Austin Texas
Austin, Texas. It's one of a kind. Visiting from Atlanta there's a somewhat common thread of being a city stuck in the middle of a state that is very different from it. A sense of pride in being unique.
Our original plan was to attend Gravel Locos in Hico but the more we talked about going to Texas, the more Austin came up. Ray and I had been there many time but never spent any time there on a bike. From the outside looking in, the Austin bike scene seemed like it had something magical going on and we were keen to explore it.
We began planning by reaching out to some contacts at the Meteor Café and the Breakfast Club. Andrew at the Meteor was quick to set us up with local legend David Ross, a mechanic at The Meteor and the brilliant mind behind Rip My Routes. David is a one of a kind individual who has aggregated all of Austin's greatest routes and shared them for anyone to enjoy. One amazing thing was that he doesn't even ride with a computer. It's all up there in his noggin and he's out exploring on a bike enjoying being screen free. We spent the evening with David and his partner Natalie climbing hills, jamming down some single track and ultimately crushing some pizza at the Meteor (as is tradition, I'm told). This was one of the most fun rides I'd been on in a long time and I knew the rest of the weekend wouldn't disappoint.
Saturday came bright and early and we were headed back up to the Meteor to meet up with the group that puts on Austin's biggest group ride - The Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club started during the pandemic and grew into a 400-500 person group ride within a couple years. They offer options for riders at all skill levels and are an impressively accommodating for folks getting into the scene. It seemed like everyone I spoke with was a ride leader of some kind which rightfully carried a sense of pride. It's wonderful to see what they've done to open doors into the cycling community. Matt, Summer, Jake, and Jordie took us out to the Creedmore area to explore the Texas countryside. What they lack in elevation gain they make up with in wind speed. We certainly got our fair share of practice with crosswinds. One of the greatest things on this ride was Matt (Matt Kundo Digital Marketing) absolutely shredding at the front of the group on his steel commuter bike with a rear rack and big knobby tires. Matt's friend was in town for his birthday and he'd let him borrow his race bike for the day. When we finally turned to head north we had a strong tailwind carrying us home the whole way. Temps were creeping up and expected to be even hotter the next day. We, of course, ended up back at the Meteor’s lovely back patio for more coffee, a snack, and a pint.
Sunday was all about meeting up with the crew at Rapha. No one really cultivates a vibe like Rapha so we were pleased to be invited to their Sunday ride. We heard there would be espresso, beer, and Giro d'Italia at the end so how could we say no?! Personally, I had never attended a Rapha group ride and was very impressed with how organized the whole thing was. The pace was quick, but steady. There was a store stop, a regroup point, and a nice bit of hanging out at the end. Charlie, Dave, and Jordie (yes she helped lead both rides!) were excellent ride leaders and kept the whole thing organized without being overly structured. We rode a very similar route to Saturday, but somehow the ride felt completely different.
There's something magical about the Austin scene. It's positive, welcoming, and doesn't seem to carry an ego like you might find in other places. I guess you could say that reflects the city itself. It's got a certain bit of unique and affable charm that just can't be replicated. In the end, while we missed out on the racing action in Hico, Ray and I were pleased to have been a part of the scene for a few days. We barely scratched the surface of the riding possibilities in central Texas. We'll definitely be back.
Keep your eyes peeled for a 2023 NeverLost tour in Austin.
Interested in joining the NeverLost crew in 2022? Check out our August and October tours here.
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