"12th Annual"

Mt. Lemmon Ride

a Success!

A record 51 riders turned out for Steve Wilson's 12th annual ride to Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley.  Many of the riders were making their first attempt at riding all the way to the top.  The weather was excellent, starting off in the 60's at the 7 AM start and ending in the low 70's at the top.  It was a little toasty on the return, topping out at 95 as we returned to the valley floor in mid-afternoon.

Sandi Rousseau provided excellent sag support along the route with an assortment of goodies and drinks to refuel the riders along the way.  Chris and Ram Salcedo provided homemade cookies and brownies which were a big hit to go with the fresh fruit and other high energy treats.  Four cases of Gatorade and soda somehow disappeared into the riders along with 10 gallons of ice water.  Don Supper and Larry Brown provided the sweep to ensure no one was left behind along the route.  Thanks Sandi, Don and Larry! 

With the new road almost complete the conditions were the best ever.  23 of the 27 miles have now been rebuilt with smooth asphalt.  The sprint to the Ski Valley parking lot was won this year by Ram Salcedo, who edged out 2-time defending champion Jay Hirsch at the wire.  Good job Ram!  At one point we had 37 riders in the parking lot at Ski Valley, by far a record for the ride.  A majority of the riders descended upon the Mt. Lemmon cafe in Summerhaven for a well deserved lunch on the outdoor patio.  The food was good, the company even better! 

The legs turned to stone during lunch, so the climb out of Summerhaven was a challenge.  After a quick rendezvous at Mt. Bigelow Rd., we were ready for 21 miles of downhill run.  The new asphalt was very nice.  It was a bit breezy on the descent, forcing the riders to be wary of gusts coming around corners.  Everyone made it down safely.  Can't wait for next year!

Race Across America

"20th Anniversary"

 An Interview with Lon Haldeman

by John Hughes 

The 20th annual Race Across America will start from Portland, OR on Sunday, June 16 at 7 AM.   16 men, one woman, and one mixed tandem will head for Pensacola Bay, FL, 3,000 miles away. Two days later, four 2-person and eight 4-person relay teams will start. For the 20th anniversary of the race, UltraCycling magazine interviewed Lon Haldeman, who won the first race and is now the race director.

 UltraCycling: Lon, you won the Great American Bike Race, the very first cross-country race. What do you remember about the GABR? What were the high points? The lows?

A: The Great American Bike Race was probably the most memorable race for me. It was the first time anybody raced head to head across America. A highlight was the morning of the race when we were standing on the Santa Monica Pier with the ABC Wide World of Sports helicopter circling above! Prior to 1982 everyone rode in daylight and slept most of the night. The first night of the GABR I rode nonstop and slept very little the first three nights. This was unexpected by the other racers and organizers. We learned that racers could push themselves to new limits. 

I drank Carnation Instant Breakfast. I spent a lot of time trying to get solid food down like Spaghetti-Os and PB&J sandwiches.

From a competition standpoint, I didn't know what was a good lead. At 1,000 miles, I had a six hour lead over John Howard, but I thought at any moment he'd catch up! We didn't have any time stations or race headquarters. Once a day Bob Hustwit drove from the front to the back to the front, so once a day we got a report on the splits, but the news was 12 hours old!

The race itself was brutal for me. We were all learning about bike fit, nutrition and pacing. I remember being very tired and sore after the first day. I could not imagine racing for eight more days. I just tried to focus on the next 10 mile section. I remember a lot about that race today and most of it isn't so nice.

 Q: What changes have you seen over the years?

 A: Most riders now are better than the average rider 20 years ago. Riders train better because they know what to expect during RAAM. Most riders today expect to cross the country in about 10 days. Twenty years ago completing the race in under 12 days was considered a good time. The equipment is better, with aerobars, etc., but using the most high-tech bike today would only gain you a few percent in speed over a 1980's bike.

Nutrition and recovery are the biggest factors. In 1985 Jonathan Boyer was the first to use a primarily liquid diet. The next year Pete Penseyres used UltraEnergy [an improved liquid diet]. I was racing against Pete and I was within a few hours of him at the Mississippi River. Over the last 1,000 miles, he kept his fuel intake and speed up while I slowed down.  With today's liquid diets, riders are at least a day faster across the country than in '82.

