Marcia Katz and Sid Smith helped at registration and also drove sweep.
November Meeting Raffle Winners
Come Help With The Big Parade!
GABA-Tucson Slate of Officers for the 2004 Board
GABA Ride Rating in Need of Revision
Become a League Certified Instructor (LCI) in Bicycling Skills & Safety
160 Riders on Windy Tom Mix Century!
Pueblo High School Needs Your Help!
Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee
Letter to the Editor: Latin-American Social Club, Inc. of Pima County
Editor Celebrates 100th Issue!
Cycling for Fitness and Performance
By Ram Salcedo, Bike Shops Coordinator
And the winners are: Marie Klenke, Shirley Cooper and Dorothy Barth! Thanks to the team at Perimeter Bicycling Association of America (PBAA) for last months freebies.
How was your El Tour? Come to the Holiday Pot Luck to enjoy good food and share your stories with friends! See you there!
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
By Richard Moeur
The 33rd annual Fiesta Bowl Parade will roll down Central Avenue on Wednesday, December 31st, 2003. The Fiesta Bowl Parade is the single largest spectator event in Arizona, attracting over 400,000 folks every year, and is also rated by USA Today as one of the top parades in the nation. Your bike club is being asked to recruit bicycle mounted security marshals to help ensure that this magnificent event goes as smoothly as always. Come join us kids and see the complex logistics of presenting this extravaganza to all those spectators and a regional TV audience.
What's new this year? There's a new chief of the bicycle marshal posse. Brent Stewart, who so ably managed this task for so many years, has handed off the job to Richard Moeur. Richard pledges to do his best, and is looking for all that great help you all gave Brent in past parades.
Your efforts will be needed from approximately 7 AM until 3 PM. You'll get a free breakfast, some extra items you need to perform your duties (bring your own bikes & helmets, of course), and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Interested? Sign up by e-mailing contact information (name, address, phone number and e-mail address if you have one) to Richard Moeur at rcmoeur@aol.com, or call Richard at (602) 866-3554.
Look forward to seeing you at the parade!
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President |
STEVE WILSON |
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Vice President |
OPEN |
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Treasurer |
JANET LANDIS |
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Secretary |
SANDI ROUSSEAU |
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Membership |
STEVEN GRAEBER |
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Publicity |
SALLY KRUSING |
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Education |
DICK SCHAFFER |
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Touring-Day |
JUDY BOLT |
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Touring-Centuries |
SANDI ROUSSEAU |
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Touring-Overniters |
DOROTHY BARTH |
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Editor |
SUZANNE COUVRETTE |
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Volunteer |
DONNA AVERSA |
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Web Master |
DAVE SWANSON |
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Legal Advisor |
RICHARD FORCIER |
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Social Director |
PAM CULLOP |
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Bike Shop Coord. |
RAM SALCEDO |
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Correspondence |
DONNA LEWANDOWSKI |
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Shed Master |
BILL BORLAND |
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Bike Swap Coord. |
GREG YARES |
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Great Arizona Bike Adventure |
DOROTHY BARTH |
Elections of officers will take place at the January Monthly Meeting, on Monday, January 5, 2004 at 7 PM. Anyone interested in serving on the Board should contact Steve Wilson ahead of time at 749-9014 or via e-mail at wilsons@us.ibm.com.
By Rudy & Kay Van Renterghem
Summer's 100+ degree days are now behind us, and GABA's Tandem Ride West promised to be a cool pedal of 35 to 40 miles on Sunday, October 26; heading from Grant/Silverbell over Twin Peaks to the Avra Valley Regional Airport and back via Rattlesnake Pass.
Ah, but the weatherman had a different plan!
As the 7 AM starting time approached, the winds were blowing at 25+ mph, and after a quick confab with all interested parties it was decided to shorten this ride, by half. No arguments from anyone!
Ten tandem duos showed up for the start. However one stoker had inadvertently left her cycling shoes at home and could not ride. Another tandem team showed up minus their bike . . . no, they had not forgotten it; they had started out pedaling from home but due to the high winds decided to retrace their route. They did show up in their car, in full cycling garb, to see if any brave souls would be foolish enough to venture out in these near-gale conditions!
A 25+ mph tailwind would be great, but such a cross or head winds could create havoc. Heading north and downhill on Silverbell Road was not a real problem, but the clouds of blowing sand made for some gritty riding . . . keep your mouth closed and pedal!
Thence east on Ina Road into an invisible wall of wind, struggling along at 8 mph. Now south on the smooth I-10 Frontage Road for a real crosswind workout as we watched a trio of flags standing straight out on the flagpoles. "Breezy at times" had been the optimistic forecast . . we sure begged to differ with that statement!
The only reprieve was when we headed west for one mile on Camino del Cerro with a great tailwind that allowed captain and stoker a well earned coast.
Then left on Silverbell where the crosswinds nudged the front wheel of our l-o-n-g bike toward the edge of the road several times.
Upon looking over the eight tandems at the finish, we observed that seven of the eight machines were built in the tandem manufacturing capital of the US: Eugene, Oregon!
Ride leaders Scott and Peg Jacobsen were on a Co-Motion as were Tucson's newest tandem duo Doug and Allison Keeports as well as long-time tandemers and GABA stallwarts, Jack and Dorothy Beiler.
The bike club's vice-president, Mike Burdick, and able stoker Susan were on a 2-seat Bike Twosday as were Bob and Linda Kilpatrick of Sahuarita. Chuck Cook also piloted a Twosday with visiting stoker Kristen Allen, marketing director for Bike Friday of Eugene, OR.
Dean and Sandra Taylor pedaled their Burley Samba Softride 'beemer' while co-leaders Rudy and Kay rode the only non-Oregon produced tandem in the group. Oh well, somebody always has to be different!
Two single bike riders joined the tandem group; Bob Turnbull and Michael Thompson, and they had their choice of which tandem to draft behind . . . lucky fellows!
After the battle with the high winds, most riders stopped for a bit of socializing, and of course eating, at the Mosaic Cafe.
GABA's monthly tandem rides hopefully will be continue to increase in numbers; there are over 100 tandem teams in the Tucson area. If you own a 2-seater, dust it off and join us at GABA's next tandem toot.
Let's go ride TWOgether!
Pedal on!
By Ram Salcedo
Greetings all,
If you've ever been on a GABA ride (or lead a ride) that seemed to be spread out with riders of different abilities, maybe you share some of my experiences: Having a fast group take off from the start, leaving a few to ride by themselves to go the specified ride pace! Hanging back with riders who have overestimated their abilities and can't keep up with the intended pace!
I think that the Rating Format may be a contributing factor in this phenomenon; for example, in a "C" ride (between 15-18 MPH), 3 MPH is a large difference. For someone who can do 15, "16-16.5 pushing it", 18 MPH is a long way off. They are going to feel like they worked so hard and couldn't stay with the group- which is why they came to an organized ride to begin with. It is discouraging for them. The "B" pace range is even worse.
Revising the format gets tricky- should we do it? How many speed ranges? 6-7 or 8? It shouldn't look or be complicated. Should we leave it up to the ride leaders to narrow the range by specifying a target MPH number?
The GABA board members will be evaluating the "Rating Format" at future meetings, I would like your thoughts and input to start the process. Please contact me at 733-0230 or salcedo@flash.net
Remember: Guidelines are for the end-of-ride average-speed, based on a ride in the outskirts of town with few traffic signals and minor hills. (Example: For a B+ hilly-ride, expect your average speed to be slower, working at the same intensity as for a B+ minor-hills ride).
by Rex Farnsworth
Copyright 2003 by the UltraMarathon Cycling Association, Inc.
(For more information on nutrition and other cycling articles go to www.ultracycling.com)
Rex Farnsworth has enjoyed fried rabbits on PAC Tour, Pacific Crest Tour, B-M-B and P-B-P.
Cyclists can be divided into two groups: faster riders called rabbits, and slower riders called turtles. Since almost all of the physical characteristics that make a rider fast deteriorate with age, rabbits tend to be younger and turtles tend to be older. Regardless of grouping, all cyclists thrive on catching and devouring a fine rabbit.
As a cyclist ages, he is faced with an ever shrinking set of catchable rabbits. But all is not lost. One key physical attribute remains nearly undiminished with the years: endurance. This sets up an interesting opportunity for old turtles to competitively hunt young rabbits - if the event is long enough. Longer cycling events provide golden opportunities to compete on a level playing field where a clever turtle can still enjoy a fine rabbit dinner. Here's how it works.
Since turtles are clearly not pre-event favorites, mental preparation of the rabbits is essential. Arrive early and allow ample preparation time. The following are time-proven techniques to improve the overall success of the hunt. Remember, unless a rabbit makes a mistake, he is going to be tough to catch.
Stimulate competition among the rabbits such that there is an all-out battle early on. Your goal is to help the rabbits indiscriminately deplete their glycogen stores, the sooner the better. "You know, I believe you can beat John if you can stay with him up that first climb." "When was the last time you beat Sally?" "Have you noticed how strong Gary has gotten? You need to watch him today."
Point-out "minor" problems with the rabbits' position, pedal stroke, or bike. Get them focused on frivolous problems. "I've noticed your left knee jets out at the top of your stroke." "How long have you been bobbing up and down when you stand?"
Bring up old injuries for them to worry about. "How's the tendonitis?" "Do you still get bad saddle sores?" "How's your neck and shoulders? Still having lots of pain?"
Play on their fears. "Looks like you've put on a little weight." "It must be hard to climb carrying all that food and water."
The early event miles are wonderful - for the rabbits, but not so wonderful for the turtles. Rabbits love to speed between stops and to spend time socializing and recovering when they get there. Turtles also ride as fast as they can between stops (which is not too fast); however, turtles take short stops in order to pickup time on the resting rabbits. These conflicting tactics set up repeated passing of the turtles by the rabbits as they fly to the next control. Turtles have learned to use these meaningless, early passes for further rabbit preparations.
Here are a few things you can do during these early miles to increase your chances of dining on rabbit later. Stir up the rabbits with a few jams/jumps of your own. Be sure your jams are just long enough to elicit the desired rabbit behavior and absolutely no longer. Once stirred up, the rabbits will hammer for hours while you drop back to watch the fun.
Plant additional mental seeds for later harvesting. Try these catchy phrases. "You're a little off your pace today aren't you?" "Your stroke is not as smooth as usual. Are you feeling OK?" "I think John is really putting time on you."
Identify and mark selected rabbits for future reference. Visualize how you will catch/pass them as the event unfolds. Such marking is very satisfying even though you may never see the rabbit again.
Learn to handle rabbit comments as they pass with your best turtle smile. (Note: It is very hard to differentiate between a turtle smile and a sneer.) Remember that some of the comments may be sincere. "I sure hope I can climb like that when I'm old." "Not bad for an old guy." "You are really riding strong today."
Like shrimp (see Forest Gump), rabbit can be enjoyed in endless variety limited only by your imagination. Here are a few classics.
Fully Bonked Rabbit. This is the classic dish characterized by a near lifeless rabbit desperately attempting to reach the next control. The rider is a victim of rabbit wars and has indiscriminately consumed all of his glycogen. The meat has an unusual burned taste thought to result from extensive lactic acid soaking. This is an easy dish to devour with little risk of the rabbit turning on you.
Fricasseed Rabbit. This dish is characterized by a demoralized rabbit experiencing a potpourri of painful show-stoppers (total pain can be measured on a scale of 1 to 10). Just about every thing that can go wrong has gone wrong. This rabbit has assorted aches and pains including such things as numb hands and wrists, knee/hip tendonitis, muscle cramps, neck and shoulder pain, and aching/blistered feet. The rabbit is not having fun. The meat may have an off taste which some believe is residue of aspirin or ibuprofen. When anticipating a meal of Fricasseed Rabbit, remember that such a rabbit is not necessarily bonked and can easily transition into a Born Again Rabbit just long enough to spoil your day.
Ground Rabbit. This rabbit has butt rash, and is contemplating the eternal question: Why me, Lord? Like pain, rash can be quantified on a scale of 1 to 10. This rabbit generally uses creative cycling positions, stands up a lot, displays unusual pedaling styles often executed with bowed legs. Ground rabbit is not for everyone. The meat sometimes tastes like talc or butt balm. Check for white, dusty looking shorts especially in the pad area. This is another dangerous meal. Your approach may be just the thing to divert the Ground Rabbit's attention from butt rash to beating you.
Fried Rabbit. Now here is the granddaddy of all rabbit dishes. This rabbit has been totally hammered and tenderized by the entire event. This rabbit may have survived multiple bonking sessions, has one or more Fricasseed Rabbit symptoms totaling at least a seven, and is probably running about a nine butt rash. Occasionally, a Fried Rabbit will be exceptionally tasty if its face is salt encrusted and it is drooling (but not excessively). When considering a Fried Rabbit, be concerned about dehydration as evidenced by extensive redness of the face. Such dehydrated rabbit may be dry and hard to swallow.
