January 2004 Update Index

GABA-Tucson Slate of Officers for the 2004 Board

Classifieds

GRAB THAT RING!!

New and Renewing Members

Biking in Ireland with Celtic Trails

BIKE, HELMET, WEDGE PACK. . .

Looking Forward to a Great 2004!

EL TOUR 2003 TRAINING RIDES

125 Members Participated in GABAs Annual Pot Luck Party!

THE CASA GRANDE CENTURY

Toys for Tots Ride Report

20th Annual Senior Olympic Cycling Events

Laveen Country Challenge 2004

- 17th Annual - Le Grande Tour Bicycle Challenge

Tucson-Pima Co Bicycle Advisory Committee

Tour de Cure: One Young Volunteers Story

LOOKING FOR A BIKE RIDE IN IRELAND

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GRAB THAT RING!!

By Deborah Dyer Van Allen

Have you ever grabbed the brass ring?  You remember. The kind on the Carousel at the State Fair. You grab it and you get a free ride!  

It's not very often in real life that you get a chance to grab the brass ring.  And even if you do have a chance, sometimes when the ring is offered, you don't dare reach for it.  Sometimes you're afraid of what may come with the ring.  Or maybe the timing isn't quite right to grab it.  I'm usually not the brass ring grabbing type.  Too risky!  Too far out of the safe cocoon of my life!  Too scary! 

But just recently a brass ring was dangled in front of me.  It was a tempting offer to cycle from Globe to Show Low through the Salt River Canyon.   The challenge of that ride was just too much to pass up, so I decided to go for it.  I grabbed that ring.  And what a free ride it turned out to be!

On Thursday, Nov. 20th, three SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters and four friends from GABA   started out on our adventure.  Gerry Goode led the way and his wife, Donna was our support!   She met us at the bottom of the canyon so we could refill our water bottles, take off or put on more layers and eat our lunches.  We couldn't have done it without her. Thanks so very much, Donna!   In addition to Gerry, Marty Gawlik and I from SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters, as well as GABA members  Bob and Marie Klinke,  De De Seder and Lee Max did the trip.

Thursday dawned clear, crisp and windless, a perfect cycling day, and so much warmer than the doomsayers had predicted that we stripped off layers of clothes before we even began the ride.  Heading out of Globe at 7 AM, the sun not quite over the horizon, we watched the sky and the land come to life in dancing streams of light.  We negotiated long up hills and the compensatory wondrous down hills for 3 hours before we drew close enough to the canyon to begin to see the rocks and cliffs that make it so unique. 

And then we catapulted into it!    Streaking down that road was a thrill I shall never ever forget. It was addicting!  30 mph - the speed limit - on a bike, concentrating on absolutely everything and on nothing at the same time.  Just being one with this piece of equipment streaking around hairpin curves and racing ever deeper into the canyon.  Surrounded by ancient layers of rocks, millions of years in the making, whose colors changed in the sunlight; absorbing the beauty of the rock structures and the crevasses was amazing.    I felt as if I were watching an IMAX movie of the panorama of the canyon except that I was in it!  It was surreal!

At the bottom, after a short break for lunch, while basking in the beauty surrounding us, we stripped into sleeveless jerseys, filled up our water bottles and headed up the other side of the canyon, again awed by the ever-changing sights around us.   We gained 8800 feet on that 84-mile ride, and when we hit Show Low at 4:15 PM, we headed directly to the hot tub to soak tired muscles and to share confirmation of our glorious feat.

Friday, adrenaline pumping in anticipation of yet another sweep through the canyon, we headed back to Globe.  Colder this morning, we had a whine-inducing 20-mile downhill ride in the shade - the early morning sun as yet obscured by the hill tops. 

We had originally planned to meet Donna at the 20-mile mark so we could strip off a few layers, but when we arrived at the gas station there, we were more than happy to keep everything on. After warming up a bit and indulging in the most delicious hot chocolate ever created, we set off again towards the canyon and the sun began to warm us. 

The descent into the canyon was equally as thrilling as it had been the day before, the climb out was longer but not so steep, and the ride home was easier than the ride yesterday had been.  We had only a 6200 foot elevation gain, and made it back to Globe at 3:30 PM.  We were exuberant and exhausted at the same time.  We had done it.  No accidents, only 1 flat, a perfectly wonderful ride with friends and a challenge for us all.  I shall treasure that brass ring forever. 

