Texas Bicycling News Digest July 18th
Bike ride around Rowlett’s lake reveals depth of drought
By Ben Schwab      transportationblog.dallasnews.com
Abandoned pier off of Miller Road. (Ben Schwab)
My family moved to Rowlett in 1994 from Mesquite. I got my first car, a 1989 Plymouth Voyager minivan, in 1997. And I sold my last car, a Honda Civic, before I left for Peace Corps service in 2009.
When visiting my parents while living abroad, I took to riding my mom’s Townie to and from Rowlett’s main commercial intersection at Rowlett Road and Lakeshore Parkway (State Highway 66).
I would bicycle the nearly two miles to the gym for a swim or to the store for groceries, but my favorite place was the Rowlett Public Library on Main Street to check out books and DVDs while staying with my parents.
It was generally a comfortable ride. I could find back roads and residential streets rarely having to ride on the “arterial†SH 66.
This summer, I sought to explore the less…
Introduction to Performance Cycling Class and TRX Suspension Training
Dallas Cycling Trail Riders and Weekend Pub Crawlers
Sunday, July 27, 2014
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Cycling Center Dallas
9028 Garland rd, Dallas, TX
These are 2 sessions in a row at the Cycling Center White Rock Lake. The first hour is a beginners performance cycling class. You will need to bring your own bike(let me know if that is an issue we have loaner bikes). We will show you how to set up, experience the software we use for the workouts, and help…
Popular Padre Island park will undergo major renovations
By Rebecca Salinas, San Antonio Express-News
SAN ANTONIO – Vacationers who prefer to be at one with nature soon will have a new spot to look forward to in Upper Padre Island.
Padre Balli Park, developed in 1949 and home of Bob Hall Pier, will be getting a makeover over the next few years. Officials say the renovations, along with the addition of Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi
The park, 15820 S. Padre Island Dr., will transform into an “extremely family oriented park,” said Steve Cross, Nueces County Coastal Parks director.
More than $1 million will be spent on the upgrades this first phase of their master plan to include new restroom facilities, controlled access, landscaping and irrigation, and granite hike and bike trails, which will…
Rowlett Creek Preserve Mountain Biking | Rowlett, Texas
by Zane      blazeshack.com
This is a cool video of a man and his dog. Rowlett Creek Preserve is one of the premiere mountain bike trails in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
Cyclist hit in Texas 7/14
Beachgrad05Â Â Â Â Â Â www.bikeforums.net
This video is hard to watch. Note cyclist was not killed based on info under video on YouTube
I know not so cal but this video is appalling. The cyclist had both rear and front camera’s recording. The truck that hit him did not stop and there seemed to be a bunch of vehicles who drove past w/o stopping to render aid either before a car pulled off and those people got out to help. I ride solo often and…
Bike lane discussions create tension in The Woodlands
By John D. Harden      www.houstonchronicle.com   (Subscription Required)
THE WOODLANDS – As this growing community considers adding bike lanes to primary roadways, tensions are emerging between bicyclists and motorists, just as they have in Houston and elsewhere.
Austin B-Cycle Usage Doubles Original Projections
By Gene Davis      www.austinpost.org
In the first six months that bike share system Austin B-Cycle has been up and rolling, usage has nearly doubled original projections, according to executive director Elliott McFadden.
Austin B-Cycle, which lets users rent bikes at one of its locations and return them to another, reported more than 78,000 bike checkouts since the service started up in December. McFadden said that Austin B-Cycle has probably replaced approximately 20,000 car trips and helped users burn about…
Arizona man bikes through Waco on cross-country trip for vet suicide prevention awareness
By REGINA DENNISÂ Â Â Â Â Â www.wacotrib.com
An Arizona man biking cross-country on a mission to raise attention for military veteran suicide-prevention programs found a receptive audience on a pit-stop in Waco this week.
Tom L’Italien, 64, is in the middle of his second bike trip across the U.S. spreading information about high suicide rates among combat veterans. His journey through Central Texas included a meeting with American Legion Post 121 in Elm Mott and the Veterans One Stop in Downtown Waco Friday.
“I didn’t realize Texas was so big until I…
Cyclists using on-bike cameras in wake of accidents
By Holly Gonzalez      www.ktre.com
TYLER, TX (KLTV) – A video showing a cyclist getting clipped by a truck while going over an overpass on Highway 69 in Bullard on Monday has cyclists from all over East Texas talking. They say they plan to use cameras to bring awareness to the dangers of not sharing the road.
Joe Self, an avid cyclist and bike shop owner, says although cycling is dangerous, it’s a sport many East Texans enjoy.
“It’s a very, very fast growing sport. It’s not going away,†he said.
Self says due to accidents with motorists, more and more cyclists are mounting cameras on their bicycles.
“For a cyclist, it kind of makes sense. I ride quite a bit and I get buzzed almost every single time I ride a bike and I don’t even ride in the very center…
Picnic and Social Ride Monday July 21, 2014
by Jean Marie Linhart      Brazos Valley Cyclists
Many of you know I’m moving out of our community on July 28.
