Tour de Cypress, Mt Vernon, TX

Aprin 26, 2008

This was a great event but under attended. Unfortunately it was on the same weekend as Mt Pleasant and Muenster rides. I have been riding for > 10 yrs and the courses for this ride were as good as any in Texas - challenging with great scenery. There were numerous roads with no traffic that had a canopy of trees over us for miles. The traffic control was excellent on the 45 mile course. Lots of rest stops (did not need to use) and the course was clearly marked. After the ride they had free hamburgers and free beer at their cultural center. I took two of my children with me. They ate breakfast at the historic café on the Square and then toured the library, toured the museum and played in the park (all right off the square) while I rode. We had a great time in Mt Vernon last weekend. Like most rural Texas towns, it is hard to beat the local hospitality – especially in Mt Vernon. This ride is just as challenging as Meunster and about the same distance for those in the Dallas area. I would highly recommend giving them a try next year

They had someone at every major, and some minor, innersections. Sineage was great except some were partially obscured by the high grass. Although it was hilly, I thought Muenster was hillier. (is that a word?) - John

I thought the ride was excellent. Beautiful weather, great people, plentiful food, plentiful history, offering a short family route of 10 miles shows dedication to family. Having the 80 mile route shows racing quality. I rode the 45 and it was challenging yet beautiful. I recommend this ride to any level of rider. This year was absolutely fantastic....
Thanks Mount Vernon, the riders know quality when they ride it.

April 14, 2007

What a fantastic ride. I commend the people who organized and designed this ride. This ride was well organized and easy to find. I rode the 45 mile route and it was gorgeous, the winding roads through the forests and across the lakes.....WOW! The roads were well maintained and easy on the bones. The route was well planned and kept you out of harms way. The rest stops were numerous and had cookies, bananas, oranges, pickles, gatorade and water at every rest stop. Rest stops were well placed and easy to get to. They had police and fireman support at all the intersections flagging your turns and watching any traffic (which was not much traffic). Everything was well marked with nice signs that were color coded by route and numbered by distance. The weather the night before was nasty so I think it hurt their turnout of riders, this is unfortunate because it is simply the best ride with the best route in this part of Texas. Though it was a bit chilly in the morning it was still a fun ride and an incredibly beautiful ride with incredibly nice organizers. If you did not make this ride you missed one of the best and I will be back next year for more of this medicine:) Thanks Mount Vernon.

I did the 80 mile race.  Was dropped from the lead pack at mile 30 or so and continued to work with another rider to the finish (thanks for the gel packs).  The route was very scenic with long stretches of traffic-free roads winding through hilly forests. All major intersections were controlled.  After completely bonking with two miles to go,  the hamburgers (4 of them) were very much appreciated.

April 8, 2006

Sean Kenedy and the Mount Vernon Rotary Club did a great job of giving Us the best ride possible for the the April 8 th 2006 conditions. The course was extremly well marked. A person would have had to be blind to get lost on that course. All of the major intersections had Law enforcement personel or county fire department personal for our safety. The hamburgers were great.
There was a major problem problem since no one can control the wind. The wind was very rough. Considering the factors that Sean and company could control it was a nice ride. - Tom Nuchols

This was an entertaining ride. The Mt. Vernon Rotary Club did their homework! All the elements were present....eager volunteers, active SAG support, great signage, and a beautiful route. If you weren't here today, you missed a good one.

This ride has the potential of becoming one of the better rides in the state. Like the Goatneck, this ride really gives riders a feel for a beautiful part of rural Texas, in this case, East Texas piney woods. The course is extremely scenic, meandering around the rural roads near Lake Cypress Springs and vicinity. There were wildflowers, majestic pines, and pastures with horses and cattle. Only in its second year, race organizers did a superb job with course layout, support and overall logistics. Police and fire personnel were at every intersection. Aid stations were manned by friendly Rotary Club members. I loved the aid station at the Mt. Hope Baptist Church. It was wonderful talking with these folks. So down to earth. Volunteers cooked hamburgers for riders in the Mt. Vernon town square following the ride, adding to the down home feel. Rider turnout was unfortunately low – only about 100 riders, down from 150 the previous year, but this was likely due to the rally falling on the same weekend as the Lancaster Country Ride. Plus, this ride needs to market itself better. It’s got so much to offer and relatively close to Dallas – only an hour and a half from Dallas just off of I-30, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t be getting more Dallas area riders. We need to get Bikin’ Mike and others to make sure it doesn’t coincide with a major ride next year and to promote this ride.

April 9, 2005

Good effort for a first time ride. the organizers put a lot of effort in it and it showed. There were 110 riders. The routes were mostly low traffic country roads. I have been chased by dogs before but this is the first time I have been chased by "guard" Geese.  Another thing was the lack of trash along the roads. I even passed a local going thru the tall grass with a trash bag.  There were police or firemen at almost every major turn. If anything I would suggest sag wagons be better marked and more visible.

This was the inaugural Mt Vernon ride and it was obvious that the Rotary club had done their homework. This was an excellent ride. The scenery was beautiful and everyone was soooooo friendly. They were glad we were there and it showed. Rest stops had the basics along with homemade goodies. Traffic control was excellent. They even had the VFD out there warning traffic to slow down on a narrow bridge! There was free food after the ride too. We did the 36 miler and there was some chip-seal on Hwy. 71 that wasn't too pleasant but what can I say about chip seal that hasn't already been said? I do question the 8 am start. Heat isn't a problem this time of year. I can't help but think that a 9 or 10 o' clock start might get more riders out there. We'll definitely do this one again next year!!

This was a very enjoyable ride. You would never have guessed it was this Rotary Club's first time to host a bike ride. Everyone was friendly and well-organized. I agree that a later start (9:00 a.m.?) would be preferable. One major plus in my book was that the second rest stop on the 36-mile route had an indoor bathroom facility we could use! The route was scenic, and it was wonderful to have shoulders on the major roads. Well done! We will definitely be back!

I did the race portion of the Tour De Cypress in Mt Vernon and you would have never known it was there first time putting on a bicycle event. They had done there homework and being from East Texas myself they treated me just like I knew they would - like part of their family! I met several great folks from the ride director to the registration people, they were real nice folks. Even after I got dropped by the leaders they had volunteers at every intersection stopping traffic. It was a first class event and I hope that more people find out about this event so it will grow. I am sure the attendance was not quite what they were hoping for but the people of Mt Vernon can be proud of this event. I will be back.