The Austin Ridge Riders is the oldest and most well established mountain bike club in Austin. Judi Ronkartz, the president of the Austin Ridge Riders, was nice enough to sit down with Austin on Two Wheels and discuss the many facets of the club.

Bikes on the beach at Pace Bend

Ridge Riders in a nutshell…
When the Ridge Riders was established in 1987, mountain biking was still in its infancy. As mountain biking has grown, so has the Ridge Riders. If you ride on a trail in Austin the Ridge Riders have likely had a hand in it. Besides trail work, the Ridge Riders promote safe environmentally friendly biking, organize rides, volunteer at biking related events and work to the benefit of mountain biking in the greater Austin Area. The Ridge Riders are as passionate about giving back to the community as they are about having fun. Calling them a club may be selling them short as an organization. If it’s Austin and its mountain biking, it’s also the Ridge Riders.

An organization reflected in their president…
After spending five minutes speaking with Judi Ronkartz, you understand why she was elected club president. Her enthusiasm for mountain biking and the Ridge Riders gushes forth. Judi started biking seven years ago, after a running injury forced her to seek out a new method of keeping in shape. Her new hobby quickly turned into a passion. Like many people, Judi became addicted to the little victories you get every day mountain biking. Those victories may be that sketchy downhill section you have never cleared or that loose rocky climb that you have always had to walk up. For Judi, running is work, but biking is fun. There was a natural draw to the Austin Ridge Riders. In 2006 she was elected vice president of the club and was elected president in 2007.

Rides rides and more rides…

Group Ride at Pace Bend

It doesn’t matter what level of biker you are, the Ridge Riders has something to be involved in. If you picked up your bike yesterday, you can ride on any number of group rides organized by the Ridge Riders. Membership is not required. It is a fantastic way to get the wheels under a first time rider. Group organizers are friendly and willing to help. Feeling timid about biking? Worried about flat tires or broken chains? Group rides are perfect, everyone is there to help and show you the ropes. All of the rides are ‘no drop’, so there is no chance of being left behind.

Group rides are also a great place to meet other bikers. Some popular rides are the Sunday ride at Walnut Creek and the monthly club ride that takes place at different locations around Austin. Keep an on their website or the A2W calendar for dates and times.

Ride like a girl…
Women who are interested in mountain biking can sometimes feel intimidated by the predominately male participation in the sport. That is why the Ridge Riders have created the Ride Like a Girl program. This program is specifically by and for women riders. The volunteers will show female riders the ins and outs of mountain biking in a safe, friendly and supportive environment. Before long these girls will be showing the boys a thing or two! Ride Like a Girl generally meets every Monday through the end of September at various locations around Austin.

Ride like a kid…

Kids Trips 2008

Perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of the Austin Ridge Riders is Kids Trips. Kids who participate are educated in mountain biking skills, etiquette and safety. The Ridge Riders work to develop the next generation of safe courteous mountain bikers by instilling in the children the six basic IMBA rules. Volunteer ride leaders engage the kids in numerous outdoor physical activities. A fleet of kid-friendly bikes and equipment for the children is provided for those who need them. Often times Kids Trips is the first exposure children get to mountain biking. All youth groups are welcome and fun is the name of the game! Visit the Ridge Riders website for more information.

Riders on patrol…
Mountain biking, perhaps more so than other activities, is prone to difficulties. Anyone who has ridden for any length of time has likely experienced a flat tire, broken chain, or a gnarly fall. Sometimes riders go out unprepared for the ride or possible problems they may encounter. The Austin Mountain Bike Patrol is there to help. With the guidance of the IMBA this group of ARR volunteers prowls the trails on a regular basis, providing mechanical assistance and first aid for bikers.

Mountain bikers sometimes get a bad reputation. They are accused of damaging trails or endangering hikers. Some of these accusations are grounded in reality. The Austin Mountain Bike Patrol works to teach riders proper trail usage rules. Prevention is always the best medicine and the more bikers following the rules, the better we all look.

Play hard, work hard…
Mountain bikers need trails. Fun, fast, technical, rideable, exciting trails! A great deal of the Ridge Rider’s efforts goes into improving and expanding the Austin trail network. At any one time they may have three or four ongoing trail projects on the burner in various parts of Austin. The work is done during trail days, often a Saturday or Sunday. It is always done with the consent of the land managers responsible for the area. Having the consent of the land managers is paramount. Rogue trail work can cause a great deal of damage to the natural habitat and it is also illegal.

Trail work is not just great for mountain bikers. It is also a boon for organizations that support it. After trails were completed at Muleshoe Park there was an increase in year round attendance, in part due to mountain bikers taking advantage of the new trails. More trails also mean that the trails are less crowded overall as hikers and bikers have more places to spread out and enjoy.

This summer the ARR has major ongoing trail work at Pace Bend Park. They are collaborating with Austin County Parks to add six additional miles of sweet mountain bike trails. Work is from 8am to noon with a tasty sandwich reward at the end. Work will be ongoing through September, so be sure and check the dates and times. Bring your bike to hit the shiny new trail afterwards.

ARR has already completed five miles of trails at Lake Georgetown. An additional six miles are planned with the help of the Army Core of Engineers. The new section will stretch from Cedar Hollow to Tejas. This will create a 26 mile trail around the lake and promises to be an awesome ride! Also in the planning stages is an additional corridor at McKinney Falls state park that will double the trail length from three to six miles.

If you would like to get involved with any of the trail work go to their website to get dates, details and contact information. Much of the work is sponsored by local bike shops, REI and other businesses. There are often prizes, food and other benefits. For all of the TMBRA racers out there, the trail work qualifies for PayDirt hours. This nets you up to sixty extra points in the series!

Membership has its benefits…
You may be asking why you should become a member of the ARR. After all anyone can attend any Ridge Rider event. Besides the simple fact that membership is awesome, there are a number of other benefits. For only $20 you get a drawstring shoe and bag as well as a subscription to Southwest Cycling News. There is also free park entry at ARR events and free food at monthly group rides.

Mountain biking is not just about riding…
Sometimes it’s about hanging out with new people and drinking a few beers. ARR will have a strong presence and be providing volunteers for Tour de Fat. This event, organized by New Belgium Ale, raises money for cycling related non-profit organizations. Besides some great beer it will be great fun! Keep October 17th open on your calendars, bring your bike and come early!

If you are interested in anything discussed here, the ARR website is a great place to start. Get your membership papers filled out and come to the Muleshoe Birthday bash on August 8th!