Trinity Strand Trail photo by Happy Trails (Facebook)

Just a quick note to say that one of the least known yet best resources for information regarding hike and bike trails in the City of Dallas might be the Dallas Parks and Recreation’s  Happy Trails program which can now be found on Facebook.  Go here as they say.

While the funding (and construction) of many of the trails in the City of Dallas might be a joint City/County/other effort, most of the hike and bike trails are managed by the Dallas Parks and Rec department, so keeping up with them is a good idea if you’re a hike and bike person.

The Happy Trails folks have had a website for a while now and although it’s informative I’m still not sure about the maps they provide, if you can make them work you’re doing better than me.  But it’s their Facebook page that you want to check out.  You’ll find recent City trail updates and eye candy (recent photos) of City of Dallas trails and/or trail maps.

So mosey on over to their Facebook page and “like” them and start learning more about hike and bike trails in the City of Dallas.

Speaking on hike and bike trails, I’m updating some of the links for the Dallas County Trail Plan and I’m planning to revisit the County Trail system soon.  Quite a bit has happened since I first wrote about the subject back in January of 2010.

- Chris

ps: Speaking of Happy Trails, how about some Junior Brown:

graphic via http://theoatmeal.com/sopa

From Texas John Cornyn (R),  John Carter (R) support SOPA.  Carter is a co-sponsor.  Both have received sizable donations from SOPA related groups.

Those opposing SOPA include Ron Paul (R), Lloyd Doggett (D), Blake Farenthold (R), and Sheila Jackson-Lee (D).

The idea of Ron Paul becoming the leader of the fee world keeps me up at night, but he had it right in a letter he wrote opposing SOPA,

“The SOPA as written, however, is overly broad and would cause serious and long term damage to the technology industry, one of the few bright spots in our economy.”

Click on their names to learn more about how each has supported or opposed SOPA.  The Guardian has an interesting take on the consequences of this ill-conceived legislation here and they’re covering today’s events live here.

Local cyclist, Grady McGahan, is organizing an effort to replant native trees and other growing things as they cycle the gorgeous area around Bastrop, Texas this Friday, January 20th.

Here is a huge copy and paste from their Facebook page:

Join us as we ride from Austin to Bastrop and Paige for a few days of roving reforestation. Our merry band of reTREEters will work with local nurseries to plant native trees on private property, where people are more likely to do what is needed to keep them going for the long haul.

RIDE MAP:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=207668634798951068605.0004b371b95cad7f1d57e&msa=0&ll=30.060774%2C-97.510529&spn=0.635882%2C1.18103

GARMIN MAPS WILL BE GENERATED AND PROVIDED.

reTREEt ITINERARY:
Arrive in Austin on January 20th (FRI);

Ride around Austin on January 21st (SAT) and go out that night;

Ride to Bastrop (32 miles) on January 22nd (SUN) and plant trees that day;

Ride a loop to/from Paige (39 or 51 miles) and plant trees there on January 23rd (MON);

Ride a loop to/from Red Rock (52 miles) and plant trees there on January 24th (TUES);

Ride to San Antonio (96 miles) on January 25th (WED);

Ride around San Antonio (Mission Ride – 45 miles) on January 26th (THURS) and go out that night;

Ride to Boerne (35 miles) on January 27th (FRI);

Ride an out-and-back in Boernie and plant trees on January 28th (SAT).

*If you know of a person or organization in the area that would like to be involved or would be interested in having a bunch of random cyclists plant a tree or ten on their property, please send me their information.

EMAIL:
briangrady@gmail.com

PASS THE WORD ON TO YOUR FRIENDS.

TO BRING CHECKLIST:
1) Bicycle lights
2) AOH Jersey, if you have one, for the 23rd
3) Pedals, if you are borrowing a bike
4) Sun screen
5) Warm cycling clothing

FLIGHTS:

The cheapest way for many of you may be to fly into Dallas and ride down to Austin, either with the core group or with people who will likely come down for only a couple days here and there. Please consider the itinerary and post your intended plans so that we may help you coordinate meeting up with the group. We will do everything we can to make sure you have a ride to and from your point of origin and departure. Support vehicles will be able to take people to the Austin airport during the week, if need be.

