Bike Month is in full swing, and there are a whole lot of events for those on two wheels.n We’ve got the annual Armadillo Hill Country Classic, the Full Moon Cruise, and plus the Central Slow Crawl Ride if you are not feeling too ambitious. And once again we have some events just for the ladies. If you missed last week’s Austin Bike Zoo production of Alice in Wonderland on Bike you’ve got another chance to see it this weekend.
Here’s a quick run down of recommended events for the coming week from our comprehensive calendar of all cycling events. Thanks to Jason at ATXBS for letting us know about some events we couldn’t find elsewhere. As always, if there is an event you know about that’s not on our calendarcontact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up.
Thursday, May 7
Kenny Hill AutoWerks’ Driveway Criterium Races
4:30 PM, Community Rally, 5:30 PM, Races, The Driveway, 8400 Delwau Ln
Weekly Thursday night road racing through October that takes place on the closed car-free driving course at the Driveway. Races include Cat 4/5 at 6:10, Cat 3/4 at 5:30, Pro/Cat 1/2/3 at 6:45 to choose from with a fourth Masters race (40 + years old) running from May 21- August 6 starting at 7:45. Open riding during Community Rally from 4:30- 5:30 PM. Races registration $20, Rally $10. $5 off with 8 oz can donated to Capital Area Food Bank. See our article about the series for more info.
Thursday Night Bike Polo
5:30 PM, Eastwoods Park, 3001 Harris Park Ave
The Austin Bike Polo Club has added another weekly match to the regular Sunday afternoon affair. All bikes and skill levels are welcome and spare mallets and balls are available if you don’t have any. Check out our recent article on bike polo for more info.
Central Slow Crawl Ride
6 PM, The Peddler Bicycle Shop, 119 E. North Loop
Just for fun, we will putter around the Hyde Park area for about an hour This one is just to meet folks and work out the winter kinks, so leave your carbon fiber at home and bring your single speeds, cruisers or whatever you’ve got. Please park on Ave. F side streets or better yet just ride your dang bike to the ride! Ride organizer: Greg Ritter at gritter@tca.edu or 512-906-6709
Women’s Road Racing Clinic
6:30 PM, The Driveway, 8400 Delwau Ln
Come join the women of Team Hotel San Jose on the 1st Thursday of every month, April through October, for Ladies’ Night at the Driveway. Learn how to ride comfortably and safely in a pack and carry speed through turns, all while enjoying the obstacle-free, perfect pavement of Austin’s premiere race course. Take the clinic at 6:15 and race the Women’s race at 6:45. $10, or $5 and a canned food item for Austin Foodbank. Race is free with paid clinic entry.
Urban Night Ride
7:30 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
A new ride from the Facebook group Social Cycling ATX. Meet at Pedestrian Bridge at 7:30p.m. leave at 8:00p.m. sharp. Bring your cameras & twitter phones and get some good sunset shots.
Friday, May 8
Lunch at the Domain Ride
11:30 AM, The Domain, Domain Dr and Esperanza Crossing
Get an early start to the weekend with a Friday lunchtime ride from The Domain. Make your way over to Parmer and ride up to Avery Ranch Rd and back. The pace tends to be in the 16.5 – 18 mph range, with a few small, rolling hills. Meet at the intersection of Domain Dr and Esperanza Crossing. The ride leave at 11:30 sharp. If you can’t make it to The Domain, feel free to join up during the ride at the intersection of Parmer Ln and Amhurst Dr, where the ride usually has to stop to wait for the traffic light. Ride Organizer: Kevin Corry at 512-286-5796 or kevincorry@sbcglobal.net.
Saturday, May 9
Austin Municipal Election Day
Polls open 7 AM- 7 PM, Vote in your precinct polling location
On the ballot are the Mayor’s race as well as five other council seats, an effective super majority of the council. With issues like passage of the new 2020 Master Bike Plan and more importantly ensuring it is fully funded coming in front of Council, it is important that the cycling community get out and vote in strength. Check the League of Bicycling Voters for their list of recommended candidates and look up your registration and find your polling location here. Voter registration card or other form of ID will be needed.