Where's the Rabbit? When approaching the dish du jour, be careful. Several things may go wrong that can positively ruin the dish as well as your day, and leave you asking the Wendy's question: Where's the Rabbit?
Deceptive Rabbit. Some rabbits will do anything to avoid being a meal on wheels. If they see you closing, they will create a deceptive reason to stop, thus denying you the undisputed satisfaction of a clean pass. If they can get stopped early enough (before there is any one-on-one passing competition) the question will remain as to who was really stronger on that day. Typical deceptions for stopping (and for diminishing your meal) are: checking for bike problems, stretching, eating, drinking, dropping the chain, faking a cell phone call, and peeing.
Stunned Rabbit. Even though your approaching meal may show all the signs of a Fully Bonked Rabbit or even a Fried Rabbit, the rabbit may be only stunned. Your approach may be just the stimulus to un-stun the little feller, and revive him to full Frisky Rabbit status. Devouring a Revived Rabbit is way too tough and may set you up to be someone else's Stewed Rabbit. A Stewed Rabbit is a turtle that has failed an attempted pass and is thoroughly cooked in his own juices and disappointment.
Here are a few ideas to add enjoyment and fulfillment to the end of a perfect meal. It is your turn to speak up. "How are you doing?" "Isn't this a great day?" "Don't you just love these long rides?"
As for me, nothing complements a rabbit main dish like a good belling. It is deeply satisfy as well as a final measure of fulfillment. Having no shame or conscience, I use my handlebar bell to administer the coup de grace. I generally give one ringy-dingy for ordinary Fully Bonked Rabbit, and two or even three ringy-dingies for my all time favorite: young and tender, salt encrusted Fried Rabbit.
Footnote:
Once belled, some rabbits develop psychological complications and dreading that carry over to future events. It never hurts to do a little warm-up belling during early rabbit preparations.
Construction on five miles of the Catalina Highway between mileposts 11 and 16 began in September. This is the final phase of a Federal Highway Administration project to upgrade the Catalina Highway, and it is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2005. The following traffic restrictions will be in place until March 1, 2004.
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Friday |
Highway opens at 6 AM and remains open without delays. |
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Saturday |
Open with no delays. |
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Sunday |
Open with no delay until 8 PM, when it closes. There is a one-time passage at midnight. |
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Monday |
Opens at 6 AM. From 9 AM to 8 PM, drivers must wait for the hourly pilot car to pass through the construction zone. Highway closes at 8 PM with a one-time passage at midnight. |
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Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday |
Open from 6 AM to 9 AM with no delays. Closes from 9 AM to midnight with one-time passages at noon, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 PM, and midnight. |
These restrictions apply to bicycles as well as vehicular traffic, between mileposts 11 and 16. If you ride your bike only up to milepost 11, you need not worry about these traffic restrictions.
(Information reprinted from the Southern Arizona Hiking Club newsletter, Sept-Oct. 2004 issue.)
Do you enjoy helping others learn about bicycling? Do other bicyclists look to you as an example? Do you want to learn more about teaching others (street and highway) bicycling skills? If so, this Seminar may be for you! The League of American Bicyclists is offering a two-day training Seminar to become an instructor in January. It will be held in Gilbert, southeast of Phoenix, January 17-18, 2004. The minimum class size is 10 people, and Phoenix has eight committed already.
Richard Corbett of Tucson will be Trainer for the Seminar. Well known in Arizona cycling for more than two decades, he has conducted several previous LCI Seminars, many BikeEd courses, teaches at Pima Community College (20 years in 2004), and works full-time as a Transportation Planning Manager.
This Seminar will prepare you to teach adults, as well as children. The Seminar does not teach technical skills, but focuses on developing specific skills associated with instructing. Because of this, all participants must bring a knowledgeable vehicular cycling background to the Seminar, take and pass the Road I Course (see below), and pass a pre-Seminar exam. The Road I courses are available in Phoenix, go to www.cazbike.com web site for Road I fees, scheduled class dates and locations.
The course will be held at the Gilbert Town Hall, 50 E. Civic Center, 2nd Floor, Room 300. It is located south of Warner Road off of Gilbert Road in the administration building.
Successful completion of the Instructor Seminar will result in certification as a League Cycling Instructor (LCI). Standard BikeEd courses taught by LCIs include: Road I, Road II, Motorist Education, Commuting, Kids I, and Kids II. For more details on these courses, visit the League's website at: www.bikeleague.org/educenter/ courses.htm
Other benefits of the Instructor certification Seminar include insurance coverage through the League of American Bicyclists for any material taught, in any setting, and listing on the League website as an LCI. See the list of other Instructors in your area at www.bikeleague.org/instructors/index.cfm
You must be a member of the League of American Bicyclists ($30 per year) to take this Seminar. The Seminar cost is $175 for the registration and Seminar materials, and is not refundable. The materials include the Effective Cycling book and video plus Instructor materials. Registration and payment is due no later than 6 weeks before the Seminar (December 13, 03). This will allow you adequate time to review the materials, practice the skills, and take the self-examination and mail it to the Trainer. For details on the LCI class requirements, visit www.bikeleague.org/educenter/seminars.htm and www.bikeleague.org/educenter/pre_seminar_info.htm
Taking the Road I Course for technical bicycling skills before taking the LCI Seminar is required. The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists is offering classes in Phoenix on October 25, November 22 and December 27 from 7 AM to 6 PM. They are also in need of Instructors to teach coalition adults and kids safety classes. Visit their website at www.cazbike.com for details.
If you have questions or would like more information, contact:
Kathy Hendricks , Site Coordinator
(480) 235-5052 or khendricks@flusol.com
or
Richard Corbett, Seminar Trainer
(520) 623-0017 or kc7ovm@dakotacom.net
By George & Carol Franklin
Hey!, it's the Tom Mix Ride! That of course means a nice tailwind out and that same wind turning into a headwind on the return. Everyone knew it and rode accordingly.
160 riders were out on a beautiful day to ride. Riders had the option of riding as far as they wanted on the out and back course. Some of the smart ones saw the wind direction and made their choices early. All in all it was a good day to ride with a pretty route and good conditions to train for the El Tour.
We want to thank all of our volunteers and you should also. Without volunteers there would be no rides such as the Tom Mix.