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DECEMBER 2003

New and Renewing Members 

NEW:

LEN      WILSON; CINDY DAVIS; SHEREE MACRITCHIE; SHEILA HOFFMAN; RON  ANDERSON; MIGUEL GASTELUM; PABLO ZAMORA; MICHAEL PHILLIPS; CHET WATKINS; EDWARD KACURA; JENNIFE VEMICH; DEBBIE WALKER; CAROL MCRADY; VICTOR RODRIGUEZ; EDNA OCHOA; KARLA OCHOA; AMANDA CASTRO; JOHN KRIMMEL; DICK WALKER; CAROL HUBBARD; SCOTT SMITH; NANCY MCDONALD; ANN BRUNO; MICHAEL DIMARIA; RENE ORTEGA; TIM MARTIN; DANIELLE SCOFIELD; BILL FENTON; RICHARD COMBS; SAAD ALLAWI; RICHARD TEYNOLDS; WILL BUTLER; WILLIAM BURTON; DAVID TIERS; DONALD LASBY; KEVIN/ANGELA BONINE; SUZANNE CRAWFORD; GREGG/KIMBERLY SCIABICA.

RENEWING:

Cynthia S. Nelson; Michael G. Allen; Marlene Knutson; Richard Dekker; Randy/LeeAnn Hamilton; Burl Schultz; Matthew Trillo; Myles Zimmerman; Thomas Ward; Sam Diamond; Greg/PattyGadarian; Jeanne Mayer; Jack Siry; Kenneth Douglas; Richard/Alice Barker; James Belitsos; Les Smith.

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Biking in Ireland with "Celtic Trails"

By Shannon Fennie

I'm not a writer, not a journalist, and am not in the employment of "Celtic Trails".  I'm a full time mother of three, a part time nurse, and I like to think of myself as a bit of an adventurer, and definitely a long time cycling fan.  And I have a story to tell you.

I have recently returned from what can only be described as the most incredible trip of my life.  It all began a few years ago, when I read an article about, "Celtic Trails", a company run by the famous McQuaid family in Ireland, organizing cycle tours in the west of Ireland.  I had never been to Ireland up to that point, but always knew it was a lovely country, from all I saw and read about it.

Being a keen cyclist, I subscribe to "Bicycling" magazine. When it arrives at my door, everything else around me stops, and I devour it. So, I began reading about  the McQuaid family, and the west of Ireland.  The more I read, the more I wanted to do one of these tours.  That evening I e-mailed Paul.  The very next morning I had a reply and he just seemed like the person to tour the west of Ireland with.  He and his family are hugely involved in cycling in Ireland and everywhere we went, they were known by the locals. So a rapport was struck up, I discussed the prospect with my partner, and it was decided that we would go the year after.  Yippee...

From then on, the gang at "Celtic Trails" were so helpful it was just incredible.  I never once sent an e-mail and didn't get a reply the very next day.  In fact, most came back within a couple of hours.  So I was excited about this trip, and more than just a touch nervous, because my expectations were quite high.

When we arrived at Shannon Airport we were me by "Celtic Trails" right away and whisked off to our first hotel.  What a place!  'Smith's' in Feakle. I ended up sitting with the 76-year-old Mrs. Smith for about an hour after dinner, (the owner's grandmother, AND she was drinking Guinness) and she captivated me with stories of the past in Ireland.  I just loved it. And this was only the first night!

Our first ride was out to a place called, "Connemara", the most significant and least populated bog area in all of Europe!   I can put my hand on my heart and say that up to that day I had never,  ever ridden on roads as beautiful.  It is impossible to explain just how splendid the ride was, but I'll give it a shot. 

We rode across two "bog roads". Two 8-miles stretches of road that are literally on top of the bog, and all around us were little old men cutting and stacking the bog.  They cut it into foot-long lengths, then stack it to dry for a couple of weeks, (surprisingly easy, as we can testify to just how little it actually rains in Ireland).   And this is their only source of fuel for the home.  The smell of a "turf" fire is just glorious. 

That afternoon we ended up in Clifden.  Not before we cycled along some of the most spectacular coastline imaginable!  I remember sitting on the wall at Toombeola and thinking to myself that this was without doubt one of the most serene scenes I had ever seen.   And then the party began.  Music, cool little bars, Guinness, and craic!  (For those of you who have never had craic, or never even heard of it, "craic" is a Gaelic word to describe the "fun they have in the pubs at night").  And boy, do  they know how to have fun!  At this point, I must emphasize just how much a part of our whole experience the McQuaid's were. They weren't just, 'guides'. They lived the vacation with you.  They are extremely knowledgeable about all things Irish.  And they are the cycling people in Ireland. We stayed in a 255 year old hotel that night, "Foyle's", in the very center of the village.  Still lived in by the Foyle family.

Day 3.  I was nervous this morning because I was on such a high the whole day and night previous, that I feared an anti-climax was in store. Nothing could have been further from the truth.  Let me try to explain "The Sky Road".  A 12-mile loop that leaves Clifden to the west and winds its way up a steep hill, and then around the coast back to Clifden. Doesn't sound like much, does it?!  Paul told me that a writer, in a recent article in Bicycling magazine, described the "Sky Road" as the second most beautiful road this writer had ever ridden.  Ever.  So we set off.  Without a doubt it was the most incredibly beautiful road we had ever ridden. The coast is just spectacular.  It was a totally clear, crisp morning and it took us almost two hours to get back to Clifden.  Twelve miles!  And we normally tip along at about 17 miles per hour.  I still dream about that road.

