No Snowpocalypse this week, though the temperatures are about the same. Fight the urge to stay inside and ride your bike! Road racing season gets kicked off in earnest this weekend with the Tour of New Braunfels along with some weekly favorites.

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, February 10

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. “THURSDAY! YAY! Weather not predicted to be as cold as last week and we probably won’t have to ride on a sheet of ice for 6 miles like last week, but we gonna do it again like we do every Thursday and tear up the streets of our lovely home. We’re gonna finish the ride at Waterloo Cycles and dance with the New Orleans style brass band Best Best Best Friends and have some keg beer and food to help the Austin Texas Bike Polo Social Club with the cost of hosting Austin’s first ALL WOMEN POLO TOURNEY. Please donate generously at the keg table!!! Also, Dang will be there cooking up delicious, HOT and cheap Vietnamese food.” Meet up at 7:00, ride at 7:30.  Read our article on the weekly ride.

Saturday, February 12

Tour of New Braunfels
9 AM, Canyon Park Marina, New Braunfels, TX
Two days of racing around New Braunfels. Circuit race on Saturday. Circuit: A scenic winding 2.1-mi. circuit overlooking beautiful Canyon Lake.

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Flirting With Ben (white)
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: 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. Routes: 60, 51, 70, 47, 60, 64, 31, 25. 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.

Sunday, February 13

Tour of New Braunfels
9 AM, San Marcos Premium Outlets, Exit 200, Centerpoint Road, New Braunfels, TX
Two days of racing around New Braunfels.  Road Race on Sunday. Road Race: 12-mi. course East of Premium Outlets San Marcos, rolling hills.

AFWC Ladies Ride
9 AM, Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop, 400 Nueces St.
Join the women of the Austin Flyers Women’s Cycling Club every Sunday for an intermediate, ladies-only ride. This friendly, 2.5-3 hour ride averages 15-16 mph, with routes varying each week. It is a great opportunity for women looking to continue their fitness, learn new routes and meet new riding partners. Beginner women are encouraged to check out the Saturday Scout-a-Route ride for a shorter, more casual route.

Where There’s Muck, There’s Brass Ride Hosted by Austin Cycling Association
Bryker Woods Elementary parking lot, 1509 W 33rd St
A social studies exercise, exploring the ritzy homes of the Bryker Woods/Pemberton Heights neighborhoods and asking ourselves the question: why not me? Consoling ourselves with a delicious latte or whatever at Cafe Medici along the way. Short, flat, slow and multiple stops. MTB bikes, cruisers, hybrids etc. welcome. A novice and Family-friendly ride. Suitable for beginners, children, and sightseers. Distance: 7 miles. Contact: William Hudson, 210-387-7340, williampedalson@gmail.com.

Monday, February 14

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.

Wednesday, February 16

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.