Home > Road Rash > Archives > 2009 > December
December 2009
Some good rides this week
Here are some more rides this week for those who want to burn off that holiday cheer. …
Click here to see the route. It’s got some really good hills and is a definite test if you’re still spinning from New Year’s Eve.
There is also a ride that leaves from Durango Ice House at 29th and Rio Grande on Wednesday night. It’s a pretty regular weekly ride and is open to all levels of riders.
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Helping to get more folks at National Bike Summit
Interesting stuff from the National Bicycle Dealers’ Association. …
The NBDA, National Bicycle Dealers Association, will grant up to $30,000 in scholarships to first-time and returning bike dealers who participate at the 2010 National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. March 9-11. The program is designed to support the cause of cycling in America by making it affordable for NBDA dealers to participate. Applications must be in by January 18th.
The National Bike Summit is produced by the League of American Bicyclists, and is where advocates, industry executives and education experts gather to learn about the issues involving bicycling in America, and to speak up for bicycling on Capitol Hill by meeting with members and staff of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate by prearranged appointment.
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It’s time to get back on track
If you’re like me, then you probably enjoyed the holidays a bit too much. It’s difficult with family in town, leftovers in the fridge and co-workers who bring in all sorts of tasty treats and leave it for those of us with little will power to devour.
The weather has also made it difficult to ride. So with all of the extra poundage and flimsy legs, it’s time to get back to eating right and cycling hard. A good way to start the new year right is the the Bicycle Sport Shop Resolution Ride on Jan. 1. The details. …
Resolution Ride, Jan. 1, 2010, 10 a.m., 53 Mile Loop
Join us in celebrating the New Year on a cruise around the city.
We will be leaving our central Location at 10 a.m. and taking the in-town loop to the north location. We will meet the north crew at 11 and head out Jollyville towards 620 for the dam loop.
Both stores are closed that day and this will be an unsupported ride, so be sure to bring your phones, tubes, pumps/co2, bars, gels, etc. View the Map or Cue Sheet
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Happy Holidays
I just wanted to wish everyone happy holidays. Keep riding, enjoy life and be safe. I’ll post again after Christmas.
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Friendly competition ends badly
It started with a little guff and ended with a hard fall. Two guys I know who are quite competitive and thus should have known better, decided to have a friendly race around the neighborhood. Neither could be considered super fit. Combined, they might pound out 10 or 15 miles per week. But they cannot stand to lose, especially to each other.
They decided to ride bikes of equal crap value (one a partially rusted Schwinn from the late 80s, the other a Raleigh with a busted back brake from the same era). These steeds are not the safest nor the fastest, but neither rider wanted to risk injury to their “good” bikes.
The rules were simple. Three laps around the neighborhood, totaling roughly a half mile per loop. No time limit, no shortcuts and no complaining. It seemed reasonable enough.
The one on the Schwinn (we’ll call him “Jim”) got off to a nice lead. He was talking much trash rounding the first corner. The one on the Raleigh (we’ll call him “Bart”) caught up in the final straightaway of the first lap. His taunting was a little labored, but entertaining all the same.
By the completion of the second lap, mouths were open but no words were coming out, just the pleading sound of lungs gasping for more air. Large blobs of sweat were taking over their shirts. Heads were down, legs were churning. We had ourselves a nice little battle.
The two guys lumbered around the corner to the final straightaway. There was no clear favorite, but it was obvious Jim held a slight advantage. He was beginning to pull away when he looked back at Bart and said something that sparked a wave of rage. Bart pedaled with all the juice he had left, and was making up ground.
And that’s when it happened.
Jim was apparently oxygen deprived, because his action was senseless. He pushed Bart’s handlebar just as he was drawing even. Bart went down hard. His body made that deep thud that only heavy flesh makes when bouncing on pavement. Jim knew immediately he had done a horrible thing. He placed his hands on his head as he cruised to the finish line. Of course he went back to help his buddy off the street, and a slew of apologies came flying out of his mouth. Bart was having none of it.
They didn’t speak for a while, but have since patched things up. I thought about Jim’s deplorable action and how he never really faced a consequence, other than the silent treatment. It reminded me of this video on YouTube and how I wish the guy who doled out punishment would have been there that day.
