The 6th Annual Pedaling the Prairie benefitting the athletic department of Faith West Academy invites you to join their ride happening on February 11, 2012 at Waller County Fairgrounds – 22000 Fairgrounds Road Hempstead, TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Cathy Sturn, Ride Director of Pedaling the Prairie to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join this year’s ride?

We think we put on an excellent ride. We have breakfast tacos at the start, homemade goodies at the break points, and hamburgers at the finish. We have motorcycle support, ham operators, and friendly SAG drivers. We consider the rider’s safety a top priority and work closely with local police forces to help with traffic and intersections.

How long has the event been around and how did it start?

This is our 6th year. We had a couple of dads at the school that said we should try a bike ride as a fundraiser. We thought, seriously how hard can that be, boy did we learn a lot. The first year we had 300-350 riders, last year we had over 1500 riders, and this year we are expecting 1500-1800.

What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it? Motivation was raising money for the Athletic Department at Faith West Academy.

How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past? Purchasing sports equipment and supplies that the teams might not otherwise have available.

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

We have 100+ volunteers and some wonderful committee members. We start planning shortly after we recuperate from the current ride.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?

Seeing the same riders, year after year, and having them come up to us to tell us what a great ride we have and that they will see us next year.

How many riders do you assist during the average race?

Totally depends on the weather. One year it was freezing cold, did not get above 30 degrees. We SAG’d a ton of people that day, everyone was frozen. On a normal day, we probably help 25-40 riders. Only once have we had to have medical assistance for someone that became ill.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?

Last year watching those 1500 riders line up and take off was overwhelming. Pretty cool watching that.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Come ride with us.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?

Ride Coordinator

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?

Our sports teams work the break points and they really enjoy talking to the riders and being there to help support them. They cheer them on and welcome them into the break points. We appreciate our riders and want them to come back

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

Click here to view the event details of the 12th Fredericksburg Fall Foliage Frolic

 The 5th Annual Puddle for the Ducks Bike Ride happening on February 04, 2012 at Sun & Ski Sports, Katy Mills Mall  Katy, Texas, 77450

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with PatArthur, Ride Director of Puddle for the Ducks to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join this year’s ride?
This year’s ride is the Fifth Annual PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS, A Ducks  Unlimited Bike Ride. The ride has developed one of the best reputations  in the Houston area because of the great volunteers, unique rest stops,  and after ride refreshments. Additionally, one of the PUDDLE FOR THE  DUCKS major sponsors, Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., has donated a  bike to be given away each year.

How long has the event been around and how did it start?
The PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS was first held on February 9, 2008. However,  the genesis for the ride was a call from Vence Petronella with Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., to Ducks Unlimited Regional Director Tim Soderquist in July 2007 to ask if Ducks Unlimited would be interested in sponsoring a bike ride on a date that had just opened on the ride calendar for the Houston area. Tim assured Vence that DU would be interested and a meeting was held with potential sponsors and volunteers in August. The ride planning began in earnest and the first ride was held with approximately 700 riders, including the Michelob Ultra and Sun & Ski Sports Teams.

What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
The major desire was to hold a new and unique fund raising event for Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited is the largest and most successful conservation organization in North America conserving over 12,000,000 acres of wetlands since its founding. The PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS is the only bike ride done by Ducks Unlimited Volunteers in North America. Ducks Unlimited utilizes many different fund raising events but the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS appeals to a much different demographic than usual and allows us to show and tell a new group about the Ducks Unlimited mission and programs.

How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. DU is an international organization with conservation of waterfowl habitat in Mexico and Canada as well as the United States. In the past four years the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS has raised over $36,000 or enough to conserve 145 acres of wetland habitat.

Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
We have over 100 volunteers every year. These volunteers are all Ducks Unlimited members that share a vision of conservation through mutual effort. Additionally, we have major sponsors that include Sun & Ski Sports, Silver Eagle Distributors, Sellers Bros and Trailer Frame and Wheel. These sponsors help maximize the conservation funds raised by the ride by providing donations and funding. Planning the event usually starts in June with ride committee meetings that are held monthly until January at which time the meetings are held weekly. The committee is a great forum for new ideas and a way to keep the ride plan fresh.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
Knowing we helped conserve 145 acres of valuable wetlands.  Another rewarding experience was when THE PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS being nominated for an award at the national level. Ducks Unlimited give a Wings Of
Innovation Award annually to a committee that has developed a fund raising event that is unique, repeatable and provides a forum to get information about Ducks Unlimited to a new group. The PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS was nominated for the award in 2009 and while it did not win, the nomination itself was extremely gratifying.

