We are up one event over last week for a total of 85 cycling events this week in the Austin area. Our comprehensive cycling and bike culture event calendar has slowed in growth a bit the last week, but I prefer to think we are taking a breather before spring comes roaring in.

As always, if there is an event you know about that’s not on our calendar contact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up.

Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week.

Thursday, February 26

City of Austin 2020 Bicycle Master Plan Open House
6:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces
Last week, the City of Austin released  the draft of the new 2020 Bicycle Master Plan. This is the first update to the plan in 10 years. In the first of 2 open house meetings, city staff will be on hand to present the plan, answer questions, and take feedback plus Mellow Johnny’s will be giving away some bike stuff. Let you voice be heard and while your at it show support for the many of the goals of the plan by signing the Austin Bike Plan Petition.

13th Thursday Night Road Ride
7 PM, Drungo Ice House, 2828 Rio Grande
Lucky number 13! All levels of riders are welcome on this 20-25 mile night ride with stops to regroup. This is a “friendly drop” ride. This means that if we can see your lights, you won’t drop be dropped. Lights are mandatory and helmets strongly recommended. Come early and enjoy drinks and food before and after the ride. There is now a Facebook group called Thursday Night Road Ride. See our recent article about this ride for more about what’s involved.

Kelly Benefit Strategies Pro Cycling Team Launch
7 PM, Bike World, 418 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio, TX
Domestic pro racing team Kelly Benefits Strategies Pro Cycling will be doing their 2009 racing season team launch from the heart of Texas at Bike World on North Loop 1604 in San Antonio. The team will be there to kickoff the season as well as give out some cool door prizes. Plus the first 50 people to arrive and register their attendance will receive a special team launch gift. 

Friday, February 27

February Critical Mass Ride
5 PM, West Mall, UT Campus
It’s the last Friday of the month which means Critical Mass time! This bike jamming ride designed to shout to the world that bikes belong had draws hundreds of participants each month and in September took a peaceful ride on the upper deck of I-35. You never know what will happen, but don’t miss this foundation of the Austin bike culture we know today.

Traffic Skills 101 sponsored by Austin Cycling Association
5 PM, REI Gateway, 9901 N Capitol of Texas Hwy, Ste 200
Do you want to ride your bike but are afraid of traffic?  Or are you an experienced cyclist who would like to learn how to get more courtesy and respect from motorists? If your answer to any of these questions is “yes”, you should take Traffic Skills 101, the League of American Bicyclist’s (LAB) street cycling course for adults. Traffic Skills 101 will help you ride safely and effectively – to work, to the store, around your neighborhood, or around the state. Traffic Skills 101 is taught by LAB-certified instructors, and the curriculum covers everything from bike selection to simple maintenance to fixing a flat, to strategies for riding a bike safely and confidently. It is taught to very small classes (generally 5 to 10 students), in two sessions: 4 hours on a Friday evening and 5 hours on a Saturday morning. Registration is required.

Saturday, February 28

La Primavera at Lago Vista Road Race
8 AM, Lago Vista
This is a two day road race with the same schedule on Saturday and Sunday. Race one day or both. There will be $3750 per day in cash prizes with racing from Pro/Cat 1 to Cat 5 as well as Masters and Juniors. Distances vary from 22 to 40 miles. Click here to see the race flyer. 

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Hill of a Ride
8:30 AM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces
Saturday mornings spent exploring City of Austin bike routes finding new neighborhoods and ways to get around on your bike. This week’s theme is Hill of a Ride, a special hill climbing edition. We’ll see some of Austin’s best training hills near downtown and improve your technique at the same time. Expect to climb so treat your bike to a winter tune-up before ride day if it’s not shifting smoothly. Come at 8:00 for pre-ride coffee. Ride organizer: Eileen Schaubert at eileen@mellowjohnnys.com or 512-426-4851.

FrankenBike #43
Noon- 4 PM, Capitol Bike & Outdoor Exchange (behind Little Longhorn Saloon), 5434 Burnet Rd
Austin’s semi-regular bike parts swap is back. Need a saddle or set of pedals to finish off that project bike? Have a box of never used or lightly used bike parts in the garage your significant other wants you to get rid of? Frankenbike is your answer. Stop by for a bit or stay all afternoon to hawk you wares. As always, admission is free, recycling great stuff is priceless.

Bridge to Mexico biking Extravaganza
2PM, Butler Park, Between Riverside Drive and Barton Springs road next to Palmer Events Center
This family and kid friendly bicycle scavenger hunt is to raise money for Amigos Project, a project that builds schools in poor parts Mexico. Each person goes to as many checkpoints as they can in a given amount of time. The checkpoints and time will depend on which category you are in, there is a category for everyone. This all ages events has a cover charge of $10 but top 3 winners in each of the 4 category’s gets a prize. For more info, contact Nikki at nulugikki@gmail.com or 775-2061.

Sunday, March 1

Capital City BMX Weekly Race Series
1 PM, Capital City BMX, 15010 FM Road 620 North
The Capital City BMX opened in November 2008 and offers you a chance to learn and race BMX. BMX races are held every Sunday with rider check-in 1-2 PM. Cost $10/rider. (There is also practice time on Saturday’s. Check Capital City BMX for more info.)

Hardcourt Bike Polo
4 PM, Eastwoods Park, 3001 Harris Park Ave
NOTE: NEW LOCATION THIS WEEK. Join fellow bike polo enthusiasts as part of the newly formed Austin Bike Polo Club for a friendly Sunday match every week at 4pm at Bartholomew Park off East 51st. All bikes and skill levels are welcome and spare mallets and balls are available if you don’t have any.

Monday, March 2

APD Chief Art Acevedo, Guest speaker at the ACA Meeting

Austin Cycling Association Meeting- Guest APD Chief Art Acevedo
7 PM, LCRA Board Room, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd
Join the Austin Cycling Association for their monthly meeting. This month’s guest will be Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo to talk about APD and cycling issues. He will speak on what the department is doing to improve safety and take questions from the audience.

Tuesday, March 3

Austin Yellow Bike Project collective meeting
7 PM, Bike Texas office, 1902 E 6th St
This is the monthly meeting of the Austin Yellow Bike Project. YBP offers regular open shop hours to allow you to use shop space and tools to repair and maintain your bike. They just asks all those who use the shop to volunteer time to YBP equal to what they use for their own personal projects.

Wednesday, March 4

City of Austin 2020 Bicycle Master Plan Open House
5:30 PM, One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd, 3rd Floor Training Room
Last week, the City of Austin released  the draft of the new 2020 Bicycle Master Plan. This is the first update to the plan in 10 years. In the second of 2 open house meetings, city staff will be on hand to present the plan, answer questions, and take feedback. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Let you voice be heard and while your at it show support for the many of the goals of the plan by signing the Austin Bike Plan Petition.