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  Our Chamber was old and outdated and we had no money to renovate.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

Event: The Cotton Patch Challenge

Location: Greenville, Texas

Race Distances (Click here for Tour Map for all routes): 6, 21, 31, 41, 54 and 63 miles

Entry Fees:

About the Ride: Greenville’s newly streetscaped and revitalized downtown is the perfect backdrop for the latest annual event that provides plenty of fun and entertainment for the entire family. While you participate in a first class bicycle tour, the rest of the family can enjoy a variety of music, food, kids activities, a Classic Car Show, BBQ cook-off and Camel/Elephant rides at the Old Katy Depot.

Event Website: http://cottonpatchchallenge.com

Email: alineme@geusnet.com

Registration: Online Registration @ Bikereg.com

Additional Contact Info:
USCF Road Race, Time trial & Criterium questions: Tom Izbicki  t_izbicki@hotmail.com
Greenville YMCA: 903-455-5405  ask for Christa Compton
Rally Round Greenville questions: 903-455-1510 at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and ask for Milton Baab

Event: Hale On Wheels

Location: Plainview, TX

Routes: 21, 32, 48, and 62 miles

Registration: Ride day registration will begin at 7:00 am at the Ollie Liner Center.
$25 per person registration if pre-registered.
$30 per person beginning at 7am on ride day.
$5 family discount for two or more from same household ($20 per rider if registered by 9/11/10).
$5 bike club discount if for two or more from same club ($20 per rider if registered by 9/11/10)

About the Race:

Hale on Wheels is a fully supported recreational bike ride for road bikes held in Plainview, Hale County, Texas, during the annual “Cowboy Days” celebration.  Routes are 21, 32, 48, and 62 miles, all on smooth, flat, lightly traveled or wide shoulder roads.  A free nutritious lunch is provided for riders and their families.  There are drawings for pre-registered riders for $450.00 in cash and a “rest stop raffle” for all riders for $300.00 cash.

Website: http://site.haleonwheelsbikeride.com/

Registration: Online Registration or Registration Form

Additional Info:

All riders receive a “Hale on Wheels” T-shirt, tote bag,water bottle and other goodies.  RV spaces with electrical and water hook-ups are available at the start.  Early packet pick-up on Friday, September 17th, from 5 PM-8 PM at the Ollie Liner Center, 2000 South Columbia, Plainview, TX 79072.  There are fully supplied rest stops, sag wagons, mechanical and first aid available.

Location: Hillsboro, Texas

Routes: 6, 54, 40, 26, and 10 mile routes

Registration: begins at 7:30pm with staggered starts beginning at 9:00am at 126 West Elm Street (Antique Village) in Hillsboro, Texas.

About the Race:

Two of Hill County’s finest community oriented organizations, Hill County Paw Pals and Hillsboro Police Department Community Outreach Programs, have joined together again to launch their third annual “Waggin’ Trail Bike Ride” on Saturday, September 25.

The planned routes of Waggin’ Trail Bike Ride offer cyclists a unique tour of Central Texas.  Hill County is 986 square miles of rural area that is joined together with miles and miles of splendid paved farm-to-market roads.  With a combined population of only 33,000, Hill County offers open spaces.  On many areas of the bike ride, one can see for miles around—the splendid beauty of open land—flowing creeks, pastures with cattle and horses grazing, farmers’ cultivated fields, and proud, rural communities.  The varied routes all explore the back roads of Hill County and go through communities that were established during the 1850’s when Hill County was created and named after Dr. George W. Hill, a settler who served as a congressman and Secretary of War for the Republic of Texas.

Website: http://www.waggintrailbikeride.com

Time : 8:30 a.m., no riders start after 9 a.m.

Event: 8th Quicksilver Paluxy Pedal

Location: Glen Rose, TX

Ride Distances (Click for Ride maps): 29, 45, 60 and 80 miles.

Registration Fee :

Early entry fee is $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Early registration ends October 3, 2008. Registration fee on day of ride is $30 for adults and $15 for children.

About the ride :

The Quicksilver Paluxy Pedal is fast becoming one of the top rides in Texas. The ride starts and ends at the northern tip of the Hill Country in beautiful Glen Rose, Texas. The meandering paved route takes you through scenic views, gentle hills and challenging climbs.

Whether you are a novice or advanced rider, you will have fun with the other riders and volunteers who all help to make this ride an unforgettable annual event, and one that you don’t want to miss

Call us at 254.396.3247 or send us an email. Sign up using the registration form in the left column to receive email updates about the ride. As more information becomes available and the event gets nearer, we’ll send you email updates.

Website: http://www.paluxypedal.com

Registration: Online Registration via Active