Texas Bicycling Daily News Roundup June 4th
Dallas Now Has a Bike Score, and It Sucks
By Eric Nicholson      blogs.dallasobserver.com
Walk Score became a thing almost as soon as the company first began rating the pedestrian-friendliness of cities and neighborhoods in 2007. By now, it’s so firmly established that it’s worked its way into the vernacular of real estate and urban planning. Zillow, for example, includes a walk score for every property it lists, and Phoenix used the data to determine where to locate light-rail stations.
A year ago, the company branched out into wheeled transport and began giving a bike score to an ever-expanding circle of neighborhoods and cities. That circle now…
More prominent role for cycling envisioned
Cyclists say momentum on their side
By Lindsay Peyton      www.chron.com
As cycling’s popularity rises in Houston, city officials and planners see the west side of the Inner Loop as the logical next place to focus energy on developing a more prominent role for the quiet, eco-friendly mode of transportation.
Rice University, the Texas Medical Center and area shopping districts already attract cyclists, said Laura Spanjian, sustainability director for Mayor Annise Parker.
“There’s a lot of bike commuters to Rice,” she said. “There’s already some good infrastructure there.”
The city is looking at ways to expand offerings in the neighborhood, with one option being…
Feds will stop hyping effectiveness of bike helmets
by Jim Titus      greatergreaterwashington.org
Two federal government agencies will withdraw their longstanding claims that bicycle helmets prevent head injuries. The decision comes in response to a petition the Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA) filed under the federal Data Quality Act.
In 1989, a study in Seattle estimated that helmets prevent 85% of head injuries. Later efforts to replicate those results found a weaker connection between helmets and head injuries, but public health advocates, government web sites, and the news media often present it as fact.
Bad information can cause problems, even when it is promoted with the best intentions. If people think that…
Cedar Park High School grad cycling 4000 miles to Alaska
www.hillcountrynews.com
CEDAR PARK — Rachel Engler, a 2009 graduate of Cedar Park High School, won’t spend her first summer after college graduation looking for a job. Instead, she will pedal more than 4,000 miles from Cedar Park to Anchorage, Alaska with Texas 4000, the longest annual charity event bike ride in the world.
For Engler, who graduated May 17 from UT’s nursing’s undergraduate honors program, the ride is a fitting start to her career plan. “I will be working with cancer patients in my role as a nurse,†she said. “Texas 4000 is such an…
TxDOT Proposes Banning Cyclists from Toll Roads
BikeTexas.org
The May 30 Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) meeting included an agenda item regarding the possibility of banning cyclists from all TxDOT-controlled toll roads in Texas. BikeTexas heard about this agenda item at the last minute and was able to go to the meeting to testify against banning cyclists from toll roads. Watch the testimony here; click on Item 11 to skip straight to the discussion of toll roads. The BikeTexas testimony begins at 18:30 in the Item 11 video.
Cyclists and motorist share a highway in Texas.
Right now, most of the roads that would be affected by such a ban are in Central Texas. However, it would set a dangerous precedent for future TxDOT toll road expansion and give more teeth to…
Bicycle Skills 101 Hands on Course
bikehouston.org
Presented by
Northwest Cycling Club/League of American Bicyclists
17560 Roberts Rd, Hockley,
Hockley, TX
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Online Registration Closes Friday, June 07, 2013 at 8:00 AM, Central Standard Time
Follow this link to the registration page
Northwest Cycling Club in conjunction with League of American Bicyclists is offering a class designed to teach adult cyclists how to use a bicycle with confidence and competence for pleasure, utility, and sport under various highway, climate, terrain, and traffic conditions.
There is a pre-requisite for this hands-on course – you must complete the free online ‘classroom’ portion. This is available at www.bikeed.org. Once you get to the site you will need…
Pics And Recap Of DART’s ‘Ride The Link’ Event
by Richard Wezensky      BikeDFW.org
Last Saturday, BikeDFW participated in a bike event called, Ride The Link. Hosted by DART, we celebrated the completion of Centralink, which is the bike trail connector that goes through downtown Dallas and connects Oak Cliff, the Trinity Strand Trail, the Katy Trail and the Santa Fe Trail. Centralink represents the spirit of regionalism and cooperation between DART, the City of Dallas, Downtown Dallas and bike trail organizations. Together, we’re expanding transportation choices and…
Lake Bryan Trail Status Source?
by Bike_Ninja      forums.mtbr.com/texas
Does anyone have a good source for current trail status for Lake Bryan in case I pass through College Station again?
I was in College Station on Saturday. Leading up to the trip, I kept an eye on Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association and weather site for recent rainfall totals. Recent rainfall showed less than .2 inches in the previous few days. I rode nearby Waco Friday and it was completely dry. Even the slower drying…
Flintridge Work Party
GHORBA.org
Trail: Flintridge
Saturday, June 8, 2013 – 9:00am
Howdy ladies and gentlemen,
I’ll be out again this weekend at 0900 to move a little further on getting Flintridge back into peak shape. I’ll be bringing a power tool this time to aid our progress. I have three loppers and…
PCC Riders Invade Surfside on an EPIC Bike Ride!
Pearland Cycling Club
Ride Report by Dave Moulton
I hate long trip reports!
This June 1, 2013, ride was most Epic-cellent! Pearland rollout in high spirits with ~15 riders. Tommy and Bryan (thanks for the Gatorade and crackers!) joined us at Mohawk Camp and we battled serious headwinds through the Swamp. Some peeled off early and completed their “Epic Lite” ride. Bridges before Bastrop Marina and Surfside were fun. Sandwiches and pictures in Surfside.
