• What is the Loblolly Liberator?
• The Unique Name
• How to Get Involved
• Ride Specifics
• How to Participate
• Host Hotelhe Fredonia Hotel, 936-564-1234. Rooms are $62 per night, plus tax. The Comfort Inn, 936-569-8100; Rooms are $60 per night, plus tax. Best Western Northpark Inn, 936-560-1906. Rooms are $60 per night, plus taxes. Please call the hotels directly to make your reservations.

What is the Lobolly Liberator?

The annual Loblolly Liberator bike ride is a fund-raising event hosted by and benefiting the Nacogdoches Treatment Center. All proceeds from the ride go toward the support of the worthy mission ofthe Nacogdoches Treatment Center.

The bike ride features 5 routes: a 10-mile (within the city limits); a 30-mile, a 53-mile and a 77-mile course with the majority of the mileage outside the city limits.

Being in East Texas, the bike ride routes are hilly, challenging and scenic with early spring blooms among the Loblolly pines. All routes begin at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, which doubles as ride headquarters. The routes include about 5 miles inside city limit traffic and a few miles of four-lane highway traffic. The remainder of the ride is on fair-to-good paved FM and County Roads.

All routes have SAG support, rest stops with restrooms and refreshments.

The course was designed by bike riders in our area.

The Unique Name.

The unique name—Loblolly Liberator—originated from one of the Treatment Center's employees. Using a hand cycle, he participated in his first bike ride . . . a 25-mile course . . . in October 2000. Immediately after the ride, he was so exhilarated and excited; he felt totally liberated. He suggested a spring bike ride fund raiser, and his suggestion came with a serious plan and name.

The Lobolly pine is native to East Texas. "Liberator" represents his experience after completing his first ride; it also represents the goal the Treatment Center has for its clients who use its programs. Liberating individuals with disabilities from their barriers; and, liberating the caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease for a few hours each day.

How to Get Involved

Ride. One way to participate in the Loblolly Liberator is to ride. Biking through East Texas is a great way to spend a Spring day. You can participate as an individual, or get a team of coworkers, friends, family members or bike club to join in the fun.

Volunteer. If bike riding isn’t for you, why not offer your time on race day to help out? Come help man a rest stop. Direct bikers to the proper route or drive a pickup wagon for riders who need assistance.

Donate. If time won’t allow your physical participation, consider fiscal participation. The Loblolly Liberator is a fund raiser designed to support the programs offered by the Nacogdoches Treatment Center. We do hope the event attracts numerous participants, but we also depend on the event to assist the Treatment Center financially.

Ride Specifics:

Riders: All riders under 18 must ride with a parent. All riders must wear a helmet.

Courses: All courses are typical scenic East Texas country side with spring blooms and Loblolly pines. The natural terrain ishilly and challenging. Manned rest stops with restrooms, snacks and drinks. SAG support on each course. Routes include about 5 miles inside the city limit traffic and a few miles of four-lane highway traffic. The course was designed by bike riders in our area.

Register Online or Registration (PDF File)

• Early registration is $30 through March 17; $35 after March 17. Riders who pay their entries before March 17 will receive an free event T-shirt.
• Day of Ride registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, 119 Hughes Street. Coffee, juice, fruit and muffins are available prior to ride. Light lunch provided upon ride return.
• For safety reasons, riders must turn in their assigned entry number upon ride return.
• Riders who bring in more than $100 in donations will be entered into a drawing for a new bike donated by The Bike Shop of Nacogdoches.

Ride Begins: Ride starts and finishes at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center (119 Hughes Street., 4 blocks north of Main Street and 1/2 block east off North Street/Hwy 59 Business). The facility is a large, red brick building with two parking lots and additional parking one block east at a nearby school.

Ride Time: Official start time is 8 a.m. on event day. Courses start at 5 minute staggered start for each route. The 10-mile course closes at noon. The remaining courses close at 5 p.m. at the Treatment Center. No late starters because SAG follows the last rider on each route. All riders must check back in at the Treatment Center at the end of their ride.

How to Participate:

1. Read, complete and sign the Bike Ride Registration Form or Register Online.The rider entry fee is $30 prior to March 17; $35 after March 17. Riders who pay their entries before March 17 will receive an free event T-shirt. All riders under 18 must ride with a parent. All riders must wear a helmet. Make your check payable to Nacogdoches Treatment Center and mail to 110 Hughes, St., Nacogdoches, TX 75961. Phone is 936-569-7173; Fax is 936-569-1074. email address is info@nactreatmentcenter.org
2. Collect Donations. Ask co-workers, friends and family members to sponsor you per mile or to make a donation to help you support the Loblolly Liberator. Riders who bring in more than $100 in donations will be entered into a drawing for a new bike donated by The Bike Shop of Nacogdoches.
3. Bring your Helmet! The Loblolly Liberator will begin at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center.
4. Accommodations. Lodging info coming soon! Room

eserved at The Fredonia Hotel, 936-564-1234, 2 blocks south of ride headquarters at N. Fredonia and E. Hospital Streets, 1 block north of Main Street in historic downtown Nacogdoches. Rooms are $62 per night, plus tax. Rooms are also on hold at The Comfort Inn, 936-569-8100, 5 miles south of ride headquarters at 3400 South Street (the same Hwy 59 between Nacogdoches and Lufkin). Rooms are $60 per night, plus tax. Best Western Northpark Inn, 936-560-1906, 4809 NW Stallings Drive (approx. 5 miles northwest of ride headquarters on Loop 224). Rooms are $60 per night, plus taxes. Please call the hotels directly to reserve your rooms.