Q: Pete set the all-time average RAAM speed record of 15.40 mph in that race. He rode the 3,107 miles from Huntington Beach, CA to Atlantic City, NJ, in 8d 9h 47m. That record has stood for 15 years. What would it take to better that record?

A: Remember that this was a long and hilly route with over 100,000 feet of climbing. The final 700 miles were through the Eastern mountains. Riders today would complain about a route with that much climbing.

Pete was in great shape and is a great hill climber. He was using the best prototype equipment and diet available. Today the same equipment and diet are available off the shelf. Pete set that record because he was mentally and physically ready to race. In some ways riding faster is easier because you are not racing for 11 or 12 days.

Q: Where do you anticipate RAAM going in the future?

A: RAAM is unique as a race because it is so brutal. To race across the country in less that 10 days is really tough. The Solo Division is the backbone of RAAM. We need to find a way to attract more 25-year olds to the sport.

More people are physically able to race in the Team Division so that is most of the growth of participants will be. The 2-person race is very tough, combining speed and endurance. It's a great way to qualify for Solo RAAM and to learn about the rigors of the event. The 4-person teams really emphasize speed; it's a different way of racing. Crossing the country in six days is very tough to do - each rider does thirty 40K time trials.

For information on RAAM and race updates go to www.raceacrossamerica.org

Copyright 2002 by the UltraMarathon Cycling Association, reprinted with permission. For information about the UMCA go to http://www.ultracycling.com

Bike Shop Coordinator

Needed

By Sheryl Mueller

The Bike Shop Coordinator has a very important job in the Club as a liaison between GABA, the bike shops and our printing company for a smooth delivery of newsletters to each bike shop every month, as well as serving the advertising needs of our sponsor bike shops.

Here are the main duties of the Bike Shop Coordinator:

1.  Work with bike shops and other potential advertisers to get their ads in our news-letter, as well as changes in existing ads.

2.  Work with the Territorial Printing Co. to ensure that the newsletters are delivered to all bike shops in a timely manner.

3.  Provide an updated bike shop address list for the Territorial each month.

4. Maintain current information on: fax & phone numbers, email addresses, and contact names for all our advertisers.

5. Be willing and able to deliver newsletters to bike shops when their supply is low.

A published day phone with voice messaging system to accept calls from existing and potential advertisers is a must.

Ability to create mail merge letters, address labels, work in MS Word & Excel are a plus.

Mileage expenses will be reimbursed.

If interested, contact Sheryl at 743-7402, or e-mail:  Smueller@homeplanners.com

"Ice Cream Social"
You are invited!

10 AM

Saturday, June 8th

Ramada #19

in NW corner of Reid Park

(Country Club & Camino Campestre)

Bring friends or family members to enjoy the "food" and the "fun"!  If they sign up as a New Member that day,  you will get $5 off of your next membership renewal price.

Great opportunity to visit with fellow cyclists that you may not get a chance to see all the time, or to meet new cyclists!

Reid Park will have something for everyone - before and after the ice cream!

Day Rides will be starting from Reid Park - before the ice cream is delivered - and returning in time to get your deserved share of scrumptious icy delight!

Ice Cream will be served around 10 AM.

For those who want to ride their bikes before the ice cream, here's the details:

40-Mile Ride Meet at 6:30 AM

25-Mile Ride Meet at 7:30 AM

9-Mile Ride Meet at 8:30 AM

All rides will start in the parking lot close to Ramada #19, NW corner of Reid Park.  Watch for GABA signs.

Mt Hopkins Mountain Bike

Hill Climb

Sunday, June 2, 2002

This ride is not for the faint of heart!  It will require all the strength that your legs have, and then some!

Imagine climbing 5,000 feet on a fairly steep dirt road for the first 7 miles, then continuing on a steeper paved road for the last 5 miles to the summit, where the grade then gets very steep for the last 1/2 mile! Come enjoy this ride and find out for yourself if it is that hard!

Can you "ride" the last 1/4 mile?

