All up to date 2021 Texas bicycle rides in one location

Ready for a busy summer of rides? We sure are! If you are having a hard time deciding which ones to do, our interviews are a great way to get the scoop on the latest and greatest rides in Texas. This interview, we spoke with Ainsley and David Nelson from West Texas Endurance about their ride on June 14th. 

 

Why join your ride?

The ride takes place at White River, just a short 1 hour drive from Lubbock. It’s a beautiful setting that takes you away from the city and traffic.

How long has your ride been around?

This is the 2^nd year for the White River Road Rally.

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers and planning it takes to put on this event?

A good race always is successful with the wonderful volunteers.  We have volunteers from the surrounding area, including the White River Municipal District and the Marina.We have been working on this event for months and are in the final planning stages for a great ride.

Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?

Visit our website at www.westtexasendurance.com for all of the information you need.  We will have portable toilets at the start/finish as well as each aid station.  A list of snacks is also on the website.

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

As cyclists ourselves, we love experiencing new places to ride. The scenery at White River is beautiful.

What is the average number of participants?

We expect 150 participants this year.

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?

We are both avid cyclists. We only wish we could participate in the White River Road Rally!  We are tri-athletes and currently ride Felt bikes.

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

Join us for a wonderful ride with great support. Hope to see you on June 14!

 

CLICK HERE – for more information on this ride!

Thanks again for checking out our most recent interview. If you attend this ride, and want to tell EVERYONE about it, send us a ride report!

Well, Wheel Brothers, we had some amazing rides in May, but with June just around the corner, it’s time to get it in gear for the Fire Ant 100k on June 14th! To learn more about this exciting ride, we talked to Laura White, who spilled the beans on everything you need to know about the Fire Ant 100k.

 

Why join your ride?  We feel we offer some of the best “riding trails” in Central Texas, and give a choice of four lengths:  10 miles, 24 miles, 45 miles, and 100K.  We get riders off the highway as soon as possible, and onto county roads into the rolling hills of Coryell County, where there is minimal traffic.

How long has your ride been around?  Since 1996 – so this is Ride #19 for the Fire-Ant.

What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?  This is the Exchange Club’s keystone fund raiser for scholarships for graduating high school seniors.  At this time, we offer two scholarships of $1,000 each, and our goal is to increase this amount in the future.

How have they been able to utilize funds in the past?  The students use their $1,000 for tuition to the college, university, or technical school of their choice.

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?  Planning is usually underway in early spring.  Approximately 50 people will be involved.  A team of approximately 10 club members secure sponsorship support; one handles pre-publicity and pre-registration; another does shopping for rest stop supplies prior to the ride; approximately 30 volunteers are involved in the on-site registration and the staffing for the five rest stops that are provided at 10-mile intervals on the routes.  It usually takes at least $4,800 each year for us to stage this event, including advertising, mail-outs, postage, the unique commemorative t-shirts (riders tell us it’s their FAVORITE one of all the rides in which they participate), and rest stop refreshments.

Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?  Actually we have four maps:  one for each route.  The registration area is clearly marked; start line is clearly set up.  Rest rooms are available at the registration area.  In addition, a porta-potty will be at each of the 5 rest stops, where fruits, juices, waters, and HOMEMADE cookies are offered to all riders.  (Some riders say they come JUST FOR THE COOKIES, so we call the member who provides them our “Cookie Queen”).

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?  It’s exciting to see so many cyclists gathering in their very colorful uniforms, and sometimes families bring their children to participate  Their positive feedback (about how much they love our T-shirt, plus the cookies at every “sag station” ) makes us happy that we have provided a top-notch fine quality ride in the gentle rolling hills of this part of Central Texas.

What is the average number of participants?  Around 150 – but we’d like to see that number grow AND GROW.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?  We encourage riders to investigate to see if there is an Exchange Club in their hometowns, and ask them to consider joining this community service organization.  Our mission is to make our communities better places to live.  Our core values are family, community, and country.  Our programs of service include youth services (scholarships are just one sector of this area); community services in many aspects; Americanism and patriotism; and our national project: the prevention of child abuse.  We ask the cyclists to “spread the word” about our June ride.

