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 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 24th Annual Goatneck Bike Ride benefiting various Johnson County charities invites you to join their ride on July 30, 2011 starting at Cleburne High School, 1501 Harlin Dr., Cleburne TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Brad mead, Staff and Ride Marshall of Goatneck Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Why Join the “The 24th Annual Goatneck Bike Ride”?

Come push your boundaries. Its a challenging ride. It’s always hot and we have some pretty good climbing around the Brazos River. Besides, it’s better than sitting at home.

How long has the event been around?

As the name implies, 24 years. Just kidding. It has been a great 24 years. We are really looking forward to our 25th year next year. It is a great milestone.

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

The ride was started by the Jaycees. I think it was a way to promote Cleburne and get an event started where people would come to the city. The ride is now run by the Goatneck Bike Club.

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

We have many charities here in Cleburne and around Johnson County that benefit from the ride. A few of them are the Child Advocacy Center, CASA of Johnson County, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross just to name some. Most of the groups we donate to also help us by volunteering on ride day. We give out around $30,000 in donations every year. That is awesome.

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

We have about 200-250 volunteers that help us out on ride day. They are great. Of course, you could never do an event like this without volunteers. We are blessed to have so many people wanting to help. If one group has to bow out we always find other groups willing to brave the heat and help us out. We do have a core group of guys in the bike club that do the organizing. We are lucky to have had the same group do it for about 10 years now so by doing it so much we seem to have it down pretty well.

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

I’m not sure about one single experience. What we do find so rewarding is how many riders think so highly of our ride. We get great reviews from riders and I think our ride is really liked amongst the riding community. Some of us in the club are actually riders and when we go to other rides and people find out we are with the Goatneck, they always have something positive to say. That is rewarding.

What is the average number of participants per year? How many riders do you assist during the average race?

We average anywhere from 2,300 to 2,500 riders. About three years ago we had 2,700. We hope that next year the 25th Goatneck will be an all time high. I’m not really sure how many riders we assist overall during a ride.

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

The scariest accidents are anytime I get a call during the ride and I find out there has been an accident with a rider and an automobile. My heart skips a beat until I find out what has happened. With 2,500 riders, accidents are going to happen. You just pray that they are not too serious.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Just show up and ride. Entry fee money allows us to have another ride next year and funds our donation money.

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

I am in charge of pre-race day registration, t-shirt and water bottle acquisition and on the day of the ride I am a Marshall on the course. All of our guys do their jobs well and I am thankful for the job they do.

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)?

I do ride. I don’t ride near as much as I use to. I ride a Giant. May favorite route is to leave my house and go down to the Brazos River and turn around and climb back out. My favorite rides over the years have been, the ride in Italy, Texas, the Shiner GASP, and the ride down in Stonewall thru the LBJ State Park.

You watching the Tour de France this year? If yes, rooting for anyone?

I switched to DirecTV late last year and I don’t get Versus now so I haven’t watched the Tour that much. I have kept up. I have been rooting for the Schlek Brothers. Also rooting against Contador LOL.

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

We are always looking for ways to improve our ride. Just come out and ride. We love having you in Cleburne.

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

Click here to view the event details of the 24th Annual Goatneck Bike Ride

The 21st Annual The Dehydrator benefiting the Duncan school bands invites you to join their ride on July 30th, 2011 starting at Simmons Center located at 800 Chisholm Trail Parkway, Duncan Oklahoma.

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Kent Collins, Ride Coordinator  of The Dehydrator Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride

Why Join the “The Dehydrator”?

The Dehydrator offers both a race AND a fun ride. The race is extremely challenging when you couple the hilly terrain, fast corners, and the typical heat experienced in southern Oklahoma at the end of July. The fun ride offers a scenic tour that takes the longer routes near and around Waurika lake and back again.

How long has the event been around?

2011 will be the 21st year of the event.

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

The motivation was driven by our local cycling club from a desire to bring cyclists together. For around the last 10 years, the event has been sponsored by the Duncan band boosters organization. Everyone benefits, from the riders to the volunteers, to the community.

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

The proceeds go to support our middle and high school band programs. The funds are used to help buy instruments, supplement travels expenses, and provide scholarships. Our Duncan band programs are among the top ranked in Oklahoma. Also, we ‘give back’ to the community by donating bicycles to our local toy shop program to be used as Christmas gifts for the less fortunate.

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

Vols = about 150+ , finances = $10,000+, planning is year-round.

