Texas Bicycle Coalition Live Auction Coming Soon

Texas Bicycle Coalition’s 15th anniversary celebration and first live auction is approaching. Read more to find out what one-of-a-kind items you can bid on and how to bid if you won’t be at this year’s Hotter’N Hell Hundred. Show your support of the Coalition’s efforts to advocate for ALL Texas cyclists by taking part in this live auction on Friday, August 25 at Hotter’N Hell!

Here’s your chance to bid on incredible auction items and help support the Coalition’s goal of raising $12,000 to fund our Safe Passing bill campaign for the 2007 Legislative session. The bill would require a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and would require a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Approximately 50 cyclists per year are killed in bicycle-automobile crashes. About 40 percent of cyclists are killed by motorists traveling in the same direction. Most of those 20 deaths per year could be prevented if this law were enacted and obeyed by motorists.

If you can’t make it to this year’s Hotter’N Hell Hundred, you still have a chance to participate. Texas Bicycle Coalition is in the process of setting up an online bidding page. As soon as it’s up and running, the Coalition will publicize the website address with instructions. If you’d like to make sure you’re one of the first to know, please send an email to membership@biketexas.org and ask for a special invitation email to bid online.

Below are some of the items that will be auctioned live on Friday, August 25 at 7 pm, during the Spaghetti Dinner at Hotter’N Hell. There will also be a few surprises at the actual event!

Autographed 2003 U.S. Postal Team Flag
This unique flag was autographed by the entire 2003 U.S. Postal Team, including Lance Armstrong and current Tour de France American hopefuls, George Hincapie, Floyd Landis and Dave Zabriskie. Only five Americans have worn the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, and four of their autographs appear on this flag.

Former Wichita Falls Postmaster, Roby Christie, generously donated the flag to Texas Bicycle Coalition for this live auction. The flag is professionally mounted by hand stitching on linen, encased in museum quality UV-filtering Lucite.

Five-night stay and guided hike or bike ride for four at Twin Lakes Nordic Lodge in Twin Lakes, Colorado. The historic lodge hotel was built in 1879 as a stagecoach stop and is filled with antiques, a large fireplace and a restaurant with a full bar. Your stay includes continental breakfast. The lodge is located in the quaint village of Twin Lakes and is surrounded by national forest with excellent mountain and road biking facilities nearby.

The lodge is owned by former Coalition Executive Director, Charlie Gandy, who has generously offered to guide you and your guests on your choice of a hike, road ride or mountain bike ride. The lodge rests at the base of Mt. Elbert on the east side of Independence Pass. The Continental Divide and the Colorado Trail meet in Twin Lakes. The road climb to the top of Independence Pass is a monster 3,000 feet high and 17.5 miles long.

Package does not include ground/air transportation or bicycle rentals. Aspen airport is just 38 miles away, and Denver and Colorado Springs are about a two and a half hour drive from the lodge. Please note there are no bike rentals at the lodge, but rentals are available in Buena Vista or Leadville, just 28 miles away. The dates for this package are subject to availability, and the offer expires December 31, 2007.

Texas Bicycle Coalition Package includes a ball cap signed by famous cyclists and athletes including Lance Armstrong, Miguel Indurain and Sally Edwards; a Souvenir Share the Road Y’all license plate; entrance for two into the BikeTexas Torture Test mountain bike ride hosted by the BikeTexas Trail Doctors in Warda in January 2007; and two pairs of BikeTexas cycling socks.

Corpus Christi Conquer the Coast Weekend Package (September 29-31, 2006) includes a two night stay at a hotel, two dinners, two entries to the Conquer the Coast bike ride, two tickets to Bayfest, two tickets to the Lexington Museum on the Bay, two tickets to the Texas State Aquarium, two pairs of Conquer the Coast socks, two water bottles, two t-shirts and more. The Conquer the Coast Package is coordinated by Gretchen Arnold, former Coalition board member.

A few words about our auctioneer…

“Going…going…gone…” will be the words coming from former Coalition Executive Director Gayle Cummins Stallings during the Live Auction held at the Hotter’N Hell Hundred Expo on Friday, August 25. Gayle served as executive director from 1998 to 2003 and has been a consultant to nonprofit organizations since leaving the Coalition. She is a licensed auctioneer, and her company, Fun Auctions, specializes in charity and benefit auctions. Many thanks to Gayle for donating her auctioneer prowess for this special event!

Be sure to join us on August 25 at the Hotter’N Hell Hundred and support the future of bicycling in Texas while bidding on some extraordinary auction items!