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?  I do not ride; I’m the ride registrar and pre-ride organizer (the one behind the scenes that gets the paperwork started, and keeps up with it – somebody has to attend to those details).  However, we do have a few club members who have bicycles and do ride in this event.

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?  We like to say that we are “the Crown Jewel of bicycle tours of Central Texas.”  Even though that may sound like bragging, when we get the feedback from riders about how they appreciate our hospitality (from pre-registration, on-site registration, great snacks at the sag stations, the “sag wagons” we provide on each route, and the terrific T-shirts), we’re just reflecting the positive comments we receive every year.  One year we thought we’d get rained out, but people showed up anyway, and the moisture finally did go away, so we did have the ride.  However, when picking up their goody-bags that morning, some of them admitted they weren’t riding this time, “BUT I HAD TO COME pick  up my T-shirt anyway!”  Some of these truly dedicated riders had driven 30, 45, or 60 miles (one way) JUST to get their shirts!  We call them our faithful cadre!

 

CLICK HERE – for more info for this great ride!

Hope this is the perfect start to your June that you needed! See you at the race!

Time for another awesome Wheel Brothers Ride Interview! We were lucky enough to grab a quick interview with Rob Scichili, the Marketing Director for the ride. He gave us the scoop on this long running, awesome ride on June 14th, out in McKinney, TX. Check it out!

 

Why join your ride? 

The Collin Classic is a quality ride that offers something for both the serious cyclist and the weekend rider. With four different routes of 22 to 64 miles, we strive to provide riders with an exceptional experience, that supports an exceptional cause.

 

How long has your ride been around?

The ride has been around for 23 years now, but this is only the second year to be managed by us.

 

What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?

The original motivation 23 years ago came from the many North Texans who cycle and decided to start up the Collin Classic as an annual ride. City House is the sole beneficiary of the Collin Classic and is one of our primary fundraisers. City House has been around for over 25 years, helping and sheltering at-risk youth in Collin County due to abuse, neglect and homelessness.

 

How have they been able to utilize funds in the past? 

The proceeds from the ride now support our programs at City House – an emergency youth shelter and our transitional living program for homeless teens and young adults.

 

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?

We utilize more than 400 volunteers and we put many hours into the planning, looking at every detail from parking to break points to Riders Village – our post-event hospitality area. We’ve invested back into the ride each year and plan on continuing to grow it.

 

Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?

We have maps of all four routes for the Collin Classic on the web site (CollinClassic.org), complete with break point locations. The start and finish line is located at McKinney North High School.

 

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event? 

Teresa Keenan is executive director of City House and ride director for the Collin Classic. An avid cyclist, she has been able to join two passions together.

 

What is the average number of participants? 

2,300

 

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

There are many ways to help, the simplest of which is come ride in the event and promote it to other riders or even form a team to raise money for us. We are always looking for ride volunteers.

 

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?

Teresa Keenan is an avid cyclist. She rides a Specialized S-Works Ruby. Teresa has completed 12 Century Bike Rides.

 

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

We’re raffling off a GIANT Propel SL 0 bicycle as part of the ride, with all proceeds benefiting City House. Valued at close to $11,000, we are only selling 750 raffle tickets at $50 per. People do not need ride in the Collin Classic to buy a raffle ticket. Full information is at CollinClassic.org

 

CLICK HERE – For more information on the Collin Classic!

And don’t forget to register! Hope to see you all there!

Hey you awesome cyclists! Yes you! Are you ready for another awesome summer of awesome rides? As usual we have all the details on some of the hottest rides heading your way. This time, we interviewed Caryn Jenks for the scoop on the Heart of Hope LifeCycle ride, coming up in just 2 weeks, on June 7th. Find out what you should join is up and coming must ride favorite.

 

Why join your ride?