Throughout the event, we plan to facilitate changing individual itineraries. We know it is a lot of commitment for many of you to make, and we would like to help you be as much a part of it as you can be.

N.B. – If you are flying into or out of San Antonio, a shuttle can be arranged for you to or from the OMNI hotels in which we are staying. Contact me with your itinerary to set that up.

BUDGET:

LODGING
1) We have arranged special rates with the Omni Hotels in Austin and San Antonio = $100/per night for a double room. We will be in Austin for two nights and San Antonio for two nights.

http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/AustinSouthpark.aspx
and
http://www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/sanantonio.aspx

2) In Bastrop, we plan to rent out a few Bed & Breakfasts that are all within walking/cycling distance including:

http://www.pecanstreetinn.com/
http://www.elmstreetinn.com/
http://magnoliainnonmain.com/

The cost of rental is about $500 per night/per house. 5-15 people can stay in each house. We will be in Bastrop for three nights. Any overflow will be handled by the Hampton’s Inn in Bastrop.

3) Lodging in Boernie is still being determined.

FOOD
4) Aside from breakfast at the above-mentioned B&Bs, everyone will be responsible for their own food/beverages. $25-$75 per day?

TOTAL ESTIMATED BUDGET: $100/per day. 10 days = $1,000.

THE RIDE WILL BE SUPPORTED.

SHIPPING BICYCLES:
If you are planning to ship your bicycle to Texas, Hill Abell at Bicycle Sport Shop in Austin has offered to receive bikes and assemble them free of charge. Paying for re-boxing and shipping back home will be the owner’s responsibility.

Bicycle Sport Shop
517 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX
(512) 477-3472

SPECIAL THANKS:

RICHARDSON BIKE MART
BICYCLE SPORTS SHOP
BASTROP TREE SERVICES
NATIVE TEXAS NURSERY
ORGANICS BY GOSH
BASTROP GARDENS
TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
TEXAS FOREST SERVICE

*Last updated 1/17/2012

To learn more about the Bastrop Wildfire, click here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastrop_County_Complex_fire

Bike Friendly Deep Ellum put on a great show yesterday.  Ok, it wasn’t a show really, it was a group bike ride. The el Tour de Taco adventure began at St Pete’s Dancing Marlin whose staff was very gracious.  The excitement sizzled as what must have been between 50-75 cyclists slowly began congregating on the sidewalk and garden patio of St Pete’s.  Alex Perez was chosen the official bike wrench as a small line of bikes in need of some sort of repair or adjustment began to take form as Alex would fix one and then move to the next.  Thanks Alex.

Overground Project Skatepark on Corinth and Ervay

We left St. Pete’s for a slow ride though Fair Park and then meandered our way for a short ride down scenic Swiss Ave (nice dog park).  From there was rode through One Arts Plaza and then a quick jaunt through the Arts District.  Then it was off to the Lily Pad at Main St Garden as we attempted to find out why they’re closed/closing (we think it has to do with planned demolition nearby, it would be great if someone could officially inform us).

A little ways down Harwood we turned up Young St to the corner of Akard at City Hall Plaza and took Akard up (our only hill) for a quick drive by of Lee Harvey’s dog day afternoon only to end up at Overground Project Skatepark on Corinth and Ervay for a picture on their 13′ tall skateboard ramp and a bathroom break.

Onward back up Ervay towards downtown, we passed Dallas Heritage Village and headed towards Farmers Market with a quick visit to 2814 Canton; the site for the January 29th Wheels that Heal Benefit for Liberty Kat.   Then it was off to half-priced tacos at LaGrange.  A word about LaGrange, this might be the most bike friendly business I’ve ever seen in Dallas.  While there aren’t many bike parking/locking options in the immediate area so the didn’t hesitate to encourage us to bring all of our bicycles inside the restaurant/bar and park them along the northern wall.  There were almost as many bicycles inside as there were people.  I think the size of the group challenged them a bit but they just rolled their sleeves up and worked through it.  Cheers to the great staff (and good food) at LaGrange.

