Spoke-en Like a Champ
biking, cycling, health, trails, tyler,
Fluctuating fuel prices, a desire for a healthier lifestyle and an interest in the environment keep feet on pedals at the Tyler Bicycle Club, which is enjoying a surge in popularity as it expands its offerings.
The club dates back to the 1980s, but bicycling in Tyler has a much longer history. Many locals recall buying their first bicycle from Grady’s Bicycle Shop, which was established in the early 1930s by Grady Faulk and remained a mainstay for several decades.
The area’s topography and proximity to less-traveled byways also make it ideal for two-wheeled modes of transportation, says Joe Canal, a past president and 20-year member of the club.
“There are a lot of good country roads around here and very easy access to them,” Canal says. “You don’t have to go very far in any direction from Tyler to be out in the country.”
The club holds four rides a week– two on weeknights and two on the weekend – all of varying lengths and complexity. For the more daring, there are annual events such as the Beauty and the Beast Tour, which is returning in 2009 after a brief hiatus. This event, which brings in many other clubs and nonprofit groups in and around Tyler, has various distances from 12 miles to 62 miles, or 200 kilometers, for participants, and is a huge event for both the club and the community, Canal says.
“We do really extensive work to mark the course, and we’ve got the ham radio club volunteering along the course to make sure we can find people, and a lot of other different civic organizations and clubs helping out,” Canal says. “It’s a fundraiser for us, but it’s a lot of fun for everybody who gets involved.”
The 150-member club also is working to install a mountain-bike trail at Faulkner Park, a project Canal says should wrap up by mid-2009.
“We got permission to use the undeveloped property on the west side of the park,” he says. “We’re working on the layout, and it should be up and running by early fall if we can get everything designed and implemented like we’re planning to do.”
The goal is for most every roadway in and around Tyler, as well as a few off-road sites, to be used by cyclists. With that in mind, the Tyler Bicycle Club is working to promote rider education as well as driver awareness so that every outing is a healthy one. As Canal says, the goal isn’t just a healthy lifestyle, but a short trip back in time.
“Anybody who had a bike as a kid still gets that feeling of freedom when they get on a bike,” he says. “It’s being able to go where you want to go, and under your own power. Plus it’s one of the best forms of exercise there is, and when gas prices went up, we saw a lot more people commuting to and from work around here on bikes. That’s kept ongoing even though the gas prices eventually came down, which we’re really glad to see.”
For information on the club’s ride schedule and events, visit www.tylerbicycleclub.com.
Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Antony Boshier
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