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Going long, real long
There are those of us who like to burn it up for short distances. Some like a little punishment (steep climbs) with a side order of speed. Others prefer long distances at a pace that won’t break the anaerobic system.
Then, there are the true marathoners of cycling. I’m talking 200 miles or more in a day. And it’s not a dread. They like their punishment long and slow, like the aching rhythm of Chinese water torture. I remember training for my first century ride, and I couldn’t believe how bad I hurt after being in the saddle for five-plus hours. I’ve since become more comfortable at longer distances, and even enjoy spending the better part of a day on my bike (good equipment helps) occasionally.
If you are one of those long distance types, or are interested in trying this type of cycling, there is a local group for you. The Hill Country Randonneurs love to go long, and they would love more folks to join them.
Here’s a little bit about this type of riding from their website. …
Training For Long Distance Cycling
Training for long distance cycling is not as hard as everyone thinks. First, let me recommend the book The Complete Book of Long Distance Cycling by Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka. This book has some good insights and will give you a complete picture of what you should be concerned about. I read it before I did my first double century and it made all the difference.
Always keep in mind that these events are not races. If you are just starting out or are concerned about the distance just take your time. The events give you plenty of time to finish. There are a few key tips that I follow.
First, stay off the big chain ring for at least the first hour. Next, keep your heart rate under 80% of your maximum, especially when climbing. If you are in a pace line going faster then you are comfortable with, pull out.
Even more important, when in a pace line only take very short pulls, most of time people will not even expect you to pull; everyone else has been in the spot where the goal is just to finish. Unfortunately, I have violated all of these rules at one time or other and paid the price. Believe me, it is not fun getting dropped by the lead group 48 minutes into a 250 mile ride with your heart rate at 95% of maximum, only to suffer for the next 15 hours trying to finish.
For the riding, I recommend four to five rides a week with at least 1 of them being a long ride. By long, it does not matter how far or even how fast you go, what is most important is time in the saddle. The long ride should be at least 5 hours in the saddle and should include some good climbs.
It works best for me to set a monthly goal for the total number of workouts to 16 in the early months (January through March) working the goal up to 22 workouts a month by July.
I find, with family and work commitments, this works well because if I fall behind 1 week, I can make it up the next. I tried weekly goals, but found if I missed the first few days of the week I would give up because I was so far behind. For your normal workouts, they should be between 1 and 2 hours, averaging about 90 minutes. You can play with heart rate training which will make your workouts more productive, but remember, the most important thing is to ride.
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Accidents rarely fault of cyclists, study finds
Irresponsible cyclists rejoice! You now have scientific proof that breaking laws and riding with no common sense has little to do with causing serious injury or death. Oh happy days.
According to a study by the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport, risky cycling is rarely to blame for bike accidents, it’s almost always the fault of drivers hitting cyclists from behind. So go ahead, keep riding at night with dark clothing and little illumination. Keep running stop lights and weaving in and out of traffic. And by all means surprise drivers by crossing several lanes of traffic without warning.
Here’s an excerpt from the story by the Guardian online. For the full article, click here.
A tiny proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders jumping red lights or stop signs, or failing to wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, a government-commissioned study has discovered.
The findings appear to contradict a spate of recent reports speculating that risky behaviour by riders, such as listening to music players while cycling, could be behind a near 20% rise in cyclist deaths and serious injuries in the second quarter of this year.
The study, carried out for the Department for Transport, found that in 2% of cases where cyclists were seriously injured in collisions with other road users police said that the rider disobeying a stop sign or traffic light was a likely contributing factor. Wearing dark clothing at night was seen as a potential cause in about 2.5% of cases, and failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time.
The figures were slightly higher when the cyclist was killed, but in such cases only the driver’s account is available.
The data, which was analysed by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), showed that more than a quarter of all cycling deaths in 2005-07 happened when a vehicle ran into the rear of a bike. This rose to more than one-third in rural areas and to 40% in collisions that took place away from junctions.
The 64-page analysis found that police attributed responsibility for collisions more or less evenly between drivers and cyclists overall, but this was skewed by the fact that when child riders were involved their behaviour was named as a primary factor more than three-quarters of the time.
With adult cyclists, police found the driver solely responsible in about 60%-75% of all cases, and riders solely at fault 17%-25% of the time.
