About this project

It's spring time, and there's no better way to experience Austin than by bike. Elliott McFadden from Austin on Two Wheels and Keith Byrd from Social Cycling ATX are teaming up to take social cycling in Austin to the next level with our Discover the City on Two Wheels Spring Urban Living Rides. This project is part of the test for a new concept bike store location that Elliott and Keith are working on where Austinites can get the equipment and resources they need to live their life on two wheels. Quite simply, we want to make a place that is dedicated to the simple pleasure of riding with friends, not competition or workouts. We want to put Austin on the map as the cycling mecca of America.

We are doing three uniquely Austin social rides in April and need your help to make it happen.

Ride #1- Taste of Downtown Tour: We'll be stopping at three great downtown restaurants to sample some of the best locally made food our town has to offer. Scheduled for Saturday, April 10.

Ride #2- Pampered Pedal Ride: Shopping local around downtown followed by a mini-spa stop for relaxation. Scheduled for Saturday, April 17.

Ride #3 - Eat local cooking class: We'll take in the the finest in locally grown food with local chef who will teach us how to prepare a meal with in season, local food. We'll enjoy the dish prepared and have an opportunity to buy the ingredients to cook our selves. Scheduled for Saturday, April 24.

All the rides will leave from our ride host Bo Concept on 2nd Street and each ride will cost $10-$25 depending on the ride. Bike parking and technical support will be provided on all rides. We'll also have some great Dutch bikes and cargo bikes to test ride while you're there. To keep the ride experience exceptional, we will be limited the number of riders on each ride, so we are offering all individuals who sponsor us an opportunity to register before we open it up to the general public.

Where's the money going?

Glad you asked. Funds raised will pay for the staffing the ride coordinator, Keith Byrd, and the support ride guides as well as marketing this great event to the Austin public. There's a lot going into putting on these events, and these folks deserve your support.

Why sponsor the series?
Don't you think it's time Austin had some more unique rides to enjoy our great city and a meeting place for living on two wheels? If you want more opportunities to let old hands like Elliott and Keith plan well produced Austin social rides where all you do is show up and pedal, sign up today. You'll be helping to grow Austin's bike culture. With successful events, we'll be back with a store in the near future to provide great urban bikes and social cycling events to make Austin a leader in all things bike.

UPDATE: More questions.
A few questions have come up in the 24 hours since we launched this project that I want to clarify so all our backers can feel really good about backing this project.

Is this replacing Social Cycling ATX or the Thursday Night Social Ride?
Absolutely not. Social Cycling ATX rides are totally separate and will remain free rides as long as Keith Byrd is in charge of them. These are simply another level of social riding that is a little more intimate and full service than what the larger free rides can provide. To limit confusion, we've updated the name of this series to Urban Living Rides.

If this is part of potentially launching a store, why ask the cycling community to contribute?
Keith and I believe in a vision for Austin where a majority of Austinites use bikes and view them as legitimate transportation. The shop and rides we are working on are part of reaching that vision. We do have investors that are interested in creating a whole established shop to provide these services and put Austin on the map as the first in the country to do this.

Before investing, they want to see a proof that there is interest from the cycling community and that we can make this work. We've already put in countless hours and a sizable amount of our own money to make this series work, but we cannot do it alone. If you share our vision, please help by contributing whatever your can. Thanks.