Nov. 7, 2004, 12:53AM MAKING A DIFFERENCETour d' Hood unites community through fitnessCyclists go on rides to promote health and spiritBy JANETTE RODRIGUESCopyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
Veon McReynolds laughed when asked about the origins of the "Tour d' Hood." "We had some guys who used to race," he said. "When we got together, we would say, 'Let's go do the Tour d' Hood.' And, generally, we would ride in black neighborhoods." The group of black cyclists disbanded some time ago, but the name it came up with lives on in a series of Tour d' Hood recreational bike rides to promote health, fitness and community spirit. McReynolds organized the first one last year. The events are free and open to all ages. Before a recent 10-mile ride, Tour 'd Hood participants gathered at the Texas Southern University Health and Physical Education Arena on Wheeler at Ennis. The mood was buoyant despite the threat of rain. Many brought their bikes, while others borrowed some donated for the day by SHAPE Community Center and the Third Ward Community Bike Center. The route took them through the Second, Third and Fourth wards, where people waved at them and called out questions about what they were doing. McReynolds, 52, a psychologist, activist and longtime vegan, is worried about the national obesity epidemic. He is especially concerned by the rise in preventable illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease and juvenile diabetes in minority and poor communities. "I am trying to help poor people," the TSU administrator said. "We are our brother's keeper. We have to do something to help our brother out." It's a concern shared by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, whose office is helping McReynolds coordinate the events. Ellis, an avid cyclist who calls McReynolds "Prof," sees the rides as a way to encourage constituents to exercise while doing something he enjoys. "I have battled obesity most of my life, and it's a continuous struggle that statistics show most Houstonians are fighting as well," Ellis said. The Tour d' Hood gives people a chance to explore neighborhoods that they might not have otherwise visited. These are "communities that people often fear because they have perceptions that have little to do with reality," Ellis said. "Areas that may be lower income but rich in culture and heritage." McReynolds credits Ellis with getting Houston Mayor Bill White, Councilwoman Carol Alvarado and other elected officials involved in the efforts. White and Alvarado did the tour in September. McReynolds, whose field of study was community psychology, hopes that changing people's mind-set about exercise and community will improve everyone's overall mental and physical health. "Health and illness concern go across all ethnic lines," he said.
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