No bike ride today. Road bike to the shop this morning, yard work after that and then rain. Mountain bike tomorrow, maybe. My Motobecane road bike scheduled to return on Monday.

Justin Moore (@bikegeek)        via Twitter
Bluebonnets on my bicycle commute home this afternoon!

El Paso Bicycle Club Ride
Tuesday, April 10
Tuesday climbing rides
Description:     Begin at 5:15 p.m. from Crazy Cat, 2626 N. Mesa. Ride to McKelligon Canyon via Scenic. About 16 miles total, intermediate pace. Rebecca Reza, 915.491.0977.

Santa Cruz Bicycle demos in Texas!
Howdy Hep Catz!            forums.mtbr.com
Santa Cruz Bicycles will have 3 demo stops in TX this year starting with the first in San Antonio on Sunday April 1 at McAllister Park. Contact Ride Away Bikes for details on exact location within the park.

Stop #2 on the Texas tour is in Austin Saturday April 7th at Walnut Creek Park. Contact Bicycle Sport Shop for directions.

Stop #3 will be in Dallas/Ft Worth area (Garland) Sunday April 8th at Rowlett Creek Preserve. Contact Richardson Bike Mart for directions.

All three demo events will run 9am till 2pm on a first come first served basis. Please Bring your DL, CC and pedals. The demo is FREE! …

Alliance Hosts Meeting with Leaders from Community Bike Shops
Community bike shops come in a variety of different forms and styles, but what they all have in common is that they work to get more people on bikes.  Whether it’s an all volunteer co-op that is open for a few hours a week, or a large shop with paid staff and a variety of programming options, community bike shops can often be found working with groups and individuals who are under-represented in bike advocacy.

During the National Bike Summit, over 20 leaders from community bike shop gathered to discuss the emerging role of their organizations, and how the Alliance can work to further engage and link community bike shops with one another.  Participants discussed the relationship between community bike shops and traditional advocacy…

Beyond Fair Weather Cycling
by Steve A            DFW Point-to-Point
I’m not entirely sure why, but over the last year, a resolve has taken hold to “expand the envelope” and ride safely and more or less comfortably in all weather. In other words, to move well beyond fair weather cycling and to be confident and safe in all conditions. In my v3 commute, I have even been able to develop workable and safe routes that work when it gets very foggy.

One condition has never been comfortable, that being thunderstorms; and lightning in particular. That would not be a problem if I were home in Western Washington. Lightning is rare there. It would not be a problem if I were…

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 3/29- 4/4/12
by elliott            Austin on Two Wheels
Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all cycling events. As always, if there is an event you know about that’s not on our calendar contact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up. …

For the Wimmens By The Wimmens – Bike Racing
by jackmott        forum.slowtwitch.com
My wife transitioned last year from running and dus and tris to just bike racing last year. It has been quite an adventure, a very different sport, with not enough wimmens in it (yet!)

A couple of her articles you may like, the first is an overview of Texas Women’s Bike Racing this year, so far:

http://austintriathlonstore.blogspot.com/…2-spring-season.html

Quote:
Women’s sports are truly the underdogs of the underdogs, and bike racing is a prime example. Cycling is not a particularly high-profile sport in the U.S. – Lance Armstrong is its one well-known and controversial celebrity – but within this humble subset of professional and amateur…

Ask Nick: Gearing down for going up
By Nick Legan        velonews.competitor.com
Question: Nick,
I’m targeting a mountainous 2-day stage race in west Texas this spring (the Fort Davis Hammerfest), and am wondering about the practicalities of using multiple cassettes.  The race format includes a Saturday morning six-mile hill climb (rated a Cat. 2 on Strava), then a flattish TT in the afternoon and finally a hilly road race with several thousand feet of climbing Sunday morning.

I don’t own a TT bike, so my plan is to do all three stages on my road frame.  I am a 5’8?, 135lb Cat. 3 and run the following setup: SRAM Red with 53x39T up front and either 11-26t for hilly days and 11-23t out back for flat-to-rolling races.  I would just run the 11-26t all the time, but I find I really miss the…

Students and ASG senator calls for biking PFW
by Adrian Omar Ramirez            The University Star
Texas State students are no strangers to interesting subjects offered through Physical Fitness and Wellness (PFW) courses.

Local businesses host courses like billiards and bowling, while the University Camp allows for courses like backpacking and the challenge course. Recently, one Associated Student Government senator proposed a new course for exploring San Marcos— biking.

Maxfield Baker, political science senior and senator at-large, has already brought forth the idea, which the Department of Health and Human Performance is currently reviewing.

Baker said his idea for a biking PFW course came from how Texas State supports bikes on campus through providing racks, hosting Bike to School Day and funding the…

Expense-Account Tightwads Take the Road Less Expensive
By LAUREN WEBER            online.wsj.com
When Boris Siperstein travels for work from his home in Austin, Texas, he often does so with a folding bicycle tucked under his arm.

He expensed the $180 Dahon model, bought on sale, to his private-equity firm, but biking to meetings in such locales as New York City, Mumbai and Mauritius, he says, has saved his company a few thousand dollars in cab fare. Mr. Siperstein, 38 years old, was also known to sleep on the floor when he visited the company’s former Manhattan headquarters rather than pay upward of $200—his personal cutoff for a hotel…

I need this information. The last time I biked on Gene Campbell Road four dogs chased me down the road.

Tips on Cycling with Aggressive Dogs on Your Tail
by Laura        The Wheel Brothers – Cycling in Texas

At one time or another, we have all had to deal with a darting dog chasing us down while out on a ride. It is one of those problems that can unexpectedly come up at any time. Whether it is a lonely mutt who wants to put in a few miles with you or an aggressive canine looking for his next meal, it is important to know how to deal with…

jerald roll (@grandpajerald)    via Twitter
Texas is very green right now, this pic today