Bike Month is winding down, but there are still lots of great events going on this week including Critical Mass, the Real Ale Ride, and the launch party on Sunday for Violet Crown Cycles.

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 28

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.

First Endurance Clinic
7 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Whether you are training for an Ironman or out to have fun proper nutrition is a critical aspect of sports. Join us for a free clinic from First Endurance, makers of products to take before, during and after races. First Endurance founder Robert Kunz will be at the shop on Thursday May 28th at 7pm to answer all your nutrition questions. First Endurance sponsors several pro cycling teams and athletes including Astana, Team Columbia and Bissell Pro cycling team. Robert was recognized by Outside Magazine as one of the Worlds Boldest Visionary Leaders in adventure, fitness, gear and sport. First 40 people to RSVP get a free gift from First Endurance.

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 29

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.

May Critical Mass Ride
5 PM, West Mall, University of Texas Campus
This bike jamming ride is designed to shout to the world that bikes belong. May’s theme is Beach Bike Critical Mass. Break out your swim suit, flip flops, and floaties as the rest stop will involve some swimming.

Saturday, May 30

Real Ale Ride
7:30 AM, Real Ale Brewery, 231 San Saba Ct, Blanco, TX
Starting from the Real Ale Brewery, there are 5 routes to choose from: 15, 30, 50, 65, and 85 miles. Barbeque and Real Ale beer will be available at the end as well as music by Piney Grove Ramblers and Coopers Uncle.

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Southern Culture Off the Grid
8:30 AM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
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 Southern Culture Off the Grid. Scout out the City of Austin Bike Routes – Head south of downtown via Bouldin, roll through the Emerald Forest and return via Forest Wood and Robert E Lee. Today’s Routes: 31, 82, 84, 25, 11, 64, and 33. These are 2 ways to get from Dittmar north across Lady Bird Lake. These rides are meant for exploring so bring questions not your heart rate monitor. Come by at 8:00 for pre-ride coffee. Ride organizer: Eileen Schaubert at eileen@mellowjohnnys.com or 512-426-4851.

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.

Frankenbike #46
12- 4 PM, Willits Bikes, 2401 Thornton 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.

RE-SCHEDULED Midnight Moonlight Tower Ride
11:59 PM, Lama Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
The moonlight towers were first erected in the late 19th century. Come ride to all the ones that remain. “We get rolling at 12:15 so we can get to the 7-11 on 15th and Lamar before cut off time. You can ride as fast as you want but I’m taking it nice and easy. Just a fun ride.” Words from the ride leader.

Sunday, May 31

Austin Luna Chix Bike-N-Brunch
8 AM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Join the women of Austin LUNA Chix for this ride on the last Sunday of each month. The rides are designed for the beginner road rider and will teach riders skills to safely ride in the Austin area. Each month we will have LUNA samples and feature a new ride route and a local restaurant. Distance: 15-20 miles Ride organizer: Stephanie Childs at info@austinlunachix.com or (512) 796-3818

Sunday Morning fixed gear ride around Decker Lake
8:20 AM, Posse East, 2900 Duval St
An as-yet-to-be-determined conglomeration of cyclists on a 30-mile ride. The ride is focused on fixed-gear bikes, but everyone is welcome. We will proceed at a social pace from the UT campus (Posse East at San Jacinto at Duval) eastward around Decker Lake and then back to campus. The terrain is flat to moderately-rolling. All skill levels are welcome; just consider the following. This is a 30-mile ride that encompasses rolling terrain. There will be some climbing (about 1400 feet of total ascent). If this is consistent with your riding experience, or is perhaps slightly more challenging than what you’re accustomed to, you should be able to complete the ride successfully.

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.

Violet Crown Cycles Launch Party
4- 6 PM, Mother Egan’s Irish Pub, 715 West 6th St
Finish out Bike Month with Austin’s newest bicycle builder, Violet Crown Cycles. There will be samples of our Ferguson line of city bikes, food and door prizes, plus a free raffle for some other cool bike stuff. There’ll be a social ride around downtown Austin and the Capitol afterwards at 6 PM. Become a fan of Violet Crown Cycles and RSVP on Facebook.

Monday, June 1 

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. 

Ride Like a Girl Women’s Mountain Bike Rides
6 PM, Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, 12138 N Lamar Blvd
The Austin Ridge Riders are hosting a five month program of weekly Monday evening women’s mountain bike rides, plus weekend rides at local mountain bike trails/parks. This is an opportunity to meet other women to ride with, learn new trails and learn new skills. Each ride will divide up into groups based on riders’ abilities and speed and will have a beginner clinic/ride, intermediate, and advanced group rides. Rides will last 1 – 2.5 hours. Prizes and gift certificates from our sponsors will be raffled away after every ride. All riders must wear a helmet, bring plenty of water, and have a trail-worthy bike in good working condition. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time.

Tuesday, June 2

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.