Houston cyclists who are itching to build up those all-important butt calluses before the BP MS150 in April are finding plenty of local rides that will allow them to join their friends out on the southeast Texas roadways. Local organizations like the Baytown Family YMCA will even give them a t-shirt and free lunch, too! Just schlep your bike on over to Baytown's Bicentennial Park, 119 Lee Drive, on Saturday, March 3, 2012, for the Baytown Family YMCA Gator Ride.
Gator Riders get to pick one of four routes this year, the 23rd running of the popular ride. Select from distances of 33, 43, 51, and 62 miles or join your family for the 6.2-mile Lisa Guy Memorial Family Ride. The start times are staggered, with the earliest flight leaving at 7:30 AM. Gephyrophobes (those of you who fear bridges) beware: the 43 and 62-mile both routes cross the Ship Channel on the 2.6-mile long Fred Hartman Bridge; the 33- and 53-mile routes don't..
There will be ample parking at the start line, which is between the park and Lee College.
Registration is a mere $30 until February 11, when it rises to $35. Walk-up registration on the day of the ride, beginning at 6:00 AM, will set you back $40. A mail-in registration form is available from the YMCA's website, and on-line registration is available at Active.com. On-line registration closes at midnight on March 1. Packet pickup also begins at 6:00 AM at the start, or at local cycling shops on the previous weekend. Pickup details are available on the website.
Families interested in the 6-2-mile Lisa Guy Memorial Family Ride can register for $20 for one parent or $30 for both parents - kids ride for free.
Details to remember: The Gator Ride is a BP MS 150 recommended training ride, and the first 750 registrants (excluding kids in the family ride) are guaranteed a T-Shirt and post-race lunch. Safety rules will be enforced: helmets are required, pets are prohibited, and the even takes place rain or shine.
Getting there: The start is about 24 miles from downtown Houston. Take the East Freeway (I-10) to TX 330 (Decker Drive), just beyond the San Jacinto River. Go straight into Baytown on Decker Drive, turn right (west) on Market Street and then immediately left (south) on Lee Drive. Lee College is ahead on your left. Check the Gator Ride website for parking tips.
Cyclists who'd prefer some more varied terrain can find plenty of hills at Pedal Thru the Pines near Bastrop, 120 miles west of Houston, on the same day - also a BP MS150 training ride.
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