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Home→Bicycling News→Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 18th

Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for September 18th

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Carl Stavens sent me the sad news below of Iris Stagner’s death while riding. I am including all of the information from Carl.

I have not seen anything posted yet so I pass this on with regret and sadness. Personally, I think that a lot of thought should be given before declaring something as “nothing more than an accident”? For instance, the truck driver’s cell phone records need to be checked for recent texting or calls. Sunset is at 7:18 P.M. and the angle should not have been such as to blind a driver at 5:30 P.M. Iris was a very experienced cyclist and I am sure was aware of her surroundings.

According to the Mineral Wells Index:

From The Fort Worth Star Telegram

PALO PINTO COUNTY – Iris Stagner, an avid cyclist and administrative assistant to Palo Pinto County Commissioners, was struck and killed while riding her bicycle Monday afternoon. The incident occurred about 5:30 p.m. on the westbound side and west end of the Brazos River bridge on U.S. Highway 180. Sheriff Ira Mercer said the driver of a white pickup involved stopped. Mercer said indications were the incident was nothing more than an accident and that the setting sun likely played a factor. Official information about the fatality collision was not available from investigating Department of Public Safety troopers Monday evening. Stagner, of Mineral Wells, was reportedly riding with at least one other cyclist.

Her husband, Butch Stagner, arrived at the scene and asked a deputy if it was his wife. Stagner said he had tried to call his wife’s cell phone, but said it would not be unusual for her not to answer or hear the phone while riding. A few minutes later, Mercer drove across the bridge to personally deliver the somber news to Stagner. Both men embraced tightly as Mercer tried to console not only Stagner, but seemingly himself in having lost a friend and county co-worker. Stagner is known locally as a cyclist and staunch advocate for cyclists rights on the roadway. Each year she organized the local “Ride for Silence” event that pays tribute to cyclists hit and killed on the roadways to draw raise awareness for cycling safety and pay tribute to those killed.

She is also known for organizing efforts to initiate campaigns to make county employees healthier by staging lunchtime walks around the courthouse. Stagner was reportedly set to retire in December and was in training after recently receiving notice she was accepted to compete in the Boston Marathon.

Day 9: Eden to Mason – 62 Miles – Rolling Hills, Rain and A Roadblock
by Jim Fox                Cycling Across Texas
I started out in Eden this morning with hopes of waking up early and getting on the road quickly. However, one look out the hotel window at 730 am was all I needed to change those plans. The rain that fell all throughout the night had lingered into morning. Whenever there are low clouds, fog or rain, its been my policy during this trip to not get out on the road until 9:30 or 10 am just to ensure that it’s as bright as possible when I’m on the road. The soupy skies at 8am might make it a bit difficult for cars to see bikes. A two hour delay won’t prevent me from getting 60 miles in.

The first stop of the day was at Brady, 32 miles almost directly east. My panniers have done a very good job of keeping my equipment dry throughout this trip, but I’m always sure to pack certain items in ziplock bags when its raining. No exception today. The 2 hour ride to Brady was in light rain for the entire trip. The first several miles to Brady were flat, but the gentle rolling hills were coming. I rode through McColloch County. This county is located on the Edwards Plateau. It’s rather strange to transition from the rugged hills of west Texas to about 30 miles of flat plains (plateau) and then into the Texas Hill Country all within just a few hours of riding.

It never rained hard during the ride, but I was definitely wet when I pulled in to lunch at a Subway in Brady. Constant light rain for 2 hours will do that! Some locals said that it was raining even harder further down the road in Mason. Should I abandon and just get a hotel here in town? I looked at the radar on the iPad and decided that I’d just go ahead and ride through the rain to Mason, another 28 miles to the south. Fortunately, the heavy rain that I heard about…

Day 10: Austin to Smithville – 35 Miles – Mellow Johnnys, Nice Weather and Lost Pines
by Jim Fox                Cycling Across Texas
The day started out with a trip to Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop in downtown Austin. I wanted to go there for a couple of reasons. Most importantly, to buy a new spare tire to replace the spare I used a few days ago. Secondly, Mellow Johnnys has built somewhat of a cult following in the Austin area and throughout Texas because this shop is owned by Lance Armstrong. It’s actually more than ‘just a bike shop’. It’s more like a bike transportation center or hub. Of course, there are plenty of bikes, parts, tools, clothing and equipment to buy. But it’s also a coffee shop with snacks and pastries. There are some antique and collectible bikes on display and its somewhat of a Hall Of Fame for Lance Armstrong’s career. Austin is a very bike-friendly city, so you can also rent bikes at Mellow Johnnys. Bike commuters can even stop in there for a quick shower and change clothes. A cool place to stop in and see.

