Bike Month kicks off this weekend, and there’s lots of cycling goodness happening. The City of Austin will be having a big kickoff party Friday at City Hall then A2W will be having it’s final spring social ride, the Pampered Pedal, on Saturday. Yellow Bike Project will be having their grand opening party on Saturday as well, and Social Cycling Austin will be having a social ride on Tuesday to get things going.

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, April 29

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.

PURE Austin Fitness Driveway Crit Series
5 PM, The Driveway, 8400 Delwau Lane
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  Races registration $20. Full and 1/2 season passes available. USA Cycling annual or one day license required. One days for sale at race.

Bike Month, Bike to School Day, and Bike to Work Day Proclamation
6 PM, City Hall Chambers, 301 W. 2nd Street
Bike Month officially begins with a proclamation from the Austin City Council.

Thursday Night Social Ride
7:30 PM, NEW LOCATION: Fiesta Gardens
A ride from the Facebook group Social Cycling ATX. Meet up at 7:30, ride at 8:00.  “Evening with Migas: A nice ride around town that will take us up to the old airport where we will hang out at the best playground in town. We’ll ride some more, then head down to Beerland where they will have a couple of kegs of Brooklyn Lager (for you beer snobs) and a free show that will be headlined by Migas. If you haven’t seen these guys, you need to check them out. Incredible band.” Read our recent article on the popular weekly ride.

Friday, April 30

Bike Month Kick-Off
6 PM, City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street
The City of Austin kicks off Bike Month with live music food from the Pita Pit ($6.5o) and help getting the most out of cycling.

Live from the Plaza Commuter Challenge Registration
Noon- 1 PM, Austin City Hall Plaza, 301 W. 2nd St
Every Friday in April (April 9, 16, 23, and 30) at noon at Austin City Hall Plaza – 301 W. 2nd Street. Join us each Friday in April as we gear up for the Austin Commuter Challenge in May!  We’ll be listening to the great bands and getting folks signed up for the Commuter Challenge.

April Critical Mass Ride
5 PM, West Mall UT 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.

Fast Fridays Ride
7:30 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
A brand spankin’ new weekly ride: “1 gear or several gears please come out and pedal hard with us!!! this will be weekly ride starting this friday…its similar to the metal mash but no free beer at the end of the ride… however would like to park drink afterwards…hope to see you guys and gals out there…Fast Fridays!!!”

Saturday, May 1

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride :Mueller Meander
8:30 AM, Mellow Johnny’s, 400 Nueces St
Saturday mornings spent exploring City of Austin bike routes finding new neighborhoods and ways to get around on your bike.  Today’s ride 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 your questions and leave your heart rate monitor at home. Come by at 8:00 for coffee. Helmets required. Ride organizer: Eileen Schaubert at eileen@mellowjohnnys.com or 512-426-4851.

Bike-in Book Swap
11 AM- 3 PM, Terrazas Public Library, 1105 E. Caesar Chavez
Terrazas Public Library is hosting a Bike-in Book Swap from 11am to 3pm. Yellow Bike Project will be there decorating bikes and helping you beef up your bike’s cargo capacity – materials are FREE. And at 3pm, the funky bikes of the Austin Bike Zoo will parade us, with musical accompaniment, to the new YBP headquarters for the grand opening festivities.

Pampered Pedal Ride
Meet up at 11:30, Departs at Noon, BoConcept, 430 W 2nd Street

The final ride in A2W’s 3 part spring social ride series will be a fun afternoon of shopping with friends ending with a light yoga class and mini-spa treatment. We’ll start at our ride host BoConcept in the 2nd Street District and ride to three women owned downtown shops. Stops will include Hem Jeans, Estilo, and Beyond Tradition. All our tour hosts will be providing nice discounts to tour participants. Plus, shop all you want and let our ride guides carry your purchases for you in our cargo bike. After we finish shopping, we’ll stop at at Halcyon Coffee Bar for coffee and a snack before heading to Black Swan Yoga for some light yoga and mini-spa treatment with massage by Seize the Day: Energizing Chair Massage, foot bath, and cosmetic gift bag. During the spa we’ll have cupcakes courtesy of Delish Cupcakes. The ride will end up back at BoConcept for a wine reception. Total ride distance approximately 5 miles round trip. Food and drink, ride guide staff, bike valet, yoga, and mini-spa are included in the ride as well as coupons for future visits to our ride hosts. $30/person, 2 for $55. Groups of 5 or more $20/person.

Austin Yellow Bike Reopening Party
4- 8 PM, Yellow Bike Project HQ,1216 Webberville
Austin’s Yellow Bike Project is finally opening the doors to its brand new headquarters facility at 1216 Webberville. From 4 to 8 pm, come check out the new space, talk with volunteers, wobble around with the Austin Bike Zoo, decorate a bike, and enjoy fresh pedal-powered juices and $1 BBQ!