Armadillo Hill Country Classic
8 AM, Liberty Hill High School, 13125 W Hwy 29, Liberty Hill, TX
Ride through broad valleys, over sweeping vistas, and gently rolling hills. Sponsored by Austin Cycling Association, the Armadillo Hill Country Classic is your chance to experience the best that Central Texas has to offer cyclists — at any experience level. Everybody (if you’re among the first 1000 to pick up registration packets) gets one of our colorful Armadillo Classic t-shirts! Featuring nearly every imaginable mileage option from 14 to 105 miles, and plenty of excellent rest stops with experienced, professional SAG support, the Armadillo Classic is your chance to set a new goal and achieve a new personal cycling milestone. Also noteworthy is the 6.5-mile Kids & Family Ride with a separate starting point in Bertram where kids ride free with a parent or guardian who only pays $15 to ride.
Texas State Championship Sprint Adventure Race Series
9 AM, Camp Longhorn, Burnet, TX
Part of the Texas State Championship Sprint Adventure Race Series, this adventure race includes 2-3 mile trail run, 7-14 mile mountain bike, 20 – 35 minute canoe & mystery events.
Violet Crown Cycles Custom City Bikes at the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market
9 AM- 1 PM, Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market, Tony Burger Center Parking Lot, 3200 Jones Rd
Austin’s newest framebuilder, Violet Crown Cycles, now has a booth at the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market. Violet Crown Cycles is a builder of custom, handbuilt Dutch style city bikes. View and test ride sample bikes, browse custom options, and have your questions answered about the bike building process and the features of bikes truly built for transportation. Come out and see the bikes and get some fresh, locally grown food while your at it.
Rubber Tramps present: Poker Apocalypse Ride
1 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
Rubber Tramps, Austin’s queer bike gang, is hosting this poker themed ride. Format: Riders visit checkpoints, build a poker hand, and collect strategy chips to win a round of Texas Hold ‘em poker. All levels welcome, bonuses for fast riders. Optional entry fee ($2.00). Cash prize for winning hands. No poker experience necessary. The ride is between 10 and 15 miles (road). You need: a bike, a pocket, water.
Side Saddle Ladies Alleycat Race
2 PM, Capitol Grounds
This alleycat race is for the ladies. Fellas are welcome as spectators only. Cost is $5 and you need to bring a bag, pen, and lock. Registration begins at 2 PM with the race starting at 3:15.
May Full Moon Cruise
11:59 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
These cruises have been going strong as an annual event for over 25 years now, but 2 years ago a pedicabber named Damon took the initiative to turn these into a monthly occurrence and it’s been growing ever since. Every night of the full moon cyclists gather on the Pfluger Bridge (Lamar pedestrian bridge) at 11:59pm to celebrate the rising of the full moon in true Austin biker style! This month;s theme is Full Flower Moon – May In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon
Sunday, May 10
The Rookie Triathlon
8 AM, Texas Ski Ranch, New Braunfels, TX
The Rookie is a short early season event that is perfect for a beginner to test the waters or an intermediate to advanced triathlete to get warmed up for the season to come. The Texas Ski Ranch is a great location that is safe, and participant and spectator friendly. Course: 300m Swim/11.2 mi Bike/2 mi Run. Come join in for an outstanding event and then relax on the beach with food and music.
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
Join fellow bike polo enthusiasts as part of the newly formed Austin Bike Polo Club for a friendly Sunday match every week. All bikes and skill levels are welcome and spare mallets and balls are available if you don’t have any. Check out our recent article on bike polo for more info.
Austin Bike Zoo produces Alice in Wonderland on Bike
6 PM, Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
In honor of Bike Month, the Austin Bike Zoo is putting on a series of free performances of Alice in Wonderland all on bikes.