I called it a night from there but Paul tells me the after ride ride took them to Strangeways, the SingleWide and finally The Goat for the most bizarre karaoke night he’d ever seen.  I’m waiting for more details about that.

In closing this was a very enjoyable day on bicycles brought to you/us by Bike Friendly Deep Ellum, and a special thanks to Paul Adams for making it all happen.  And thanks again to Paul for helping me reconstruct our activities for this post.

- Chris

ps: More photos on the Suburban Assault Flickr page and read more from Dallas Cycle Chic.

[Show as slideshow]

Bicycle Bicycle drawing/painting by Julian Callos @ http://juliancallos.com *see postscript

April in Dallas means only one thing – Dallas Cycle Chic mania! 

Mark your calendars because Dallas Cycle Chic is busy planning their annual series of events for April, 2012.   This year is going to include a cycle themed fashion show, and more.  We’ll be bringing more details and such in the near future (and seeking sponsor support too).  But for now here’s their initial announcement:

The cat’s pretty much out of the bag. Remember all the photos from the Cyclist Census back in April? And the lawn movie, the Texas Theatre, the photo exhibit, and the bike polo, and….

We’re doing it again in 2012, only we’re revamping the plan.

Cyclist Census: check

“Face of Biking in Dallas” mad online voting competition: check

Blowout party with bicycle fashion: check

We’re accepting sponsors now.  Get more details and check out the sponsor options.

So keep your calendar open for the month of April and stay tuned for more details.

- Chris

ps: When I stumbled upon the artwork “Bicycle Bicycle”  I was immediately enamored and thought it would fit the “cycle chic” theme, in a surreal and whimsical way I suppose. It was created by Julian Callos, a Los Angeles based illustrator.  He made it in trade for a bicycle that was no longer in use that he rode during college along Venice beach.  Thanks again, Julian.

- Chris

From the BikeDFW website:

Wednesday, February 1, 7 PM
Studio Movie Grill
Royal Lane and Central Expressway, Dallas

Purchase Tickets Online

or at the door.

Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America (RAAM), will premiere in Dallas/Fort Worth at the Studio Movie Grill Royal Lane on Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m. The screening is a benefit for BikeDFW.

The film, which has won numerous awards at film festivals all over the world, “is an up-close look at what RAAM riders go through,” says Stephen Auerbach, the director and producer of Bicycle Dreams. “They deal with searing desert heat, agonizing mountain climbs, and endless stretches of open road. And they do it all while battling extreme exhaustion and sleep deprivation. It’s a great subject for a film.”

“Bicycle Dreams is a spectacular and heartfelt film that offers a riveting portrait of extreme courage in the face of inhuman obstacles,” writes TheLoveOfMovies.com. “It is an artistic triumph that renewed my belief in the power of desire and the strength of the human will.”

Bicycle Dreams web site

Facebook event page

photo credit album art from a little ol band from Texas

Bike Friendly Deep Ellum will be rocking the city of Dallas starting @ 1:30 this Sunday the 15th.  Meet at
St. Pete’s Dancing Marlin (2730 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75227 – map)

From the Facebook event:

click me, I dare you

So here’s the plan: meet up for a bike ride, log 20 or so miles, find a taco stand and enjoy.
Afterwards we can always go find a local Ellum watering hole to hoist a pint and talk about how good/ bad the last particular taco stop was.
I’m gonna get off my bum and start trying to host one of these every month on the middle Sunday with a few ground rules:
The ride will be around 20 miles with a leisure pace and we won’t leave you behind.
If it’s raining, the ride is cancelled.
If temps go below 40, the ride is cancelled.
I want to try all the taco joints I can find, so if you know of something, please suggest it.
Starting location will change regularly but will always be kid and bicycle friendly.
We’ll cover a nice distance but the emphasis will be on fun and community.
Every ride should end before the sun goes down but if you’d like to ride with us to the after ride celebration lights are highly encouraged. Also, I tend to think that my helmet looks pretty darn sexy so I rock one whenever I roll and I don’t like tickets but that gamble’s up to you.
Nuts & bolts: We meet at 1:30, ride at 2… play till 3:30-4 p.m. and then have some tacos. after party around 5.

