Texas Bicycle Blog and News Digest August 4th
Biking in Dallas
by Charles Kuffner      offthekuff.com
They’re pretty far behind other Texas cities in infrastructure and general bike-ability.
City leaders, including Mayor Mike Rawlings, are eager to boost Big D’s cycling options — and soon. They’re looking at everything from more bike lanes to off-street trails, from bike-sharing programs to raising awareness about how bikes and cars should share the road.
What caused a 36-year-old engineer who’s lived in the bike-loving cities of Austin, Portland, Ore., and Tucson, Ariz. — but who’s also tackled major highway projects for the Texas Department of Transportation — to become the…
Texas Hwy 100, South Padre Island, via bicycle, part 1
####Â Â Â www.yoursports.com
This was part of a 27 mile bike training session, first on the beach, then crossing the dunes to the end of Hwy 100 and heading south back into town via the pavement.
Guests: Attorney & Writer Seth Davidson; Adventure Cyclist Magazine’s editor Mike Deme; 2014 RAAM solo finisher Dennis Johnson
by Diane LÂ Â Â Â Â Â The Outspoken Cyclist Podcast
Dennis lives in The Woodlands, TX
… Lastly, we’ll speak with Dennis Johnson. Dennis is a stay-at-home Dad for his young adopted daughter. Dennis is also is a long-distance, endurance cyclist. At RAAM 2014, riding a recumbent bike, Dennis placed 7th overall out of 48 soloists, the largest starting field ever. It was the first time a 60+ rider has ever finished in the top ten. Also, it was the first time a 60+ rider was the first American to finish. But, wait, there’s more… Dennis set other records too.
PeopleForBikes awards 2014 Community Partnership Grants
by Zoe Kircos, Grants Manager      www.peopleforbikes.org
After countless hours reviewing proposals, drinking coffee, discussing merits, asking questions, drinking more coffee, and talking again, we are happy to announce our latest round of our Community Grants Program winners. …
…7)Â Â City of Brownsville (Brownsville, TX): $2,500 to make bicycling a better transportation option by adding bike racks across the city …
Embrace the heat – join the Hottest Day of the Year Ride!
By Pam LeBlanc      www.austin360.com
The heat’s a lot more bearable when you embrace it. And what better way to do that then hop on your bike for the Hottest Day of the Year Ride on Aug. 9?
The good folks at Bike Austin believe that being outside in the heat is no big deal, and they want to show the world that anyone can ride a bike on…
How Brownsville, Texas, Is Using Bikes to Address Social Problems
by Angie Schmitt      usa.streetsblog.org
This post is part of a series featuring stories and research that will be presented at the Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike/Pro-Place conference September 8-11 in Pittsburgh.
Brownsville, a Texas border town, is frequently cited one of the poorest cities in the country. It also has one of the highest obesity rates.
But local officials have taken on some of the city’s health problems. And one of the key tools they’re using is cycling.
Planning Director Ramiro Gonzalez says it’s been about two years since the city of 180,000 — 93 percent of them Latino — began its cycling push. City Commissioner Rose Gowen, a doctor, made health-based initiatives a key part of her agenda.
“It really started at the level of getting people active to…
Loose Ends and Learning
2 on a tandem
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost three weeks since we arrived home. That “normal” life that I was missing on the bike ride…..well, it’s back in full swing. Work, yard, garden, house, projects, etc. It’s all good.
Tonight, I want to tie up some loose ends about the trip and then share some “learnings” God showed us.
