Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for July 8th
Midland Cyclists raise money for MS, train for 150-mile bike ride
By Tyler White      www.mywesttexas.com
As Betty Shaffer pedaled stationary bicycle on Sunday outside of Sam’s Club, a blender retrofitted into the bike’s frame crushed and pulsed ice cubes, milk, assorted fruits and ice cream — the “key ingredient†of a good smoothie.
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.
“We’re on a mission to wipe out MS,†said Tammie Porter, a volunteer with the…
El Paso City Council to mull details of bike-sharing plan
By Cindy Ramirez \ El Paso Times
A 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.
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.
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…
High School MTB Camp in Colorado in the Gunnison Crested Butte Area
by GunnisonTrail      forums.mtbr.com/texas
Coaches/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.
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…
Man on bicycle hit by SUV
www.chron.com
HOUSTON –
A man was taken to the hospital in serious condition after he was hit by an SUV Monday morning.
Investigators 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.
Authorities said the man was…
Museum District Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Babs Eaker and I finish 49 miles in the Tour de Bike Barn!
A ‘Cycling Madman’ Pedals His Way Across the World
By COREY KILGANNON and JEFFREY E. SINGERÂ Â Â Â Â Â cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com
Lai Likun, 41, of China, is visiting New York City, but he does not plan on renting a CitiBike.
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.
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. …
… 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…
I want my Rack Back At My HEB Plus…Please!
by Matthew         bike4heck.com
My Letter to HEB Customer Service sent on 7/2/13:
Dear HEB #623 Plus Store Manager of
9238 North Loop 1604 West
San Antonio, TX 78249
I’m so glad that the new HEB Plus near my house has bicycle racks.
But sadly I’ve seen them reduced to shopping cart storage, motorcycle parking and picnic table storage. I’ve live less than a mile a away and often take my bicycle to go grocery shopping at this great store.
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…
NCC: Events on both coasts bring little change to standings
www.usacycling.org
With 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. …
…WOMEN’S STANDINGS
Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) – 1077
Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie 13) – 784
Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) – 777
Samantha Schneider (Milwaukee, Wis./TIBO-To the Top) – 504
Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) – 500…
2013 Hot Rocks Bike Ride offers family fun, racing action
blueribbonnews.com
Registration is underway for the 2013 Hot Rocks Bike Ride, presented by the Rockwall Noon Rotary Club. The 27th annual cycling event will begin and end at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium on Saturday, August 10th.
Each 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 – including routes of 63-miles (100k), 43-miles, 13.5 miles and a…
Urban Challenge Ride
Houston Bicycle Club
Sunday 07/14/13Â Â Â Â Â Â 9:00 a.m.
40 to 45 miles
The 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.
BCC Monthly Ride
Brownwood Cycling Community
July 20, 2013 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am
Allcorn Park
Brownwood, TX
Monthly group ride every 3rd Saturday of each month. Meet at Allcorn Park in Brownwood and expect 20-30 miles. No drops, fun ride, great scenery.
Retailers report positive sales in May
Bicycle Retailer
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) — 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.
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.
“The first four months of 2013 were a stark contrast to the record sales of 2012—sales at IBDs were down nearly 11 percent. May, with its 6 percent growth compared to last year, provided a…
NETT Awareness Ride
by Shawn      Texas Mountain Bike Trails
The 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.
To 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…
In Remembrance
Plano Bicycle Association
July 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…
The Fixed Touring Mini-Cat
Biking in Dallas
Wait, wait! What’s a Mini-Cat? Fixed Touring explains:
On 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!
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 — now there’s 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…
Tweets
#WomensRideDay is back! July's #ride is Saturday. Join us! http://t.co/Lx0N6Fe9Gc? cc @specializedwmn
— Bicycle Sport Shop (@BSS_Austin) July 8, 2013
Racing not your thing? Try the Ride Americas at @circuitamericas. Saturday Aug 31, 2013. http://t.co/R1LP8uSXwb
— HOLLAND RACING (@HOLLANDRACERS) July 8, 2013
Get it on! WK18. @PureAustin @HOLLANDRACERS @Drivewayaustin @BikeReg @usacycling #ATX #bikeracing https://t.co/4xrlxkbiDx
— Driveway Series (@DrivewaySeries) July 8, 2013
Bicycle rides in the State of Texas for the month of July, 2013: http://t.co/stOH4SvTfa via @YouTube
— WheelBrothers (@WheelBrothers) July 8, 2013
Commuting in the summer heat? Here's how to show up at your destination smelling fresh: http://t.co/ahWn6VlFT1
— Bicycling Magazine (@BicyclingMag) July 8, 2013
Photo: Day 37: Cape Blanco into Florence, OR “Beautiful sunset from my host home with the ocean as a… http://t.co/OaBZ5NNHGf
— Texas 4000 (@Texas4000) July 8, 2013
Incoming Freshmen!? Drop by our table tomorrow-Wed. in front of Gregory from 10-11:30am! El presidente and the… http://t.co/F0v6kbGzJ6
— UT Cycling (@UTCycling) July 8, 2013