Patrick's Undercover Training Junket to Austin, TX in March...
Folks -
Looks like AZ is out of reach in March, so I'd like to hit Austin for Fri-Monday training junket (3/12 to 15th). All are welcome to play along, but I plan on burying myself...so don't be mad if I go the other way. 
Looking for advice on places to swim out of...and then places to run/ride. Basic day will ideally be:
Run 30' to pool, Swim 4k, do core, run 30' home.
Breakfast.
Ride 10-4, lots of volume. Probably 20-22 mph avg.
Dinner and Beers.
Repeat Sat and Sunday.
If there were a place I could ship my bike into / out of as well that would rock.
Any input?
P
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Comments
Any way, the best place in Austin to swim is Barton Springs, it's a solid 68F year-round. $3 each time to get in though, I believe.
Check it out here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm
There's also Pure Austin (http://www.pureaustin.com/Aquatics.aspx), which I believe has their own outdoor swimming hole about 1k diameter. You might even get a Desiree Ficker sighting there, as she works out there a lot.
Best shops in town are right near there:
-Jack and Adams (http://www.jackandadams.com/ASP/Home.asp)
-Austin Tri-Cyclist "ATC" (http://www.austintricyclist.com/)
-Lance's own shop, Mellow Johnny's (http://www.mellowjohnnys.com/).
I believe the first two do shipping/receiving.
And I know they all have weekly/weekend rides all over the place too, I've been on a couple with ATC and they are HILLY and FAST.
Let me know the dates and I could possibly join you down there, it's just a 3 hour jaunt from DFW and a super fun town at night.
There's also TX Hill Country, about 1 hour west of Austin, with cities/towns like Kerrville and Fredericksburg. TONS of hills and more cyclist-friendly roads than most TX cities. I've biked down there for years, and can provide some routes as well.
Several local DFW tri clubs have base training camps at the end of March, in/around Kerrville and Fredericksburg.
Cannot forget to mention TX Hellweek (http://www.hellweek.com/texas.html), 7 days of cycling through Hill Country, from 3/13 - 3/20/10. This will be the first year in about 5 years I haven't done it, but I chose ToC over it this year.
Also, Easter Hill Country Tour through Hill Country (http://www.houstonbicycleclub.org/ehct2010/) as well, this year. It's Fri 4/2 thru Sun 4/4.
Phew, that's a lot of info I know, but the cycling is pure awesomeness in the Austin area.
If you are looking for a unique place to stay then checkout Hotel San Jose.
being a student town and the live music capital of the world, Austin is a great place for dinner, beer & good live music - If you've never been to 6th street on Sat night, you've got to go by. (4th street has better restaurants)
I also live in Dallas and would have LOVED to join but unfortunately, I'll be in Singapore at that time )o:
The ATX kicks ass! I will "third" Barton Springs and 6th street. Don't expect to lose weight with all the good places to eat and good beer to drink. You will be lucky to work off what ou put on the night before. CoachP, find Chuys (a TX institution) and have the Comida Deluxe!! If I remember right there is one in Barton Springs. There are plenty of miles to be ridden from pretty much anywhere, tons of 2 lane farm-to-market roads. You are not going to be disappointed.
Check out: www.austinbikeroutes.com
6th street is for college kids. Get over to 4th street for better all-around restaurants and bars.
Definitely let me know when you'll be down, I'd be more than willing to escort you around. I love ATX!
When in the ATX, check out one of the shops that Scott mentioned, Mellow Johnnys www.mellowjohnnys.com This is Lance Armstrong's bike shop. This place has a ton of his old bikes from different races. The staff is totally helpful and can suggest places to ride. It's a really cool shop/museum. If you are in town on 3/27 Jerry Jeff Walker is playing the Paramount Theater. Jerry Jeff is another great TX institution.
Ship to Jack and Adam's. I bought my QR from them - Jack is a great guy and at the shop most days.
You wanna stay downtown if that is possible as there is a lot to do. Let me know the hotels you are considering and I will let you know which one is best. I am in Austin a couple of times a month. Will actually be driving up there this afternoon for a meeting in the morning. There are running trails along the lake as well for great great runs on active trails. Most mornings you can watch the stand up paddlers as you run. There are also some folks that teach lessons in stand up paddling if you are game for something new.
One day for lunch you must have a taco at Torchy's - I suggest the shredded pork and green chiles - oh my. You will undoubtedly also want to visit the Hello Cupcake trailer for a gourmet cupcake.
As everyone has said there are some great rides very close to Austin or we can go to the hill country which is a short drive for some different scenery. We can also go east of town and ride the Longhorn 70.3 route. Many many options.
Barton Springs is an awesome place to swim and as I mentioned the other day, we can also get into the Lifetime Fitness South in Austin if you want as well.
I am happy to help research ride routes from local rides if you let me know what you want to ride.
Hopefully the Lone Star Sleeper Cell can unite and show you a Texas good time.
Bryan
I won't be able to miss Friday work any week, anyway, so any time I would come down it would be Fri night thru Sun.
Feel free to enjoy ATX without me though!
Team, I am your local EN Austinite.
Great advice on the pool. you cannot top Barton Springs - one lap up and back is 1/4 mile.
