CASA Superhero Run

Sunday, September 19, 2010 at The Domain, 7 am.

Because “every child needs a hero, but abused children need superheroes,” CASA is hosting the 5th annual 5K, the CASA Superhero Run, complete with a chip-timed 5K race, Kids 1K and many chances for our participants to become their own superhero: obstacle courses, photobooth with superhero attire, healthy snacks fit for the strongest hero, a superhero costume contest and a chance for everyone to get their own superhero name and symbol. The CASA Superhero Run raises money to help ensure that someday every child in Travis County who needs their own superhero will have one! This event also serves as a chance for CASA of Travis County to publicly honor our superheroes, our CASA volunteer advocates, while offering a fun day for families and a professionally-organized race for the Austin running community.

Check out the CASA Superhero Blog here.

CASA Superhero Run

The AVIA Austin Triathlon is OPEN for registration!

The AVIA Austin Triathlon is OPEN for registration!

September 6th, 2010

Imagine a world class triathlon held in the front yard of one of the most active and outgoing cities in the US. Imagine a large event with the atmosphere and intimacy of a small hometown race. Imagine biking down the most historic street in Texas. Imagine the fun. That is The AVIA Austin Triathlon!

The 2010 edition of The AVIA Austin Triathlon will bring many of the features you've only dreamed of having at an event:

•A $5000 prize purse that pros and age groupers are eligible to win.
•Live music on the bike and run course, and at the finish line.
•Free post race massage and ART, with over 20 therapists.
•Free post race food, drink, beer, and treats
•Technical clothing & hats free in your packet.
•A multi-sport expo with over 30 vendors, with interactive games and prizes
•An incredibly spectator friendly course
•A challenging urban race course completely closed to traffic
•A finish line party you won't want to end
More Info Here! Volunteer Here!

The AVIA Austin Triathlon is OPEN for registration!

Sunday Shop Ride, Steiner Steakhouse Style!

Sunday August, 29th 8:30 a.m.
Jack & Adams / Steiner Steakhouse Sunday Brunch Ride.

Jack & Adams Bicycles and Steiner Steakhouse will be teaming up once a month to bring you a beautiful bike ride of 20 and 40 miles through the hills of west Austin. The first ride will be on Sunday August, 29th. This ride will take the place of our normal shop ride on this day. We will roll out of the Steiner Steakhouse parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for two rides of 20 and 40 miles. You are welcome to add on if you like. Jack Murray of Jack & Adams and Sid Steiner of Steiner Steakhouse will be on hand as 2 of the many shop ride leaders. Post ride, half price brunch will be available courtesy of Steiner Steakhouse. There will also be live music on the patio that overlooks Lake Travis. If you want, bring your running shoes and do a run after the ride. If you have questions please call us at the shop for more details.

Click Here For Directions!

Sunday Shop Ride, Steiner Steakhouse Style!

Shop ride Sundays: South it is...

This Sundays see's all the shop rides going South. We start at 8:30a.m sharp with the Advanced ride, down to the gas station at the far end of Buda Main St, regroup and those that want to can add down to the 4-way stop at Kyle, making it about 40-miles round trip, or the group will do a 6-mile add-in loop before returning back to make 36-miles. Here is the route.

The Tempo Multisport Intermediate group leaves 2nd, and will head basically the same route for 1-hour out and an hour back. Mostly making a 28-mile ride, seen here. Then the "legendary" no-drop group leaves, again following the same route, but just 10-miles out and 10-miles back. Here is the ride, but start from the shop!

Now we "love" all our riders, especially those who race off the front and make it hard work for the group to keep up. However, the rides, and especially in the planning and taking the rides on the same route, are really there for you. If you want to sit at the back of the same group week in and week out, you are welcome. Sitting at the back of the no-drop ride is discouraged as it means you can be holding up the rest of the ride.

Afraid to step up to the next group? Don't be. Most Sundays we take similar routes, that means you can start with the faster group and if you can't keep up, simple stop, get your breath back and another group will come along in a few minutes. We mostly follow just a few routes in rotation, check back through blog entries tagged with "shop ride" to find links to maps.

Don't get stuck in a rut, in order to get faster you have to train faster. Every now and again we all have those off rides, you "bonk" for no apparent reason, if this happens to you, just come back next week and try again. I'm out for this week, be good and I'll join you again on the 29th for the Steiner Ranch Steak House Ride. ++Mark.

Shop ride Sundays: South it is...

Please Be Kind….to Motorists - Part 2!

A few weeks back Tammy Metzger, a multisport coach and owner of Tempo Multisport, and Sunday shop ride leader for the Intermediate group, posted the first of her "Please be kind" articles, reminding us that as cyclists we have a duty to be predictable, to help motorists be kind to us. Here is the follow-up.

