Texas Bicycling News Digest August 3rd
Fort Worthology: Bike Lane Consistency
by Kevin Buchanan      www.fwweekly.com
Fort Worth has been building out its bike plan for several years now, and it has definitely improved conditions on city streets for non-motorized transportation. There are far more designated bike lanes, especially in the central city, and the available bike parking has increased dramatically as well. As we’ve laid down the beginnings of a foundation for better biking in Fort Worth, it seems like a good time to look at how to start taking things to a higher level.
One thing in particular that stands out as a weakness of the Fort Worth bike plan is the inconsistency of …
Palo Duro-Go
by mark!      forums.mtbr.com
My 16 year old and I finally made it up to PDC last week and holy crap, if you get the chance to go, take it. We had a few set backs, my tallboy had a busted axle bolt, got the wrong bolt in, SC customer service over-nighted the bolt pack I needed to our hotel in Amarillo, got it all up and running in the hotel room and then the skies opened up with rain. Feeling pretty down about our chances, it turns out the rain completely missed the park.
Get there early in the summer, as it’s been said before, it gets damn hot there. The ranger said it averages 10 degrees hotter in the rim, take a ton of water. We had 2 gallons in the cooler and filled our camelbacks up at the …
Homes welcome HHH riders in need
by Judith McGinnis      www.timesrecordnews.com
Wichita Falls, Texas – Accommodating nieces and nephews or a grandchild or two for Hotter’ N Hell is nothing unusual for Wichita Falls families.
Opening the doors to a dozen or more unrelated HHH cyclists has become a treasured visit for local hosts like Susan Freudiger.
“We’ve had someone here as far back as about 12 years,†said Freudiger “This year we’ll have 15 riders in the house; the most we’ve had is 22. It’s kind of like a slumber party.â€
Freudiger says with some of her cycling guests returning to her home year after …
Safety at White Rock Lake/Ticketing
Mindy Mashburn      greaterdallasbicyclists.com
I lead a ride at White Rock Lake every Thursday morning. This week a female Dallas police officer on her bike stopped and asked us if we were with the group that races around the lake in the mornings. We are not. She said that a complaint had made its way to Chief Brown about them – running stop signs, cutting people off, not announcing themselves, and generally riding dangerously in a fast pack. She said that they would have to start ticketing cyclists again at stop signs if the word did not get the word out to obey the rules and ride safely. Her job would then change to one in which she has to sit at a stop sign all day and give tickets, which she was not happy about. She also said that we do NOT have to put a foot down at stop signs, just slow down, look both ways, and give right of way when it is warranted.
She asked us to tell any groups we are involved in this message – so I have and you can too if you belong to other groups/clubs.
Kilgore mayor aims for texting, driving ban
By Ellen Goodacre      www.news-journal.com
Kilgore Mayor Ronnie Spradlin is reaching out to other East Texas mayors in hopes of passing a uniform region-wide ban on texting while driving.
Kilgore’s City Council considered such an ordinance about three years ago, but held off in hopes the Legislature would act. Leaders from other area cities, including Longview, also delayed local efforts while waiting on the state to act.
“We were hoping that the state would pass a statewide ban, and they have failed to do that …
Wichita Falls gears up for 34th annual Hotter’N Hell Hundred
www.kswo.com
WICHITA FALLS, Texas_The Hotter’N Hell Hundred is an annual endurance bike ride to celebrate Wichita Falls and honor the spirit of Texoma and the people who settled the area.
The idea for Hotter’N Hell Hundred started in 1982 and has been growing ever since. In 2013, the 32nd annual Hotter’N Hell hosted its 300,000th rider.
The 100-mile long race does more than prove the rider’s endurance, it also …
August Newsletter Published
Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts      www.doubledates.com
The August edition of the DATES-Line Newsletter is published and available for download from the newsletters page. This month’s edition includes the following:
Ride Leaders Needed
The Other DATES 4th of July Ride
Mini-Report on Impromptu Ride
Interested In a Cross-Country Ride?
A Reminder About Safe Riding
Big Jackrabbit Cycle Story…
by zandoval         www.bikeforums.net
Big Texas Jackrabbit
Finally getting around to writing about my recent experience in Dalhart Texas. Dalhart is about the last big town you pass through before leaving the Texas panhandle and crossing over into New Mexico. You would not think it, but it’s an area of heavy industry in chicken, dairy, cattle farm and ranch not to mention steal (oil and gas), and wind (electricity). It’s a productive area with people working hard for whatever they have. I was there for a few weeks working the Occupational Health Care Clinic. The thing about Dalhart is that it’s out in the middle on no where, or so it would seem. They have a small lake that’s part of the Rita Blanca State park system with a six mile clay/gravel trail around it. I am not one of those cyclists that handles street traffic. Especially highways with big, BIG trucks on them. Don’t get me wrong, when you are riding the highways around Dalhart you will get plenty of friendly waves and honks from the passerby’s but it’s still a little unnerving with them zooming by at 75 plus miles an hour. If you do stop, it’s not long before you have someone offering you a ride into town.
