Shop ride Sunday: Getting dirty

Just a quick reminder that we've only scheduled a no-drop ride for this weekend. As always, there will be some folks who show up to ride anyway and so there is always a chance for an informal pick-up ride.

Otherwise a couple of other things are keeping us away this week. First up most of the shop folks will be down at Rocky Hill Ranch for the High Five Events Dirty Du. It's a fun w/e full of action, if you have a mountain bike you can chose between two distances, if not, why not rope a friend in who has and take part in the relay. Next up this weekend is the final US Ironman race of the 2011 series, IMAZ in Tempe, AZ. There are around 20-athletes from Austin taking part and many more going along to support and cheer. Good luck to everyone!

So, this week it's no-drop only, the ride leaves as always at 8:30 a.m. After the ride we will have a guest appearance by Kip, owner of Kip Running Sports Massage. He will be out with his massage table and also available for Q&A.

Next week, Sunday after Thanksgiving, it's back to the Steiner Ranch steakhouse. Be there to work off the turkey.

Shop ride Sunday: Getting dirty

Shop ride Sundays: Plans, Schedules and Rides

So, like the past two years we are going to make things a little less formal over the colder months. Tammy, Hugo and I met Tuesday and sketched out the plan through January 1st, with email input from James, Zac and Kelly who couldn't make it.

There are a few points to note.

• For those that have been making steady progress on the No-drop 20-mile rides, we are going to add an extended No-drop on 12/4. There will be the normal No-drop South to Buda and we will provide ride leader coverage to take those that want to on to the Walgreens in Buda, making a 28-mile roundtrip.
• All rides are subject to the standard, money back rain warranty. If it is raining at ride start time, 8:30 a.m. We cancel and you get an immediate return of all money paid, in the currency you paid in. You are of course welcome to go ride, but we won't be with you. Until we've had some constant hard rain, the roads will be extra slippery "when wet".
• Pick-up rides are just that. We don't have a planned ride, there will be no cue sheets. Meet at the shop based on who shows up and how many, we'll decide where to ride.
• Please take care when riding, call out road defects, and traffic; no aero bars unless on the front of the group, no overlapping wheels in a group, no more than 2-wide, and finally NO MP3, Phone or other earphones. Maybe your wife is pregnant, maybe your Mom is sick, maybe you are on call, whatever the reason, please don't ride with them in your ears. A group ride is a group experience, that sadly extends to crashes. We have a great track record on safety and have never had a group pile-up and would like to keep it that way.
• As always, except for the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse rides, there will be Taco deli breakfast taco's on the deck after the shop ride.

Remember, shop rides are free, and we always start on time at 8:30 a.m. ++Mark.

November
13th Ride: north west and shoal creek
Other Events: Wurst Ride, Tour das Hugel

20th Ride: No-drop only (+ pickup for any others)
Other Events Dirty Duathlon

27th Ride: Steiner Steakhouse Ride
Other Events: w/e after Thanksgiving


December
4th Ride: Advanced/Intermediate do Creedmore; plus extended No-drop to Walgreens, Buda
Other Events:

11th Ride: No-drop Hills out to 360; Intermediate/Advanced pick-up ride.
Other events: Decker Challenge

18th Ride: Steiner Steakhouse Ride
Other Events:

25 XMAS Day, NO RIDE!

 January 
1st Ride: Pick up ride
Other Events: New Years day Underwear Run

Shop ride Sundays: Plans, Schedules and Rides

PAC Expands to Downtown Location

PAC or Pure Austin Coaching is expanding its practice schedule. PAC currently offers a range of practices at its Pure Austin north, which is situated at on Braker Ln. between Mopac and 183. With the expanded practice schedule, they’ll now be offering 3 additional practices at the downtown Pure Austin location. The downtown gym is located at the intersection of 5th st. and Lamar.

PAC offers maximum affordability, with group multisport coaching priced at $55/month for members of Pure Austin and $65/month for non-members of Pure Austin. Try out the practice schedule for a week absolutely free. For additional questions visit www.pureaustincoaching.com or for practice information, click HERE.

PAC Expands to Downtown Location

Shop ride Sundays: We have no plan...

We've all been so busy since Austin 70.3 we've not had time to plan a ride for this coming w/e, so the default ride is south for all levels. Ride starts 8:30 a.m. prompt, current weather has a low of 66f so plenty warm enough for a ride, but currently showing a 33% chance of showers.

We'll get a plan through the end of the year next week, what are your favorite rides? What other rides would you like us to do? What events have you got coming up before the end of the year we should know about? ++Mark.

Shop ride Sundays: We have no plan...

Shop ride Sundays: Steiner Ride Special

After the last triathlon of the High Five and shop run and sponsored Texas Tri series, it's time to get started on winter base and maintenance. What better way to start than the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse Ride?

