breast cancer

Austin Bike News Roundup for August 1, 2023

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 3 Comments

It’s been a while since I did one of these roundups, and since a new month is starting, I figure why not? Like many places around the northern hemisphere, Central Texas is suffering through a record red-hot sweltering summer. We just passed 22 days in a row of temperatures of 100 F or over and are on track for an all-time record of 30 consecutive days. So far this summer we’ve had a total of 41 days in the triple-digits… and counting. It’s enough to make you want to stay inside in the air conditioning.

Which is exactly what the doctor(s) ordered for this dude. So, I’m mostly biking inside on the boring, loud trainer to avoid the soul-sapping sultriness and the very harmful ultraviolet rays. Bicycling may be a solution to pollution, but not if you’re collapsing from heat stroke and getting skin cancer. Don’t do that. I’ve learned the hard way that we need to over-hydrate and slather on that sunscreen. Still, bike news in Austin continues, so here’s a little of that.

New Bike Polo Court

Credit ATXBPSC

According to the local NBC station KXAN, Austin got a new bike polo court. Thing is, it was exactly on the site of the previous place where bike polo was played. A little like The Who’s “meet the new boss, same as the oldboss.” The Austin Texas Bike Polo Social Club asked for a grant for the City to upgrade it, and that’s what happened.

I’ve been by to watch them players a few times, and it’s entertaining. A special bike like a BMX helps, and you need some excellent bike-handling skills, a willingness to get hurt, although it’s certainly tons safer than street cycling. Abs of steeel don’t hurt. After the games there are celebrations with libations, often the case with cyclists of all stripes.

Here’s a shot from ATXBPSC of Israel Tellez on the old court, who was going to the world championships in 2019.

Battle of the Bike Lanes

While individual short sectoins of road or intersections are still getting improved thanks to the 2016 bond money, there’s stll a ton of dangerous and missing infrstructure. There was going to be an agenda item at a recent City Council meeting on the ATX Walk Bike Roll plan. Axios Austin and others reported on this in relaton to an increase in cyclist deaths (four in 2023) and a lot more pedestrian deaths. Word from an informed source said there was likely going to bee a postponement.

The goal is to build 1,200 miles of lanes, but they are only at around 415 miles. At the rate they get built, something like 50 miles a year, we’ll all be dead before they’re installed. Especially if there’s not enough funding. Or the roads are melting or Texas is under an ocean again due to global warming. I wish them luck, but I’ll file this in the “I’ll believe it when I see it department.

Mamma Jamma Time

The ride to support women with breast cancer took a hit during the pandemic. It has downsized and relocated an hour north to Taylor, Texas. Instead of eight Austin agencies, the proceeds all go to the Big Pink Bus which conducts mammograms for underserved and uninsured women in Central Texas. It’s still a grat cause. I did three of these rides myself. If you’re around and want to ride, register here, or wherever you are, you can donate here.

Bike Texas Annual Member Appreciation Gathering

I don’t have much to do with these folks but I once went to their Cyclists in Suits lobby day, which was kinda fun. Their annual meeting is coming up on September 10, 3-5 pm. It’s a members-only appreciation event. They closed their office and now have a trailer on a lot on Springdale Road, so let’s hope it’s less hot outside. The meeting will include:

  • Meet and greet BikeTexas board members, staff, and fellow Texas bicyclists
  • Check out their new donor appreciation wall
  • Admire their beautiful new mural by our own Faith Schexnayder
  • Enjoy beverages, light snacks, and plenty of shade
  • Share what’s happening for biking and walking near you
  • Hear from folks who are making a difference for Texas bicyclists

Go to this link to register.

Mellow Johnny’s Moving Sale

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It’s your last week to save with the MJ’s Moving Sale. The long-time shop owned by Lance Armstrong is moving into a newer building closer to, ironically enough, the Lance Armstrong Bikeway after many years on 400 Nueces Street.

This summer is shaping up to be too hot to pack up EVERYTHING in the shop and move it to their new spot. So they’re having a moving sale with their best prices ever on all in-stock new bikes, clothing, helmets, MJ’s branded gear, sunglasses, and more.

Through August 6 save 10, 20, even 30% on bikes. Every bike is on sale. All accessories purchased with a new bike are also 20% off (normally 15%). All MJ’s branded gear–kits, tees, gloves, socks, bottles, and more–all of it is 30% off. All clothing is 30-40% off. All sunglasses are 30% off. Car racks are 15% off. All helmets are 25% off. And all bags are 30% off.

Shop early for the best selection! Sale prices are for in-store, in stock items only. No special orders. No combining offers or discounts. (For example, no Mellow Bucks on sale items, no club discounts.) Discounts applied at register.

That’s all for this edition. Remember the three Hy’s: Hydrate, Hyde from the Sun, and Hy-Tail it to your indoor trainer.

