The LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour invites you to join their ride on March 23-24, 2013 starting at LBJ Ranch Stonewall,TX 78671
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Nolan Kuehn, LBJ 100 Chair to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.
1. Why join this year’s Ride?
We’ll continue our efforts to provide a real family outing for our event; we’ll continue to honor our soldiers in re-hab from Operation Comfort. We’ll have some additions this year that we are thrilled to present: An Austin-based band, strawberryJAM, will be playing during the lunch period, and the Wheelmen will be there with their contingent of members in period costume, riding their high wheel bicycles. This national club focuses on pre-1918 bicycles. Their presence is a sight to behold for history buffs and cycle enthusiasts alike.
2. How long has the event been around?
This is our sixth annual. I like to say that it gets “bigger and better every year!”
3. What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
I was the President of the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club in 2007, when I received an email from Russ Whitlock, the Superintendent of the LBJ National Historical Park, advising that the national park would be much more open to cyclists in the future. He asked if our club would be interested in helping conduct a cycling event that would benefit the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park. Our club is small in size, but big in heart. We were interested!
4. How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
Of course, all of the funds go to the betterment of the park. Probably the most notable of the past projects has been the opening of the ground floor of the Texas White House to the general public. This was done in December of 2011, and it has been a real attraction, with its ‘60s period restoration. With the Friends cash infusion, we probably saved a few years on scheduled completion. Other projects have been the modification of the Junction school, where LBJ attended kindergarten, and the acquisition of the Lockheed Jet Star aircraft, that LBJ used to fly from Bergstrom AFB to the ranch. And lest we be accused of frivolity, let me assure the public that the 1965 Lincoln Continental convertible (that is used as the “pace car” for the LBj 100) is also used for promoting the park in small town parades and festivals, and for showing dignitaries around the ranch. Several of these model cars that LBJ used are on display on the ranch.
5. Can we get a TCX or GPX file included for download? Over 63% of folks say they are more up to attend a ride for which they have information about the routes for their on-bike devices.
We have downloadable interactive maps with elevation profiles, cue sheets, etc. on the ride web site, www.LBJ100BicycleTour.org
6. Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration point, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?
Each of the routes has a map showing the start line and all rest stops. All parking is on the 1.5 mile-long ranch air strip. Toilets are available at the start/finish line and at eight rest stops on the routes. All rest stops will have adequate hydration fluids and energy snacks. One of the neat things about the rest stops is that three of them are restored, rural, historic Gillespie Country schools. You get a lesson in history as well!
7. Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
We are proud of our volunteers; they come from all walks, and are always able to put on a smiling face that says, “Welcome to our ride; we hope you are enjoying it!” I especially want to laud Russ Whitlock’s staff, the Hill, Country Bicycle Touring Club and the Friends of LBJ National Historical Park. I feel that this blending of talent has made the LBJ 100 the successful event that it has become. Without mentioning any financial outlay, I will say that we are extremely proud of our various and generous sponsors, many of whom have been with us every year. This, and the participation of so many enthusiastic riders with their families has allowed us to realize a net income of approximately $120,000 over the last five years – every penny of which is spent for the betterment of the park. It supports my conviction that there is a lot of good in people.
8. What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
Several come to mind: Certainly meeting all the wonderful people – riders, sponsors, directors of other rides, and just plain ol’ bike riders. We try to be attentive to their needs. Another is a photo that my daughter took of one of the Operation Comfort soldiers using his hand cycle as part of “Team America,” coming up a hill on the 42-mile route – probably the meanest hill on any of the routes. Finally, listening to Yvonne Campos of the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club, singing the “Star Spangled Banner” prior to the start of the ride. What a voice!
9. What is the average number of participants per year? How many riders do you assist during the average race?
I tend to think in terms of how many we attracted last year, and how much better we will do this year. We started with 423 in 2008, and we attracted almost 1400 last year. Thus far, we are ahead of that pace for 2013.
We have a good SAG crew and EMS presence that tries to be attentive to cyclists in distress. Safety is paramount with those of us in the bike club, in the Friends, and with the National Park Service. We have multiple planning meetings prior to the event, as well as a debriefing meeting after, to determine what we did right and what needs tweaking. Statistically, we don’t keep a log of those who need our help, but I will say, luckily, it is minimal.
10. What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?
I have mentioned the Operation Comfort soldiers before. This organization is headed by Executive Director and Founder Janis Roznowski. The soldiers are undergoing re-hab at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. We are indeed honored to play a part in seeing that they have a decent quality of life – as a way of saying “thanks” for their service to our nation. I was particularly moved two years ago, when our soldiers hosted a contingent of British soldiers also undergoing re-hab.
11. What can folks do to support you and your mission?
We, and one of our major sponsors, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), have a commonality of mission, in that we want to try to get folks outdoors – on a bike for sure, but also to see what the national park in our own backyard has to offer. I would also like to encourage people to consider joining the Friends organization. Go to www.FriendsofLBJNationalPark.org
12. What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
I have been the LBJ 100 Chair for the past five editions. As I have mentioned, this has been a wonderful experience. However, I simply think of myself as one who is trying to ensure that we are playing a symphony. The volunteers are the ones that make the event arguably the premier springtime cycling event in the Texas Hill Country.
13. Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?
I’m primarily a road rider, although I also have a mountain bike (29er), and a touring bike. We have a favorite route starting/ending in Comfort that takes us past a couple of wineries (Bending Branch and Singing Waters). We like to do it on a Friday, when the wineries are open and then we can adjourn for a fried catfish buffet at Guenther’s in Comfort. Hey, I’ve expended those calories!
My favorites ride is the Hotter ‘N Hell 100 in Wichita Falls. I also like the ride down in Goliad. I have not done it for a few years; I wonder what the Eagle Ford Shale traffic has done to the road conditions. The MS 150 from Houston-Austin is another favorite.
14. If you had to come up with a David Letterman style top 10 about the race, what would it read like?
1. Luckenbach ain’t that far away!
2. We’re right in the heart of the second most visited wine appellation in the U.S.
3. The Chisholm Trail is on the other side of Fredericksburg – but this one’s a winery.
4. Some of these country school rest stops will make you want to go back to first grade!
5. Pickle Juice Sport will be at Rest Stop #6.
6. Watch out for those cattle guards. They’ll stop cattle AND cyclists.
7. Enjoy the real toilets at the school rest stops!
8. You’ll be going through a rancher’s back yard on some of those bucolic country lanes.
9. German fluency not needed to visit Fredericksburg.
10. Watch out for that ’65 Continental convertible pace car!
15. Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?
Join us for this “Ride to Preserve History.” You will have the time of you life!
Thanks Nolan for this interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!
Click here to view the event details of the 6th Annual LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour
