Texas Bicycling News Digest January 16th 2019
No, Pros Won’t Ruin Gravel Racing
Joe Lindsey | www.outsideonline.com
Probably. The good news is the culture of the sport—lauded for its grassroots, oddball vibe—will be defined by its community. Roadies ruin everything.
Just take mountain bike racing. Cross-country racing in the 1980s and early ’90s was a pretty fun, freewheeling affair until the money arrived and, with it, refugees from the Eurocentric pro road scene. Courses changed, tactics changed, and the whole sport got More Serious. You could argue that the roadification was complete not long after the sport gained Olympic status in 1996. …
Gravel Sportives Are Here, and They Might Be the Best Kind of Cycling Event
BY GLORIA LIU | www.bicycling.com
It’s no secret that participation in road racing is on the decline. USA Cycling memberships have been trending flat to downward since 2012, and there are fewer pure road races on the calendar overall. It’s also no secret that in their wake, mass-start events like gran fondos and gravel races have thrived. …
Ski-style chair lift, web of challenging trails make Spider Mountain a Texas trail-biking destination
www.dallasnews.com
A chair lift high into the hills, rugged trails and a scenic trip down the mountain — this is Texas? Indeed. The Lone Star State muscles into the world of ski culture on two wheels when the first and only lift-served mountain bike park opens on Jan. 18.
Spider Mountain Bike Park, run by ski resort purveyors Mountain Capital Partners, is located on the banks of Lake Buchanan in Central Texas near Burnet, about 60 miles northwest of Austin.
The park offers will offer year-round biking on five trails beginner through advanced, all accessible via a four-person chair lift. The trails include 350 feet of vertical paths, downhill flow trails and technical trails with bridges, berms and jumps. (Not into biking? Scenic rides are available.) Snow not included, but tuck into adjacent Thunderbird Lodge and Event Center for some après-cycle relaxation. …
Austin begins pilot project to allow electric bikes, scooters on some parkland trails
by CBS Austin | ktxs.com
A new pilot program is mixing electric bikes and scooters with Austin trail-goers.
Between now and September — the mobility technology will be allowed on some parkland trails in Austin.
That includes: …
Best of Houston® 2019: Best Bike Shop
HOUSTON PRESS | www.houstonpress.com
Best Bike Shop: Bike Barn
Oh Bike Barn. How do we love thee? Let us count the ways: bikes, apparel, gear, electric bikes, the fact that you’re Houston owned and operated, the rides you organize to places near and far, your custom bike fit studio, and how you’ll store gifts until the big day so that those who still believe in Santa Claus won’t get thrown off the scent. …
Give the Stanton Street bike lane time: Reader
El Paso Times | www.elpasotimes.com
In reply to Victor Caire’s letter on the new Stanton Street bike lane, remember that it is in the Downtown-UTEP corridor, where there is also a new trolley car, where a new El Paso Community College building is going up, where there is a new farmers market, where lots of new things are happening. I would ask him to submit a new letter in …
Thursday Night Route for 1/17/2019
Lone Star Cyclists | lscyclists.clubexpress.com
Our new reverse Midlothian route is the suggested ride for Thursday. We also have a new 32 mile option.We revised the routes to spend less time on Lake Ridge Parkway when we roll out and to avoid the cracks on Seeton Rd south of Grand Peninsula on our return. Meet at Anna May Daulton Elementary, 2607 N Grand Peninsula Drive in Grand Prairie.
Please arrive in time to roll out at 6:15 pm.
We have two pace groups: Our ‘A’ group rides 16-20+ mph, and our ‘B’ group will do 12-16+ mph. Both groups are no-drop but we encourage everyone to download the routes. We also encourage our riders to watch out for one another and both call and point out road hazards. …
VCC: Great Ride Cut Short With My Brothers!
Leo Vela (VCC) | www.strava.com
