Austin cyclists added adventure to their ordinary riding challenges of flat tires and heat exhaustion, hopping off their bikes and onto the stage at Stubb’s for karaokeing, among other “obstacles.”
The first annual Urban Assault Race, held June 22, benefitted Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Austin. With 120 cyclists, 40 volunteers and about 1,000 spectators from around Austin, the race combined adventure racing with bike racing on Austin’s streets. The event was created with the goal of fun, says Josh Kravetz, co-owner of race host Evolve Fitness. Kravetz wanted to encourage cyclists who may be intimidated to try new sports to stray from familiarity. He says it was important to plan the race in such a way as to keep it approachable to riders of all levels.
The 25-mile race included mountain biking, running, kayaking and 10 various obstacles at business checkpoints throughout the city such as restaurants and sporting stores. One checkpoint required riders to assemble a tent so they could lay down in it and take it back apart before moving to the next challenge. To win, the teams had to complete all of their challenges as well as a final obstacle including activities such as rock climbing and paintball. And, as adventurous as it was, it ended accident-free.
Participant Megan Rucker, a three-and-a-half-year mountain-bike racer, loves urban riding and says the race was a new and wacky challenge for her. Finishing sixth in the women’s category with her partner, Rucker says rock climbing at Austin Rock Gym was her most challenging obstacle. “I never knew clinging to a wall could be so tough. I really needed suction cups on my hands, knees, feet and forehead,” she says.
Kravetz says the race got Austinites outside for fun and fitness in an exciting alternative to a more typical type of 20-minute cardio workout. The course left a lot of variables up to the rider to decide on, says Kravetz. The teams of two navigated their chosen open-city course, reaching checkpoints to perform unique challenges. To promote riding safety, participants had to map out their own South to North path, adhering to restrictions on certain high-traffic city streets and avoiding all highways. Volunteers and police officers were also on-hand to monitor cyclists, penalizing anyone violating traffic laws. But Kravetz says, once contestants were warned, they heeded the rules and no one was disqualified from the race.
Kravetz’s ultimate goal is to have the Austin race grow next year, expanding it to two more cities. He wants to keep the race urban and says Los Angeles and San Diego are possibilities, but the location is ultimately dependent on sponsors. “The race could be bigger in the future. This year, contestants were limited at obstacles because some had to wait for another team to finish,” Kravetz says. “The way to grow is to focus on fun.” He says the race’s distance was good but some of the challenges need to be more difficult. He looks to add more opportunities for racers in upcoming years such as an online forum, classes for riding in traffic and a more competitive elite rider category. Kravetz likes the challenge he presented to riders with the alternative adventure race. “Fitness is important to do well in the race but strategy is the key.”
The race received strong support from Austin business owners and was definitely a success, says Kravetz. For more information about the race, including maps and race results, visit www.urbanassaultrace.com.

Photo taken by Elizabeth Kreutz.