WASHINGTON COUNTY WELCOMES TANDEM BIKE RIDERS
200 tandem bicycle riders will be in Washington County this weekend for the annual Southwest Tandem Rally. The Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau says that tandem bike riders will come from across the United States and Canada to ride Washington County’s scenic roads. This year’s event is hosted by Houstonians on Tandems Together, a tandem bicycle enthusiast club.
Courtney Powell, Assistant Tourism Director for the Convention and Visitors Bureau said “They have three group rides planned in different parts of the county and will get to see historic sites at Washington on the Brazos, Independence, Burton and Chappell Hill.”
The riders will arrive today (Thursday) and will meet at the Kenny Store. Friday the group has rides beginning at Washington on the Brazos State Park. Saturday, their rides begin and end at the Fireman’s Training Center in Brenham. Sunday morning, they have a short ride planned to Chappell Hill.
The Conventions and Visitors Bureau reminds the local residents to the courteous to the bicyclists as they peddle around the county this weekend. They may be slow, but they are contributing to the local economy.
Full Press Release from the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau:
Tandem Cyclists Ride into Brenham
The Brenham/Washington County Chamber-CVB is excited to announce the arrival of 200 tandem bicycle riders for the annual Southwest Tandem Rally. Riders will come from across the United States, and even Canada, excited to reconnect with one another and ride Washington County’s scenic roads.
This year’s event is hosted by Houstonians on Tandems Together, a tandem bicycle enthusiast club based out of the Houston area. In 2016 the rally was hosted in Georgetown, Texas, and last year it was held in Paris, Texas. Riders will be staying in Brenham hotels Thursday to Sunday.
“They have three group rides planned in different parts of the county and will get to see historic sites at Washington on the Brazos, Independence, Burton and Chappell Hill,” says Courtney Powell, Assistant Tourism Director for the CVB. “I’ve been helping Marcia Becker, the tandem rally coordinator, plan this event for several months. They are really excited to hold their event in Brenham and are looking forward to some challenging rides and fun get-togethers.”
Thursday afternoon the group will hold a welcome reception and spend the evening like a local at The Kenney Store.
Friday morning, riders will be up early to drive to Washington on the Brazos where they will begin their short, medium and long routes for the day, ranging from 31 to 61 miles. They will enjoy lunch at Washington on the Brazos before exploring the park, other attractions and downtown shopping.
Saturday’s rides start and end at Fireman’s Training Center. Three routes provide the group with varying scenic rides through Burton and Independence. The group will reconvene Saturday evening at Fireman’s Training Center for their farewell reception and dinner including Blue Bell ice cream for dessert.
The 2018 rally will conclude Sunday afternoon after a short morning ride to Chappell Hill.
Chamber-CVB staff talk with a lot of hobby groups who are looking for host towns to hold their meet-ups. Powell says, “We spend a lot of time comparing their needs with the county’s resources and availability, and when it all comes together it’s a win for everyone. The group enjoys their event, the visitors see what a great place Brenham & Washington County is and want to return, and the community benefits from the dollars they spend while they’re here.”
The Chamber-CVB encourages the community to welcome these riders with smiles and cheers as you see them pedaling around the county this weekend. While they might be a lot slower than us in our vehicles, they are contributing much to our local economy - please be kind and considerate when you pass them on the roads.
Washington county folks love to complain about everything.
Bicycle Riders from the big city have always seemed to be very self adsorbed and completely uncaring towards the farmers, ranchers and residents who are busy making a living and taking care of their families in this county. They ride up to 4 wide and will pass each other right in front of a vehicle. A lot of the time, when you top a hill, they will be in the middle of the lane. I have also seen “follow” vehicles driving in the wrong lane next to their rider, cheering them on out of their car window. As a whole they roll through stop signs and turn in front of vehicles as a group, making the vehicle decelerate very quickly.
