Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club
By Amber Barnett
1. Who founded the club and how did it come to life?
The Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club was founded by Chris and Jan Marsh in 2000. Chris is a life-long avid cyclist, a past club president, and is now in retirement in New Mexico. He is now associated with the New Mexico Bicycle Coalition. There were initially 12 founding members who had been members from another major San Antonio cycling club.
2. What is your cycling club’s mission?
Our mission is to leave no rider behind and to open the club to riders of all levels. We have remained true to that mission over the years. We adopted a stretch of highway for trash pick-up a few years ago, and this has been a great way to get together with fellow club members on a quarterly basis and give something back to the community. Heidi Lynn, one of our long-time members, who has held about every position in the club, is our Coordinator for
3. How many members does you team/club have?
We are a small club, in numbers, but big on volunteerism and charity work. Membership is currently at 119, with a total of 179, counting all family members.
4. What is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides/routes in Texas?
We have so many good routes in the area! Many of our maps were developed by our founder, Chris Marsh, and can still be accessed on our club web site, www.hcbtc.org. Added to those are other map that we have continued to develop. All of these may be downloaded.
Two of my favorite routes are right here in San Antonio!
1. The Mission Trail. For a map, go to www.SanAntonio.gov/oep/sabikes
2. Leon Creek GreenwayTrail. Same web site for a map. Once San Antonio gets all the inner city trail routes connected, they will not be taking second place to any city in Texas with respect to cycling infrastructure.
3. I’m the Chair of the event (the LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour) that incorporates the next two routes, so maybe I’m biased, but the routes are simply gorgeous.
They’re like stepping back in time!
Routes are: (1) 30-mile route for the event, and (2) 42-mile route for the same event. To download maps, go to www.LBJ100BicycleTour.org
5. What would be the three most valuable tips you can give to a beginning cyclist that would like to get to the next level?
a. Talk to your Local Bike Shop (LBS). They can steer you in the right direction regarding what type of bike you need for your riding interest, ability, and budget. Steer clear of “Big Box” department stores.
b. Take a short course in cycling safety. There are many knowledgeable League Cycling Instructors that have been certified by the League of American Bicyclists. The course will enable you to ride more safely.
c. Get the right clothes and accessories for riding! You can’t imagine how comfortable the padded cycling shorts are. Always ride with a helmet, and I really recommend a rear view mirror. I’m lost without mine.
6. What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
Just get out and ride; you don’t have to be the next Lance Armstrong and the benefits from cycling are immense!
7. How does the club make you a better rider?
It gets me out the door more often. Plus, I’m more prone to pick up my pace if I am riding with a group, rather than lazing along if I am alone.
8. What has been your most memorable experience involving your club?
I was President of the club in 2007, when I got an email from the Superintendent of the LBJ National Historical Park, advising that, with the passing of Lady Bird Johnson (earlier in 2007), the national park would be more open to cyclists in the future. He went on to say that it might be good to acknowledge that by having a bike ride that started/ended on the LBJ Ranch (national park). Would our club be interested? I was actually on a bike tour at the time, so I emailed him and advised that, personally, I was, but that I needed to run it by our club Board.
When I got home, I found that they were of a like mind. Ethel Pedraza, our club Publicity Chair, has been my Co-Chair for the last five editions of the LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour. We have raised roughly $120,000 over that time, all of which goes to the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park, to be used for the betterment of the national park. Volunteerism such as this is sorely needed in this era of diminishing federal budgets.
It truly has been an experience of a lifetime, and it has really shown our club to be the volunteer-minded club that it is.
9. How do you keep everyone motivated?
I’m a big believer in communication, so I’m always a proponent of monthly club meetings. We usually meet at a local restaurant that has a separate meeting room. It promotes camaraderie, and we can discuss any plans for upcoming events and activities. Ann Caldwell, our Ride Coordinator, is able to get club members to volunteer at the meetings to lead a ride. Our rides are more popular than they have ever been….and we accept beginners!
10. What kind of events/functions does your club have that piques the members’ interests?
I’m glad you asked! First, I’ll have to say that the club is not just about cycling, although that is our primary focus. We are about family, socializing, and maybe tackling some other fitness/outdoor activities.
Examples: In addition to our in-town picnic and Christmas party, we have numerous out-of-town trips throughout the year, that incorporate cycling, certainly, but also canoeing/kayaking, camping, hiking and just general camaraderie. We touch history and nature as well. One of our annual OOT trips is a camping trip to Goliad, one of the most historic towns in Texas. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport is a wintertime trip, where we get to observe the Whooping Cranes. Then, each summer, Roy Munro, our club president, organizes a major out-of-town trip. This is not an officially sanctioned club trip, but rather, a gathering of club members who share the camping, cycling, hiking, kayaking interests. It’s a wonderful experience! This year, the group of approximately 24 went to Moab, Utah. Next year, it’s Montana. My point is that it’s a great way for folks of like interest to get together, bond, and enjoy some great camaraderie.
11. Do you have any photos/videos you would like to share?
I am sending you one that I think speaks volumes. The folks in the photo are Yvonne Campos, in the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club cycle jersey, Will Rotzler, the long-time Director of the Tour de Gruene, who helps us with our LBJ 100, and Luci Baines Johnson, the younger daughter of our 36th President. She does the 30-mile route in the AM, and then conducts her narrated tour of the historical landmarks on the LBJ Ranch in the afternoon.
