dante fichera | Steiner Ranch Cycling

2013 was a great year for our club and as we close out the year it is time to reflect on our accomplishments and think about what new goals you want to set for yourself for next year. Our club has logged some serious miles in 2013 and we participated in may organized rides throughout Austin and raised a bunch of money for various charities.

As we get ready for 2014 think about what 2013 achievement you are most proud of and what cycling related goal you would like to accomplish in 2014. Please share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page. If you have not already done so please go to our website at www.steinerranchcycling.com and join our Strava club. It is FREE and it is a great way for all of us to be accountable to each other, ourselves, track performance and most importantly it is super fun. We have about 63 members signed up already.

I also want to thank everyone for the Christmas gift card. I’ll be heading down to Bicycle Sports Shop and buying speed play pedals which are what I have wanted for a while and a bicycle seat which is what the club has wanted for a while. My seat is still good but I know many of you hate the squeaky sound it makes.

STRAVA HIGHLIGHTS

The Strava highlights for last week by category are as follows (need to ride over 75 miles in the week to be included in stats below):

Distance                    Marek Kacprzak     228.7             Miles
Mountain Goat       Marek Kacprzak     11,588 Feet
Speed Demon         Eric Watson             18.8 Mph over 96.2 Total Miles

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION RIDE AND NEXT WEEKENDS RIDES

NEW YEAR’S DAY RESOLUTION RIDE – Mellow Johnny’s

This ride is really fun and I have done it a number of times and the turnout is really high and it is fully supported and it is FREE. It starts at 9am from Mellow Johnny’s and they have 27, 45 and 70 mile route. The ride will be led by the Austin Flyers and Voodoo Cycling Clubs. See your route options below:

http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/uploads/NYD2014map.pdf

I’ll be at Cups & Cones at 7:30am if anyone wants to carpool or caravan downtown with me.

SCIENIC LOOP – Saturday January 4^th at 8:30am at Cups & Cones

This Saturday the Steiner Ranch Cycling Club we will be doing the Scenic Loop. The ride is about 56 miles round trip to and from Cups & Cones.

We will probably have two groups. We will have a faster group that will average about 18-20 mph and a slower group that will average between 15-16mph. That being said there is no designated sweeper behind me so you need to keep up with me at a minimum or you will be dropped.

We will take a fluid break at Mellow Johnny’s and head back to Steiner Ranch via Shoal Creek.

Please print out the below route if you are not familiar with the route.

ROUTE 1 (on the way downtown to MJ):

http://goo.gl/maps/2ZcEe

ROUTE 1 (on the way home via Shoal Creek):

http://goo.gl/maps/uChP8

MYSTERY RIDE – Sunday January 5^th at 8:30am at Cups & Cones

On Sunday the Steiner Ranch Cycling Group (SRC) will roll out from Cups & Cones at 8:30 am this Sunday morning for either the Tour de Steiner Ranch or Ski Shores. It is supposed to be sunny and moderately cold temperatures.

ROUTE:

http://goo.gl/maps/asEjI

http://goo.gl/maps/6tqey

Christmas is only one week away and if you are looking for a cool inexpensive cycling themed gift then check out Jennifer Allis handmade bike chain Christmas ornaments. Prices range from only $5 for the chain wreath, $7 for the chain Christmas tree and $10 for the decorated tree. I have one hanging on my tree now. I think they are awesome. Contact Jennifer at jen@jenallis.com to place your order. She lives here in Steiner Ranch too. Every cyclist should have one hanging from their tree.

I’ll be there for the Saturday ride but not the Sunday ride as I’ll be leaving town for Christmas but the rides will be on for anyone that shows up.

STRAVA HIGHLIGHTS

The Strava highlights for last week by category are as follows (need to ride over 75 miles in the week to be included in stats below):

Distance                    Eric Watson             149.1 Miles
Mountain Goat       Robert Brown         7,077 Feet
Speed Demon         Justin C.                     18.8 Mph over 95.6 Total Miles

NEXT WEEKENDS RIDES

CANCELLED (WET ROADS / RAIN )Triple B’s – Saturday December 21th at 8:30am at Cups & Cones

The Triple B’s ride is approximately a 52 mile bike ride that will roll out from Cups & Cones at 8:30 am morning. The ride is scenic and it follows around the lake via lime creek and volente and there is about 2,100 feet of climbing.

We will bike out from Steiner Ranch and make the climb out to the 620 via the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse route then head down the 620 and make a left on Anderson Mill Rd. and then another left on 2769 (turns into Volente Rd) and head into Volente Village. When we get to Volente Village we will make a right turn up the hill on Lime Creek Rd. towards the TRIPLE B’s. After we get to the end of Lime Creek we make a right on Anderson Mill Rd a left on Zepplin and then a right on Sun Chase and then make our way over to Lakeline and then out to Crystal Falls Golf Course and then back to 620 via Anderson Mill and back to Steiner Ranch. Cross the 620 onto Steiner Ranch Blvd. back down to Cups & Cones.

There will be a faster group travelling at speeds of 18-20 mph over the course of the route and we will also have less fast group travelling about 15-17mph. Again there is no designated sweeper.

This ride is for experienced riders that have ridden with large groups at high speeds.

Please see the course below:

http://goo.gl/maps/1VSKJ

MYSTERY RIDE – Sunday December 22^nd at 8:30am at Cups & Cones