By Robert Dodd, WOAI.com
Anyone who enjoys riding a bike should consider placing "Conquer the Coast" on their calendar. This event is an organized bike event/race that happens every year about this time in Corpus Christi Texas.
Designed for all skill levels, you can choose the 25 mile route, which is an out and back from Whataburger field to the Naval air station via Ocean Drive. If you've never been to Corpus Christi, Ocean drive is what I would call the road along the Texas Riviera. From start to finish the 25 mile route offers up some of the most beautiful shoreline in Texas. Flat and straight, all ages and skill levels can enjoy this one.
If you're a bit more adventerous and want to push yourself, go for the 65 mile route that takes you around the bay. Again you start at Whataburger field, but you take a hard left and go up and over the harbor bridge on your way to Aransas Pass. You jump on the ferry to Port Aransas, and then attack Highway 361, otherwise known as the toughest 18 miles in Texas because more times than not you'll have a headwind that makes the board flat 18 miles seem like one long climb.
The organizers also decided to drop an additional challenge in the way of a time trial here too for those who truly enjoy punishment. The time trial is an option if you want it. And just when you complete the toughest 18 miles you get greeted with the intra coastal bridge. By now your legs and lungs are hating you, but once you're over the intra coastal it's a relative flat 25 mile ride back into the city and Whataburger field for the finish.
For those cyclist that truly like to compete, there's Crits both Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Both the 25 and 65 mile routes are fully supported with rest stops about every 10 miles or so, and local law enforcement take care of keeping the traffic at bay to make for a non stop and safe ride.
This was the 4th year I rode this event and their 6th year to put it on. I must say although over 1000 riders registered this year, I wondered why more cyclists do not show up. I got my answer by late Sunday and it seems to be a marketing and promotion thing. I was surprised while in Corpus that very few people actually knew it was going on. The Hotel (the Omni) we stayed at did not have any idea and the one know it all, the concierge, never even heard of the event. Strange considering the CC Chamber plays a big part in this event. The same holds true at every restaurant we visited.
I participate in many organized events such as this each year and Conquer the Coast is at the top of my list and always on my ride calendar. We make it a family and friend event and spend the whole weekend enjoying the beach, seafood and just getting away. I would subtitle the event with "the bike ride that can." It can provide fun and enjoyment to all riders and it can become a huge event with some aggressive marketing and promotion. They have the "hook" or marketing angle that no other cycling event can lay claim to: The toughest 18 miles throws the gauntlet down for those who enjoy a challenge and for all the rest there's the 25 mile sightseeing route that should surely bring out the families and leisure riders. In addition there's everything else that Corpus offers to make for a fun filled weekend for all.
More information at conquerthecoast.org.
