January 2004 Update

Our presenter was Dennis Shepard, a visually impaired cyclist. Dennis shared with us his cycling tour from the coast of California to Phoenix, riding tandem with Dick Barker. This leg completed his ride across the United States. Dennis and Dick had great stories to tell, along with a slide presentation. Thank you Dennis and Dick for sharing your tandeming experience. To see how many cyclists are riding in two’s, see articles in this month’s update about two tandem rallies that took place this summer.

Words from Steve

New & Renewing Members

Al Van Varick, William Bagger, Gail Sabart, Thomas Muindi, Benjamin Kohlhepp, Bill Wilhite, Jan Murphy, Larry Ransdell, Tom Oger, Glen Helwig, Steve Henderson, Stan Moyer, Larry Seligman, Jim Eichenour, Christine Scott, Bob Kaplan, Betty Elasowich, Marcelene Silver, Deborah/Archie Huie.

RENEWING:

Ed Quick, Ceanne Alvine, Fred Blatt, Bob & Lori Poppa, Mary Anne Facelli, Alpha Bennett, Don Regole, Gerry Hill, Chuck/Bonnie Russell, Glenn/Sally Bouquot, Rudy & Kay Van Renterghem, Robin/Phyllis Steinberg/Webster, Christina P. & Roland Fox, Cheryl/Chuck Kline.

Upcoming Meeting Programs

By Sally Krusing, Publicity Director

We are working on providing our membership with interesting programs every month.

If anyone would like to be a presenter, or knows of someone who could share slides and stories of some bike trips they have taken in recent years, please contact me!

Here is what's planned for the next few months:

September: Willie Weir, author of the book "Spokesongs" on bike touring around the world!
October: Barry & Joyce Weiss on their bike touring in China.

Sally Krusing, Publicity Director, 296-0319 or supersal@cox.net

Raising a generation of car-drivers

In his ground-breaking book “Street Reclaiming,” David Engwicht posits that “The act of chauffeuring children from one activity to another fractures the relationship children once established with the physical environment…resulting in increasing feelings of insecurity and alienation.”

While that may sound a bit grandiose, there is no denying that today we have a whole generation of children with little or no experience in getting from place to place under their own power. Just one generation ago, over 65 percent of our children walked or biked to school. Today that figure is just 13 percent. Restricting young people's independence and mobility deprives them of the responsibilities associated with getting themselves to school, as well as freedoms enjoyed by previous generations, such as being allowed to play outside and visit friends on their own.

The Safe Routes to School program aims to change all that through a multi-faceted approach that integrates health, fitness, environmental awareness and safety to create a healthy lifestyle for children and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.

October 6th is International Walk to School Day

Tucson area schools, in conjunction with the Pima County-Tucson Safe Routes to School Program, will be joining millions of young people all over the world in the fourth annual International Walk to School Day. In 2003, nearly 3 million children and accompanying adults in 29 countries walked and cycled to school on this day – all hoping to create communities that are safer places in which to walk and bike.

This global event raises awareness of the importance of developing safer life-long traffic skills and habits, and of providing more secure access for children to walk and bicycle to school. It also promotes health, fitness and an active lifestyle among our children, while reminding adults and children alike how rewarding it is to spend healthy, active time together.

Additionally, it encourages local jurisdictions to take specific steps to create more walkable and bikeable communities by advocating for more crosswalks, sidewalks, bike routes, and crossing guards, and safer driver behavior. Besides, it’s just plain fun!

International Walk to School Day is sponsored by the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, and the Pima County and Tucson Departments of Transportation. To find out how your family or school can participate, call 740-6941 or email donna.lewandowski@dot.pima.gov

GABA has hosted this popular event for several years. The success of the swap meet depends on volunteers. Among the “duties” are the following: cordoning off certain areas; allocating spaces for vendors; traffic control; etc. We also need friendly people to staff the GABA table!

If interested in joining other volunteers, call Greg Yares, 323-9020, or contact him via e-mail at yares@cox.net. There will be a volunteer pizza party on Thursday, November 11^th. Your help is very much appreciated!

By Dorothy Barth

It is our goal to provide every rider on the GABA Tour the opportunity to enjoy a ride that will be challenging, filled with spectacular scenery, and away from the routines of everyday life. You will have the chance to ride with a group of new-found friends, or pedal down the road solo, enjoying the solitude of the lesser-traveled roads of Arizona. After all, this is your vacation. The tour committee has planned the week’s events to give you an adventure you won’t forget.

We will start our tour this year with an opening banquet at the Best Western Phoenix Airport Inn. The staff there has been as friendly and helpful as possible over the years that we have run this ride. For those coming in from the cool east and north, there may be a chance to get a rare October dip in the pool before registration and dinner.