The cyclists’ lobby group CTC said the report showed that the government needed to focus more on driver behaviour rather than on issues such as cyclists wearing helmets. The TRL published a separate DfT-commissioned report today in which it was estimated that the universal use of helmets could save between 10 and 15 lives a year, a conclusion disputed by the CTC.
It’s time to go epic
It’s OK if you just want to pedal the same route day after day. That’s admirable. Doing your share to cut carbon emissions, staying in shape, riding with the same group on the weekends, it’s all good.
But sometimes you need to break out of those familiar ruts and take on a challenge.
It’s time to go epic. I mean a big, incredibly difficult, gut-wrenching, back-breaking, butt-stomping ride. The type that flogs you on the journey, but rewards you at the end. None of this riding from one end of Austin to the other stuff, I mean a true test of body and spirit.
Don’t let family obligations, work or other daily drudgery keep you from going on a cycling quest that will stay with you. It’s what keeps things interesting. Setting big goals and finding a way makes life worth while. It’s easy to think you’ll do it at some point. … But that time never arrives if you don’t lay out the plan and follow through.
It’s a big world out there, and there’s not better way to explore it than by bicycle.
I’ve done some big road rides during the past couple of years, and there’s plenty more to do. But I’ve always wanted to give mountain biking a go. A few weeks back, I got up one morning, drove to Bicycle Sport Shop and rented a full-suspension Specialized Stumpjumer and hit the Barton Creek greenbelt. I had no training or plan, but I had to know what this type of cycling was all about.
I fell in love on the spot. Well, actually that spot was a nice little rock garden that I plowed over. It’s a very different world on the big wheels. I’m used to avoiding every little pebble on my skinny slicks. But one of the keys to riding off road is momentum and picking good lines. Fear is not in the roots or rocks, it’s in your ability. And the best part is learning a new skill set. It’s that challenge I crave. Plus, riding both road and trails will keep things fresh.
So here’s the plan. Ride a mountain bike this summer from Telluride, Colo. to Moab, Utah in seven days, spanning 215 miles with over 5,000 feet of climbing. It’s part of the San Juan Hut System ride. You ride anywhere from 15 to 40 miles per day and stay in huts which are fully stocked with water, bunks and food.
Now that’s what I call epic. Of course, I’ll need to hone my mountain bike skills for the next few months, but therein lies the fun.
Click here for more information on this hut-to-hut adventure.
Cyclocross rider gives it all up
Found this via the Cyclelicious blog. Anyone who has ever raced cyclocross should be able to understand his pain, but this is pretty extreme. The following is a real ebay auction, and there is time left if you want to jump in the game. …
2009 Bend Oregon Cyclocross Nationals Equipment:
I can hardly believe all of this stuff fit in my car. Don’t hate the player…. hate the game. I am looking for a good home for all of my cyclocross gear. You will need a large garage or basement to house my collection. With the 2010 cyclocross season 9 months away just think of all the time you will save if you buy all of my stuff.
My loss is your gain. I am selling everything I own that involves cyclocross. I had the car packed and was headed to Bend for cyclocross nationals. The weather report and course conditions sounded brutal. I searched deep into my soul, and I have become too soft to finish my 2009 CX season. This sport has broken my heart and crushed my dreams for possibly the last time. Everything must go. Everything is included. If you win this auction you will have everything you will ever need to race cyclocross, and look like a complete pro. I have decided that I enjoy buying cyclocross stuff more than racing it. So do me a favor and buy it all. Unfortunately for me I will probably buy most of it back piece by piece on Ebay later this summer when my mental stability and optimism return. My motivation is high…. my spirits are low.
StillerStrong. Really?
Ben Stiller’s humor is hit or miss to me. He’s been in some classics; There’s Something About Mary, Tropic Thunder, Anchorman and The Cable Guy. He’s also brought some stinkers to the big screen; Meet the Fockers, Along Came Polly, Meet the Parents, Zoolander and Starsky & Hutch.
His latest foray is a video in which he introduces his “StillerStrong” money-raising campaign to Lance Armstrong. How real is this? You be the judge. …
If you look on YouTube, you will also find Lance’s rebuttal.
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For skills enhancement, try clinics
Do yourself a favor for 2010, get better. I used to think staying upright and getting more fit was all there was to it. But increasing your knowledge and skills on a bike not only makes riding more fun, but makes it more safe as well.
