July arrives with a re-opened coffee house and a new ride group

July 1 opened under cloudy skies, thus making temperatures a little cooler for six cyclists who rode in North Central San Antonio Cycling's first ride from the re-opened La Taza Java Coffee House. The ride route began at La Taza Java located on Brook Hollow and turned around at I-410. The 15.8-mile (25-km) ride took an hour and 50 minutes to complete. Ride leader Rob Baker was La Taza Java's first customer as he bought a fresh, dark brew at approximately 7:30 a.m. "Nothing can beat a great cup of joe prior to an early morning ride," said Baker.

The riders rode out at 8:02 a.m. and returned at 9:55 a.m. By then, the coffee house was bustling with customers, many of whom were customers of the original coffee house that opened in May 2007 under the ownership of Judy Handley. Over its duration, it served as a starting point for road and mountain bike rides that led riders to McAllister Park and beyond and to the streets of Hill Country Village and Hollywood Park, two bergs that are located along U. S. 281 in the north-central sector of San Antonio.

Local cyclists are looking forward to meeting at the coffee shop under the new ownership of Corrina Perez. The venue now named "La Taza Java Coffee House" received a makeover—new blinds, new furniture, and new menu that includes cold brew. The coffee roaster is Katz of Houston. The centerpiece is a Faema barista machine, manufactured in Binasco, Milano, Italy. During the 1960s, Faema sponsored a cycling team that included riders who competed in Le Tour de France.

La Taza Java Coffee Shop—SRR file photo

There has been a known correlation between cycling and consumption of coffee. Caffeine, a crystalline xanthine alkaloid, is a performance-enhancing drug that’s no longer prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The idea of serving up java at a ride venue is no secret. In Alamo Heights, Bike World and Local Coffee share the same venue—even with a wide opening that connects the bike shop and the coffee shop. In 2012, the Art of Java operated from the location of Thousand Oaks and U. S. 281 and served as a meeting place for cyclists. It closed in early 2013.

By 2021, the city Parks and Recreation has its sights set on building the Lorence Creek Greenway that will run from McAllister Park to Virgil T. Blossom Park on Heimer Road. McAllister Park is connected to the Salado Creek Greenway. The Blossom trailhead will be two blocks from La Taza. It only suggests that it is a matter of time that cycling in the Brook Hollow / Heimer Road area will continue to be on the rise as the case has been in other parts of the city following the additions of greenways and trailheads.

—SRR News Services