Now go sign up on the Facebook page and we’ll see you on Sunday.

I got this tip reading the Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate.  As many of you know Dallas Bike Works (Northwest Highway and Lawther – map) has an adjacent spot that begged to be utilized as some sort of eatery. Well it’s finally happening, Dallas Bicycle Cafe will be “opening soon” and from what I can tell it’s going to be a winner.

They’re going to offer storage lockers, changing rooms, an espresso bar, tea, beer, wine,  and best of all, a healthy menu (not bar crap).  The hours will be 6am to 10pm throughout the week and they’ll stay open until midnight on Friday and Saturdays.

In my book White Rock Lake is the enchanted forest for cycling in Dallas and I’m often a bit disappointed by the limited food opportunities close to the trail.  I’m generally not one to eat a greasy burger or fried chicken parts when I’m riding for any length of time or distance, so this shop excites me. I believe something like this is the kind of business that cyclists will line up to support. I know I will.

Judging by the photos it appears it’s going to be a very cozy and comfortable setting. Also worth noting, the real estate it’s situated on has a very large parking lot, which lends itself well as a place to gather for group rides.  Additionally, I’m not sure what the zoning allows  but each time I’ve visited Dallas Bike Works I’ve always been reminded of the live music events I’ve attended at Mellow Johnny’s and Bicycle Sport Shop in Austin.  This location would be perfect for bands and related outdoor events (beer garden).

Bravo team Dallas Bicycle Cafe, we’ll see you in person soon.

- Chris

All photos from the Dallas Bicycle Cafe Facebook page.

photo by Jesse Rosten

Most everyone is now familiar with Jesse Rosten’s video gone viral,  Fotoshop by Adobe’:

Very amusing social commentary about our views on beauty, or faked beauty that is.  On the making of Fotoshop Rosten remarked,

“I was watching TV one sleepless night and stumbled upon an infomercial for some beauty product. The commercial showed before and after portraits, that to my eye, looked like the same photo just photoshopped. I laughed to myself. Then I made this video.  This commercial isn’t real, and neither are society’s standards of beauty. “

What you might not know about the professional film maker is his interest in filming cycling events (from the back of a motorcycle or helicopter).  I found these two gems on his website.

Levi Leipheimer’s Gran Fondo, which is a “long distance, mass-participation cycling event – not a race.”

And how about a side order of of Portland Gran Prix Cyclocross racing:

Now I’m itching for a cyclocross bike, and wonder when they’ll come out with Fotoshop for Men…
- Chris

Events and activities to help Liberty Kat (aka Misty Green) are coming into focus.  She has staggering medical bills to contend with while she mends so a Facebook page has been established where you can donate via your Paypal account.  Go here to send some financial love her way.

And it gets better, there’s a benefit in her honor and to raise money on Sunday, January 29th.  They are securing a location and I’ll add those details as soon as I have them.  Until then here’s a copy and paste from the  Wheels that Heal Facebook event page:

We are working on a fundraiser for our fellow cyclist Misty “Liberty Kat” who was seriously injured on a group ride on the afternoon of 12/31. She sustained broken bones and even a fracture in her neck among other things–she was wearing a helmet or the damage might have been worse. We’re happy to report that Liberty is out of the ICU where she was Care Flighted from McKinney, TX and she seems to be recovering quite well with the help all of your positive thoughts and well wishes.

The fundraiser to help Liberty manage the financial burdon of this unfortunate accident is tentatively scheduled for January 29th, 1-6pm. We are awaiting confirmation on a suitable location. In the meantime, if you would like to donate, you may send money via paypal to Libertykat@gmail.com at any time. Every little bit helps!

If you own a business or have connections to anyone who may be interested in donating cash or items for raffle/auction at the event, please contact either Toni Youngblood or Susan Reeves ASAP. We need to secure at least 2 kegs of beer for the event and we are likely going to need at least 2 portapotties. We plan to have entertainment, bike-themed contests, a raffle, etc. Please let us know what you can do to help :)

You can drop by the event page to sign on and  join the effort, and if you own or represent a company we could use some items to auction at the benefit.

(photos from her FB page)