One of the best ways to improve is to attend a clinic. Many of us believe that we know it all, or that we don’t need any more training, especially those seasoned veterans who have been grinding away for years. But these types of clinics can be extremely beneficial in producing better results in less time than trial and error.
Luckily in Austin we have choices. For those of you who don’t want pay the price for racing but want to improve your overall performance, check out Austin Cycle Camp. Their mantra. …
Whether you’ve been riding for two months, two years, or two decades, Austin Cycle Camp can improve your performance. Through a combination of individual instruction, classroom lecture, and group rides, we allow you to push past your limits and discover a new level of fitness and confidence on the road. Prepare yourself to go farther and faster than you ever thought possible.
Now for those of you who REALLY want to push yourself and aspire to be competitive with more than your local group ride, try the Super Squadra clinics.
On January 10th, 16th and 17th, the Super Squadra cycling team, sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop, will host a cycling clinics for beginner and advanced cyclists. Below are five frequently asked questions about the clinics.
Who is this camp geared toward?
David Wenger: As a junior who trashed a beautiful Schwinn Paramount during my first season of racing because I didn’t know how to take the initial corner of a criterium, I can personally attest to the benefits of a professionally run cycling clinic. Riding is fun. Racing requires skill, and at 190 heartbeats per minute, a large amount of concentration.
We are offering the 2010 Super Squadra Cycling Clinics for young cyclists who envision themselves racing at the collegiate, Under-23, even professional levels of the sport, as well as cyclists of all levels and ages striving to achieve their personal best, whether that’s entering your first race, winning the local group ride, or wearing a national championship jersey. Of course, both male and female cyclists are welcomed.
Should I sign up for the beginner clinic or the advanced clinic?
Chad Haga: The beginner skills clinic on January 10th is for cyclists who are relatively new to racing, or don’t race yet, but have an interest in the basics of bike racing technique.
The advanced clinic will be held the following Sunday, January 17th, and is intended for racers who feel comfortable in a pack of cyclists, but want to learn the necessary techniques to separate themselves from the field. Both skills clinics are $80 individually.
The tactics seminar will be held on Sunday, January 10th at Bicycle Sport Shop (central) following the beginner skills clinic. It is open to cyclists of all levels, beginner and advanced skills clinic attendees alike. It is $40, or $110 total when packaged with one of the skills clinics.
How will these clinics benefit me as a road cyclist and racer?
Phil Wikoff: The participants of 2010 Super Squadra Cycling Clinics will gain insight into every facet of road cycling and racing, from diet and nutrition to handling skills and team tactics. Saturday’s January 16th SAG (support and gear) ride on the quiet country roads outside of Austin, will give camp attendees the opportunity to converse casually with Super Squadra team members and fellow clinic attendees while putting in essential winter base miles. The group will ride in a pro-style, two-by-two paceline with the safety and convenience of a follow vehicle. Distances varying from two to five hours will cater to cyclists of differing ability levels.
During the closed course skills session at the Driveway racetrack, clinic attendees will put real world racing skills. On a safe, yet dynamic course, riders will receive individual instruction on race skills such as proper bike handling, efficient pack riding, timing attacks, and sprinting form. Each and every camp participant will leave with the confidence to ride and race in any situation.
The seminar will offer clinic attendees a chance to learn both basic and advanced cycling tactics geared specifically to Texas racing. Clinic members can anticipate both informational lectures (like how to properly prepare for a key event) and entertaining stories (such as when proper preparation leads to a national championship).
What’s purpose of the 2010 Super Squadra Cycling Clinics?
Ian Dille: The purpose of the Super Squadra Scouting Cycling Clinics are to strengthen the cycling community as a whole, to help develop good cyclists into great cyclists. We look forward to familiarizing ourselves with camp participants, learning their strengths and weaknesses and offering them valuable feedback. What if I can’t attend all of the 2010 Super Squadra Cycling Clinic activities?
Steven Wheeler: Super Squadra Scouting Camp participants may attend all or any individual activities. Of course, we highly encourage full participation.
What can junior cyclists learn from the Super Squadra Scouting Camp?
Alan Ting: The opportunity to race with teammates who have experience at the professional level of the sport helped me develop into a more rounded rider. I realized that racing is about more than fitness and sheer athletic ability. It’s about teamwork, from properly executing a lead out train to helping chase down a break-a-way. I let go of my individual desire to win every race to put together a winning combination for the team.