Rockin’ and rollin’ home like a freight train with the tailwind. When Adrian’s shifter battery died in an easy gear, he was spinning like a kid on a BMX trying to keep up with the grownups! And he was doing ok, but I could tell it sucked. We manually changed the…
El Paso Bicycle Club Rides & Events
Saturday, June 8
• 7:00 am : Practice Duathlon Meet at PTEP at River Run Plaza, 1071 Country Club Road. 5K run along river levee to Valley Crest Park, return along ditch patch. 20K bike ride to McNutt/Airport/Artcraft/Upper Valley Rd. Option to run the 5K again. PTEP will keep an eye on bikes during the run. Randy Limbird, 915-328-4110. (Non-runners welcome to join bike ride at about 7:20-7:30 a.m.) This will be an opportunity to prepare for the June 23 Mission Valley Duathlon or just to give a duathlon a try.??20130608
• 2:00 pm : Hot and Easy Wine Cruise Meet at Zin Valle in Canutillo for leisurely 15-mile round trip along Hwy 28. Wine tasting at Sombra Antigua in Chamberino, La Vina in La Union and Zin Valle wineries. SAG vehicle will bring wine purchases back to Zin Valle for pickup at 4:30 pm. Randy Limbird, 915-328-4110.
Sunday, June 9
• 7:30 am : If the Bike Fits Ride Start Crazy Cat Cyclery, 6625 Montana (one block west of Airway, north side of street). Meet at 7 a.m .for goodies and treats. Ride starts promptly at 7:30am with a short presentation on the importance of a proper bike fit and size. We will ride on the tank trails on Fort Bliss so a driver’s license to enter FT Bliss is a must. We will have a raffle for a complimentary mini- bike fit and Crazy Cat Montana is offering 10% discount to all riders on accessories, clothes etc. The ride will be 32-35 miles at a moderate 14-16 mph pace. Margaret O’Kelley, 915-588-3825.
Tuesday, June 11
• 5:55 pm : B/IG Lesson/Ride Meet at Rio Plaza, 6205 Upper Valley Rd. Basic lesson on road biking followed by ride through Upper Valley roads. June 11 program is on Sports Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation. Special presentation by Ruben Liano from Liano Physical Therapy on how to prevent sports/cycling injuries and basic care and rehabilitation if you incur an injury. Margaret O’Kelley, 915-588-3825. …
June Newsletter Published
Dallas Area Tandem Enthusiasts
The June edition of the DATES-Line Newsletter is published and available for download from the newsletters page. This month’s edition includes the following:
Upcoming Rides
Norma’s Brunch Ride
Ride Reports
RTR Tactical Exercise
Southwest Tandem Rally
Ride of Silence
Summer DATES Business Meeting
Horse Country Time Trials
Janet Kirklen’s SWTR Cookie Recipe
DATES Rides & Activities
The Texas Bicycle Racing Association – June Events
www.txbra.org
 Tweets
Enjoying some Grass Roots Austin Racing at the Dirt Remedy and harassing the bossman Will Black pic.twitter.com/jUYJwauCff
— mellowjohnnys (@mellowjohnnys) June 5, 2013
Check out the #Ozarks team with Mayor Parker on Texas 4000 day in Houston, TX pic.twitter.com/zEVxzMSVa7
— Texas 4000 (@Texas4000) June 4, 2013
Today is officially Texas 4000 Day in Houston! #Ozarks13 #T4KDay pic.twitter.com/MN0vckfxnp
— Texas 4000 (@Texas4000) June 4, 2013
https://twitter.com/BikeMSValero/status/341997984512364545
A don't miss event for cyclists & the family: Collin Classic Bike Rally & Family Fun Fest June 8 http://t.co/Q0sScavSlT
— Whareagle (@Whareagle) June 4, 2013
Training for the 2013 Hotter’N Hell Hundred? Cycling Coach “Bikin†Mike Keel has put together a summer program… http://t.co/5t1GT5xj6n
— Hotter'n Hell 100 (@HotternHell100) June 4, 2013
Get your bike cleaned up and ready for a ride Wednesday as it is bike practice at Memorial – Kelly and Meg… http://t.co/5ry4HCajmg
— TX Adventure Racing (@txarclub) June 4, 2013
Crash Sensor for Helmet anyone? https://t.co/J7g15bG7Nj
— AustinCyclist (@AustinCyclist) June 4, 2013
Here's a look at the fun we had last week at the Erwin Park Summer Series. Join us http://t.co/xfDilDQ5NQ http://t.co/Qw7cSaaWTP
— Texas MTB Trails (@TexasMTBtrails) June 4, 2013
June adults beginning velodrome workshop starts tomorrow!!!!! Come out on Wednesday night and have a chance to… http://t.co/j1uAbl3lTP
— Alkek Velodrome (@AlkekVelodrome) June 4, 2013
Schedule for Masters/Juniors Regionals June 22nd & 23rd here!!!… http://t.co/fhTtEMM14T
— Alkek Velodrome (@AlkekVelodrome) June 4, 2013
8 Cycling Hand Signals for Your Next Group Ride | http://t.co/T2voPBS0za via @active
— Whareagle (@Whareagle) June 4, 2013
just @BikeReg'd for 2013 PURE Driveway Week 13 – https://t.co/7uMTtFmlr2, cannot think of a better opener for the @tulsa_tough! #crybabyhill
— Michael Pincus 🧢 (@pincus1) June 4, 2013
We will be on our way to #Snyder for the #WESTERNSWINGFESTIVAL and presenting a program!! We will be booking from Winters #sierra2013
— Texas 4000 (@Texas4000) June 4, 2013