Things have quieted down a bit now that the Bicycle Film Festival has rolled out of town, but there are still lots of great regular events and a few new ones. If you missed out of the bike film fun, head on over to the screenings of Freedom Riders and if you missed the Goldsprints, Thursday night is your last chance until an enterprising local starts putting them on.
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 calendar contact us, and we’ll add your event on and possibly add it to the weekly round up.
Thursday, August 13
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’s weekday match. 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.
42Below Gold Sprints Series
6 PM- Midnight, Cuba Libre, 409 Colorado St
If you are not familiar with Gold Sprints, it is an indoor race where two bikes on trainers are set up next to one another and riders sprint against each other for fame and glory. An open source program called OpenSprints projects the speed and virtual distance covered up on a screen for the crowd to watch and cheer. Consider it the ultimate spectator friendly bike competition. For more on the Gold Sprints, see our recent article on the series.
Urban Night Ride
7:30 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
A ride from the Facebook group Social Cycling ATX. Meet at Pedestrian Bridge earlier this week at 7:30 p.m. leave at 8:00 p.m. This week’s ride will split into tow groups, one heading for a swim at Barton Springs and the other to watch the screening of Freedom Riders at Jo’. After both groups ride/swim/watch movies for a while the ride will head to Creekside Lounge. They will have some iced down kegs for us on the back patio. You will be able to bring your bike in as well. Bring ID if you plan to go to Creekside.
Freedom Riders Screening and Benefit for the Austin Ridge Riders
8:30 PM, Jo’s Coffee, 1300 S Congress Ave
Bicycle Sport Shop is hosting a screening of the film Freedom Riders at Jo’s South Congress this Thursday and Friday night. Tickets are $10 and include bike valet, drinks by Real Ale, and a chance to win Freedom Riders Merchandise. Proceeds will benefit the Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club who do their own trail improvements here in Austin. Buy tickets online. About the Film: Freedom Riders is about a core group of riders who evolved to creating a precedent setting relationship with the Forest Service and in doing so created the first freeride specific trails on public lands in the lower 48. Freedom Riders takes a look at the evolution of the sport, the progression of trail users, and an inside story of a group of riders that would never see their passion die.
Friday, August 14
Freedom Riders Screening and Benefit for the Austin Ridge Riders
8:30 PM, Jo’s Coffee, 1300 S Congress Ave
The second night of Bicycle Sport Shop’s screening of the film Freedom Riders to benefit the Austin Ridge Riders. Buy tickets online.
Saturday, August 15
Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride Shop Road Ride: Rollingwood and Vine
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 Rolingwood and Vine. Today’s ride is a more challenging route than usual with the hills of Rollingwood and an option to ride a short section of Loop 360 with it’s wide shoulders but faster traffic. The mileage is low at 14 miles but requires some experience. These rides are meant for exploring so bring your questions and leave your heart rate monitor at home. We roll faster but expect about 12mph ave pace since we are in town. Come by at 8:00 for pre-ride coffee. Ride organizer: Eileen Schaubert at eileen@mellowjohnnys.com or 512-426-4851.
Planning Session for Bike Safety PSA Video
2 PM, BikeTexas Office, 1902 E 6th St Austin
Eileen Schaubert from Mellow Johhny’s and Adam Pruitt are working on a PSA on bike safety for Interbike and are looking for cyclists to “star” in and help with the film. They will be shooting this before then end of the month and have a meeting scheduled for Saturday 8/15 at 2pm to pick a shoot time and go over the details. For details or to RSVP, contact Adam Pruitt at adampruitt@me.com.
Woodstock 40th Anniversary Ride
7 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
Celebrate 40 years of love and groovy tunes started at Woodstock. The route is still in the works, but a definite stop at Stacy Park is planned, with the ride ending at a certain house on Montopolis.
Sunday, August 16
Sweet & Twisted Women’s Triathlon
8 AM, Pace Bend Park
This is a Sprint Distance women’s only triathlon. Elite & Age Group athletes. Challenging enough for experienced triathletes, but friendly enough for women new to multi-sport. COURSE DISTANCE: 500 meter swim. 15 mile bike. 5K run. This is a USAT sanctioned event. Current USAT membership is required or purchase of one day USAT pass. Cost of one day pass – $10.
Sunday Morning Fixie Ride
8:20 AM, Posse East, 2900 Duval St
The ride is focused on fixed-gear bikes, but everyone is welcome. The ride will proceed at a social pace from the UT campus on various routes of 25-35 miles.
Xterra Camp Eagle Triathlon
9 AM, Camp Eagle, Rocksprings, TX
If you’ve never been to Camp Eagle, you’ve been missing out on Texas’ best adventure destination, and XTERRA Camp Eagle is always sure to be a must-attend event for athletes from around the world! If you are trying to qualify for the World Champs in Hawaii, or if you are wanting to try your first off-road event, this Camp Eagle race is just what you’ve been looking for. 1000m Swim/16K bike/4 mi run. Camp Eagle is in Rocksprings, 2 hours from San Antonio. Race day registration OK.
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
2 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.
Monday, August 17
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, Reimers Ranch Park
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.
Heavy Metal Fitness Ride hosted by Social Cycling ATX
7 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
Hosted by Social Cycling ATX, this ride is a higher pace and more challenging than their Thursday Night Urban Ride. The ride is 20-30 miles and usually ends with free beer and a dip in the water. Meet up at 7 PM. Ride leaves at 7:30 sharp.
Wednesday, August 19
Weekly Women’s Ride with Austin Flyer’s Team
6 PM, Bicycle Sport Shop Central, 517 South Lamar Blvd
Join local cycling team the Austin Flyers for this weekly women’s ride. The ride will leave from BSS Central Location (Lamar and Barton Springs) every week except for the last Wednesday of the month when it will leave from BSS North location (183 and Braker). This is a relaxed-pace, no-drop ride open to all levels and will last up to two hours. If you have any questions about the ride, please email Tammy Thompson.
Casual South Austin Wednesday Night Ride
6:30 PM, Don’s Automotive 1636 South 1st St, Austin
Leave from Don’s Automotive 1636 South First between 6:30 – 7:00. About 10+ miles, average a little over 10 mph. Lately the ride has been doing a loop including Barton Hills Blvd and some hills like Lund St. We avoid the Hike and Bike trail for being too crowded. Nothing highly technical or competitive but the ride would be difficult or impossible with a single speed or cruiser type bike. This group is certainly not the fastest but not the slowest either. Ride organizer: Don from Don’s Automotive, 512-447-9032
Related posts:
on Aug 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Re. Casual South Austin Wednesday Night Ride: difficult or impossible for a single speeder? Hmmm, sounds like a gauntlet being dropped! ;o)
on Aug 13th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
[...] Blog and News Roundup for Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 8/13- 8/19/09 | Austin On Two … by elliott Things have quieted down a bit now that the Bicycle Film Festival has rolled out of [...]