Bad luck, bad result
I’ve heard of some pretty stupid things happening to folks while riding, but this one takes the cake. I read an entry on the onelescar blog about a guy who was hit by a car in the area of South 5th and Annie and was knocked unconscious. The victim said he was out for about an hour, and during that time, someone stole his bike.
You’ve got to be kidding me. What kind of derelict would take somebody’s bike who was laying in the street bleeding? I’ve had some mishaps with cars and other inanimate objects, but people have always stopped to help. I know bad things happen everywhere, but Austin has built a reputation of being loaded with helpful and friendly people.
My hope is that someone will recognize that bike, and the thief will get what’s coming to him. Of course I cannot go into detail, so use your imagination. People who ride have enough to worry about without dirty opportunists roaming the streets.
I’d like to wish the victim a speedy recovery, and a speedy resolution to the missing bike.
UPS delivers by bike
I found this story from sfist, a San Francisco website. I hope this is a sign of things to come in other parts of the country. …
This should please those commenters whose knee-jerk response to any and all posts regarding transit woes is “Get a bike.”: UPS, who lately has been bombarding us with those ads with the white-board guy in a lady wig, is going inadvertently green this holiday season. Due to the unsustainable costs of renting extra trucks to accommodate delivery of holiday packages, UPS is employing bicycles with little trailers towed behind them in select neighborhoods around the Bay Area.
The Mercury News caught up with Justin Hurst, one of a dozen or so bike-deliverers working this season in the flatter neighborhoods of Silicon Valley. UPS has actually been using bikes in certain areas of California for several years now, but this is the first year we’re seeing them pop up locally. The company is using bikes on 45 routes in Northern CA, and it’s saving them about $50K in fuel and maintenance expenses. Unfortunately, this plan only works in places where it isn’t all snowy and icy in December. Guess that rules out parts of the East Bay now.
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Cold equals less riding, more fat
Stupid weather, go away. Seriously. This is not the type of environment that is helpful when trying to pedal off holiday cheer. I’ve overextended my fitness credit and the fat cells are threatening a takeover.
I’m not a total wuss. I will hop on the bike in 50s, maybe even 40s, but not combined with mist and wind. I wouldn’t have played golf on Monday had I known what was on Ma Nature’s agenda. It was uncomfortable, even with proper clothing.
And to make things worse, the weather folks lied. Not intentional, mind you, but they looked me square in the eye on the news and gave little warning that Seattle was moving in for a while.
And I still see plenty of people riding. I’m jealous. I wish I had a stronger resistance to the cold. My body just operates better in the heat. Most everybody thought I was insane for cycling every day during our record heat wave this summer. Temperatures topping 100? Let the sweat flow. Bring it. I laugh at the sun’s burning stare.
But when it gets a little nippy, my skin stings easily. I guess it’s good that I live this far south, because anywhere north of the Mason-Dixon line would render my legs useless. This frailty ruined what should have been a great ride on Saturday.
I had signed up for the Urban Farm Bicycle Tour and was really looking forward to the experience. I woke up and rolled out of bed around 8 a.m. I went down stairs and looked at the outside temp reading, 29 degrees. I debated. I aired my tires up. I debated some more. I got out the heavy clothes and checked off each item that would cover every inch of exposed skin. I debated some more. I opened the door and felt the rush of cold air. I was asleep 10 minutes later still in spandex.
Sorry Urban Roots, local farmers and gardeners, I dropped the ball. I think this calls for some toughening up. I am going to try to get used to this cold riding thing. If not, don’t be alarmed if you see a giant, pasty fatty rolling around Austin next spring.
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Lance on the Daily Show
In case you missed it, Lance Armstrong recently made an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. During the interview, he discusses his comeback after a four-year hiatus from the Tour de France, and takes a little ribbing during the interview. Here’s the link, but if you just want to watch the Lance part then fast forward to the 14:30 mark.
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Free books!
I’ve got a couple of brand new books that need a good home. They are both interesting, relevant and, of course, pertain to cycling.
First up is the hardback version of “LANCE: The making of the world’s greatest champion” by John Wilcockson. The book examines Armstrong’s remarkable journey in vivid detail through dozens of interviews with those who know him the best.
