Spin Off

Bike Races & Rides

MEET, GREET & EAT RIDE
Come out and meet the Austin Cycling Association (ACA) club officers on May 3. Ride with them, and then grab a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant after the ride. This ride will be great for beginners and anyone interested in learning more about the ACA. There will be a “no drop” route so no one gets left behind. Routes will be from 18 to 50 miles through the New Sweden flatlands northeast of Austin. Meet at the Dessau Middle School on Dessau Road between Parmer and Howard lanes. Participants should meet at 8:30 a.m. and will start the ride at 9 a.m. For more information, call Scott at 657-9150.

SHINER B.A.S.H.
Thousands of cyclists from Austin, San Antonio and Houston will strap on their helmets and “Pedal to the Kettle in Shiner, Texas,” May 17, in a 90-mile pilgrimage to the historic Spoetzl Brewery. Proceeds from the ride will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Shiner Chamber of Commerce. Departure will be at 7 a.m. at a location still to be determined. Participants can register at Sun & Ski Sports, or at www.shinerbash.com. Early registration is $30 and includes a T-shirt and food and beverage coupons for a post-ride meal. Spectators can register for $20 to receive the same package available to riders. For more information, call 1-800-5-SHINER.

ADA TOUR DE CURE
On May 17 and 18, riders can choose from routes of 20, 45 or 80 miles, or a two-day, 125-mile ride or 125-mile relay. The American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure is presented by Valero Energy Corporation and organized by members of the San Antonio Wheelmen. The ride starts at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The overnight stay, and finish of the 80-miler, will be held at Southwest Texas State University (SWTSU) in San Marcos. Enjoy beautiful Hill Country routes with superior SAG support, food and drinks and volunteer support. Saturday night’s finish-line party at the San Marcos River Pub and Grill is sure to be a lot of fun. Overnight housing on the campus of SWTSU and transportation for gear and riders are available from there or the ultimate finish in McKinney Falls State Park in Austin. There are nice incentive prizes for the top fundraisers. For more information, e-mail John Farugia at jpf34@earthlink.net. Online registration is available at www.Diabetes.org.

CAPITOL OF TEXAS TRIATHLON
The 2003 Capitol of Texas Triathlon will take place May 26 and will benefit the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Austin Triathletes. The race will begin at 7 a.m. at Auditorium Shores. This U.S.A. Triathlon-sanctioned event will host three different triathlons: Olympic Distance, with a 1.5K swim, a 40K bike and a 10K run; Sprint Distance, with a 750M swim, a 20K bike and a 5K run; and FirstTri Distance, with a 375M swim, a 10K bike and a 5K run. Regular entry fees are $90 for the Olympic distance, $75 for the sprint distance, $55 for the FirstTri distance, $160 for the Olympic relay, and $130 for the sprint relay. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants, there will be a limit of 2,000 total entrants for this year’s event. The Olympic distance will be limited to 1,000 participants. Registration is available only online at www.captextri.com.