We were lucky enough to catch up with David Marks of Plano Fun Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming event happening on August 7, 2010

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

This is the second year of the event. I am a member of the Plano Sunrise Rotary. Several members of the Club ride and we thought that a bike ride
would be a great way to work in the community.

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

We were looking for ways to support organizations in the community that we have not been able to support. This year, the Plano Fun Ride benefits Relief Nursery of Collin County, a child abuse prevention organization.
What is unique about Relief Nursery is the Prevention model it is based on. The organization looks to keep families intact, preventing the children from going into Foster Care by facilitating a safe family environment.

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

The funds are used to support the organization’s Child abuse prevention program. Last year, we also were able to share the proceeds with the Plano Children’s Medical Clinic.

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

Our Steering Committee is made up of 5 key individuals, focusing on Sponsors, Volunteers, Route Planning, Event Logistics. This year was unique in that we planned for a longer set of routes into Collin County, but ran into key logistical issues that we could not overcome. We had to close our
67 and 47 mile routes this year. But hey, we are way ahead in planning for next year!

As we did last year, we are working within one municipality; Plano. This simplifies (but still not simple) the planning process. Our largest expense
is the Police participation. I’m not sure you can ever have enough volunteers. We have volunteers assigned to various duties including Planning,
Registration, Site Setup, Tear Down, Rest Stops, and Road Crew. In all, we have 57 volunteers, but anyone interested in helping, please contact us. We’ll put you to good use!

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

This is the second year so it is hard to say. Each one is like your children, both different but you love them both. Last year we put on a
family ride and had two routes; 5 and 10 mile. Everyone had a great time (even though the rain cut the event short). This year we changed start/stop locations and expanded the routes to include a 31 mile ride. I would like to answer that question after this event.

What’s the average number of riders per year who finish the race?

Last year we had 159 riders, mostly families. This year we are planning for 300 riders with the expanded route. Next year when we expand further to include the 47 and 67 mile routes, we expect to double that again.

How many riders do you medically assist during the average race?

Last year we had one individual that had to be taken to the hospital for chest pains. It turned out to be nothing and he was OK.

What was the worst accident you had in this event?

We haven’t had one, and I would like to keep that record going.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

The Relief Nursery of Collin County is working to keep families together. We offer a hand up, not a hand-out. Prevention is not only best for the
fabric of our society (keeping families together in a safe environment), but is it cost effective, as well. Each child that goes into Foster Care costs
the taxpayer $670 per month (payment to the Foster parents). That’s $16,000 per year for as long as the children are in foster care. The average Relief Nursery program duration is 17 months. At $4,600 per year, per family, the cost is $6,500 for the duration of the family’s Relief Nursery program. Foster care is paid with your tax dollars, Relief Nursery is funded through private funding, donations, and fundraisers such as this. Come on out and support the cause.

How many port-a-potties do you have?

At the rest stops that do not have rest rooms, we will have two
port-a-potties. We will have three at the start/finish.

Any celebrities joining the ride/walk?

No

Additional stuff you would like to let folks know about this years ride?

Each time I go out on the routes to review the course, I get jazzed. The courses are really a nice ride. The beauty of the shorter family routes is
that parents can introduce their children to the joys of organized cycling in a semi-controlled environment. The longer route is for Tweeners. Kind of like us. Each rider get’s a free t-shirt and we’ll be grilling up free lunch for when you are done.

Thank you David for granting this quick interview and we hope we can catch up with everyone at the event.

Click here to view the event details for the Plano Fun Ride

Bartonville, Texas - Getting around the mextroplex of Dallas Ft. Worth is fairly easy if you go by car but, if by foot or bicycle — not so much. And it’s especially tough when inside the LBJ Freeway/I-20 loop because there are few dedicated bike lanes (OK, make that zero bike lanes) and limited walking paths outside parks and greenbelts. If you’re wanting to find a pedistrian-friendly stretch of road more than a 1/2 mile without a stop sign or light – forget about it, there just isn’t one. That’s why endurance bicyclists and runners alike seek the roads of less-urbanized towns outside the concrete jungle.

One of those towns is Bartonville, Texas (population 1,500) which is tucked away in the middle of the I-35W and I-35E corridor north of Lake Grapevine and south of Denton. The rural roads bordering and going through the town are wide, smooth and easily shared with cars, trucks, and the occasional tractor. There’s a gas station convenience store and a hamburger stand making it a perfect place to join friends for a long ride or run. Plus the townspeople are friendly.

Just perfect.