Then, they took us through Lough Inagh valley, made us a picnic lunch on the lake, showed us Kylemore Abbey, and eventually that afternoon took us out the Renvyle Peninsular.  There are not enough adjectives to adequately describe how amazing this day was.  And then to cap it all we spent the night at Renvyle House. To this day, Renvyle House was the most spectacularly located hotel I have ever stayed at.  Right on the beach.  I took a picture of my dinner that night!  The place was simply steeped in history. Yeats used to stay there!  As did James Joyce!  And the place is just so relaxing.  Hence, McQuaid had us there for two nights.  Good job, because we stayed up very late that night.  "Craic" was had in the bar that night.  (Since I arrived home to Arizona, no one understands a word I say...).

Our day off was spent on an island.  We walked the whole thing.  And I was on a real high by this stage.  I had never felt so comfortable in a country in my life.  Never made feel so welcome by the locals, never felt so good to be in a place.  It is honestly hard to explain.  I just felt like these people enjoyed our company and the fact that we were cycling through their country.  They were OK because there was no fear we were going to deplete their reserves of Guinness.  Boy, can these guys down the stuff. They're weaned onto it, you know.  Yep, McQuaid told me a story that just floored me one night.  And I'm a nurse!  It takes quite a story to floor me.

Paul is one of ten children, seven boys and three of what he calls, the luckiest girls in Ireland.  It seems Mrs. McQuaid, (the saint) "never drank", but when she was pregnant, the doctors prescribed, "a pint of Guinness per day for every day she was pregnant".  She never drank, and still doesn't, but she had a pint of Guinness for every single day of every one of those ten pregnancies.  Do the math.

Our day on the island was very special and has to be experienced to be believed. By this stage we didn't believe a word McQuaid said when it came to the contentious issues of mileage and gradient.  "Just up the road", and "gently undulating" were two of his favorite terms.  So by now, we in the group had agreed to add about 20% on to all his miles, and add about 15% onto all his gradients.  But he made up for it in his explanation of the scenery. The most beautiful and spectacular sections of the whole tour, in my humble opinion, is the 14-mile road from Tully Cross, (home of the famous, "Coyne's Pub"), to Leenane. Absolutely spectacular!  Two cars passed us on this road. That's all, just two cars. And both gave us more space than they needed to give us.  Both drivers waved as they went by. I remember thinking, "could it get any better than this?"

Being a bit of a movie fan I was happy to see that the movie, "The Field", with Richard Harris, was shot in Leenane.  And the famous scene where the auction took place was right there in the center.  And we had lunch in Hamiltons!  Paul had to come clean about the hill out of Leenane, because it was quite a hill.  And he almost told the truth.  After Leenane the scenery changed quite dramatically, but it was no less spectacular.  Just different. We were heading into stone wall territory.  Amazing region.  The road along the lakes was just beautiful.  And we stopped for a "nibble stop" right on the lake.  Perfect.

That night we stayed in Cong.  If any of you are familiar with "The Quiet Man" with John wayne, this is where it was filmed!!  Right here in the tiny village of Cong.  We drank Guinness and sang 'till late that night.

One thing about "Celtic Trails" is their concern for our safety.  They care very much that we will have a very good and special experience while cycling in Ireland.  (One of the reasons they don't run tours in Kerry, "far too much traffic", they say).   And it is for this reason that we had a transfer the next morning.  They don't want their guests cycling through Galway city. As they say, "big city, industrial, lots of traffic.  Not for us".  I like that attitude.

We began our cycling in the most beautiful village of Kinvara, situated right along Galway Bay.  The guys had us primed for, "the road of the week" today.  When they told us what was up ahead I just sighed and thought to myself, "I'm going to have a hard time leaving this place".  Conde Naste, the widely respected travel magazine called this road, "one of the top ten most beautiful stretches of road in the World".  There are few words to describe it.  The Burren on our left, Galway Bay on our right, and nothing else.  Except the Aran Islands way out to the right, and waaay off in the distance, the highlight - The Cliffs of Moher.  And it wouldn't be a, "Celtic Trails" day if they didn't find us a, "cool wee boozer",  O'Donoghue's, in Fanore.  Great Guinness.  (Mrs. McQuaid would love it). What can I say about the Cliffs of Moher?  Breath-taking.  That's all I can say.

The village we stayed in that night is world famous - Lisdoonvarna.  Where the famous "Matchmaker festival" is held every September.  There's nothing like it anywhere else in the world.  Women come from literally all over the world to find a husband.  And there's a matchmaker there doing her best to match up these women with an Irish man.  Honest.  If you're looking for an Irish farmer, this is the place to be....

We were taken, (it didn't take much coaxing) to one of the most important, "Republican" pubs in the country - The Roadside.  Back in the days before the IRA was a terrorist organization, there was the IRB, the Irish Republican Brigade.  And they used to have their meetings regularly in the Roadside.  Great Guinness!

Friday morning.  After breakfast I was overcome by a very sad feeling: the realization that this was coming to an end.  I was nearly in tears. But I pulled myself together and got, "my arse" up on the bike.  We were told that the scenery was going to change dramatically once again, as we headed away from the coast and into much more lush green countryside, through the forests and on into Bunratty.  As I sit here and write this, I remember the feeling of sadness I felt that day, that we only had one day left in this wonderful country.  I found myself cycling alone quite a bit that day and reflecting on all the week's experiences, places we stayed, scenery we were treated to, people we talked with, drank with, laughed with.  I was glad I had kept a journal because there were so many different and amazing experiences that, I'm sure, I would have had a hard time remembering them all. I recommend you keep a journal.

We had lunch on Friday right beside the most incredible abbey, in a village called Quin.  And, by now, we had made friends with everyone in the group, so I was able to talk about my feelings.  I wasn't the only one feeling the way I did.  And there was McQuaid, his nephew, David and his brother Darach running around, "having the craic" with everyone.  And I remember feeling a great deal of gratitude toward these guys.  They made a big point of telling us, one night, as they were being congratulated on the tour they put together and thanked for all their help, that, "we had made the tour"!

They would help us make it a special experience, but it was up to us to make it a memorable experience, at the end of the day.  I remember thinking that they deserved a lot more credit that they gave themselves.  (And I haven't even begun to tell you about all the stories they boys told us over dinner about their family's involvement in world cycling, going back to the forties, about Irish history, politics, culture).

I have cycled all over the World over the last couple of decades, (I won't say just how many decades), and I can safely say, with all honesty that this tour was the most fun, the most memorable, and simply the best!  I don't mind repeating myself by the way.  There are just not enough words to describe how real this experience was and how much fun we had.  And I know I speak for all the rest in the group, because I have been e-mailing them all since my return.  They all feel the same way.

And we are definitely, definitely going back to do Mayo/Sligo.  One thing I will say before I finish is this, because it made an impression on my mind. On the last day, at lunch when a few of us were talking about next year, and which tour to do, etc.,  Paul told us not to come back next year.  I was surprised, as I'm sure you could imagine.  So, he explained his thinking. He knew every one of us had a truly special experience.  I mean, that's something you can't fake.   He reckoned it would be hard to top as soon as the very next year.  "Leave it a year, and come back the year after.  I guarantee you it is a better idea".  I remember thinking, "this guy is not just in it for the quick buck.  He really does care about us".  But then, this made me even sadder.  Because I came to the realization that now, I was going to have to wait two years before I came back.

I'm happy I got the chance to write about my experiences with "Celtic Trails". I know I left lots of things out.  But having re-read it, I know I got a lot in!  I would be more than happy to talk with anyone considering doing one of these tours.  But I must warn you, five minutes on the phone with me and you won't want to go anywhere else other than Ireland with the boys at "Celtic Trails". "Ireland with the Boys at Celtic Trails",  now there's a movie in that!

And then the party began.  Music, cool little bars, Guinness, and craic!  (For those of you who have never had craic, or never even heard of it, "craic" is a Gaelic word to describe the "fun they have in the pubs at night").  And boy, do  they know how to have fun! 

I have cycled all over the World over the last couple of decades, (I won't say just how many decades), and I can safely say, with all honesty that this tour was the most fun, the most memorable, and simply the best!

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BIKE, HELMET, WEDGE PACK. . .

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED?

By Dick Forcier,

A bicyclist was riding home after visiting friends when he was struck from behind by a drunk driver.  He was a John Doe at Kino Hospital for many weeks due to serious brain damage.  In another case, a bicycle commuter did not show up for work.  His employer found him a few days later after contacting local hospitals.  Neither cyclist was carrying identification when they were stuck by a car.

What kind of identification should a cyclist carry when they are out riding in our beautiful countryside?  I suggest one should carry their driver's license, health insurance card, some cash,  credit card and a personal emergency information sheet.

An emergency information sheet should be prepared by the cyclist and tailored to his/her personal characteristics.  Do it on your PC and update it when there are changes.  Start at the top of a page.  It should be entitled "EMERGENCY INFORMATION FOR ______ (NAME)."  A suggested format should be:

The foregoing  information will take up about a half page.  Put your health insurance card and driver's license below the printed area, and make several copies.  You now have all your personal emergency information, and copies of your health insurance card and driver's license on one sheet of paper.  Put one copy in the wedge pack of each bicycle you ride, and carry another copy on your person with your driver's license, etc.

WHY DO I NEED A DRIVER'S LICENSE TO RIDE A BICYCLE?

The short answer is: Because its the law.  Surprised?   I was. 

A strict reading of Arizona law indicates that bicyclists may be required to carry a driver's license, and if not licensed, then an identification card that meets Arizona standards.

Bicyclists are granted all the rights and are subject to the duties applicable to the driver of a motor vehicle except for special rules and provisions of the law that by their nature can have no application.  But there is no exception for a bicyclist not to have a driver's license when operating a bicycle on public roadways.  If you do not produce a driver's license, you must provide identification that contains all of the following information:

1.  Full name

2.  Date of Birth

3.  Residence address

4.  Physical description (sex, weight, height, and eye and hair color).

5.  The person's signature.

(Sorry, a U.S. Passport is insufficient and so is a military ID card.)

There is a story about the Tucson Police Officer who stopped a deaf- mute on a bicycle.  The officer alleged the cyclist committed a traffic infraction.  The deaf-mute did not respond to the officer's orders, nor did he answer the officer's questions.  This did not make the officer happy, and the cyclist was arrested for the traffic infraction and taken to the Pima County Jail.  He was not arrested for not having ID.  The arrest was upheld in court.

A brief, and totally unscientific, survey of Tucson Police Officers yielded a consensus.  If a cyclist is stopped for a traffic infraction and has no identification, they do not have to take you at your word.  You may have just won a trip to the Dupnik Hotel with free room and board.  Especially if you have questioned the cop's parentage! 

My recommendation is to carry a driver's license and personalized emergency information sheet with you while riding.  If you do not have a driver's license, the State of Arizona offers an identification card for $12.00.  And if you ride a tandem, the stoker should also have an emergency  information sheet.

References: Arizona Revised Statutes 28-812, 28-1595, 28-3169.

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Looking Forward to a Great 2004!

By Steve Wilson

GABA President

As we begin the New Year I'm looking forward to another great year of cycling in Tucson and beyond.  We have so much to be thankful for as cyclists in the Old Pueblo, not the least of which is having riding opportunities every weekend in January.  Laying out the cycling calendar of events for the year (see in this edition of the Update), the year starts to get crowded before we have even begun.

Between GABA-Tucson and the major clubs in Phoenix (ABC and GABA-Phx Metro) there are special rides scheduled every month. Add to that the excellent PBAA events in Tucson and around the state, and the miscellaneous other special rides put on by Parks and Recreation and charity organizations and you'll find organized riding opportunities most week-ends of the year.

If you haven't tried them, our organized overnight rides are a good opportunity to see some wonderful scenery around the state and meet lots of nice cyclists.  Guilt free eating at the end of the riding day is a special side benefit.  If you are in to spectator activities, the Tucson Bicycle Classic provides a chance to see some top notch USCF stage racing up close and personal.

Thanks to the special coverage from OLN, I'm sure a good number of us will be glued to our TV sets this July to see if Lance can set himself apart as the greatest cyclist of all times by winning an unprecedented 6th Tour de France.  To get yourself in the mood, the Bicycle Tour of Colorado at the end of June can help, or maybe the White Mountains Tour in July. We're checking out the possibilities of organizing a tour in Ireland sometime the summer - check back later for details.

We've modified the week-long Cross State Tour this year to end in Tucson and include a day off in Show Low and a ride through the Salt River Canyon.  The traditional start at the Grand Canyon is unchanged.

If you don't get your riding in this year, it won't be because you didn't have riding opportunities.  Check out the calendar in this issue and pick a challenging ride or two to attempt for the first time.  Or renew some acquaintances by riding an old favorite again.  Looking forward to seeing on the road in 2004!

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EL TOUR 2003 "TRAINING RIDES"

By Judy Bolt

An average of over 100 riders joined GABA for the "El Tour de Tucson" training rides on each and every Sunday this year!  This year, rides began at two locations: on the east side at Udall Park, and on the west side at Grant & Silverbell, every Sunday beginning last Sept. 9th and continuing through Nov. 16th.

The following is a summary of riders participating by place & date:

Date                 East  Side            West Side

Sep. 7              49                     61

Sep. 14             50                     64

Sep. 21             48                     46

Sep. 28             63                     53

Oct. 5               49                     60

Oct. 12             Tumacacori Century

Oct. 19             52                     49

Oct. 26             34                     59

Nov. 2              Tom Mix Century

Nov. 9              60                     54

Nov. 16             54                     54

TOTALS          459                   500          

Thanks to all who participated in these rides!  Hope your training with us paid off! 

A very special thank you to the training ride leaders: Craig Gordon, Mike Wood and Chuck Martin on the East side rides;  Steve Wilson & Donna Lewandowski, Mike & Susan Burdick and Bill Borland on the West side rides.

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125 Members Participated in GABA's Annual Pot Luck Party!

By Dorothy Barth

December 1st was the date for GABA's annual holiday celebration.  Approximately 125 club members gathered to share a meal and swap stories of the year's cycling events. 

