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05-05-07, 12:53 AM
"The Best Little Tandem Rally in Texas" sponsored by the HATS (Houston Area Tandem Society) was held last weekend (April 27-29) in the small town of LaGrange, TX. This was the 17th annual SouthWest Tandem Rally (SWTR). This was our third SWTR that we participated in. The first two had some weather issues. In '94 the ride in Brenham had a (gulp!) tornado on the first day; the one in Waco, TX also had some weather issues.
But being optimists, we figured third time was the charm! And, it was . . . no rain for the 3 days of the event!
However, the day before the rally there was a tonado in the area and after the rally there was a tornado warning (and buckets of rain!).
A 101 tandems (including one triple and one quad) participated. Asides from lots of Texans attending, there were riders from 12 other states. A choice of rides was offered each day with Saturday's ride featuring a mass start. Ride distances varied from 13 to 87 miles, so there was sure to be a distance there that would suit your team.
Scenic and quiet local back roads were primarily utilized and all the wet spring weather did produce an abundance of wildflowers. The Texas Bluebonnets, red Indian Paintbrush and Blackeyed Susans literally covered the meadows. And to make us Tucsonans feel at home, we even spotted a prickly pear cactus in bloom!
Those meadows of course had lots of livestock, from Brahmas to Texas Longhorns to sheep, goats, horses and we even spotted a couple llamas!
Can't forget the local folks who were down right "Texas friendly"! The La Grange area is noted for its Czech/Moravian/German settlers, so we made sure to to stop at the bakery to pick up kolaches, a Czech
fuit or cheese pastry. Yummmm!
Organization of the event was superb. Our entry packet had road maps/cue sheets, free patchkits,
water bottles and a whole assortment of 'freebies.'
The $200 per team entry fee included ALL catered meals at the Fairgrounds Pavillion! Plentiful pasta dinner on Friday, bountiful breakfast and lunch + a great western BarBQ on Saturday; after Saturday's dinner all kinds door prizes were handed out so virtually all tandem teams came home with something extra! Another big breakfast on Sunday + a box lunch for either take-home on the road or eating right then and there. The HATS know that tandemistas 'ride to eat and eat ro ride'!
Free indoor bike storage was provided right at the fairgrounds so there was no lugging tandems back and forth from hotels to the start line.
Also bike games and seminars were held, so there was always something going on
A great event to meet old friends and make new ones too, and get in some good riding with a bit of hillwork thrown in so you got to use most of those gears on your bike.!
All in all a great event that warrants the name "The Best Little Tandem Rally in Texas!"
We doff our cycling helmets to all the HATS that helped put on the rally!
The folk in Tulsa, OK will be hosting the 2008 SWTR . . .
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
But being optimists, we figured third time was the charm! And, it was . . . no rain for the 3 days of the event!
However, the day before the rally there was a tonado in the area and after the rally there was a tornado warning (and buckets of rain!).
A 101 tandems (including one triple and one quad) participated. Asides from lots of Texans attending, there were riders from 12 other states. A choice of rides was offered each day with Saturday's ride featuring a mass start. Ride distances varied from 13 to 87 miles, so there was sure to be a distance there that would suit your team.
Scenic and quiet local back roads were primarily utilized and all the wet spring weather did produce an abundance of wildflowers. The Texas Bluebonnets, red Indian Paintbrush and Blackeyed Susans literally covered the meadows. And to make us Tucsonans feel at home, we even spotted a prickly pear cactus in bloom!
Those meadows of course had lots of livestock, from Brahmas to Texas Longhorns to sheep, goats, horses and we even spotted a couple llamas!
Can't forget the local folks who were down right "Texas friendly"! The La Grange area is noted for its Czech/Moravian/German settlers, so we made sure to to stop at the bakery to pick up kolaches, a Czech
fuit or cheese pastry. Yummmm!
Organization of the event was superb. Our entry packet had road maps/cue sheets, free patchkits,
water bottles and a whole assortment of 'freebies.'
The $200 per team entry fee included ALL catered meals at the Fairgrounds Pavillion! Plentiful pasta dinner on Friday, bountiful breakfast and lunch + a great western BarBQ on Saturday; after Saturday's dinner all kinds door prizes were handed out so virtually all tandem teams came home with something extra! Another big breakfast on Sunday + a box lunch for either take-home on the road or eating right then and there. The HATS know that tandemistas 'ride to eat and eat ro ride'!
Free indoor bike storage was provided right at the fairgrounds so there was no lugging tandems back and forth from hotels to the start line.
Also bike games and seminars were held, so there was always something going on
A great event to meet old friends and make new ones too, and get in some good riding with a bit of hillwork thrown in so you got to use most of those gears on your bike.!
All in all a great event that warrants the name "The Best Little Tandem Rally in Texas!"
We doff our cycling helmets to all the HATS that helped put on the rally!
The folk in Tulsa, OK will be hosting the 2008 SWTR . . .
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem