By Brynna Breen
There are some folks who are so bold; so gung-ho; so dedicated to their passions; so serious about what they do, and about the proper way to do it, that they’re just plain awesome, and perhaps a little bit crazy.
That’s what organizers of the inaugural Tour de Pines are finding out about cyclists in Wood County, Texas.
The Event
Tour de Pines is coming up quickly. It will be held on Saturday, August 15, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Why in August? Because that’s how dedicated cyclists are. When organizers for the Tour de Pines looked at the list of other big bicycle races or tours going on in 2026, the weekend of August 15 was one of the only ones still left open.
“We may adjust the dates in the future, but we may not—that’s kind of a selling point!” said Carley Tucker, president of the Old Settlers Reunion board, which is hosting the event.
Tucker pointed out that another reason the Wood County, Texas event was held in August is because it’s the “last chance” practice run before a “legendary” cycling event held in Wichita Falls every year. “This is like the last chance they have to prepare for that—it’s like the last big ride they can get in before that event. It’s a practice run for the hardcore people,” she said.
Tour de Pines was designed for serious cyclists, by serious cyclists. In accordance with that, the event is not a race per se; it is, actually, just a “tour”—a way to practice, see the gorgeous Wood County countryside, and prove to oneself that they can—literally—go the distance.
Tour de Pines will have three tour lengths, all on paved roads and mostly under shaded woods. Regardless of which tour participants choose, registration is just $50.
Tour number one is 27 miles long, with an optional cut-through to make it 15. This tour goes “from Hainesville to Pine Mills to Lake Lydia.” Tour number two is 40 miles long, and it goes from Hainesville to Pine Mills to “deep woods between Winnsboro and Quitman.” Tour number three is 62 miles long, and it goes all the way from Hainesville to Winnsboro.
There will be five rest stops total, spaced between the three tours. Event notes for the Tour de Pines say that there will be “water, Gatorade, pickle juice, snacks, and bathrooms at each stop.”
Primitive tent camping and van/RV parking is also available for a donation at the Hainesville Volunteer Fire Department, which graciously volunteered some of its land and restrooms for cyclists to use overnight before the race. For more information, contact Mike Gilmore at 903-850-2460. Other lodging, including hotels, RV resorts, motels, and hosted guest homes are available as well.
Tour de Pines and the Old Settlers Reunion
The Tour de Pines—named for the famous “Tour de France” bicycle race and the “Piney Woods” of Wood County and East Texas—is a fundraiser for the Old Settlers Reunion. This community fall festival has been in place for more than 120 years.
It may sound trite to say it, but in this case, it’s true: All this is for the kids. The Tour de Pines fundraiser is to help bring back the beloved carnival to the Old Settlers Reunion—something organizers truly hope can happen in 2026.
In addition, says the Old Settler’s website, “all funds raised will be used to pay for upgrades to Jim Hogg Park in Quitman and scholarships in Wood County.”
“We’ve been hosting the Old Settlers Reunion without a carnival for the past three or four years,” said Tucker. “And people wanted the carnival back. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the numbers (to bring it back yet).”
However, the Tour de Pines, along with a generous sponsorship from Wood County Electric, will help to raise these desperately needed funds, which must be complete by the time the Old Settlers Reunion comes around on October 31 to November 1.
However, Tucker says that much help is still needed from the community before the Old Settlers Reunion, or the Tour de Pines, can be held properly.
Namely, the Old Settlers Reunion still needs sponsorships from organizations, boards, or individuals, as well as financial donations. The Tour de Pines also needs sponsorships, as well as someone to donate hamburgers and hot dogs to help feed the cyclists and volunteers.
To donate, or for more information, reach out to Tucker at 903-850-0328 or Old Settlers Reunion Board Treasurer Joanne Wisdom at joanne@drwisdom.net.
Cycling in Wood County
Apparently, as Tucker and the rest of the Old Settlers Reunion board found out, cycling is a thing in Wood County. It’s not just a group of a few dedicated young folks passing time on a Saturday; here in East Texas, riding bikes is a sport taken very seriously. According to Tucker, similar events in other local communities have recently had massive attendance, even garnering as many as 700 to more than a thousand participants!
“This whole cycling culture, we’re learning about it; but it’s big in this (East) Texas area,” said Tucker. “In Paris (Texas), they had an 80-mile tour, and people actually doubled back and did more so they could hit 100. These people are hardcore!”
Although Tour de Pines has never been held before in Wood County, Tucker says that she’s confident it will bring in many participants. However, she hopes to be able to host this event, and grow it even farther, in years to come.
“We’re hoping to grow it. Our first year, we expect anywhere from 100 to 300 people to sign up and do this,” said Tucker. “In the future, we’re hoping it grows much bigger—bigger and bigger every year.”
Interestingly enough, cycling seems to be something every age group in Wood County, Texas participates in. “People (at the Tour de Paris, Texas) came up there on their canes, in their ‘60s and ‘70s; but once they got on their bicycles, they just flew,” said Tucker.
Whether you have to find a babysitter, race alongside a parent, or mount your cane on your bike, cycling in Wood County is open to you.
More information about the Tour de Pines can be found on the registration website or by contacting Tucker at 903-850-0328.