WAR - XLII - President's Ride

WAR XLII - 2/10 - 7pm

It’s that time of year again, kids. Time to celebrate that special holiday you never really look forward to. No, I’m not talking about the one where you get in trouble for making dinner reservations too late and pay triple the going price for roses. I’m talking President’s Day.

You don’t get the day off work, you don’t get presents and you are honoring some guy that, statistically speaking, 50% of the country hates. You know what this holiday needs? Beer.

Let’s honor our past presidents by hitting some of Austin oldest bars. We will hit Scholtz’s Beer Garten – which is not only our oldest bar, but the oldest business in Austin. (Well, except for THAT oldest profession.) We’ll visit the Cedar Door, which has operated continuously since 1975, although in many different locations – and they didn’t move the business – they moved the whole freakin’ bar. You will see the Cloak Room, which, I think might have been built the same year as the Capitol. Finally, we will end up at the Crown & Anchor, okay, it’s not that old, but it is that awesome.

I know it is supposed to be cold, but I have planned a short route. You’ll have a beer in your hand before your junk shrivels up.


MEET: Torchy’s Tacos (yum) – 28th and Guad – 6:15pm. Ride leaves at 7pm SHARP!
Bring a light, lock, space heater-trailer and a friend.

The Map

WAR XXXXI - Pac Man Fever

Now that Swine Flu seems to have officially passed us by, it is time to discuss an illness that has plagued me since I was old enough to hold a quarter.

Pac-Man Fever.

Seriously, when you think of your childhood, the old stand up video games were really a part of our lives. Yet, so many lifetime goals go unfulfilled.


What WAS at the end of Zaxxon?
How many quarters DID it take to beat Dragon's Lair?
How many levels were there in Guantlet?
Did ANYONE beat the high jump in Track and Field?
What the fuck WAS Q-Bert?
How do you get away from the bees in 720?

It took a hell of a lot of quarters, but friends, I'm telling you. You COULD turn into a boat in Spy Hunter. I seen it with my own eyes.

So, Wednesday, 1/27, we search for answers, riders. We are going to see out the old video games and beat them - WHILE drinking beer.

MEET: Rounder's Pizza at 6pm if you want dinner (they also have a few sweet games). Ride leaves at 7pm sharp.

We will hit:
Shangra'la - Old school games there
Betsy's Bar - Last time I was there you could play Atari AND Intellivision (speaking of, was there an end to Pitfall?)
Kung Fu Saloon - A new joint that claims to specialize in old school greatness

UPDATE: The good peeps at Kung Fu Saloon have extended us a drink special. Just for WAR riders. God, I hope they have the video game Kung Fu. Or at least Double dragon.

Bring a lock, a helmet, a friend and a sack of quarters. And watch out for Rooney.

THE MAP

WAR XXXX - I'm not 40

WAR XXXX - 1/13 - Departs 7pm

The Big Four Oh. The WAR is officially middle aged. It’s getting hard to see the crankset over the WAR’s beer gut. The WAR no longer has any business wearing spandex. The bad-ass music trailer has been replaced with a kid-toter.


The WAR might be middle aged. Hell, we might be as well, but that doesn’t mean we have to surrender to the suburban middle ages. We will continue to be the people our parents warned us about until we are the people we are warning OUR kids about.
So, in the theme of NOT being middle-aged (or at least not acting like it)…meet at Cuatro’s in West Campus. (1004 West 24th Street). Meet at 6ish if you want dinner – they have great tacos for the cheap. Being in the campus area, they are bound to have a good beer special as well.


We will hit Uncle Billy’s for Bike Night, Club DeVille and The Crown and Anchor. Ride leave Cuatro’s promptly at 7pm. Bring a light, lock and a friend.

THE MAP

WAR XXXIX - Goodbye 2009

Well, that about wraps it up for 2009. Any year without a Bush administration is a pretty good year in my book. Plus, by my count, we had 26 WAR rides, meaning we didn't miss a ride. So congradulations to all of you for saving the enviornment and supporting you local brewerys.

For the last ride of 2009, let's hit a few favorite spots. Meet at the flying saucer at 6. Ride leaves at 7. I'm not sure where we will go but I would suspect the draughtt house nastys crown billys woodys or the dog and duck could make their way into the rotation.

Bring a light lock and a friend

WAR XXXVIII - Xmas

Let's see....parking lots are crowded, the fucking Chipmunks are back, you are out of money and it's cold outside. Yep. It's that time of year again. Merry Freakin Christmas.

The only way to effectively combat the Holiday 'Cheer' is to get out on your damn bike. So we're going to do it Texas Style.

We will hit some of the finer beer joints and honky tonks in town, and make our own of trail of blinky lights.

Meet: Shoal Creek Saloon -- 6pm if you want dinner. Ride leaves at 7pm sharp.

We will hit Shoal Creek, catch WAR favorite Damon Bramblett at the Mean Eyed Cat, a have cold one at Woody's and end up back at Shoal Creek.

Bundle up. Bring your lights and your holiday cheer. Santa suits encouraged.

THE MAP

Christmas Presents!

Local WAR Rider/Blacksmith/Artist Wendy has generously offered to help all of you last minute Christmas shoppers by bringing her latest creation:

BAD ASS BIKE BELT BUCKLES

Wendy has designed and created these awesome belt buckles, which allow you to to feature the two things you love best (bikes and beer) right above your junk.

Yep. Her genius and beautiful creations feature bike chains, cogs and gears and often feature a handy beer opener as well. So, bring some cash with you. She charges a very reasonable $45 for these hand crafted creations. Buy them for your family and friends and wrap up your Christmas shopping while sipping a cold one.

Check out some of the sweet creations below.

WAR XXXVII - Wahoo

This one was unposted as I was out of the country. Crowder let it, so I'm sure it involved Wahoo's Fish Tacos in some fashion. The WAR never ends!