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Marcia Katz and Sid Smith helped at registration and also drove sweep. |
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Kari Angeli, Dawn and Mike Elvick, and John Franklin helped at the 25/75 SAG, and learned first hand what riders think about the wind! |
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Glenna Coleman, Cristina Franco-Carrillo, and Patti and Richard Goodsell helped at the Tom Mix Memorial, |
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Lauri Elling and Suzanne Radcliffe helped at the finish line. Thanks to all of them. And thanks to all the riders! |
Editor's Note: George and Carol Franklin have organized the Tom Mix Century for the last 6 years! This year was their last. They are ready for other adventures! Thank you very much, George and Carol; we really appreciate all the work you did over the years!
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004
Presented by the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club
QUESTION: WHY DO ARIZONA CYCLISTS RIDE CENTURIES IN JANUARY?
ANSWER: BECAUSE THEY CAN!
Remember where you used to live? The closest you came to riding a century in January was trying to get your old Buick started when it was 5 below! So join us January 11 for the first century of the new year. Then call all your friends in North Dakota and tell them what a good time you had!
Never done a long ride before? This is the perfect first century. The terrain is flat, the roads have low traffic, and the temperature is guaranteed to be cool!
There will be two sag stops along the route with water, fruit and snacks, as well as a lunch stop at the turnaround point, Dave White Regional Park in Casa Grande. You’ll also get a route map, commemorative socks and a raffle ticket for lots of bike-related prizes.
LENGTH: Options for 62 miles (metric century), 85 miles or 108 miles (century plus).
TERRAIN: The 62-mile ride is out-and-back, with a slight hill. The 85-mile is a loop, with the slight hill. The 108-mile ride is out-and-back and flat.
STARTING POINT: Safeway parking lot at 4970 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, Alma School Road & Chandler Heights Road, NW corner. (Chandler Heights Road is between Queen Creek and Riggs roads.) Please park at the edge of the lot so we don’t block Safeway customers.
DIRECTIONS: From Phoenix or Tucson: Take Interstate 10 to the Riggs Road exit, then go three miles east to Alma School Road, then one mile north to Chandler Heights Road.
REGISTRATION TIME: 8:30 to 9:30 AM (Sleep in for once and enjoy starting when it’s close to warm!) No mass start, so you can leave any time after you register.
SUPPORT: Vehicles will be available to collect those suffering from physical, mechanical or mental breakdowns.
OTHER QUESTIONS: E-mail ride leader Jane Larson at JLreports@aol.com or call (602) 319-2238. More registration forms and other ride info available at www.sportsfun.com/gaba.
| FEE: |
PMBC/GABA/ABC members before 1/04/04: |
$15 |
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Non-members before 1/04/04: |
$20 | |
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PMBC/GABA/ABC members after 1/04/04: |
$25 | |
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Non-members after 1/04/04: |
$30 | |
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Make checks payable to PMBC, and mail to: PO Box 26788, Tempe AZ 85285-6788. |
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By Steve Wilson, GABA President
At November's club meeting we had pleasure of getting an update on changes planned for cycling in the City of Tucson and Pima County. The news and outlook for the future are mixed. We can count on two things - more bike lanes, and more cars.
The city and the county both have a focus on linkage projects. As the city and county continue to rebuild and expand existing roadways, bike lanes are being added and improved. Unfortunately, the seemingly random set of improvements leads to a series of missing links between them. We're all familiar with the common problem around town. It seems most places you go, 90% of the route has a good bike lane. The other 10% is either exciting, or forces you into a detour of some kind. The local governments recognize that sometimes improving a small missing link can create a very long continuous bike lane.
The funding levels are a little on the dismal side. It's disappointing to hear about a great project and then hear "2008" in the same sentence. If you think we should be spending more on bicycle improvements, please contact your city council representative or county supervisor. Are you tired of the argument that we should spend all our transportation on roadways for the cars because they pay the taxes? I find this argument interesting given that gas taxes and registration fees only pay about 25% of the cost of building and maintaining our roadways. The rest comes from general funds - your sales, property, and income tax dollars. Automobile transportation is the most heavily subsidized form of transportation in the United States.
According to the county bicycling coordinator, Matt Zoll, up to 50 miles of bike lanes could be added in Pima County just by re-striping the existing roadways. This generally involves grinding off the old striping and re-aligning the lanes to make them slightly narrower to accommodate a bike lane at the edge of the roadway. Due to minimum standard car lane widths, this only applies to some roadways. This solution is particularly attractive because re-striping is relatively inexpensive compared to widening existing roads. An area that can particularly benefit from this is the stretch of Kolb from Valencia to I-10. This re-striping project has been approved, but it remains to be seen when it will be funded and completed.
Mt. Lemmon Highway from Tanque Verde to the base of the mountain is due to get a continuous bike lane. Hopefully work on this will start in 2004. When the segment of Mt. Lemmon Highway from Bear Canyon to just past Geology Vista is complete next year the highway will be complete!! Woo Hoo! The 21-mile descent from Bigelow Road will be exquisite, there should be no braking required. Can't wait to try that out on the tandem.
If you have questions or concerns about city or county projects, please contact Matt Zoll at mzoll@dot.co.pima.az.us for the county or Shellie Ginn at sginn1@ci.tucson.az.us for the city. They'd like your input.
By Yolanda Sotelo
You can help yourself by helping Pueblo High School's Road Warriors. This is the 3rd year we've participated in El Tour de Tucson and other cycling events. The only way we can provide our students with the joy of cycling is by having the money to maintain bikes that have been donated and purchasing the equipment needed.
Think about making a contribution of up to $250.00 to the Road Warriors. By making a tax credit contribution, you will help the students and reduce your tax liability dollar for dollar for each dollar you contribute to the Road Warriors.
To contribute, mail a check or money order to Pueblo High School. Mail to Pueblo High School Business Office at 3500 S. 12th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85713.
Be sure to include your social security number on the check or money order. Indicate that you want your contribution to go to the Road Warriors and you will get a receipt for your tax records.
Remember, this contribution decreases your tax liability dollar for dollar. Instead of your tax dollars going into the state of Arizona general tax fund, they will go directly to Pueblo High School's Road Warriors.
If you have questions or want more information, call Jamie Moore or Yolanda Sotelo at Pueblo High School at 225-4300, or contact Yolanda at sotelo150@earthlink.net
Thanks!
By Pam Cullop, Ride Organizer
Big Changes are in store for this year's Toys for Tots Ride! We are going to the ZOO to drop off our toys for Tucson's needy children. Bring a new, unwrapped gift (or two or even more) with you to the start of the ride. Strap the toy(s) to your bike or your body in some manner, and ride with it for all to see!
Two different ride distances and ride levels are offered for you to choose from, with both rides ending at Reid Park Zoo at 10 AM.
