sizzling summer tips
When the Texas sun blazes in July and August, cycling races are uncommon for the Lone Star state. But that doesn’t have to mean riding must come to a halt.
Austin Cycling Association president and a cyclist for more than 30 years, Stanton Truxillo says keeping in shape during summer months can come in many forms. Truxillo suggests cycling classes for those who don’t want to battle the heat, but says at least a morning ride once a week helps maintain a base fitness level. He says taking a morning ride when the day’s temperature is at its lowest makes summer riding much easier. Crosstraining also helps keep your body fit, but, for cyclists wanting to keep their edge, finding activities most like cycling are best.
“You really just have to find a way to do something equivalent to cycling — working the ‘cycling muscles’ is most important.”
Truxillo says that while cycling classes help maintain the muscles used for cycling and keep up a rider’s aerobic level, you don’t get the same challenge as “real riding.”
A Camelbak filled with ice should be taken along on any rides to keep down your core body temperature, says Truxillo. He recommends packing as much ice as possible in with water. “Water that cold makes a ride much more tolerable; the difference is startling.”
Upkeep for your bike is the opposite story, though, says Truxillo. Unlike car maintenance, a bike hardly needs attention while not being used, as long as the tires are not exposed to harmful chemicals such as gas fumes. Truxillo reminds newer riders that checking tires, brakes, the chain and gears before every ride is essential.

advice for beginners
The best tip Truxillo can give to new cyclists is to ride in a group. “Riding with a club or friends makes the learning curve a whole lot faster. You can learn so much just from being around others, asking them questions.”
Truxillo won the first race in which he competed in 1975 and says the biggest intimidation factor for new riders is getting hit by a car. But Truxillo says to fear not, instead, learn. “If you learn some facts — some real statistics — cyclists begin to not fear so much.” He says new cyclists should try to stay predictable to motorists. In other words, move with the traffic, follow the same laws as cars, and so forth. Austin is a cyclist-conscious city therefore, Truxillo says, motorists generally react appropriately and safely to riders.
Having the right bike helps with riding comfort, says Truxillo, who recommends a hybrid for a rider’s first six months of cycling because of their more natural upright position. But he says then to move to a roadrider, which will take time to adjust to and feel comfortable with, due to their lower handles. But the roadriders will become most natural for long rides.
Truxillo also suggests the League of American Bicyclists’ road-safety class. The course teaches cyclists the opposite of what they were originally taught about road safety, says Truxillo. “‘As an adult cyclist, you actually want to do the opposite of what your parents taught you as a kid — like not riding in the streets. Ride in the street.”
Children’s road-safety classes are also offered through the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, call 974-6700 or visit www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/children.