Upcoming Rides At a Glance
(See related articles in this issue for
details.)
Ride Date Ride Name Organizers Leaders
10/2-9 Grand Canyon to Old Pueblo Tour GABA-Tucson Dorothy Barth
10/2 (Sat) Cochise Cycling Classic PBAA
10/9 (Sat) MS 100 Corona de Marana MS Society
10/16 (Sat) Bisbee 1000 See calendar on p. 15
10/16 & 17 Cave Creek Tour GABA-Tucson Mike Thompson
10/24 (Sun) Tumacacori Gene Chapman Cent. GABA-Tucson Bob & Judy Bolt
11/7 (Sun) Tom Mix Century GABA-Tucson Jannene Johnson
11/13 (Sat) El Bike Swap de Tucson GABA-Tucson Greg Yares
12/5 (Sun) Silverbell Century GABA-Tucson
12/6 (Mon) Holiday Pot Luck GABA-Tucson Pam Cullop
12/11 (Sat) Toys for Tots Ride GABA-Tucson
Oct. Meeting Program
Monday, Oct. 4 at 7 PM
Tonight we welcome
Barry & Joyce Weiss,
long-time GABA members,
who will take us
on a bicycle tour in China.
Find out how they organized
their bike touring
in this vast and friendly country,
and the do's and dont's of cycling in Asia.
Bring your questions!
Everybody is welcome!
Nov. Meeting Program
Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 PM
Don't miss one of the most unique and important bike stories in Tucson.
Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage (or BICAS for short) is a non-profit
community cooperative dedicated to promoting and recycling bicycles, bicycle
awareness, and bicycle art & culture.
BICAS sells reasonably-priced quality, recon-ditioned, used bikes; rents
bikes by the day/week; and have a full-service repair shop with a fully-stocked
stash of used parts for sale.
Bring your bike to BICAS and rent shop space to work on it yourself. BICAS
has a custom metal worshop where they make sculptures, bike racks, gates, or
anything you can think of, out of old bike parts. BICAS also conducts hands-on
classes that teach folks of all ages the art of bikes and bike technology.
Join us as Ignacio Rivera De Rosales tells us the BICAS story. You can visit
BICAS online at http:// www.consensus.net/bicas.html. Or better yet, go visit
in person at 44 West 6th St. (NE corner of 6th St. & 9th Ave.) in Tucson, or
call 520.628.7950.
OCTOBER 2004
Oct. 2-9: GREAT ARIZONA BICYCLE ADVENTURE. 24th Annual. GABA-Tucson. NEW
North-South Course from Grand Canyon to Tucson this year, including the Salt
River Canyon!!! On Sat. Oct. 2, opportunity to enjoy the Grand Canyon before
the
Tour! 7-day 525-mile camping (or motel) Tour across Arizona. Call Info Line:
520-349-5932 or visit www.bikegaba.org 2004 Ride Chair: Dorothy Barth.
Oct. 2 (Sat): COCHISE CO. CYCLING CLASSIC. Organized by PBAA. 252, 160, 90
& 45 mi. Perimeter of Cochise County. 520-745-2033, or www.pbaa.com
Oct 9: MEMORIAL RIDE FOR SAFETY, PMBC for CAzB. www.sportsfun.com/gaba
Oct. 9: CORONA DE MARANA. Charity ride to raise money for MS. Flat & fast
route, 100K or 50K, or 10K family fun ride. Tour begins and ends at the Ora
Mae Horn Park (Marana Town Park), in Marana. Visit
www.nationalmssociety.org/AZA for more details.
Oct. 16 & 17: CAVE CREEK TOUR. GABA-Tucson. Scenic and fairly easy ride
from Roadforks, N.M. to Portal, AZ, and up Cave Creek Canyon. 45-mile per day
on east side of Chiricahuas. Overnight stay in cozy cabins at well-known
Southwestern Research Center. Meals included. Mike Thompson, gabamike@cox.net
Oct. 16 (Sat): THE BISBEE 1000 .
It's a 5K that feels like a 10K! Climb over 1,000 stairs with 500 hundred
event participants in quaint Bisbee! Some run, some walk, some do both! Music,
drumming groups, even a harpist along the course! For more info, call Cynthia
Conroy, 520-432-1585, or the Bisbee Chamber of Commerce, 520-432-5421.
Oct. 17 (Sun): HEART OF ARIZONA.
GABA-Phx, GABA-West Valley, ABC and Bullshifters. 27, 69 or 107 mi. Ride
starts in Congress, north of Wickenburg. Loop ride with a very spectacular
descent down Yarnell hill. Visit www.sportsfun.com/gaba or call Betsy,
623-979-8110.
Oct. 23 (Sat): TOUR DE FARM, Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association. 62,
30 or 12 miles. Starts & ends at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek. Check
www.tourdefarm.com for info, or call 602-307-9500, or e-mail H304@aol.com.
Oct. 24 (Sun): TUMACACORI GENE CHAPMAN MEMORIAL CENTURY. GABA-Tucson.
Options for 25, 65 & 100 miles. Course south of Tucson, starting in Sahuarita.
Ride south past Green Valley, Arivaca and Tubac. Rest stop at Tumacacori
Mission. Here, 100-milers continue south. Great lunch back in Sahuarita for
all the riders! Ride Organizer: Bob Bolt, 512-0442, or bojubolt@aol.com
Oct. 31 (Sun): PALO VERDE CENTURY . GABA West Valley. 100 or 50 miles.
Flat course west of Phx. Ride begins and ends at Estrella Mountain Park in
Goodyear. Betsy Turner, 623-979-8110 or BetTur@qwest.net, or visit
www.sportsfun.com/gaba
NOVEMBER 2004
Nov. 6 (Sat): McDOWELL CENTURY. ABC. Century, metric century and half
metric century. Contact Richard Utterback at richardutterback@msn.com
Nov. 7 (Sun): TOM MIX CENTURY. GABA-Tucson. Scenic course north of Tucson!
Enjoy a few gradual climbs as you prepare for El Tour! Course takes you from
Ina and Old Father gradually up and rolling to Oracle Junction. Then,
continue to the Tom Mix Rest Area on the road to Florence. www.bikegaba.org
Ride
Leader: Jannene Johnson, 520-349-4083 or jannenejohnson@hotmail.com
Nov. 13 & 14: MS150 BEST DAM BIKE TOUR. Multiple Sclerosis Society. Ride
from Estrella Foothills High School, on the west side of Phoenix to Gila Bend.
Contact Peter Loguda at 480-968-2488, ext. 209 or e-mail ploduga@dsw.nmss.org
Nov. 13 (Sat): EL BIKE SWAP DE TUCSON. GABA-Tucson. On historic 4th
Avenue! Quaint central area where vendors set up on each side of the avenue.
Great turn-out! Greg Yares, yares@azstarnet.com or 323-9020.
Nov. 20 (Sat): El TOUR DE TUCSON XXII. PBAA. 22nd Annual. Counterclockwise
course since last year! 4 different options! More than 5,000 riders! And
thousands of volunteers along the course! 520-745-2033 or www.pbaa.com
DECEMBER 2004
Dec. ? (Sun) TUMACACORI FESTIVAL RIDE. GABA-Tucson. 30-40 mi to breakfast
at Zula's in Nogales. Return to Mission to enjoy food, craft &
entertainment. South on I-19 to Tubac exit, then south on EAST frontage road to
Mission.
www.bikegaba.org
Dec. 5 (Sun): SILVERBELL CENTURY.