The Family Fun Ride is a 7-mile ride on designated Bike Route and Bus/Bike Lanes only, geared towards those who like an easy ride with conversation and fun. The pace is suitable for kids. Regroupings as often as needed to keep everyone together. Ride Leader: Dick Schaffer.
The Family Fun Ride Route:
Meeting place & time: Ft. Lowell Park at Craycroft & Glenn at 9:15 AM.
Ride South on Craycroft Rd. to 22nd Street.
Turn Right (West) onto 22nd Street to Reid Park.
Turn Right (North) onto Gene Reid Park (Zoo Entrance)
Arrive at the Zoo around 10 AM.
The Faster/Further Ride is a 17.5-mile ride at a conversational pace, as it is meant only to be a fun ride. It will not always be on wider bike lanes as the Family Fun Ride. Ride Leader: Judy Bolt.
Faster/Further Ride Route:
Meeting Place & time: Udall Park at 8:30 AM.
0.0 Depart E Tanque Verde Rd
0.5 Turn RIGHT (South) onto N Camino Pio Decimo
1.0 Turn LEFT (East) onto E Pima St
1.4 Turn RIGHT (South) onto N Pantano Rd
1.9 Turn LEFT (East) onto E Speedway Blvd
3.9 Turn RIGHT (South) onto (N) Harrison Rd
5.8 Turn LEFT (East) onto E Old Spanish Trail
7.1 Turn RIGHT (South) onto S Houghton Rd
7.4 Turn RIGHT (West) onto E Golf Links Rd
13.5 Turn Right (North) onto S Craycroft Rd
14.5 Turn LEFT (West) onto E 22nd St
17.3 Turn RIGHT (North) onto Gene Reid Park
17.5 Arrive at the Zoo!
Bring a bike lock to keep your bike safe outside of the Zoo entrance. Bikes will not be permitted inside the gates.
Your new, unwrapped gift is your entrance into the zoo. You can stay the whole day in the zoo if you wish. I personally love this little zoo. It has never taken me more than 1 hour to get around the entire zoo, no matter how many grandchildren I have in tow. Or you may return with the ride leaders to their original starting points.
The concession stand will be open. Hot Chocolate and Cappuccino are available, along with traditional beverages and lunch-type food items.
Ride Leaders will depart from the Zoo around 11 AM. Family Fun Ride returns via the same route, but the Faster/Further Ride route will be determined upon departure.
Mark your calendar today, and join us on the Toys for Tots Ride, and give a needy child a special Christmas gift this year!
by John Hughes
(Hughes is director of the UltraMarathon Cycling Association. Reprinted with permission. For more information about training, nutrition, and equipment go to www.ultracycling.com)
All I wanted to do is sit on the porch and have a beer!
I should have been excited, I was flying to France the next day for a two-week holiday and Paris-Brest-Paris. But I felt worn down. 2003 had been a hard year. I work full time running the UMCA, editing the magazine, and coaching. Add in the brevets and training and I had all I could handle. But I also had to help care for an ailing parent and I'd volunteered to teach two classes a quarter.
All the stress caught up with me on Monday, August 18. Instead of riding the PBP prologue, I was in bed with a fever and congested lungs. Lulu told me I had no business riding PBP, that I'd be risking a long-term problem, like the virus getting into my heart muscle. Sadly, I agreed.
On Tuesday while my friends were riding to Loudéac, I huddled in bed
sipping hot tea spiked with cayenne pepper, trying to sweat out the fever. By Friday I was able to get out of bed to greet friends at the finish.
In his book The Stress of Life, Hans Selye makes the point that all stress is cumulative on a person. My body and spirit don't differentiate among work overload, family dynamics, grief for a parent and training load. It all adds up and in France it caught up with me.
I use the personal experience to introduce an article on recovery to make the point that recovery is an essential part of the annual training and riding cycle. And if you don't build time for recovery, your body may well take time off anyhow!
This article will discuss:
Improved performance is based on the super-compensation principle which includes the breakdown process (training) followed by the recovery process (rest). If there is balance between training and rest, then improvement is the result. However, if there is an imbalance, then overtraining results. The right balance between overload and recovery depends on the exercise capacity of the athlete as well as the athlete's tolerance for stress. Exercise capacity and stress tolerance vary from rider to ride and also during an individual
rider's season. In March, I had the capacity to ride 100 miles without
overtraining, but not a 600 km brevet! In July, when my Dad was in the hospital, I didn't have the tolerance to ride a century.
Physiologists distinguish between overreaching and overtraining. Overreaching (or short term overtraining) is most likely associated with insufficient recovery in the muscle and with a decline in ATP levels. Overreaching usually lasts a few days to two weeks and is associated with fatigue, reduction of maximum performance capacity, and a brief interval of decreased personal performance. Over-reaching is a normal response to a very hard ride such as a double century or a brevet.
Overtraining or staleness is a more generalized physiological problem. Overtraining may be related to failure of the hypothalamus to cope with the total amount of stress. Overtraining may be the result of many weeks of training at a level that exceeds the athlete's physiological limits or the result of completing an ultra event. Except for a few very talented athletes, any ultra event that lasts more than two days will result in overtraining: PAC Tour, PBP, RAAM, etc.
Overtraining can result in weeks or months of diminished performance. The condition is usually resolved in one to two months. However, if the athlete returns to hard training too soon, overtraining may continue or recur.
There is also a psychological component to overtraining. Some athletes are very competitive, goal oriented and performance driven. If these athletes are suffering from overreaching, a short-term decline in performance, they may push themselves even harder, exacerbating the condition.
Further, for many of us our sense of well-being is heavily dependent on success in our chosen sport(s). Success doesn't mean winning, but performing up to our own expectations. And if we're not able to meet our expectations, then the result may be chronic fatigue and depression.
Thus, finding the right balance between overload and recovery is essential, and the right balance keeps shifting, depending on daily vicissitudes of life. The wise athlete will pay attention to the indicators of overtraining in the sidebar.
SIDEBAR
Indicators of Overtraining.
Monitoring these indicators can help you avoid overtraining. If one or two indicators suggest you may be overtraining, then be careful. If you spot three or more red flags, then take some time off!
Personality/Disposition: Studies have shown that your mood is the strongest sign of overtraining. Anger, depression, a decrease in your sense of well being and especially lack of enthusiasm for riding are all signs of overtraining. Pay attention to your feelings, and to your family's comments.
Resting heart rate: Take your resting pulse in the morning before getting out of bed. An increase of 10% is a clue to back off on the training.
