After hearing so many good things about Austin, Texas I finally made a trip out there to check it out for myself.
I was a little worried that my expectations were too high but it turns out that Austin really is a great place if you’re into BMX…and cruisers in particular.
Actually, Austin is a great place if you’re into bikes of any kind.
Unlike a lot of cities, Austin seems to go out of its way to promote bicycling. People bike everywhere and bike racks are plentiful….I don’t think I have ever seen bike racks set up in front of a bar before but in Austin that’s commonplace.
But as a BMXer, I was kinda blown away by how much BMX is part of the everyday fabric there.
Walking by a women’s clothing store downtown there was an immaculate old school Skyway T/A just sitting in the window as part of the display.
Go down to the 6th st., a bar and restaurant area, and you’ll see tricked-out 24s, like this Liquid, just locked up outside the restaurants.
Heck, you’ll even see cruisers hanging from the ceiling in some bars. Check this out:
Hop on one of the city buses and you’re likely to see a cruiser sitting on the bike rack.
And you would you believe that a local brewer has come out with a cruiser-themed beer? Yes, it’s true. In Austin you can pick up a Firemans 4.
A beer that was made to honor Austin’s own, Firemans Texas Cruiser bikes.
Add in great places to ride, like the 9th street trails…
…and Walnut Creek
and pair that with friendly, laid-back locals, it’s hard to go wrong.
Buddy (pictured above), not only shredded everything in sight at Walnut Creek but was also kind enough to let me borrow a bike and drive me out to the trails. Thanks man!
(I wish I could’ve captured a better shot of his riding but rest assured Buddy was taking care of business at Walnut Creek.)
If that weren’t enough, Austin’s live music scene is off the charts, not only is Austin home to multiple music festivals, but it’s also home to a record number of live music venues. Just walking around town you’re bound to find a musician or band that blows you away….it happened to me more than once on this trip.
And the food!
Austin is well-known for its food trucks, BBQ, tacos (which you can eat for every meal of the day)…you name it…you will find something that strikes your fancy here.
Do I need to say more?
Frankly, I’m just trying to figure out when I can go back.
With Mike Leonard on the whistle (that’s him in the extreme closeup above) we took off from the Fremont Street area, up to the Las Vegas Sign and then onto a final run through the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip.
Gotta love the “We are the champions” pose of Patrick Thomas in this photo (in front, bike in the air)…it just shows the stoke factor of these events.
cruiser revolution 