Cove House holds annual Bike Tour

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

More than 80 riders showed up last Saturday morning to support the Cove House Emergency Homeless Shelter by participating in the 19th annual Cove House Classic Bike Tour, riding distances of 26 miles, 50 miles or 63 miles.

A total of 85 riders registered for the annual bike ride, which was started in 2002 and serves as one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Cove House Emergency Homeless Shelter. The shelter runs on donations, and all proceeds from the bike tour will go to the shelter’s General Fund to be used for expansion efforts and the Free Clinic.

“We’re in the process of trying to do some remodeling and some expansion because we just need more room, now that we’re a longer-term program,” Executive Director Brian Hawkins said. “We can’t help as many people, but we help them better, but we are trying to expand so that we can continue to help more people.”

The inaugural ride in 2002 consisted of only 27 riders, and attendance each year has grown and grown. The Cove House Classic Bike Tour was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there were just 85 riders this year, the number of sponsors increased, which balanced out how much the Cove House Emergency Homeless Shelter will raise, according to Hawkins.

“I’m not sure what to attribute our ridership going down to,” Hawkins said. “I don’t know if it’s inflation or heat or what it is, but we’re glad to have the 85 out there on the road we’ve got.”

The Cove House Classic Bike Tour serves as a practice ride for many bike riders who are preparing for the Hotter’n Hell Hundred event in Wichita Falls, which is a 100-mile ride.

The Cove House Classic has three distances of 26 miles, 50 miles or 63 miles (100 kilometers.)

Riders started off at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of First Baptist Church on Avenue B and head west on Avenue B, also known as Topsey Road.

There were seven rest stops this year with fruit and hydrating drinks, manned by volunteers from different organizations and churches. Refuge Ministries of Topsey sponsored the stop in Topsey. Pink Fishing sponsored the stop in Rumley. First Baptist Church sponsored the stop in Izoro. The Grace United Methodist Church youth group sponsored the stop on Slater Road, with three youth volunteering with Youth Director Doreen Vasseur. The Biker Church of Gatesville sponsored the 142 Turn. Kevin Keller sponsored the Harmon Road stop. The Moose Riders sponsored the stop in Pidcoke.

This year’s sponsors include Texas Discount Automotive, Clear Creek Meadows, Lil’ Tex Restaurant, the Noon Exchange Club, Bush’s Chicken, KWTX, Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce, Hair Artistry, First Baptist Church of Cove, Copperas Cove H-E-B Plus!, Sun Country Bikes, First Texas Bank and AdventHealth Central Texas. Also featured on this year’s shirt as a sponsor is Larry’s Bike Shop, in memory of the man whose bike shop was a long-time sponsor.

Hawkins said that seeing people come from all over to ride in this event was special.

“It means a lot to me just to have people come out and help us support what we’re doing,” Hawkins said. “We have 85 riders out here that are going to endure 100-degree real temperature, 120-degree road temperature, to help us raise money for what we’re doing, so it means a lot to me. I always love seeing this group of people.”

Ellen and Mark Horrell came from Fort Worth to ride in the Cove House Classic Bike Tour. This was their first time at this ride, but the couple have been avid bike riders for a couple years.

“He was the one that initiated it,” Ellen said. “He used to be a runner and can’t run anymore, so we started cycling, and he has just jumped into it full force. In order for us to spend time together and do stuff together, I ended up joining him.”

Ellen said that she loved being outside, especially on a bicycle.

“We’re fortunate to get to ride around here in all kinds of weather, all year round,” she said.

Nicki Seidensticker and Kay Williams came from Waco for the bike ride, and it was also their first time. They were doing the 50-mile course.

“I’ve been riding for a long time,” Seidensticker said. “I do triathlons, and so these bike rides are good ways to get some training rides in for half Iron Mans and longer races, and it’s safer going on one of these supported rides than riding by yourself.”

Williams said she hasn’t been riding as long but also liked the supported rides such as this one for the same reason.

Helping out a good cause was a bonus, Williams added.

“We like good causes if we’re going to spend our money on a bike ride,” she said.