WAR X - Biketoberfest

Damn.  Them are some big beers.

It's that time of year, kids.  Lace up your liderhosen, hide your Schnitzel and come out for a bike ride.  

This week we will celebrate the great German tradition of drinking copious amounts of beer.   Why?  Because beer is good, dammit.  

Last year's Oktoberfest in the motherland saw 14,793,000 pints consumed.  Some might say that is alot of beer.  I might say we have beat those dirty Germans once, and by god let's do it again.

The ride - Wednesday - 10/22

Meet: Flying Saucer - 815 W 47th St  (The Triangle)

Time:  Depart 7:30 (feed yourself or eat with the family at the Flying Saucer before the ride)  Be preped to pedal at 7:30 SHARP!

Return: Same spot, 10pm

Bring: Bike lights, friends

Attire: German casual.  Liderhosen if you got 'em.  Women are encouraged to look like the above picture.

In the words of Gretl von Trap: 'the sun has gone to bed and so must I....goodnight...goodnight....goodnight!'

THE MAP

Weekend Warriors

The long wait is over, and this weekend New Belgium's 'Tour de Fat' is scheduled to return to our fair city.  This event celebrates two of the greatest things in the world - beer and bikes.  Our plan is to meet down at Festival Gardens at 9am.  No fair driving your car.  I'm sure we will schedule a breakfast beforehand, so check back or give me a call.

This is a family friendly event as well.  The bike parade departs at 10am, but you need to get there early to register.  

Ride returns to Festival Gardens at 11am, where the kegs are tapped, and there are multiple live shows - music, juggling, puppet and otherwise.  If you believe in the over-used phrase 'Keep Austin Weird' - this is the event.

Costumes are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.  I'm thinking we go with 'Cowboys and Indians'.

The Number One Texas Longhorns have graciously schedule their home game around this event - they play at 7pm.  So, no excuses.  Also, if you have extra tickets - I'm your buddy, right?

Here is the full lineup - http://www.tour-de-fat.com/city/austin

WAR IX - Nine Times....

Nine times?? 

Nine times......

Nine times......the WAR continues.

I have an unfortunate business obligation and sadly won't be able to make this ride, so I'm passing over the reigns to Eric "Dr. Feelgood" Crowder.  If you need medicial attention, or someone to buy a beer for, he's your man.

The ride this week will start and end at Little Woodrow's on 6th Street.  The weather is perfect for bike riding and outdoor beer drinking, so I guess this location is actually more than perfect.

If you have been absent from one or more rides (if your name ain't Mat or Charlie - I'm talking to you), you have missed some good times.  We've seen Bruce Robison perfom, called 911, had the Capitol Police aid in bicycle repair, seen Vince Young, hauled a dog, introduced tunes, and had a goodly number of beers along the way.  So if you have not been in a while, or not at all get off your ass and join us.  In the immortal words of Ferris Buller, "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

WAR IX

Start/End - Little Woodrows - 6th St.

7pm start

Be there - bring a friend.

THE MAP

WAR VIII - Honky Tonk Heroes Like Me

We made it through the blistering summer heat to the official start of Fall.  No, not the equinox, dumbass - ACL.  Prepare yourself for thousands of hipsters, hippies, and weekend vegans to decend upon our town to tromp down the grass at Zilker Park.  Well, at least we get some excellent music.

So, this week we are going to break from the ACL Indie Scene by going back to Texas music roots - the Honky Tonk.  You don't need a giant flag, a pesant shirt and a 'crotch stash' to enjoy Texas music.  All you need is a cold Lone Star on a picnic table and quarter for the jukebox.  We will ride out Wednesday a visit a few of Austin's saloons, where we will be able sip a cold one while sitting on an old oak bench.  Places where PBR isn't considered 'retro'.

We are going to try something new this ride and not schedule dinner.  Hopefully we will finish at a more reasonable hour.  So, please feed youself before the ride.  We are starting this week at Shoal Creek Saloon, so I suspect a few folks will meet up early and eat there - I know I will.

The Ride - Wed, 9/24

-  Depart Shoal Creek Saloon, 7:15pm - sharp!

-  Ride is approx 9.5mi

-  Planned stops: Shoal Creek Saloon, Uncle Billy's Brew's & BBQ, Mean Eyed Cat

-  Please wear a helmet and bring a light

-  Suggested attire - Pearl Snap Shirt

Remember - no planned dinner on the ride.  Eat first or go hungry.  Or, be social and come eat with the family at Shoal Creek about 6:30.

If you want to add another 10mi or so, I'll be departing my house at 6pm.

The Map

Nightime is coming eariler and the vampires are out.  Please come to the next ride lit up like a damn Christmas tree.  Garlic is optional.  Johnny Law requires a red tail light and a white front light.  I hate to side with The Man, but he's right on this one.  You don't have to spend a lot, just grab something like this: Come on baby light my fire.