Meet at 6 AM at Whipple Visitor Center.  Directions:  from Tucson, drive south on I-19 past Green Valley.  Exit at Canoa Rd. and continue south on the EAST frontage road to Elephant Head Rd.  Turn LEFT here and continue for a mile or so until you see Hopkins Rd.  Turn RIGHT and continue up this road approx. 6 miles until you reach Whipple Visitor Center.

Park your car here and drag your mountain bike out:  you are about to find out what mountain biking is all about!  Bring plenty of WATER and energy food! Don't forget to remember the rewards of fantastic 360 degree views at the top, as you sweat and grind mile after mile!  And, don't go too fast downhill: watch for the occasional car coming up.

Ride leader: Tom Ward, 625-3649  or e-mail him at twardasso@dakotacom.net

Dave Freund Memorial

WHITE MOUNTAINS BICYCLE TOUR

July 13 & 14, 2002

There is a wonder to this ride that is hard to explain. Over the years, it has justly earned the reputation of being one of the very best bicycling tours in the Southwest. If you've ridden it before, you know what it is like - if you haven't participated, there's much to look forward to. Attracting even out-of-state riders, it has become so popular that it is recommended that you REGISTER EARLY!

WHEN AND WHERE?

The ride starts at the Navapache Electric Company parking lot located at 1878 White Mountain Blvd. in Lakeside. This is also Highway 260. Take 260 from Show Low going to Pinetop & Lakeside. The facility is on the left side of the road. We have permission to park cars there for the weekend though other facilities there are limited (go to the bathroom BEFORE you arrive at the start!). Registration starts at 6:30 AM  on Saturday the 13th, and closes PROMPTLY at 8 AM. Try to start early! We should have the luggage to the motels and campground by 1 PM.

WHAT AND HOW LONG IS THE ROUTE?

The ROUTE follows Hwy 260 into Show Low and then takes Hwy 60 towards Springerville. The return route on Sunday is Hwy 260 all the way back to the starting point. Both days are hilly, as the terrain is mountainous.

DISTANCES are 57 miles on Saturday with 2 rest stops, and 43 miles on Sunday with one rest stop at the top of the 15-mile climb (just before you begin the 28-mile descent back to Lakeside!).

NEW THIS YEAR: a 100-mile option on SATURDAY!

WHAT ABOUT MEALS?

You're on your own Friday night.

Saturday night's dinner is included in the ride fee, and is prepared by Springerville residents who know what hungry cyclists like to eat! Snacks are available at the end of the ride on Sunday.

There's also plenty of fine eating establishments in the Lakeside/Pinetop/ Show Low area.

WHERE TO STAY IN SPRINGERVILLE?

CAMPING:  You can camp at the Round Valley Middle School. The camping fee includes hot showers and toilet facilities. You can sleep on the hard gymnasium floor or tent it outside the school.

MOTELS: There are several motels in the area with real beds, but make your reservations early as the tour just about fills them up.

Motels can be reached by calling

in Springerville:   1-928-333, then     

El Jo Motor Inn              4314

Reeds Motor Lodge        4323

Super 8 Motel                2655

Rode Inn                       4365

in adjoining Eager:  

Best Western                2540

There are lots of accommodations in the Show Low/Pinetop/Lakeside area for those wanting to come up early on Friday evening or to stay overnight on Sunday: check the GABA website at www.sportsfun.com/gaba/ for a list.

Make checks payable to PHOENIX METRO BICYCLE CLUB and mail completed Pre-registration Form & Waiver (on page 15 of Update) to:

PHOENIX METRO BICYCLE CLUB,

P. O. BOX 26788

TEMPE, AZ  85285-6788.

Confirmations (via e-mail OR snail mail) will be sent to pre-registered riders. LIMITED to the first 200 registered riders, SO SIGN UP EARLY!!!!!

