Texas Bicycling News Roundup February 8th
A Dinner with Steve Bode of Yuba Bicycles
by Matthew      bike4heck.com
Recently, I was able to meet up once again with Steve Bode, director of outreach for Yuba Bicycles, the manufacturer of my beloved cargo bicycle the Yuba Mundo (Version 1). We enjoyed Tex-Mex and live music while sitting outside on a warm late January day at La Hacienda. Steve was in town on the Yuba Powered Up Tour 2015 and sent me an email to say he wanted to meet back up. I always jump at the chance to talk with someone who is a fellow cargo cyclist. Not only is he that, he has a good lay of the land so to say on the whole movement and industry behind it.
Tina and PJ met Steve for the first time. Steve was captivated by PJ. We chatted about our views on all kinds of cycling topics such as Critical Mass Rides, Bike Share programs, cycling in Minneapolis and the changes to New York as far as cycling infrastructure since Tina and I were last in …
I’m Back in the Saddle Again
Pit’s Fritztown News
Well, not like Gene Autry in the song of that title, but back in the saddle of my bicycle. Today, with temperatures of around 75 Fahrenheit, and the sun shining brightly from a clear blue sky, I decided to hop on the Fargo 2 again and, for the first time since May last year, go on a ride, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It really looks as if I’m getting into my stride again, even if it’ll take quite some time still to get back into my former shape. I did 11.45 miles at 11 mph average, with an average heart rate of 127 bpm and a maximum of 151, but the latter was for a …
Riders, runners turn out for annual Freeze Your Fanny
By Glenn Evans      www.news-journal.com
B’Ann Boiles has an answer for drivers in Northeast Gregg County who wondered who all those runners and bicyclists were Saturday.
“Freeze Your Fanny is put on by volunteers, and it’s moms and dads — it’s athletes, parents and it’s volunteers that have stepped up over the years and helped us,†Boiles said, describing the fundraiser which drew some 350 participants to help their local Special Olympics athletes.
Half long-distance run, half bike ride, Freeze Your Fanny raises pledged funds to fuel the …
West Texas Tour
By Tom Mobley      www.crazyguyonabike.com
Introduction: Who, What, Why, Where and When – not necessarily in that order
I wear short sleave shirts to work. I was recently told that some find this incredibly objectionable. Of course, it was my wife, Karen, who told me of the sentiment and it was mostly expressed by my grown kids. They had this discussion, apparently, while sitting in a hot tub enjoying adult beverages after skiing.
The shirts in question are nice dress shirts. I have about a dozen of them, all the same, but in a mix of light blue, burnt orange, olive green, red, off white and even a couple of patterns. They have a button down collar and handy breast pocket that holds my smartphone and a pen. So they’re really functional and quite comfortable, without annoying cuffs around my wrists. And the best part is I get to be surprised in the winter mornings by what I’m actually wearing that day as I usually just pick one at random out of the closet in the dark. This way, Karen isn’t disturbed and then as the sun comes up – usually about 15 minutes into my drive to work – I get to see what color I am for the day! So overall, it’s a really good solution – functional, a bit spontaneous, and completely reliable – to the problem of workplace attire. I guess some just don’t see it quite that way.
What, pray tell, does this have to do with a bike tour across west Texas, you might be reasonably asking? Good question. And the answer is that my approach to work attire is really not all that different from how I approach many aspects of bike touring. I like to be as comfortable as reasonably feasible, have a plan for how things will generally turn out, use the most functional equipment for the job, and yet leave some gaps for …
Engineers for a Sustainable World prepare for competition
By Sarah Wilson, Staff Writer      www.dailytoreador.com
Sustainability engineering is becoming more prevalent in today’s society. From wind energy to green buildings, people are becoming more interested in eco-friendly resources.
Engineers for a Sustainable World at Texas Tech work on campus to promote clean energy and solve sustainability issues around Lubbock and the state of Texas.