My biking for the day started on the east side of Austin, in the Southeast Metro Park. This park is located right at the beginning of the section of highway 71 that has a nice, wide shoulder. Due to the relatively late start on the bike, there wasn’t enough time for a full day of riding, so Smithville, Texas was the goal…35 miles east of Austin. There was a bit of traffic as you’d expect on the outskirts of a major city, but with wide shoulders and some not-so-busy streets running…

Apply to Host an Advocacy Advance Navigating MAP-21 Workshop
Alliance for Biking & Walking: People Powered Blog
Applications are now available to host an Advocacy Advance workshop in your community.

Advocacy Advance – the partnership between the Alliance and the League of American Bicyclists – has facilitated Action 2020 Workshops (now called “Navigating MAP-21 Workshops”) to over 500 participants around the country since 2011. These workshops are designed to provide the knowledge, skills and resources to access untapped or under-utilized federal funding sources at the state, regional and local level to build bicycling and walking infrastructure and programs.

“This workshop provided excellent resources, and most importantly, empowered the attendees to take action to improve the funding picture.”  – Sandy Fry, Capital Region Council of Governments (Hartford, CT), Principal Transportation Planner…

Report: Bike shop sales up 6 percent in August
by Steve Frothingham                www.bicycleretailer.com
Record setting year likely according to BPSA/Leisure Trends data
BOULDER, CO (BRAIN) — August sales in independent bicycle dealers were up 6 percent over the same month last year, making the biggest August in at least four years, according to preliminary data from the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association Topline RetailTRAK from Leisure Trends Group.

LTG is forecasting a 7 to 8 percent increase in annual sales over last year, which would create a record year overall.

The group estimates August sales through IBDs totaled $356 million. All major categories shared in the dollar gains, and unit sales were up 4 percent. …

Georgetown – Rockdale 208K RUSA Brevet
Hill Country Randonneurs
Date: October 20, 2012
Start Time: 7:30 am
Starting location: Berry Creek Food Mart (Shell) 301 SH 195 , Georgetown, TX
This is a loop that starts in Georgetown, TX. It goes along some remote country roas and at times there are 32 miles between services.

The course is mostly flat, with rolling hills on either side of I-35. It goes out to Rockdale and then swings back to Andice. Check-in will be from 7:15-7:30 am. If you want more information send…

Texas Cup Action — Chappell Hill Road Race
www.txbra.org

Check out this shot captured during the Masters 35+ Cat 4/5 race.
Photo courtesy of Randolph Cummings.

Bicycle Traffic Skills Course Coming To Richardson – September 30
by dickdavid        Bike Friendly Richardson
Great news, Richardson cyclists! The League of American Bicyclists and Bike DFW will be hosting a Traffic Skills 101 course right here in Richardson on September 30, 2012. For those of you not familiar with the course, it gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. Through TS101, students learn how to conduct bicycle safety checks, fix a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques. We recommended this class for adults and children above age fourteen. …

Bicycle helmet giveaway set for Oct. 13 at Dickinson High School
by Journatic News Service
A bicycle helmet giveaway, hosted by Texas Medical Association and Dickinson Police Department, will take place from 9 a.m.-midnight Saturday, Oct. 13 at Dickinson High School.

New helmets for children will be given away at the event. The event will also teach parents how to make sure a bicycle helmet fits their child properly. …

Fort Davis Ride
by Roy and Christine        Pedal Pushers

We woke up to a pouring rain. No way were we going to the Prude Ranch start line. At least three of the people we know did indeed start–Rick Ogan, Dorothy and Stephen Langdon. Their reports after their rides were not upbeat. Rick did the scenic loop but said it was freezing. Dorothy did not have rain-proof gear and by rest stop 2 was too chilled to continue. Stephen didn’t finish either but for a very good reason. At a rest stop, a pick up truck ran over his back wheel. Luckily, Stephen wasn’t on the bike at the time. The other San Angelo riders that we were aware of–Marlon Miller, Joy Smith, Brian Backlund, Bill and Debbie Yohman, and Karen Frembgen–all stayed indoors warm and dry. …

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