Unless it’s a group of more than 10. Then things aren’t so perfect or the town’s officials so friendly.

On June 15th the Bartonville City Council voted 4-0 to expand its definition of public events code to include races and rallies of 10 or more runners and cyclists during training. That’s right, to include training on public, tax payer supported roads. Here’s a link to the official code amendment on the city’s website: click here.

To be in compliance groups of 10 or more passing through need to pay $50 for a permit at least 45 days in advance.

Chief of Police, Dave Howell, declined to comment on the record beyond saying the change was made for “safety and enforcement issues.” Two phone calls and an email to the town’s mayor, Ron Robertson, have not been returned.

According to the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Mayor Pro Tem Carla Anderson opposed the change but missed the meeting. The posted agenda had notified residents only that the council might change the definition or a “race” or “rally,” not add group rides. “If there’s one thing people here complain about, it’s bicycles,” Anderson said.

Comments to the Star-Telegram article and cycling forums are decidedly against the new ordinance and chatter about cyclists either boycotting the town’s businesses or riding through Bartonville in defiance abound.

By Brian Brode of examiner.com
Click here for the Original Article

We were lucky enough to catch up with Diane of Gateway to Texas Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming event happening on June June 9th thru June 13th, 2010

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

This is our 5th year

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

This is a spin off from a ride called the Chainring Challenge, put on by a cycle club in Longview Texas.  Clarksville was one of their stops and I think it had happened for something like 15+ years.  When they decided, in 2006, not to do the ride any longer, they contacted us at the Chamber of Commerce and asked if we would consider taking the ride on as a fund raiser.  Several cyclists would come down for our planning meetings that first year to help us get started.  They said they choose us to contact because they had so many positive comments from the cyclists about our community and it’s people.

The Historic Red River County Chamber of Commerce sponsors and benefits from this event.

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

Yes, we have benifited greatly from the event.  Our Chamber was old and outdated and we had no money to renovate.  I am the only employee and it is only a part time job.  I have volunteers work the rest of the week so we can keep the Chamber opened full time.  I work for the Board of Directors of the Chamber and they are all volunteers.  With the funds form the first year, we renovated the office of the Chamber bringing some of it back to its orginial state.  Next we put new carpeting throughout the rest of the Chamber and new linolium in the bathrooms and kitchen.  Last year we had to put a new roof on and this year we put central air and heat.  It is wonderful to have a clean updated Chamber for our visitors to come into for information.

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

We feed 4 breakfasts and 3 dinners that are included in the registration fee.  The Chamber feeds 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner, that takes 20 or so volunteers.  We cater, from a local business, one dinner.  The cyclists are on their own for lunches.  These help bring money into our poor ecomony.  We farm out the other meals to local orgization in town and they use it as a fund raiser.  We do ask for corporate sponsors but could put this event on with just registration fees.  We start planning the event in mid January.  We house the cyclists in the high school, so we have to involve school personnel also.  We have a 24 hour maintance man for the 4 day event.

Can you give us some idea with regards on how hard it is to host this event during the night?

We house the cyclists in the high school, so we have to involve school personnel also.  We have a 24 hour maintance man for the 4 day event.  Everything seems to go very smoothly.  I actually move into the school for the week with the cyclists.

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

I think the most rewarding experience is that this is like a family affair now.  Some of our cyclists have been with us all 5 years.  We get new ones each year, and some come as they can, but it is the family atmosfere that I like.  A lot are old Chainring cyclists, so they know a lot of the riders and enjoy reaquainting themselves.

What’s the average number of riders per year who finish the race?

It is not a race, it is simply a ride.  Some finish really fast and some take there time.  They have maps with routes from 30 to 100 miles and are one there own for a starting time.  We have SAG support on the routs as long as there are people still out.

How many riders do you medically assist during the average race?

We have had very few medical situations.  Bumps and scrapes from a spill is about all.

What was the worst accident you had in this event?

Never had to use more than a first aid kit.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

We have wonderful support from the towns people.  This has been stated over and over agin by the cyclists.  Part of the reason the cyclist loved our town.

How many port-a-potties do you have?

We do not use port-a-potties

Any celebrities joining the ride?

NO

Additional stuff you would like to let folks know about this years ride?

This ride is always scheduled for the 2nd week in June.  We also have a Tandem Ride in the fall, 2nd weekend in October.

Thank you Diane and the Gateway to Texas ride gang granting this quick interview and we hope we can catch up with everyone at the event.

Click here to view the event details for the Gateway to Texas – Get A Way Tour