Austin Texas Bike Shit Stuff.

The Wednesday before Critical Mass the awesome people at Radical Dixie Ranch are going to be putting on a bike-in movie with a special presentation afterwards. Due to the Police action at the last Critical Mass (which resulted in a ticket and an arrest) they're going to show several movies that all have to do with this subject, both locally and in locations like New York where they face serious cop oppression. They're having a "Know Your (Bike) Rights" talk after the movies, where they'll present information on how to bike in a way so the cops won't hassle you, plus what to do if the police do stop or detain you. Last time we saw them perform an illegal search as well as generally try to intimidate cyclists who spoke up or weren't cowed by their authority, and we don't want to see that happen again. If you can make it out to this I urge you to come, and bring a couple cycling friends as well!

What they're showing (starting as soon as the sun goes down):

• History of Critical Mass ATX (10min - excerpt from Bike Like You Mean it)
  
• We are Traffic (History of Critical Mass (27min)
  
• Still We Ride (37min)
  
• Know Your Rights video (10 min - from Still we Ride DVD)
  

Come for the movies, stay for the talk (and to hang with some badass peoples)!

Wow that rain was badass! I avoided most of it but all the thunder and such made for a fun ride in. Near the end I started to get rained on again but no problem, I've got a nifty dayglo yellow jacket to keep me happy and dry. Thanks in-laws!

I need to start carrying a cheapo digital camera so I can take pics when it's awesome out.

UPDATE:

"I sadly have not had a huge response to my pub crawl but a friend and I are still going on it. Perhaps more folks will show up as a spur of the moment thing. It look like I'm renting a tandem from bicycle sport shop, we'll see how that goes.

Approx time: 6pm at the Tiniest bar in Texas (across from whole foods on 5th street)

P.S. feel free to invite other folks as well."

Give this cat a shout if you're thinking about making it out to this thing.

I just got this from the crazy kids at the Comal House. Looks like they're putting on a race at the end of the month. More info will be sure to follow, but here's what I've got so far:

hi jason!
we are having a bike race on the 31st(plastercycle deluxxx). registration @ comal house, starts at 3pm race starts at 5pm. fortified wine race. drinks and silly human tricks at each stop. all eastside,bike event with jousting and other fun games at the end. prizes and food. fun fun fun
we were also going to ask if you would like to come and bring your music with you too for the end of the race party.
thanks soo much
sarah stubbs from the comal house.
p.s. flyers out soon! and registration fee TBA

Yay races!

I just got contacted by the Yellow Bike Project peeps (thanks y'all, you rule!) and they filled me in on all the CORRECT info, so here it is...

What: Yellow Bike Project Birthday Bash and Art show
When: 6:00pm-2:00am (and then some?)
Where: United States Art Authority and Spiderhouse Cafe (2906 and 2908 Fruth)
Donation: $5 for YBP New Headquarters Fund

This year Yellow Bike is throwing their big birthday bash at The United States Art Authority and Spiderhouse Cafe and the evening's festivities include music by Magnifico and Foot Patrol, a bike-inspired (and many times recycled) art show, a silent auction, and the Yellow Bike Project Gold Sprints. They're also raffling off a really classy old road bike so get down there for your chance to win it! There's a $5 donation at the door, but all proceeds go to the "New Headquarters Fund". Check out their website for more info, or if you want to volunteer: http://www.austinyellowbike.org

Hey y'all, this Friday is the ONE DAY A YEAR they want EVERYONE biking to work! Just kidding, really you should be biking to work as often as you can but for some reason the powers-that-be have decided that this Friday in particular would be a special one. I guess it's better than another holiday celebrating oppression or forced genocide via a policy of manifest destiny. Check out the OFFICIAL INFORMATION on the website of the venerable League of American Bicyclists, who used to have the infinitely cooler name "League of American Wheelmen". Hell, I think I'm going to keep using that name. It's so much better.

Maybe some of y'all will find this funny. This is the graphic my work decided to use for their bike-to-work day blurb on our website...

Sweet tarck bike brah! Where's ur arrospok and bandanna? I guess this shit's catching on if corporate ad-copy is rockin' the fixed gear...

Oh and I totally jacked this information from the ACA's website... there's going to be lots of breakfast stops and free shit at the following locations from 7am-9am Friday morning (I plan on hitting at least 3, mwahahahaha):

• Whole Foods (6th and Lamar)
  
• City Hall Plaza (sponsored by City of Austin employees)
  
• One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd.) (also sponsored by City of Austin employees -- get FREE breakfast and tips on maintaining your bicycle from Yellow Bike trained repair mechanics: patching flats, tuning-up brakes and shifters, and adjusting seat and handlebar position)
  
• Texas Bicycle Coalition (1902 E. 6th)
  
• Mellow Johnny's (4th and Nueces)
  
• Wheatsville Coop (3101 Guadalupe)
  
• Bicycle Sport Shop (517 S. Lamar)
  
• Shoal Creek Blvd. at the Far West Bridge (sponsored by Clif Bar)
  
• Music City Cycles (6301 W. Parmer Ln., #504)
  
• Jo's Coffee (1300 S. Congress, sponsored by Jo's and Clif Bar)
  
• Freewheeling Bicycles (24th and San Gabriel. Free commuter coffee mugs while they last! If distance is a problem for you, park in Freewheeling's ample parking lot, have a bite of breakfast, and ride the rest of the way.)
  

It's bike-to-work week! So get biking already...

Ok, here's the consolidated info for everyone who's racing today:

What: DeathxDeathFest Alleycat
When: 5:00pm Registration, 6:00pm Race
Where: Shipe Park (45th St. between Aves F and G)
How Much: $5
At Stake: Soma Track frame for the winner, other awesome prizes for placing, free beer for all

Oh damn...

9pm at Donn's Depot on 5th St. is the place to meet. From there where it goes is unknown to me. If you haven't met up with the Austin branch of the Midnight Ridazz before then be sure to come out to this ride, you're in for a treat! Since this is a pub crawl expect a slow pace and lots of stops. aka. this is the perfect ride to bring your mother on... if your mother dresses like Alice Cooper, drinks lonestar and rides a bike!

One of our local biker types works for the Chronicle and he recently wrote a couple articles that I found to be quite interesting. The first contains a couple interviews with some friendly faces, some good info about the recent upsurge of cycling in Austin, plus some helpful safety tips which seem to be especially prudent in light of some of the brutal accidents to have happened recently. The second talks about a couple of the City Council hopefuls who are bike friendly. Good stuff, check 'em out:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:621776

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A621843