How many riders do you assist during the average race?
We have a great group of SAG Volunteers, Motorcycle Support Group, Ride Marshal, Ride Medic and Ride Police that help throughout the day as well as mechanical support by Sun & Ski Sports at four of the five rest stops. In all, it is estimated that between 15% and 20% of the riders need assistance of some kind on the ride. Most of this assistance is minor but without the support that the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS enjoys, the ride would be much smaller and not as much fun.

What was the most unforgettable experience or  worst accident you had in this event?
The most unforgettable experiences have always come at the end of the ride when riders are arriving telling about the great volunteers and incredible rest stops and when they realize that the support continues with a snack and fun at the end of the ride, we are really happy. Additionally, we try to visit with the riders during this time and let them know about DU, it successes and the continuing challenges in conservation.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?
Ducks Unlimited can always use new volunteers to help put on fund raising events. The easiest way to help. other than volunteering, is to attend a Ducks Unlimited event. There are over 200 different events across Texas alone and approximately 5000 events across the United States and Canada.  If someone wants to help but not volunteer they can always help by donating directly to our ride or help underwrite the costs associated with it.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
I have been fortunate enough to have been the Ride Director or Co-Director since the beginning of the ride. The success is due to the volunteers, sponsors and , most of all, to the riders that have recognized the PUDDLE FOR THE DUCKS is a ride that they WANT to ride in.

Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?
There are two Ride Co-Directors, Pat Arthur & Chris Sechelski:

Pat:
Yes, I ride regularly, usually three or four days a week. I am currently riding a LightSpeed Tuscany that I have had for eight years. I tend to keep my bikes for a LONG time. I live near Braes Bayou in Houston and use the Braes Bayou Trail. On a ”normal” day my riding buddy and I do between 18 and 20 miles on the trail. On he weekends we usually do 25-30 miles, either on the trail or with one of the organized rides in the Houston area

Chris:
I have two bikes I use regularly, a 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR and 2010 Niner SIR 9 Single Speed Locally I ride the Cypresswood Trails, Memorial Park Trails (AKA Ho Chi Minh Trail), The Anthills, Jack Brooks Park, Huntsville, and Double Lake.  Short fun rides are 10-20 miles.  Training rides usually are between 25-50 miles.

Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?
Pat: The Space Race, The Gator Ride and The Piney Woods Purgatory
Chris: Excruciation Exam (80-85 mile mountain bike race – the longest in TX), Chihuanhuan Desert Dirt Fest, The Big Ring Challenge (XC mountain bike race)

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?
We have had long sleeve shirts for the ride shirt every year and this year’s shirts is really cool. It will definitely stand out. As most rider do, we have multiple ride shirts but getting a long sleeve shirt is rare and really special. Please join us if you can. Everyone that registers before January 29 will get a ride shirt. Go to www.puddlefortheducks.org to register.

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

Click here to view the event details of the 5th Annual Puddle for the Ducks Bike Ride

The Bike Through the Forest and the Hills 2012 happening on January 28, 2012 at San Jacinto Courthouse 1 State Highway 150 Coldspring, TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Duane McPeak, Ride Director of Bike Through the Forest and the Hills to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join this year’s ride?

With the rolling hills in Coldspring, Texas, Bike Through the Forest & Hills is one of the most challenging rides on the MS150 recommend ride list. The longest route is 50 miles, but when you are done you feel like you just rode 60 miles. We also offer shorter routes. We have exceptional rest stops because the Kingwood HS Fillies are present to assist the riders and to share their infamous Banana muffins each year!

How long has the event been around and how did it start?

8 years

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

To raise funds for the nationally recognized Kingwood Fillies Drill/Dance. These funds allow the girls to travel to out of state competitions.

