It’s the end of the month so that means two things: Critical Mass and Frankenbike. The folks at Frankenbike are partnering this month with Fast Folks Cyclery in a bike swap and kickoff party for Fast Folks new location. Also on Tuesday, the Dirt Derby is having their end of season party at the Black Star Co-Op Pub. Sweet!

The Northeast is climbing out of a foot of snow while we are having 60-70 degree sunny days. Get out and ride your bike!

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, January 27

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.

Thursday Night Social Ride
7:00 PM, Plaza Satillo, Comal & E. 5th St.
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. “The skinny for this TNSR is as follows:
1) awesome weather
2) your favorite cycling friends
3) great bike ride around town
4) a stop for bike games/prize (THANKS Sun and Ski Sports for the goods)
5) more riding
6) a KILLER KILLER KILLER dance party/free beer swill courtesy of Club Deville and Hobo D, DJ Digg, Dan-O and the Juke Joint Crew. Remember the school supply drive and outdoor dance party? Remember how hard that whole crew brings it? It’s the same guys. Be prepared to dance. Special cover price of $1 for us. All 100 pennies go to the Dj’s. They are working hard to make us work hard on the dance floor.” Meet up at 7:00, ride at 7:30.  Read our article on the weekly ride.

Friday, January 28

January 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.

Saturday, January 29

Pedal Hard Open House
9 AM- 4 PM, Basement of Mellow Johnny’s Bicycle Shop, 400 Nueces St
Come experience an Indoor cycling class at Kevin Livingston’s Pedal Hard Training Center and see what the buzz is all about. Located in the lower level of Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, the center features state-of-the art Computrainer technology and an experienced, full-time coaching staff. Regularly a full hour in length, these complementary sessions are a half hour of focused, quality riding using metrics like heart rate, cadence and power to track your progress and keep you honest! Bring your bike and riding gear to the center to give it a try. All levels are welcome, enjoy refreshments and mingle with Kevin and the coaches.  Half hour sessions starting at 9:30a,10:30a,11:30a,12:30,1:30p, 2:30p, 3:30p. Capacity for each class is 8 riders, please email training@pedalhard.com or call 512.473.2233 to reserve your spot.

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Vote-a-Route
9:30 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 week’s theme: Vote-a-Route. The ride route will be the winner of the Vote-a-Route contest (ballots due Thurs, Jan. 27.) The routes are designed to help riders navigate the city bike routes and other safe bike commuting options. We average 12mph for distances between 15-25 miles. Come by at 9:00 for coffee. Helmets required. Contact: Stephanie at Stephanie@mellowjohnnys.com.

FrankenBike # 66/Fast Folks Cyclery Grand Opening Party
10 AM- 8 PM, Fast Folks Cyclery, 1308 East Sixth St
Austin’s monthly free bike swap returns … this month partnering with Fast Folks Cyclery on the grand opening of their new location on East 6th. If you’ve got bike stuff to sell or trade, just show up with a table or blanket to hawk your wares. The swap will end at 4 PM with drag race at 5 PM and gold sprint races at 6 PM. More festivities to follow.

Monday, January 31

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, February 1

Dirt Derby Post-Season Brewhouse Bash
7 PM, Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery, 7020 Easy Wind Drive, Suite 100
You did the Dirty Derby Deeds, now sit and drink about it! FEATURING: GOLDSPRINTS! RAFFLE PRIZES!
WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
- Beer, Delicious Beer!
- Hors D’œuvre!
- Games!
- Fun!
- Friends!

Yellow Bike Project collective meeting
7 PM, Yellow Bike Project HQ, 1216 Webberville Road
Monthly meeting of the Yellow Bike Project. All who wish to participate in the planning of YBP activities are welcome.

Wednesday, February 2

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.

Leander / Cedar Park Social Ride
Meet up at 7 PM, Ride at 7:30 PM, Robin Bledsoe Park, 601 S. Bagdad Rd, Leander, TX
The Leander / Cedar Park Social Ride is held every Wednesday at 7pm at Robin Bledsoe Park at 601 S. Bagdad Rd. In Leander Tx. We usually roll out around 7:30 – 7:45 sharp and welcome and encourage riders of most skill levels no matter what type of bike you ride. I say most skill levels because we do ride at night along streets and usually only go about 10-14 miles and a fairly slow pace. The routes change up sometimes and there are often themes to the rides, just to keep it fun. Drinking usually ensues but not by everyone. We do occasionally have kids that ride with us and we do try to keep to non busy-ish streets and some sidewalks when the streets are busy. We encourage lights and helmets and obeying the law for the most part. We do ride with traffic not against it. I’m sure its pretty obvious that we have pretty much modeled ourselves after the Thursday Nighs Social Ride only in Leander on a different night and a lot smaller.

Restorative Yoga for Cyclists
7:30 PM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St
Spend your winter keeping the body warmed and relaxed with Restorative Yoga for Cyclists at Mellow’s Johnny’s. Long miles accompanied by yoga will help you release tension, stay injury-free and set you up for a blazing Spring. Our class is great for non-cyclists, beginners and elite athletes. Join us after a ride, run or long day at work or school. Every Wednesday 7:30-8:30pm (downstairs) Suggested donation of $10 or $5 if you bike ride to class. Mat provided by MJ’s.