ravenmore

Hey all. I decided to lug my camera with me on my ride today. It was a great day for a ride here in Austin. Clear, sunny, not too hot. I took a route that went pretty much through the center of Austin - believe it or not a lot of these pics are right in the middle of town. Not the greatest pics in the world but I thought I'd share.

First - had to fuel up. Stopped at a local Starbucks on the way out. Here's my Motobecane Le Champ. Great bike. I've modified it a bit with the Neuvation wheels and specialized saddle. Both are heavier than the original equipment, so the bike went from about 16 to 19 pounds (including seat bag, pedals, ect...) Still, love it and its purring like a kitten right now. Excuse the saddle bag on the handlebars - its how I carried my big ol camera.

First real climb of the day. Well almost. This is Mt. Bonnell Rd - I've always heard Mt. Bonnell is the highest point in Austin. Just what I've heard - not sure how true it is, but there is a little climb before this. This last section is really steep. There's a portion of it that feels like its a smidge tougher than a 17 degree grade - maybe 20 degrees roughly? Good little climb.

Of course what goes up, must go down. Yeehaaaw!

Don't get too crazy though - see that little bitty yellow sign at the bottom of the hill pointing left? It's not kidding. The road takes a 90 degree left turn right there. Doh!

Thought the shadow effects on this house were cool so I took a pic. All the neighborhood dogs started making a terrible racket though when I was trying to take the pic. I felt like folks were going to wonder what the heck I was doing....

Is this Austin? Looks like somewhere in Europe.....

Little shot of Lake Austin - the road (scenic dr - its well named) follows the lake for a while.

'nother random shot of Scenic Dr.....

And hey - we gotta finish up with some more bike porn.

Moto needs a bath though - hard day of work.

Parting shot of Moto - was at Mozarts on town lake here. Great coffee shop and neat area. If you ever get to Austin check it out - be sure to go to Hula hut next door.


As Porky Pig sayz - "Thats all folks..."

soni_guin

yep, Mt Bonnell's the highest point in Austin



oh.... wait.... you meant elevation?

Ostuni

nice photography! what a great looking place to ride. (and that bike's not too shabby, either! )

fmw

Nice ride. Nice shots. Today was miserable in Northern Indiana. We had a steady wind with fairly blustery gusts. Climbing into the wind was pure misery. Wish I had been riding in Austin.

JoMo

Hello---Moto

ravenmore

Lol - thanks for the compliments. Yeah I love Austin and Texas in general in October. Its usually just a spectacular month down here. The only thing that sux is that it gets dark so early its hard to get a ride in after work.

Also I think I need to get a different camera - something smaller and easier to carry.

mellowdave

Ravensmore, I ride the area you posted all the time. I go up through Bonnel, and down along Scenic. We'll come out the gates to Camp Mabry and take Scenic down to the Lake, end up over under MOPAC, cross over, do the hills on the southside of the lake, come back on redbud, or cut out Walsh-Tarelton and hit 360 and do that route.

You got some good pics there, I have taken a bunch in that area too.



Down at the corner on Scenic just past the houses you posted, but before the little climb up to the top of that hill on Scenic.



This is at the boat launch there by Mozarts. We often stop there and stretch if we have a new guy with us or whatever.



This is at the Capital. Obviously, I'm in the 36th ID.



Also at the Capital.

I really like riding through town on recovery days, there is so much to see. The day I did that ride, was the second day of the ACL music gig a few weeks ago, and there college girls EVERYWHERE. I think life doesnt get better than being out and about on a hot day in Texas, in a college town, with an outdoor music festival going on.

ravenmore

Damnit Dave - your bike's putting mine to shame. Lol. Did you ever get the Dogma?

Pretty girls? Sweet Bejesus, should've seen Mozarts the day I was there. Wow. I lingered longer than I should've. Just don't tell my girlfriend. I love Austin.

Gimme a shout and well go for a ride sometime, although lately I haven't been as into going fast as just enjoying the ride.

BeeTL - lot of wakeboarders around - just none in the pic. I have a friend who was a competition wakeboarder for a while.

CPcyclist

The city look to be a great place to ride will have to raise on the list of things to do someday...Visit city same as last name....

mellowdave

Raven,

no joy on the Dogma. When Gita reduced the wholesale price, everyone sold out really fast, except the gold color, andcall me fickle, I just dont like it.

I did drop some cash (deposit) on a Prince SL though. I'm still waffling a bit, I was out at Austin Tri-cyclist the other day and I couldnt stop fondling the R2.5...

I could buy a Chorus 2.5 complete bike for only a few bucks more than the SL frame, and I could resell the additional parts I dont need and take a large bite out of the total cost. I'm keeping the Prince, and I have a Centaur groupset from the Galileo that I'm not selling either, so I'd likely keep the shifters and derailleurs and resell the crankset, and bars, etc etc.

such a terrible decision to have to make, but my wife is really supportive, she often tells me "just get one, whatever you want, just get it and shut up about it."

