There is a lot to like about this weekend for the person on two wheels. Critical Mass is Friday (with an after party celebrating ATXBS’ 2nd birthday), the return of Austin Bike Zoo’s Alice in Wonderland on bikes on Saturday, and Talking Heads’ lead man David Byrne’s panel discussion on cycling in the city on Sunday.

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, September 24

Kenny Hill AutoWerks’ Driveway Criterium Races
4:30 PM, Community Rally, 5 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 3/4 women’s and juniors race at 5:00, 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.

Bicycle Sport Shop Women Only Bike Maintenance Class
6PM, Bicycle Sport Shop Central, 517 S. Lamar Blvd
Free basic maintenance class (including how to fix a flat) taught by one of the BSS skilled female mechanics.

Urban Night Ride
7:30 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
A ride from the Facebook group Social Cycling ATX. Meet at Pedestrian Bridge at 7:30 p.m. leave at 8:00 p.m. This week we are headed to our hangout at Metz for the usual bike games like the slow race and footdown PLUS a slip-n-slide for those who aren’t wet enough from riding around. Bring a swimsuit… or not… it’s up to you. I’m thinking that adding some food coloring to the soap and water would be fun, so don’t wear that way rad Affliction Wear t-shirt that you were going to show off. From there we are heading to Cheer up Charlies, one of east 6th streets newest watering holes. They are buying a keg of beer for us and will have some great grilled vegan fare like zucchini/portabela tacos, hummus sandwiches and a whole bunch of other stuff for sale if ya’ll are hungry. Then it’s off to the Creekside Lounge for some free/cheap beer action and a DJ dance party.Bring your ID if you plan to join the post ride festivities. Read our recent article on the popular weekly ride.

Friday, September 25

Critical Mass Ride
5 PM, West Mall, University of Texas Campus
This bike jamming ride is designed to shout to the world that bikes belongs and occurs on the last Friday of the month. 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.

South Austin Custom/Vintage Bicycle Show
7- 9 PM, Red Shed Taven, 8504 S Congress Ave
Dust off your old Schwinn Phantom or Raleigh Sport to show off at this free local show. For more info contact Chris Hunt at fourfiveprintsworks@yahoo.com.

Saturday, September 26

Rip Roarin Ride
Liberty Hill High School, 13125 W State Highway 29, Liberty Hill, TX
Starting at Liberty Hill High School on Highway 29, this eighth annual ride for charitable purposes will take you through scenic rolling hills and valleys of Williamson and Burnet counties on routes of 14, 28, 50, 65, 79 and 103 miles. There will be great rest stops, fantastic food, super SAG support and friendly people. Riders will start at 8:00 a.m. – none after 9:00 a.m. – and must clear the course by 4:30 p.m. You’ll finish back at Liberty Hill Middle School, next to the High School where you will enjoy free food and cold drinks.

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride Shop Road Ride: Mueller Meander
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 Mueller Meander. today’s ride cruises through the east side to check out the new Mueller development then visits Cherrywood before returning. 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
After a summer break, Austin framebuilder, Violet Crown Cycles, returns with a booth at the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market. Violet Crown Cycles is a builder of custom, handbuilt Dutch style city bikes and heavy and light touring 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.

Further Adventures of the Wheels of Wonderland by Austin Bike Zoo
6 PM, Brush Park, 4th & Nueces
This spring, the Austin Bike Zoo put on a creative, well received rendition of Alice in Wonderland on bicycles. The troupe returns this fall with 4 more performances including new scenes and more bikes! Admission is free and all are encouraged to bike to the event.

Sunday, September 27

Buddy Du
7:30 AM, Muleshoe Bend Park
The Buddy Du is a run-bike format that is completed with a teammate, but scored in a unique fashion. Here’s how it works:
-2 people sign up as a team. Teams can be co-ed, male only, or female only. You MUST have a teammate to compete.
-The team then decides which member will run and which will bike, or you can alternate. If you alternate you must SHARE a bike.
-Teams will start together, one on foot, one on bike.
-The course will be 8 miles and contain 10 obstacles that the teams must complete TOGETHER.
-Completion of the obstacle will earn the team points. The team that completes the course the fastest with the most earned points, wins!
-After the event is completed, the awards will be determined based on the division of the team.
What if I don’t have a buddy, but still want to race? That’s easy! Just register as an individual for the division you would like to compete in (male, female, co-ed) and we’ll match you with another individual! What a great way to meet a new ‘buddy’! Upon registration, you will be asked if you have a mountain bike so that you can be matched with proper equipment.

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 monthly Sunday ride. 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.

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.

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 Monday’s and Friday’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.

Further Adventures of the Wheels of Wonderland by Austin Bike Zoo
6 PM, Brush Park, 4th & Nueces
Sunday edition of the newly revised performance of Alice in Wonderland on bikes.

Cities, Bicycles and the Future of Getting Around: A panel discussion moderated by David Byrne
7 PM, The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave
Author, cyclist, and former Talking Heads front man David Bryne will be coming to Austin to lead a round table discussion on the future of cities and transportation. This event is being hosted by the Austin Public Library Friends Foundation and is part of Bryne’s tour promoting his new book, Bicycle Diaries, which went on sale earlier this week. RSVP’s are recommended.

Monday, September 28

Weekly Ladies Ride presented by Mellow Johnny’s
5:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Show, 400 Nueces St
Starting at 5:30 sharp, it’s a 2 hour ride for ladies only. Join experienced riders from Mellow Johnny’s for a friendly and moderately paced social ride (14-16mph average). Get more comfortable riding in a group, learn tips & tricks, and meet other like-minded cyclists. Stay afterwards for champagne and strawberries at Royal Blue Grocery across the street! Some things to keep in mind before meeting us for this ride: Have a road bike in good working condition, Bring a helmet, Wear cycling clothing, Bring plenty of water, Are able to ride comfortably for 2 hours without stopping.

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.

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.

Tuesday, September 29

Most shouldered their bikes up this wicked hill.

Dirt Derby
5:30 PM, Austin/Del Valle Motorcross Park, 15400 Pearce Ln, Del Valle, TX
Austin’s weekly cyclocross series returns for its fourth season at the the fully illuminated motocross course and surrounding fields at Austin/Del Valle Motorcross Park (ADVMX). There are A, B, beginners, women’s, and children’s races in cyclocross and short track mountain bike. New this year are monthly 4 week series and A2W and Violet Crown Cycles have come on board as sponsors of the cyclocross series. Each time you race you are entered into a drawing for a custom cyclocross frameset by Violet Crown Cycles. The more you race, the more chances to win.  $10, women, beginners and kids only $5. Second race same night $5. All types of bikes are welcome.

LOBV Meeting & Dinner
6 PM, Location TBA
The League of Bicycling Voters will hold their regular meeting to discuss near-future organizing of LOBV. Location to be announced soon. For more info or to RSVP, please contact Tom Wald, the new LOBV Executive Director.

Wednesday, September 30

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.

Weekly Bike Maintenance and Flat Repair Classes hosted by Mellow Johnny’s
6 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Every Wednesday at 6pm Mellow Johnny’s has bike maintenance and flat repair classes. Learn how to fix a flat tire and add life to your bike with simple maintenance and repairs. Please RSVP to Chuck at chuck@mellowjohnnys.com if you plan on attending on of the classes. Classes fill up quickly so RSVP soon so you don’t get left out!