Copyright 2023. A Dude Abikes. All rights reserved.

Austin Bike News Roundup for September 7, 2021

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 4 Comments

These Austin Bike News Roundups appear sporadically, usually when I grow bored of writing about myself and notice enough newsworthy items to share. If I were a more organized writer (a planner, not a panstser) and a more energetic dude in general, I might solicit entries from local bike shops and groups and publish them on a regular basis. If I had more actual readers living in Austin, and some income from doing them (like sponsorships), then it would make more sense. And, if I were a rich man ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum… Of course I’m not rich, yet still I write this blog. Why? I cannot say. Oy vey.

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Texas Mamma Jamma Ride Update: All Aboard the Big Pink Bus

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 5 Comments

Your bike dude here has participated in six charity rides, raising over $12,000. That’s my proudest accomplishment as a bike rider starting back in 2015 B.B. (Before Blog). Well, riding around the world in under five years probably ties that. Many of those miles came from TMJR and other training rides. Three of the charity rides were for the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride to raise funds for breast cancer treatment and services. Thanks to the coronavirus, the non-profit organization has had to adapt and reinvent itself to survive. And it’s done so quite smartly by becoming the fundraising arm for the Big Pink Bus, a project of the Lone Star Circle of Care (LSCC), which operates 24 health clinics in half a dozen Central Texas counties. This seems like important news and sharing is caring, so read on!

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Charity Cycling and Coronavirus: The Mamma Jamma Challenge 9/12-9/19/20

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 2 Comments

With the global pandemic of the coronavirus showing no signs of ending anytime soon, those with other illnesses like HIV/AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis still need support perhaps more than ever. One way this is achieved is through fundraising bike rides. A Dude was privileged to ride in half a dozen charity rides, raising $12,000 total over the six events. But nowadays getting people together to breathe hard, even outside, is problematic — especially for the immuno-compromised. Most charity rides have had to go virtual. This week, September 12-19, the good folks at the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride are having people ride bikes and do other activities and record them on Strava, the fitness app, while still raising funds for the one in eight women who get diagnosed with breast cancer.

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Texas Mamma Jamma Breast Cancer Charity Training Ride #2: Bipping and Bonking Over 45 Miles

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 4 Comments

On Wednesday, I formed a neighborhood bike gang.  On Friday, one of my intrepid new bike friends said that she might want to join me on this training ride the next morning.  Romy offered to pick me up in her bitchin’ mini-van.  This was good news: The start time was an hour earlier due to the Austin, Texas heat, so I wouldn’t have to bike the extra six miles to the start.  

A Dude is trying to become an early riser again, but it’s a struggle when people around you are so often making noise.  But it’s always good to have new people to ride with, and maybe she’ll even join my official Team T.ime I.n T.he S.addle.  She said she’d call me at 6 am to decide, so I was going to be kept in suspense. Just like you’ll be unless you click the Continue Reading thing-a-ma-jig!

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Mamma Jamma Training Ride #1 of 2019 + Fairdale Bikes Party: My Social Saturday

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 1 Comment

Saturday was an eventful day for me on and relating to the bike. I somehow got my butt up early and the five miles down to the start of a training ride. Then later I attended a party for the bike manufacturer of my bike, Sophie the Weekender Archer. As usual, engaging with various people in different realms of the bicycle community was meaningful and fun. Seeing people you know and meeting ones you didn’t is always cool, right? Yes.

Breast Cancer Charity Ride

Mamma Jamma Ride to Beat Breast Cancer is September 21, 2019. Are YOU in?

I haven’t registered yet, but last year I missed all the training rides, so I figured I’d at least get myself to the first one in town. If I do join the main event, it will be the fourth time. The ride itself is September 21, 2019. Given that I’ve raised over $5,000 total over rides #1-#3 (2015 and 2017-18), my goal would be to meet or beat that. I think $3,000 is very doable.

The cool thing about the money raised for this ride is that it really is for a good cause — seven local groups that support women surviving the disease, and their families. It’s for services mostly, like wigs, or counseling — not all research, unlike some events. So whether I do it will depend on availability, health, and pledges from donors. Could you be one? We shall see.

Arriving at the cancer support headquarters of Livestrong, I found around 80 people waiting for the ride to start. I said hi to some folks I recognized and took Sophie right over to the Buda Bike Company tent. Her chain has been slipping ever since I regreased it at Yellow Bike Project. The nice mechanic took a look and must have tweaked it a little, because I didn’t have a problem all day. A nice perk of showing up, a free adjustment!

I signed in with my waiver, got a wrist band, and greeted the director, Marion, who seemed happy to see me. A few board members where there. And then it was time for the speeches and mentioning the Sustainable Food Center, the beneficiary of the day. They provide cooking classes for women with breast cancer, how cool is that?

