After this winter’s spontaneous cold fronts, we can finally say spring is in the air. It's time to get off the couch and enjoy Austin’s great outdoors. But this spring, consider combining your outside time with doing a few good deeds.

Alright, technically BMC manufactures Swiss bikes, but the BMC team is based right here in the United States, and its newly minted team leader is the young American Tejay Van Garderen.

If an outdoor festival teeming with sweaty humans and ever-revving engines sounds too extreme, you can still follow select X Games Austin action on broadcast (see schedule below) and digital platforms like XGames.com.

It was the first day of their 3,600-mile kayaking journey and Jeff Wueste, Ian Rolls, and West Hansen were already on the edge of trouble.

Why isn't the Tour de France in America? I mean, besides the obvious fact that the French started it 108 years ago and it takes place over three weeks through roughly 2,000 miles of countryside there. Hear me out.

You will read in the Austin American-Statesman that Lance Armstrong came up short on Wednesday in the 17th and most difficult stage of the Tour de France and dropped out of podium position when he was unable to keep up with teammate Alberto Contador on the final climbs. Don't believe it. Those who watched the race stage saw Armstrong's best performance of the Tour and a masterpiece of taking one for the team. Lance sacrificed his own position and lost about two minutes to Contador and the Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank, who are now second and third overall. But in doing so he absolutely destroyed the man he and Contador feared the most going into the stage, time trialist Bradley Wiggins, then powered away from Wiggins on the final climb, gaining almost a minute in the last 500 meters or so to stay well within podium contention and virtually guarantee the overall win for his team leader. My prediction: By the time you read this Lance will be back in second place overall following the Thursday time trial and, with Andreas Klöden, will lead a first, second, and third podium sweep for his Astana team Sunday in Paris.

The problem with American shows about cars is that they're so enthusiastic. They're all, "Ooo, look at my fast car, isn't it pretty, and here's the list of the show's sponsors who will sell you enough spare parts to ensure you'll spend weekend after weekend in your garage, covered in grease and utterly miserable." Thank the BBC for the grand British institution that is Top Gear, whose tenth season is now on DVD (BBC Warner, $39.98). It's less a car show, more an excuse for three overgrown schoolboys to drive fast enough to scare themselves and then mock each other. There's Jeremy Clarkson (the tall, sardonic one), Richard Hammond (the short, enthusiastic one) and James May (better known as Captain Slow, a man that could get lost on a circular track.) They are unified by their fearless dedication to fast cars and comfortable slacks. Oh, and their seething hatred of Volkswagen Beetles. It's officially an institution. Now in its twelfth season in the UK, that means it's run longer than Monty Python's Flying Circus. And, whisper it quietly, but it's arguably a lot funnier. Although that's not always deliberate: After all three hosts spending a sweltering week driving uncomfortable super cars around the wrong bits of Europe, Clarkson proudly proclaims, "Top Gear: Ambitious, but rubbish!"

I don't think I'll be challenging Tony Stewart or Dale Jr. to a race any time soon after my humbling turn as a kart driver this past weekend at Iron Rock Raceway. The friendly folks at IRR were hosting their Austin Grand Prix (with a 5K purse) and kindly invited yours truly to take part in the Sponsor Showdown – 11:30am, Saturday, Aug. 16. Being one to never turn down a sporty challenge, I eagerly accepted. I should have stayed home. I was one of 14 drivers in the SS and I knew I was in trouble when we were randomly picking our karts and all the other drivers seemed to know which ones were the fastest (and slowest). After donning my racing jacket, gloves, helmet, and neck brace(!), it was off to the track. The course was a winding three-quarters-of-a-mile long and we were to make 20 laps around the back-breaking raceway. After first embarrassing myself during the two practice laps by holding up the entire field behind me, it took all of one lap for me to fall into last place; where I remained for the following 19 laps. Race-car drivers of all levels earned much respect in my book as most every muscle in my body was sore from trying to navigate my kart – that goes up to 50 mph, the souped-up ones go up to 100 mph – 20 times around the curvy track. I was all tuckered out halfway through but managed to survive till the end. Following the race everyone was kind and somehow resisted teasing me on my sad showing. Regardless of how badly I performed, it was fun to try something I'd never done before and I recommend a trip out to Iron Rock to all readers of the Score looking for a new and fun challenge.

Local rider-owned bike company Terrible One is hosting a benefit for their friend Jimmy Levan who was in a serious skateboard accident last month that left him in a coma for two weeks. Needless to say his medical bills are outrageous and that's where you step in. Bring yourself and your significant other (along with your wallet) down to T1 (1809 E. Sixth St.) this Saturday and enjoy live music from Transmography, Tia Carrera, and the Snake Trap as well as a high air contest and an art show with 15 artists selling their prints. All the money raised at this benefit will go directly to Levan and his family. The benefit gets rolling at 1pm and concludes at 8pm.