GABA-Tucson. 65 &100 mi. Ride takes you to Rancho Vistoso, down Tangerine,
across Avra Valley and up to the ghost town of Silverbell. Return via a
different way ending on the Rillito Bike Path back to the start.
www.bikegaba.org
Leader: Dick Schaffer, 326-4807.
Dec. 6 (Mon) HOLIDAY SEASON POT LUCK. GABA-Tucson. At regular monthly
meeting place. Bring a dish to share with others in the spirit of the season!
Everybody is welcome! Short program with awards and recognition to deserving
members!
Dec. 11 (Sat): TOYS FOR TOTS BIKE RIDE. GABA-Tucson. Bring one or more
unwrapped toys to carry on your bike as we pedal downtown to deliver the toys
to the Tucson City Zoo at Reid Park. Organizer: Pam Cullop, 290-4321 or
pjcullop@comcast.net
Dec. 31 (Fri): FIESTA BOWL PARADE, Phx. - Bike Patrol for Public Security.
Richard Moeur, rcmoeur@aol.com
GABA-Tucson Jersey Order Form
Club Jerseys Sizes available: S, M, L, XL, XXL.
(If not sure of your size, check louisgarneau.com for proper sizing)
Styles & Prices: Sleeveless Men's only: $47
W/Sleeves, Men's & Women's: $50
Postage & handling per jersey/T-Shirt: $ 5
Classic Collector GABA Socks - 2 pairs: $ 5
Matching GABA Jersey socks: - 1 pair: $ 6
Postage & handling per pair of socks: $ 2
_______________________________________________
Size How Price
__________________________Many_______$___
Sleeveless - men's only: ___ ___ ____
With Sleeves, - men's: ____ ____ _____
With Sleeves, - women's: ____ ____ _____
Classic Collector GABA Socks: ____ ____ _____
Matching GABA Jersey Socks: ____ ____ _____
Add for postage/handling: jerseys: _____
Add for postage/handling: socks _____
Total money enclosed(checks/money orders ONLY) $_____
Send checks payable to GABA-Tucson to PO Box 43273 Tucson AZ 85733
NAME: __________________________________________
ADDRESS: ________________________________________
CITY: _______________________ STATE: ___ ZIP: _______
Purchase your jersey at GABA meetings on 1st Monday of the month. Sandi
Rousseau, (520)799-4406 (day), (520)577-1187 (eve).
CLASSIFIEDS
2 TANDEMS FOR SALE: Santana Vision, size 23 x 21 and Co-Motion Custom, size
20 1/2 x 19. Call Rudy for more information. (520) 742-2518, Tucson.
Ultra Cycling Comes to Southern Arizona
By Susan Plonsky
Do you love the challenge of riding long distance and discovering new
places in the fellowship of like-minded cyclists? Starting this November a new,
long distance cycling series is coming to Arizona. You could be riding farther
than you’ve ever gone before.
This summer Randonneurs USA (RUSA), a national organization that promotes
randonneuring and long distance cycling, approved a series of brevets, or
non-competitive, long distance rides to be held south of Phoenix, several
starting
from Casa Grande. Some GABA members are already well acquainted with brevets.
Until now, they’ve had to travel to Texas, Colorado, or California to find one.
This new series in Arizona means they’ll be driving less and riding more.
Brevets (pronounced brah-VAY) are not races, although riders seek to improve
their personal best times. For many, the goal is simply to finish and to go
farther than they have before.
A brevet is more like a road rally or treasure hunt than a race. At each
checkpoint, riders must take steps to prove they arrived at the designated spot
within a certain time period. Riders may be asked to have their brevet cards
signed by a staff worker, get a receipt from a store or ATM, or mail a post
card.
Here are some ways in which brevets are different from club rides:
Timed: Brevets are not races, but riders must reach the checkpoints on time
or be disqualified. Riders can stop and rest any time, but the clock is always
running. The overall minimum pace on brevets is about 9.25 mph; the maximum is
20.5 mph.
Night riding: Because of the length of the ride you'll probably have to ride
in darkness. Proper lighting is essential and required by law.
Self reliance and determination: Brevet riders are expected to be
self-sufficient and tenacious. They should be able to repair their bike, read a
map, and
deal with bad weather.
Helping others: Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of
brevet riding and randonneuring.
Sanctioned: The Arizona brevets are sanctioned by Randonneurs USA (RUSA) and
Audax Club Parisien (ACP) in France. They can be used as qualifiers for 1200
kilometer events like:
1. Boston-Montreal-Boston (Aug. 2005, see
http://www.geocities. com/b-m-b/)
2. Colorado Last Chance (Sept. 2005,
http://www.rmccrides.com/
brevet2004lastchance.htm)
3. Gold Rush Randonnee (July 2005, see
http://www.davisbikeclub. org/
goldrush/)
4. Rocky Mountain 1200 (July 2006,
http://www.randonneurs.
bc.ca/rocky/rm1200.html)
5. Paris-Brest-Paris (August 2007)
For more details on brevets and the schedule of rides in Arizona, see
http://www.azbrevet.com.
If anyone needs one last blast before El Tour de Tucson, there’s a 60-mile
ride and a 200 km (125 mile) brevet on November 13 starting in Casa Grande and
traveling into the Tohono O’odham reservation. For registration forms and more
details on these and other rides, see http: //www.azbrevet.com or write
susanplonsky@att.net.
Local rider Susan Plonsky is the Regional Brevet Administrator. She has four
years experience riding and supporting brevets in Colorado, Massachusetts,
Ottawa, and New Jersey and has successfully completed
Boston Montreal Boston three times. For more info, you can contact her at
plonsky@us.ibm.com
Not Your Regular Flow!!
Watch for
Special Event
on Rillito River Park
on Sunday, Oct.17
By Alanna Neves
Southern Arizona Aids Foundation Volunteer Committee Member
On Sunday, October 17th, there will be approximately 4000+ walkers and
runners on the Rillito River Path, starting at Rillito Downs and heading west
towards Flowing Wells and east to Mountain Ave. The planned event is Southern
Arizona AIDS Foundation's Annual AIDSWALK.
It is planned to start at 7 AM and should conclude around 10 AM. The River
Path will still be available for regular usage, but the traffic flow will be
heavier and less maneuverable than normal. Feel free to plan accordingly for
your regular training, or even come down and join us. For more information, go
to www.aidswalktucson.com
Ten Mantras for Endurance Cyclists
Susan I. Barr, PhD, RDN, FACSM
Professor of Nutrition, University of British Columbia
Reprinted from UltraCycling magazine, for more information go to
www.ultracycling.com, copyright 2004, UMCA, Inc.
1. One-way Principle:
• Food and drink should be palatable, go down easily, and stay down.
2. Moderation, Variety and Balance:
• Moderation: no good foods or bad foods; rather, healthy diets and not so
healthy diets.
• Variety: nutrients are distributed in different foods.
• Balance:
- your diet isn’t too lopsided (e.g., so high in carbohydrate that protein
is neglected).
- energy balance (eating enough to meet your energy needs)
- fluid balance.
3. Water, Water Everywhere:
• Maintain fluid balance while riding. To estimate your rate of fluid
loss, weigh yourself nude before and after a ride.
• Sweat rates when exercising hard in hot weather can exceed 1 L/hr (35 oz)
and average stomach emptying rate is just over 1 L/hr, so it’s not always
possible to keep up.
• Drinking on the bike is learned and that you can get used to the feeling
of more fluid in your stomach.
4. Pass the Salt:
• Sweat contains about 1 g of sodium / liter!
5. I Never Met a Carbohydrate I Didn’t Like:
A minimum of 5 g CHO/kg/day, and up to ~10 g/kg/day for those in heavy
training.