Sunday, May 2

Sunday Morning Fixie Ride
10:20 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.

Monday, May 3

Bike2ACC Day
8- 11 AM, ACC Rio Grande Campus, W 12th & Rio Grande
Pick up an, “I biked to ACC” sticker and get a free breakfast, Mon, May 3, Rio Grande Campus, email dmottola@austincc.edu for more info. Food by Tacodeli breakfast tacos, Emerald City Press iced coffee, Cliff Bars, and more.

Weekly Ladies Ride presented by Mellow Johnny’s
5:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Show, 400 Nueces St
At 5:30 PM, 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 afterward for champagne and strawberries at Royal Blue Grocery across the street. Some things to keep in mind before meeting us for this ride: You need a road bike in good working condition; a helmet; cycling clothing; plenty of water; and are able to ride comfortably for 2 hours without stopping.

The 6:00 Social
6 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Show, 400 Nueces St
Mellow Johnny’s has a new weekday ride. It’s the 6:00 Social. It’s not the “ladies” ride. It’s co-ed. Meet at Mellow Johnny’s on Monday evenings and leaving at 6p. The ride will be 30 miles for 2-2.5hrs at 13-16mph; through neighborhoods, official bike routes, crossing a couple of large roadways, and two short sections on access roads. Helmets and lights are required (it will be dark before we return).

Austin Cycling Association Ride in lieu of Meeting
6:30 PM, Waterloo Ice House, 8600 Burnet Rd
To celebrate Bike Month, Austin Cycling Association will host a ride at 6:45 p.m. Monday, May 3, in lieu of our usual membership meeting. Ride Director Greg Ritter has mapped a leisurely route through great North-Central Austin neighborhoods like Allendale, Rosedale and Crestview. We’ll continue socializing over food and beverages at Waterloo Ice House, 8600 Burnet Rd., after the ride. The ride will be about an hour.

Heavy Metal Fitness Ride hosted by Social Cycling ATX
7:30 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge
The Heavy Metal Fitness Ride has returned! 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, May 4

Bike2UT Day
7:30- 9:30 AM, Gregory Plaza, UT Campus
Free breakfast for cyclists at all guard kiosk entrances to UT from 7:30-9:30 AM and a party in Gregory Plaza with prizes and a raffle, Tuesday, May 4th, UT Campus, email cortez@austin.utexas.edu for more info.

The Tuesday Morning Ride
8 AM, locations vary
A new weekly social ride from the Facebook Group Social Cycling Austin. The Tuesday morning ride is for those of us that are tired of sleeping off our hangovers in the mornings…and seeing how some of us don’t have to work first thing in the morning, why not get on our bikes and simply ride? Our goals are simple: meet for coffee at 8am-ish. Wheels down at 8:30am, and we mean that. We will leave you if you are late. Ride for an hour or so, and cover about 10-15 miles at a moderate pace-push yourself. Bring skinny tires on a bike in good working order. Bring a water bottle and flat-changing tools–helmets and locks are good ideas too. Have fun, meet new people, maybe drink more coffee after the ride. The locations will change every week; visit http://www.socialcyclingatx.com/ to find out which.

Bike Month Kickoff Party Hosted By Social Cycling Austin
7 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
A city wide bike party to kick off Bike Month. It will be a chance for all kinds of cyclists from all kinds of organizations to get together and get to know each other, ride bikes and have fun. The Chupacabra is generously providing us with some free beer while supplies last, then serving up $1 Tecates (which is their bike special all month long), Raspas (Boozy Snow Cones) and providing us with a DJ, so a dance party will more than likely be in order.

Wednesday, May 5

Hump Day Ride hosted by Social Cycling ATX
Noon, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
The latest new ride from Social Cycling ATX. Social paced ride for the riders that can make it out during the work week. We will have a few stops one at a coffee shop and one for lunch. All levels are welcome. Share with your “funemployed” friends.

Make the Movement Day
6 PM, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
Bicycle Sport Shop, Austin Bikes and Jack & Adam’s Bicycles are teaming up with the ACTIVE Life Movement to organize a fun, community bike ride as part of Make the Movement Day. Check out the schedule and come join us for the fun!

Free Yoga for Cyclists
7:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Cyclists, Come in for Restorative Yoga at Mellow Johnny’s Every Wednesday from April 14 – May 26. Lengthen and loosen muscles while preventing injury with John Trujillo and Anne Haskett. Join us after a ride, run, or a long day at work. Mats are provided by MJ’s.

Fast Folks Ladies Ride
8:30 PM, Fast Folks, 2513 East 6th St
Austin’s fixed gear bike shop Fast Folks has started a weekly ladies ride as an alternative to the normally male dominated rides.