Let’s start with some miscellaneous tidbits:
The amount raised to date from gifts and pledges for the RAAM scholarship endowment fund: $7,114.38
Times we were forced off the road by a vehicle:
3 (near Cushing, OK; near Arkansas City, KS; near Cooperstown, ND)
Memorable people we met:
-Day 5, Jackie in Marshall, TX who shared with…
DATES Round and Round the Lake Ride
Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts
When:Â Â Â Â Aug 06, 2014 06:30 PM
Where:Â Â Â Verona’s Italian Restaurant – Dallas
Category:Â Â Â Â DATES ride
Description
When:Â Wednesday, August 6th
Ride start:Â Verona’s Italian Restaurant (see below)
Meeting time: 6:15 pm, Ride time: 6:30 pm
Distance: two laps around the lake, pace determined by the group
Ride Leaders:Â Keri Bloomer and Stuart Rogers
Dinner after at Verona’s Italian Restaurant – BYOB
9039 Garland Rd
Dallas, TXÂ 75218
New Event Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
New Bike Event: Texas Gatorfest Bike Tour – Anahuac, TX: When: Sat Sep 6, 2014 7am to 11:30amÂ
CDTWhere: Fort … http://t.co/isbbH2Ibr5— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 5, 2014
Tweets
https://twitter.com/esteban_vela/status/496461849685417984
My 16 yr old got this for biking on sidewalk, per my instructions,to avoid death trap bike lane to WSH @ Houston pic.twitter.com/9my4WM6MIP
— hopscotch70 (@patsternyc) August 5, 2014
We were out supporting this weekend's training for the big 9/27 @MammaJammaRide. Register: http://t.co/E73zbOVSVf pic.twitter.com/PWXRaFSpB8
— komengtrcetx (@komengtrcetx) August 5, 2014
Let's ride! pic.twitter.com/Pndj4IMD4A
— Critical Mass Houston (@HoustonCM) August 5, 2014
Hermann Park, @HoustonBcycle, happiness. pic.twitter.com/R0FtToRbza
— Miller Theatre (@MillerOutdoor) August 4, 2014
You're not going to want to miss this! http://t.co/dbKulfhTNr
— Ghisallo Cycling Initiative (@GhisalloFound) August 4, 2014
An evening of cycling, from the street to the screen. Who's coming out? #2wheelsEP pic.twitter.com/3MZyVd1sfE
— Crazy Cat Cyclery (@CrazyCatCyclery) August 4, 2014
Sunday's CX session will return to the Kreig Softball Complex at 515 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. 8:00 am at the volleyball court. #TXCX Pls RT.
— BSS CX Club (@BSSCX) August 4, 2014
@HotternHell100, went for a 80.7 mile ride. 20 days to add 20 miles. http://t.co/IQqKMi1bPh #strava Epic #sufferscore #HH100
— SH4NE (@SH4NE) August 3, 2014
Are you a mountain biker, road cyclist or a just a single-speed cruiser? We love seeing the different types of cyclists on the Houston…
— Houston Parks Board (@houparksboard) August 4, 2014
We reached 10k over the weekend, way to go everyone!
— Hotter'n Hell 100 (@HotternHell100) August 4, 2014
Bike friendly in TX? #NavMAP21 Colleges: http://t.co/YkgQBJZdws Cities: http://t.co/kGhihsjn1P Biz: http://t.co/jh3nro1Kf5
— BikeTexas (@BikeTexas) August 4, 2014
View of downtown Houston captured while getting lost on a long solo bike ride http://t.co/DxqDxzMXmO
— Christopher Delphin (@delphin_chris) August 4, 2014
https://twitter.com/txbikeracing/status/496296425865883648
Tired of the same old places to hike, bike and canoe? Try these 5 hidden gems. FIT CITY http://t.co/0S64fJlruD http://t.co/Jz8tj0ZWFT
— Pam LeBlanc (@fitcityleblanc) August 4, 2014
https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/496284178871107585
Event Reminders
2 Day Alert: Fort Worth Wednesday Night Crits 2014 , Aug 06, 2014 05:00PM – Gravel Road, Fort Worth, TX, United States(CST) http://zpr.i
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 4, 2014
2 Day Alert: The Memorial Park Criterium Series – Houston, TX, Aug 06, 2014 05:00PM – Memorial Park, Memorial Drive, Houston, TX, United
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 4, 2014