10 Reasons to Stop at a Stop Sign

1. It is the safest way to negotiate a stop sign controlled intersection. Period.

2. It is the law and you are breaking the law when you don’t stop. A ticket for running a stop sign in Travis County can set you back $200.00.

3. Want respect from people in cars? Respect the rules of the road.

4. You’re a good rider. You can spot potential dangers at an intersection without stopping, so you glance around and roll through. This approach works every time until the time that it doesn’t. Then, what is the cost? A broken arm? A broken neck? Worse? A quick stop for time to double-check is worth it.

ACA Ronald Reagan Blvd Time Trial

ACA Ronald Reagan Blvd Time Trial: If you want to ride ACA hosted rides, but are unsure which level to try (A, B, C, D, or E), consider riding your own time trial to find out.  Time yourself on the following ride.

Start at the intersection of Ronald Reagan Blvd and 29. Ride north for approximately 5 miles and turn around at Farm to Market road 3405. Return to the starting point. The route should be about 9.5 miles.  See: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6847133

If you ride it in:
30 or less minutes, look for an A ride
31 - 34 minutes, look for a B ride
35 - 40 minutes, look for a C ride
40 - 47 minutes, look for a D ride
50 or more minutes, look for an E ride

Look for the new ACA pint glasses at upcoming ACA events!



 

Letter from the Ride Director


We ride. It’s what we do.

Some of us ride occasionally. Others ride every day. We are commuters, site seers, pleasure seekers, thrill seekers, roadies and racers. Some of us run errands on our bikes or use them to get around. Others ride only for fun and fitness. We ride long rides and short rides. We ride fixies, vintage bikes, touring bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, and commuters. We ride rusty old bikes, fancy new bikes and everything in between.

Ballet Austin to Offer Pilates for Cyclists Course

Cyclists tend to have highly-developed legs, but don’t pay much attention upper body muscular conditioning. The repetitive motion of cycling focuses on certain muscle groups while ignoring others. Pilates is the answer! Pilates focuses on core strength. Core strength will help transfer more power to the pedals by providing a solid platform for the lower body to push against. Ballet Austin’s Pilates Center will offer a 6-week Pilates Mat Course designed specifically for cyclists. Pilates Mat for Cyclists begins Tuesday, March 1 at 7:30am. $75 for the 6-week course. To register call 512.476.9051.

NEW ACA JERSEYS ARE IN!

By purchasing the new ACA jersey you:

1) are supporting the ACA's ongoing efforts to improve cycling in Austin

2) are showing your commitment to looking good on your bike

3) can be part of turning your favorite ACA ride into a giant blue peloton

 

Available now at Mellow Johnny's for $90.00 
































 

New Ride Rating Key for ACA Hosted Rides

ACA hosted rides are “no drop” rides lead by a trained ACA hosted ride leader.  Interested riders should check the ride’s pace (A through E), distance, and hill rating (1 through 4, with 1 being relatively flat and 4 having a considerable amount of climbing) to find compatible rides.  If you are unsure if you can ride the distance or maintain the pace, contact the ride host or consider a shorter or slower ride first.

See the new ride ratings by clicking on the “Hosted Ride Rating Key” bar on the “Hosted Rides” page.  

Signal Problems?

By Nadia Barrera, League Cycling Instructor and City of Austin Staff                                                          

Have you ever had problems triggering a traffic signal to turn green while on your bicycle? This can be very frustrating, especially because as cyclists, we are a minority that is generally judged by other vehicles operators waiting in the queue. If we run the light, that is one more motorist who thinks that bicyclists in general break the rules and do not deserve to share the road space. Beyond that, running red lights is not safe.

Boltage (Freiker) Strikes Again at Brentwood Elementary

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future” Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)

     (From Leslie Luciano) Austin, TX – (October 6th, 2010) Friday, October 15th, 2010 at 2:45 Brentwood Elementary will launch a new program that supports and encourages students to ride their bikes to school. The Boltage program (previously Freiker) uses innovative radio frequency ID (RFID) technology to automatically record each child’s bike trip to school. Brentwood Elementary is the second school in Texas to use this revolutionary program to encourage transportation alternatives to and from school. Not only will this reduce some of the traffic congestion around the school, but it also addresses health problems such as obesity and diabetes that are at crisis levels in Texas school children. Schools utilizing the Boltage program are reporting additional benefits such as improved attendance, better test scores, and a greater sense of community.

Are Bike Lanes Always the Best Place to Ride?

 

by Phil Hallmark, League Cycling Instructor
Bike lanes can be useful additions to a city's cycling network. But every cyclist needs to know that sometimes it is safest to ride outside the bike lane, and not only when there is a parked car blocking the way. Let's go over some of the guidelines that are taught in the League of American Bicyclists "Traffic Skills 101" street cycling course.