While the weather is still hot, there are also signs of fall. Combine UT football and cyclocross with family cook outs and the 4 day Tour of Austin Race, and you have the unique summer-fall transition of Labor Day weekend. There’s lots to do, but regardless whether you want to race or join the now award winning Thursday Night Social Ride, get out on your bike 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, September 2

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 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.

Thursday Night Social Ride
7:30 PM, Fiesta Gardens
Now winner of two 2010 Best of Austin Awards! The large weekly ride from the Facebook group Social Cycling ATX that popularized social cycling in Austin. Meet up at 7:30, ride at 8:00.  Read our article on the weekly ride.

Friday, September 3

Tour of Austin, Day 1: The Brad Houston Law Pole Position Time Trial
4:30 PM, The Driveway, 8400 Delwau Lane
Riders seeded in reverse order of registration per category. First to register goes last in respective category. First rider off at 4:31PM. Last rider off at 7:45PM. 30 second intervals. Course is 4 miles. Two laps of full course plus part of service road. Course includes two short out of saddle hills, 4 straightaways, and multiple tight turns. While TT bikes are allowed one would probably be better suited to ride a road bike with aero wheels and maybe some clip on bars.

Fabulous Friday Fixed Gear Alleycat – Shoal Creek Time Trial
6:30 PM, Capitol Grounds
The first Friday of the month means Fabulous Fixed First Friday alleycat races. Bring $5, a bag and a fixed gear bike to race. Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.

Saturday, September 4

Tour of Austin, Day 2: The Mellow Johnny’s Shop House Classic
8:00 AM, The Driveway, 8400 Delwau Lane
Day 2 is Crit racing at The Driveway kids to Pro/Cat 1 categories.

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Hill Of A Ride
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.  This is week’s theme is Hill Of A Ride. This ride will take you through great neighborhood routes with wonderful views and a few awesome hills thrown in for fun! Our pace will be about 12 mph. It is hot out so be sure to bring plenty of water/sport drink for the ride. Remember to park in the street if you are driving to the shop. Come by at 8:00 for coffee. Helmets required. Ride organizer: Stephanie at eileen@mellowjohnnys.com.

Sunday, September 7

Tour of Austin, Day 3: The DLA Piper eRacing Stigma Criterium
8 AM, Austin State Hospital, 4110 Guadalupe St
Day 3 is more crit racing this time with a new finish. No hairpin turn!

Dropout Issue #5 Release Party
7 PM, Fast Folks, 2513 East 6th St
Join local bike zine The Dropout for a celebration of their latest issue: “Issue #5, our small bike/talk bike issue, drops this Sunday. Come out to get your own copy, support us as we prepare for Interbike, and pretty much rage your socks off.”

Monday, September 6

Tour of Austin, Day 4 :The Reed & Scardino Pickle Crit
8 AM, JJ Pickle Research Center, 10100 Burnet Rd
Final day of racing at the JJ Pickle Research Center.

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).

Restorative Yoga for Cyclists
7:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Come in for Restorative Yoga at Mellow Johnny’s during our summer sessions Mondays and Wednesdays from June through August. 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. Suggested donation of $10, $5 if you ride your bike to the class. Mats are provided by MJ’s.

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, September 7

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 schedule this year: 6:30 PM Beginner race (20 min), 7:20 PM B Intermediate Race (25 min), 8:00 PM Open Race (30 min). $10, women, beginners and kids only $5. Second race same night $5. All types of bikes are welcome. There will also be a Two 7-Week Miniseries with more prizes.

Yo!ga Ride!
7:30 PM, North East Side Town Lake @ I35 Bridge
A weekly ride from Social Cycling Austin that ends with yoga in the park and maybe a dip in Barton Springs. Bring a yoga mat, bathing suit, towel, lights for your bike, water and a lock.

Wednesday, September 8

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.

Restorative Yoga for Cyclists
7:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Come in for Restorative Yoga at Mellow Johnny’s during our summer sessions Mondays and Wednesdays from June through August. 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. Suggested donation of $10, $5 if you ride your bike to the class. 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.