The next morning, we will get up early, load the bicycles into the moving van, and then ease into a comfortable seat on the motor coach for the ride from Phoenix to Tusayan/Grand Canyon. We’ll provide a sack lunch including cold drinks, and an Arizona Highways magazine for each to read during the 4-5 hour trip up to the southern entrance to the Grand Canyon, our starting point.

We will arrive early Saturday afternoon, and everyone will have the opportunity to spend that afternoon and evening at the Grand Canyon. Cheryl Kline, our Resident Vagabond, has volunteered to lead a hike down to Indian Gardens. After dark, some will want to catch the IMAX movie, which gives you the perspective of the Grand Canyon from the Colorado River. The evening will be crisp and cool, and everyone will undoubtedly be excited about the next morning’s ride along Desert View Drive.

Every day at each rest stop you will find a wide assortment of foods to choose from. The choice will vary at each stop, giving you well-rounded nourishment throughout the day. No need to worry about shelling out extra money for lunch, as you may choose from selected meats, cheeses, or peanut butter and jellies to build yourself a mouth-watering sandwich.

During the riding hours, our conscientious ride crew will carefully monitor your progress. The personal focus of our friendly and courteous ride crew is to help you master the challenges that this tour presents. Our tour mechanic will help you keep your bicycle in good repair, should you need routine parts or an adjustment.

Motels and camping locations have been selected and designed to promote togetherness. Tents will generally be pitched on motel/hotel property. Showers/restrooms for campers will be located inside those motels, and these rooms will be kept open all night long for your convenience.
Camping will be in a separate location from the tour motel at the Grand Canyon and in Show Low. Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area will be our camping site in Show Low, and although it is 3 miles out of town, it is one of the most beautiful campgrounds in Arizona.

Our ending banquet will be at the Ghost Ranch Lodge in Tucson. This is the ideal location for a farewell gathering. Cyclists who arrive early can take a dip in the pool, and take a walk by the cactus garden. The entire outside patio area will be available for us to enjoy our dinner. We will be able to toast each other in our accomplishments in another delightful week of cycling.

At check in on Friday, each tour participant will receive a commemorative T-Shirt, a pair of GABA Tour 2004 cycling socks, a GABA water bottle, a 2004 Route Guide with elevation profiles, a name and bike badge, passes for the Grand Canyon National Park and Sunset and Wupatki Crater National Monuments, and more!

Come along on this grand 7-day adventure! Don't forget, this package includes an afternoon to sightsee at the Grand Canyon on Saturday, October 2nd, and 525 miles of fabulous scenery to enjoy, with quad-testing uphills and thrilling downhills, and people from all walks of life and of all ages to meet. Put your registration form in the mail today – you’ll be glad you did!

Dorothy has spent more time this year organizing cycling activities than on her bike. Hopefully that will change next year.

Mary Jo holds several PBAA records as a stoker on a tandem team with Alicia Heiserer. Mary Jo is also an accomplished, energetic single cyclist. She has arranged our transportation for the tour, and is our liaison with local bike shops.

Donna is well known in the club as the person who manages our registration and correspondence functions. Donna is also a cycling advocate, and is pursuing this passion both in her studies and in her work with the Pima County Dept. of Transportation. Donna is handling the registration responsibilities for the GABA Tour.

Richard is a tri-athlete who works at excelling in 3 sports. In previous years he did some racing, and would like to get back to that if time would permit. He has extensive experience in the photography world. As a result, he has done a great job designing our brochure, socks, and T-shirt.

Melanie is the Publicity Director for PBAA. She is also an active USCF racer. Melanie first did this tour in 1993, and has great experience both in running tours and enjoying them on her vacations. Melanie is handling the public relations work for the tour.

Anyone who has ridden with GABA knows Richard Rineer. As a long-time GABA member, Richard has ridden this tour many times, and with Melanie has also served on the committee in prior years. Richard’s many years of experience in the health food business made him the ideal candidate to organize our group dinners.

Dave wishes he had more time to race his bike, too. Dave manages the website for GABA. On the committee he has updated the website, and is working with the sub-team developing the route profiles and maps.

We all know Steve, the GABA president. Steve is treasurer of the committee, and prepares budgets, reimbursements, and handles all the financial requirements.

The planning that goes into a ride is critical to the success of the tour. But once you’re on the road, you depend on a strong and capable crew, with a good sense of humor, to make it through the week. We are fortunate to have a great group of people again this year, many with significant experience.

Sharon Matt, who has worked on the tour for years, will again be with us. This year her father will be along to lend a hand. Radar, her husband, who usually teams up with her to staff SAG 1, is along for a ride on the bike this time.

Cheryl Kline will be staffing a SAG stop with her sister, Kim. I remember doing the tour in 1993, when Cheryl was the ride director and Kim worked a SAG stop. You couldn’t ask for more experienced, friendly help.

Marv Hannin will be a sweep again this year. Marv always has a smile and is ready to jump to a task when needed. He was an all-around guy last year, and will be this year, too.

Norm Martin was a sweep on part of the route last year, but will be with us the entire week this year. Many of you may have met Norm on the Luna Lake tour this year. Norm is another guy with a big vehicle and a bigger heart who pulls up the rear and is always there when someone needs him.

Joey Barrios and Pam Tilden will be handling the baggage again this year. I remember meeting them also on the 1993 tour. They have both uncomplainingly loaded and unloaded more bags than anyone I know.

This is the core of the staff that will make the week a delight for our cyclists. Come along and meet them and see what a truly special group of people they are.

Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee

This is another in a series of monthly columns, sharing news from the meetings of the Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (TPCBAC). This column has two major sections, Announcements, and Actions.

If you have any bicycle concern, you are invited to attend the T-PCBAC meetings, which take place the second Wednesday of each month, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Himmel Library (Treat Ave & 1^st Street), and present your concern during the "Call to the Public". You may also call the appropriate Bicycle Coordinator, as listed at the end of this article.

The following announcements and news was made known at the August 11^th meeting:

· Tucson Police Sergeant Tim Beam reported on recent bicycle crashes, and noted that there were 14 in July, including two more serious. Bicycle crashes 0% over 2003, and there is no particular focus as to why. For example, one cyclist rear-ended a car!

· Pima County Sheriff Sergeant Karl Woolridge was not present, and did not send a report.

· Dick Schaffer re-announced the dates and locations for the GABA-Tucson Bicycle Leaders LAB Road I Course. Tucson area bicycle community leaders are taking the Course first, in order to be able to answer questions about it, and recommend it from personal experience. This Course gives one the equivalent of a 'Bicycle Drivers License' (see the article in the August Update)

· Bill Katzel reported briefly on the Platinum 2006 Committee, and indicated he would explain more when this came up on the agenda.

· Ken O'Day and Rosemary Carmody mentioned pavement quality problems at several locations, including Golf Links Rd and Tucson Blvd.

· Jesse Morales distributed (for Trace Tang) a list of street improvements the City of Tucson is implementing, most of which also improve bike lanes. Included are such streets as Craycroft Road, near Grant to Rillito bridge; Valencia Road, Alvernon to 12^th Ave.; and Pantano Road, Speedway to Wrightstown. Contact Trace at 791-4372 for more info or to get a complete list.

· Matt Zoll reported on the work Pima county Graphics has been able to do to advance the PAG Regional Bike Map. He explained the various elements and why certain graphic decisions were tentatively made. There will be a Coordination meeting at PAG August 18^th and it is expected that the map can be finalized afterward, and sent for printing in September. The map will also be on the web and will be updated regularly there.

· Matt Zoll showed samples of signs that will be erected on the Spanish Trail and Catalina Highway, to memorialize Dan Yersavich, and Brad Gorman, respectively. The signs will also show the mileage to key features on the routes.

· Several members expressed concerns about poor quality utility patches. Richard Corbett mentioned that Roy Schoonover has laid the groundwork for training of Inspectors, to help address this recurring problem.

· The minutes of the July meeting were approved by motion, after presentation by Chair Jesse Morales.

· The Committee voted to establish a Platinum 2006 Sub-Committee, to work with the Steering Committee, which has been meeting. Jean Gorman, Diane Tolton, John Nowak, Bill Katzel, and Jesse Morales will serve on the sub-committee.

· The Committee voted to authorize Chair Jesse Morales to develop and send a letter setting forth concerns about the quality of roadway re-paving and especially utility cut patches in bike lanes.

Contact any of the Tucson area bicycle coordinators: Richard Corbett, PAG Regional 792-1093; Trace Tang, City of Tucson 791-4372, Matt Zoll, Pima County 740-6747, and Nancy Ellis, Oro Valley 229-5057.

Willie Weir Will Share His Experiences Cycling in India

What IS the proper response when a 13-year-old boy confides in you that he is a deity? Is it possible to be alone in a country of over a billion people? And what should you order for dinner while spending a night in jail?

Willie Weir (adventure traveler, writer and public radio commentator) takes you on a humorously bumpy ride through the sub-continent on a bicycle loaded down with every travel fear imaginable.

Willie Weir is a columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine, a frequent contributor to public radio station KUOW in Seattle and author of Spokesongs: Bicycle Adventures on Three Continents. His two-wheel adventures have taken him more than 50,000 miles around the globe -- from the horse tracks of the highlands of Lesotho, to the war-torn roads of Bosnia, to the back roads of India. He is the recipient of a gold Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers.

Each year he speaks to thousands of students and adults, inspiring new adventurers and bicycle advocates.

Join us and meet Willie Weir, a former professional actor turned adventure cyclist. Be entertained and energized as he relates his cycling dream becoming a reality.

Tandem Captaining

Calling all experienced cyclists who like to go fast, to help others, and to try something new. Become a tandem captain! By the way, it will help to be 5’10’ or taller, and at least 160 lbs.

