Grasschopper

Hey gang...any of you guys ever do the Hill Country AIDS ride? Turns out we will be making 2 trips to Austin this year and I will be in town for the ride as we will be celebrating my mother's 70th birthday that weekend. Her husband has suggested we go do this ride and hell I am up for whatever.

Anyone doing it? For those that have done it in the past is it any good?

ravenmore

I haven't heard of it. I'll check it out and see. I also am starting to ride Sundays w/2Roadies on the 360 Cycleworks group ride. Its an open ride I believe and if you want to you can join us on that. IME its usually a pretty fast pace. They put the hurt on me in the hills last time.

I'm going to start trying to hit some of the Saturday group rides as well. I think Violet Crown (local racing club) has one that meets at Einstein Bagels up north on 183. I haven't ridden with them yet though so I don't know much about what its like. Its close/convenient to me though.

Doggus

We might be doing it on our tandem. Is it normal that they charge their volunteers $25 ??? Wouldn't mind finding someone from the Dallas area to carpool with. We have diesel crew cab...can travel.


--Edit--
ackkk...looks like they require $500. Not sure why they have a $45 registration fee too. Too steep for me.

mike9903

I did not know about this event, I would love to do it! That is only a 45 minutes drive for me

Grasschopper

Yea the $500 min fund raising is a bit off putting to be honest, especially since I am more focused on the LAF ride in Oct (for which I will also be in the area ). Maybe I will see if he just wants to ride and wing it...maybe we can get a BF ride together? You guys got to promise not to drop my fat butt.

2Rodies

I'll be in Ft Davis doing the Hammerfest race that weekend. Too bad it would have been fun to get together with everyone together and do a BF thing. Maybe we'll all hook up for the LAF?

CardiacKid

I am doing the Shiner Bash the following week, so I doubt I will make it. You should check it out if you can extend your trip. Cyclists leave from San Antonio, Houston and Austin and converge at the Shiner Brewery, where there is a big party, with great food, great Texas music and possibly a few beverages. Then you get on a bus and they take you and your bike home.
This year the charity is LAF.

Veloduo

AIDS Ride statrts and finishes at Krause Springs, which is a really cool swimming hole upriver from Lake Travis. Beautiful around there. Don't know route (didn't ride last year), but have ridden a lot in the Burnet/Marble Falls vicinity and the cycling is very nice out that way -- better roads and conditions than RFTR, for sure. Somewhat hillier. The Austin Cycling Association has their big spring fundraising ride in the same vicinity each year (Liberty Hill). Great riding.

Planning on doing the Shiner ride, myself. Maybe train for it by doing AIDS...

was_bmxer

Hi guys, Veloduo this is a bit OT, but the swimming hole you mentioned. I was there in Austin during July 2000 and went swimming at a concrete pool that was built on a river, it was located in a huge park heaps of people were alos swimming just downstream from the pool as well. Could anyone tell me the name of that place?

I really hope to come back to Austin soon.

Veloduo

Not OT: That's Barton Springs, in town in Zilker Park. Lovely place on one of those July-August days when it's 105 F or so. Some nice, er, scenery on occasion, too. Probably have plenty o' that on those Oz beaches...

Krause Springs worth a plunge if you're ever back in Texas!

CardiacKid

Krause Springs is definitely my favorite place to camp anywhere around here. Hopefully we will get some rain soon or the springs may dry up.

pricklycommute

Hey guys. Also a little OT, but Austin-related.

Any decent rides on the east side of town? I may be moving to Austin or Bastrop in a few months and am scoping out where to live. Most rides would be commuting in to Austin, but weekenders out the front door would be nice too...

Thanks!

asinus

there are tons of east routes.. i suppose it's a good time to make a plug for the
UT Cycling Club. Check out the maps. The roads out east are very easy to explore.

was_bmxer

Thanks, that is the place. Lots of motivation there, I saw the best looking girl there, funny, she was riding a mountain bike, wife (gf at the time) was not impressed, had to tell her I was checking out the stumpjumper as it was a new version of mine.

I have a Ozone bike shop jersey and first time I wore it here in Sydney, I meet a gril from Austin. Love that city.

ravenmore

I really like riding east and particularly NE of town. Its flat, wide open, meadowlands. Very relaxing and nice scenery. Although on a windy day you're going to get beat up.

I've ridden the Liberty Hill stuff. I did the ACA 125 mile Armadillo Classic last year. Pretty good riding out that way too.

Veloduo

Ditto Austin Cycling Association. Ya gotta join to access their maps, but they're good maps.

I live northwest, not east, but my favorite ride out that way (there are plenty) is the Lost Pines route between Bastrop and Buecher State Parks. Also Shiner BASH runs east and south. Lance's Ride For The Roses route is out east (Elgin-way). MS 150 route from Houston is, of course, easterly. East is flatter than the hill country to the west, but it ain't THAT flat. Some very nice bike riding. You'll see plenty of roadies. Also, Rocky Hill Ranch, near Bastrop-Smithville, is renowned MTB territory.