more.

Councilwoman Helena Brown and Councilman James Rodriguez squared off publicly Wednesday in the kind of bare-knuckled politics usually deployed in a back room.

The outer layer of the onion had them disagreeing on whether the city should spend $2.3 million on a bike path along Sims Bayou in Rodriguez’s District I. Brown called it a “luxury” the city cannot…

FrankenBike # 12 ~ JAN 14, 2012 ~ 10am-4pm
BikeSport ~ 2909 Joanel Street ~ 77027
FrankenBike (n) A free bike swap meet held once a month in Houston, Texas that is open to anyone who wants to buy, sell or trade bicycles and bicycle related gear or parts.
Houston FrankenBike is on the second Saturday of each month, at locations in and around the Greater Houston Metro Area. On months with 5 Saturdays, FrankenBike will be held on the 3rd Saturday. We will be flexible on special occasions, so make sure to check the schedule and you’ll be good to go.

FrankenBike # 2 ~ SUNDAY ~ JAN 15, 2012 ~ 10am-6pm ~ Lost Souls Fixies ~ 110 Lincoln Ave ~ 77840 ~ College Station
FrankenBike # 1 ~ SUNDAY ~ JAN 22, 2012 ~ 10am-5pm ~ House of Rock ~ 511 Starr St ~ 78401 ~ http://corpuschristi.frankenbike.net/
FrankenBike # 78 ~ SATURDAY ~ JAN 28, 2012 ~ 10am-5pm ~ FrankenBabe # 4 ~ The Parlor ~ 4301 B Guadalupe St ~ 78751 ~ http://austin.frankenbike.net/
FrankenBike # 20 ~ SUNDAY ~ JAN 29, 2012 ~ 10am-4pm ~ Leather Hands BMX ~ 105 Warren Street 78212 ~ http://sanantonio.frankenbike.net/

PBBA Friendship Ride on Jan 22 at the Scharbauer Sports Complex more info on http://t.co/h32c5Hjs #cycling #Midland — PeytonsBikes (@PeytonsBikes)
Bring a friend to the Annual Friendship Ride and let’s see if we can get more people on a bike! Afterwards we will meet for Pizza and discuss rides past, present and future.

Updated details for Rocky Hill Ranch ride Saturday January 14
by Laura Scagno             Austin Ridge Riders
It is definitely cold today and most likely tomorrow but Saturday should be warmer.

The Austin Ridge Riders will be cooking up sausage wraps post ride. We’ll wrap them up in warm tortillas and provide salsa, spicy mustard, guacamole, sour cream and other fixings plus some chips and sweets. I plan on picking up some veggies patties and/or veggie dogs for our non meat eating friends.

We also will have soda, water and beer (for those of legal drinking age). Everyone is encouraged to bring something to share. Potato salad or…

Must Read: Who pinched my ride?
by VeloNews.com
Outside — Infuriated by bicycle theft and empowered by Garmin tracking devices, Patrick Symmes set out on a quest to uncover the mangy underbelly of bicycle theft. By strategically leaving trackable bikes poorly secured around the city, Symmes tantalized bike vultures and lured them in to pick at his two-wheeled carcasses.

He found that “the futility of locking is shocking,” and every security product can be manipulated by a desperate junky. According to Symmes, “in America’s rough streets, there are four forms of currency—cash, sex, drugs, and…

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 1/12- 1/18/12
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all cycling events. As always, if there is an event you know about that’s not on our calendar contact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up.
Thursday, January 12
Thursday Night Bike Polo
5:00 PM, Metz Park, 2407 Canterbury St
The Austin Bike Polo Club’s holds 3 hardcourt matches a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, at Metz…

Dallas Bicycle Cafe coming soon!
by Christopher Curnutt            Biking in Dallas

I got this tip reading the Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate.  As many of you know Dallas Bike Works (Northwest Highway and Lawther – map) has an adjacent spot that begged to be utilized as some sort of eatery. Well it’s finally happening, Dallas Bicycle Cafe will be “opening soon” and from what I can…

ACA Meeting, Saturday, January 14th
Austin Cycling Association
Join us for ACA’s New Year’s Resolution meeting on Saturday, January 14th at 3:00pm at the Howson Library (2500 Exposition Blvd, Austin, 78703) and sign up for the ACA New Year’s Resolution Challenge!

Here’s how it works: each participant enters their cycling fitness goals for 2012 on a “pledge” form, for example frequency of riding, miles, hours in the saddle – something quantifiable. Then once a month, you send your actual numbers to vp@austincycling.org. At the ACA Holiday party in December, everyone who met or exceeded their goal will…

Airman injured as bicycle struck
Driver was not wearing her glasses
By Jennifer Rios            San Angelo Standard-Times
While bicycling to work, Robert Antoine Abrom wore his helmet, reflective vest and rode correctly with traffic on his way to Goodfellow Air Force Base.

About a quarter of a mile from base, the 31-year-old airman was struck by van whose driver, police said, wasn’t wearing her glasses.

Abrom was taken to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance after the crash, which was reported about 5:50 a.m. Wednesday in the 4000 block of South Chadbourne Street, police spokesman Lt. David Howard said. …

STCC SuperBowl Sunday Ride to the Ride V
by sooner1            Shawnee Trail Cycling Club
Mark the date, Sunday February 5th.

Yes, last year we missed – for the first time – our ride on Super Bowl morning due to ice accumulation on the streets.  Not this year.  Not even if I have to put studs in my tires.  This ride is too much fun even on the coldest of days!  This ride is open to all comers, Shawnee Trail Cycling Club is happy to host our “Super Bowl Ride to the Ride V”.  This annual event is known to attract more than 1,000 cyclists who depart from multiple locations throughout the Metroplex. …

Join the TX High School League’s Scholastic Cycling Conference
The Texas High School Cycling League is putting finishing touches on its first annual Scholastic Cycling Conference. While the conference is billed as a scholastic cycling coaches and organizers conference, it will be very helpful and informative for anyone interested in middle school or high school cycling.
WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, January 21 & 22
WHERE: Embassy Suites — Austin Arboretum, Austin, Texas
The conference’s breakout format will allow for multiple, simultaneous sessions so that conference attendees can choose which presentations are best suited to their interest and level of experience. Topics will cover the spectrum of school-aged cycling issues for parents, coaches, and organizers. …