Thursday's Internet Edition, March 11, 2010.
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| Copperas Cove Chamber Director David Landmann talks to a couple in Wichita Falls about the cycling opportunities in the Cove area. Chamber staff members made the trek to Wichita Falls to promote Copperas Cove as Bike Central, TX. – Photo Courtesy Wichita Falls Times-Record-News. |
New editor - Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Executive Director David Landmann and Office Manager GW Shopbell peddled off to Wichita Falls last week for the annual Hotter ’n Hell Hundred.
Event organizers bill the bike tour as the largest single bicycling event in Texas and one of the largest bike events conducted in the United States.
The trip marks the second year that the chamber has participated in the event to promote its tourism campaign, “Bike Central, Texas,” which kicked off last year.
Landmann described the chamber’s participation in the trade show “very, very profitable.” He also said, “It was three long days of handing out information, letting people know Cove is a truly unique place to ride.”
Landmann said he and Shopbell handed out maps with the chamber’s phone number, as well as those of area hotels. A drawing was held for an all-expense paid trip to Cove, said Landmann, adding that the winner of the prize was a woman from Ardmore, Okla.
The woman will stay at the Best Western Hotel and receive four meals each from Applebee’s Grill and Bar, Schlotzsky’s Deli and Mel’s Burger Joint.
The chamber will also help the woman plan two bike rides, one all day Saturday trip and another on Sunday morning, said Landmann. He added that the ride will be fully supported by chamber officials, who will follow the winner and her guests in a vehicle. They will provide an unlimited amount of water and change tires and chains as needed.
The Cove duo were kept busy with visitors to the booth, with representatives from many bike clubs expressing an interest in Cove as a place to ride.
Landmann said he’d love to have an event like the Hotter ‘n Hell in Copperas Cove. Event coordinators estimate that 9,000 to 12,000 cyclists rode in this year’s bike event.
“The gimmick to the Hotter n’ Hell Hundred is people are riding against the heat and wind,” said Landmann. He noted that this year’s temperature of 97 degrees was milder than previous years’ readings of over 100 degrees by 11 a.m.
The chamber director said the challenge in a Cove bike event could be the hills. He added that while Wichita Falls has flat terrain, Cove has beautiful scenery and interesting roads to ride on.
Chamber staff, booth in tow, will next travel to Austin in October for the Lance Armstrong “Ride for the Roses,” a fund-raiser for testicular cancer. According to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Ride for the Roses Weekend is among the most popular and significant events in the world of cycling.
The PowerBar Health and Sports Expo, where vendors can set up their booths, is the hub for all weekend activities. The Expo features cancer screening services, information on cancer awareness, sports gear and apparel, new product demonstrations, and food concessions. Event coordinators expect 10,000 participants to stroll through the Expo.