First, it is fun! I have never had the degree of fun that I have felt as when we pass singles on a climb, almost fly on the flats, or go warp speed on a downgrade/hill. The feeling of teamwork that comes from accomplishing almost anything on a tandem is really there.

You will also be appreciated (hugely) by all the single cyclists who draft off your wheel – I owe my successful 1991 finish in El Tour to two tandems who were in the right place at the right time.

You can help someone else take pleasure in the joys of cycling. Visually impaired cyclists need sighted captains, and yet there always seems to be a shortage. Many have their own tandems, so you have only to put your own saddle & pedals on and adjust the saddle, and you can be ready to ride. I have captained two different visually impaired cyclists, and really appreciated the chance to do so, as it got me back into tandeming, after almost 10 years off from my first tandem, which I rode with my two sons in the 1980’s.

Contact me, and I will spend time with anyone who wants to try tandem captaining. I will help you understand what is involved, and if you really want to try it, I will help connect you with an experienced visually impaired stoker, who has his or her own tandem.

I will also work with you to help you acquire the few specific skills that make a good tandem captain.

I am best reached by e-mail (kc7ovm@dakotacom.net), but if you don’t communicate via the internet, you can call me at home at 623-0017, generally 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Prairie State Tandem Rally 2004

“Rollin’ Down the River” was the catch phrase for the CATS (Chicago Area Tandem Society) 2004 Prairie State Tandem Rally held in the miniscule town (population ‘about 500’) of Thomson, IL, adjacent to the mighty Mississippi River, on a mid-June weekend .

PSTR 2004 was very professionally arranged by Paula and Roman Myszczak, with assistance of some other CATS. Amazingly these folks, Paula and Roman, have only been riding as duo on their ‘bent tandem for one year!

As far as tandem rallies go, this event was considered to be on the small side: 79 tandem teams pre-registering as compared to large regional rallies with 500+ long bikes. Actually, the CATS had not anticipated such a good response, but the overflow of riders was nicely accommodated at the Thomson Villager Lodge just down the road.

Having attended many tandems-only events throughout the country and Canada we were actually looking forward to a more intimate size rally. Besides, we wanted to go “Rollin’ Down the River”, as being Arizona residents, we just don’t have many rivers to speak of!

Check-in for tandem teams started Friday, June 11, at 1 p.m. at Lynwood Lynks Lodge; there we met our congenial ride organizers, who welcomed us and explained the coming activities for the weekend. A well prepared registration packet contained all necessities including name tags and ride sheets/maps for the various daily route choices.

Friday was an on your own ride of 25 miles to Bear’s Ice Cream in downtown Thomson. Being a bit warm, an ice cream break was an excellent idea!

‘Lo and behold, we ran into Mary and Lee Fiegel of Mukwonago, WI, long time tandem enthusiasts and friends, who usually ride with us in Tucson during the winter months. Perfect teaming up!

The ice cream stop at Bear’s was quite popular as about a dozen duos gathered to cool down a bit. Do we ride to eat or eat to ride?

Later that evening there was a combination pizza/pool party that helped get us acquainted with some of the other teams. We also got re-acquainted with other tandem friends; one couple we had met at an MTR rally and post-rally ride in Indiana in the ‘90s; another duo we had ridden with at the Southwest Tandem Rally in Austin, TX, a few years ago. It’s a small world after all!

We had some concerns about the longer Saturday ride choices as just across the Mississippi River in Iowa there were tornado warnings posted. But Lady Luck was with us, and all us desert dwellers had to contend with was a bit more than the 10 per cent or less humidity we’re accustomed to.

A great variety of tandems was present for the 9 a.m. mass start on Saturday. Styles included the traditional upright 2-seaters, in road or comfort mountain bike versions, to a triple; quite a few recumbents; and even a British back-2-back ‘bent tandem. Bikes varied in size and color, from monochromatic to multi fade; from steel to aluminum to titanium to carbon fiber; and of course there were trailers, trail-a-bikes and stokids, the youngest being a 4-year-old! On the other side of the spectrum was the ‘most senior’ stoker: very able 73-years-young; the youngest captain was 30, while on the other end of the scale was a captain aged 72! This just goes to prove that tandeming is for all ages!

The Saturday rides proved to be a bit more challenging with some rolling hills, as the road Scenic Bluff implied. Well, a bigger climb was on the next road; while one twicer miss-shifted a-crunching through the gears, several tandem teams dismounted and became pedestrians up the short but rather steep incline. Even spotted a tandem duo ‘tacking’ up the road (tacking makes like a sailboat going into the wind); the grade is a bit less severe but the road covered is a bit longer. The captain quipped: “That’s how we get in more miles!”

Parts of our route traversed the Great River Trail, a crushed limestone bike path that eventually becomes paved; wildflowers abounded along the path and waterways, and all sorts of critters were spotted, from turtles to egrets to geese and goslings. And to make us feel just a tad ‘at home’, we even noticed some small low-to-the-ground prickly pear cactus in full bloom!