Our ride is organized by cycling enthusiasts for cycling enthusiasts. What does this mean? It means that we try to provide all the things that make a cyclists happy, from memorable SWAG (this year it includes a custom Camelbak Podium Chill water bottle), full-stocked rest stops (with top end products like GU & PJ Sport), complete route support (with HAM radio operators and SAG), and an after-party that will leave you feeling like the registration fee was a steal (Blue Bell ice cream and Massage Envy just to mention a few bonuses). But, the icing on the cake is that we offer 2 routes that are catered for families and kids which comes complete with a Kids’ Fun Area after the ride.

How long has your ride been around?

2014 marks our 3^rd Annual Tour

What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?

LifeCycle was started with a goal of serving the community in multiple facets. What a great combination? Create a regional event for spandex loving cyclists, along with a family ride that could pass the love of cycling to the younger generation that also raises funds for a local non-profit organization? Heart of Hope – A Sanctuary for Women is a non-profit maternity home that serves ladies ages 11-23 who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy.

How have they been able to utilize funds in the past?

Heart of Hope LifeCycle netted over $12,000 in 2012 and over $27,000 in 2013. Heart of Hope has been able to use those funds for things varying from educational supplies for the residents to capital improvements.

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?

Planning for Lifecycle starts every Fall with the designing of the annual jersey and sponsor recruitment, and finishes off on the first Saturday in June, with the most amazing gathering of volunteers, cyclists, and sponsors you can imagine. It takes 50-70 volunteers to make LifeCycle happen. From pre-event planning, and event day needs like registration to rest stop hosts, our volunteers make this event incredible!

 

 

Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?

Heart of Hope LifeCycle is hosted on the Heart of Hope Campus. The facilities are perfect for a cycling event. We host most event activities in the gym which includes multi-stall bathrooms, showers (nice and cool for a hot, June event), and large area for registration and eating. We also have of acreage for ample parking and the Kids’ Fun Area.

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

I would have to say that the most rewarding experience is seeing the kids cross the finish line. They ride around the curve, see that finish line arch, and go full throttle like they are a professional cyclist winning the Tour de France. Seeing the huge smiles when they receive their finish line medal makes it all worthwhile!

What is the average number of participants?

We hosted 135 in 2012, 278 in 2013, and are planning for 500 this year.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Our mission is to not only raise funds for Heart of Hope, but also to promote cycling and cycling safety in our community. The best ways to support this event are to donate, advertise, participate, and encourage others to do the same.

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?

My entire family, husband, 9 y/o son, 6 y/o daughter, and I all ride bicycles. My daughter loves to tell everyone that she rode all 5 miles of LifeCycle last yearJ I personally own a Specialized Ruby Comp for road cycling, and a Specialized Myka FSR Comp.

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

Heart of Hope LifeCycle is all about community, family, and giving back. Whether it’s this event or another event, we can all benefit from paying it forward and seeing what the fruits of our labor bring to our own lives. Volunteering, participating, and donating to any great cause is the best investment one can ever make in this life.

 

What do you think? Hurry and sign up, and get training! We to see all of you out there supporting this great ride, with a great cause.

CLICK HERE – for more information about the ride.

June is right around the corner, and so is another great ride! We were lucky to grab a quick interview with Cindy Torrans, to learn more about this awesome ride. If you are looking for an awesome ride for the weekend of June 7th, get your info here!

Why join your ride?

Approaching its ninth year, the impact of the Spindletop Spin continues to exceed our expectations. This cycling adventure is one of the most successful events in Southeast Texas.

For those who have never experienced riding in an organized event, you do not know what you are missing.  Along the routes you can make new friends and get a first-hand view of the willingness of many working for one common cause.   What that cause may be varies among individuals, but for one day they are all riding to benefit the citizens of Southeast Texas by supporting our programs.

How long has your ride been around?

The Spindletop Spin started spinning in 2006.

What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?

The Spindletop Spin is the annual fundraiser for the Jefferson County Bar Association Foundation which is charitable arm of the Jefferson County Bar Association.  It is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting educational programs for at-risk youth, providing representation to the indigent, promoting community understanding of the legal system and fostering the administration of justice.  It is a fun-filled family oriented event that promotes a healthy lifestyle.

How have they been able to utilize funds in the past?