Monday, May 11
Weekly Ladies Ride presented by Team Hotel San Jose and Mellow Johnny’s
5:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Show, 400 Nueces St
This is a weekly Monday ride reserved just for the ladies! Join experienced and knowledgeable riders from Mellow Johnny’s and Team Hotel San Jose for a friendly and moderately paced social ride (14-16mph average). This is a perfect chance to become more comfortable riding in a group, ask questions about pack riding or racing, meet other ladies like yourself who also enjoy riding, and keep up your fitness. We start at 5:30pm and will ride for 1-2 hours.
Tuesday, May 12
Mellow Movie Night #3: Retro Bike Night
7 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St, Austin
Movie Night #3 will feature retro bike movies that you may have never heard of before and never knew you missed. The obscure, the ridiculous, and the good ol’ fashioned. Stay tuned for movie selections and more info. Snacks and drinks provided.
Bike Commuting 101 by REI Austin Downtown
7 PM, REI Austin Downtown, 601 N. Lamar Blvd
I want to commute by bike but? …I have too many questions and fears. …I can’t figure out a good safe route. …I don’t have a way to secure my bike. If the above thoughts sound like your own, then you need to come to Bike Commuting 101. We’re going to take a look at commuting in Austin and cover a variety of topics and concerns of the commuting newcomer–including what kind of bike works, what clothes and tools you need and how to find a route that works for you. We?ll also show you photographs and videos of how to do it safely. This class is free and open to the public. No registration required.
Wednesday, May 13
Wednesday Night Ride to Farmer’s Market
6 PM, Zen Restaurant, 2900 W Anderson Lane
20 mile easy paced ride (12-14 mph) thru Shoal Creek and Hyde Park neighborhoods, with a stop at the Triangle Farmers Market. Join us for food and drink afterwards. Ride Organizer: Niles Seldon at 512-626-5212
on May 7th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Couple notes: You might want to mention on the ACA rides and the Wednesday Night Farmers’ Market Ride (sponsored by the Sierra Club) are all HELMET REQUIRED rides. I wonder what they do if you show up helmetless…
Also I don’t think you guy are going to be at the Farmers’ Market, and if you are you’re going to be very lonely. They canceled it due to SWINE FLU. D’oh!
on May 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Jason, re: the Farmer’s Market — their site says “This Saturday, May 9, we will hold the market on the parking lot as usual. Come and join us for a great Mother’s Day Celebration.”
As for the helmet required thing… yeah, the ACA people seem to be very obsessed with following “rules” of their own. I don’t know if they are just really uptight or there’s some strange issue with insurance or whatever, but I am getting pretty annoyed with it, honestly.
on May 7th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
RT @austinon2wheels: Where ya biking this weekend? Our calendar highlights for this week are now up! http://tinyurl.com/csuhog
on May 7th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I posed an open question over the ACA’s helmet issue on my site. Should be interesting to see what response (if any) I get. That Wednesday ride looks interesting, but the whole mandatory helmet thing is for the birds.
on May 8th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Honestly, I believe it is due to insurance reasons. Most clubs carry some sort of insurance, and the helmet thing is usually a requirement. But having said that, it’s their club and their ride so they can do whatever they want. There are night rides all the time that require lights and I don’t hear anyone bitching about that. If you don’t like the rules, skip the ride or join ACA and work to change them.
on May 8th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Lights are a legal issue, and can get you pulled over (rare though it may be). A helmet on the other hand is a personal safety issue.
It is their ride, and they get to make their own rules, it just frustrates me that several interesting sounding rides would be spoiled by this helmet rule. It seems like the rides would get much greater exposure and attendance if they relaxed that one rules. But then again, maybe that element is one that the older, more distinguished membership of the ACA would rather not be associated with.
Maybe it’s time to start the Austin Bicycle Club (ABC) and be an organization open to ALL local cyclists. I swear I need 4 more hours to the day or something, then I’d really get some shit done.
on May 8th, 2009 at 8:46 am
This may be self-selecting, but I’ve been on about 50 ACA rides, a half dozen meetings, and an off and on member for 7 years. I’ve never heard people on rides complain about the helmet rule. It is a membership lead organization so I people want to change the requirement it can be changed by the members.