Those who attended were treated to turkey, dressing and gravy prepared by our club sous-chef Tony Williamson.  Smoked turkey was prepared by grillmeister Dick Bolt.  Club members provided a variety of dishes, from tasty vegetarian beans to sinful chocolate chip pecan pie.  There was a delicious array of appetizers, fruits, vegetables, and salads in between. 

Musical entertainment was provided by Tomas Guzman.  As we dined and chatted, he serenaded each table with beautiful melodies sung to the accompaniment of a guitar. 

After our dinner, club president Steve Wilson made the annual awards presentations.  The following club members were honored for their commitment and service to GABA:

A ride leader - Charlie Weesner

B ride leader - Wayne Cullop

C ride leader - Suzanne Couvrette

D ride leader - Eric Ewing

Century Rides:

Ride Organizers Pat and Dennis James got an award for the ever-popular Tumacacori Century, where over 400 riders participated this year.

Overnight Rides:

Ride Organizer Sandi Rousseau got an award for her great work at the challenging Blue Loop 3-day ride.

There were also 3 Special Awards: 

George and Carol Franklin were thanked for 6 years of leading, first the Evergreen Century, which they converted into the Tom Mix Century ride in the last few years.

Suzanne Couvrette was honored for her dedication as editor of the GABA Update.  The December issue was her 100th edition as editor of our club's newsletter, currently with a circulation of 2,600. 

Club members also expressed their appreciation to Pam and Wayne Cullop for their years of service on the GABA board of directors. 

Wayne led the club as president for 3 years, as well as leading many rides during that period.  Pam has contributed greatly to the club in many positions she has held, including social director, overnight and century coordinator, and leader for several signature club rides.  For the last several years she has also been Chair of the club's annual week-long Great Arizona Bicycle Adventure.

Upon leaving, each guest was given a GABA water bottle containing some sweets of the season.

GABA members were asked to bring to the holiday potluck a can of food to be donated to the community food bank.  Food donations of 80 cans/packages totaled just over 80 pounds.  Thanks to all of those who contributed to make the holiday season a little brighter for those less fortunate.

This event, while a very joyful evening, requires the support of several volunteers.  Many thanks to Pam Cullop for her decorating flair that transformed our meeting room to a festive party atmosphere.  Thanks also to Judy Bolt who greatly assisted with the event setup.

Many thanks also to Tony Williamson and Donna Aversa, and Bob and Judy Bolt.  Their turkey entrees, baked and smoked, as well as stuffing and gravy, were a fabulous treat.

The holiday potluck is a great opportunity to relax and socialize with club members who you may not see out on the road, and to visit with old friends as well as meet new ones!

If you were not with us this year, plan on coming to the holiday gathering next year.   For those of you who were there, thank you for coming out to dine with us and enjoy the company of your fellow cyclists.

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THE CASA GRANDE CENTURY

 Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004

Presented by GABA Phoenix Metro

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

                        Non-members before 1/04/04:                 $20       PMBC/GABA/ABC members after 1/04/04:            $25

                        Non-members after 1/04/04:                    $30

Make checks payable to PMBC, and mail to: 

PO Box 26788, Tempe AZ 85285-6788.

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"Toys for Tots" Ride Report

By Pam Cullop

This past Saturday, December 13th, GABA's annual "Toys for Tots" ride took place.  I would have to say, from all accounts given, that the ride was a great success.  This year, we decided to see what would happen by offering two starting locations (Udall and Ft. Lowell Parks) and two ride levels to choose from (Family and a bit faster) - and with the destination at the Reid Park Zoo, rather than the downtown police department.

As you all know, it was predicted to be a very chilly morning, possibly the coldest recorded for the season, and it was indeed, very chilly, but that did not diminish the enthusiasm of our ride participants.  My husband Wayne and I participated in the longer ride which left from Udall Park.  And from what our capable ride leaders Judy and Bob Bolt told me, we had a group of 26 riders meet at Udall Park.  And others joined us along the route! 

Dick Shaffer was the ride leader for the family ride which left from Ft. Lowell Park.  Dick said that he had 11 riders, which included some students from Pueblo H.S., and a very nice gentleman who even brought cookies and hot chocolate to share with the group!  I suspect that if the weather had been a tad warmer, we would have had a few more willing riders.  Nonetheless, we all had a great deal of fun, riding around town with all sorts of toys attached to our bodies or bikes.

Both rides arrived at the newly redesigned entrance to the zoo around 10 AM, just as we thought we might.  The ladies in the ticket booths had been expecting us, and enthusiastically greeted us, admiring our creativity and spirit. 

Each year, the tandem bikes especially, tend to try to out-decorate each other, and take the task of seeing just how big of a stuffed animal, or animals (as well as other types of toys) they can attach to their extra-long frames! 

Let me tell you, those great big snakes which were sold at Costco this season, are not easy to keep on board, unless you are lucky enough to have a trailer to tow behind your bike, in which case you can easily fit several other animals inside as well!  The contest remains alive and well - we will continue to strive for the ultimate in decorating and ingenuity in toy transportation!

