Bike Month Happenings

Saturday, May 10

ACA's Annual Armadillo Hill Country Classic

The premier Austin-area road ride is a fundraiser for the Austin Cycling Association's bicyclist safety education and free kids' bike helmets programs.

Routes around the low-traffic edges of the Texas Hill Country range from six miles for kids and families to 100-plus miles for the experienced. See www.austincycling.org/dillo for details. Call Laura King at 923-9700, or e-mail [email protected].

Monday, May 12

Bicycle Maintenance 101

A crash course on maintaining your road or mountain bike. $15 for REI co-op members, $20 for nonmembers. Register: REI customer service, 343-5550; limited to six participants. 6:30pm. REI Gateway, 9901 Capital of TX Hwy. N.

Tuesday, May 13

Advanced Bike Maintenance

$25 for REI co-op members, $30 for nonmembers. Register: REI Downtown customer service, 482-3357; limited to six participants. 6pm. REI Downtown, 601 N. Lamar.

Thursday, May 15

Bike Commuting Clinic

This clinic addresses commuting in Austin and covers many topics and concerns of the bicycle-commuting newcomer, including locating safe routes, selecting proper attire, necessary tools and equipment, and securing your bike. Info at REI customer service, 343-5550. 7pm, REI Gateway, 9901 Capital of TX Hwy. N.

Bike to Music/Third Thursday

Bikes, music, and Third Thursday quirkiness on the Drag combine to create an essential Austin Bike Month event. See www.waterloocycles.com for details. 7:30pm. Waterloo Cycles, 2815 Fruth.

Friday, May 16

Bike to Work Day/Breakfast Stations

Bike Month's best-known event. Mark your calendars now, and plan your route to include a stop at one of the breakfast stations around town. Or hit them all! 7-9am.

•Whole Foods, Sixth & Lamar

•City Hall Plaza, 301 W. Second (sponsored by city of Austin employees)

•Texas One Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd. (also sponsored by city of Austin employees)

•Texas Bicycle Coalition, 1902 E. Sixth

•Mellow Johnny's, Fourth & Nueces

•Wheatsville Co-op, 3101 Guadalupe

•Bicycle Sport Shop, 517 S. Lamar

•Shoal Creek Boulevard at the Far West Bridge (sponsored by Clif Bar)

•Music City Cycles, 6301 W. Parmer #504

•Jo's Coffee, 1300 S. Congress

•Freewheeling Bicycles, 24th & San Gabriel

Check www.austincycling.org for newly added stations before planning your route. Contact: Monica Leo, 635-4738, [email protected].

Tree to Tree: The Parmer Commutes

Wish you could commute to work on bike from Cedar Park? Why not? It is easy and fun. Come join other commuters on Bike to Work Day riding from Cedar Park to the Arboretum in Austin via Parmer. There will be several stops to join in along the way and plenty of places to jump off if you have a job along the route (Freescale, Apple). A breakfast stop sponsored by Music City Cycles is part of the planned route. Starts at 6:15am at It's a Grind, 700 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park, and ends at 8:30am at the Arboretum. Designated stops along the route: 6:45-6:50am, Vista Ridge High School; 7:10-7:15am, Lakeline Road and Parmer Lane; 7:40-7:55am, Music City Bicycles, 6301 W. Parmer #504. For more info: Monte Morast, [email protected].