-154 lb person: 350–700 G CHO /day (1400–2800 cal from carbs)
-176 lb person: 400-800 G CHO /day (1600–3200 cal from carbs)
6. Fat is Not a Four Letter Word:
• For those in heavy training, fat calories are a good way to meet high
energy needs.
7. Where’s the Beef?
• Lean meat is the best source of iron and is also a good source of zinc,
B vitamins, and high-quality protein.
• Although there’s still some debate, athletes may need more protein
- perhaps 1.2-1.5 g/kg
-154 lb athlete: 84-105 g protein/day (336–420 cal from protein)
-176 lb athlete: 96-120 g protein/day (384–480 cal from protein)
• Example: 3 oz. of meat, fish, or poultry provides about 20g protein; 1 oz
cheese,1 egg, or 4 oz of tofu provides 7-10 gm of protein.
8. Calories or Convenience?
• Bars, gels and sports drinks are convenient, but don’t provide superior
nutrition compared to “real food”.
9. Timing is Everything:
• Before cycling: 50 - 200 g CHO, 1 - 4 hours before activity IF you want
your stomach empty when you start cycling.
• Before a long ride, larger quantities in closer proximity to the start
of the ride.
• During a ride 50 g/hr for a 70 kg cyclist for a century.
• Longer rides, balance the energy you’re using with what you’re taking
in over the course of a 24-hr period.
• After a ride, take in carbohydrate soon after exercise to help replace
glycogen stores.
10. Be Prepared
• Eat before you’re hungry; drink before you’re thirsty.
• Where’s the next mini-mart?
"Adventure"
By Steve Wilson
GABA President
I hope you were part of the 100 or so members and guests who were entertained
by Willie Weir's presentation on bicycle touring in India. What a wonderful
combination of stories, pictures, and sounds from an exotic land. Willie did
a superb job of communicating the fears he had prior to flying to Delhi with
his gear and how things turned out versus what he expected. His tour was
certainly an adventure by almost anyone's standards. India was a wonderful
experience of a lifetime.
Willie is a frequent contributor to Adventure Cycling's magazine. In a
recent column he wrote on the notion of adventure and how it can differ for
different people and how important it is to pursue whatever adventure is for
you.
What might be a perfect experience for one person might be terrifying to second
and boring to a third.
The key is to find what is right for you. For most people adventure will
involve two key elements - a degree of uncertainty, and a touch of fear. It may
involve taking on a ride that is longer than anything you have done, riding to
a destination that is uncertain or unknown or heading off with camping gear
with no destination in mind. A common thread among bike touring stories is the
wonderful experiences involving the people that are met and places that are
seen off the beaten path. Sitting in a tour bus is no way to see the world. You
may see some wonderful things, but you'll never get to know the real people
and character of a place.
Hopefully the presentations and travelogues that are presented at the monthly
GABA meetings will convince at least a few of you to go and try something you
might not have considered before. There is an unlimited supply of adventures
in all shapes and sizes out there in the world. When it's feeling very
comfortable, perhaps it's time to venture further from home, or perhaps visit a
country where you don't speak the language (and they don't speak English).
So go for it. And take some good pictures and bring back stories so you can
share them at one of our monthly meetings. Who knows who you will inspire to
take on their own adventure!
Ride safe.
The 2004
Blue Loop Bike Tour
By Sandi Rousseau
Absolutely incredible! If any of you missed the 2004 Blue Loop Tour, you
missed the best ever! And if you did miss it, you might want to start
planning
now for next year. What a wonderful weekend for the annual GABA Tucson Blue
Loop Tour. A terrific group of cheerful, talented cyclists, 94 strong,
were there in force to enjoy this year's tour. Our staff of 9 were kept busy
but
enjoyed every minute and the cyclists freely expressed their thanks for
everything! We had cyclists from California, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and of
course, from all over Arizona. The weather was perfect, the food was grand and
plentiful, and the staff simply outstanding! I could not have asked for
better volunteers.
The "Loop" began Saturday morning to puffy dark clouds and gray skies after a
night of off and on rain in Morenci. While many debated on when to start and
whether it was going to rain, their fearless leader guaranteed them the rain
would stop as she had ordered no rain during cycling hours. The weather
complied and cleared very nicely for a grand ride resplendent with beautiful
flowers along the 66 mile route to Glenwood, New Mexico. We were greeted by our
gracious hosts Polly Tipton and Darrell of the Double T Homestead. A wonderful
meal of brisket, chicken, baked potatoes, salad, and for the vegan/vegetarians
in the group, sweet and sour "unmeat" meatballs with rice, along with fruit,
beverages and dessert was served, and all ate their fill. Polly clearly outdid
last year's meal with many commenting that it was even better than last year.
We were treated to a wonderful relaxing evening, enjoying conversations with
our fellow cyclists in the cool breeze. It was reported that there was some
real downpours of rain during the night, but their fearless leader slept
peacefully through it all (she had a bit of help). Hey, she only promised no
rain
during cycling hours!
Sunday morning we were greeted with an overhang of clouds but it was clear
they were on the way out and away from our cycling route for the day. Polly,
Darrell and friends served a grand morning meal of breakfast burritos, muffins,
fresh fruit, coffee, tea, hot cocoa, milk and juice. A hearty way to start
off towards the 58 miles and 5346 foot gain in elevation en route to Alpine,
Arizona.
For our second year, we had a group dinner in Alpine, courtesy of the Alpine
Inn Bed and Breakfast and owners Sue and Dick Seehusen, along with friends who
helped serve the meal. The meal included spaghetti with a marvelous
vegan/vegetarian sauce, improved with a bit of inspiration by our chef, Dick,
and a
meat sauce for carnivores. Both sauces were fantastic and very much enjoyed by
all. There was a dish of marinated carrots that delighted all - carrots never
tasted so good, they just may have to be a yearly offering! Also served was
a delightful salad, beverages, and "to die for" brownies! Our hostess and
host clearly outdid themselves again and a huge group of cyclists voiced their
thanks at finding such great hosts for a group meal. This year in order to
accommodate both the number of cyclists wishing to participate in the meal and
our
hosts, we had two dinner hours and it clearly worked extremely well to
everyone's benefit.
Many of the group adjourned after dinner to the Sportsman's Lodge where we
were treated to a slide show of the ride to that point by Donna Lewandowski and
Steve Wilson. A good time was enjoyed by all.
Monday morning, although starting out at around 38 degrees but clear, most
cyclists were en route and pedaling by 7 a.m., many after enjoying a breakfast
of stuffed spinach tortillas, filled with eggs and meat or potatoes and bean,
hot coffee and juice, and everyone was back in Morenci by 4 p.m.
By most cyclists' accounts, the ride was perfect and many are already looking
toward next year. Our own Donna Lewandowski successfully completed the ride
on her single bike for her first time, after being abandoned by her heartless
captain for a new male stoker on their tandem. Although a good cyclist, I'm
sure he wasn't nearly as much fun as Donna! I don't as yet think I've heard
her express she can't wait for next year, although many other first-timers
expressed their desire to return again next year.
The ride could not, and would not, have been so successful, nor so smooth for
your leader, if it were not for the wonderful staff, just absolutely
outstanding job done by all. My heartfelt thanks go out to Barbara and Dick
Lewandowski who came from Tustin, California to host Sag 1 and provided the
wonderful
game we all enjoyed, won by our own Dave Swanson; Diane and Andy Stevens who
were the hosts and set a lovely table for the lunch, Sag 2 - Andy was also our
massage therapist and my oh my was he a popular figure - a most welcome
participant to have along; Marlene Dekker and Marla Husz, two very cheerful and
always smiling ladies who provided all the necessary goodies at Sag 3 to get our
cyclists back to Morenci; Glen Bouquot who did a fantastic job as sweep - minus
his lovely wife Sally who fell ill just before we left - and our baggage
truck support, Michael Jarnagin who did a really fine job. Although "thanks"
seems inadequate, you all have my thanks tenfold!
