Everything’s Bigger in Texas: Including Bike Rides

Hardin-Simmons Leadership Studies Program embarked on an 825 mile bike ride across Texas. This is the third year for the program to complete the BRAT ride, which is now being referred to as BRAT3. The entire ride (including travel and rest) took the team 11 days to complete. 

Dr. Patterson, director of leadership studies and fellow BRAT3 team member, said, “Using teamwork and problem solving, riders gained first-hand experience with the skills of leadership and organization. Confidence gained by successfully completing the BRAT will help students tackle new and complex projects in their future jobs and lives.”

The ride began in Surfside, Texas and ended in Texline, Texas. The group made several stops along the way including Giddings, Belton, Brownwood, Abilene, Plainview, Vega, and Dalhart.

Cassie Dennis, junior psychology major from Temple, Texas, said, “It just gives us one more thing to appreciate about our school. We met so many people along the trip who asked what we were doing. This gave us the opportunity to let people know about HSU and the unique opportunities it offers.”

For each BRAT ride, the team drove 7-8 hours to the starting point, cycled about 100 miles per day for four days, took a day off to rest, cycled another four days to the finish line, and then drove 6-7 hours back to Abilene.

Dennis said, “Out of those of us who participated, I think almost all of us plan on joining the ride again next year. Bike Ride to Canada is being suggested… wish us luck!”

BRAT4 is already in the works for next summer. A 1,300 mile trip from Abilene to Canada going up Highway 83 is amongst the ideas mentioned. The team would have to use a leap-frog method of riding and would aim to complete 160 miles a day, with each rider contributing 40-80 miles each.

For more information on the Leadership Studies Program visit https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/leadership/.

To follow the Bike Ride Across Texas team and their progress visit BikeRideAcrossTexas.com.