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

For me personally, setting the attendance record last year. A lot of hard work was put in throughout the year trying to make sure that we were doing things right and advertising ourselves in the right markets, and ultimately it paid off. Also, as far as rewarding, was seeing the boosters increase their bicycle gift giving to the toy shop. The proceeds were higher, so they turned around and increased their giving. I’m sure there were quite a few happy kids on Christmas day because of that.

What is the average number of participants per year?

How many riders do you assist during the average race? Average = 400, we set a record last year (2010) of 540 (a 30% increase over 2009 and a 50% increase over 2008). We might sag in 5%, maybe 20 – 30, not really for sure on that.

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

Unforgettable ranges from good to bad. Bad is like when we found out (in the ’09 event) that an older gentleman from Dallas, in the race, had wiped out in one of the fast corners and suffered a broken hip. Also bad is being griped at for lack of medical coverage in a certain area. We have since corrected that because we want a safe event above all. Good is when things go right and you see people having fun and feeling that they’ve gotten their money’s worth and tell you that the event is one of the best around, and that they’ll be back. Good is having people on your team that you know you can count on to come through for you in a pinch. There’s several really great people who stepped up and did an awesome job of coordinating, and they know who they are. Also good is having people like Jari Askins (local girl), Oklahoma Lt. Governor at the time, take time out of their day (2010, the 20th anniversary of the event) to greet the crowd and wish them well.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Riders can register and ride the event! Volunteer organizations can help with their time, such as running/sponsoring a hydration station. Local businesses can increase their sponsorship monies and/or products and gifts, to either be used in the event, or given away as door prizes. Bicycle shops or blogs/websites such as yourself can help spread the word.

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

I became the coordinator in the fall of ’08 to start planning the ’09 event. ’08 was the ‘low water mark’ of the event. From a combination of overspending and a lower attendance, it only made several thousand dollars profit that year. At that time both the boosters and the bicycle club were frustrated with the lack of return for investment and the low attendance. When you think about having a fund raiser, working all year long for several thousand dollars just doesn’t make sense. The ride had been around for a number of years, and although it is a high quality event, it just wasn’t growing. Attendance was almost always the same from year to year. The nature of the boosters, like many organizations, was to elect (or conscript….ha!) a coordinator and that person MIGHT handle it for a max of a couple of years before their child would graduate or leave the band. That person would then get out of that position and hand it to the next person, and the learning process would start all over again. So it was obvious to me that that plan just wouldn’t work over a long period of time; there was no continuity. My position now, in this my third year, is having a better overall look at what’s going on now, and what was going on in the past, combining all that data and trying to organize it better.

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)?

Yes I’ve ridden since I was a child of course, but bought a ‘real’ bike back in ’87; a Specialized Allez. I currently ride a Tommaso. I’ve only done one ride in Texas, and that is the Hotter-N-Hell. But I’ve done that ride multiple times. In fact 19 years ago, my wife and I rode in it on our honeymoon!

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

Well, it’s going to be HOT! That goes without saying due to the current drought conditions we’ve been experiencing. Hopefully we’ll be seeing a break from the excessive temperatures about the time the event rolls around. With that being said, coincidentally, we’ve rolled back the start time by 30 minutes to 7:30 this year. That will help a little with the heat exposure. We discussed it last year and felt like we needed an earlier start. We might even try to go to a 7:00 start in 2012.

Additionally, we will have much better support this year through our medical tents. They will have trained staff and doctors and in an extreme emergency have ice water dunk tanks to cool someone down. We have a local Ham radio club, who has supported the ride for years, that gives us real time tracking of the sag vehicles and status of our hydration stations. They provide us a great service and they are pretty interesting to watch as they coordinate everything. It will be ‘business as usual’ as far as the meal goes. We put on one of the best meals around, and it is included in the entry fee. Also included in the fee, is ‘run of the house’ of the Simmons Center. The Simmons Center (location of the event) is a first-class facility offering a half-olympic sized pool, saunas, weight rooms, jogging track, raquetball courts, etc.. Through the Dehydrator entry fee, riders can enjoy any of these all day long. It costs us some money to rent the center, but it is well worth it to us because we want our event to be the best. Also, riders can experience the ‘Old West’ via the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, which is adjacent to the Simmons Center. Riders get free admission with their bibs, and can enjoy all the museum has to offer. It’s really pretty neat AND educational.