I decided to make my rides, short and late in the evening about 20:00. Luckily I just switched my 1″ road tires on my ChroMo 80s UNIVEGA to some 1.25 Continental Touring tires. I am not a dirt rider. Not even on my motorcycle. So when I hit that six mile trail around the lake those clay/gravel, soft spots really had me twisting and turning like a real panhandle side winder. The air was good, cool, with pleasant updrafts off the water. In the whole six mile ride you may only run into a …
Trek to begin online bike sales — Dealers will assemble bikes and get a service commission
by Stephen Frothingham      www.bicycleretailer.com
MADISON, Wis. (BRAIN) — In a first for a major U.S. bike brand, Trek Bicycle will begin sales of complete bikes to consumers via its website in late September. Bikes will be shipped to the brand’s retailers — not direct to consumers — for assembly, and retailers will receive a service commission on each sale.
Trek also will begin online sales of parts & accessories from its own brands, including Bontrager and Electra, as well as other bike brands including Park Tool, Garmin, Finish Line and Burley. Trek will deliver these products direct to consumers, but local retailers will also receive a service fee.
Trek president John Burke revealed the plan Monday evening to several thousand Trek retailers at the company’s annual Trek World dealer meeting here. He said the plan had been in development for about …
8/8 & 8/9 rides! New Pflugerville route! Red Horn! SWEAT!
by Thomas      steinerranchcycling.com
Great news! We have found a way to rid your body of much of that ‘water’ and ‘salt’ by sweating your asses off with us on a new route! Our very own and lovely Stuart has spent most of his day carefully crafting a route that he personally promises will be free of any defects or surprises. It will take us from our usual Cups & Cones at 7:30am out and around Pflugerville and back to end at Lakeside Pizza & Grill (next door to Cups & Cones) where we will relive the flawless experience over some beers and burgers. The route is around 78 miles and mostly flat (for the route see …
New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
New Event Easy breezy ride – UTD – Richardson, TX For full details, including the address, and to RSVP see:
… http://t.co/0DcCo7Fwdg— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 4, 2015
New Event BikeHouston's Moonlight Bicycle Ramble – Houston, TX BikeHouston's Moonlight Bicycle Ramble at Houston, … http://t.co/yTyixJTFcN
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 4, 2015
Tweets About Texas Bicycling
Hey @velopaso, did you see the contract for the El Paso #BikeMasterPlan is on tomorrow's City Council agenda – 5.1 – http://t.co/PzUMWuW8e0
— Bike Hombre – STREETS ARE FOR PEOPLE (@sbwhite) August 4, 2015
ICYMI: This month's stolen bike recoveries – July 2015 mega-update! http://t.co/Q2opODE12q
— BikeIndex Austin (@stolenbikesatx) August 4, 2015
Janet Tyson sporting the Corinth Cycling colors in Ft. Davis. #ftdavis #corinthcycling http://t.co/Zf8L2s7HqY
— Corinth Cycling (@corinthcycling) August 4, 2015
Placed 3rd in my first sanctioned MTB race last weekend. Don't care if it was Cat 3 40+…hell yeah I'm proud! #nothumblebrag
— Jeff C. (@331miles) August 4, 2015
Monday's pic.twitter.com/Fn6Zcqidx9
— ROTHE Training (@rothetraining) August 4, 2015
Some nice shade during the morning ride. Oh yeah and vultures. Haha #fujibikes #mavic #pearlizumi… https://t.co/kUx6XEAISn
— George Amen (@jore346) August 3, 2015
Fun Sunday 40.4Â mi ride on Strava can't beat riding with friends! @BikeLeague @BikeTexas @BIKEWORLDsatx @velopaso https://t.co/jkS8t8bSzZ
— Rick Moya (@rick_moya) August 3, 2015
#T4K2015 crossed the AK state line yesterday! Looking pretty sharp at the sign! #t4ksierra #t4krockies #t4kozarks pic.twitter.com/Xnoov5KZ6P
— Texas 4000 (@Texas4000) August 3, 2015
World Famous Sunday #Cyclocross Practice. Krieig Softball Complex off Pleasant Valley. Meet @BSS_Austin Lamar @ 7:30 AM or @ the park at 8.
— BSS CX Club (@BSSCX) August 3, 2015
realchrisk joined me in praising the trail god last night at Sunday evening dirt church services. @… https://t.co/q9I2hW1oYA
— adam leedy (@TheCruxyBits) August 3, 2015
@BikeHouston @BikeTexas Texas crew just arrived for Bi-Partisan bike Ride in Seattle for NCSL. pic.twitter.com/eVX3NAmCkW
— Rodney Ellis (@RodneyEllis) August 3, 2015
The Raul Alcala Challenge/Gran Fondo will take place for the first time in the United States. http://t.co/Dp5YOQjphf pic.twitter.com/TnR2GHbeBh
— Brownsville Texas (@Brownsville_CVB) August 1, 2015
A great race in San Antonio with the Porterfield boys! pic.twitter.com/CMOomSiiWR
— Strike Cycling Development Team (@strike_devo) August 3, 2015
8/8! Ride to kick off #VIDAFEST2015​! Great event to help kids get ready to go back to school! http://t.co/ioBlkICyk1 pic.twitter.com/RxGw9UCAjU
— Bike Hutto (@BikeHutto) August 3, 2015
https://twitter.com/FtWMntBikers/status/628154675821281282
Texas Bicycling Upcoming Event Reminders
2 Day Alert: Memorial Park Criterium, Aug 05, 2015 05:00PM – Memorial Park Picnic Loop @ Washington Ave./ Memorial Park, Houston, TX, US
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 3, 2015
2 Day Alert: Bicycles Inc. Wednesday Night Crits – Fort Worth, TX, Aug 05, 2015 05:15PM – Jack Newell Drive S and Gravel Road, Forth Wor
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) August 3, 2015