Candidate Tina Cannon talks to cyclists at the 16th Annual Political Pedal onFriday, Apr. 13, 2012 at City Hall.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Candidates speak to cyclists at the 16th Annual Political Pedal on Friday, Apr.13, 2012 at City Hall.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Cyclists gather at City Hall to speak to candidates during the 16th AnnualPolitical Pedal.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Cyclist and city employee Meredith Watters takes a snapshot of council membersBill Spelman and Sheryl Cole with cyclists in front of City Hall at the 16thAnnual Political Pedal in Austin.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Nicole Zinn and John Dawson of Rocket Electrics speak with Robin Stallings ofBike Texas at Uncle Billy's after the Political Pedal ride on Friday.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
A break on the east side before the nearly unanimous vote to end early in thechill and head back to Bar 96 for some beer and crawfish.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Mmmm. Crawfish boil.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Byron from Bike Hugger in Seattle has run these rides for six SXSW festivals.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Yes, it was that chilly and rainy at Saturday's SXSW Bike Hugger Mobile SocialRide.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Google Maps hosted the before- and after-parties for Saturday's Bike HuggerMobile Social Ride for SXSW, which started at Bar 96 - about 15 minutes afterthe rain stopped.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Google Maps koozies make great wrist warmers in the chilly rain. Riders warm upbefore Saturday's SXSW Bike Hugger Mobile Social Ride.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
A beer at the Google Maps bar before we hit the road for Saturday's SXSW BikeHugger Mobile Social Ride.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
The unofficial winner of the Creative Rain Fashion award, for which the simplebragging rights are their own reward.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
A couple of the guys from Tern were held up, so we hung out at Fiesta Beach(where the Thursday Night Social Ride starts) for a few minutes before resumingSaturday's SXSW Bike Hugger Mobile Social Ride.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Visitors stop by Rocket Electrics on E. Riverside Drive on a recent afternoon.Austin's first all-electric bike store opened just before Christmas.Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Not to be too technical, but some smart dude figured out how to mount anelectric motor inside the hub of a bicycle’s wheel. Easy as that. Subtle andsimple and brilliant.Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Batteries are getting better, but right now they can go up to 30 miles beforethey need to be recharged for a few hours.Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
A bamboo rear fender adds splash to this e e-bikes, which come in wide array ofbright colors.Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
An all-electric bike stock hangs on the walls of Rocket Electrics, carefullywatched over by its mascot, Fleck.Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Rocket Electrics is Austin's first all-electric bike store. It had a softopening just before Christmas but plans to a ribbon-cutting and formal openingwithin the next six weeks.Photo by Charlie L. Harper III
Thursday Night Social Ride takes off on one of its rides.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
The Thursday Night Social Ride at its summer meet-up spot, Fiesta Beach. InOctober, it switched to Plaza Saltillo because it's better lit for the 8 p.m.departure time.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Some 300 cyclists are hard to ignore, especially when we all descend on a bar atthe end of the night.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Trick riders who regularly join the rides do their thing at Plaza Saltillo.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Volunteers help people with tune-ups before the start of the Thursday NightSocial Ride.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Colored lights help distinguish your bike from the pack on the Thursday NightSocial Ride.Photo by Charlie L Harper III
Cyclists take a break on the social ride at one of the local parks.Photo by Charlie L Harper III