In last times column, I covered how to hold your line and where on the road to ride. The topics this week are among the most-often committed mistakes. Read on…

Common mistakes made by cyclists:

Regrouping at a stop sign or traffic light - I will openly admit that I have been guilty of this one myself. It’s not intuitive, but think about the following scenario. You’re waiting on a member of your group who may have fallen off the back of the pack on that last hill, so a few of you are huddled at a stop sign or traffic signal. Do the motorist who come through the intersection know that you’re waiting for Fabio to catch up? They don’t, so they are waiting for you to go, and you don’t go, and now they’re getting anxious because they aren’t sure what to do. Proper communication with motorists is the top priority to our safety. Regroup mid-block, preferably in a driveway or low-traffic parking lot. Avoid putting motorists in a situation where they have to figure out what you’re doing, because they’ll typically get it wrong. ·

Wearing audio devices - “I have it on very low”, is a typical response I get when I request a rider lose their ear buds. That’s great, but why do you have it on at all? You have it on because it distracts you from the discomfort of your exercise. Did you read that? Let me repeat: It distracts you. So if you’re wearing an audio device while cycling you are 1) distracted from your environment, thus endangering yourself and everyone around you, and 2) are announcing to the world that you are not mentally strong enough to deal with a little bit of physical discomfort. Whether riding solo or in a group setting, leave the ear buds at home. This is a hard and fast rule for the Jack & Adam’s Bicycles shop rides. No discussion.

Stay tuned for further blog entries. Let’s work together to further each other’s knowledge on keeping cyclist:motorist relations on the best possible terms. A little mutual respect and kindness will go a long way. Please share your comments, suggestions, and observations and pass this information with anyone you know who rides a bike. Be safe out there, and have fun! Coach T.

Tammy Metzger is a multisport coach and owner of Tempo Multisport, LLC, which offers a multitude of skills clinics for cyclists and triathletes, as well as private training sessions. She holds a Master’s Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology, with an additional concentration in Sport Science & Nutrition, from the University of Texas at Austin. Her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science & Wellness was obtained from Bastyr University in Seattle, WA. Tammy has been a certified USA Cycling coach since 2005. She can be reached at Tammy@TrainWithTempo.com

Please Be Kind….to Motorists - Part 2!

Shop ride Sundays: Mystery of the East

This Sunday all rides go east. The plan is to ride out to 183 in groups to avoid traffic problems and be predictable, etc. Once we get the groups out at least to 183, or preferably to the Bud' distribution center, you can have at it. For those on the advanced ride, I'd challenge you to do 2x loops of the lake, we've done it before!

Here is a the no-drop route - the Tempo Multisport and Advanced groups then add this loop by turning left on Decker Lane. Are you fast enough to do two loops?

For ride leaders and escorts this week it will be me(Mark), James and Drew, and Tammy with the Tempo Multisport Intermediate ride.

Also, don't forget, although not an official shop-ride, we will be riding the Austin 70.3 course on Saturday, starting 7am sharp from the entrance to Walter E Long park. The course is through the magic of yellow spray now has direction arrows. Last week we had 11-people ride, split in two group groups. I'm expecting similar for this week. See you on your bike Saturday or Sunday! ++Mark.

Shop ride Sundays: Mystery of the East

Shop ride Sundays: August and September schedule

Here is the shop ride schedule for the next 2-months. We may make changes based on ride leader and ride escort availability, but this is what we have planned.

Most important to note is that on August 29th, we will NOT be riding from the shop at all. The ride will start from the Steiner Ranch Steak House off R620 up near lake Travis. If you've been on the shop rides for the last 2-years the topic has come up many times, why don't we start the East ride, for example, out at Decker Lake, rather than ride out there? Mostly we've always kept the start point at the shop, because, err, it's what makes it a shop ride.

So, this time Jack and Sid from the Steak House have hatched some plans for after the ride and we are going to try it out. We'd love to hear your feedback and since 8/29 isn't a major race day will be seeing how many riders show up. We'll have at least 2-rides, no-drop of course and a longer ride.

August
8th No-drop tackles Shoal Creek, Intermediate and Advanced go separately North West
15th All rides go East; No-Drop goes to Decker Lane; Intermediate and Advanced add Lake loop; (24/30/30+)
22nd All rides go South (20/30/38)
29th SHOP RIDE SPECIAL – ALL RIDES LEAVE FROM STEINER STEAKHOUSE (20/30/38)

September
5th All rides go East; No-Drop goes to Decker Lane; Intermediate and Advanced add Lake loop; (24/30/30+)
12th All rides go South (20/30/38)
18th No-drop tackles Shoal Creek, Intermediate offers Tempo Multisport Climbing Clinic; Advanced goes North West
26th All rides go East; May repeat Shop Ride Special from Steiner Steakhouse, let us know what you think! Check jackandadams.blogspot.com See the updated schedule here.

Shop ride Sundays: August and September schedule