Ride Organizer:  Mike Morross  For more info, contact MIKE at 480-654-1950 or via e-mail at RIDE010101@aol.com

THE "PIG" & I

By Bill Borland

There I was, late in the hot afternoon, still dragging "the pig", and heading up a very long and steep mountain grade, with cars and giant trucks whizzing by inches away, after having already ridden well over 90 miles for the day, and wondering, "Whatever was I thinking when I signed on to this foolhardy fiasco?"  Off in the distance were my two equally stalwart but equally drained companions, Smilin' Steve Wilson and Devilish Donna Lewandowski.  As it would happen when we eventually joined up on top of the windy climb, they, too, were wondering on the merits of our carefully laid travel plan.

We were climbing 6,000 feet to the first of six summits crossing the San Bernardino Mountains on Interstate 8 in southern California - within sight of the Mexican border - and were totally exhausted. We had just climbed the equivalent of a ride up Mt. Lemmon, fully loaded.  By the time we reached that first summit we had ridden a total of over 400 miles and this was only the fourth day of our scheduled six-day journey.  Was this really four centuries back-to-back?  We didn't want to think about it.  We only wanted to eat and sleep.  And to make matters worse, I had just discovered a pig inside my "pig."

Devilish Donna admitted to having dreamed up this crazy idea some six months earlier, but it took her that long to get the courage to even propose it.  She had long dreamed of wanting to cycle, fully self-contained, from Tucson to her folk's home in Irvine, California - near Los Angeles.  And she picked the university's March spring break week in which to do it.  Once the laughter died down and Smilin' Steve saw that she was serious, he knew that somehow he would have to figure out how to pull this off or he would never hear the end of it.

Early in the planning stage he called me with an outline of their plan and I told him that trying to ride almost 600 miles in six days, against prevailing March winds, was ludicrous.  But I had also revealed that I had already dragged out the maps before announcing my view, and Smilin' Steve knew right then and there that I was hooked.  I just couldn't let those two ride off and do this trip and be bragging about it for the next year without me along.  I would have always been wondering if I were tough enough to have done it, too.

Unfortunately, I had not only never ridden anyplace self-contained before, I didn't even own a bike that I could use for such a trip.  This obstacle was soon solved when a good friend offered me a BOB trailer that he had used on a recent six month trip to New Zealand.  The BOB is a one-wheeled, low profile contraption that attaches to the bike's rear axle quick release mechanism thus placing virtually no stress on the bike's frame itself.  Now I could use one of my racing-style bikes with nothing left to buy.  Yes, now I was really hooked since I no longer had a good excuse to back out.  My training, too, now picked up in earnest. I actually got on my bike - something I'd not done in several months!  Did I think this trip would be easy?

My first re-awakening came a week before the trip when I actually picked up the BOB trailer and tried it out.  The first trip around the neighborhood, empty of course, was actually fun.  Tying on a simulated load of 25 pounds was a horse of different color. Now the bike-trailer assembly became very unstable.  It was even difficult getting the whole business upright to start with.  And attempting to stand to pedal was totally out of the question.  The natural swaying of the bike produced a like swaying of the trailer - which fed quickly back to the bike and soon the whole mess was headed for a pre-mature crash and burn.  And pulling this whole load was something like dragging a dead pig on a short leash.  It had a stubborn mind of its own and quickly came to be referred to as "the pig" at every opportunity.  I really didn't like this whole business and I was way out of my comfort zone. I wished for a tactful way to back out of this commitment.

I did discover that lighter loads were somewhat easier to handle and so I started a crash effort to carve off unnecessary weight.  I reduced my tire tool count from the usual three tools to two, extracted the stuff sacks from my tent and Thermarest, and opted for one less spare tube.  That reduced the overall load by 8 ounces, a whopping 1%!  I knew I was in trouble then.  I did manage to remove a few clothing items, but for everything that came off, another "necessary" last minute item took its place.  I continued to worry.

Our trip officially started with Smilin' Steve and Devilish Donna, on their equally over loaded tandem, at 7:00 AM from their driveway at the base of Mt. Lemmon. Their loaded bike weighed in at well over 100 pounds.  And our first stop was for breakfast on Fourth Avenue with several friends who had, for a good laugh, cycled that far with us.  Do you know how many incredibly long and steep grades there are between the city's northeast side and Fourth Avenue?  I thought I'd remembered having climbed Mt. Lemmon itself with less effort. 