We divided ourselves into fast, medium and relaxed groups. But by the time I got myself organized the medium group had left, and I saw the familiar freckled face of Marty at the rear, so joined her as sweeper. We were off and chatted about where she’d traveled, where I hadn’t (a quick conversation), and other things like how the office is moving.

The ride went east and north and then got on the Southern Walnut Creek Trail. It’s great for novices and not so great for conversation and group riding. The whole distance was only going to be 13 miles, but for some that’s a lot. We gathered at almost the halfway point, the bottom of the steep hill where a YMCA sits for a break. The leader and Marty let the mostly women riders know they could skip it if they wanted, but everyone was game. I reminded folks not to grind, but to spin in a lower gear.

Overall time included lots of stops at several bike shops and other stores. But I got it done.

I went up first to possibly inspire and also to avoid congestion, but then I quickly got smoked by two fast women eager to build up speed and get it over with. My fitness, energy and legs aren’t what they used to be, and good on them. At the top we cheered on everyone as they crested the hill.

After a stop at the urination station, some water and wi-fi, we were back down reversing our tracks. At the end I scooped out the sausage, cheese, egg or potato from several kolaches and had a couple of fruit popsicles, too. A pair of free bib shorts and some promo materials were also gifted to me, and I hung out to help put things up a bit and chat some more. It was a pleasant ride and I was happy to “support the girls.”

Jeb, a fellow rider I’ve met before, and I sport our Big Wig Top Fundraiser jerseys

I then went out and did another 15 miles for a total of 33 so far. I got a flat, even with a new back tire, which was super taut and took a long time to fix. I got caught in some heavy rain which I waited out at a bus stop. My speed had been averaging 11.5 but began to drop as I tired. By the time I returned home I was ready for a shower, some food, and a nap. It was good to put on the official Big Wig Fundraiser jersey and bib shorts and put in some mileage.

HEY YOU! PLEASE READ THIS! If you’d like to pledge to financially support me doing this ride on the first day of autumn, or you’re in Austin and want to get a jersey and be a member of Team T.ime I.n T.he S.addle, please contact me, my Gmail is ADudeAbikes.

Fairdale Bikes Party

I had heard about this shindig on the Mamma Jamma Ride, so I cancelled other plans and after recuperating, I headed back downtown. The gathering was in full swing by the time I got there, but mostly just people hanging outside behind this clothing shop and art space. They were talking and drinking free beer (which never motivates me – I prefer my carbs in solid, chocolate form). There was also a BMX / skateboard ramp, and dudes were throwing tricks on that. I met some Fairdale as well, including Mia, a brand ambassador and was just back from breaking her elbow in Germany.

The new line of bikes was available for viewing, but I didn’t pay much attention, not being in a position to buy one. I did buy a raffle ticket to win a new one. Since I won Sophie in a raffle, and Sookie the Fuji Silhouette has been forcibly retired, I figured I’d try my luck again. It was looking up because not only was Katie, the manager of my nearest Bicycle Sport Shop there, but so was a former co-worker of mine who was also a bicyclist and former mechanic.

Meghan seemed happy to see me as I was her. Hugs were exchanged and I was reintroduced to Katie’s husband Reese and Meghan’s boyfriend Aaron. The women already knew each other from the shop world, which was pretty cool. Worlds collide, as it was said on Seinfeld. Aaron and I chatted about this blog, which he seemed genuinely interested in, having had some health challenges himself. We talked about the book I’m writing, his biking, health, art versus commerce, and a lot more. He’s a creative himself, doing art for a job.

I got some water and talked with some BMX dudes. One owned a bike company, another took photographs, and there was Carlye, who is Jared’s girlfriend. They were a cute young couple but I didn’t feel up to asking people to pose for a picture. We talked for a while about animals and her writing and photography and not being ready to share it on her blog. Jared came over and I told him I was interested in profiling more types of cyclists and that I was fascinated by the risk-taking of BMX’rs. He said his big toe was injured and showed me a video of the two-story jump he did when he injured it.

Everyone I met were nice people. Jarred ran off to do some jumps, and I went back to the group. Katie had to leave by bike with her co-workers, so she rushed over and gave me her three raffle tickets. I was taken aback and didn’t know what to say except thank you and gave her a hug of gratitude. I had just been speaking to Meghan and Aaron about how unfailingly nice she was. She said I deserved them and she could get an employee discount anytime, which was sweet.

Finally it was raffle time, and several smaller prizes were awarded. Then the bike was awarded, and several people had left so missed out. The winning number was six digits away from mine. So it was not A Dude Abike’s karma to win a second Fairdale. That’s ok, it was only seven-speed, two less than Sophie. The highlight of the evening had passed, so the energy petered out pretty quickly. Goodbyes were said, and Jim with Fairdale nicely gave me a branded water bottle with some grape juice in it. So I didn’t leave empty handed. I got another 11 miles for my efforts, too.