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

100% of the proceeds go towards the KHS Fillies drill/dance team for costumes, props and travel expenses.

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

Our volunteers consist of the Fillies (averaging 75 high school girls) and their supportive parents. We typically have about 150 people working at the ride. We try to keep costs down so that we can maximize the returns and rely on sponsorship. Because the ride is basically established, the planning time has been greatly reduced to 3-4 months before the day of the ride.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?

Watching the riders, the parent volunteers and Fillies all interacting with each other. It has always been important to us to have the “team” present at the ride so the riders can meet whom they are supporting. Every year the Fillies form a huge line at the start of the ride to cheer on the riders!

How many riders do you assist during the average race?

We have (3) SAG wagons that travel the route along with about (10) BPMS150 Ride Marshalls. I have heard reports of about 20-25 people a ride. for late January. In Texas you just never know what we are going to get on the day of the ride. Typically we average 400-700 riders.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event? (prefer the rewarding/unforgettable experience ;o)) 


During my first ride as director, just 15 minutes into the ride, I got a call from the local constable that we had a rider down. It was a young man still in High School that had lost control of his bike going down a hill. He had gone head/face first into the street. There was a SAG wagon at the start that I jumped into to go check on the rider. As we headed towards the rider, we could see an ambulance was already on it’s way ahead of us. By the time the SAG wagon got to the rider, the EMS team had already evaluated the rider and had determined that Life Flight needed to transport him to a hospital in Houston. The ride is held in Coldspring, Texas, about an hour northeast of Houston. Once Life Flight arrived, the young man and his father were flown to Herman Hospital. Once they arrived at Herman his father called me hourly with updates. Immediately after the ride, the Fillies all got together and created an enormous care basket filled with all kinds of candy, DVD movies and games. As we all drove to the hospital to deliver the basket, we received a call from the father that he was okay and being released from the hospital to go home. There was no head trauma but he had a few stitches, burses and a nasty road rash on his face. Thanks to his bike helmet, severe injury was avoided. The Fillies were able to delivery the care basket to him at home in person. I took pictures of his helmet before we gave it back to his father and we show those photos before every ride, on why you must ride your helmet.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Sign up on line at www.Active.com or come the day of the ride.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?

For the past three years I have been the Ride Director and have made it my goal to get Bike Through the Forest/Hills recognized as’ a ride you don’t want to miss!’

Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?

I ride, but not like these riders. I am good for 15-25 miles, but these riders don’t seem to break a sweet until after 50 miles.

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?

The ride is Saturday, January 28th. The ride begins around 8:00-8:30AM, with registration beginning at 6:30AM on the day of the ride. Riders will enjoy the country scenic ride and the most stimulating bike ride in Southeast Texas. Again, the hills and scenic views of Coldspring, which is on the southeast side of Lake Livingston, are unlike any other ride in Texas. We have (3) SAG wagon supports, (3) BPMS150 bike shops (Bike Lane, Bicycle World and Better Bikes) at the rest stops for repairs, officers at all intersections, BPMS150 Ride Marshalls riding within the ride and plenty of port-a-cans at the start and rest stops. Furthermore, we have our water, our famous Banana Muffins and other health snacks at all rest stops.

After the ride, don’t rush off — stay to enjoy the town of Coldspring and its quaint shops and local restaurants. They are always well prepared for hungry riders needing to fuel up before heading home!

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

Click here to view the event details of the Bike Through the Forest and the Hills 2012

The 12th Fredericksburg Fall Foliage Frolic hosted by the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Clu invites you to join their upcoming ride happening on October 29, 2011 at 432 Lady Bird Dr, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Nolan Kuehn of Fredericksburg Fall Foliage Frolic to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join the Fredericksburg Fall Foliage Frolic (FFFF)?

It’s an opportunity to participate in a ride that’s laid back (no mass start), it traverses some of the most scenic roads in the Texas Hill Country, there’s something for everyone, and a post-ride meal is included.

How long has the event been around and how did it start?

2011 will be our 12th annual edition of the FFFF. It was started by Chris Marsh, one of the founding members of the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club (HCBTC). Chris is now resides near Albuquerque, and is active in bicycle advocacy for the State of New Mexico.

