EASY RIDERS Bulletin: Lance Armstrong’s Ride for the Roses has been moved from April to October (the Sports Illustrated 2002 sportsman of the year wanted more time to train for the Tour de France). But don’t think that means you have a license to lounge around for a little while longer. This month there are plenty of tours to choose from to get you up to speed.
BP MS 150 (April 12 and 13): More than 10,000 people are expected to take part in this 183-mile tour, which begins in Houston and ends in Austin. Cyclists take a much-needed overnight rest in La Grange, which hasn’t seen such an ambush of visitors since the Chicken Ranch days.
Ride the Rim (April 19): It’s not every day that you see a rhino or a cheetah, much less while riding your bike. That is precisely why this half-day tour through the spectacular terrain of Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, in Glen Rose, is so great. Experienced guides accompany riders, who get up-close views of the wildlife.
Beauty and the Beast Bicycle Tour (April 26): The 64-mile race in and around Tyler ends with something known as Killer Hill, but thankfully several shorter routes are available for those who just want to take it easy and tour the East Texas countryside.
Hill Country Ride for AIDS (April 26 and 27): This 125-mile tour, which begins and ends in Southwest Austin, takes cyclists along wildflower-laced back roads, with an overnight stay at the LBJ State Park, in Stonewall. (See Austin: Sports; Houston: Sports; and Tyler.)