We should respect others, especially in their own backyard, but they tend to not respect any one who lives in the areas where they ride. This is our county. We live here, work here and are busy tending to our lives here. Our roads are not intended to be their playground. Our roads are here to make travel easier on our farmers, ranchers and residents. FARM TO MARKET ROADS are just that.
It is simple. if they want to use our roads they need to have respect for our residents, follow the laws, self police each other and understand that Washington County is not here just for their pleasure. If they will show some respect they will most likely not be so hated.
Please consider that some riders who use the roads to ride bikes live right here I good ole Washington county. We pay taxes, we support the community, we go to church here, we shop and eat here, and we work here. The law gives us the right to ride our bikes on the road and while we try very hard to be respectful of other vehicles who SHARE the right to use the road, that respect is often not returned.
A decent cyclist like me can easily ride 20-30 miles in 2-3 hours, there is not a state park anywhere around here that can accommodate a distance like that. We do not have proper bike paths and trails around here that allow me to ride anywhere other than a road. I am at an age where my knees no longer allow me run and so biking is a better form of exercise for me.
To give a fair view point, how about watching cars and trucks around bikes. Watch dually’s fly by at high rates of speed, sometimes with enough wind to knock a biker down. Listen to the loud horns being blown simply because someone had to briefly slow down. Pay attention to the drivers of cars and trucks who mistakenly think they have more of a right to use a public road than someone on a bike (hint, they don’t). Watch the vehicles that get close to the back of a bike, tailgating when the bike does not have anywhere to go. The rules of the road and courtesy is expected both ways. Many of you assume the people are all from the city, they are not, many of us live right here and are your neighbors who love this area and pay taxes. We want to safely and politely use the roads just like you.
I do not doubt that law abiding bikers often face the rage of vehicle drivers. But don’t tell me that slob bikers are not a significant cause of that rage. WHY should bikers be excused when they ride several abreast over both sides of a roadway? What is safe about stopping in the middle of a roadway, especially just under the top of a hill? Here is one I have seen, admittedly only once, but once was one time too many. It was bikers parking their vehicles on a county road, completely blacking the roadway. They were packed in for almost half a mile. You and your friends may be polite and safe bikers. If so good for you, but far too many are neither, just as far too many vehicle drivers are not polite.
BTW, we have a son who rides on occasion and another that rides for very long distances on a regular basis. Obviously we want them to be safe. I question the judgement of any biker riding outside their lane, or stopping in the roadway, especially on hilly, narrow, farm to market roads w/o a shoulder. Most drivers certainly would not want to hit a biker and would appreciate bikers using good judgement regarding their own safety.
these FM roads that they use were made for automobiles going from farm to market thus the name of the road FM(farm to market). many don’t have shoulders which make it dangerous for riding bicycles why don’t these riders go to one of our many state parks which most if not all have bike trails
Bicycles were using public roads well before cars ever came on the scene.
As a 20+ year resident of Brenham and Washington County, it makes me very happy to see people outside enjoying our beautiful city and county. I personally think we should do more to encourage physical activity like this by having extensive bike and running trails.
Bikes do not “HOG” the road any more than a car does. Under the law they have exactly the same right to be on the road a car does. Frankly, I get slowed down more by tractors and farm equipment on our county roads more than I ever have for a bike but you never hear the chorus of complaints about that.
Some people think a biker is being courteous if they do not move as far to right as possible, however that is dangerous for a biker. A knowledgeable biker should occupy the lane and motorized vehicles can go around when it is safe to do so, the biker is not being discourteous they are being safe. People who blow past a biker at high rates of speed are the ones being rude (and could have some liability if they cause injury), give the biker some space and be OK with the few seconds you lost until you could pass, it will not kill you!
Luckily agriculture is still a main stay of life for a lot of people in Washington and surrounding counties. How much longer?? I dont know. With the urban sprawl and all the out of towners buying up all the land around her and turning good property into show places. There is no telling. Maybe soon you wont be botherd by tractors and such. But until then when you pass me or my son on the FARM TO MARKET road slow down and be patient the same way you think we should be to these out of town cyclist.