A special thanks to several others whose help was invaluable: Stephanie
Feurer, my young helper, who helped immensely with "Scully", a seeing eye dog we
watched during the day while his master was cycling, odd chores, and counting
the cyclists to ensure we didn't lose anyone en route. Thanks also go to Bill
Borland for picking up the truck, along with assorted chores as I planned this
ride and never complaining (well almost), and to Darien Newman for his
assistance in shopping and shed chores, even when having to cancel his ride!
And a
very special thanks to one of our cyclists, Neil Barrett, from Sierra Vista,
who brought along tools, trainer and bike stand, and became our very own
bicycle mechanic. His help was a huge asset to a large group of our cyclists -
he
did a grand job! Thanks to the many cyclists who helped unload and pass out
goodies, water, drinks, etc. at the end of the ride, and especially for
understanding what a large job the baggage is and helping anyway! The ride was
a
complete success and we owe it to all of you. Thank you for the smiles,
stories, cheerfulness and expertise. We'll look forward to next year for sure.
Rudy and Kay celebrate . . .
200,000 Miles on Tandems!
Tucson tandem enthusiasts and longtime GABA members Rudy and Kay Van
Renterghem observed another major cycling milestone.
This year, they celebrated riding 200,000 miles as a tandem team, a feat that
took them "only" 29 years to accomplish. It started back in 1975 when the
couple got their first tandem bike to mark their 20th wedding anniversary.
Moving from the colder climate of Michigan to the desert southwest in 1978,
their mileage steadily accumulated and as they are fond of saying: "In Tucson
you can ride only 13 months out of the year."
They have participated in numerous tandem rallies, tours, centuries and
charity events locally and in over 30 states and Canada.
They have been active promoting and leading tandem rides throughout the
years; they've also worked and rode on the first and several subsequent Grand
Canyon to Mexico Tours and have contributed many articles to publications on
their
pet subject of tandeming.
At ages 71/69 they admit to having slowed their pace and cut their distances
a bit, but still can be seen out there regularly a-pedalin' their custom
2-seater.
Their motto remains: "Pedal on TWOgether!"
Holiday Pot Luck
Monday, December 6th, 2004
By Pam Cullop
Unbelievable but true, it is almost here - the annual GABA event that we have
all "hunger" for. The club's Holiday Pot Luck will take place on December
6th, which is a Monday night, at 7 PM, at the usual location: Pima Medical
Society Building.
Tradition dictates that you each bring a yummy treat or side dish to share,
even if it is a bag of chips or a few dinner rolls, and the club will do the
rest. For the past several years the "rest", has been deliciously roasted
turkeys (one was even smoked last year), savory baked hams, extra side dishes of
dressing or mashed potatoes and gravy, sodas, juice and water. We have even
given each person an extra little "gift" as our way of saying "Happy Holidays
GABA Member".
I am also checking into some other "little extras" to help round out the
festivities. As usual, instead of a regular club meeting, we devote the entire
time to you. This meeting is a time for thanking
all of the volunteers who have
given to the club in extra-special ways. Those who lead our Day Rides,
Centuries, Overnights, and participate in other club events, are given special
recognition for that extra effort.
So, please decide now to come. Mark your calendar, and keep your date with
us. After all, YOU are the reason we exist. YOU are the heart and the
backbone of our club. We want to show YOU that we care.
Toys for Tots Ride
Saturday, December 11, 2004
By Pam Cullop
Mark your calendar for the annual Toys for Tots Ride. This year's ride will
be on Saturday, December 11th. We are in the planning stages right now, so I
don't have too much information for you yet, but I promise to give it all to
you in the November Update!
Last year, the ride started from 2 locations with one being closer and a
shorter route than the other to accommodate the various ride levels within our
club structure. We will do the same thing this year, and will hopefully be
using
the Reid Park Zoo as a meeting place once again.
If you were among the "Toy Donation Riders" last year, you may recall how
nice it was to be able to take a quick trip around the zoo before the crowds
arrived for the day. I will be contacting the zoo very soon, to see if they
will
once again put the special items such as bagels and bakery items, along with
coffee, juice and hot chocolate available to our riders to purchase upon our
arrival.
Wanting to make this a fun ride that many of you would be interested in
participating in is always the club goal, but the bigger picture is the desire
to
put a new Christmas gift in the hands of needy children throughout the Tucson
area. Please, look for the upcoming article, and make plans to join us on the
next Toys for Tots Ride sponsored by GABA Tucson.
September Meeting Report
By Ram Salcedo
A special thanks goes out to Judy and Phil Slattery of Pima Street Bikes for
supplying the raffle items that were given away at GABA's September meeting.
Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee
~~~~ News ~~~~
September 8th, 2004 Meeting
By Richard Corbett
This is the latest 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/News, and Actions.
If you have any bicycle related concern, you are invited to attend the
T-PCBAC meetings, which take place the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 6-8 PM, at
Himmel Library (Treat Ave & 1st 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.
Announcements/News
The following announcements and news was made known at the September 8th
meeting:
New member Steve Bresler, the City of Tucson Ward 1 appointee, was introduced.
Nancy LeMay spoke during the Call to the Public. Her son, Gary G. LeMay Jr.,
was killed April 22nd while riding his bicycle southbound on the I-10
frontage road, between Moore and Tangerine Roads. He was struck by an SUV about
9 PM.
She is trying to get a complete copy of the crash report from the Marana
Police department, but has had no success so far. She seeks support and
assistance
in dealing with the 'system'.
Mark Falcon also spoke during the Call to the Public. He asked support in
getting the Pima County Sheriff's Office to 'more equitably' enforce traffic
laws
in the Picture Rocks and Picture Rocks Road area. He believes there is a lack
of empathy on the part of the Sheriff's Office, especially in dealing with
motorists' hostility and actions against cyclists. Member Diana Tolton spoke in
support of the issue, saying she had experienced similar incidents (other
Members and staff voiced similar experiences), and asked that this issue be put
on
the October meeting agenda.
Tucson Police Traffic Sergeant Tim Beam related that he had recently
completed a report on bicycle fatalities over the last 20 years. It revealed an
almost
even split between motorists and cyclists, in terms of main fault, and that
considering population and traffic growth over the period, fatals do not appear
to be 'out of line'. He indicated that City Traffic Engineering will produce
an even more comprehensive report. There was discussion as to whether to ask
for a status report soon - it was concluded that the report to BAC should wait
until the Study & report are near completion.
Pima County Sheriff 's Sergeant Karl Woolridge was absent, and did not send a
report.
Jesse Morales reported receipt of a thank you from Dan Yersavich's family for
the memorial dedication of the Spanish Trail Bike Lanes. They deeply
appreciated the efforts that went into achieving the memorial.
Member Dick Schaffer and PAG Staff Richard Corbett reminded BAC Members of
the dates and locations for the GABA-Tucson LAB Road I Courses. These Courses
gives one the equivalent of a 'Bicycle Drivers License' (see the article in the
September Update), and directly support the Platinum Challenge Initiative.
Bill Katzel reported on the possibility of Mayor Walkup riding a bicycle 50
miles, to become the longest distance record holder among national 'Mayors'
Bike Rides'!
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 12th Ave.,
and Pantano Road, Speedway to Wrightstown.