Next up is “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” by Armstrong’s coach and training guru Chris Carmichael. This book is an excellent resource for those of us who are a little older and have more obligations that pull us away from time on the bike. The training plans in the book are designed to help you build competitive fitness in just six hours a week. There is a ton of great information on nutrition and his new methodology on endurance training.
Both of these books would make great Christmas gifts for the cyclist in your family. Just send me an email (jwhaley@statesman.com) or leave a comment on this blog about why you should get these books. I’ll announce the winner next Friday.
Help make the Nueces Bike Blvd. a reality
Got this from the League of Bicycling Voters, and it’s an important step in making Austin a better place for those on two wheels.
1) Email the City Council Now to support the Nueces Bike Boulevard … http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm (see below for talking points and more info)
2) Show up to the Nueces Bike Boulevard Open House next Tuesday (see below)
The Skinny…
The Nueces Bike Boulevard has been a no-brainer for bicycle enthusiasts, downtown boosters and area planners for quite some time. You take a flat street with relatively low auto traffic and scores of existing bike riders looking to get from the UT area to downtown and simply make it a bike-priority street that discourages through auto traffic. Add quicker travel for bicyclists by removing many of the stop signs, some identity with signage and public art, and things get even more exciting. Phase I would go from 3rd Street to MLK Boulevard, with Phase II possibly heading north to Guadalupe.
Unfortunately, some businesses along Nueces are objecting to the idea, saying that it will kill their business, make them liable for bike accidents and even ruin the historic nature of existing buildings. What?
Have you ever had to go a block or two out of your way to get to a business on a one-way street? This is what some auto drivers may face with the changes.
So please take a moment to contact City Council members and let them know the benefits of the bike boulevard. You can email them all from: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm
Talking points:
The bike boulevard is a key corridor connecting UT with downtown, and hundreds of cyclists already use it each day.
Removing time- and energy-wasting stop signs for bicyclists and calming the traffic by discouraging “through” auto traffic will attract scores of new riders.
It’s time that Austin recognized that to maximize the benefits of bicycling, climate and air protection, health, and reduced traffic congestion, it must step up to the plate with significant new bicycle facilities.
The bike boulevard will have a negligible impact on accessibility for autos to businesses and residents. The bike boulevard is worth autos traveling a block or two out of their way!
Both the Downtown Austin Plan and Bicycle Plan list Nueces as a bike boulevard.
Open House and Design Workshops
The City is asking the public to help design the bicycle boulevard at an upcoming Open House series.
WHERE
Pease Elementary School, at 1106 Rio Grande St .
WHEN
December 9, 6-8 PM: Project Discussion and Public Design Exercise
January 13, 6-8 PM: Project Discussion and Public Design Exercise
January 27, 6-8 PM: Design Presentation and Final Commenting
Please contact Jason Fialkoff at (512) 974-7060 or Jason.fialkoff@ci.austin.tx.us with any questions or concerns or if you can not attend one of the meetings.
Urban Farm Bicycle Tour
An interesting and family-friendly bicycle tour is happening this Saturday. It’s the Urban Farm Bicycle Tour sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop and Edible Austin. You can discover Austin’s local food-producing gems, including stops at urban farms, school and community gardens and more, featuring farm tours, sampling local food products and prizes, including a fully-outfitted cruiser bicycle.
THE SCHEDULE
10 a.m. 10 mile: Leaves from the Downtown Austin Farmers Market, 4th and Guadalupe at 10 a.m. immediately following the Mayor’s proclamation. This is a Family Friendly route along Town Lake Trail and City Bike Lanes. (site of the official launch of Eat Local Week)
9:30 a.m. 14 mile: Leaves from Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar to the downtown Market start. This is a Family Friendly route for those wanting to add a few extra miles. Route joins those leaving from the Downtown Market.
9 a.m. 24 mile: Leaves from the Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market, 3200 Jones Rd. This route is for riders with some road riding experience. Includes 10 additional miles (round trip) on city roads and bike lanes. (heading directly to Boggy Creek Farm) There will be an optional 4 mile route extension taking riders to the Hand of the Earth Farm, the location of the Urban Roots YouthLaunch farm.
The Urban Farm Bicycle Tour is a featured event of Edible Austin Eat Local Week, December 5-12, a week long invitation to Central Texans to explore and celebrate the abundance of local food by eating out and shopping at participating area restaurants and markets.
