In the early light of a July morning, the streets of Buffalo Gap hum with energy. Cyclists adjust helmets, check tires and clip into pedals as the countdown begins.
For 42 years, the Tour de Gap has brought riders from across Texas to the rolling roads south of Abilene. What began in the 1980s as a casual weekend ride has grown into a two-day charity cycling event with a loyal following.
“It just started with a bunch of people getting together on a weekend saying, ‘Hey, let’s go do a ride together,’” said Jim McDonald, owner of Bike Town and lead organizer of the Tour de Gap. “Back in the ’80s, that happened. And it slowly evolved.”
McDonald has been involved for two decades and says the event gained momentum when organizers began partnering with local causes.
“In the early 2000s, my wife and I got involved with it and started working with the Food Bank,” McDonald said. “That’s when it really started to take off, being partnered with a charity that benefited somebody like that.”
This year’s partner was the Presbyterian Medical Care Mission, a nonprofit that provides medical services for uninsured, low-income adults.
“We’re a doctor’s office for individuals who do not have medical insurance and are adults on the lower income side,” said Executive Director Brady Harwell. “We can get medications months at a time for $3 for patients. So for our ability to keep those costs low, we rely heavily on community support.”
That support comes not only from sponsors, but also from participants. Harwell himself has ridden in the Tour de Gap three times.
“My family and I, we’re a little bit scattered, but we always used Tour de Gap as a good opportunity to get the family together,” he said. “And when we needed a break from each other... we could hop on a bike.”
The event offers three route options for all skill levels: an 11-mile family ride, a 50-kilometer course and a 100-kilometer challenge.
“There are three great route options available for all levels of participants,” Harwell said. “We’ve got an 11-mile route... that’s our family-friendly one. Some pull a little cart with the kiddos behind. It’s a lot of fun.”
The longer routes wind through some of the most scenic stretches in the Big Country.
“Buffalo Gap is a small community south of Abilene. The trees are bigger. There are live oaks all over that downtown area,” McDonald said. “This year’s route goes over Bell Plains, past Steamboat Mountain, through Tuscola and out past the state park.”
McDonald said visiting riders from cities like Dallas, Austin and Houston often comment on the quiet roads and open views.
“I consistently hear it from people... you guys have great riding out here,” he said. “I think if you’re from town, you feel like it’s not bike-friendly, but it actually probably is more friendly than you might think.”
Organizing the Tour de Gap is no small task. Volunteers are on-site before dawn.
“My volunteers and I are out there by 4:00 in the morning with lights and lanterns,” McDonald said. “There’s a lot of energy... people start showing up by 6:00, airing up tires, excited to do what they’ve been training for all year.”
The event relies on a network of about 80 volunteers each year, ranging from Boy Scouts to Hendrick Health Club staff to injured cyclists who pitch in instead of riding. Planning for the next race starts almost immediately.
“Next year’s planning starts next week,” McDonald said. “We’ll have a shakedown meeting to talk about what went right, what went wrong, and how we can improve.”
For newcomers, McDonald encourages just getting started.
“We help organize basic group rides,” he said. “We’re very involved with the bike clubs here in town. Whether it’s a gravel bike, a comfort bike, or a road bike... we’ve got it. We’d love to have you.”
For Harwell, the partnership between Tour de Gap and the Presbyterian Medical Care Mission was a natural fit.
“We love the history behind it,” he said. “It’s a very community-oriented event. And the slogan... ‘Miles that matter: Ride to help bridge gaps in health care’... it just sounded so good.”
From the family-friendly loop to the 100K challenge, McDonald says every mile helps close the distance between communities and causes.