Contact Trace at 791-4372 for more info or to get a complete list.
Diana Tolton, Chair of the BAC's Platinum Challenge Sub-committee, reported
that the Sub-committee met Sept. 2nd for the first time and approved alternate
logos for review and comment. She also reported that the PAG Transportation
Planning Committee passed the request for a resolution of support for a Regional
Bicycle Friendly Communities effort on to the PAG Management Committee with a
positive recommendation. The PAG Regional Council (PAG's governing board,
made up of elected officials from each jurisdiction) is expected to approve the
resolution of support at their meeting September 22nd.
Actions
The Committee took the following actions at this meeting:
The Committee voted to ratify the Membership Sub-Committee's make up - Jesse
Morales, Jonathon Hoffman, Bill Katzel, Dick Schaffer, and Roy Schoonover.
The Committee voted to carry forward the Platinum 2006 Sub-Committee's
recommendations regarding a logo. There was concern about the strong emphasis on
'male racer', and a desire for the logo to show the broader community of
cyclists.
The Committee voted to carry forward two agenda items, due to staff (Trace
Tang & Matt Zoll) not being present. This includes 1) Update of proposed
City-County Bike Parking Standards, and 2) Discussion of maintenance practices
and
construction zones.
For More Information
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.
Roy Schoonover continues to frolic around the western states this summer, and
is AWL. This has left Rich to do the article, once again, without Roy's
helpful badgering. Roy, of course, 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, teaches, and coaches, to help others learn
better cycling.
New and Renewing Members
NEW:
Susan/Mike Burdick; Jim Goggin; Linda Papworth; Laura Horvath; James Allen;
Cheri/Tyler/Ray Brown; Bill/Sheila Chambers; Andreas Wiedenfeld; Debbie Irwin;
James Bittel; Alan Hall; Bridget/ Taylor Morson/House; Margarita Dunton; Jeff
Flannery; Mzihe Dazit; Anna Chaira; Gregory Gonzalez; Bonnie Decker; Ed/Dena
McClintock; Keith Wunsch; Laurie Durick; Frank Antonioa.
RENEWALS:
Scott & Peggy Jacobsen; Jeff Jacob; Jane Tongate; Brian Beck; Bill Dahnke;
Wayne Gorry; Beth Herman; Craig/Cheryl James; George Muncrief; Family Toussaint;
Kitty/Andy Chwalek; Chris Coletti; Skip/Shannon Dexter; Bob/Linda Epstein;
Jim Hefner; Henry/Ruth Jacobsen; Glenn Moyer; Bill Paul; Matt Perri; Dave
Phillips; James/Susan Sidd; Ron/Sandy McCormick;Don/Terry Campbell/Flanagan.
25th Annual Tumacacori Century
Gene Chapman Memorial Bicycle Ride
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Join us to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Tumacacori Century Gene
Chapman Memorial Bicycle Ride, one of the most popular bicycle ride in Southern
Arizona! 3 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 and there.
CHECK IN:
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.
NO MASS START:
Start riding after you have checked in and picked up your map and ride
instructions. CPSC-certified helmets are required for all riders. All
traffic rules must be obeyed.
STARTING POINTS & TIMES:
Option 1: 24 miles. 8:30 AM
After checking in at Sahuarita High School, drive SOUTH to Arivaca Junction
(start and finish for this option), exit 48, off I-19, approx. 17 miles south
of the school. Start riding around 9:30 AM. Ride south past Tubac to the
Tumacacori Mission & return. Flat course. Don't forget to stop for lunch at
Sahuarita High School after the ride!
Option 2: 64 miles. 7:30 AM
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!
Option 3: 100 miles. 6:30 AM - NO MAJOR CLIMBS!
Starts and ends at Sahuarita High School (Exit 75, off I-19, approx. 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!
RIDE ORGANIZERS:
Bob & Judy Bolt, bojubolt@aol.com pr 520-512-0442. Volunteers are
appreciated and much needed. Interested? Please call Judy or Bob.
Tumacacori Century Ride Fee:
Pre-Registration:
GABA Members: $15.
Non-Members: $20.
Day of Event Registration:
GABA Members $25.
Non-Members $30.
Fee covers 3 great 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 PM.
PLEASE REGISTER EARLY!
There were over 400 riders in 2003, and nearly 30% of those registered on the
day of the ride! That makes it doubly tough to properly plan to provide YOU
with the best sag stops, facilities and LUNCH at the end!
GENE CHAPMAN MEMORIAL TUMACACORI CENTURY
PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003
(ONE FORM PER RIDER)
Photocopies of this form are acceptable.
Leaders: Bob & Judy Bolt, 520-512-0442
or bojubolt@aol.com
Return this form & your check to: GABA-Tucson, P O Box 43273 Tucson, AZ 85733
Option chosen:(Please circle)
#1 (24 mi), #2 (64 mi),
#3 (100 mi-no steep hills this year!).
(All options must check in at Sahuarita H. S.)
Vegetarian Non-Vegetarian
Money enclosed:
GABA/ABC members: $_____
Non-members: $_____
DAY OF EVENT
GABA/ABC members: $_____
Non-members: $_____
Total money enclosed: $_____
I AM Currently a GABA member: yes no
NAME
(print)_________________________
ADDRESS________________________
CITY_________ ZIP _______
PHONE ________
E-Mail_________________________
CPSC-certified helmets are mandatory.
Staple YOUR SIGNED WAIVER to each form.
FORMS & WAIVERS CUT WITH SCISSORS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED!
Cave Creek Bike Tour
October 16 & 17, 2004
Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary ride this fall?
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. A long gradual climb brings
you to the Portal Country Store. 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.
The Southwestern Research Station, our destination, is located at the end of
the paved road, 5 miles into the canyon. A dormitory-style lodging, it is
operated by the American Museum of Natural History and surrounded by the
Coronado
National Forest. It 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 this gradually climbing ride! Enjoy ping-pong,
volleyball, horseshoes and their interesting library, as you await a generous
dinner,
prepared especially for us!
Ride fee: $85 for GABA/ABC members, and $90 for non-members.
Your fee includes:
1. Dinner on Saturday evening and breakfast on Sunday morning;
2. Lodging with bedding, towels, and warm showers;
3. Sag support on the road;
4. And a social mixer with snacks on Saturday afternoon.
Reservations are limited!
Don't miss this event. Call now and find out if space is still available!
Start location: Shady Grove truck stop (USA Petroleum) at I-10 & Hwy 80 exit,
Road Forks, 5 miles EAST of the AZ-N. M. state line.
Start time: Check-in at 8 AM. Start riding no later than 9 AM. Allow 2.5
hours travel time from Tucson to Roadforks, about 135 mi.
Ride Organizer, Mike Thompson, 520-743-9687,
gabamike@cox.net
"El Tour de Tucson XXII" Training Rides
By Steve Wilson
GABA is providing training rides to help you get ready for the big event!
The training rides, led by GABA members Craig Gordon and Mike Wood on the
eastside, and Rich Corbett and Ron & Sandy McCormick on the westside 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 that 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. Details
of the rides will be in the GABA monthly newsletters and on the GABA website
(www.bikegaba.org).
2 starting locations:
- Northeast corner of Grant & Silverbell.
- Udall Park.
Perimeter Bicycling is expecting 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.
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!
2004 "El Tour"
Training Rides Schedule
Date Time Mileage
Oct. 3 6:30 AM 40/70
Oct. 10 6:30 AM 40/75
Oct. 17 6:30 AM 40/80
Oct. 24 6:30 AM GABA's Tumacacori Century
Oct. 31 7:00 AM 40/85
Nov. 7 7:00 AM GABA's Tom Mix Century
Nov. 14 7:00 AM 40/90
Nov. 20 7:00 AM El Tour!