Mr. Rowdie, please don’t see my statement as a complaint about farm equipment on the roads, it is not. I love the fact that it is still a mainstay of life and I welcome it. It is part of the charm of being here in this area. My point was that bikers are not here that often and that I encounter tractors and farm equipment much more often. Why not give the bikers the same respect and courtesy we do other vehicles on the road. Farm equipment should be approached carefully and we should on only pass when it is safe for both the farm equipment and other drivers. The same is true for bikes. They are not hurting anyone. Just as the tractors have the right and the need to use the roads, so do cyclists, give them some space and treat them with respect. The few seconds we have to slow down is not going to harm anyone.
Unfortunately, it is not ever a few seconds that we have to slow down. Try driving from Washington to Chappell Hill behind cyclists. It is almost impossible to pass them on these hills and their level of respect is 1) to shoot “the bird” and 2) one guy threw a rock at my husband’s truck which broke a window. I had to take an injured horse to the vet and there was a group of cyclists in front of me that would not move over no matter how I asked. They said they have the said rights of the road. How is that respectful?
The small amount of money these people contribute the economy isn’t worth the hassle of us that get slowed down by them.
The casual weekend riders from Houston park their cars at the gas station in CH (for free) and bring their own food and drinks. Tell me exactly how they are contributing to the economy?
There are cyclists who are casual weekend riders, that’s true, and some of them DO spend money in our county, even if just a Snickers at the Rattlers.
But “these people” are here for three days, staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants, shopping in our stores and seeing how great the area is so hopefully they will return. If the community treats them poorly, they won’t come back. How would you like it if you went on a mini-vacation and the locals yelled at you for walking slowly on the sidewalk while they’re trying to go to lunch? You wouldn’t like it and you wouldn’t return.
Visitors to Washington County contribute to the local economy which in turn keeps your taxes lower, improves roads and bridges, funds your parks, library, police and fire departments, and puts food on the table for your fellow neighbors who own businesses.
While you’re at work, the tandem bicycle visitors are riding in the countryside, hardly bothering anyone. Then they come into town and spend money. In fact, they could end up spending upwards of $40,000 in our community over three days. THAT is an impact.
Tax dollars DO NOT fund your volunteer Fire Departments. So know the facts before you start stating them. Two different groups you are all talking about, the overnight bike riders and the daily riders in Chappell Hill, they do not spend ANY money in Chappell Hill and very rude. I live there and have to deal with it often.
The Head for the Hills bike ride just contributed to your fire department thru registration fees and buying hamburgers. Sales tax might not, but that FD has plenty of fundraising opportunities that cyclists, and festival goers, contribute to year round.
These tandem riders are staying for three days and are contributing to the local economy in a multitude of ways. But even if they weren’t, they are still people, fully entitled to play in any area they want. There are cyclists who are rude and there are car/truck owners who are rude. That doesn’t mean that ALL cyclists are rude and cheap. Just as ALL car/truck owners are not rude and cheap.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just be respectful of each other and live peacefully enjoying our own hobbies and interests as we like? Can’t we all just get along?!!?
Suggest the Brenham Chamber have the tandem bicyclists ride in Brenham only !!
We do not want them riding on our Washington County roads especially 1155 !!
Most bicycle riders are very discourteous and hog the road and thankfully no riders have been seriously injured this year…………
AMEN ! 1155, as most FM roads in Washing County, are dangerous. They are narrow, usually w/o a paved shoulder, up and down & have curves. It is far too common to top a hill only to find biker spired from side to side. These events are often a group of folks who decide on their own to “go to the country and bike”. But that is very often not the case for large groups. For years Brenham C of C and their tourist arm have been advertising in Houston bike shops about rides in Washington County. Usually they used a pad of tear off tabs for those interested to take with them. They were placed there, NOT from some club in Houston, but from someone with ties to the Brenham C of C.