Parting Thoughts

Heading home, I was aware of an insight that you might even say is a theme of this blog. Once again, even though I’m so often a solitary rider, and a writer in solitude, that there’s a world of other people around who ride, love and live bikes. Because no matter what kind of bike you ride (even a stationery one) or what kind of shape you’re in, if you ride a bike, you’re a winner in my book.

If you don’t bike yet and are able to, maybe I’ll inspire you to get on a bike someday. There are always going to be plenty of faster, fitter folks out there (and if you’re one of them, good on you!). But if you’re like me, a middle-aged fathlete who struggles with knee and other aches and pains, lack of sleep, etc. can do 44 miles in a day, I bet many of you can, too. So, pedal on, people! And if you can’t do that, cheering is good, too.

Oh yeah, I got a 100+ mile week for the first time in a while.: 100.9 miles biking, 11.4 walking.

Thank you for visiting me on WordPress or at https://ADudeAbikes.com.  Feel free to add your Likes and Comments and to Follow the blog through WordPress if you have it, or by email.  Contact me on the About page with any questions.  Please feel free to Re-blog and Share as long as you give credit and the permalink to this post.

© 2019 A Dude Abikes. All rights reserved.

Mamma Jamma Ride Wrap-up and Huge Thanks to My Donors of $2,502!

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 8 Comments

On September 22nd, I biked 40 miles for a good cause. (40-Mile Charity Ride for Breast Cancer: No Need to SAG). Tonight, I cycled down to the Livestrong building. Yep, it’s the one named for the cancer foundation started by an Austin cyclist and former seven-time winner* of the Tour de France. That group still exists, a shadow of its former self, and does good work for all canver survivors. Relevant to A Dude, it’s where the Mamma Jamma Ride to Beat Breast Cancer rents office space. This year, it hosted the Bucks to Beneficiaries — the annual awarding of the monies raised for the bike ride held back on September 22nd. A few dozen riders, sponsors, board members and supporters were in attendance. Over $300,000 was given to the seven non-profits helping women and their families with breast cancer. A Dude Abikes was part of that, coming in 9th place as individual fundraiser at $2,502. So this blog post is to wrap it all up, and to especially thank everyone who donated.

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Cycling with Sookie and Sophie: The Saga Segues

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 3 Comments

I found a picture of both Sookie and Sophie, my two bikes. (A third bike is elsewhere; that one was ridden pre-blog/Strava.) The photograph was taken at a community event sponsored by Bike Austin that I helped with. It was attended by several dozen people concerned about bike lanes and sidewalks on two busy and dangerous roads and Austin City Councilmember Greg Casar in April of 2017. Why on earth did I have two bikes at the same event? Well, former BA Campaigns Manager Miller Nuttle forgot his bike, so needed to borrow mine. Something inspired me to snap this shot, and I really like it alot. With the recent news about Sookie, the Fuji Silhouette (left) having a fatal crack in her frame, causing me to have to ride Sophie, the Fairdale Weekender Archer all the time, it got me thinking more about my journey. Keep reading to hear more about this passing of the torch.

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Mamma Jamma Ride to Beat Breast Cancer Happy Hour

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Last night I biked out to one of Austin, Texas’s brew pubs, where they make their own beer.  Cold but dry after rain early in the day, it was not long but I had the bike rack all to myself.  Riders from the recent Mamma Jamma Ride which I was part of on September 22, 2018 were invited to have a free cold one, socialize with others, and pick up their gift bags or some extra goodies.  I decided to ride over and join in.  And you can join me for this little night cap.  I mean recap.  Tee many martoonis, sorry!  Just kidding.

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40-Mile Charity Ride for Breast Cancer: No Need to SAG

~ A Dude Abikes ~ 9 Comments

Oops!  I did it again.  Rode my bike for charity.  The 10th Annual Texas Mamma Jamma Ride to Beat Breast Cancer, to be precise; my third participation.  While the ride was many things, the most important thing is that I have so far raised $1,554 for the seven area non-profits benefiting from this event.  The money will go to provide services to women living with the disease.  And, I’m still hoping to raise more.  You can help at this link:

Give here:  https://Fundraisers.MammaJammaRide.org/ADude-Abikes

Before anyone gets up in arms about the title, SAG stands for Support and Gear.  (I almost said panties in a wad, but decided it was in poor taste.)  SAG is the vehicle that roams around the course in a bike ride with extra tubes, tires, food, water and first aid.  And while the day featured rain, wind, sun, loose dogs, crashes, tutus, and longhorn cattle (not the miraculously currently 3-1 winning University of Texas football team), and even a flat tire that the SAG car did help out with a little (so I wouldn’t get my hands oily), A Dude Abikes has a clean sheet so far of never having to SAG out.

So here’s the low down on the non-SAGging breast cancer charity ride.

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