Furthermore, we are 1 of only 2 rides in Oklahoma that are endorsed by the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Due to our event date, we typically draw in a number of riders who are training for the Hotter-N-Hell, which is only 1 month after ours. Finally, we absolutely love putting on this thing, and are constantly striving to improve it. We are looking into ways to enhance the technical side through social networks and all that inter-networking offers. You can check us out at www.thedehydrator.org and we have a Facebook presence as well.

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

Click here to view the event details of the The Dehydrator Bike Ride 2011

The 23rd Annual Peach Pedal Bike Ride benefiting the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce and the Weatherford College Foundation invites you to join their ride on July 9th, 2011 starting at Weatherford High School, 2121 Bethel Rd, Weatherford, TX

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Brent Baker, Ride Director of Peach Pedal Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride

Why Join the “ Peach Pedal Bike Ride”?

Great views of the countryside, challenging hills, friendly people and the Peach Festival!

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

This is our 23rd year. It started as a small ride to compliment the Peach Festival…back then, they used to begin the ride around the downtown courthouse, which must have been cool.

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

We split the funds between the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce and the Weatherford College Foundation. Weatherford College uses the funds for scholarships…last year’s ride funded 20 individual semester scholarships! The Chamber uses the funds to help promote our community to the rest of North Texas.

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

We’ll have more than 200 volunteers working the event. It’s amazing how these people work so hard in the heat for no pay. I’m truly grateful. Planning is year-round, but most of the work is done between January 1st and ride day.

In years past you encouraged folks to go down to the Parker County Peach Festival after the race, how about this year?

No doubt. The Peach Festival is a must-see. Great arts and crafts, food, and music. It’s hot, but not as hot as riding 63 miles! All our riders get a free festival pass…check out the festival at www.peachfestivaltx.com.

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

I remember one lady…somewhere around 2004 or 2005. It was after 2:00 p.m., and we had shut down the route and our rest stops. But this one lady, mid-50s, came rolling up to the finish area. She was all by herself, and we were tearing everything down. We just had one table with about three cups of Gatorade and a banana sitting there. But the look on her face was classic. She finished the 100K, and to her, it was like winning the Tour de France. I was hot and tired, but I had a lot of satisfaction that day that we were part of her reaching a goal.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

The main thing is just come out and ride with us and tell your friends.

The cycling community is amazing in DFW…the folks with Ride for Heroes, Blazin’ Saddles, the Tour de Pepper and others have been really helpful to me over the years. These people are awesome.

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

I’ve been the ride director since 2004. The director before me, John Karnes, laid a great foundation for the ride. We added a few things along the way to continually improve the ride. The biggest change was moving the start/finish and essentially re-routing everything a few years ago. It took the route mostly out of the city limits and cut down on some of the traffic on the route. It was a hard thing to do that took a lot of time, but it was worth it—everyone loves the “new” location.

What makes riding in the area around Weatherford so special?

We do a survey every year of the riders. The two things they enjoy the most are the scenery and the people. The western part of the route, is just beautiful. You forget you’re in North Texas…seems like a totally different topography. And the people that staff our rest stops and finish area are fantastic. This is a close-knit community, and our friendliness and hospitality really shows at the Pedal.

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

Click here to view the event details of the Peach Pedal Bike Ride 2011

The 6th Annual David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride benefiting Camp Agape invites you to join their cause on July 9, 2011.

We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Maegan Eikenburg, one of the daughters of David Eikenburg  and also one of the organizers of the David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.

Who is “David”?

David, the pastor, was a man who touched everyone he met. He had the biggest heart of gold. He was willing to help the homeless on the street as well as the man who had everything. He was no respecter of persons. David had an excitement and relentless energy that overflowed to the congregation. He loved the Lord and he spent day-in day-out doing what Jesus would do. He would sit with the family during a critical surgery, hold the hand of a friend dying of cancer, take a blind lady to the store for groceries, buy a tank of gas for the down and out, organize a group to help a widow move, visit the stranger in the jail, rescue a teenager in trouble, and with his unyielding strength, he was there during a crisis for whatever was needed. David loved missions and during his ministry, he organized and participated in many mission trips to Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.

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

This marks the sixth annual David’s Ride.  This ride was started to honor our beloved pastor, father, husband and friend, David Eikenburg, who died tragically in a cycling accident on July 11, 2005. He died doing what he loved, but his first love and passion was to share the love of Jesus. Every year we honor him with this bike ride, remembering what he loved, and then to glorify God by continuing David’s legacy and passion for spreading the Good News to people everywhere.