All Spindletop Spin Proceeds (past and future) stay local and benefit the charitable programs of the Jefferson County Bar Association Foundation 501(c)(3), which includes:

The Evelyn Lord Teen Court program (which is a partnership with the City of Beaumont, the Municipal Court of the City of Beaumont and the Jefferson County Bar Association) provides assistance to first-time misdemeanor (non-traffic) juvenile offenders who have pled guilty an alternative to the adult criminal system.   The defendants appear before a jury of their peers (teen volunteers).  Teen Court is conducted once a month excluding December and summer months.  At the end of the year, scholarships are provided to the volunteer teens for their service to the program.

Civics Education programs such as The Pipeline Project introduces at-risk fourth and fifth graders to the legal system and the law highlighting the Constitution & the Bill of Rights.  The program encourages them to stay in school and seek higher education.  Volunteer attorney teams are assigned to schools and the same team conducts at least 4 programs during a school year for two years

The Veterans Initiative was created to help U. S. veterans with their legal needs.  Quarterly legal seminars/advice clinics are provided at the local VA Outpatient hospital on topics such as family law, consumer law, wills and probate, etc.  At least 2 times per year, a 3 hour legal advice clinic is offered to Veterans and in some cases ProBono representation is provided.  Any veteran needing legal assistance can contact the Jefferson County Bar Association throughout the year for assistance

National Adoption Day is a partnership between the Department of Family & Protective Services, CASA of Southeast Texas, Jefferson County Domestic Courts and the Jefferson County Bar Association. It helps raise awareness of the 129,000 children in foster care who are awaiting adoption.  It is celebrated locally in November of each year and finalizes the adoptions of children in foster care.  Adoptions are provided at no-cost to the families.

Pro Bono Program provides legal aid for indigent residents (in non-criminal issues) in Southeast Texas year round.

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?

The Spindletop Spin’s success is due in most part by the generous time given by over 200 volunteers.  The event is always in the planning stages but we go into high gear starting the month of April.  The Spindletop’s Spin’s budget ranges from $24,000 to $30,000.

Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?

The Spindletop Spin steering committee is so excited this year because we have a new start/finish line.  We will be starting at the Beaumont Downtown Event Centre.  At this time, we do not have those specific area mapped yet, but they will all be in one central location close to the stop/start line.  They will be well marked on ride day!

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

The most rewarding experience is the ever growing scene at 6:30 AM when the cyclists’ line up for the first ride out.  The Spin’s growth has been exhilarating and infectious.  With almost 980 riders last year, it has proven to be one of the most successful events in Southeast Texas.

What is the average number of participants?

On the average each year the Spindletop Spin has grown by 80 plus riders.  The average number of participants each year is 544.  In 2006 we had 169 riders and last year we had 973 riders. As the number of riders grow, so does the number of volunteers needed.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Join us on June7, 2014 for the 9^th annual Spindletop Spin.  Call us at 409-839-2332 or email probono@jcba.org to volunteer for the day.  Go to the website, www.spindletopspin.com to find information on how to donate.

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?

I do not ride.

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

Our ride has been recognized by the cyclists as one of the safest organized rides in Texas.  We are very proud of the support we receive from the Beaumont Police Department.  The 12 mile route is fully escorted by police and families are encouraged to participate on this route!

This year we are excited to announce our Oil Baron Signature Sponsor, INVISTA.  INVISTA is a global company which operates in more than 20 countries across North America, South America, Europe and the Asian Pacific region.  They are transforming daily life through innovations in the nylon, SPANDEX, Polyester and specialty materials industry – right here in our area.  Since Spandex is an important fabric to a cyclist, it is only fitting that INVISTA participate!  For the last couple of years, INVISTA employees have made up the largest group riders in the Spindletop Spin.  This year, we expect they will have 50 cyclists!

 

CLICK HERE – for more info on this ride!

We hope to see you all out there in a few weeks! Enjoy your summer!

You know what they say, April training brings awesome PRs in May! (I think that’s how it goes…) So if you are looking for the perfect ride to round out your May, check out the Atlas Ride, on May 31st.  Kathryn Flowers, the Development & Program Coordinator, took time out of her busy schedule to give us a great interview. Take a read.