Lunch, many miles and hours later, was near the Kitt Peak turn-off on the Ajo Highway - barely out of sight of the city.  And by dusk we were at Quijotoa, a tiny Indian trading post 22 miles west of Sells.  Our planned water stop here was a near disaster when we discovered that the trading post had closed early and none of its outside faucets were working.  Devilish Donna saved the day by scaring up the needed liquid in the middle of a nearby construction project and we were soon cooking dinner nestled in a tiny roadside wash just as the sun was setting in the west.  Coyotes lulled us to sleep in our tents as we reveled in our first 100 mile day.

The second day on the road took us on to Why and then to Ajo for lunch and north to Gila Bend for dinner.  Smilin' Steve remarked, as we were leaving Ajo, that we had been riding now for some fifteen hours total and weren't even out of Pima County.  By this time I had already had several long talks with "the pig" and we were starting to reach a better understanding.  But I still didn't have any luck pedaling while standing and was starting to get concerned about how I would get up the serious grades ahead with little more than racing gears on the bike.  Maybe I should have taken my mountain bike after all.

With a little over an hour to sunset and most of our journey still in front of us, we left Gila Bend following dinner and headed west on I-8 to hunt up a usable campsite.  We eventually stopped at a vacant field, right beside the Union Pacific rail line, just as the sun disappeared.  And we were quickly in our sleeping bags under a glorious sky, lulled to distraction by the frequent train whistles, after now having completed our second century.

Day three's challenge was now obvious to us.  If we could make Yuma by nightfall, we could look forward to hot showers, clean riding shorts, and real beds - and just maybe a hot tub for good measure.  Fortunately, we again had favorable winds and got to Yuma with the last light - another 100 mile day.  We mused over just how much more riding we would have risked in the dark if it had taken us any longer.

Our fourth day, with the dreaded climbs up into the San Bernardino Mountains still in front of us, started in the cool morning air crossing the lazy Colorado River into California.  The trip through the sand dune country was magical with the occasional wildflower on display, but the fatigue of the previous three days was starting to take its toll.  The first casualty was our intent to use frontage and other side roads whenever they were available.  This is, in fact, a requirement of California freeway cycling.  As Smilin' Steve characterized it, before using the freeway shoulder for riding, even 20 year old goat paths must first be exhausted.  But the I-8 shoulders were enticing; they were consistently wide, clean, straight, and smooth.  And we almost made it to Ocotillo at the base of the mountains before getting chased - and chastised - by the local CHP's squad.  One more exit and we'd have it made, but it was not to be.  Our choice side road here took us to and through famous Plaster City - followed by mile after unending mile of very bumpy, unused, hot, sticky, miserable, sweaty, boring roadway before again rejoining the freeway.  We cursed the CHP's officer all the while and that made us feel better. On the positive side, since my butt was already on strike with the seat, I got a lot more practice standing up while pedaling and pulling the "pig" and finally felt that I had mastered it.  I was ready to be tested on a decent grade and that grade was now right in front of us.

Our night out on top of that San Bernardino Mountain pass was quite eventful - or so I was told the next morning.  I slept through it all. Supposedly there were trucks circling our little encampment in the wee hours and migrants from across the nearby border hiding nearby.  Or did Devilish Donna just dream it?  In any case, while unpacking that night I discovered that a small, ceramic pig had found its way into my duffel.  That provided no end of comic relief for us as I declared, at the top of my voice, that "there was a pig in my pig!"

Not unlike Day #3, our fifth day presented us with another obvious challenge.  If we could make it to San Diego before dark, we could once more look forward to hot showers and real beds.  The problem was that our engines were starting to get cranky and we had yet to complete the crossing of the San Bernardino's in what was now a very stiff headwind that never left us.  After breakfast in Jacumba, heavy fog in Live Oak Springs, and lunch in Pinedale, we completed the final summit push and started our long descent into San Diego proper. 