The concession stand was a welcome sight. Many people headed straight for the hot coffee/hot cocoa/cappuccino and bagels as soon as their toys were deposited into the giant Toys for Tots box, just inside the zoo entrance.  All of the sunny seats were soon occupied with those of us wishing to soak up some rays while warming our insides with the hot beverage of choice. 

After a brief rest, only a few people did not take an early-morning tour of that charming little zoo.  Boris, the polar bear, was busily chasing and batting a well-used plastic ball around in the chilly water of his enclosure, having a great time, and bringing smiles to all who stopped to admire his antics.  The lions were lying in the sunshine on a beautiful bed of green grass, obviously enjoying their morning siesta.  One of the two tigers was preoccupied with his tail. Why he was chewing on it, I cannot know, but he was certainly giving it his full attention! 

After my abbreviated tour, I hot-footed it back to the main area, knowing that Wayne would be waiting for me, so that we could return by the designated departure time of 11 AM.  The large group now began to split up, each deciding to take a route that would get them back to where they were going in the fastest or easiest way possible.  Since Wayne and I were going to ride directly home, we shared our return trip with 3 other couples who were, for the most part, going our way.

It was a great day, and a fun ride for a good cause.  I would like to thank the Ride Leaders again for taking on that responsibility.  You all know how hard it is to ask people to volunteer for anything, especially around the holidays, and beyond that, how easy it is to take those volunteers for granted.  Thank you, Judy and Bob Bolt and Thank you, Dick Schaffer!

Hope to see all of you next year on the Toys for Tots Ride!

Have a Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year.

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20th Annual Senior Olympic Cycling Events

Sunday, January 25, 2004

Volunteers Needed!

The 20th Annual Senior Olympic Festival is quickly approaching. This year, the City of Tucson Parks & Recreation will be hosting the cycling event at Heritage Highlands, near Tangerine & Dove Mountain, on January 25, 2004.

Participants, ranging in age from 50 and above, will be competing in a 1-mile time trial, 5K-time trial, 10K-road race, and 20K-road race.  Races are divided by age brackets in increments of 5.

Volunteers are still needed in the following areas; traffic control, start/finish attendants, participants check-in, bike holder, turn around attendants and results coordinators. Volunteers will be needed from approximately 8 AM to 3 PM. You may volunteer for just one job if you want.  A few hours of your time would be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in volunteering on that day, or would like more information about participating in the cycling events, please contact Jesus Grijalva at 791-4870 or www.tucsonseniorgames.org

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Laveen Country Challenge 2004

Sunday, February 8th, 2004

Start location and Registration Time:  Registration begins at 7 AM at Laveen School, in Laveen, south west of Phoenix at 51st Ave. & Dobbins (one mile south of Baseline). Pre-Register before February 1st to save $10!

 . 

Three ride options: 62, 30 & 15 miles, fully supported. 

Each rider will receive our famous ride shirt and will be treated to a great BBQ dinner with live entertainment. 

The course travels through the last vestiges of Phoenix farm land, dairies and rural country homes on paved county roads.  With the backdrop of South Mountain Park and the Estrella range, it is almost a step back in time!

This ride benefits the Laveen Lions Foundation. For more information or to register: Visit www.lensenet.com or www.active.com, or call Sil Ontiveros at 602-237-2745.

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- 17th Annual - Le Grande Tour Bicycle Challenge

Saturday, March 6, 2004

Options:

100K (62 miles), 50K (31 miles) and a 10-mile Family Fun Ride.

Start & Finish:

at Peart Park (at City Hall), 300 W. 4th St. in downtown Casa Grande.  On-site regis-tration from 7 AM Saturday.

Presented by the Arizona Parks & Rec Association (APRA), this premier bike event will once again wind its way through beautiful desert landscapes around Casa Grande, Coolidge and Eloy. 

Each rider gets a quality event T-shirt, sponsor coupons, post-ride lunch and prize drawing tickets. Medals are awarded to the first 100 finishers in the 100K and ribbons are awarded to all riders. 

Casa Grande's small town atmosphere and clean air make the Tour a genuine "quality of life" experience for the whole family.  This Tour has become very popular over the years, and 2004 participation is expected to exceed 600 riders!

Since 1988, APRA has sponsored the Le Grande Bike Tour as a fund-raising event.  Proceeds from the Le Grande Bike Tour help support the APRA programs and enable the association to continue professional work in many areas.  With a professional member-ship close to 1000, APRA is the largest individual membership association for Parks & Recreation providers in Arizona.  The Arizona  Parks & Rec was established in 1950 as a non-profit professional organi-zation.  APRA's mission is to "Improve and promote the parks and recreation pro-fession, develop and maintain professional standards, provide services and support to its members and enhance the quality of life in Arizona".