WAR VII - Margaritas

Ride Time: Wed, 9/10, 7:15pm

On September 16, 1810, Manuel Hildalgo rang the bells of his town church calling everyone to fight for Mexico's independence from Spain.  10 years (or one long Spanish siesta) later, Mexico stood alone.

We USAmericans celebrate our independence by blowing shit up.  However, the Mexicans have a much more refined celebration tool - Tequila!

So, this week's W.A.R. will celebrate diez y seis (a bit early) with a salute to the Margarita!  We will take off on our bikes and declare our very own independence from work and cars in search of a few of Austin's finer Margaritas!

Planned stops are Trudy's, Opal Divines and the first East Side location on the W.A.R. - El Chile!
As usual, our ride will likely include a few additional locations central to the theme.  

The Plan: Ride starts at Crown & Anchor.  We roll at 7:15pm SHARP!  If you want a pre-ride Dos Equis, chug and pay up by wheels down.
Ride ends at Trudy's Texas Star at 9:30-10:00pm.  Distance: 8-10miles.  Please wear a helmet and bring a rear bike light.

Special attire for this ride:  Guyaberas!

 

If you want a bit longer ride, I'll be departing from my (new) house - 5612 Shoalwood by 6:30pm and getting in 10+ additional miles.  I'll be towing the tunes, so it won't be fast!

The Map.  See you there, bring a friend.  Via con Dios!

 

Also, this new Blog allows you to post comments, so if you have suggestions etc, post them!

More rides to plan for!

If you are marking events on your calender, make sure to add these two events:

1) The 26th Annual Harvest Moon Cruize - Sept 14 - Lamar Ped Bridge - 2am

This happens once a year. I caught it last year (by accident). This is as 'Austin' as you get, folks. There will be 400-500 riders leaving the Lamar Ped Bridge at 2am and going on a leisurely ride around Austin. There are frequent stops where everyone parties and dances. People haul beer, kegs, coolers, sound systems and everything else you can imagine. It's really quite amazing. Ride usually finishes somewhere downtown about 5am. I stumbled upon this ride last year (quite literally) and it was really amazing. Try to plan on it. Note - that day is a Sunday - ride starts at 2am (you can also look at this as really late Sat night). I know it's late, but it is worth it.
http://www.atxbs.com/?q=node/336

2) Tour de Fat - Oct 18 - Festival Gardens 9am-4pm

Crowder and I went last fall and this was eaisly the coolest thing I did last year This event is sponsored by the New Belgian Brewery (Fat Tire) and is a very weird blend of a bike parade/carnival/revival. The brewery brings all sorts of bizarre bikes. Beer, live music, and a short, very fun bike ride. Strange costumes are highly encouraged. This is a good event to bring the family as well. Seriously - don't miss this one.
http://www.tour-de-fat.com/city/austin

This event is really hard to describe - youtube is worth 1,000 words - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pChGFDlwSXo




If you are looking for more bike stuff to do in town, check out this blog and subscribe to his mailing list. www.atxbs.com (Austin Bike S*it)

-mat

WAR VI - Are you ready for some football?

The Wednesday urban Assault Ride makes it's 6th appearance this week in a salute to Football Season.

Damn, it's been a hot summer. But the sweltering heat of August welcomes this week's hero, Football Season! If you are like me (and you probably wish you are), you've had it with baseball, golf and synchronized diving. It is time for some good 'ol US American football. The Longhorns debut this week against the Florida Atlantic University Burrowing Owls. The Owls are apparently one of the finest High School Teams in the state of Florida. Should be an interesting year for the Horns with a lot of new talent. So, let's welcome in Football Season with a bike ride. We will meet at the Alumni Center and do a 'Texas Football Tour' with a loop around the stadium, and a tour of some classic Longhorn sports bars, including Scholtz's, The Tavern, and local legend - Creekside.

As an added bonus, Wednesday is LBJ's 100th birthday. The LBJ library will hold a birthday bash with FREE Rudy's BBQ and Amy's Ice Cream. The event will be held at the LBJ Library from 6-8pm. Parking might be tight, so get there early or ride in. Thanks to Charlie for the idea! There will be no scheduled 'Long Ride' this week, so you'll have an opportunity to honor LBJ by eating free food. As an added bonus, the Clock Tower will be lit up with '100' all night, hopefully to honor LBJ's birthday and not the estimated number of Colt McCoy interceptions this year. The LBJ event is not 'on the ride', if you want to attend, go beforehand. It's going to be too crowded to try and meet up, so you are on your own.
http://www.lbj100.org/


The Ride:

Start/End: The Alumni Center, across from the Stadium on San Jacinto
Time: Ride leaves at 7:15pm SHARP, return approx 10p
Distance: 8-10miles
Difficulty: Easy
Bring: Helmet, bike lights (front and rear), lock, beer money
Attire: All riders are strongly encouraged to wear some Longhorn gear

The Map