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

After experiencing such a tragic loss in our family, we saw the need to support a ministry that would reach children that have experienced the loss of a loved one.  Often times when a family experiences death, the focus is on the adults and the children are left behind and confused. Camp Agape provides an environment where children are surrounded with other children who are also grieving.  Our family believes in the mission of Camp Agape and is committed to making sure no child is left behind in the event of a death in the family.  All proceeds go to Camp Agape, a Christian bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one.

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

All funds raised from David’s Ride are donated to Camp Agape, a Christian bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one. It costs approximately $200 for 1 camper to attend the camp and is free of charge for the camper. With the money donated from last year’s ride we were able to sponsor 20 children and assist in the healing of their hurting hearts.

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

An event of this magnitude takes countless hours of planning and many volunteers to execute.  In regards to funds, we tend to operate on a very small budget.  We try not to lose sight of the fact that the money we raise (minus our expenses) go to benefit young lives who might have lost a significant loved one in their lives just like David’s daughters did.

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

The most rewarding experience for our family is at the beginning of the event.  We all stand together and take the site in, knowing that all these riders are riding for David, when he can’t. We say a prayer for the safety of the riders and then the ride begins. It is absolutely breath taking to see all the riders take off into the sunrise.

How many riders do you assist during the average race?

We anticipate 400 riders this year.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event? (prefer the rewarding/unforgettable experience ;o))
The most unforgettable experience was in 2007 a huge thunder storm came into the area the early morning of our ride.  We prayed and miraculously the rain ceased and storm moved on 5 minutes before the ride started.  The weather was cool and lightly breezy and made for an awesome day.

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

We are a nonprofit organization; therefore, we do not have a large marketing budget. We rely primarily on word of mouth advertizing. So the biggest support we could get is spreading the word about David’s Ride.  Other ways that people can support David’s Ride is through donations and volunteering their time on the day of the event.

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

Our family is the core team of David’s Ride. We raise the funds, mark the routes, design the t-shirts, advertise the ride throughout the nation, gather volunteers and above all promote cycling for Christ.

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

I (Maegan – one of David’s daughters) started cycling after my father’s accident.  I wanted to participate in the ride because it made me feel close to my dad.  I ride a Trek.  I’ve ridden several of the routes for over the years, but my favorite is the 70 mile route.  All the routes follow back country roads with rest stops at local churches. It is neat to see my dad’s legacy throughout the ride in many different areas.

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

MS150 (Houston to Austin, TX), Goatneck (Cleburne, TX) and Hotter n Hell (Whichita Falls, TX)

Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about?

Every year it amazes me the great feedback for our riders.  Below is a ride review that we received from a cyclist in 2009.

The David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride is definitely a ride to remember. It is not only a ride that remembers a great man who left a wonderful legacy but it is a ride that you must remember to mark your calendars for next year, July 10^th, 2010.  This year’s ride hit an all time high with a record number of 250 riders.

This was my 1^st year to ride in the bike ride and I was a little scared of what might be to come but what a great experience it turned out to be.  The staff and volunteers were all so friendly and encouraging, from the moment I walked up to register until the time I crossed the finish line and enjoyed a wonderful free BBQ lunch.  The scenery was beautiful.  Empty winding roads through Texas farmlands that don’t necessary go anywhere in particular.  As I rode the ride I wasn’t sure exactly where I was going but the routes were marked with paint on the pavement and color coded signs on the side of the road.  Those who organized this ride hit the markings right on the nose.  The directions were easy to follow and clearly marked at each turn.  It was so wonderful to see all of God great creations and to ride the same roads that David Eikenburg once road.  I felt like I was able to share the road with him as I pedaled my heart out.  Each ride was supported by numerous rest stops.  To say the rest stops were awesome is not enough. The rest stops were stocked with plenty of sandwiches, cookies, and fruit slices.  It was so encouraging to pull into a rest stop and have the volunteers cheer for you, but it didn’t stop there because as soon as we stopped the volunteers ran up and filled our water bottles with Gatorade and water as we rested up for the next leg of the ride.  This was so encouraging especially during those times when I thought I just couldn’t go any further. The ride was also supported by SAG support and a bike technician that was able to meet any rider during the ride to fix flat tires or bike problems.

What made the David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride even more special was the charity all the proceeds go to.  Camp Agape is a free Christian bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one.   The David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride had all the trimmings and I felt pampered the whole time.  One thing I have learned is that all rides are different but this one left me with a great feeling in my heart because it was put on by a Christian family that not only wants to remember their husband, father and friend but they want to continue his legacy by sharing the love of God with all those around them.

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

Click here to view the event details of the 6th Annual David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride