Conquer the Coast presented by H-E-B

Corpus Christi Bay is a scenic semi-tropical bay on the Texas coast found in San Patricio and Nueces counties, next to the major city of Corpus Christi. It is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by Mustang Island, and is fed by the Nueces River and Oso Creek from its western and southern extensions, Nueces Bay and Oso Bay. The shoreline of Corpus Christi Bay is included in the Texas Coastal Plain in South Texas. The surrounding land is semi-arid and is used for ranching and other agricultural purposes. The bay itself is considered subtropical, and was described by Gutzon Borglum (an American artist and sculptor. He is most associated with his creation of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota) as “the most beautiful bay on the Texas coast.”

The United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Foundation, High Five Events and Ryan Sanders Entertainment invite you to experience the adventure of riding your bicycle around Corpus Christi Bay’s 66-mile shoreline by participating in the 16th Annual Conquer the Coast, presented by H-E-B. High Five Events and Ryan Sanders Entertainment have been producing Conquer the Coast for the past ten years, while it has gained the reputation of being one of the most unique rides in Texas! It continues to grow annually, with the event selling out in 2015 and 2016.  

Conquer the Coast, presented by H-E-B, packs so much into one ride that no other cycling event quite compares. The Cheniere 66-mile ride begins at 7:30a.m. in the heart of Corpus Christi’s Sports, Entertainment and Arts District (N. Bayfront Park, Corpus Christi, TX 78401). See some of the region’s most iconic views, an award-winning art museum and the awe-inspiring water gardens. Your trek up the Harbor Bridge gives you a bird’s eye view of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and the nation’s 5th largest port to your left. One your right, you’ll see a National Landmark, the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. All with the expansive Corpus Christi Bay, as the backdrop, where you survey the very coast you set out to conquer.

The moment you reach the 138 ft peak of the Harbor Bridge and begin your descend towards the shoreline you realize this isn’t just a ride–from this point on, it will forever become an annual tradition.

Your adventure has only begun as you begin to circumnavigate the highways clockwise through all the picturesque towns that line the shores of Corpus Christi Bay. Portland, Aransas Pass, Ingleside and Port Aransas all offer their own unique flair to the Coastal Bend and promise spectacular views along the way. The Port Aransas Ferry connects you to Mustang & Padre Island where the true test begins. Some call it the “Toughest 18 Miles in Texas” as this stretch of Mustang Island is what it’s all about. It’s what separates the joy riders from the cyclists. After an absence for several years, this year we also bring back a unique opportunity to ride through the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. A quick ride past the island campus of Texas A&M Corpus Christi and you hit Ocean Drive: easily one of the most scenic drives in all of Texas.

If the Cheniere 66-mile ride is not for you, Conquer the Coast also offers a 21-mile ride, as well as a Valero Bill Greehey Refineries 10-mile “Family Ride”.