Traffic was not an issue on these country roads, paths, and byways, and it sure was a pleasant change from having to announce: “car back,” stopping for traffic lights and dodging motorized vehicles!

That evening, after all had returned from our two-wheeled, non-motorized excursion in Carlton County, it was time to get TWOgether at Buck’s Barn, next to the Lodge, for a social hour and bountiful group dinner . . . and desserts. OK: we do ride to eat!

After the dinner a raffle was held with numerous prizes given out to happy tandemistas, from R&TR jerseys, computers, water bottles and pumps, to a trailer and even tandem racks!

Sunday was an on-your-own ride and we opted to pedal to the Mississippi River again to see the Dutch Immigrant windmill in the town of Fulton on the Illinois shore, while across the river, in Iowa, a dual-spired church steeple and hills were reminiscent of touring in Holland and Germany! Hey, we didn’t have to go that far for great views and to have a good time!

Although this was a CATS rally, folks attended from 13 different states and from as far away as Texas and Arizona.

25^th Annual Tumacacori Century

Join us to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the most popular bicycle ride in Southern Arizona! Three options are available for riders from novice to very experienced cyclists: 25, 64 and 100 miles….and it’s great training for El Tour!

All cyclists ride south through the scenic Santa Cruz River Valley, past Green Valley and Tubac to the Tumacacori Mission.

The 100 milers will continue south of the Mission past the Rio Rico foothills in some of the prettiest scenery in the Santa Cruz valley. Look forward to fantastic views! The route will take cyclists on Ruby Road towards Pena Blanca Lake. The turn-around point will be at Calabasas Picnic Grounds, with a sag stop to provide food and energy for the return trip. No steep hills, only some gentle climbs here & there.

All options must check in at Sahuarita High School. Exit 75 off I-19, approximately 15 miles south of Ajo Exit. Pick up maps and rider instructions here.

Start riding after you have checked in and picked up your map and ride instructions. ANSI approved helmets are required for all riders. All traffic rules must be obeyed.

Option 1: 24 MILES. 8:30 AM

After checking in at Sahuarita High School, drive SOUTH to Arivaca Junction (start and finish point for this option); Exit 48 off I-19, approximately 17 miles south of the school. Start riding around 9:30 AM. Ride south past Tubac to the Tumacacori Mission & return on a flat course. Don’t forget to stop for lunch at the Sahuarita High School after the ride!

Starts and ends at Sahuarita High School (Exit 75 off I-19, approximately 15 miles south of Ajo Exit). Ride south along pecan groves past Green Valley, Arivaca Junction and Tubac to the Tumacacori Mission and return. Flat course. Great lunch for all afterwards at Sahuarita High School.

Starts and ends at Sahuarita High School (Exit 75 off I-19, approximately 15 miles south of Ajo Exit). Register at 6:30 AM. Ride south to Tumacacori Mission, continue past Peck Canyon and Rio Rico to Ruby Road. Turn west towards Pena Blanca Lake to Calabasas Picnic Grounds and return. Great lunch for all afterwards at Sahuarita High School!

Fee covers 3 terrific sag stops with ice water, fruit, PB & J, various snacks and cookies; sag support along the route for tired cyclists and weary bikes; maps and rider instructions PLUS lunch back at Sahuarita High School after the ride, from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

There were over 400 riders in 2003, and nearly 30% of those registered the day of the ride! That makes it doubly tough to properly plan to provide YOU with the best sags, facilities and LUNCH at the end!

Gene Chapman served as President of GABA in the early to mid ‘80’s. When Gene first started riding with GABA he was the typical out of shape, overweight, cigarette smoker that is so common today. Early in Gene’s riding days he frequently would light up a cigarette at rest stops! Bicycling became a passion for Gene, inspiring him to quit smoking and lose some weight.

While Gene served as President he made it a goal to continue to improve on the Tumacacori Century and increase the number of riders that participated. To achieve this goal he increased the number of sag stops, made modifications to the route and offered refreshments at the end of the ride.

In addition to establishing the ground work for making the Tumacacori Century the great ride that it is today, Gene is responsible for establishing several other overnight rides that GABA offers. Two of these rides were mentioned recently in prior editions of the Update, Luna Lake and the Blue Loop.

Sadly Gene is no longer with us; he passed away several years ago while doing what he liked best, bicycling. Gene would be pleased to see how many people enjoy the rides he established.

This short, but sweet ride begins in Roadforks, New Mexico, and takes you to the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains and the spectacular little town of Portal, at the entrance to Cave Creek Canyon.

Cycle the first 30 miles through rolling hills, with one long downhill to the first SAG stop. Then, turn east and start a long gradual climb to the Portal Country Store at about mile 37. You can stop for a lunch break or rest here, and then, continue on to the Southwest Research Station (SWRS), our destination, about 5 miles further.

