Art853
10-23-2005, 09:46 AM
This is a description of a ride I did on the fourth of July near Austin Texas. It’s a combination of day ride and commuting since I bike rode through Austin’s bike routes in order to get to the start of the ride. Many of the rides organized by Austin Cycling Association (ACA) have starting locations that people drive to. Austin has a beautiful core to the city, with parks, creeks, rivers, and springs, great architecture on the Capital and commercial buildings downtown, and residential neighborhoods with loads of character. Outside of the core, however, things start to look like sprawlmallville anywhere car-dependent development. Many of the ACA rides leave from outside of Austin for this reason, and to take advantage of more of great riding areas outside of the city. There is an active bicycle advocacy community in Austin and people share tips on how to commute from various parts in and outside of the city.
On Independence Day I celebrated by going on an ACA ride called Pfinally Pflugerville. With the ride there and back it was about 160 kilometers total (100 miles) and in about 38 degree Celsius heat (a gentleman’s 100 F) and 40% humidity.
Although I brought my backpack with the neon triangle attached I didn’t have money to buy food or drink on the trip. So I was self sufficient with water refills at gas stations and eating powerbars that I brought.
I arrived at a little after 8am as the first group of riders were leaving the parking lot. I got a map from the ride director before leaving.
The weather was great with a mix of thick clouds and sun, dramatically changing the light and scenery. Often, by the time I got my camera out to take a photo, the light would change. I like having a digital camera but they sure are slow to snap off a photo.
It was hot but not as much as Saturday it seemed. The pavement was just melting not boiling. I stopped at the fire station on the end of the bike route to rest in the shade and refill my water bottles for the ride back to Austin.
I decided to take Dessau Rd. to Breaker Lane back. It seemed more heavily traveled than the morning route but it may have been the time of day. It was, after all, a Red route.
After showering I rode to Town Lake for the fireworks show.
To view photos of the trip go to this link
http://www.austincycling.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124
On Independence Day I celebrated by going on an ACA ride called Pfinally Pflugerville. With the ride there and back it was about 160 kilometers total (100 miles) and in about 38 degree Celsius heat (a gentleman’s 100 F) and 40% humidity.
Although I brought my backpack with the neon triangle attached I didn’t have money to buy food or drink on the trip. So I was self sufficient with water refills at gas stations and eating powerbars that I brought.
I arrived at a little after 8am as the first group of riders were leaving the parking lot. I got a map from the ride director before leaving.
The weather was great with a mix of thick clouds and sun, dramatically changing the light and scenery. Often, by the time I got my camera out to take a photo, the light would change. I like having a digital camera but they sure are slow to snap off a photo.
It was hot but not as much as Saturday it seemed. The pavement was just melting not boiling. I stopped at the fire station on the end of the bike route to rest in the shade and refill my water bottles for the ride back to Austin.
I decided to take Dessau Rd. to Breaker Lane back. It seemed more heavily traveled than the morning route but it may have been the time of day. It was, after all, a Red route.
After showering I rode to Town Lake for the fireworks show.
To view photos of the trip go to this link
http://www.austincycling.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=124