Annual Texas Independence Bicycle Tour set for Jan. 30

One year after Deer Park Rotary launched the Texas Independence Bicycle Tour, the event has been named a BP MS 150 Recommended Training Ride.

The tour offers 30-, 48- and 62-mile options that end and begin at Deer Park High School's Clyde Abshire Stadium, 710 W. San Augustine St., on Sunday, Jan. 30.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and the ride will get under way at 8 a.m.

The $35 registration fee supports Deer Park Rotary's efforts to support Deer Park Independent School district through scholarships and grants for students in need.

Good practice

President Jason Cable, suggested the idea of a bike event that riders to could use to prepare for the demanding 180-mile BP MS 150 event in April.

A path through the San Jacinto Texas Historic District would be an opportunity to showcase the region and Deer Park's role in Texas history.

"It would bring great awareness to what the Rotary club was about and what the community has to offer," Cable said.

Deer Park Rotary gained the support of such organizations as the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, a nonprofit economic development organization; San Jacinto Texas Historic District; Deer Park ISD; and Cenikor Foundation, a Deer Park-based drug counseling and recover program that provides event volunteers.

Event sponsors include Bay Area Schwinn, which has sponsored other bike events and was able to provide organizational advice.

The first event, held last January, saw 250 riders and raised $20,000.

Now that the ride has gained the endorsement of the BP MS 150, participation is likely to increase significantly.

"We're expecting it to be a bigger and better event," Cable said.

Get ready to ride

Ride participants will start the day by heading south on Red Bluff Road into Pasadena. Those on the 30-mile route will cut east on Pasadena Boulevard to the La Porte area and then head north on Bay Area Boulevard, and then Texas 225 back to Deer Park.

Riders up for a longer trek will travel through the Clear Lake area.

And those who opt for the longest ride will travel up along the coast through La Porte.

Each of the routes brings riders past the San Jacinto Battleground, and all of the ride rest stops will be named after a battle in the Texas fight for independence.

Supporting this event was an easy decision, said Chad Burke, president of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, which is based in La Porte.

"We see it as another tool to help generate tourism and awareness of the assets this region has to offer," Burke said.

It was the alliance's Quality of Life Task Force that created the San Jacinto Texas Historic District, which also is showcased in this ride.

"A bike tour is a perfect way to highlight this area to a lot of people," Burke added. "I think it has the potential to grow into something big for this region."

Cable said working on this event has given him new insights into his community and its businesses and organizations.

"I've seen how well the community and Deer Park come together to do these things, how good they are at coming through," said Cable, who is working on the ride this year with Rotary president-e lect Bennie Boles.

"This is one of those projects, even though it's a lot of work, you feel it was worth it," Cable said.