road trip to austin, texas.

12/26/2013

When temps haven’t climbed above 10 degrees for a week – it’s 20 below as I type this – there’s nothing better than escaping for a few days of sunshine. So, last weekend, we packed our road bikes for warmer climates and road tripped south to Austin. (We rode with Nick’s mom, Mary, on the way down and then flew home.)

It was a jam-packed weekend of fun, sunshine, good food, biking and family. Nick’s sister and brother-in-law Amanda and James hosted and showed us around town (they live in Austin suburb Kyle). We ate really well… Sushi Zushi, Torchy’s Tacos, Chuy’s, Gourdough’s doughnuts (the size of your head) and The Salt Lick… because when in Texas, BBQ duh (and Salt Lick is fantastic). We celebrated an early Christmas complete with king and snow crab legs. We lunched on the patio at the original Whole Foods, obviously (why aren’t all Whole Foods like this one?!). And, I taste-tested local Buddha’s Brew kombucha (good stuff).

Other must-stops: Mellow Johnny’s (no Lance sighting), Jack and Adam’s Bicycles, and lululemon (lucky me got to see Leah, one of my fave yoga + spin instructors who moved to Austin about a year ago).

austin

And, cycling! It’s so refreshing to ride outside in December where it’s so warm you have stop to take off a layer. Even better to be off the trainer for a few days! The first ride around Kyle… you know it’s windy when you’re pedaling as hard as you can on a flat road, and you’re only going 11mph. The second, a 31-mile jaunt in Austin’s hill county; I smiled the entire ride. And, the third, just a quick hour spin around the Kyle countryside. Seventy-six miles of open road bliss in three days!

cycling in austin

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15 Comments

  • Reply Kecia 12/26/2013 at 7:05 pm

    AWESOME road trip!! I would LOVE to get outside for a ride, but by the looks of the weather, it will be a while 🙁

  • Reply De 12/26/2013 at 9:09 pm

    Merry christmas and also so jealous of all the road biking!

  • Reply Leslie @ TriathleteTreats 12/26/2013 at 9:13 pm

    I love Austin!! So jealous that you got to go down there! Looks like a great trip of eating and riding!!!

  • Reply Luv What You Do 12/26/2013 at 10:54 pm

    That looks like an awesome trip. I’ve never been to Austin but hope to get there soon! Happy holidays!!!

  • Reply carrisamarie 12/27/2013 at 7:15 am

    What a fun trip! And so glad you got to get out of the cold for a bit! I loved sitting outside at the Whole Foods in Austin! I’d never realized that a grocery store could be such an experience!

  • Reply meghan @ little girl in the big world 12/27/2013 at 7:25 am

    This looks like so much fun! It’s awesome that you got so much great food and biking into the same trip! I really want to go to Austin for the food. And I really need to get back on my bike after this race on Sunday.

  • Reply Brittany 12/27/2013 at 8:19 am

    I love so many of those places you mentioned – Austin is great! Glad you guys had fun. I’ll have to try that Buddha Kombucha, yum 🙂 Also, I saw your cycling pictures, and it reminded me of many a ride in East Austin when I’ve been pedaling downhill against the wind and it’s still HARD, ugh! Anyway, stay warm up there!

  • Reply Abby @ Change of Pace 12/27/2013 at 10:22 am

    Looks like such an awesome getaway! I’m not sure what I would’ve liked better- the eats or riding outside in December! Glad you guys were able to hit the open road!
    How long does it take to drive there? You guys should head down again this winter for trainer reprieve!

  • Reply Amy 12/27/2013 at 10:59 am

    The entire trip looked fantastic! I’m glad you had a great time 🙂

  • Reply Kerstin 12/27/2013 at 11:02 am

    Fun!!!! And who IS that bearded guy??? 🙂

  • Reply Beth 12/27/2013 at 8:29 pm

    How fun to have a little train-cation! I was hoping to head to San Diego sometime this winter but new house trumps training. It’s not much warmer but you guys are welcome in Denver/Boulder with us anytime. Maybe spectate IM Boulder 😉

  • Reply Sara 12/28/2013 at 11:05 am

    I love all the pictures! That looks like a very fun road trip 🙂 you should’ve driven one more hour and visited me 😉

  • Reply Kristina 12/28/2013 at 5:16 pm

    I’m in Boulder and while the temps are chilly for me (too used to SoCal weather), there are throngs of cyclists and I’m kind of regretting that we didn’t just “man up” and bring our bikes for the trip! It looks like a you all had a great trip and tons of fun exploring a new area.

  • Reply Kristen L 12/30/2013 at 11:39 pm

    Mmmm, love a good BBQ! Sounds nice to get away from that chilly weather! Great pics!!

  • Reply 2013 wrap-up. - sweet sweat life 02/06/2015 at 8:26 am

    […] We got a Christmas tree, and it’s been so cold in Minnesnowta my finger turned white. We packed up the bikes and road tripped with Nick’s mom to Austin to visit Nick’s sister and brother-in-law, Amanda + James. […]

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