After riding along a flowing creek in the shade of lush sycamore trees, riders meander on the canyon floor between spectacular towering cliffs! This is a narrow canyon with small meadows where deer graze at dusk.

Our destination is the Southwestern Research Center, located at the end of the paved road, several miles into the canyon. A dormitory-style lodging, it is operated by the American Museum of Natural History. It is surrounded by the Coronado National Forest and offers a welcome retreat from the heat of the desert.

As you come upon this oasis, the beautiful grounds with tall trees and green grass beckon you! The 60-foot cool creek-fed swimming pool will seem very inviting at the end of the last gradual climb! Enjoy ping-pong, volleyball, horseshoes and their interesting library, as you await a generous dinner, prepared especially for us!

pre-registration form & check no later than August 31st! Don’t miss this event. Call now and find out if space is still available!

Sorry, no exceptions can be made. This is a ride you don't want to miss, so sign up early!

Start location: The Shady Grove truck stop/restaurant (USA Petroleum) at I-10 & Hwy 80 exit, Road Forks, NM, about 5 miles EAST of the Arizona-New Mexico state line. Park away from the truck stop on the dirt area at the north end of their parking lot.

Start time: Check-in starts at 8 AM. Please start riding no later than 9 AM. Allow about 2-1/2 hours travel time from central Tucson to Roadforks, about 135 miles.

If anyone wants to drive over the night before, here is a list of motels. There is no longer any lodging at Road Forks, NM. The closest lodging is in Lordsburg, NM, about 15 miles east of Road Forks. There is also lodging at Willcox, AZ, about 47 miles west of Road Forks. No endorsement is implied by listing any of these motels:

For more information, contact Mike Thompson at (520) 743-9687 or gabamike@cox.net

The Tom Mix Century

Sunday, November 7, 2004

Once again it’s time for one of GABA Tucson’s most popular rides! Come join us for the annual Tom Mix Century. Just two weeks before the El Tour, this ride offers you a great opportunity for a training effort to prepare for your personal best for El Tour, or to simply enjoy a wonderful ride.

Cyclists will start at the northeast corner of Oldfather and Ina. From there, the course goes east to Oracle Road, then north through Catalina to Oracle Junction. All riders will continue north on the Florence Highway (Hwy 79).

Options: 100 miles for more experienced riders, 50 miles for intermediate riders or choose the option of riding any other amount you wish. Ride as little or as much as you desire. The course will be monitored throughout the ride.

SAG 1 will be one mile north of Oracle Junction. The 100-milers will continue on the

Florence Hwy to the Tom Mix Monument for their turn around point. This is the location of SAG 2.

This course has just enough hills to give your legs a good workout, while your eyes feast on the majestic Catalina Mountains. There will be snacks and liquids at the finish also.

Restrooms will be available at all SAG stops. Plus at the start/finish. Desert Fitness has graciously agreed to allow access to their restrooms after 7 a.m. We certainly appreciate this accommodation. You will have to sign in at the counter to use their restrooms.

Option #1 100 Miles Ride east on Ina Rd. to Oracle Rd., then north past the town of

Catalina to Oracle Junction. Continue north on the road to Florence to the Tom Mix Monument. This is the turnaround point. Enjoy a sag stop with snacks, fruit and ice water. Then return to Oracle Junction, continue south on Oracle Rd., and turn west on Ina back to Oldfather.

Option #2 50 Miles Ride east on Ina Rd. to Oracle Rd., then turn north past the town of Catalina to Oracle Junction. Continue 1 mile NORTH to Sag 1, your turnaround point. Enjoy a sag stop with snacks, fruit and ice water. Return south on Oracle Rd. to Ina Rd. and turn west on Ina back to the finish.

Volunteers are appreciated and needed. If interested, please call Jannene as soon as possible.

Please register ahead of time! Help make the ride leader’s job much, much easier!

19^th Annual Northwest Tandem Rally knocks their socks off!

Hosted by the Evergreen Tandem Club and dubbed "Pedalin' Round Puget Sound", this year’s NWTR was based at St Martin’s College in Lacey, Washington, one hour south of Seattle. A wide variety of routes and rest stop options were available to attendees. The college served as a hub, or “village” for lodging, vendor expo, activities, meals & police escorted mass starts. The 450 teams hailed from across the US and beyond including: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Canada, and Switzerland. The participant’s comments tell the story…

You put on pretty much the most organized tandem rally ever. You selected the best speaker - the best banquet - the best ice cream/beer/wine social - the most well marked routes. We got soaked with rain but we had a blast anyway. (Laurie Foster, Carnation, WA)

They really are stupendous! I thought I’d just be throwing them in the drawer, but I may actually wear these out! (Bob Snead, Sammamish, WA)

Good idea. We must have 50 ride t-shirts & more jerseys than we can wear in this lifetime. Socks aren’t as common & wear out faster. (Kiyo Voigtsberger, Ventura, CA)

