Friday is Bike to Work Day and the bike community is pulling out all the stops to keep you well fed on your ride to work. In addition, the Real Ale Ride is on Saturday, and Fast Folks, our only fixed gear specific shop, is celebrating a year in business this weekend.

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, May 20

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.

Bicycle Advisory Council
6:30 PM One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd, 8th floor large conference room
The Austin Bicycle Advisory Council is a committee of Austinites representing cyclists’ interests to the City of Austin and meets monthly to advise staff of the City of Austin Public Works Bicycle and Pedestrian Program.

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.  “We’ll be going to new places, seeing new things, and having a little fun at a park or two. After all of that, we are going to Club Deville (http://www.clubdeville.com/) who is providing us with an after party featuring Table Manners and free beer. If you haven’t been to a Table Manners dance party, you have been missing out. Facebook ‘em here (http://tinyurl.com/29ogr6kI) understand the beer will flowing courtesy of the Deville. Please tip your bartenders.” Read our recent article on the popular weekly ride.

Friday, May 21

Bike to Work Day
7 – 9 AM, Various Locations in Austin
The biggest day of Bike Month, there will be over a dozen breakfast stations to encourage you to get to work on two wheels.

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 15

Real Ale Ride
7:30 AM, Yett Memorial Park, Blanco, TX
Ride for a cause or ride to ride, but either way, join in for a great supported ride in the Hill Country. The route will take you through gentle rolling hills ranging in distances from 15, 30, 50, 65 and 80 miles.

Rockin R Toobin Triathlon
8 AM, Rockin R Toobing Facility on the Guadalupe River, 1405 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX
The Rockin R Toobin Triathlon will take place in the beautiful hill country area just northeast of San Antonio Texas. The Rockin R Tubing Company offers discount Tubing and rafting trips. They will transport you upriver and you can float back. 400m Swim/12mi Bike/3mi Run.

Mamma Jamma Kick-Off Beginner Training Ride with Post-Ride Brunch
8 AM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
“Been off the bike for a while? A really long time? Join us for a special beginner training ride to get reacquainted with your bike. We’ll start with some simple bike handling drills then hit the paved trails including the Lance Armstrong Bikeway and the Johnson Creek Trail.  The goal is to have an enjoyable ride without the stress of traffic so we’ll ride only a short stretch on roads near Austin High. Join us for brunch after the ride at Austin Java Co. on 2nd St. RSVP for brunch to stephanie@mellowjohnnys.com so we can get a rough head count.”

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Flirting with Ben (White)
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 Flirting with Ben (White). Let’s check out some southside neighborhoods coming close to Ben White but not actually crossing it. We’ll travel early on Riverside and South Congress before the cars come out. Bike routes: 60, 51, 70, 47, 60, 64, 31, 25. Brunch afterwards at Austin Java. 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.

Freewheeling “Mini Maintenence Clinic” Saturdays in May
10:30 AM, Freewheeling Bicycles, 2401 San Gabriel St
Come by any Saturday in May at 10:30am and learn how to change your own flat.  The class will be reviewing basic maintance, fixing flats and pre ride check over. Class size will be limited to 5 so please come in and sign up soon, or show up at 10:30. Freewheeling will be offering 20% off Tubes,Tire Levers, patch kits, Bento boxes and under seat bags to those that complete the class. The Good Bike cafe will be open for coffee and pastries after the class.

Fast Folks Birthday Party
2 – 9 PM, Fast Folks, 2513 E 6th St
Fixed gear store Fast Folks is celebrating its first year in business. There will be bike washing by bike polo babes, slip-n-slide, cupcake walk, bike games, and a showing of Death Pedal 2 at 8 PM.

Bike Art on 2nd Show Artist Reception
3- 8 PM, The Real Gallery, 450 W. 2nd St.
For Bike Month, the Real Gallery on 2nd Street (450 W. 2nd St) will be hosting a “Bike Art on 2nd” show from now until May 31. The show features the Creative Arts Society’s Traveling Exhibit with artists who interpret the subject of bicycles in multi-medium artworks. Join them for this Artist Reception for the show.

Sunday, May 23

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.

Monday, May 24

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).

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 25

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.

Midnight Ridazz ATX: The Warriorzz Ride #2
9 PM, Donn’s Depot, 1600 West 5th St
Join in on this monthly social ride, the Midnight Ridazz. This month will be another ride with the cult classic The Warriorzz as the theme. Dress as your favorite tribe.

Wednesday, May 26

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.

Ride of Silence
Meet up at 6:30, Ride at 7:00, Lamar Blvd Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, Lady Bird Lake
On the evening of Wednesday, May 19th, 2010, cyclists all over the world will ride in honor and in memory of fellow cyclists that have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways. In Austin TX, we will start an eight-mile ride originating and ending on the Pfluger Bridge. This ride will last approximately one hour. You are riding with the rest of the world in this 8th annual memorial ride. Please treat the pre-ride gathering and the ride with respect to what the intention of the ride is for – to honor/grieve/remember fallen cyclists. Maintain silence during the ride, using only hand signals to relay ride support or caution.

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.