With both a long holiday weekend coming and the start of the Tour de France on Saturday, what better excuse do you have to 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, June 30

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.

City of Austin Open House on Bike Lane Re-striping
6 -7:30 PM, Austin Public Library- St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave
The City of Austin is getting ready to paint new bike lanes all over town, and the League of Bicycling Voters is encouraging participation in City hosted open houses around town to ensure good facilities get built. This open house will cover Woodrow (Koenig to Anderson), Fairfield Drive (Maine to Lamar),
and Gaston Place Drive (Wellington to North Hampton). If you live on or near one of these streets, or if you frequently bike one of these routes, please attend the open house or contact the City of Austin Bike Program with your feedback: Neil Kopper, neil.kopper@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-974-7166.

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 Austin that popularized social cycling in Austin. “It’s almost TNSR time. Last time I checked, it was still summer. This week we will head back to Barton Springs for free swim for the first time in a while. First though, we’ll ride to the Capitol for a family picture (postponed from last week, BRING YOUR CAMERAS) then take a nice ride, then land at Barton Springs. After that we will take off downtown to do some dancing at Barbarella (aka where you would end up anyway) for cheap …beers all night long. Special Note: We haven’t been back to the Springs in a while. Last time we went there were some people treating it like a park stop. Barton Springs is NOT regular park stop. You can’t eat or drink your outside goodies inside. We’ll be at the door reminding you of the rules. Help us stay welcome and keep your goodies stashed away. Thanks.” Meet up at 7:30, ride at 8:00.  Read our article on the weekly ride.

Friday, July 1

Road Cycling Basics taught by ACA
7 PM, Austin Downtown REI, 601 N. Lamar Blvd
This fast-paced, one-hour course introduces cyclists to recreational bicycling on the roadway. The course covers bicycle selection and fit, bicycle safety checks, and an overview of simple mechanical repairs. The course will discuss equipment and clothing for riding in all types of conditions. Additionally, this will teach you how to ride safely and confidently in traffic.

Saturday, July 2

Mellow Johnny’s Scout-A-Ride: Tour de Crepe
NEW START TIME! 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 week’s theme: Tour de Crepe. The Tour de France begins today! What better way to celebrate this race than a 12-15 mile ride through town with a stop at a local crepe shop for a sweet or savory treat! The routes are designed to help riders navigate the city bike routes and other safe bike commuting options. Come by at 87:00 for coffee. Helmets required. Contact: Stephanie at Stephanie@mellowjohnnys.com.

Uphill Team Time Trial & Tour De France Watch Party
6 PM, Parking Garage Q, 1610 San Jacinto St
Join the Austin messengers & Mellow Johnny’s to throw a Tour inspired uphill team time trial. Blaze to the top of the podium and then celebrate with a Tour watch party at Mellow Johnny’s with free food and beer. Tour watch party after wards at 7 PM. Registration opens 5:30 PM. Teams of 3-4,
$30 per team. Pre-register at mel@mellowjohnnys.com.

Sunday, July 3

AFWC Ladies Ride
NEW TIME! 7:30 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.

Femme Pedále Ride hosted by Social Cycling Austin
7 PM, Festival Beach, 2101 Jesse E Segovia St.
OH YES IT’S LADIES’ NIGHT. Oh, what a night. That’s right, the ride you’ve all been waiting for has reared it’s head full of long, lustrous locks. Come meet us next Sunday for our first Ladies’ Night Out. We’ll start at Festival Beach, ride around like we do, then finish off out at the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge (likely around 9-10pm). After-ride funtastic adventures are up for suggestion. This ride aims to promote female butts on bikes via a fun, weekly, ladies-only ride that is geared (pun intended) towards encouraging novice women to feel improvement and ease when riding in groups and to provide more experienced ladies a weekly with our fellow bike sisters. You can expect a pace a little faster than the Thursday Night Social Party Spazztastic Ride, but not quite as fast as the Fast Folks Ladies’ Crazy Haul-Ass Ride. Get there around 7:00 for some happy talky dancey time. We’ll take off around 7:30pm.

Tuesday, July 5

City of Austin Open House on Bike Lane Re-striping
6- 7:30 PM, Great Hills Country Club, 5914 Lost Horizon Dr.
The City of Austin is getting ready to paint new bike lanes all over town, and the League of Bicycling Voters is encouraging participation in City hosted open houses around town to ensure good facilities get built. This open house will cover Lost Horizon (Pathfinder to Rain Creek). If you live on or near one of these streets, or if you frequently bike one of these routes, please attend the open house or contact the City of Austin Bike Program with your feedback: Neil Kopper, neil.kopper@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-974-7166.

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, July 6

City of Austin Open House on Bike Lane Re-striping
6- 7:30 PM, Asbury United Methodist Church, 1605 E 38th 1/2 St
The City of Austin is getting ready to paint new bike lanes all over town, and the League of Bicycling Voters is encouraging participation in City hosted open houses around town to ensure good facilities get built. This open house will cover Cherrywood Road (Manor to 38 1/2). If you live on or near one of these streets, or if you frequently bike one of these routes, please attend the open house or contact the City of Austin Bike Program with your feedback: Neil Kopper, neil.kopper@ci.austin.tx.us or 512-974-7166.

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.