“We’re called Engineers for a Sustainable World, and our local chapter is called ESW-TTU. We’re a part of a national organization of about 40 or so chapters, nationwide, and one in Canada,†Matt Kovalski, a junior chemical engineering major from Keller and president of ESW said. “We have a few professional chapters locally here in Texas. We work on all sorts of engineering projects that work with sustainability and energy efficiency.â€
…45 people died last year due to auto-on-bicycle accidents across Texas, and the numbers have not really changed since the reflective strips on the pylons have been implemented, Johnson said. …
Day 6 – Rest Day: For real, a rest day Sunday February 8, 2015
By Alan Guo, Beaumont to San Francisco (Feb 2015)Â Â Â Â Â Â www.crazyguyonabike.com
I’m updating this journal early today, because today, I’m not riding. Instead, I’m going to use the extra day to gather myself and prepare for West Texas, and help Lynn with her chores around the ranch, specifically moving a big pile of hay for the cows. I’ve also cleaned the drive train on my bicycle. It’s now shiny and smooth. The tires also needed work. I had one flat yesterday, but I think I was lucky. I glued shut at least 8 slits on my tires, 4 of them were major splits 1-2 cm wide, but had not gone through the tire. I will wait a day for the glue to fully cure, before I …
Mt. Locke Race, Fort Davis
Pedal Pushers
Mt. Locke Race McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas
The McDonald Observatory is at an altitude of 6,790 feet but is not normally in the clouds. However, this day was extremely foggy.
… Staging area for the 7.5 mile race. At this altitude, the fog wasn’t too bad. However, the racers’ destination can be seen only by squinting one’s eyes and looking just to the right of the center. The very white domes of the Ottto Struve and Harlan J. Smith telescopes can barely be seen. …
A Balmy Texas Winter Bike Ride Around My Neighborhood With Elderly Golfers
Durango Texas
This second Sunday of the second month of the 15th year of the new century had me rolling my wheels in my neighborhood for the first time in what seems a long time, with today’s wheel rolling being enabled by the return of warm air to this formerly frigid part of the planet.
I would have thought I would have seen oodles of golfers when my neighborhood golf course came into view, what with that aforementioned balmy temperature, but as …
Ready2Roll MS150 Training; Week 3
The Surly Biker
We were back on the bikes this weekend for the third training ride before the MS150. We headed up to Hempstead, TX, to join the Pedaling The Prairie ride – one of the two partner rides between the Ready 2 Roll series and official t-shirt rides. I almost signed up for Pedaling the Prairie last year, but didn’t get around to it, so I was glad we were able to join it this year.
It was an early start since it’s almost an hour drive from west Houston up to Hempstead, and we wanted to get in ahead of the traffic since it’s a single lane road where the parking was. We made it with plenty of time. The weather was forecast to be very nice, and it …
New Events Added to Texbiker.net Calendar
New Bike Event added: Castroville Time Trial Series – Castroville, TX Mar 08, 2015 08:00AM http://t.co/Ee2xkRsoK9
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) February 9, 2015
New Bike Event added: Castroville Time Trial Series – Castroville, TX Apr 12, 2015 08:00AM http://t.co/VvEsmaqyKf
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) February 9, 2015
Tweets
You know what they say: ALWAYS try new things on race day! Including riding a bike you've never ridden… http://t.co/aAgqIRNLnT
— Allen Kuo (@kuotient) February 9, 2015
El Paso Bicycle Club Annual Meeting (@ Great American Land & Cattle Company in El Paso, TX) https://t.co/JYi72Q82zo pic.twitter.com/WiJXATouxA
— Martha A. Boyd (@twittyboyd) February 9, 2015
— Daniel Cruz (@DCRUZ547) February 9, 2015
Congrats to cyclist @ law Bill Shirer, 2nd in the 50+ today (assist to Big Ring Fene). Thx to Andrew Armstrong for a great weekend of racing
— McKinney Velo (@McKinneyVelo) February 9, 2015
Nice day to visit the Lamar Str protected bike way Note how armadillos are turned for greater visibility. @OKRAFried pic.twitter.com/RxN7TYulmo
— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) February 9, 2015
What bike rides on the Texas-Mex border look like..border wall on one side and border patrol on the other #BikeTexas pic.twitter.com/Ea6bPbiiqp
— Edgar Gaucin 🚲 (@edgargaucin) February 9, 2015
Allllllllll over houston. #biking #cycling #HTX #sundayfunday http://t.co/wLnr4EmaaY
— Margaret Santucci (@santooch93) February 8, 2015
First annual #ElCalcetinViejo bicycle ride in #BrownsvilleTexas! I hope we're starting a tradition! BikeBrownsville pic.twitter.com/cA7JbklBvA
— Edgar Gaucin 🚲 (@edgargaucin) February 9, 2015
I just signed up for the Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation on Sunday March 15, 2015! https://t.co/1igBr1gKiT
— a Dan of action (@theSurlyBiker) February 9, 2015
7 hours @ 47 miles today and a the call of shame. out of water and no near by access to food http://t.co/LYhKcz9MdA
— James Webster (@Jamesw2) February 9, 2015
Nice weather. Nice day to race bikes. #wd40 #cedarhillbikefestival http://t.co/L11sONWBY5
— Mario Arroyave (@marroyave35) February 9, 2015
Open track time Monday at 12 noon. No open containers so BYO bike and come on out for some track fun.
