Burn your Buns Bike Ride in Conroe, TX

Bridgewood FarmsThe Burn your Buns Bike Ride invites you to join their upcoming ride happening on July 4, 2012 at  Bridgewood Farms, 11680 Rose Road, Conroe, TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Flo Nelson, Executive Director of Bridgewood Farms to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why join the Burn your Buns Bike Ride?
Open to riders of all abilities, the event offers three routes of varying lengths that travel through northeast Montgomery County. Riders who register in advance will receive a tie-dyed T-shirt and pin made by a Bridgewood Farms client. Food and beverages will be available at the rest stops and upon completion. The “Burn Your Buns” bike ride offers 20, 31, or 62-mile routes for riders of all abilities. All routes start and end at Bridgewood Farms, a former Christmas tree farm north of Conroe on Rose Road. Proceeds from the ride will benefit Bridgewood Farms, a nonprofit organization helping developmentally challenged teens and adults reach their highest potential.

How long has the event been around?
This is our 9th year for the ride.

What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
Motivation is to offer to riders, seasoned and unseasoned, an opportunity to ride in a well organized and protected event while supporiting a Charity and enjoying it. Individuals as well as families have come and participated in our July 4th event. Some do the 20 miles ride, while others participate in the 31 and 62 mile ride. Some say this ride motivates them in preparation for the “Hotter than Hell 100”.

How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
The funds received from this event are used to help with operating costs for this non profit. Sponsors are obtained in order for this to be at no cost to the Organization.

Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
The number of volunteers are approximately 30+. This includes volunteers at registration, Sherif’s Department (3), EMT’s (3), Sag Wagons (3), The Lake Conroe Rotary Club, The Woodlangs Cycling Club, plus volunteers along the way at the stops that are provided. Finances – all except t-shirts is donated services. Planning takes about 3 months total.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
Rewarding experiences are many. Mostly having people know what they are riding for and who they are supporting. Clients come to this event and help serve lunch, drinks and show off their vegetables, plants and ceramics that theymake. It is also rewarding to see the age range of some of the riders. Families riding together is great and we have even had a 72 year old riding. But probably the most rewarding is when we are told what a great event this is andhow they will be back next year. Many riders stay and have lunch and visit with their peers, talking about upcoming rides, their businesses and meeting new friends. It is a great experience for all.

What is the average number of participants per year? How many riders do you assist during the average race?
It started out with 90 and last year there were over 300 riders. In between years range from 150 to 250 riders. Assistance is available, but there has been minimal assistance needed. There have only been 2 minor accidents, toour knowledge, and very few have had to use the sag wagon. Riders help one another with flat tires and minor repairs. EMT’s are available, if needed.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?
Support can be given in many ways. Volunteering at our center or our 2 Thrift Stores. Being able to offer help with their experience in their individual trades and of course, offering monetary support by way of scholarships for thoseunable to afford the day to day costs with our day hab or transportation. Some riders have gone back to their employers and provided “days of caring” from them and fellow employees.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
I facilitate, purchase, get sponsors, and get the best volunteers to help with this fun day.

Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?
I do not ride, but my Intellectually Challenged son and his friend ride 31 or 61 miles depending on the weather. The ride that they have participated in and have enjoyed is the Sean Ashley rides.

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?
The ride is well marked, protected and a little bit challenging.

 

Thanks Flo for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!

Click here to view the event details of the Burn your Buns Bike Ride

Cycling Friday!

Another edition of Cycling Fridays – showing funny, interesting and inspiring videos on a Friday so you can get ready for the weekend!

 

The Tour de France aka “Le Tour” starts next week, though we want to remind folks that we have an awesome cycling event coming up right here in the United States this August!

 

People are awesome 2011!

We were probably the only ones that had not seen this compilation before.

 

You might have seen this video before:

… but have you seen the continuation?

 

Enjoy those Texas roads this weekend and be careful out there!

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Cycle Cowtown – JPS to roll out North Texas 100-mile bicycle ride in 2013

Billed as a “warm-up to the Hotter’N Hell Hundred,” which attracts 14,000 or so people from all over the country to Wichita Falls each August, the first Cycle Cowtown is planned for June 22, 2013, Robert Earley, CEO of the JPS system, confirmed at the end of May.

With early support from Fort Worth’s bike-loving mayor, the county judge, the Chamber of Commerce, the downtown business district, Sundance Square, county commissioners and Earley, who loves riding his bicycle almost as much as he loves promoting community health, Cycle Cowtown should prove a popular venture.

“Who to better put on a great cycling venture than the JPS Health Network?”  Earley asked. “Our medical team is so committed to health, and cycling is such a healthy sport. A lot of our residents and other physicians and staff are serious bike riders and already big supporters of the Hotter’N Hell.”

The JPS team provides volunteers each year to stock, staff and support first aid services at several rest stops and at the HHH’s big finish-line medical tent. The 31st annual HHH will be on Aug. 25. It is always scheduled for nine days before Labor Day, the hottest time of the year.