Mark your Calendar!
GABA-Tucson
Bike Swap
Saturday, Nov. 13 - 8 AM to 2 PM
On 4th Avenue,
between 6th Street and 9th Street.
Directions from out of town:
Exit I-10 at St Mary's Road, exit 257 A. Head east to 4th Avenue.
GABA has hosted this popular event for several years. It is one of the
largest bike swap in the west! The success of the bike swap 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: give information to prospective members and help sell
GABA jerseys, among other things!
If interested in joining other volunteers, call Swap Organizer Greg Yares,
323-9020 or contact him at yares@cox.net.
MS 100 Corona de Marana
Saturday, October 9
The MS 100 Corona de Marana Bike Tour begins and ends in Marana. This flat
and fast course takes you on a grand tour of the Marana area.
Start: Corner of Adams & Barnett, at Ora Mae Horn Park A lite breakfast of
muffins, bagels, juice, water and coffee will be provided.
Three distances to chose from:
- The 100K route begins at 7 AM.
- The 50K route begins at 7:45 AM.
- The 10K Family Fun Ride begins at 8 AM.
Finish: After the ride, enjoy a catered lunch with awards ceremony. All
cyclists receive a rider medallion when they cross the finish line. Best of
all,
you'll be helping conquer multiple sclerosis.
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. Chapter programs are made possible by fundraising
success.
Visit www.nationalmssociety.org/AZA for more details.
GABA-Tucson Supporting Members
Ajo Bikes 294-1434 1301 E Ajo Way#117-121
Bicycles West 887-7770 3801 N. Oracle Rd.
Broadway Bicycles 296-7819 140 S. Sarnoff
Fair Wheel Bicycles 884-9018 1110 E. 6th St.
Green Valley Bike & Hike 393-7433
New Body Studios 360-5912
Oro Valley Bicycle 825-2751 12985 N. Oracle Rd.
Oro Valley Bicycle 544-5999 4922 W. Ina Rd.
Performance Bicycle 296-4715 7204 E. Broadway
Pima Street Bicycle 326-4044 5247 E. Pima St.
R & R Bicycle 579-7829 Ina & Thornydale
Sabino Cycles 885-3666 7131 E. Tanque Verde
Supergo Bike Shops 327-3232 3302 E. Speedway
TriSports.com 884-8743 2555 N Coyote, Ste 111
Tucson Bicycles 577-7374 4743 E. Sunrise Dr.
Wenberg, Susan, DC 326-1322
Yares, Greg, Realtor 323-9020
Discount Tire MS 150
Best Dam Bike Tour
Nov. 13 & 14
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 evening stay and party.
The next day, riders will enjoy a pancake breakfast that you will never
forget! The journey will finish back at Estrella Foothills High School. There,
cyclists will enjoy a delicious lunch and the celebration of another successful
Discount Tire MW 150 Bike Tour! All meals are provided. The ride starts at
7:30 A< on both days.
Riders need to have at least $200 in contributions, plus the registration fee
which must be paid before receiving your packet.
For more information, contact Peter Loguda, 480-968-2488, ext. 209, or e-mail
ploguda@dsw.nmss.org
Tom Mix Century 2004
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 El Tour, this ride
offers you a great opportunity for a training effort to prepare for your
Personal Best on El Tour Day, or to simply enjoy a wonderful ride. 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.
Cyclists start at the northeast corner of Oldfather & Ina. The course goes
east to Oracle Rd., 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 chose the option of riding any other amount you wish. Ride as little or as
much as you want. The course will be monitored during the ride.
ONE STARTING POINT FOR ALL OPTIONS
NE Corner of Ina and Oldfather Rd.
(look for GABA signs)
Check in, pick up your route map instructions and start riding as soon as
you are ready.
OPTION #1 (100 mi):
Registration begins at 7:30 AM.
OPTION #2 ( 50 mi):
Register at 8 AM.
SAG 1 will be ONE MILE North of Oracle Junction, the turn-around point of hte
50-milers.
SAG 2. will be at the Tom Mix Monument, the turn-around point of the
100-milers.
SAG 3 is the same place as SAG 1.
Restrooms will be available at all sag stops, PLUS at the start/ finish.
Desert Fitness has graciously agreed to allow access to their bathrooms after 7
AM. We certainly appreciate this accommodation. You will have to sign in at
the counter to use their restrooms.
COURSE DETAILS:
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 Florence Hwy until you reach the Tom Mix
Monument. This is the turn around 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 start.
OPTION #2: 50 MILES
RIDE east on Ina Rd. to Oracle Rd., north past the town of Catalina to Oracle
Junction. Continue 1 mile north to SAG 1. This is your turn-around point.
Enjoy a sag stop with snacks, fruit & ice water. Then, return south on Oracle
Rd. to Ina Rd., then west on Ina back to start.
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER EARLY!
Your fee includes:
- Fully marked course;
- Three sag stops along the course with ice water, fruit and snacks as well
as at the finish;
- Sag support over the whole course for tired cyclists as well as sick bikes!
- Map and ride instructions given at the start.
NO MASS START:
Start riding after checking in
and picking up your map and ride instructions.
CPSC-approved helmets required.
All traffic rules must be obeyed.
Ride organizers: Jannene Johnson, jannenejohnson@hotmail.com or 520-349-4083.
Volunteers are appreciated; if interested, please call Jannene as soon as
possible!
ADVANCED REGISTRATION FEE
GABA/ABC members: $15
NON members: $20
DAY OF EVENT FEE:
GABA/ABC Members: $25
Non-Members: $30
Please register ahead of time! Help make the ride leader's job much, much
easier!
Bike Patrol Needed for El Tour XXII
Ride with a purpose...
Lend a helping hand...
Help keep our streets safe...
Members 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. To be
certified, you must attend a certification class. Sessions run 2 hours. As Bike
Patrol, your El Tour registration fee is waived, but a processing fee of $15
(Must be paid before 11/12) is required to cover cost of T-shirt, medical
supplies and support on the route. For info and to register, call PBAA,
745-2033.,
or www.pbaa.com
Bike Patrol Certification Classes:
10/20 (Wed) 7 PM - 2609 E. Broadway - Basic skills
11/19 (Thu) 7 PM - 2609 E. Broadway - Basic Skills
11/15 (Mon) 7 PM - 2692 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
Memorial Ride for Safety VII
Saturday, Oct. 9
Share the Road!
The Az Coalition has made this their 2004 theme in a Public Service
Announcement to educate the public on the State Law A. R. S. 28-735. Join the
Coalition and Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club for this great ride. The routes are
100K and
35 miles through Carefree and scenic vista's North in the Tonto National
Forest, Pinnacle Peak and to beautiful Bartlett Lake.
Your entry fee will include a ride map, 2 rest stops, and a B-B-Q meal at the
finish. T-Shirts for the ride will be in limited supply, so indicate your
size and include an extra $10.
The Safety Ride and the safety message grew out of the tragic cycling
accident that killed Winston Benson seven years ago. The Coalition of Arizona
Bicyclists is an organization dedicated to educate riders, motorists, and
government
officials on all issued concerning bicycling in our state. For more info,
call Rich at 602-953-2585
Tour de Farm
Saturday, Oct. 23
Hot wheels, cool bikes and serious fun are what are in store for this year's
14th Annual Tour de Farm bicycle ride. Hosted by H3O4 and Schnepf Farms
(formerly Cooley Charities), proceeds of the event will provide support to
organizations that help prevent the pain and suffering of chronic disease, and
physical and emotional abuse for Arizonans.
