Mellow Johnny's Scout-A-Route
Beginner-friendly Saturday morning road ride from Mellow Johnny's in Austin, co-hosted with Bike Austin. Two groups: 12 mph/15-25 mi or 14-16 mph/20-30 mi. No-drop.
The vibe
Perfect starter ride for newcomers
Scout-A-Route is Mellow Johnny’s answer to the question new cyclists always ask: where do I actually start? Co-hosted with Bike Austin, this Saturday morning ride departs at 9 AM in two groups — a 12 mph group covering 15-25 miles and a slightly faster 14-16 mph group doing 20-30 miles. Both are no-drop, meaning the ride adjusts to keep everyone together rather than shedding riders off the back.
The name reflects the format: you’re scouting different Austin routes, exploring the city on a bike at a pace that lets you actually see where you are. Austin’s street infrastructure has improved considerably for cyclists, and Scout-A-Route tends to use the better-connected routes that make the city feel more navigable than it does from a car.
For newer cyclists, this is as good a structured introduction to group riding as you’ll find in Austin. The Mellow Johnny’s staff is knowledgeable and the shop environment is welcoming. If Scout-A-Route starts feeling too easy, the progression to the Friday Truancy Ride or Saturday MOTR is a natural next step.