WAR XXVIII - Ghost Town

Just a few more weeks before your daily commute turns sour. Yep, although UT football returns soon, so do the students, school and traffic.

40,000 co-eds are about to descend on Austin like so many hipsters during SWSX. They'll stand in line ahead of you and steal that last cold Lone Star. They'll crowd the doorway of the bars insisting that it is their ID and it just got run through the washer like nine times.

Yep, let's face it - the cheap watering holes are only ours for a few more weeks. So, let's take advantage of the current 'College Bar Ghost Town' and find the cheap brews while we can.

Meet at Posse East (2900 Duval) at 6pm or so for a burger and a cold one. Ride will depart at 7:15 sharp. We'll hit The Library ($1 beer night!), Cuatro's and end up next door to where we started, at the Crown & Anchor. If you don't know where the C&A is, you probably did not know me in the late 90's.

Bring a bike, lock, lights, helmet and a friend.

The Map

WAR = Copyright Infringement?

Okay - last week WAR really hit the big time. You won't believe it, but I actually got a letter informing me that the Wednesday Urban Assault Ride was infringing on a copyright.

So, cut back on those Wednesday night beers, because we are starting a fund to hire Johnnie Cochran. "If the bike don't fit, you must acquit!"

Here is the letter I received:

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How’s it going? I was just checking out your site. Thanks a lot for promoting our event and coming out to participate!

I need to ask you a favor. For 7 years and over 30 events we’ve produced the Urban Assault Ride and established a name for the event. We trademarked the name and have worked hard to create an understanding of our concept.

I see that you’re running a site called the “Wednesday Urban Assault Ride”. As much as I really like what you’re doing, I have to ask you to not call it the Urban Assault Ride. Not only could it be confusing to potential UAR riders, but there’s also the potential for bigger issues. If a rider were to get hurt or worse on one of your rides and it was publicized, the public would see that there was an accident on an Urban Assault Ride in Austin. You can imagine how this could effect our event, sponsorship. Insurance, etc.

I have no problem with you call your ride the WAR – Wednesday Assault Ride, but the Wednesday Urban Assault Ride is just too close.

I hope you understand and that you’ll make the necessary changes to correct the issue.

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So, our ride is now officially just the Wednesday Assault Ride. But, we keep our fancy acronym, WAR.

I'm poking a bit of fun at the letter we received, but understand the point. Plus, what is the point of fighting someone who support bikes and beer anyway? Although we do have a lawyer that regularly attends the ride, he usually ends up drunk at the end like the rest of us, and probably couldn't provide that much assistance.

But, that said, consider the towable music box with ground effects patented!

WAR XXVII - Tour De France

If you have not been watching the Tour de France this year, you have really missed out. We are one week into the three week event and it's been riveting.

Austin's favorite rider (aside from me), Lance Armstrong is back after a 4 year retirement to attempt to reclaim the crown.

It's a tall order, because, (and I know most of you will hate to hear this) at 37, Lance is OLD.

But, Lance is made out of approximately 54% awesome and 46% goddamn! He is seconds off the lead and is looking like he has the form to take home his EIGHTH yellow jersey. So, let's salute the Tour and raise a glass to our boy, Lance this week.

Pretend you are French and meet at Le Cafe Crepe (2nd and San Jac) at 6:30pm. Ride leaves at 7:15. We will have a photo op at the Eiffel Tower then hit Little Woodrow's North for a cold one. We will continue our international journey and hit the Dog & Duck and end up at Lance's own bar - Six Lounge.

Bring lights ,a lock and a friend. And for Pete's sake, wear a helmet....Lance does.

THE MAP

Weekend Event - Cutters!

Mellow Johnny's continues the Tour celebration with a Sunday evening screening of the classic American cycling film, Breaking Away. Put on your Cutters T-shirt and pedal on over.

There are some cool pre-film activities planned. Also, it's free.

There will be bikes and beer as well.

Check out the details here. Don't piss Dennis Quaid off...be there.

Cool Tour de France Kickoff

We're sending a Texas boy back to France this year to take back to Tour. Lance begins his journey through the Alps to show the cheese-eating-surrender-monkeys what a Texan on a bike can do.

The Alamo Draft House and Mellow Johnny's are having a cool kick off event on Sunday. Here are a few of my favorite parts:

1) It's free 2) There will be bikes 3) There will be beer

I mean, what else do you need. Ride down and let's meet up and cheer Lance on in Stage One.

Here are the details: http://www.originalalamo.com/show.aspx?id=6562

WAR Takes Down the Urban Assault Ride

The 2009 New Belgium Urban Assault Ride was owned by the WAR. Yeah, we placed in every division. Not bad, considering there were over 1,300 riders, making this the largest bike race in Texas. Next year...Le Tour!

First Place Co-Ed: George & Wendy

Third Place Men: Mat (me) & Tom

Third Place Women: Tresea & Kim

WAR Riders...yeah, we really are that badass.