For further information, contact APRA at 800-335-7275, or visit the web site at www.azpra.org

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Tucson-Pima Co Bicycle Advisory Committee

~~~~ News ~~~~

December 2003 Meeting

By Roy Schoonover & Richard Corbett

This is the second in a series of monthly columns, sharing news from the meetings of the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (TPCBAC).  If you have any bicycle concern, you are invited to attend the TPCBAC meetings, which take place the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 6 to 8 PM at Himmel Library, Treat & 1st Street, and present your concern during the "Call to the Public".

Announcements:

The following news was made known at the December 10th meeting:

Actions:

The Committee took the following actions at this meeting:

For More Information: Contact any of the Tucson area bicycle coordinators: Richard Corbett, PAG Regional 792-1093; Shellie Ginn, City of Tucson 7981-4372, Matt Zoll, Pima County 740-6747, Nancy Ellis, Oro Valley 229-5057, or Charles Fronz, University of Arizona 621-7433.

(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 know for his advocacy for cycling. Rich writes articles and teaches, to help other learn better cycling.)

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Tour de Cure: One Young Volunteer's Story

Chris Ronquillo was one of our top fund-raisers for Tour de Cure last

February. Below is his story and motivation for participating.

"As a youngster, biking to me meant jumping off of sidewalks and over other objects while trying not to get hurt. Today, biking has taken on a completely different meaning for me.  I'm Christopher Ronquillo, a Freshman at Catalina Foothills High School.  At school, besides taking my academic classes, I participate in the high school band where I am a member of the percussion section.

During my elementary school years, I tried about four or five youth sports, from hockey to basketball, but none of them really caught my interest or curiosity.  However, shortly after I started sixth grade at Orange Grove Middle school I met my good friend Matt Briefer who introduced me to Mountain and Road biking. Matt along with fellow classmates and bicyclists,  Andrew Jorgenson, and Nick Deflorian who really encouraged me to get involved in biking.  Matt, Andrew and Nick took the time to help me find the right equipment and bike to be able to ride along with them.  Since then, I now try to ride as many times a week that my schedule allows me to.

Last year, I was asked to participate in the Tour de Cure by Matt Briefer and his dad.  I accepted the challenge to ride in my first long distance charity event.  I will never forget my nervousness and the excitement I felt as I pushed off to ride early that morning. Little did I know,  I ended up being the second highest fund-raiser for the event.  My intention was to complete the race and to raise as much money as I could  My grandfather, James Birmingham from California has diabetes.  A year ago,  I decided that I would do something I love to do in order to help not only my grandfather but all others who meet with the challenge of diabetes everyday.  My grandfather has always supported me in everything that I do and I felt that this was one way that I could give something back to him, by riding in the Tour de Cure and raising money for this cause.  Each dollar I raised was an accomplishment for me as it was one dollar closer to helping the American Diabetes Association.

Now, it's my turn to try to encourage someone else to pick up their bicycle and ride for the American Diabetes Association in the Tour de Cure.  I want to put the challenge out to you to come and ride with Matt Briefer and I this February 21st in Rancho Sahuarita to raise money to try to end this life-threatening disease.

We look forward to seeing you at this year's Tour de Cure!"

Tour de Cure 2004 will be held on Saturday, February 21st. The event is sponsored by Rancho Sahuarita, a master-planned community 9 miles south of Tucson. Rancho Sahuarita also hosts the start/finish of the ride.

Featured in this year's ride will be a 100K route that highlights a 7-mile climb to the top of the paved road to the Whipple Observatory Visitors' Center. A 50K and 25K route offer participants the same scenic sights but are user-friendly routes anyone can do.

Fully-equipped and staffed rest stops will be placed along the clearly-marked and police-supported route. A steak and chicken meal awaits all participants following the ride, donated and served by the Outback Steak House and area Lions Clubs.

Registration is a non-refundable $25 fee with an additional minimum $25 sponsorship due by the day of event. Each participant who raises a total of $100 (includes $25 registration fee) or more will receive an official Tour de Cure t-shirt. All proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association.

To register for Tour de Cure call the American Diabetes Association at

795-3711, extension 7111.

American Diabetes Association

Cure. Care. Commitment.

Visit us at http://diabetes.org

Or Call 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383)

Editor's Note:  This article was sent to us by Kali Cohen, of the American Diabetes Association.

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LOOKING FOR A BIKE RIDE IN IRELAND?

I'm putting together a group of riders to join "Celtic Trails" in their Mayo/Slingo Tour the week of August 21, 2004. 

Paul McQuaid, of "Celtic Trails" spoke to us at our recent Holiday Dinner and spurred my interest in biking Ireland next summer! Let's get more GABA members to join in.  

Check their web site: www.celtictrails.com for info. Trips are starting to fill, so contact me NOW so we can go as a group. Sally Krusing, supersal@cox.net or 296-0319.

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