The event start and finish point will be Schnepf Farms, in conjunction with
the Schnepf Farms Annual Pumpkin and Chili Festival.
The Oct. 23 Tour de Farm cycling event includes rides for bike teams,
individuals, couples and families. The Metric Century Ride boasts 62.5 miles
for the
avid rider, while the 30-mile ride is a perfect excursion for the weekend
athlete and the 12-mile ride is a fun ride the whole family can enjoy.
Registration begins at 6:30 AM .
For more info, contact Katherine de Tristan at 602-319-4390 or
tristancommunications@cox.net or visit tourdefarm.com
14th Annual
Palo Verde Nuclear Century
50 & 100-Mile Options
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Sponsored by GABA West Valley
Trick or treat! It may be Halloween, but there'll be no tricks, just treats.
This ride is a treat — relatively flat with relatively little traffic. And the
rest of the treat is that the proceeds from this ride will be donated to Safe
Kids of Maricopa County to buy helmets for children. Help us support this
worthy cause, and treat yourself to a great ride at the same time.
The Palo Verde Nuclear Century is the West Valley's signature ride! There are
4 sag stops on the 100-mile ride, 2 on the 50-mile ride, all well stocked
with homemade cookies and banana bread, fruit and water; roving support & lunch
at the park after the ride. Great training ride for other fall rides!
Registration / Check-in opens at 7:00 AM
Ride Starts at 8:00 AM
No mass start — it's not a race.
Ride begins and ends at Estrella Mountain Park in Goodyear, AZ.
DIRECTIONS to the park: West on I-10 to the Litchfield Rd exit; South on
Litchfield Rd to Hwy. 85; Right on Hwy 85 heading west to Bullard Ave; South
(left) on Bullard to Vineyard; Right on Vineyard to park entrance. Follow GABA
signs to the big Ramada on the west end.
NOTE: $5 per vehicle charge to enter the park. Save $ and our environment —
carpool with a friend!
REGISTRATION FEES
GABA/ABC Members - $20.00
Non-Members - $25.00
Late Fee - $5.00 if you haven't mailed your registration by 10/23.
Contact Betsy Turner, 623-979-8110 or visit
www.sportsfun.com.
Guaranteed Success
For All GABA Ride Leaders!
By Carole Leiker
Move over Harry Potter! GABA's ride leader notebooks have magical powers that
guarantee success for all GABA ride leaders!
Seems like GABA has been putting on Century and Overnight rides forever. So
several years ago, some wise GABA member said, "Hey, why don't we write this
stuff down as a resource for the next person?"
Notes were made, collected, collated and sometimes stapled, bent and
mutilated. The result was a series of notebooks designed for step by step use
for
ride leaders. Forms are provided for everything from budgets to registration.
Guides are provided for cue sheets and shopping lists.
Sign up to be a ride leader. Follow the steps in the magic notebook and I
guarantee you will have a successful experience! Call Carole Leiker, our
volunteer coordinator to get first dibs on the Century or Overnight ride you
want to
lead. You can reach Carole at 297-6138.
Sunrise-Sunset Times
Mtn Standard Time, Tucson AZ
OCTOBER
RISE SET
A.M. P.M.
1: 6:17 6:09
7: 6:21 6:01
14: 6;26 5:53
21: 6:32 5:45
28: 6:37 5:38
NOVEMBER
RISE SET
A.M. P.M.
1: 6:40 5:34
7: 6:45 5:29
14: 6:52 5:25
21: 6:58 5:21
28: 7:04 5:19
Upcoming Meeting Programs
We are always working to provide Members with an interesting program each
month.
If you would like to be a presenter, or know of someone who could share
slides and stories of bike trips, please contact me!
Scheduled programs coming up:
October: Barry & Joyce Weiss on their bike touring in China!
November: BICAS. Come and find out what they are about.
December: Holiday Season Pot Luck!
Sally Krusing, Publicity Director,
296-0319 or supersal@cox.net
Thank You,
Dorothy Barth & Richard McBain!
By Suzanne Couvrette, Editor
While I was away, Dorothy and Richard did a wonderful job putting together
the August and September Updates!
Dorothy volunteered to help out, and Richard volunteered to help Dorothy!
While I could put the Update together in my sleep, for someone who has never
done it before, it is quite a task!
The amount of work involved is extensive, and the final product that Dorothy
and Richard got to the press, speaks for itself! But I hear they are very
glad that I am back!
How to Train More Safely During the Week
by Richard E "Rich" Corbett
Certified Cycling Instructor & Coach
and 33 year-round bicycle commuter
It's Fall! And the chances are good that you are training for El Tour. We
all know that Fall brings with it a lot less daylight for bicycling, especially
when you work a full-time job. If you are training properly for El Tour, you
virtually have to ride at least part of the time in the dark.
For more than twenty years, I have ridden at least six months of the year in
the dark, with no accidents or close calls. Why? Because I use extra caution &
common sense.
Remember that when, how, and where you ride, as well as the way you equip
your bicycle and yourself, are the main ingredients of safer nighttime cycling.
I
discuss each of these below.
First Choose the best time of day to ride - the morning!
Ride in the morning - not the evening. There's quite a bit less traffic, and
almost no impaired drivers on the road then. The streets are especially
quieter in the early (6 AM) morning hours.
Second - Be smart in where & how you ride!
Where you ride has lots to do with your safety at night. Wide, well-lighted
streets with little traffic are the best places to ride. And the worst places
are narrow, unlighted streets with more traffic. But even the best places can
be hazardous if both you and your bicycle are not equipped to be seen easily.
How you ride, perhaps even more than where you ride, makes a major
difference in your safety. How steady you ride, whether you signal and
check for other vehicles before changing lanes or lane position, and whether
or not you obey traffic signals & signs, etc., contribute to your safety both
in the day and at night. Riding predictably and responsibly is especially
important at night, when your ability to see and be seen is so greatly reduced.
Predictability of all road users is even more important at night than in the
daytime.
Third - Light Your Bike!
Make you and your bicycle more readily visible at night with good
comprehensive lighting and reflectorization.
Arizona law says a bicycle being used any time from sunset to sunrise must
have a white headlight visible from as far as 500 feet away, and a red rear
reflector visible from as far as 300 feet away. These are the legal minimums; to
help your own safety, exceed them as much as you reasonably can.
Your bicycle lights should do two very important things for you:
1) help you see where you are going, and
2) help you be seen by others (often forgotten by auto drivers this time of
year).
You should have at least one headlight, the legally required red rear
reflector, and a taillight (a taillight is absolutely essential if you want to
be
identified as a vehicle). Many high quality battery lighting systems have been
widely available for years, so there's no excuse to not have a decent system. If
price is important, you may want to choose a generator system, as they are
more economical, especially if you ride only occasionally at night.
Depending on the beam pattern, as little as 5 watts, or as much as 20 watts
of headlight are needed to meet the two objectives of being seen, and seeing
where you are going. The best battery powered lights use re-chargeable battery
packs (Ni-Cad, Ni-Mh, Li-In). They are powerful and lightweight, but also
expensive. An alternative battery type that is less expensive, but heavier, is
the
gel lead-acid. Balance cost, weight, and service life for alternative battery
types and sizes as you decide which will work best for you.
Supplemental lights & reflectors:
One of the most common and effective rear lights out is the flashing red
diode taillight. Vista Lite pioneered this clever light (it comes in a
variety of types now). These Lights are excellent to supplement a taillight
and a reflector, and greatly enhance your visibility from the rear, but, be
certain they can be seen easily from the rear, based on how you wear them (I
have seen more than a few aimed up at the sky, visible only when I get 15 to 25
feet behind the cyclist.