BRIGHT jersey & sox – First jersey we’ve purchased because of colors. (Stephen Lay, Tacoma, WA)

Thanks for putting on a great rally. I don't think I've ever been involved in a better-organized large event. Bravo. Even the weather wasn't all that nasty. (Kent Peterson, Co-Motion Cycles)

Routes were marked the best I have ever seen – you did a great job!!! (Carol Roscoe, Spokane, WA)

Good variety and scenery, enjoyed the bike trails, nice riding roads. (Rebecca Brown, Henderson, NV)

Great volunteers! Interesting locations for rest stops. Beautiful scenery – well organized and well marked routes. (Pam Scheideman, Chico, CA)

Thank you very much for your hard work and two years of enthusiasm for the NWTR 2004. We felt it was a great event and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. My bike shoes still have not dried out but I still have fond memories. (Rita Jensen, Seattle, WA)

My wife and I wanted to thank you so much for making NWTR 2004 such a great event. I can't imagine it being organized any better than it was. The weather could have been better, but you can't organize that. Or else you would have. Your personal touch was obvious in making the rally what it was. (Scott Tuthill, Boise, ID)

This was one of the best-organized rallies I’ve been in. The routes were well identified and easy to follow. Clearly this was a huge and successful effort. Evergreen Tandem Club is the greatest! (Bruce & Judy Finney, Redwood City, CA)

The ice cream social couldn’t have been better. (C.E. Voigtsberger, Ventura, CA)

It was lively & fun, enabled visiting with others. The drawings were handled in an entertaining way. (Grace Swanson, Corvallis, OR)

Was fun – it was nice to have the adult beverages as well. And I like that it was included in the original fee and not having to pay extra. (Diane Chacon, Portland, OR)

At the culminating banquet Sunday night, Eric Miller transfixed the audience with his alternately funny and heart-wrenching stories from competing in the Hawaiian Iron Man and riding across country with Lance Armstrong in the Tour of Hope, to the malignant brain tumor that stole his young son Garrett’s sight and the ensuing formation of the Rush Miller Foundation which donates tandems to sight-impaired children. www.rushmillerfoundation.org (See “Riding Blind” in the Mar-Apr and May-June editions of Doubletalk).

Following his talk, Eric presented two tandem bicycles to local area families. Assisting him in the presentation was Karissa Whitsell, US Paralympic champion. She holds several world titles as a blind stoker.

Event sponsors included: Burley, Bike Friday, Clif, Co-Motion, Cytomax, REI, R&E, & Santana. Proceeds from the rally benefit: Bicycle Alliance of Washington & Rush Miller Foundation.

Behind the scenes a small group of past and future NWTR organizers met for the first time in what will become an annual tradition. By consolidating information in one place and setting up guidelines the group hopes to make it easier for future organizers while allowing more time to focus on the unique flavor of each community’s rally. There’s a new organizer’s forum at www.nwtr.org/forum.

Next year’s rally will be held in Bend, Oregon on the Fourth of July weekend. Visit www.nwtr.org.

GABA will once again be providing training rides to help you get ready for the big event. The training rides, led by Craig Gordon and Mike Wood on the eastside, and Rich Corbett and Ron & Sandy McCormick on the westside, start the weekend of September 12th, and will continue through the weekend of November 14th. The rides will start with a distance of 35-50 miles and steadily increase each week to 90 miles the weekend before El Tour. This year we will continue to offer shorter route options for those who will be doing the shorter El Tour routes.

The training rides are designed to gradually increase your riding distance and endurance, familiarize you with the El Tour route, let you practice your ride strategy and ride with others who are at your riding skill level. With the exception of the two centuries, there is no cost for the training rides. The centuries are fully supported with three or four SAG stops with lots of good food.

This year GABA will again offer 2 starting locations, the first being the northeast corner of Grant and Silverbell, and the second being Udall Park. Details of the rides will be in the GABA monthly newsletters and on the GABA website (www.bikegaba.org). Information about the two centuries can be found in upcoming GABA monthly newsletters or on our website (www.bikegaba.org).

Perimeter Bicycling is expecting close to 7,000 riders for this year's event. Early sign-ups are already coming in. Check the Perimeter Bicycling website (www.pbaa.com) for sign-up information and entry forms. Note when the registration fees go up and sign up early and save some money.

So get ready to start putting in the training miles. Come join us for the training rides and we'll see you at the start line at sunrise on November 20th!

"El Tour" Flag Rides

As Flag Riders, the "Goodwill Ambassadors" of El Tour, you will ride the entire route while carrying the Flag of El Tour - a symbol of "cycling in pursuit of helping children living with life- threatening illnesses".

There are around 60 Flag Rides this year, starting in September. Your name and to whom you are dedicating your Flag Ride will be listed in the Tail Winds. Flag Ride Days are assigned on a first come, first served basis. No more than 4 riders per day. but one person may ride on one or more days.

