PALO PINTO COUNTY — For a second year cyclists took the challenge of the 225-mile Texas Forts Tour. In three days they traversed six counties, passed at least three early forts and met welcoming citizens along the way.

The bike tour is not a race, but a fun ride for all types of cyclists. Those like Mineral Wells residents Iris Stagner and Neal Reddick – both racers – burned up the road. Stagner rolled into the Mineral Wells rest stop shortly after 10:15 a.m. Monday and said her group averaged 24-25 mph all the way from Breckenridge. She opted to hang back some with a “slower” group, heading into the three major hills on State Highway 337.

There were also casual riders who went at a moderate pace. Ride coordinators and volunteers were available to give support and a ride to anyone who needed assistance.

“It's a challenging route, some suffered through it; the fast guys feel challenged by the hills,” said Roby Christie, who said he was logistical support for the ride.

Christie, one of the original organizers of the Hotter’N Hell Hundred race and ride in Wichita Falls, helped establish the Texas Forts Tour bike ride with the likes of Sandy Monson, executive director of Wichita Falls Streams and Valleys.

“We're pleased it jumped a little in numbers,” Christie said of the increase from about 25 riders last year to 43 this year. “The people have had a really good time, complimentary of residents of the communities."

Cyclists started in Jacksboro with a canon send off from Ft. Richardson, then rode to Graham and Fort Belknap and on to Throckmorton, where they stayed Saturday night. Sunday took riders south by Ft. Griffin, down to Albany and then east to Breckenridge, where they stayed the night. Monday morning, they rode into Palo Pinto and Mineral Wells, before turning north to Graford and then back to Jacksboro.

Christie said they always try to start the ride with a prayer for safety, but Sunday's prayer included an Irish Psalm, which one of the riders sang on the courthouse lawn. He said the rider did a wonderful job and it brought chills to him and the riders. The same rider sang the Lord's Prayer Monday morning before they left Breckenridge.

“I think everybody's having a great time,” said ride administrator Chip Filer.

“It's a weekend of bikes, bikes and bikes,” said Stagner. “I'll be shifting gears in my sleep tonight.”

The gist of the ride is to tour forts and follow parts of the Texas Forts Trail. Many riders commented on the citizens in the towns, who help feed them and offer places to stay, like the school in Throckmorton and First Baptist Church in Breckenridge.

“We've undertaken this to help bring bicycling tourism to some of the prettiest parts of Texas,” said Christie. “It's amazing what economic impact occurs when people come together for events.

“It starts making economic sense,” he added of bicycling events. “Cyclists are clean tourists who don't pollute and generally enjoy simple places to stay.”

Along the Texas Forts Tour, helpers checked on cyclists and made sure everyone was OK.

“We are determined these folks will not be alone on the road,” said Christie, adding that they had three mechanics helping riders, one of whom was a registered nurse.

The historical circuit brought riders into Palo Pinto County Monday morning.

Cyclists saw even more history in Palo Pinto at the Old Jail Museum Complex rest stop, thanks to the Palo Pinto County Historical Association. Down the road, just before their turn northward on Highway 337, Cora Moore, eager helpers and Chaparral Realty's Butch Stagner set out food, water and energy drinks for the Mineral Wells rest stop.

Moore said, for her, this is practice for next weekend's Crazy Kicker when she will provide food for the expected 400 riders and six rest stops.

As riders came up, Moore's kids, ranging from ages 5 to 13, helped riders with a boost before hitting the “Three Amigos” – what riders call the three large hills on the route to Graford.

Ron Hunt and Joe Cox – from Lawton, Okla., and that area – were the first to come through the rest stop, after getting an early jump start on the other riders.

“We're demonstrating a proud Sooner tradition, we left a little earlier,” Hunt explained.

When Stagner came through in the next wave, she encouraged Matthew Lawhon, 12, and Race Barry, 13, to ride. The two boys were planning to ride later Monday up Highway 337.

“I told them if you can ride 337, you're a cyclist,” said Stagner.

Staff writer Libby Cluett can be reached at (940) 325-4465, ext. 3422, or lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com.