Now we were on a mission, like horses heading for the barn.  Devilish Donna, with the route instructions in one hand and the GPS in the other, pedaling all the while, barked enough instructions to keep us on course and it again became a race with the sun.  Into and out of San Diego we went, skirting the Miramar Naval Air Station, and from one bike path to yet another.  The sun won the race this time, but with only another 4-5 miles to go, we decided to chance it and continued on - finally reaching our destination at the top of two desperately steep grades.  We were in deep anaerobic debt when we pulled into the driveway, but were at the same time elated to have reached our target still alive and still on schedule - now well over 500 miles in five days.  Bec, our host, a hauntingly attractive blonde, entertained us with her special house pets, chickens rescued from a local egg ranch, while we showered and recovered.  Those beds that night provided the most comfortable and welcome rest ever.

Our final destination now looked achievable.  We had less than 85 miles left to ride and were already familiar with the route and the routine.  We had only to bid adieu to Bec and her house chickens that next morning, sneak over to the coast, and turn north. We then suffered our first and only breakdown of the trip - a broken rack weld that almost took out the tandem's rear wheel with it.  And then, in the middle of the repair, a handful of map sheets flew off into the wind - never to be seen again - since the headwinds that we had picked up the day before were, if anything, gusting even stronger.  But there was just no way that we weren't going to finish this trip and later that afternoon, right at dusk, the tandem and the "pig" pulled into Irvine - ending this epic adventure with a mixture of both well-earned relief and pride.      

2002 Cruising to Bisbee, and back!

By Dick Schaffer, Ride Leader

Thanks to "no" wind and dedicated volunteers the Sonoita-Bisbee tour this year was fun and successful!  Sandy Rousseau and Joan Gossman greeted riders at SAG 1, while Chris and Ram Salcedo provided a great lunch at SAG 2, and Dorothy and Jack Beiler helped along the course as Sweep Team.  Caroline and I were the luggage crew and Ride Leaders.  What a friendly and great crew!

Rubin Quiroz as did a wonderful job of providing a great meal, desserts and all.  Plus he brought two Masseuses and music!  Many of our bike shops dedicated door prizes to make this even more fun!  Congratulations to the winners and Thanks to these shops! 

We also were the first venue for our "new" GABA Jerseys.  Thanks to Bill Borland for wearing his back to Sonoita and showing how good it looks.  Sales really picked up! 

When you have a great crew, no wind, perfect weather and few bicycling conflicts, you get a great ride!  Thanks again to all who rode it, gave to it and worked it.

See you on the road!

SALT RIVER

BIKE RIDE 2002

Globe, Arizona was preparing for their annual Cinco de Mayo celebration when 27 riders left town.  They were riding the 85 miles to Show Low through some of the more scenic areas of Arizona.  The first sag stop was after 25 miles of climbing with one large hill separating them from the Salt River Canyon.  It was a challenging downhill and climb through the canyon to the next sag stop for lunch.  Along the way, Jack Beiler noticed an open gate that he closed, keeping the cows on the other side of the fence from the roadway.  Saturday was an excellent day for riding and all cyclists arrived in Show Low without a problem. 

Five cyclists opted to camp at the Fool's Hollow Arizona State Park with its great facilities and campsites.  Check out this campground if you have the opportunity to be camping in the Show Low area.  Many cyclists met that evening in Show Low for pizza and good company. 

Sunday was a fine morning for cycling and the ride proceeded normally until half way between the Salt River Canyon and Globe.  An RV and two other vehicles crashed, one of which burned for an hour or so until the fire was extinguished.  The roadway north and south was blocked for two hours.  However, cyclists were able to get through the accident scene, thus having the road to themselves for many miles.  All riders finished in Globe by early afternoon. Bags were gathered and riders departed home with aching legs, sore butts and smiles on their faces. 

Our special thanks to Kathy Hendricks of GABA-Phoenix for again hosting this ride including many hours of preparation!  And to her friend, Max Mills, her parents, Dave and Kay Hendricks, along with GABA-Tucson members Sandi Rousseau and Marcie Silver for hosting the sag stops and supporting the riders. And to Jack and Dorothy Beiler for sweeping the course and helping out wherever needed.  Thanks also to Dick Forcier for getting our baggage to where it needed to be when it needed to be there.

It was a GREAT weekend.  Same Time, Same Place, Next Year!

