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, March 31

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 3/4 Race and Women’s Open at 5:30, Kids Fun Lap at 6:20, Cat 4/5 Race at 6:25, Pro/Cat 1/2/3 at 6:55 and Masters at 7:55.  Races registration $20 for Men, $15 for Women, & $10 for Juniors/College Students. Full season passes and discount punch cards available. USA Cycling annual or one day license and helmet required. One days for sale at race.

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.

Downtown Bicycle Boulevard Project Status Update and Input Session
6:00-7:30 PM, Pease Elementary, 1106 Rio Grande Street
Construction is starting on the Rio Grande St. portion of the Downtown Bicycle Boulevard. Come learn more about the new roundabouts and give your feedback for this phase of the project.

Thursday Night Social Ride
7:30 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. “Homeless or Hipster Ride and Canned Food Drive: That’s right, Thursday is just around the corner and we’ve got another theme ride this week. First off, this is a canned food drive so bring appropriate cans of food which we’ll be collecting at the meet up spot and donating to one of the local homeless shelters. Suggestions are welcome so look down in the comments for the Homeless shelter thread. Dressing up should be easy, figuring out what everyone intended to be may not be …so easy. This week the theme is Homeless or Hipster. Are you drinking that PBR because it is all you can afford or because their lack of mass marketing makes it the only beer that doesn’t offend your delicate sensibilities. Did you find that shirt in the dumpster because you live on the streets or because you search the dumpsters to avoid shoveling money into corporate America’s coffers? This theme has a lot of wiggle room so get creative, dress up like a homeless person or like a hipster, whatever you like, just bring a can or two to help out those in need. Everything else is pretty simple, we’re going to take a ride around the east side this week and end up at Valhalla where they’ll be giving us a keg of free beer then $2 draft beers all night long. Sounds like a good time to me! I hope to see you all there!!” Meet up at 7:30, ride at 8:00.  Read our article on the weekly ride.

Friday, April 1

Fabulous Friday FIXED-ONLY alleycat: Easter style
6:30 PM, Capitol Grounds
Fixed gear alley cat race on the 1st Friday each month. Bring your fancy fixed gear, bag, lock, pen, and five bones, and be prepared to BUNNY HOP.

Saturday, April 2

12th Annual Pedal Power Wildflower Ride
8 AM, Lyndon B. Johnson State Park, Stonewall, TX
Routes of 12, 23, 36 and 60 miles. Ride the prettiest routes in the Texas Hill Country along quiet roads with an abundance of spring flowers. All proceeds benefit the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center which provides services at no cost to physically and sexually abused children, and training to professionals and volunteers.

Spokes ‘n Spurs Ride for the Ranch
8:30 AM, Spirit Reins Ranch, 2055 County Road 284, Liberty Hill, TX
Spokes ‘n Spurs is a great Hill Country ride benefiting Spirit Reins! Riders will start at the entrance to the ranch and enjoy a great route with beautiful views, gently rolling hills and the wildlife of the Texas Hill Country. All ages and skill levels welcome. Course distances include 62.5, 44, 28, 14 miles & a 6 mile family ride. Full SAG, Rest Stop and Mechanical support will be provided. We will also have nurses at most rest stops, Motorcycle Special Events Team and BP MS150 ride marshals patrolling the route.

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Mueller Meander (extended)
*NEW TIME* 9:00 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: Mueller Meander (extended). This 20+ mile route takes us into the wonderful rolling hills of east Austin to check out the new Mueller development. We’ve changed up the route a bit to add some distance. 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 8:30 for coffee. Helmets required. Contact: Stephanie at Stephanie@mellowjohnnys.com.

Sunday, April 3

Austin Autism Society Bike Ride
8 AM, Berry Springs Park and Preserve, Georgetown, TX
This ride benefits the Autism Society of Greater Austin (ASGA), the local chapter of the Autism Society of America. Choose your route: Family ride (less than 2 miles), 9 miles, 24 miles, 42 miles, or 62 miles/100K

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.

Monday, April 4

Austin City Council Candidates Forum on Bicycling
7:30pm – 9:30pm, Welch 1.308, UT Campus
The League of Bicycling Voters, Austin Cycling Association, UT Orange Bike Project, and Austin’s Yellow Bike Project will be hosting its Austin City Council Candidates Forum on Bicycling. This will be a chance to find out where candidates stand on cycling issues including implementation of the Master Bicycle Plan.

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, April 5

Taste of Central Austin presented by Austin on Two Wheels
DATE CHANGE TO WEDNESDAY APRIL 20
From March to May, Austin on Two Wheels presents sixteen extraordinary Austin rides dedicated to the simple pleasure of riding a bicycle with friends. The Taste of Central Austin is one of the 16 rides in the Spring 2011 Urban Living Ride Series sponsored by The Austin Chronicle, Bicycle Sport Shop, and Whole Foods Market. For 2011, we are taking our very popular food and drink ride series outside of downtown with samplers at restaurants in the Triangle/Hyde Park area. We’ll stop at restaurants in Central Austin area to sample the best locally made food our town has to offer. Vegetarian options will be available.

Austin Bike Chix Beginner Ride
6:30 PM, Northwest District Park, 7000 Ardath St.
There is a new series of bike rides in town for those new to cycling or for those that just need to dust off that bike. Austin Bike Chix will be offering a series of rides to Austin Area adults. The rides will start at Northwest Park on March 22 at 6:30 PM and will continue on Tuesdays for 6 weeks. The series of rides will be more like mini clinics (with topics ranging from chains to hills) to give new riders knowledge about the bike and confidence to be able to do the shorter distances on some of the local charity rides and beginner rides in town. These rides are perfect for those wanting to do ride in the Tour de Cure or are a first time triathlete.  We will be riding on the road, all bikes are welcome. All rides are free.

Wednesday, April 6

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.