— Alkek Velodrome (@AlkekVelodrome) February 9, 2015
Making good progress on the protected Bike Lane initiative. This is a win for all of us! pic.twitter.com/3uTuRqGS1I
— Critical Mass Houston (@HoustonCM) February 9, 2015
Well, that's not normal. Rocky Hill Ranch ate some @notubes Crest tacos for lunch today!… http://t.co/qmZun3vTjY
— Allen Kuo (@kuotient) February 9, 2015
Just completed a 17.68 miles Cycle Ride feeling Great #iSmoothRun
— JustOneFixie (@justonefixie) February 8, 2015
Mein wochenende….sehr gut!!! pic.twitter.com/9QIlF2xkOB
— Daniel Cruz (@DCRUZ547) February 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/BBQ44/status/564552042522214400
Awesome to see Houston's bike lanes coming in! @AnniseParker @spanjian @BikeHouston pic.twitter.com/e0JsG9i8jP
— Rodney Ellis (@RodneyEllis) February 8, 2015
Q:What do cycling and @McDonalds have in common? A: "I'm Loving It!" Yup, CycleXTexas is back on the road for 2015! pic.twitter.com/Z4v78aWuyI
— Jim Cycle Across TX (@CycleXTexas) February 8, 2015
The Chariot was in sore need of a good cleaning. #cyclistproblems #Cinelli pic.twitter.com/KrLScDK0hL
— James Hamric (@HokieinSA) February 8, 2015
rolandsanmiguel sitting comfortable in Cedar Hill Race #madDuckRacingFamily #madDuckTraining… http://t.co/YbggiIG1Nk
— Mad Duck Cyclery (@MadDuckCyclery) February 8, 2015
We ride too! #testteamtx for @iamspecialized, @santacruzbikes, @TrekBikes, and @IndyFab. #wearerbm pic.twitter.com/LHWhTKU0qh
— Richardson Bike Mart (@RichBikeMart) February 8, 2015
Payten Maness wins again for #madDuckRacingFamily on that @focusbikes Izalco Max and @zevlin1 custom… http://t.co/TZdUh0161c
— Mad Duck Cyclery (@MadDuckCyclery) February 8, 2015
Another great day of Racing at Cedar Hill Bike Festival for #madDuckRacingFamily with our flying… http://t.co/G2DkBzW7ZE
— Mad Duck Cyclery (@MadDuckCyclery) February 8, 2015
Mario Arroyave takes 7th in the p1,23's at the Cedar Hill RR! Nice start to open his season.
— Christian Williams (@WlmsRcngAcademy) February 8, 2015
Javier Herrera bags his first mud fest. Cedar hill bike fest. http://t.co/q7BVxmet9C
— Knobbies & Slicks (@knobbies_slicks) February 8, 2015
Super treat this morning: Team TIBCO-SVB professional racer Lauren Stephens led our lap 1! What an inspiration! pic.twitter.com/vvSxVlqci8
— Texas HS Cycling (@TexasHSCycling) February 8, 2015
It doesn't feel like it's 57 degrees outside. Damp and foggy. Not exactly ideal weather for a bike ride, but off I go #wintermiles
— James Hamric (@HokieinSA) February 8, 2015
Bicycle Master Planning goes to council for vote this month. Then comes a call for ideas/stakeholder engagement Stay tuned @josephmcelligot
— BikeHouston (@BikeHouston) February 8, 2015
Bored waiting on group to roll http://t.co/7k5ujJFFqC
— Jeff C. (@331miles) February 8, 2015
Ray Healy making it happen yesterday at the Cedar Hill road race. Good luck to all today. #corinthcycling #madduck http://t.co/NPEGGjHdAz
— Corinth Cycling (@corinthcycling) February 8, 2015
Getting ready for Calcetin 50 Bike Ride in Brownsville I like to see a lot of cyclists in the morning #bikeride pic.twitter.com/MdjE0grjVD
— Fernando Martinez (@SafeCyclist) February 8, 2015
Event Reminder
2 Day Alert: Mountain Biking Social Ride – Millican, TX, Feb 10, 2015 06:00PM – 19851 FM 2154, Millican, TX, 77866, United States(CST) h
— Rick Ankrum (@texbiker) February 9, 2015