Performance: A short (10-15 minute), standardized time trial every week is another helpful tool. An increase in your time of a minute or so (not just a few seconds) is another red flag. A drop in your time trial heart rate of 10 bpm is another indicator of potential overtraining.
General fatigue: If you are feeling generally lethargic for several days, listen to your body.
General physical complaints: If you're having more minor complaints such as sore muscles, sore throat, and chronic diarrhea these may the result of overtraining. More frequent colds and other minor illnesses are real warning signs.
Disruption of the normal sleep cycle: If your sleep is disturbed, you have trouble getting up, or you feel like you need a mid-morning nap this may indicate overtraining.
Basically, it comes down to how you feel: your psychological sense of well-being your level of fatigue during the day, and how you feel on the bike.
END SIDEBAR
Remember that overtraining is the result of an imbalance between exercise and exercise capacity. You can improve your capacity by practicing good recovery techniques after hard rides.
Good nutrition during rides and immediately afterwards can improve your ability to recover. Immediately after a hard double century or brevet you may be in a state of overreaching, but by paying attention to four components, you can avoid progressing into a state of overtraining:
Replenishing fluids and replacing electrolytes - In the last issue of UltraCycling, Lulu Weschler described in detail the water and sodium needs of cyclists. While we try to meet these needs during rides, the weather may be too hot (or we may be negligent.) After a ride, drink! Studies have shown that drinking plain water is not as effective as drinking a sports drink. The carbohydrate and sodium in a sport drink increase the water absorption in your gut. Sodium in the drink stimulates your thirst, so you drink more. Carbonated beverages are not good for re-hydration since they tend to make you feel full before you've really drunk enough fluid.
Replacing muscle glycogen - During long, hard rides, especially without support, it is difficult to eat enough to match your caloric expenditure. One of the causes of overtraining is progressive glycogen depletion. Start the day with a good breakfast with plenty of carbohydrates. After you get off the bike, try to eat one gram of carbohydrate per pound of body weight. (One gram of carbohydrate equals four Calories.) At dinner, cover your plate with carbohydrates.
Rebuilding muscle protein - Hard training damages muscle cells and protein is needed for growth, maintenance and repair of muscle cells. However, athletes who are riding a lot do not need excessive amounts of protein. Each day if you consume 1.2 - 1.6 grams of protein per pound of body weight, that should provide enough protein for cellular repair.
Reducing muscle and immune-system stress. Hard training depletes the immune system and more frequent sore throats, colds, etc. are one of the signs of overtraining. Further, exercise produces free radicals, highly unstable molecules that are short one electron. Free radicals can damage muscle cells and are one of the causes of muscle soreness. Some studies indicate that taking vitamin C (250 - 2500 mg per day) and vitamin E (up to 1200 IU per day) may be helpful. In addition to good nutrition, several other techniques can hasten recovery and improve your capacity to recover from hard exercise. The next three techniques warm the muscles and increase the blood flow, which speeds the removal of waste products and the replenishing of nutrients:
Active recovery - Going for an easy bike ride, hike or swim the day after a hard event will hasten muscle recovery and reduce soreness. Total rest (the couch potato) will actually slow recovery!
Massage - Massage improves the circulation, enhancing the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the muscles and the blood. Massage also reduces swelling and muscle soreness. If you don't have access to professional massage, self-massage is quite practical. Self-massage is particularly effective if you lie on your back with your legs propped up on the couch or wall, to improve the return blood flow from the legs. For more information see Josh Simonds' article on Self Massage in the March, 2000 UltraCycling.
Stretching - Stretching before exercise has several benefits: warming the muscles, improving the circulation and increasing the supply of nutrients to the muscles. Stretching afterwards will help to remove waste products and to speed the re-fueling of the muscles. An excellent resource is Bob Anderson's video "Stretching" from www.bodytrends.com/bastre.htm, (800) 549-1667.
Heat - The above techniques are active ways to warm the muscles and increase blood flow. Soaking in a hot bath or hot tub, sitting in a sauna, or applying a heat pad can have the same benefits as well as helping you to relax so you sleep better. If you have inflammation (swelling), then heat is not recommended. And don't forget to drink plenty of water while you're soaking in the hot tub!
Icing - For inflammation, the most effective treatment is to ice the affected body part for 15-20 minutes, two or three times a day. Icing may also reduce the risk of injuries. For example, if you have a history of problems with your Achilles tendon, applying ice after each ride can reduce inflammation and prevent further irritation.
Sometimes working out can feel a lot like, well, work! Even if you haven't done a major event that leaves you overtrained, by fall the discipline of working out and the monotony of following a training program can leave you burned out. Take a vacation from "training". During this vacation, active recovery is one of the keys. Take part in physical activities that are low intensity. You should be able to carry on a conversation not just of one-liners, but full paragraphs. You want to maintain some aerobic fitness without forcing yourself to go hard.
During the vacation, do something different, that will be fun. If you are truly addicted to road-biking, this can be as simple as riding different routes. Or perhaps going on a club ride with a slightly slower group of riders, who like to stop for coffee. Or call up a friend who's just starting to ride and invite him or her on a ride.
During this vacation, try different activities. Yesterday I hiked to the top of Twin Sisters (11,400 feet) in an early-season snow - delightful! Hiking and jogging are great off-season activities, because they are weight-bearing. Weight-bearing exercise is important for bone density. Studies have shown that extensive cycling may result in loss of bone density - and not through crashes.
Mountain biking is another excellent change of pace - it will challenge your motor skills while providing different scenery. Mountain biking on a challenging trail may also get your heart beating so hard you can't carry on a conversation. That's okay as long as you don't feel like you must go hard.
Most of us follow a structured weekly training rhythm. You're on vacation -forget the structure. Maybe you decide you want five days of outdoor activity a week, but don't write out a plan. Be spontaneous and do what feels right on Tuesday.
Active recovery is important to maintain a minimum level of cardio-vascular fitness. However, a vacation from training isn't just to heal the body, but also to nourish the spirit. Try different activities that stimulate the senses. Hiking, running and biking on trails - at a pace where you can suck in the beauty - is one way to enrich yourself. You can also use some of the time you'd been devoting to training to go to a museum, concert or the theater.
For ultracyclists riding is a primary source of pleasure, both from the endorphins and from the satisfaction of accomplishing goals. When you cut back during the active recovery phase, it's important to include other activities that you enjoy. Don't just take the hours that were filled with the training routine and start down your to-do list. That's no vacation, that's just changing stressors.