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

It was decided to use the FFFF as an annual fundraiser for the HCBTC. We charge only a nominal amount for annual dues (still only $12), so we felt that a fundraiser was needed. Even though our club is small in numbers, we are big in heart, volunteerism, and charity. We use a lot of the money for Christmas donations of bicycles, helmets, and other associated equipment and accessories.

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

In addition to what I have just mentioned regarding the use of funds, the club also has some out-of-town cycling/camping trips to state parks. Some funds are used to defray those costs.

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

I would say that we have roughly 40-50 volunteers for each year’s event. We raise maybe $2000-$2500. Usually, we begin our planning in earnest about the middle of the summer. Of course, we have done it enough times that it is pretty much routine by now. In the past we have had different start locations and different routes. For the last few editions, we have standardized on starting at the Tatsch House in Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredericksburg, and using the same routes each year. We like it this way, because the routes are safe, and the meeting location is convenient for the post-ride meal.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?

Unquestionably, the joy of seeing the kids’ faces light up when they get that new bike!

How many riders do you assist during the average race?

Hard to say. I know from experience in doing SAG work, that our work is minimal. That may be because we host the event in some great weather conditions at the end of October. I like to think that it is a tribute to the riders getting in some pretty good condition after a hot summer of riding.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?

The most unforgettable occurred a couple of years ago, when our porta potty vendor forgot to deliver the potties on the morning of the ride. We were able to solve the problem by waking him up, and getting him into action – maybe with only a 30-minute delay.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

We purposely keep this event very low key, but we want riders to come out, have a good time by doing a relaxed, fun ride, and then enjoying a delicious post-ride meal with their friends.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?

I usually have a supporting role the day of the ride, maybe doing SAG work. Prior to the ride, I order porta potties, notify law enforcement officials, send out notices to various on-line calendars, and distribute flyers and posters to bike shops. For the last few years, Ethel Pedraza, our club Publicity Chair, and Amanda McCoy, our V.P., have co-chaired the FFFF. They’ve done an outstanding job, and the FFFF remains as popular as ever.

Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?

I do indeed ride. My road bike is an Orbea Onyx, a Spanish bike with a carbon fiber frame/fork. I absolutely love it!

Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?

My top ride would be the LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour that comes up on the LBJ Ranch near Stonewall next March 24. I’m somewhat prejudiced, as I’m the Chair. This is another fundraiser for the HCBTC, but all of the net proceeds goes to our partner in this endeavor, the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park, a 501c3 non-profit. In the four editions that we have had, beginning in 2008, we have turned roughly $80,000 over to the Friends – all of which will be used for the betterment of the park. I couldn’t be more proud of the success of this event. It truly has been rewarding. Earlier this year, someone told me that we have “an iconic Texas ride” with the LBJ 100. In the same breath, this individual said that the Hotter ‘N’ Hell 100 in Wichita Falls is another iconic Texas ride. Pretty lofty company!

Of course, the Hotter ‘N’ Hell 100 is another favorite ride. I’ve done it eight times over the last 20 years. The ride down in Goliad is another good one

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?

I have had the FFFF described as low key, laid back, well organized, with great routes. What better invitation than that to come out and enjoy it on October 29!

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

Click here to view the event details of the 12th Fredericksburg Fall Foliage Frolic

The 3rd Annual Deb Tribble Ride for Pride benefiting the Volunteer Fire Department of Grandview invites you to join their upcoming ride happening on October 22, 2011 at 500 South 5th Street, Grandview, TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Bryan Anderson, Ride Coordinator and Planner of Deb Tribble Ride for Pride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join the “Deb Tribble Ride for Pride”? 

It benefits the Volunteer Fire Department

How long has the event been around?

3 years

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

Deb Tribble was a previous fire chief for 8 years, this is in her honor

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

To fund operations of the department

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

Appx 60 workers

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?  

Getting to honor our past chief

What is the average number of participants per year?

Year 1 was appx 100.

How many riders do you assist during the average race?  

10-12

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

The citizens helping to staff the rest stops and of course spreading by word of mouth about our ride.

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?

Planning a coordinating

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

Click here to view the event details of the 3rd Annual Deb Tribble Ride for Pride