We are back at the Steakhouse this Sunday. Ride starts as always at 8:30 a.m. prompt. Although I expect a smaller group this week as it's the Run for the Water 10-miler, the Steakhouse rides are always popular and the parking lot fills quickly. Please arrive in time, we won't wait.

We will have 3 groups start, advanced, intermediate and of course, Jacks "famous" no-drop. The advance and intermediate take the same out and back route, so it's a good chance to try to hang with the faster group. For the intermediate, which is often the biggest group, I'll try to keep the group together until we get onto Volente, after that since it's pretty much a straight out and back on wide shoulders, it's up to you to decide how fast you can go and where.

No-drop is as always, no-drop. James and Hugo will be along to sheperd. Elizabeth will either be with them, or helping me on the intermediate. After the ride, the great folks at the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse will be providing half price brunch. See y'all Sunday, winters coming time to build a base! ++Mark.

Shop ride Sundays: Steiner Ride Special

Get your Time Trial On

When I first arrived in Austin, one of the most fun things I quickly got involved in were the free summer RunFAR time trials on South Mopac. They were a great, short and hard blast on your bike, claimed to be "approximately 8-miles" but measured by various Garmins' as 8.21 and 8.10 miles with a very gradual climb, a turn at the end of Mopac and then a slightly more noticeable descent, followed by a flat section and a very slight uphill finish.

I don't know the full history of the time trials, but RunFAR, Raul and crew had been timing them for 7-years, aside from a great mix of cyclists, triathletes and novices, and bikes of all shapes and sizes, at least in my time two unrelated events stand out. 1. Arrival direct from work one evening and rushing to change with a towel, Des Ficker pulled up next to me in a one piece cycling TT suit, booties and absolutely melting from a combination of the Texas summer heat and effort. She proceeded to talk as if nothing was any different having just clocked a sub-19 minute loop. In the spring of 2010, I bought along a then 20yr old GB triathlon junior who the previous year had stormed to a win at Ironman UK, Phil Graves.

Listed in the results from Dallas TX, Phil was in town from the UK for warm weather training and to race later that month at Galveston in the Lonestar half-iron distance race, which was that year the US Championships. Before him many top local triathletes and cyclists had set and held the record time for the course. In his first attempt, Phil smashed the record averaging over 31MPH for the whole 8-miles! As far as I'm aware, Phil still holds the course record with 15:24.8, 31.2MPH.

This year bought this announcement on the RunFAR web site."NEWS: RunFAR Bike Time Trials Cancelled for 2011. RunFAR has re-directed it's business model and unfortunately is unable to support the monthly bike time trials. Thank you for the 7 years of support!!" - I, like many assumed they had in fact gone, and didn't make any trips down from Round Rock to the Veloway in traffic on a Tuesday to find out.

It turns out that rather than actually gone, a new Austin based timing company, Allsports Timing picked up where RunFAR had left off. Since the name RunFAR was indelibly linked with the TT's and word of mouth had it that they'd been cancelled, turnout for the all new - but over exactly the same course Allsports Timing TT's was been down on prior years.

Allsports have agreed to run one final TT for this year, next Tuesday November 1st with registration starting at 5:30pm, timing running from 6-7pm. There are a few changes, you must sign-up via the facebook calendar entry https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136053553162236 and it remains free and is still not a race, but a self paced, timed test of your speed.

So, as the triathlon season winds down, why not come out in time to do one, or possibly two timed laps. Give it your best shot. Over the winter you can use your result as your base time with a view to maintaining or improving on for 2012. Lets also take the opportunity to thank Allsports for taking over this unique Austin cycling institution. Questions? ++Mark.

p.s. Yes, I'll be going for my PR, currently at 20:27. See this report of my earlier PR for map, elevation etc. 

Get your Time Trial On

Spooky Spin/Trainer Donation Drive

Halloween is right around the corner! Join us for the first annual "Spooky Spin" presented by Team in Training. This Thursday, October 27th, Bring your wheels, trainer, and your BEST COSTUME and spin on the deck with TNT coaches leading the way. Team in Training is an endurance training program that focuses on fighting blood cancers while competing in endurance events. Certified coaches and focused workouts make this class a must. With daylight savings time closing in fast, the Thursday night spin is a perfect way to get your weekly ride done, without having to rush after work. Enjoy a mid-week workout with a great group of people from the safety of the J&A deck. Class starts at 6:30, stay afterwards for some beverages and snacks if you wish, BYOB! It's sure to be a howling good time!!!

Also, if you have an old trainer that you no longer use, donate it to the Jack & Adam's Spin Class! Donate your old spinner and wheel block and get 10% off your next purchase on nutrition, tubes, swimwear, apparel and more! (Bikes excluded). Email me at Mike@jackandadams.com if you have any questions! Happy Halloween!!!

Spooky Spin/Trainer Donation Drive