How long a vacation from training do you need? That depends on how beat up you are, as well as how patient you can be. The best way to judge how long a break you need is to pay attention to how you feel: are you feeling fatigued or energetic? Is your enthusiasm for riding returning? I've been on a vacation from training for a month and I'm starting to get excited about riding a century with John Lee Ellis.
After a restful and enjoyable vacation, then you begin the transition back to working out. You're body isn't ready to jump back in to the full regime of training; it needs preparatory work in three areas:
Cardio-vascular fitness - During your vacation you stayed active and maintained a minimum level of cardiovascular fitness. Now is the time to put a bit of structure into your aerobic exercise. As you are starting to get back into training, frequent, regular aerobic activities are the most important. Ideally, you'd be exercising five or six days a week. Cross-training is a great way to get exercise - the workouts don't have to be cycling-specific. Intensity isn't critical, although you aren't ready to push too hard. Even though you're thinking about some long rides in 2004, at this point the workouts can be short: 30-60 minutes. Daily aerobic exercise is the foundation of aerobic fitness.
Strength, especially core strength and connective tissues. A road cyclist turns millions, if not billions, of crank revolutions during a season. Each of these revolutions is at relatively low intensity and power. As a result a road cyclist's, and especially an ultracyclist's, legs are not very strong. Seems contradictory, but compare your power output to a track sprinter - they're strong! Resistance training can help to increase bone density, enhance connective tissues and prevent overuse injuries. The best leg exercises are ones that are weight bearing and tax multiple muscle groups across several joints. Lunges and step-ups are two excellent exercises. Pelvic tilts, leg raises and back extensions are good for core strength. For more information, see the two-part article by Dan Kehlenbach, D and John Hughes on resistance training for distance riders in the January-February and March-April 2003 UltraCycling.
Flexibility and stretching. Flexibility helps cyclists to improve bike handling, increase core strength, improve power and resist injuries. Muscles that aren't stretched regularly shorten over time. Many of us don't stretch enough during the regular season, so part of our preparation for next year is to work on flexibility.
References
Anderson, B. Stretching, Shelter Publications, 1980
Burke, E., Ph.D. & Hughes, J. Recovery for Long Distance Cyclists, pt.
1, UltraCycling, May-June 2001, pp 58-62
Burke, E., Ph.D. & Hughes, J. Recovery for Long Distance Cyclists, pt.
2, UltraCycling, July-August 2001, pp 30-33
Grainger, M., Winter Cross Training, UltraCycling, January-February, 2003.
Howard, J., The Range, The Fit, The Power, UltraCycling, May, 2002
Kehlenbach, D & Hughes, J., Resistance Training, pt. 1, UltraCycling,
January-February, 2003
Kehlenbach, D & Hughes, J., Resistance Training, pt. 2, UltraCycling,
March-April, 2003
Meagher, J. Sports Massage, Station Hill Press, 1980
Raforh, R., MD, Overtraining, www.cyclingperformancetips.com
Simonds, J. Self Massage: On the Road to Recovery, UltraCycling, March 2000
Weschler, L., Water and Salt Intake During Exercise, UltraCycling, July-August, 2003
By Roy Schoonover & Richard Corbett
This is the first in what is will be a series of monthly columns, sharing news from the meetings of the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (TPCBAC). This column will have two major sections, Announcements, and Actions.
You are invited to attend the TPCBAC meetings, which take place the second Wednesday of each month, 6 to 8 PM, at the Himmel Library (Treat Ave & 1st Street).
The following news was made known at the meeting:
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The Arizona Department of Transportation is launching Phase II of the State Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, with a meeting in Phoenix December 17th. Tucson Coordinator Shellie Ginn, Pima Coordinator Matt Zoll, BAC Member Roy Schoonover, and Regional Coordinator Richard Corbett (the Authors) will be attending. |
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Nogales Highway shoulders have been completely re-done, thanks to Dan Williams of ADOT, Dick Schaffer of GABA, Matt Zoll, and Roy Schoonover. |
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Ajo Way, I-19 to La Cholla, will get a bike lane, thanks to Richard Nassi, Tucson Transportation Administrator, Bob Hunt, Tucson Traffic Engineer, Dan Williams, and Shellie Ginn. |
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Catalina Highway Bike Lanes are coming soon, in two parts - Tanque Verde to Houghton, and Houghton to Mile Post 0. Thanks to Jean Gorman, and Matt Zoll. |
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Spanish Trail Bike Lanes, Houghton to Freeman, are almost completed. Special thanks to the late Dan Yersavich of PCDOT, without whose consistent support the lanes would not have happened. |
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The New Bike Map is nearing completion, and will be posted on the PAG (www.pagnet.org/) website, and updated regularly. Thanks to Shellie Ginn, Matt Zoll, Sandy Bonnickson, Oro Valley Coordinator Nancy Ellis, and Richard Corbett. |
The Committee took the following actions at this meeting:
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Authorized the Chair, Jesse Morales, to send a letter of concern to Pima County DOT regarding loss of shoulder width on the Mt Lemmon Highway, and asking for its reinstatement. |
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Authorized a letter to the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division, seeking approval to place "Share the Road" safety booklets in the local MVD Offices (Jesse Morales). |
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Authorized Roy Schoonover to set up a meeting with Kurt Weinrich, PCDOT Director, to thank him for his continuing support. |
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Agreed to PAG Staff Richard Corbett investigating the availability of Pima County bicycle crash data being obtained electronically for mapping display and analysis. |
For More Information:
Contact any of the Tucson area bicycle coordinators: Richard Corbett, PAG Regional 792-1093; Shellie Ginn, City of Tucson 791-4372, Matt Zoll, Pima County 740-6747, and Nancy Ellis, Oro Valley 229-5057.
Roy Schoonover is a relatively new convert to bicycling, and has become well know locally for his enthusiastic advocacy for cycling needs and issues. Richard "Rich" Corbett, on the other hand, has been involved in bicycling in Tucson and Arizona forever, and is also well-known for his advocacy for cycling. Rich writes articles and teaches to help others learn better cycling.
by Richard E “Rich” Corbett
Certified Cycling Instructor & Coach
We've had some rain recently, and will have more as we move into the winter rainy season. So, what does this mean for our cycling? Let’s look at the safety implications here.
First, always think how well drivers can see you. If they have rain on their windows, and there are no shadows because it's cloudy, you, the cyclist, will be much harder to see. To counter this, be where they will look, and be sure to wear light, bright colors to make yourself stand out from the background. Drivers can't cooperate with you if they can't see you!
