COTA Views

— It seems like it was just yesterday when bike nights at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) started. That was in the spring of 2017. COVID made us skip a year, but the event returned in 2021. The sponsorship and cost changed over the years (it’s cheaper now), but the fun is still going on strong. Bike nights are always on Tuesdays, starting around 6 PM and going until dusk. This allows for some breathtaking views of the track around sunset time. Just look at the view from the famous Turn 1 at sunset time this week.

It was with great anticipation that the first bike night of 2022 came around this Tuesday night. Because it was close to St. Patrick’s day, the Circuit encouraged everyone to wear green. These theme nights are very popular, and almost every week there is a different theme.

Riding at COTA is a big thrill for me and thousands of other cyclists. All sorts of cycling skills and attendees’ ages are present, including a lot of children. Different types of bikes are allowed except for electric bikes. When riding the track, you can see up close pieces of tire rubber left behind after a recent race, for example. You also have a great view of the stands. You also experience firsthand what it is like to ride up Turn 1. If you don’t think you can do it, there is a bypass to avoid the steep incline. Turn 1 is a Grade 1 FIA-specification curve. FIA stands for Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (International Automobile Federation). According to the Formula 1 website, “Austin’s Turn 1 is one of the most visually iconic corners on the calendar, with the drivers climbing more than 30 metres [98.5 ft] in altitude in just a few hundred metres [328 ft] of asphalt.” There is also another bypass after the S curves that allow riders to avoid all other hill and come out around Turn 12. You can always click the thumbnails to see the full-size images.

One very popular attraction during these bike nights is the added bonus you can get a cheap ticket to visit the COTA Tower and get a bird’s eye view of the entire circuit. Admission to the top of the Tower is way cheaper than during regular racing events. You can take the elevator up to the top of the Tower and enjoy the 360-degree views. You can even see downtown Austin and the ABIA airport. Just keep in mind that once you get off the elevator, the glass floor could be a little too much if you are afraid of heights. The Tower is 251 feet (76.5 meters) high above the ground.

Another fun thing after biking is that there are a couple of food trucks there selling food. Some people stay and take advantage of that, too. Whenever a bike night coincides with a soccer game there at the Circuit, we can generally get in for free to watch the matches. Here are some Tower views of the track.