http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/cycling/3481682.html

Nov. 23, 2005, 9:58PM

CYCLING NOTEBOOK

Take a tour of thanks for the holidays

Houston cyclists have quite a lot to be happy about

By STEVE SIEVERT
For the Chronicle

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would use today's column to recognize all that we have to be thankful for in the Houston cycling community.

Sure, the Bayou City comes up a little short when those "best places for cycling" lists are compiled, but we still have one of the most active cycling communities in the country. Whether you're a roadie, mountain biker, track racer or neighborhood rider, Houston has a lot to offer those who prefer to spend their time outdoors on two wheels.

While actual mountains are in short supply for the local mountain-biking contingent, the Greater Houston Area Off-Road Biking Association has been instrumental in making sure there are still plenty of places to ride. GHORBA is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that has launched a host of programs and initiatives to promote and sponsor off-road cycling in the Houston area.

Maintaining access

In particular, GHORBA has taken a lead role in working with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Memorial Park Conservancy to maintain access to Houston's flagship off-road riding destination — Memorial Park. For years, the rugged and challenging trails on the south side of the park have pitted mountain bikers against conservationists, with the lines clearly drawn. Bikers lobbied for continued access. Conservationists wanted to blanket the area with "closed" signs.

Thanks in large part to GHORBA's willingness to oversee riding in the area and provide ongoing maintenance, the Memorial trails remain open to mountain bikers and still offer the best off-road riding experience around.

GHORBA's impact has been felt far beyond Memorial as well. The organization has developed programs to introduce underprivileged youngsters to mountain biking, hosted top-flight off-road races and helped create trails at Huntsville State Park.

BikeHouston is another local cycling group making a difference. The organization is driven by its mission to promote safe cycling and improve the quality of life in the Houston area. BikeHouston is probably best known for its annual Moonlight Ramble — the oldest continuous cycling event in Houston.

Lone Star benevolence

Another organization that deserves a heartfelt thank you is the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and its recently retired president, Pat Bertotti. During Bertotti's 10-year run as president, the chapter's annual MS 150 bike tour transformed from a weekend bike ride into one of the premier cycling events in the country.

What was once a ride that attracted about 3,000 cyclists and raised $1 million a year to fight MS has become a 12,000-rider, $10-million tour de force. It's the event by which many Houston cyclists measure themselves and it's had an immeasurable impact on the lives of not only the people who ride and raise the money, but the individuals with MS who benefit from it.

Bertotti isn't the only person who's left an indelible mark on the Houston cycling scene. We also should be thankful for a slew of unique individuals who have helped shape the character of Houston cycling, including cyclocross champion Will Black, masters racing ace Al Whaley, coaching guru Bill Edwards and BikeBarn co-owner and racing standout Lee Neathery.

They will tell you that Houston is not only a great place to call home, but a pretty good place be a cyclist.

Steve Sievert covers cycling for the Chronicle. cycling.notebook@....