Bike-sexuals
Building sweat equity in a spin class may have its virtues. But going nowhere on a stationary seems like running in place — especially with an entire city right outside.
Social rides are geared for those who enjoy traveling in packs. In Austin, there’s no shortage of two-wheeling orgies. (See sidebar, below.) Unless you’re a bike cop, it’s difficult and extremely dangerous to ride side-by-side throughout an urban landscape. But group biking balances “strength in numbers” with a collective consciousness. Queer Ride is Austin’s pride-ride that meets on Hump Day for night-seeing athleisure. It’s nifty way to meet like-minded “different spokes, different folks,” who can shift gears, let their wigs down and make everyone feel like they’re in a homocore bike-gang. Everyone pulls up at south gates of the Capitol. At first, there’s a ... “beginning of the ‘Footloose’ prom” politeness that melts away after a few turns. If you like music, don’t wear earphones on a group ride. Someone usually straps a ghettoblaster to a rear-mounted rack. But the volume is unobtrusive, which allows for chitchat as well as listening to safety calls like, “Bump!” (a road protuberance) or “Car up!” (auto approaching to your left). Safety is important. And with other members scanning conditions, Queer Ride lends a communal layer of protection. Queer’s pace is breezy. It’s also a “no-drop ride,” which means if your tire busts, you won’t be abandoned. Group riding improves cycling habits. With its vast-and-intricate network of bike lanes, Austin is an exceptionally friendly city. But the “share the road” ethos can give wobbly cyclists a false sense of security. A lot of Austin cyclists are arrogant, entitled menaces to life and limb who are clueless to the fact that this town is also clogged with cars. Group rides remind you to obey laws — not to risk blowing through red lights, ignoring pedestrians or daring to ride on sidewalks. Queer Ride emphasizes safety lights — but (thankfully) they’re not helmet Nazis. Almost like singing in a chorus, group rides are about harmonizing. Space becomes elastic. Members pass each other and travel at different speeds while still banding together. With a well-curated route, you’ll be introduced to better, smoother paths, new sights and cool people who enjoy sweating too much to cave to “brave hipster” drag. When it comes to Queer Ride, don’t let weather put much of damper on deciding to go. Something about sloshing along together through a downpour becomes a gay ol’ time. And that’s something you can never get inside a spin studio. |
AUSTIN-AREA SOCIAL RIDES: For details, check calendar on AustinOnABike.com.
SUNDAYS
• X21, with morning coffee.
• Bike Curious, art-viewing at night.
MONDAYS
• Monday Mash, a sunrise pedal-crank.
• Vegan Social Cyclist Ride, cruelty-free.
• Bikin’ Betties, for anyone who identifies as a woman.
• Lend Your Legs, leading tandem rides with Texas School for the Blind students.
• Heavy Metal Fitness, headbangers unite in Pflugerville.
TUESDAYS
• Yoga Ride, led by yogis.
• Walnut Creek Ride, meet at Govalle Park.
• Night Northside Ride, at Balcones District Park.
WEDNESDAYS
• Queer Ride, homocore chain-gang.
• Hump-Day Nooner, pedal — then lunch.
• Heavy Breather, quick-paced endurance test.
THURSDAYS
• TNSR (“Thursday Night Social Ride’), the behemoth. Like 300 cyclists.
SATURDAYS
• Caffeine Cruise, hopped up on medium double-doubles.
• Scout-a-Route, freewheeling adventure.
SUNDAYS
• X21, with morning coffee.
• Bike Curious, art-viewing at night.
MONDAYS
• Monday Mash, a sunrise pedal-crank.
• Vegan Social Cyclist Ride, cruelty-free.
• Bikin’ Betties, for anyone who identifies as a woman.
• Lend Your Legs, leading tandem rides with Texas School for the Blind students.
• Heavy Metal Fitness, headbangers unite in Pflugerville.
TUESDAYS
• Yoga Ride, led by yogis.
• Walnut Creek Ride, meet at Govalle Park.
• Night Northside Ride, at Balcones District Park.
WEDNESDAYS
• Queer Ride, homocore chain-gang.
• Hump-Day Nooner, pedal — then lunch.
• Heavy Breather, quick-paced endurance test.
THURSDAYS
• TNSR (“Thursday Night Social Ride’), the behemoth. Like 300 cyclists.
SATURDAYS
• Caffeine Cruise, hopped up on medium double-doubles.
• Scout-a-Route, freewheeling adventure.