Oh and BTW, Your bike is plenty nice man. I like the wheels...

2Rodies

Man I do love livin' here!

ravenmore

2Roadies - Ain't it great? I love October here - the weather's awesome....(gee, have I mentioned that already?)

Dave - Thanks - I do really like my bike. If I equip it properly I can get its weight below 16 pounds. For every day riding though I need to use heavier duty stuff. Current road weight is about 19 pounds. Too bad about the Dogma. That's gotta be my favorite Pinarello. I'm real curious about the ride quality of the Magnesium alloy too. Congrats on the Prince SL though if you go that route. Certainly not a bad second choice!
The Neuvation wheels are actually pretty inexpensive. They weigh about the same as Mavic Elites but are way stiffer. They perform well but I had some issues with the first rear wheel. They sent me a replacement set - so far so good. I've been shopping around for something lighter though.

Ostuni

i am practically knocking people down to get out the door and get home in time to finish the daily ride before dark....

and now i'm looking forward to a pic of ravenmore's moto and mellowdave's pinarello on a ride date....

mellowdave

I agree on the more robust stuff. I have Campy Eurus wheels with Pro-Race tires, but I dont want to pbeat them up, so I ride the SSC's with Conti's everyday. The SSC's are bulletproof. I really beat them up and they just smile. I have some SL's as well, but I have barely ridden them. They will likely go ont he Prince SL if I do that.

I use a pretty big saddle bag too, I try to carry my camera every ride. Many times I'
ll throw it in a baggy and drop it in the Jersey pocket so its ready. I think these guys that carry no flat kits or whatever so their bikes look sexier are just silly. I like being self sufficient. I ALWAYS have two bottles, and sometimes a third in the center jersey pocket.

ANd yeah, Austin is awesome right now.

ravenmore

Ostuni - I know what you mean. I bolt outta here and ride like hell trying to cover as many miles as possible. Who would've figured an early sunset would be such a motivational training tool.

My camera's (Olympus c5050 great digital camera, btw) a bit too bulky to carry comfortably in my jersey pocket. It'll fit, but it feels like its pulling my jersey down - I need to get something smaller and more compact.

redsail

I totally agree that October is a great month in Austin (all of Texas for the most part). My wife and I got married in October on Lake Travis.

All those pictures are killing me... I miss living in Austin so much. I need to try to find another job there and get the heck out of Houston.

rickkko

Thanks for the great pictures.

I visited Austin for the 1st time this past summer. Unfortunately only had two days so didn't see much. Stayed downtown w/rental car so got to see Whole Foods & Central Market (my girlfriend's idea of course).

We also rented Segway's and toured the entire downtown area. That was a blast! Those Segway's are cool.

I think we only visited two bike shops. One LBS across the river from downtown then a Trek store a few blocks away just around the corner from the 1st shop.

Had a great time. Got up early to watch Lance on the 2nd to last stage of the TDF at "The Tavern" That was a fun morning.

Again, thanks for 'The Moto Report' and sharing the pics. Someday I'll have to do that, take pics along my route.

..rickko..
PS. My friend is flying to Austin this Friday to meet his son who is flying there from Seattle. They are going to the football game Saturday (son's alma mater). I'm hope they don't get distracted by those pretty college girls too much. Hmmmmm, maybe they aren't going for the game.... but for the local scenery.

Grasschopper

Just wanted to let you guys know your all dicks....ok sorry.

I will be there in two days...I even just got (litterally just hung up the phone) and found out that the Salsa has landed above Lost Creek CC and UPS didn't damage it.

Well I wanted to do the Tues night ride after my RftR but Tues is my 8th Anniversary so I am guessing going for an evening group ride is out of the question.

So I will be there until the 28th...who wants to hook up for a ride?

2Rodies

Well I'm up for a BF Austin meet. Let's pick a date and meet at 360 Cycleworks, there some good ride options leaving the from the shop.

ravenmore

I'm up for a ride. It gets dark early in the evenings though and I work until 5:30pm. Sunday ride maybe?

ravenmore

One more pic - my girlfriend grabbed a pic of me in my CSC jersey tonight. Its my favorite jersey - I got it because it was an Assos jersey discounted to $50 - didn't care what it said on it I thought that was a steal! I think it does kinda look kinda cool to boot.

a77impala

Great pictures. I spend a couple months a year in Austin visiting my daughter and grandaughter. I was there in April, nice, and August, to hot, I had my mtn bike along and rode the town lake bike path but it was so crowded I ended up doing laps at Zilker Park. I like the Tri Cylist store, they have nice bikes and are friendly, however I am a Trek rider so I spent a lot of time at the store on Lamar. Next trip I will bring a road bike.

2Rodies

Oh dear god I look like your older brother! I'm dead serious my wife is LHAO.

ravenmore

lol - younger brother? How old are you? - coming up on 40 here.

2Rodies

I'm 43, and about 80% grayer!