from The Lufkin Daily News (full article link)

The Lufkin Host Lions Club is inviting cyclists to participate in "the fall’s most unforgettable ride." Saturday, Oct. 6, will be the 16th Annual Garland Parise Pineywoods Purgatory. The event, which consists of four different rides to choose from, has been described as a "top tier ride" by some veterans of the sport.

The event started in 1992 when Garland "Bubba" Parise, an avid cyclist, dreamed up the route because he wanted Lufkin to have a ride that rivaled the larger events in Texas. One year later, Parise died suddenly at the age of 40. The Purgatory is a living memorial to Parise’s commitment to creat the ultimate cycling experience in the woods and hills of East Texas, said a press release by the Lions Club.