Why join your ride?

The ATLAS Ride is not only a great bicycle ride with several distance options (25, 50, and 70), but it also has several unique benefits – namely the fact that it is the send-off ride for each year’s Texas 4000 team, giving the community the opportunity to ride day one with the amazing group of students that will spend 70 days of their summer biking from Texas to Alaska to raise money for cancer research and spread awareness. We also like to think we have the best end-of-ride food, with a catered BBQ plate from Pok-e-Jo’s and plenty of cold beer!

How long has your ride been around?

This year is the 10^th year of the ATLAS ride, and the 11^th year of Texas 4000 for Cancer. At this point, we are getting to be pros at putting on the ride!

What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?

The ATLAS Ride was started as a send-off ride for the 2005 Texas 4000 team. Alumni from the first year wanted a way to open up the first day to the community, and the ride was born. Since then, we’ve grown to a finish line presence of almost 1000 people, including family and friends who don’t ride but join us for lunch.

The ride benefits Texas 4000 for Cancer. Texas 4000 is dedicated to fighting cancer by sharing hope, knowledge and charity. We cultivate the next generation to lead the fight against cancer through our cornerstone event, a more than 4,000-mile bike ride from Austin to Anchorage. In 2013, we celebrated the organization’s 10th anniversary and have raised more than $4 million in the fight against cancer since our inception in 2003. We share charity by making a commitment to support cancer research and leading the charge in overcoming cancer. We share hope by letting those touched by cancer know that we are riding for them and we are determined to eliminate the disease. We share knowledge by bringing life–saving information about cancer prevention to communities large and small.

How have they been able to utilize funds in the past?

The funds raised from the ATLAS ride go to support the team’s ride to Alaska – helping us finance bicycles, trailers, gas, and van expenses, among other things. The ATLAS ride funds help keep our riders safe, healthy, and on the road so that they can raise more money for cancer research and reach more people through awareness presentations.

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?

We have a race director and a volunteer coordinator who start serious work planning the ride in late December/early January of the year before, with a few responsibilities in the fall before that. Two full-time staff members devote part of their work to the ride as well, with one concentrating heavily on promotion/marketing and the other on logistics/vendors, etc. We also have a committee of involved volunteers (~10 people) who meet throughout the spring and coordinate the major aspects of the ride.

In the week before and day of, we have about 100 volunteers who help us put the ride together. And of course, we couldn’t do it without the amazing generosity of Pillar Bluff Vineyards and Texas Legato Winery, where we end each year. They have been partners for a long time and routinely help us in more ways than one.

Financially, the ride is one of two of our most significant fundraising events each year, alongside our yearly Tribute Gala.

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

The most rewarding experience is always meeting people who come to ride at the event, hearing their stories, and seeing them come back each year. We have a very high return rate on the ride, and we’re proud of how many people have joined our community over the years.

What is the average number of participants?

Last year we had about 500 cyclists and 250 friends and family members at the finish. This year, we are on track to hit about 1000 total, with 600 – 700 cyclists and 300 – 400 people at the finish. We’re working on incorporating a festival atmosphere this year, which we expect to bring more people to the finish itself, even if they aren’t riding.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Ride ATLAS! You can register for the ride here. Of course, you can also look at our website, read rider profiles, donate to a rider or to the organization as a whole, or even become a sponsor. We are always interested in new partnerships and opportunities. If any of this interests you, I would encourage you to email me at kathryn@texas4000.org.

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?

I absolutely do ride, and was actually on the 2010 Texas 4000 team. I have a Felt Z85, which probably has somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,000 miles on it now.

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

I’d just encourage you to come out and experience it firsthand – there’s no substitute. And because we finish at a vineyard, we have wine tastings as well. I’d be happy to answer questions anyone has, too – just email me at kathryn@texas4000.org.

 

CLICK HERE – for more info on this ride!

We hope everyone enjoyed another interview from Wheel Brothers. Hope your can make it out there to round out a great month with a great ride!