“Our medical team has partnered with the HHH for several years, and they pull off an incredibly great race, year after year,” Earley said. “Now they have welcomed the opportunity to help us do the same.”

Founders of the HHH were in Fort Worth for a planning session recently, and when Earley asked whether they thought the big endurance race would attract at least 500 riders the first year, he said, the team from Wichita Falls told him: You should be ready for 8,000 to 10,000.

“Dr. Jim Barbee, who heads up the sports medicine program for JPS, is the instigator for a lot of this. He says we really need to make this happen. It will be a good thing for everyone involved,” Earley said in a recent phone interview.

Cycle Cowtown will benefit the JPS residency programs, which now train 202 physicians each year in family medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, orthopedics and obstetrics/gynecology. JPS also partners with Baylor Health System for a general surgery residency and with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School for residency programs in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

“All proceeds will go directly back to our residency programs, and that’s a big benefit for this community,” Earley said. “Surveys show a 75 to 95 percent retention rate – physicians stay and practice medicine in the communities where they trained. Texas loses a lot of the good physicians who complete their residency programs outside the state.”

Also, he pointed out, physicians tend to have very supportive families who are very active in the communities where they work, so bigger and better residency programs are a win-win deal for the whole community.

In addition, Earley said, big bike rides, especially 100-mile rides, bring in a lot of people from out of town and out of state, even out of the country, who are likely to stay two or three days.

He recalls looking for a place to stay in Wichita Falls two months before the ?2010 HHH.

“A very sweet lady at one of the hotels told me they were totally booked, and she believed everyone else in town was also full. Ironically, she suggested that I try looking in Fort Worth because it was the closest place where I might find a room available,” ?Earley said.

“Riders will be staying in our hotels, shopping in our stores, eating in our restaurants and visiting our great museums and other attractions, like Billy Bob’s,” he noted. “A fantastic bike ride is a way for JPS to give back.”

Cycle Cowtown is planned as a 100-mile primer to get acclimated for the even hotter HHH. However, like the HHH, it will also feature shorter rides such as a 10K, 25-mile, 50-mile and 100K. Routes have not yet been established.

“We plan to start downtown and hope to include some of our scenic and historic neighborhoods as well as rural areas out by some of our lakes … Even if you are just watching, there’s something special about seeing 5,000 bikes fly by,” Earley said.

Source: fwbusinesspress.com by Carolyn Poirot
Click here to read the Full Article

Age is NO Barrier!!!

I will never forget getting my rear end kicked by a 70+ year old cyclist in Fredericksburg, Texas. He showed me that with consistent training and continuous effort we can cycle forever…

Cyclist suffering on Texas Roads Yes, it looks like a young guy in the picture. He really is around 78 though and just looks young. Cycling was good to him… 😉

Keep yourself young, go ride!

New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride in Austin, TX

New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault RideThe New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride Austin invites you to join their upcoming ride happening on June 24, 2012 at  Fiesta Gardens Park Austin

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Dan Coppola, Event Manager of New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why join the New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride?
The New Belgium Urban Assault Ride is the nation’s largest bicycle scavenger hunt and obstacle race. People of all ages and cycling ability levels join us for a day of fun obstacles, silly contests, and beautiful riding through the city, all followed up with an after party chock full of prizes and great beer.

How long has the event been around?
The Urban Assault Ride is entering its 10th year in Austin.

What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
The Urban Assault Ride started as a way to celebrate and promote urban cycling and commuting. We like to show cyclists that they can get from point a to point b more enjoyably and sometimes faster on their bicycle. We work with local business’ to host obstacle checkpoints, and always partner with alocal non-profit group, who receives the proceeds from the beer sales as well as a donation from the event.

How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
We work with many non-profit groups across the country who receive donations from the event. They use these donations to sustain their operating budgets,build off road trails, install bicycle infrastructure.

Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
We don’t share financial information, but as far as planning and staff is concerned, it takes upwards of 100 volunteers and about a year to plan an Urban Assault Ride event.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
I’ve had some amazing experiences and met some great people in the process. The most rewarding experience is when I get an email from a rider after the event, telling me that they had such a great time and learned how to get around town on their bike in the process. We love when we can promote cycling as a mode of transportation.

What is the average number of participants per year? How many riders do you assist during the average race?
We average between 1300 and 1500 riders for the Urban Assault Ride Austin. The vast majority of those riders make it back to the finish without any assistance, though we do assist with some minor mechanical issues and flat tires at each event.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?
We’ve always got people showing up for the event who are new to cycling, andlast season we had a couple of riders who hadn’t been on bikes in over 10years, and thought they’d come out and do the event as a way to kick starttheir fitness plan. They weren’t sure they’d be able to make it to all of the checkpoints, but made it back to the finish line in 2 hours and 45minutes. They were so excited that they rode nearly 30 miles and completedall 7 obstacles.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?
The most important thing is to get out on their bike. I always try to encourage people to take their bike on at least one trip per week that they’d normally use their car for. Soon, that one trip becomes two, three, and before they know it, their car is collecting dust and their bike becomes their main mode of transportation. We partner with a lot of great local nonprofit groups that do great work, and I always encourage our racers to support them in any way they can, from making a cash donation to volunteering their time, or just talking about the work they do to other people.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
My title is Event Manager, which means I oversee the entire event series. We’ve got a small but very hard working full time team on this event, and there’s no way we could get this event done without all their hard work and organization.

Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?
Yep, I ride and I have too many bikes to list them all.

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year?s ride?
We’re going into our 10th Anniversary and there’s a lot of exciting changes for the Urban Assault Ride this year, from the course to the prizes.

 

Thanks Dan for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!

Click here to view the event details of the New Belgium Brewing Urban Assault Ride Austin

Bicycle rides in the State of Texas for the month of June, 2012

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVv0Jzs5AaQ]

Every month we present to you all of the bicycle rides and criteriums in the state of Texas in less then 90 seconds.

Look through the rides, pick your rides or criteriums, on our pages you will find all the registration information including maps on how to get there.

Texas Bike Rides: http://ventidev.com//texas-bike-rides/

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The Summer I Biked Across America…. wait…. WHAT?!?

Jeffrey cycling across America
Jeffrey - let's see how long he keeps smiling!

By Jeffrey Chatman

Days Until JOH: 7

  • Number of miles I had cycled before January, 2012:               0
  • Last time I played any kind of organized athletic:               7th Grade
  • Average number of days in the gym per week:                   0.25
  • Number of hours in the gym spent playing racquetball: ALL OF THEM

With all of these great statistics^ I’d bet you’re wondering how in the world a sophomore from TCU (Texas Christian University) plans to ride a bicycle from coast to cost. I’m less than a week out from the beginning orientation for a trip called Journey of Hope, and I’m beginning to wonder the same thing. Since March, I’ve put in about 750 miles on the bike and completely outgrown every pair of pants I own in the thigh region in a small attempt to prepare myself for the summer that lies ahead. From what I understand, nothing can truly prepare me for the 60 days of cycling at 80 miles per day that lies ahead, but I hope that my training so far has gotten me where I need to be.

For those of you new to Journey of Hope, here’s the short version:

Journey of Hope is a 4,000 mile bike ride from Long Beach, CA to Washington, DC to raise awareness and money for people with disabilities. All of the riders and crew members are brothers of the same fraternity: Pi Kappa Phi. Journey of Hope is the biggest fundraiser for Pi Kapp’s philanthropy, PUSH America. There are two things that make JOH unique:

1. Pi Kapp is the only fraternity/sorority in the nation to own its own philanthropy. This means that the people in our national office are Pi Kapps, $1.8 million that was raised last year was raised by Pi Kapps, and the service provided on behalf of PUSH is all done by Pi Kapps. Because of these things I’ll be making my journey with 39 of my other brothers. 37 of which are not in my chapter, and I’ve never met before.

2. What happens when get off the bike. JOH is more than just a fundraiser/bike trip; it’s a summer of service. Most days after riding (we average 80 miles a day), we’ll get off the bike and do a Friendship Visit. A friendship visit is where we spend time visit with a group of people who have a disability in whichever community we’re staying in that day. We’ll be learning wide range of disabilities this summer and how the people who have them are no different than you or me. After our friendship visits, we will be able to award grants to the organization we’re visiting from the money we’ve raised for riding.

To learn more about Journey of Hope, please visit: www.tinyurl.com/DonateJOH. I’m very excited to keep everyone updated this summer on my blog, which I’ve partnered with Wheelbrothers.com to help me keep up to date.

Thank you for reading my first installment, and I plan to keep informing you of who am I am the journey that lies before me over the next two months.

 

-Jeffrey

Huge Props to Clarence Muller from Mad Duck Cyclery from the Wheelbrothers!

The Wheelbrothers took the airport route today when 10 miles into the ride a screw on my seat post broke.  At first I just tried to make it through but since we already were in Grapevine we looked for a bike store that was  close.  Mad Duck Cyclery was it.  However, when we got there it was only 9:30 and they don’t open til 10.

Well, out of nowhere Clarence shows up, opens the store for us 30 minutes early and looks if he has the right part.  Since they specialize in Italian beauties and not so much my Specialized we were out of luck.

What happened next blew me away!  Clarence, simply walks over to one of his training bikes, measures the seat post, says – ‘This should fit’ and installs it on my bike.  Then he tells me to go back to Bicycles Inc.  get the right screw for my post and bring back his training post to him next week.   In between we were talking bikes, racing and Jens Voigt’s famous ‘Shut Up Legs’ came up.  You can tell he simply lives and breathes cycling!

The kicker?  The price!!!!

How much do I owe you?  Nothing!!!!   Don’t sweat it!  Just keep riding…

Well, thanks to Clarence of Mad Duck Cyclery I managed to finish my training ride today!  (Okay, Hutch, Jeff and David pulling my tail home today had something to do with that as well!)

Point is, if you are in the Grapevine area and need some work done or are looking for a cool bike… Check them out.

If they help a random rider out like that…. What do they do for their Customers???!!!!!