This past weekend was totally buzzing here in Austin with the Livestrong Challenge taking place. Thousands of cyclists took part in what I feel is one of the best rides of the year and I once again had a great time.  Austin also hosted the Texas Custom Bicycle Show this weekend with some amazing bike builders showing off their talent and incredible bikes.

Jessica Alexander captured the beauty at the custom bike show and we’d like to share some of these bicycle eye candy shots with you.  We’ll be featuring Jessica in an Austin Bike Culture photo post in the very near future….she’s a talented photographer with a huge love for the bike.  Keep an eye out for her featured post later this month.

2011 Texas Custom Bicycle Show

Livestrong Challenge

I was very happy to be a part of team Kollective Fusion for this year’s Livestrong Challenge.  The team raised $26,000 and created a lot of attention during yesterday’s ride.  Here’s just a couple of photos capturing the day.

Post ride photo with Chris and Jason from Team Kollective Fusion

He wasn't on the team, but I spent most of my ride with Dave

Team Kollective Fusion....most of the team

We wanted to check in today with some of our #bikeschool classmates and see what kind of exciting things they’ve been up to this past week.  So here it is, the week in review via some of our wild classmates.

Bicycle Art Show Benefits Livestrong

Our #bikeschool artistically gifted friend, @bdix73 was the man behind a great art show that took place at Mellow Johnny’s over the weekend.  Bobby’s company, Kollective Fusion, has a team in this year’s Livestrong Challenge and to support their cause they put on this bike art show to raise funds for their cause.

Kollective Fusion had four of their own posters in the show along with a host of other local Austin artists and others from around the country.  It was so beautiful to see all the incredible bicycle artwork, and of course I had to take home a few for myself.  It took a lot of control not to buy each and every piece that was there.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support this great event and help Team Kollective Fusion raise $2,300 for Livestrong.

New Classmate Rocks Some Miles

One of our newest #bikeschool classmates, @UnnaturalMother, got out for some of her toughest miles yet.  As you can see in her tweet below, Deanna used the inspiration and motivation of her #bikeschool mates to get through her toughest 25 miles ever.  On behalf of Deanna, we’d like to thank all of you who encouraged and congratulated her on this achievement.

@egggman goes CX

Our crazy Canadian professor got out on a CX bike this weekend and ripped up some trails.  He took out a Rocky Mountain Solo CXR on a demo ride, and I’m pretty sure the bike shop was thinking twice after the punishment he put on it.  I think this photo gives you an idea of what he did to that CX:

Tweet of the Week

There are always so many incredible #bikeschool tweets, but if I personally had to pick one for this past week it would be these words of wisdom from @ohaijoe:

Keep the fantastic tweets coming, and we’ll see you all at #bikeschool this Thursday at 9PM EST.

Are you a Livestrong fanatic?  You know, one of those people who needs to have the latest and coolest items that sports the Black and Yellow in support of one kick ass cause.  Well, I’m telling you folks…the things that Bobby Dixon and his company Kollective Fusion are doing in support of Livestrong is absolutely brilliant.

The above bicycle-inspired art print was created by Bobby last year to help his Kollective Fusion team reach their fundraising goal for the Livestrong Challenge.  The profits from it’s sales go directly to the Livestrong Foundation, and you’ve still got a chance to grab one of these limited edition prints before his 2011 work of art is released.

This 4-color, waterbased screen print is on 18″ x 24″ white paper….and is NOT a digital print, my friends. Only 200 were made available and each one is signed and numbered.  It is a true collectors item, and a must have if you’re a fan and supporter of Livestrong.  If you live in, or travel to the Austin area, you can find this hanging in places such as Mellow Johnny’s and Lake Travis Cyclery.

Kollective Fusion is Bobby’s company, but it’s also the name of his cycling team.  I am very proud to be a part of it this year, and to be joined by my teammates Chris Gomez, Andrew Collins, Brett Matens, Jon Binsted, Rik Aguilera, Jeffrey Grant, Jason Karensky, and of course Bobby Dixon.  We’ve got some huge fundraising plans including one of the hottest art auctions to ever hit this city….watch for all the goodness coming very soon.

If you’re thinking of taking part in this year’s Livestrong Challenge Austin, team Kollective Fusion is accepting teammates and we’d love to have you.

To purchase the Kollective Fusion Livestrong print: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kollectivefusion

To join Team Kollective Fusion: Sign up for the Livestrong Challenge and select Kollective Fusion as the team you’ll be riding for.

If you’re in Austin this week for sxsw, be sure to drop by the Flatstock Rock Poster Convention on today through Saturday.  Bobby will be there at his Kollective Fusion booth so drop by and check out his stuff.