Help put Austin on the map as the cycling mecca of the U.S.

It’s spring time, and there’s no better way to experience Austin than by bike. I have teamed up with Keith Byrd from Social Cycling ATX to put together the Discover the City on Two Wheels Spring Urban Living Ride series in April to highlight the insane fun you can have on a bike in this city, and we are asking for your help to make this a reality. The three well organized events are part of a test for a new concept bike store we are working on where Austinites can get the equipment and resources they need to live their life on two wheels. Quite simply, we want to make a place that is dedicated to the simple pleasure of riding with friends, not competition or workouts. We want to put Austin on the map as the cycling mecca of America.

The rides we are bringing you in April are:

Ride #1- Taste of Downtown Tour: We’ll be stopping at three great downtown restaurants to sample some of the best locally made food our town has to offer. Scheduled for Saturday, April 10.

Ride #2- Pampered Pedal Ride: Shopping local around downtown followed by a mini-spa stop for relaxation. Scheduled for Saturday, April 17.

Ride #3 – Eat local cooking class: We’ll take in the the finest in locally grown food with local chef who will teach us how to prepare a meal with in season, local food. We’ll enjoy the dish prepared and have an opportunity to buy the ingredients to cook our selves. Scheduled for Saturday, April 24.

All the rides will leave from our ride host Bo Concept on 2nd Street and each ride will cost $10-$25 depending on the ride. Bike parking and technical support will be provided on all rides. We’ll also have some great Dutch bikes and cargo bikes to test ride while you’re there. To keep the ride experience exceptional, we will be limited the number of riders on each ride, so we are offering all individuals who sponsor us an opportunity to register before we open it up to the general public in early April.

Keith and I believe in a vision for Austin where a majority of Austinites use bikes and view them as legitimate transportation. The shop and rides we are working on is part of reaching that vision. We do have individuals who are interested in creating a whole established shop to provide these services and put Austin on the map as the first in the country to do this. However, they want to see a proof that there is interest from the cycling community and that we can make this work.

We’ve already put in countless hours and a sizable amount of our own money to make this series work, but we cannot do it alone. We are asking for contributions of $5, $10, $25 or $100 and in return are giving you first dibs on the tours and small tokens of our thanks. Since we are using the site Kickstarter for this campaign, you will not be charged for your pledge unless we meet our goal by the campaign deadline of noon, April 1.

If you share our vision, please help by contributing whatever your can.

(Editor note: While Keith is involved in this project, it is not a Social Cycling ATX event and will not effect the free and open status of those rides. These are simply another level of social riding that is a little more intimate and full service than what the larger free rides can provide.)

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