Monday July 21 (coming up soon!), after the social ride, my friend Karen has generously arranged a picnic to send me off to Washington. Everyone is invited, new riders, old friends, friends who don’t ride, if you want to be there, just come. Karen asks “It would help if I could get an RSVP (to vierow@verizon.net) on the number of people in your party. If you don’t RSVP, please show up anyways as I will bring more than what seems appropriate.†If you are planning on bringing a…
BikeDFW partners with Kimberly-Clark Dallas for Get up and Ride Day
Jenny Rilling      www.bikedfw.org
Dallas area Kimberly-Clark employees will get a chance to take a ride on the Campion Trail July 25th, led by BikeDFW board member and DORBA commuter coordinator, Mike Freiberger. Mike, who is also a League Certified Instructor, will give a bike safety presentation on July 21st for Kimberly-Clark employees who are interested in cycling or want to learn how they can support their colleagues and make their workplace more bicycle-friendly.
Of course, since Kimberly-Clark is a major sponsor of the National Bike Challenge, Dallas area K-C employees are encouraged to join the challenge at www.nationalbikechallenge.org to record this ride and…
Violet Crown Trail
Bicycle Austin
The City of Austin Urban Trails Program, who is currently analyzing the feasibility of a portion of the Violet Crown Trail though Sunset Valley/Eastern Oak Hill Area, would like your feedback on the proposed alignment of the trail. Together with the Hill Country Conservancy and the Oak Hills Trails Association, the Urban Trails Program staff hope to receive input from cyclists, pedestrians, trail users, property and…
New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
New Bike Event: Lions Biking for Sight – Montgomery, TX: When: Sun Oct 5, 2014 8am to 2pmÂ
CDTWhere: Montgomer… http://t.co/O1quhFgbbm— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) July 19, 2014
Tweets
First place in the fixed Denton bandit race. With my good friend mauriciocaballero3rd getting second.… http://t.co/NZzF2lhCMM
— Clifford John Green (@Clifford_Green) July 19, 2014
Off to Terry Hershey park for a nice long ride on my road bike, Houston food = fat(er) person if not careful!
— Stuart Mitchell (@stuartflexlife) July 18, 2014
bike+lex+torchys tacos #fridayfunday #instapup @ Torchy's Tacos – Houston Heights http://t.co/9mgN6znzYZ
— Kristina Lamons (@kristinamarie_i) July 19, 2014
Biker Riding Across America Stops In North Texas: Kurshot Akyuz is biking across the country, from New York City… http://t.co/5c7a7z0e9M
— Fort Worth Now (@FortWorthCP) July 17, 2014
A biker in Texas clipped by an oncoming pickup, caught on video. Intentional? You be the judge. #cycling http://t.co/9OvKkXCapm
— Primeau Forensics (@Ed_Primeau) July 18, 2014
#FF My buddy @JerryDusterhoff — Senior Games Texas State Finals #cycling #Texas http://t.co/VrBSJYngzS pic.twitter.com/oORwzMXE7D
— Book Reviews 4 You (@B00KREVIEWS4YOU) July 18, 2014
My Friday coworker….#cycling #mtb #lunchride #takeyourbiketoworkday @ Texas Department of… http://t.co/QRPvPEWdwi
— Martha A. Boyd (@twittyboyd) July 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/JerryDusterhoff/status/490261015859564544
https://twitter.com/txbikeracing/status/490244970922516481
Riding the San Marcos Trail at Palmetto State Park. Overcast and humid. Fun ride. http://t.co/PsvYTUFRtS
— Omar C. Garcia (@omarcgarcia) July 18, 2014
Got in a 13.3 mile mountain bike ride in Mission Trails / Mission, Tx. No run-ins with Illegal Aliens today!. http://t.co/MMWacdXBMV #strava
— Daniel Cruz (@DCRUZ547) July 18, 2014
Cyclist was hit by a truck in Bullard, TX Monday 07/14/2014 at 8:20am. Hwy 69s. see his GoPro videos https://t.co/sUFvUxQK1W
— Tyler Bicycle Club (@TylerBikeClub) July 18, 2014
Construction and installation complete. Be sure to ride your bike to the next meeting at the HH100 ClubHouse…. http://t.co/qL0sedcCmk
— Hotter'n Hell 100 (@HotternHell100) July 18, 2014
In Oklahoma City now, heading north to the start of @RAGBRAI_IOWA
— Jim Cycle Across TX (@CycleXTexas) July 18, 2014
Part of my route is over a dirt path, plus there are lots of mud slicks on the road today, so my bike is also covered in dirt.
— Su Wilcox (@cheekysu) July 18, 2014
The Austin cycling community came together to help one of their own. Nathan Aikele's fundraiser held at The ABGB… http://t.co/Cph8D7pdEh
— BE KIND to Cyclists (@bkindtocyclists) July 18, 2014
Check out our updated USBRS National Corridor Plan with new routes in OH, WA, MA, DC & IL! http://t.co/B6LHA2CwvK pic.twitter.com/JJfUcnnCLw
— U.S. Bicycle Route System (@USBicycleRoutes) July 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/JerryDusterhoff/status/490110038229676032
Event Reminders
2 Day Alert: Katy Flatland Century 2014 – Katy, TX, Jul 20, 2014 06:45AM – 4400 Falcon Landing Boulevard, Katy, TX, United States(CST) h
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) July 18, 2014
2 Day Alert: Bike MS: Cactus & Crude – Big Spring, TX, Jul 20, 2014 07:00AM – Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf, Big Spring, T
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) July 18, 2014