Words from Wayne

In the May issue of the Update, an article was written in the hoping that each of you might take an interest in it.  It was on page 13, and the topic was Volunteerism.  WE NEED YOU!

You may have noticed at many of the club's social functions that you mostly see the same familiar faces.  And we appreciate those people, but certainly don't want to take advantage of them.  It must be said, there are some people we can count on - and very likely many more who would help, if only they were asked.

We would love to ask you - but we need to know who you are, and what your special interests are.

We have picnics, potlucks, barbecues, ice cream socials, a winter holiday party, fun rides, the Swap Meet, PBAA events, booths to man, tickets to sell, overnight and century rides to staff, day rides to lead, day ride leaders to train, articles to include in the Update and on the website and more! 

We would like to start a mentoring program.

We would like to have every board position "mentored", every Overnight and Century ride "mentored", every Day Ride Leader "mentored", and so on.  If we could pull from a vast array of Volunteers, the problem of "burn out" for those who always agree (sometimes reluctantly) to fill in when there is no one else to call - then all club members could take a turn at being either the volunteer or the beneficiary.

Sound too simplistic, idealistic???  It does, I agree.  But what if it could happen?  When was the last time you volunteered?  Think about giving it a try - chances are you will really enjoy it!

Coming Soon!

Mark your calendars!

Cave Creek Bike Tour

 Sept. 28 & 29, 2002

By Cathy Crandall, Ride Organizer

The Cave Creek Bike Tour will be back again this fall!  This is a 40-mile (each day) bike ride to Cave Creek Canyon, starting from Roadforks, NM.  The ride takes you on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains to the spectacular little town of Portal, the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon. 

As you pedal along the Peloncillo Mountains, soon you will view the scenic Chiricahua Mountains which rise from a broad valley to heights of nearly 9800 feet, with 5 life zones:  lower Sonoran, upper Sonoran, transition, Canadian and Hudsonian. 

The magic does not end:  the route takes you down across this broad valley, then gradually climbing up to the foot of these spectacular mountains!  As you reach Portal, stop for a few minutes at the old General Store for a cool drink, taking a step back in time to enjoy this quiet and beautiful little town.

Continue to slowly and gradually climb in a windy canyon which narrows as you cycle through tall sycamores following a lazy-flowing creek to the Southwestern Research Center at the end of the paved road.

Lodging will be dormitory style at the Center operated by the American Museum of Natural History on 88 acres surrounded by the Coronado National Forest. There is a 60-foot creek-fed swimming pool, ping pong, volleyball court, horseshoe pit and library, as well as beautiful grounds with tall trees and green grass.  You might be lucky to see deer grazing early in the morning!

This ride promises to be a refreshing change of scenery after months of hot desert riding and hiking.  Expect red rock, maybe some red maples, and definitely some colorful company.

The ride fee of $70 for members, and $75 for non-members includes: 3 meals, lodging, sag support, happy hour goodies, and a great slide show.

Reservations are limited!  Sign up early!  For more information, call Cathy Crandall at 520-400-8476, or contact her at cathygeorge@theriver.com

The Blue Loop

Bike Tour

August 31, September 1 & 2

(Labor Day Weekend)

What could be better than a back yard barbecue, complete with beer and a swimming pool on Labor Day Weekend?  How about a challenging 3-day bike ride over some of the most breath-taking mountain terrain you can imagine?  This is one of the most popular tours that GABA offers to experienced riders.

Nestled within the quiet mountains of northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, this course will offer you the wonderful experience of riding over lightly traveled roads, with seemingly never-ending hills and valleys.  Spectacular vistas await you with each twist and turn!  Even the most seasoned riders of this tour will tell you what a thrill it is to view the sights from the pull-outs along the route. 

At the end of each day’s ride, you will be treated to a taste of “small town” hospitality which affords you the chance to unwind and visit with fellow riders, explore the surrounding sights, or just turn in for a good night’s sleep without the bothersome "City Noises" to keep you on edge. 

This article is meant to whet your appetite…have we succeeded?  Your ride leaders for this year’s tour will be the same as last year: Sandi Rousseau and Pam Cullop. 