All Flag Riders receive a special El Tour Flag Ride T-shirt and a packet filled with sponsor-donated items.

Reserve your date as soon as possible to ensure that you will be a part of our unique tradition. There is a fee for doing a Flag Ride. For more information or to sign up, call PBAA at 745-2033.

Member of the Bike Patrol are experienced cyclists who make the commitment to ride the "El Tour" route assisting cyclists with mechanical and first aid, as well as offering encouragement. It is not a race for Bike Patrols.

Bike Patrols must have a current certification, good for 2 years. Sessions run 2 hours. As Bike Patrol, your $55 El Tour registration fee is waived, but a $15 processing fee (Paid before 11/12) is required to cover cost of T-shirt, medical supplies and support on the route. For more information, call PBAA, 745-2033.

Bike Patrol Certification Classes:

9/15 (Wed) 7 PM - 2609 E. Broadway - Basic Skills

10/20 (Wed) 7 PM -2609 E. Broadway - Basic Skills

11/9 (Tue) 7 PM - 2609 E. Broadway - Basic Skills

11/15 (Mon) 7 PM - 2609 E. Broadway - Mechanics & Adv.

11/17 (Wed) 7 PM - 2609 E. Broadway - Advanced Topics

11/19 (Fri) 5:30 PM -Tucson Conv. Ctr - Basic Skills

The 17th Annual Cochise County Cycling Classic is around the corner! All options start & end at the 10th Street Park in Douglas. Challenge yourself! See how far you can really go!

Organized by PBAA to benefit Douglas Assoc. for Retarded Citizens. For information, check out their website, www.pbaa.com, or call PBAA, (520) 745-2033. Address e-mail to pbaa@ dakotacom.net

The Discount Tire MS 150 Best Dam Bike Tour begins at Estrella Foothills High School. Cyclists will ride through Estrella Mountain Park, along old US 80 past the Palo Verde Power Plant to Gila Bend for an overnight stay and party. The next day, riders will enjoy a pancake breakfast that you will never forget! The journey will finish where we started…Estrella FoothillsHigh School. There, cyclists will enjoy a delicious lunch and the celebration of another successful Discount Tire MS 150 Bike Tour! All meals are provided. The ride will start at 7:30 a.m. both days.

LUGGAGE
Each cyclist will need to attach two luggage tags provided by the National MS Society to his or her bags. We will transport only two pieces of luggage for you. On Saturday morning, bring your gear to the baggage drop-off area at Estrella Foothills High School and we will transport it to Gila Bend for you. On Sunday, bring your luggage to the baggage drop-off area in Gila Bend to be transported back to Estrella Foothills High School, our finish site.

BICYCLES
Bicycles will be locked up at Gila Bend High School on Saturday night. Riders may retrieve bikes starting at 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
MS 150 PACKET PICK-UP

The MS 150 Packet Pick-Up will be held in the weeks just prior to the event. You will be responsible for picking up your packet. At least $200 in contributions plus the registration fee must be paid before receiving your packet. The packet will contain your bib number, bike number and any last minute rider information.

The MS 100 Corona de Marana Bike Tour begins and ends at the Ora Mae Horn Park (Marana Town Park), in Marana, Arizona. This is a flat and fast route that takes you on a tour of Marana.

START
The Start is located at the corner of Lon Adams and Barnett Road, at the Ora Mae Horn Park. We provide a lite breakfast of muffins, bagels, juice, water and
coffee. There are three distance routes to choose from:

   • The 100K route begins at 7:00 a.m.
   • The 50 K route begins at 7:45 a.m.
   • The 10K Family Fun Ride begins at 8:00 a.m.

FINISH
When you finish the ride, enjoy a catered lunch and talk with other cyclists about the ride. We will hold an awards ceremony beginning at noon. Every cyclist receives a rider medallion when they cross the finish line. Best of all you'll be helping conquer multiple sclerosis.

MS 100 Packet Pick-Up
The MS 100 Packet Pick-Up will be held the week prior to the event. You will be responsible for picking up your packet.

The Arizona Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, founded in 1956, is a not-for-profit agency serving more than 8,000 people with MS and their families in Arizona. The Arizona Chapter is here to serve you through education, information and referral, counseling, assistance with employment concerns, social activities and more. Chapter programs are made possible by fundraising success.

September 2004 Update Index

August Meeting Report

Words from Steve

New & Renewing Members

Upcoming Meeting Programs

Raising a generation of car-drivers

October 6th is International Walk to School Day

Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee

Willie Weir Will Share His Experiences Cycling in India

Tandem Captaining

Prairie State Tandem Rally 2004

25^th Annual Tumacacori Century

Option 1: 24 MILES. 8:30 AM

The Tom Mix Century

Sunday, November 7, 2004

19^th Annual Northwest Tandem Rally knocks their socks off!

"El Tour" Flag Rides