Next, realize that when the road is wet, it is slippery! (So what else is new, Corbett?) Riding on or across certain road 'features' requires special care. Those most often encountered are:
Metal Grates, Grills, etc. ‑ Try to avoid riding across these, but if you do, always ride straight across, without turning, braking, or accelerating. The skinnier your tires, the trickier these are.
Painted or Thermo‑Plastic Lines ‑ These will also be slippery when wet (though not as much so as metal items), and are much more numerous than metal grates, etc. As with metal features, ride straight, without turning, braking or accelerating.
Puddles, Potholes, and Pavement Cracks ‑ Many potholes will hide in puddles. Good practice is to avoid riding through puddles. You also have to be even more watchful than usual, for other pavement defects/failures, without diverting too much attention from your 'traffic watch'.
And, do not forget that Brakes don't work as well when wet and this means stopping distances will be greater.
All the above presumes that you have adequate personal protection (rain gear), so that you don't face the risk of hypothermia, and the impaired judgment and reactions that accompany it. Don't presume that it's OK to get wet and ride on! You can succumb to hypothermia in temperatures as high as the 70's, if you are wet!
If you are prepared, riding when it's wet won't be an ordeal, or life‑threatening.
by Richard E “Rich” Corbett
Certified Cycling Instructor & Coach
This time of year, it begins to get colder, and while Arizona winters are mild compared to many other places, you still need to be prepared! If you are a year-round recreational cyclist and/or a bicycle commuter, this is especially true. This article should help you bicycle more comfortably when it's colder.
If you are just starting out riding when it is colder, or have been riding in the cold for a while and are still cold, remember that cold weather requires some trial and error on your part, to help you decide the right kind and amount of clothing..
Your muscles generate heat as you ride, so how much escapes or not depends on two things:
how much you're wearing, and
what it's made of.
Also, your hands, feet, and head are your body's principal ‘radiators’, and changing the covering on them can dramatically change how comfortable you are.
An important rule of thumb is that if you do not feel some cold discomfort at the beginning of your trip (for as long as 10 minutes), you will be too warm, and get sweaty, after your muscles warm up. Remember, as you ride, your body heat increases, and warms you up, so if you are comfortable when you start, you'll be too warm after riding awhile.
Another important rule of thumb is that your clothing should be in relatively thin layers and ‘adjustable’. It should have zippers, or other means of fastening and unfastening, to let you vent unwanted body heat, or to ‘button up’ if you are losing too much. You should also be able to shed a layer of clothing without too much change in comfort.
Regarding fabrics, nature is still best in many cases. Wool can rarely be beat for its all around versatility and durability. Two other fabrics many people use, including me, are acrylic and polypropylene. Most other fabrics that you see are actually different types of polypropylene, with fancy names (and prices).
Acrylic is a kind of "synthetic wool" which works almost as well as wool in all respects except moisture handling. Polypro is another "synthetic wool" which handles moisture as good or better than wool, but doesn’t have the same feel, or the type and level of warmth that wool does. Polypropylene is best for really active wear, when worn next to the skin, with an outer layer. Polyester and cotton don't generally work well for cold, because they handle moisture (perspiration or rain) inefficiently and uncomfortably.
Keep in mind that it is important to experiment! We are all different, physically, and in our riding style and equipment, so what works well for one of us may not work as well for another.
Cold weather is no reason to stop or avoid bicycling. You can be comfortable, and enjoy your cycling with a little effort, some experimentation, and a little special cold weather gear. I hope to see you one of these 35-degree mornings!
Copyright8 2003, Richard E. Corbett, Tucson AZ
437 E. 26th Street
Tucson, Az 85713
520-623-1865
Nov. 1, 2003
On behalf of all of us at The El Casino Ballroom, we want to thank you for your support last year. The Holiday Season is before us; we wish you and your family a safe and festive month of celebration. Many children in Tucson may not be able to enjoy this special time. Christmas should be remembered as a time of giving to help the needy.
Please join us to support the 8th Annual, Latin American Social Club's (El Casino Ballroom) Grand Christmas Party that is scheduled for December 21, 2003. On this special day, Santa will arrive in a ladder fire truck and will greet underprivileged children from the Greater Tucson area and treat them to hot dogs, cookies, soda, a gift and a stocking filled with goodies. The children will get the opportunity to win one of 400 bicycles that we will be giving away.
We have ordered 400 bikes, but we now need your help to pay for them and make this Christmas special to many kids. It is our wish to be able to pre-fit each child that wins a bicycle with a safety helmet.
There are four levels for your support: The Diamond-$525, buys 15 bikes; the Platinum-$350, buys 10 bikes; the Gold-$175, buys 5 bikes and the Silver-$35 buys one bike. Please help make this event special to many children that may not have a Christmas this year.
On Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3 PM, you are invited to help us assemble all these bicycles. Join us with some Holiday Cheer and Labor!
If you would like to join Santa and his helpers, the festivities will be on Sunday, December 21 at Noon until 4 PM.
We hope that we can again count on your generous support.
Respectfully yours,
Edward E. Lopez
President, Board of Directors, LASC
New Volunteer Coordinator!
We have now aboard a new Volunteer Coordinator, Donna Aversa. This job is very important to a Club like ours!
Donna will be calling you if you have volunteered for something when you joined GABA. However, if you forgot to volunteer, not to worry! YOU can also call Donna to let her know that you are available to help out on some rides!
Without our volunteers, GABA would not be the great Club that it is! If you enjoy coming to GABA rides, don't forget to give back once in a while.
Call Donna at 742-0440; she needs all of our help to get started!
Outgoing Day Ride Coordinator
Eric was our Day Ride Coordinator for the last year. This is a very hard job, involving calling and e-mailing many potential ride leaders, to finally put together a monthly ride schedule of "Biketivities".
Eric led many rides over the course of the year, as well as scheduling day rides. Because of his busy schedule, Eric had to end his position as Day Ride Coordinator. We thank Eric and really appreciate all of his efforts. Best wishes in your business, Eric!
By Suzanne Couvrette
Time flies! 8 years ago last September, I volunteered for the Editor's job. Little did I know that it would become a way of life for me!
Every month, I wonder how the Update is going to turn out. And every month, I am surprised when it is all finished, and I realize that I have created a new issue! It is a fascinating process that develops over a period of a several days, starting from zero and ending with an interesting (I hope) cycling newsletter.
But the whole thing started many years prior to September 1995. Way back in 1983, Gene Chapman asked me if I would become the Touring Director to replace Cathy Crandall who had finished her term of office. I said: "ME? You've got to be kidding! I don't know anybody, I've never done some-thing like that, I really can't do that job!"
But, because he had asked me, I accepted and did the job of Touring Director for 10 years!