In the next issue of the Update, and on the GABA website, you will be able to learn more about the specifics…you know, the details for signing up.  Stay Tuned; we want to see you there!!!

Jean Gorman's Speech

Delivered at the Grand Opening of the "Rattle Snake"

Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge

on May 23rd, 2002

It is with great pleasure and very mixed emotions that I am here today with our Honorable Mayor, his very precious wife, and too many others to name of our hard working City, and yes, County Transportation Key people. I thank all from the bottom of my heart for their dedication to working with myself and the Tucson Pima County Bicycle Committee towards the Education and Safety of our pedestrians, bicyclists, joggers, and all alternative modes of transportation.

Today, with this dedication, we not only Bridge (pardon the pun) the gap to our future safety and education on our roads, but to our loved ones killed needlessly on these same roads. All the Moms, Dads, Husbands, Wives, Children and Extended Family Members and Friends of our loved ones lost, please know in your hearts and minds that this Bridge is our Bridge to prove that our loved ones did not die for nothing, and the work goes on to prevent more senseless accidents from happening.

It takes all of us to do this work, every one of us, and there is so much more to do. We can work on new laws to make sure the  careless drivers are prosecuted for their careless actions, and the victims stop being blamed for getting killed on our roads, sidewalks, and crosswalks. Our hardest job is to change our attitudes, and love and respect each other's life. This is our bridge; and only by changing our attitude and respecting each others' lives and loved ones, will we get to where we want to be.

This is not a Bridge to nowhere as it's been said. It is to our future, our connectivity, our safety, that we all have worked towards. It is a "one of a kind" in the world, showing our spirit and dedication to our future, safety, and education: a sharing the roads with respect of each other.

The Diamondback Rattlesnake Bridge serves as a valuable link to help "break down the barriers" for pedestrians and bicyclists.

In addition to demonstrating the importance the City gives to bicyclists and pedestrians, this bridge provides the first important link for us from Downtown to the southeast side.  Once the Euclid bridge is built, this will provide a 12-mile pathway system southeast, planned to be eventually connected to Pima Community College on the eastside and the Civano development.

The County is currently planning to expand this linkage by building the Aviation-Golf Links pathway connection under Palo Verde as well as a new pathway on Veteran's Memorial Overpass at Palo Verde to connect to the south side and the Sam Lena Park. This is one of the best ways to break down the barriers of Aviation Parkway and the Union Pacific railroad tracks for cyclists and pedestrians. Currently, Park Avenue is the only bikeway connection between Downtown and Kolb Road that connects to the south side, a distance of over 8 miles.

West of the Snake Bridge, the City will be building a pathway system along the UP tracks that will provide safe crossings over 4th Avenue, 6th Avenue, Stone Avenue, and 6th Street and will link to the Barrio Anita neighborhood and the new St. Mary's bike lanes.  Again, we'll be breaking down barriers between central Tucson and the west side, especially the barriers of crossing major arterial roadways as well as the barrier to bicyclists and pedestrians caused by Interstate 10.

The City should be highly commended for this great work to improve access and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, and for removing the barriers to safe bicycle and pedestrian travel.  We all want them to keep up the great work!

Thank You

Thank You, AnnMarie!

Our very new Social Director AnnMarie Guerena-Fraijo is very sad to announce that she has to resign because of family commitments.

Thank you AnnMarie, you were not with us very long, but we appreciate the fact that you volunteered and tried to fit this job into your busy schedule.

We wish you the best!

Social Director Position Open!

The Board position of Social Director is now open.  This a very EASY and FUN job!  

The Social Director is in charge of bringing the refreshments for the monthly meeting - that is ONCE a month on the first Monday of the month!  What refreshments?  That is left to his/her creativity!

In addition, the Social Director is in charge of bringing the "catered" dinner for the Board Meeting on the second Monday of the month.  Again, what kind of food is up to the Social Director, with suggestions from the Board Members, of course!

All Board positions have many perks that come with it, such as FREE overnighters or centuries, for example!

Anyone interested?  Please call President Wayne Cullop at 290-4321 for more info and to volunteer.