Nelo's Cycles Thursday Throwdown
Weekly Thursday evening no-drop hill ride tackling Westlake Hills — 25-30 miles of punchy climbs out of Cycleast, regroup after each hill. Open to all challengers.
The vibe
Westlake hills will humble you
Westlake Hills sits west of Austin and contains some of the steepest and most relentless climbing in the metro area. The Thursday Throwdown uses all of it. Twenty-five to thirty miles of punchy, repeated climbing starting from Cycleast, with the group regrouping after each hill so no one gets completely shelled on an isolated stretch of road. It’s technically no-drop, but the hills do the dropping — the regroup just gives everyone a chance to catch up.
The ride is described honestly as pulse-quickening and heavy-breathing. If you show up expecting a social cruise, the first climb will clarify the situation. If you show up ready to hurt on hills in a group, it’s one of Austin’s best weeknight training rides.
Thursdays at 6 PM from Cycleast. Free, open to all riders who can handle the terrain. Show up with legs that are ready, gearing appropriate for 15–20% grades, and enough water for a warm Texas evening in the hills.