9th Annual Luckenbach Ride

9th Annual Luckenbach Ride & Farm BBQ Saturday July 15th

The Luckenbach Ride will depart from Freewheeling @ 7:00am (w/15 minute rule in effect) SPECIAL NOTE: please park your vehicle along the wooden fence away from the shop so that we do not occupy Freewheeling customer parking. The ride ends in Luckenbach and cyclists should begin arriving in Luckenbach sometime around 12:00 (depending on the pace and rest-stops of course). A BBQ follows that afternoon/evening at the Tasch farmstead (about 12 miles from Luckenbach see below for more details).

The total distance is ~87 miles (one way) and the route follows scenic Hill Country back roads. The idea of the ride is to bicycle out to Luckenbach, have a family member or friend meet you there (obviously they drive out), drink a cool beer or soda under the oak trees and visit a while. And if you choose, go to a BBQ afterwards. The ride and BBQ are open to all regardless of club affiliation. Shorter ride variations and perhaps a "Junior Ride" could begin in Dripping Springs and ride out to Luckenbach (~60 miles) or begin in Blanco (at the Brewery) and out to Luckenbach (~30 miles). Regardless, unless your desire to ride your bike back to Austin you will need someone to pick you up.

Interested? Suggest the following to your family/friends - Drive out, spend the day shopping in town or just the afternoon driving in the Hill Country, pick-up a dehydrated loved one in Luckenbach and venture over to the Tasch farmstead for an afternoon BBQ. Bring along your entire family including the little ones!

Optional rest stops are anticipated in Dripping Springs (a convenient turn-around point back to Austin for those wanting to ride a ~65 mile from Austin) and in Blanco at the Real Ale Brewery (located in the basement of the building at the southeast corner of the Blanco town square). The brew masters at the Real Ale Brewery will be brewing beer on Saturday and they have graciously offered to show us around and assist with our efforts to rehydrate. Please note that this is (yes, once again) the last year Real Ale will be brewing in the original brew house/basement . If you have never visited the Real Ale Brewery, this is once again a wonderful opportunity to make a visit "before" they move to their the facility (also to be located in Blanco).

Please Note: In spirit of the Shiner Ride's early days, NO sag and NO maps will be provided for the Luckenbach Ride. Rumor has been circulating of free beer (sodas for a junior) for the first place finisher - defined as the person winning the sprint at the Grape Creek sign just before Luckenbach.

READ THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE --> the only thing "official" about this event is that we have all agreed to meet and share a ride to Luckenbach. There are NO support vehicles and cell phone coverage can not be assumed. Some roads in Travis, Hays, Blanco, Kendal & Gillespie Counties have very little or no shoulder on which to ride. And drivers in Texas have a notorious reputation for threatening cyclists! July will be hot and water stops are few and far between. Along the way one may also find longhorns, rattle snakes, fire ants, scorpions and tarantulas.

For those driving out for the day, Luckenbach is about ~12 miles south of 290 and ~7 miles east of Fredericksburg. Click on the image (left) for an interactive map. The drive from Austin is about 1.5 hours - the Luckenbach website has good written directions.

Tasch Farmstead BBQ
Saturday July 15th
2:00pm to late evening (please print this page if driving out to the farm)

The BBQ at the Tasch farmstead is open to all. Bring your entire family including the little ones. Just let us know if you (and how many) are coming out so we know how much chicken & cob corn to get. We will eat around 2:30 pm and everyone is welcome to stay until into the evening. The historic farmstead has showers and a guest house. So come early and just hang out and rehydrate.

Grilled chicken & corn will be served around 2:30 pm. Please bring what you want to drink (beer, soda ect) and something to snack on before we eat (chips, pretzels ect). If you prefer a vegetarian item (or something other than chicken) , bring something to throw on the grill. In addition to a cooler, consider bringing a lawn-chair and blanket. Also, if you are interested in cooling off in a small pool at the farmstead, bring a swim suit and towel. And if you want to mountain bike on the farm bring your mountain bike too! For more information (e.g. what to expect and what to bring) call 512.478.1337 or email edward@brykerwoods.org.

Directions: The entrance to the farm is about ~15 miles west of Johnson City on the south side of 290 (directly across from the Lutheran Church & the new roadside park). Look for the old VioletCrown cycling jersey fastened to the game fence near the farm gate. Click on the image below for an interactive map. Farmstead phone number 830.644.5597

> SPECIAL NOTES: Please close the gate at the farm entrance; also the road to the farm house has several low oak tree branches - if bicycles are mounted on roof racks (especially on SUV's) exercise CAUTION when driving under overhanging tree limbs! We have a dedicated service entrance should you require extra clearance.

Farm phone number 830.644.5597 (Anne)
Edward's cell number 512.415.9686