Texas Bicycling Blog and News Roundup for December 4th
Off Season Update: December Racing Post
By Kim
Click here for Dec issue of The Racing Post
The team has been busy since the State Road Race at Fort Hood last September. Off season is a time to take care of things that you’ve been neglecting all race season. The 3K rule comes to mind during the winter months: Keep moving, Keep it fun, and Keep doing it!
Sheri has been dedicated to her Black Out classes at Pure Austin Fitness. She enjoys the abuse and knows that utilizing non-bike specific muscles will help keep her balanced. You can find her out on the road doing long rides to prepare for the early season stage racing. Most importantly, Sheri is avidly working at increasing her karma on Reddit.
Claire has been playing in a men’s basketball league. She likes the challenge and enjoys the pick-up game atmosphere. She and Michelle recently went head to head in a half court game in Waco. Michelle played D1 basketball in college, and even though she hasn’t picked up a…
############################################################
Bionicon C-Guide
www.AustinBike.com
Nobody likes chain drops, but at the same time nobody really wants to go through adding a chain guide to their bike, even if they have the right tabs on the frame. They can be finicky to install and setup, they add weight and the cost is pretty significant relative to just stopping to pop the chain back onto the crank rings. The Bionicon C-Guide attempts to rectify this with a relatively inexpensive device that can easily be installed, addressing the issue of chain drops. …
############################################################
6 Rules of Night Riding
by Shawn         Texas Mountain bike Trails
We are just about to Christmas and winter is under way. If you’re like me you’ve probably had enough of the short days and no chance to ride during the week after work. During the summer you had 4 more hours of daylight to soak up some single-track and get dirty. Now, you just feel fortunate to get a ride in during the weekend.
Well, luckily there is another option. For anyone with a heart of iron and more balls than brains there is always night riding.
I’m going to show you everything that you need to know to mountain bike at night and conquer the trail.
Biking at night is exciting, different and occasionally frightening. Using artificial lighting to pick your way through a tight and winding trail can get pretty hairy. Logs and trees that you may have seen 30 time…
############################################################
Meeting Sparks Positive Developments for Bike Safety
By Iris Dimmick            www.therivardreport.com
Public service announcements, draft state legislation and even sting operations were discussed at a meeting Monday centered on enforcement and awareness of the Vulnerable Roadway User Ordinance [PDF] and road to traffic equality. Also known as the “Safe Passing†ordinance, it requires motorists to stay three to six feet away from bicyclists.
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), San Antonio Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the non-profit advocacy group BikeTexas, Tri-sition Area bike shop, city officials and other stakeholders attended the small “brainstorming meeting†that was brought about, in large part, because of the…
############################################################
Race Preview – Cyclocross Scuffle – Sat, Dec. 8, 2012Â
texascx.com
Let’s race in Capital City!
Er, let’s race near the airport in Capital City!
Weekend number nine in the prestigious TXBRA calendar brings us back to time-tested, locals-approved Moya Park. This event has been held for ten years in the pecan groves just south of Austin Bergstrom. It’s a solid venue for families with much to see and do.
Team Seton Brain and Spine rep, James Sides, gives us the skinny on one of our favorite courses.
How will your race compare to previous years?
It will be the same great format with slight changes to the course to keep it interesting.
Are we going on the bridge? Man, that would…
############################################################
Photos from the December 1 Armoring Project at Walnut Creek…WOW!
Austin Ridge Riders
.jpg?resize=600%2C1003)
Thank you R.R. Ochoa for taking the photos and letting us use them. Great work eveyone. Thanks to Rich Szecsy for organizing the project and for all the fine folks who volunteered!
############################################################
Beginners Ride
Fort Worth Bicycling Association
This month’s beginners ride will be on Dec 22nd. Start time moving to 10 am so we can let it warm up. If it is going to be in the 40’s or lower all day, or wet ride will be canceled.
Our most recent Paceline (the club’s online newsletter) was last updated 12-4-12.
############################################################
Achilles Heel
by Steve AÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â DFW Point-to-Point
Many times I’ve extolled the virtues of the mighty P7 headlight I use on my morning commutes. It is brighter than any light I’ve seen that is twice the price. What’s more, it has outlasted any Cateye light I’ve had. Still, it does have its own weakness; its Achilles Heel.
The P7’s battery is its weakness. Well, not the battery, exactly, but the Velcro that is supposed to keep the battery attached to the frame and hence the light. I have now lost this battery three times and have also doubled back to find it three times. There is something to be said for buckles or snaps. A light whose…
############################################################
Tweets
Our #MTB Team was @ Holidaze Marathon this weekend. J. Taylor was 2nd in her race, C. Mayes was 3rd in his & J. de Boisblanc was 5th in his!
— Bicycle Sport Shop (@BSS_Austin) December 5, 2012
Join us this Thursday at the Holy Mountain for the Fast Folks Ladies 2013 Crush Calendar Release Party. YOU A… http://t.co/UvJqPHiP
— Fast Folks Cyclery (@fastfolks) December 5, 2012
Take your bike from Rowlett to anywhere in the DART system! || DART opens new station in Rowlett http://t.co/cO0R1rn4
— BikeTexas (@BikeTexas) December 4, 2012
https://twitter.com/JuliaBikes/status/276081940958953473
Decorating for Christmas is the perfect time to #recycle old bike parts – check it out! #cycling #houston #green http://t.co/oZSiCork
— Bike Barn (@BikeBarnTX) December 4, 2012
https://twitter.com/JuliaBikes/status/276026113040465920
No one blames all drivers for the illegal actions of another. So why do so many blame all cyclists because some break the law?
— BikinginLA (@bikinginla) December 4, 2012
Cycling must regain its status as a festive event. Organizers are studying how to reinstore this tradition + mix it with modern technology
— bill olivier (@olivierbill) December 3, 2012
Got plans Thursday? Now you do. @BikeHouston Christmas Party at @karbachbrewing from 7-9P. Bring your thirst. Details: http://t.co/vK8m4197
— PedalHouston (@PedalHouston) December 4, 2012
Don't forget your reflective gear & lights when riding in fog!! #houston #cycling
— Bike Barn (@BikeBarnTX) December 4, 2012
Work on the Hulen Bridge means intermittent closures on Trinity Trails beginning Dec. 5. http://t.co/mi10CVCj
— City of Fort Worth (@CityofFortWorth) December 4, 2012
Cold weather is just around the corner… maybe… Prepare yourself to ride all winter long with the right gear. http://t.co/yn9gV83y
— Texas MTB Trails (@TexasMTBtrails) December 4, 2012
The Webberville Cross, presented by @mellowjohnnys, will be Sunday, Dec 9 at Webberville County Park. For more info see http://t.co/oKD3LoQB
— Violet Crown (@VioletCrownATX) December 4, 2012
Largest new team for 2013 so far is Team #Methodist with 56 riders registered. Thank you @MethodistHosp.
— Bike MS: Texas MS 150 (@TexasMS150) December 4, 2012
############################################################