Pedal reflectors (or reflective heels on your shoes) are highly effective,
and every bike should have them. You can easily put reflective tape on your
pedals and use a hobby knife to trim the excess off. The result will be
ultra-light, ultra-thin pedal reflectors! Remember that reflectorized bicycle
packs also
contribute to nighttime visibility.
To increase your own visibility, you can use reflective Scotchlite tape or
Reflexite brand material on your shoes, helmet, and even on your clothing
(Reflexite can be sewn on). Some brands of bike shoes have reflectorization, and
you can, of course, use lights that attach to the rider, such as the previously
mentioned flashing red diode taillights.
Christmas Tree?
You might be accused of being a Christmas tree if you follow these
recommendations, but you will be a lot safer when you ride at night, and your
chances of
becoming a statistic will be greatly reduced. By following these suggestions,
you can train the two or three mornings a week that are so important to
achieving really top conditioning. Good Luck in El Tour!
Copyright 2004, Richard E. Corbett Tucson AZ
24th Annual
Grand Canyon to The Old Pueblo Bicycle Tour
Great Arizona Bicycle Adventure
October 2 - 9, 2004
Information Message Line:
(520) 349-5932
Web Site: www.bikegaba.org
Grand Canyon to the Old Pueblo
Bicycle Tour
Oct. 2nd through Oct. 9, 2004
Route: The 525-mile route begins in Tusayan, near the Grand Canyon, and ends
in Tucson, Arizona. The Tour includes 6 days of riding and one day lay over
in Show Low, for an average of 82 miles per day, and a total elevation gain of
about 16,000 feet!
Friday, October 1st
at the Best Western Airport Inn in Phoenix:
5:30-7:30 PM Pre-Tour Check-in.
6:30-8:00 PM Social Hour/Meet Your Fellow Cyclists. 8:00-9:00 PM
Welcome Banquet.
Saturday, October 2nd
Optional bus trip and bike transportation ($) from the Phoenix Best Western
Airport Inn to Tusayan, leaving for the Grand Canyon by 8 AM. Relax and enjoy
the scenery. Sack lunch with beverage provided on the bus. In Tusayan, visit
the spectacular IMAX Grand Canyon movie presentation. Take your bike for a
short spin and ride to see the awesome vistas of the south rim of the Grand
Canyon!
Ride Day 1: Sunday, October 3rd
Tusayan to Gray Mountain: 68 miles; 3800 feet of climbing.
Pedal along the East Rim Drive and enjoy the beauty of the Number One tourist
attraction in the world, the Grand Canyon! Continue on to see the stark
beauty of the high desert Navajo Reservation.
Ride Day 2: Monday, October 4
Gray Mountain to Flagstaff: 66 miles; 4700 feet of climbing.
An incredible scenic route on the Sunset Crater Wupatki Loop Road allows you
to visit numerous ruins, admire miles of the ancient Bonito Lava Flow, and
enjoy dramatic views of the sunset Crater volcanic cone and Humphrey's Peak -
Arizona's highest point at 12,663 ft.
Ride Day 3: Tuesday, October 5th
Flagstaff to Payson: 95 miles; 4900 feet of climbing.
Ride by Lake Mary and Mormon Lake in the world's largest ponderosa pine
forest. Crest over the Mogollon Rim and enjoy steep descents through the small
towns of Strawberry (great pies) and Pine.
Ride Day 4: Wednesday, October 6th - NEW THIS YEAR!
Payson to Show Low: 98 miles; 4000 feet of climbing.
Ride through the beautifully forested area of Arizona Rim Country. From
Payson at 5,000 feet of elevation, pedal through rolling hills to Show Low,
6,350
feet high.
Day Off in Show Low: Thursday, October 7th - DAY OFF
Explore the town named for the turn of a card. If your legs are ready to
pedal, ride the 25-mile round-trip to the town of Pinetop. This is a day for
rest and relaxation to enjoy Arizona's scenic high country.
Ride Day 5: Friday, October 8th - NEW THIS YEAR!
Show Low to San Carlos: 92 miles; 6200 feet of climbing.
Ride through the spectacular Salt River Canyon with a swift descent to the
river! Test your legs pedaling up and out of the canyon, on a day with dramatic
views, stunning geology and steep climbs.
Ride Day 6: Saturday, October 9th
San Carlos to Tucson: 106 miles; 5300' of climbing.
Ride over scenic El Capitan Pass followed by a 3,000 foot drop into the Gila
River Gorge! Pedal past Winkelman and Mammoth. Marvel at the magnificent
Catalina Mountain Range as get closer to Tucson.
Sunday, October 10th
Optional bus trip ($) from Tucson back to the Best Western Airport Inn in
Phoenix. Motor coaches will begin loading at 7:30 AM.
Registration Fee: $525 per rider
Before July 1st, 2004: $500
After August 31, 2004: $550
Fee Includes:
- Camping with showers;
- Daily baggage transport to designated campsites and motels;
- Quality food and beverage stops along the route;
- SAG support along the route;
- Eight Group dinners;
- Daily afternoon snacks and refreshments at the campsites;
- Entertainment on many evenings;
- Entrance pass to the Grand Canyon;
- Tour apparel;
- Tour route guide with maps;
- Mechanic support on the road;
- Massage (fee $) Therapists at daily destinations.
Motor coach & bike transport from Phoenix to start: add $45.
Motor coach & bike transportation back to Phoenix: add $40.
Brad P. Gorman
Memorial Bikeway
Rolling Along This Fall!
By Matthew Zoll
Pima County Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager
After several years of hard effort by Jean and Jim Gorman, the Tucson-Pima
County Bicycle Advisory Committee, area citizens, and Pima County staff, the
Brad P. Gorman Memorial Bikeway is scheduled to go to construction this
September.
This project involves the construction of 6-foot bike lanes on Catalina
Highway from Houghton Rd. to the base of Mt Lemmon, a popular destination for
residents and visitors who bicycle in the region.
Pima County will also be constructing a roadway bond project starting in
September that widens Catalina Highway from the city limits near Tanque Verde
Rd.
northeast to Houghton Rd. to a three-lane road way with 6-foot bike lanes.
These two projects will result in nearly 5.5 miles of bike lane on Catalina
Highway and will provide connectivity to the Tucson bikeway system all the way
to
the Downtown area.
Pima County attempted for several years to secure funding for the bike lanes,
and thanks to the persistent help of Jean and Jim Gorman, a Federal
Transportation Enhancement grant was finally awarded for the project. The bike
lanes
are named after their son Brad, who was riding his bike on Catalina Highway and
was fatally struck by a driver who passed unsafely.
The Gorman family immediately channeled their grief into doing many good
things in the region to promote safety for all roadway users, helping to secure
the funding for the Catalina Highway bike lanes, working hard to successfully
enact improved safe passing legislation in the state, and establishing the Brad
P. Gorman Memorial Bikeway Fund to further promote bicycle and pedestrian
safety throughout Arizona.
The construction of the two projects will take approximately 16 months. In
the meantime, cyclists may wish to avoid the project area if possible. Pima
County will also erect construction "Share the Road" signs within the project
area in order to promote safety for those bicyclists who may live along the
route and need to access their homes.
For further questions, please contact Matt Zoll at 740-6746. If you would
like to speak with or thank the Gorman family, they can be reached at 240-BRAD
(2723).
This map indicates some possible alternate routes mainly using local streets
to bypass the project area.