You can actually mount your bike from Barton Springs and get in quality hill rides on US 360, FM2244, FM 620 and back. I know these routes very well and rode them constantly while training for IMLV last year. These roads have very wide shoulders and motorists are used to seeing many bikers on them.
Once back from the bike (at Barton Springs,) you can run the Town Lake trails where, on some days you will see pro triathletes putting in their Z4 work.
Also agree, Jack and Adams is the best tri shop (also on Barton Springs road.)
Austin is a huge triathlon mecca. Beers for all on sixth street afterwards!
Would love to do my part making this work for the team.
SS
Second that, You will not top Chuy's for Tex Mex! ....also on Barton Springs road......
tjhanks for the input. I need to ship my bike, was going to do it to jack and adams, but might just do it to my hotel...sounds like I should stay close to barton springs. Any recommedations?
Thansk again,
P
Coach P -
Hyatt Suites on Barton Springs Road: http://austin.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
Town Lake Radisson http://www.radisson.com/austintx on Congress Ave. Congress is perpendicular to Barton Springs Road.
Embassy Suites on http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en...s/index.do on Congress Avenue..
Welcome to Austin Coach!
about to book this, so stoked. In meantime, will be shipping bike to self. Guess I can do clamshell bike case, but anyone have any other recommendations? Anyone have a bike case local to me in Boston???
Cheap P
AT&T Marathon - big deal here in Austin. I raced the half one year using one of ENs plans and set a PR on a very hilly course.....1:37:05
A couple of things I am following up on for you this morning:
1) I have a call in to some friends whom manage Hotel reservations and have connections with the hotels. Will see if they can deliver for us.
2) I am assuming no other dates are possible?
3) Your welcome to have out guest room, however I think the main problem there is I live about 20 miles north of Barton Springs.
4) I'll also do some checking around for hotels a little further out from Barton Springs.....
Will get back to you.......
Confirmation # 36048505 - Hyatt Austin Arboretum http://austinarboretum.place.hyatt..../index.jsp
This location is on US 360 which is a very well known biking avenue with good hills and leads you down to Barton Springs pool (see me later for those details)
I was wrong about the AT&T marathon - that one is this weekend. Seems there are lot of conferences going on in Austin over the dates you are planning to travel here.
If you feel the above is not right for you, there is plenty of time to cancel, however, it is in a beautiful location and on the main biking roads.
Hope you like it coach!
Currently either night works for me on March 11th or 12th........
Theres a sliiight chance I might be down there for friday. But I wouldnt let that decide the day. Dont you mean the 12th or 13th?
I've been off line for some time and just noticed that you're coming to Austin. That's great news! Where are you staying? Hotels may be hard to come by since SXSW is starting that weekend (it's a week long film & music festival).
It also looks like you have a run down of places to train... there are plenty. I personally spend a lot of time at my neighborhood pool for a swim, the running trails in my neighborhood and bike the Longhorn 70.3 route (I live on the east side of Austin near downtown).
A couple of other places I didn't see already listed on the forum:
- Run course along Town Lake (now called Lady Bird Lake) is ~13 miles if you do the full loop. It is right in the heart of downtown
- Shoal Creek Greenbelt / Pease Park is another great running trail that you can get to from the Town Lake loop
- Deep Eddy Pool is right next to the town lake run course. Usually free in the winter months and the water is COLD
- Multiple bike routes on the east side of Austin heading towards Elgin... a mix of the Longhorn 70.3 route
- The veloway is good if you want to do some interval work on the bike (www.veloway.com) but you have to look out for inline skaters and others
- The Lance Armstrong Bikeway... not necessarily for biking but for running since it connects to Deep Eddy, Town Lake and is a paved path that runs east/west parallel to Town Lake
As others mentioned, my favorite tri store in Austin is Jack & Adam's if you need anything. Ask for Jack or Drew... James is the head mechanic and always very helpful. There is also Bicycle Sport shop (next to Jack & Adams if they don't have something you're looking for) as well as Rogue Running (they have a lot of great trail maps on their website).
I should be in town this coming weekend (although I may head to Houston on Sat. morning to pick up a new bike). Hit me up when you get to Austin, we can meet up and I can help you map out your routes.
The Comal River in New Braunfels ( clear, clear, clear and 72 yearround) is great for Sunday morning - our group swam about 3 miles this morning then biking up River Road - you can go up Devils Backbone and make it as long as you want. Come back and run. I have a friend trying to qualify for Kona, he usually does this every Sunday - let me know if you are interested.
Two other training tips .. Shiner, Migas breakfast tacos.
Any love? I need to resolve this by Tuesday PM so I can print before I leave!
P
Coach, below is a route I biked many times (about 80 miles) with several tough hills. It begins at Jack and Adams and ends at the Hyatt Arboretum. You can zoom in for the details: www.bikemap.net/route/406846
Best scenario is to go down to Barton Springs pool on Friday at Zilker Park and swim then run on the town lake trails that go right past the spring. Once finished, you could pick up the bike on Barton Springs road at Jack and Adams a mile or so down from the spring.
I may be making a big assumption that you're renting a car?
SS
I am renting a car, so this is perfect. Thanks brother! We still need to pick a place for a Friday Night Meet Up, say 8pm? Any takers?
As for a pool, Barton Springs is closed until Sunday AM. Any other place to go?