The 25th Annual Katy Flatland Century, a general fund-raiser for the Northwest Cycling Club invites you to join their ride on July 22nd, 2012 starting at Rhodes Stadium, Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy, TX
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Lynda Polk to ask some questions about their upcoming ride
Why join this year’s Katy Flatland Century?
It’s the premier ride in Southeast Texas, during what is usually an “off” season for riding. As it’s name states, there’s very little elevation change, making it a great ride for beginners too. With 7 routes to choose from, there’s something for everyone.
How long has the event been around?
This is the 25th year.
What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
This ride is a general fund-raiser for the Northwest Cycling Club.
How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
Northwest Cycling Club uses the money to benefit it’s members with special events and promote cycling philanthropy. We have made donations to causes such as GHORBA trails projects, Bike Texas, League of American Bicyclists, GHCF, the Alkek Velodrome, Texas Adopt-A-Highway, safety seminars, and other worthy causes.
Can we get a TCX or GPX file included for download? Over 63% of folks say they are more up to attend a ride for which they have information about the routes for their on-bike devices.
Visit our website www.northwestcyclingclub.org or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/katyflatlandcentury where we have routes and a gpx file posted. Official ride maps will be posted this week.
Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
Over 100 members of the club volunteer their time to staff corners, drive SAG, work registration, etc. We have 2 Boy Scout troops working 7 rest stops (I have no idea how many boy scouts and parents, but it’s a lot). We started working on the logistics in April, but because the ride has been held in the same general location for several years, we don’t have to re-invent it each time. It costs the club about $30,000-$40,000 to put it on.
What is the average number of participants per year? How many riders do you assist during the average race?
The last few years we have had over 2,000 riders.
Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?
Yes, I am a cyclist. I have a road bike, a mountain bike, and a hybrid bike. I don’t think I have a “favorite” route in this area. Lately I’ve been doing more mountain biking. Daniel has been doing more road biking than me.
Thanks Lynda for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!
Click here to view the event details of the Katy Flatland Century 2012