On December 14th

Or Maybe a Little Sooner

Hi Everyone,

Yes! I know it’s only the beginning of September and that Christmas seems like it will never come. But summer will end, the weather will cool, our winter snowbirds will arrive in droves, and faster than you can say, “Gee it seems a bit nippy, I think I’ll put a sweater on,” December will be here, and we’ll be asking you to decorate your bike and join us on GABA’s 2024 Christmas Toy Ride.

Which is why I’m writing to you now…

Last year, we had about 100 riders at the event - and three bike shops that set up toy boxes in their stores – which was great! But I know that with over 1,000 GABA members we can do even more this year to help the Salvation Army provide toys to needy kids.

We could use a few more people on the Toy Ride Committee. There’s a lot of planning to be done, and with your help (and fresh ideas) we can make this year’s event bigger and better.

We’d like to add riders from other areas of the city. Maybe you ride on a regular basis with people who might not be GABA members, but who would be glad to help. Please tell them about this year’s Toy Ride and ask them to join us.

What else do we need? Ride Leaders and Ride Leader Helpers… More participating bike shops…  And, if you have a contact at a local company, maybe even a corporate donation or two…

If you’d like to be on the Toy Ride Committee – or have an idea that you think would help us – please get in touch with me.

Bruce Tucker

Toy Ride Committee Coordinator

520-661-6210

btucker4sos@cox.net

Summertime Riding in the Desert: Out before 6:00, in by 10:00!

Lots of sunscreen, even more water!

Here's a sneek-peek of some upcoming events

Announcements will be sent out by email and on Facebook/Instagram

when registration opens, see you out there!

GABA EVENTS

E-Assist Etiquette
Bob Willman

GABA’s goal is to support all types of active riders. We are in a transition period where the ratio of e-bikes to analog bikes is increasing, and it is our goal to make this a seamless transition. As we age, and want to continue participating in group rides, some of us will transition to an eBike or eTrike (both henceforth referred to as eBikes). So, the question arises,” Are eBikes allowed on GABA Rides?” The answer has several levels.

The first level of yes or no is from Greater Arizona Bicycling Association. The answer there is yes, ebikes are allowed on GABA rides.

The second level of yes or no is from the ride leader. Most ride leaders allow eBikes on their rides. And some ride leaders will sometimes allow eBikes on their rides depending on the type of ride they are leading. So, if the ride posting does not exclude eBikes, eBikes are allowed on that specific ride.

The third level of yes or no is the eBike rider and how well they ride with the group. Ebike riders should maintain the ride leader’s pace and avoid disruptive actions. So, if you are riding an eBike you need to blend in with the non eBike riders not the other way around. Before you join a GABA ride on an eBike, are you familiar with how your eBike handles? Can you maintain a constant speed or are you constantly speeding up and then slowing down, making it extremely difficult and dangerous for the riders behind you to maintain a constant pace. Please practice with your new eBike on several rides prior to joining a GABA group ride or you may be asked by the ride leader not to participate in his future GABA rides.

There are good and some not so good bike and Ebike riders. I asked one of our particularly good and considerate eBike riders to help with a list of “Suggestions of Etiquette for Riding with a Group on an eBike.”

• Zooming along on an eBike is lot of fun, but your riding should not adversely affect the comfort and safety of other members of the group. You may still want to have friends at the end of the ride.
• If you really want to zoom, do it on your own or with a group of other eBikers.
• Try riding your eBike so that no one knows that you are on one.
• Try to ride within the group, as you would if you were on a regular bike, not using your power to stay up front.
• And if the Ride Leader tells the group to ride at their own pace, don’t desert your friends.
• When climbing up hills, be particularly respectful of those riders on regular bikes; this means not zipping by them, and, preferably, not passing them while spouting snide remarks.
• If you must pass another rider, let them know, and do not do it at high speed.
• Try to pedal with the same cadence as those around you; zipping along while barely pedaling might still be exercise, but it is not being a member of the group in good standing.
• As much as possible, avoid the use of throttles. They may be needed at startups on heavy bikes, but to others it may seem like you are riding a motorbike not a bicycle.
• Again remember, try riding your eBike so that no one knows you are on one. 

Register Now!

November 2nd 

Tumacacori Santa Cruz Valley Tour

What makes this such a GREAT ride?

• It's November in Tucson...perfect weather for a bicycle ride.

• With El Tour De Tucson a month away, it proves to be an excellent training ride.
• The route is a mixture of flat, rolling hills, and challenging climbs, all the while being very picturesque! Tubac will also be hosting their Day of the Dead activities if riders are interested in checking it out.

• We’ll be offering the same three routes as last year, 30 Mile, Metric Century and Full Century.

• We’ll have lots of water, hydration, snacks and support at each of the SAG stations as well as roaming support vehicles.

• We have some improvements from last year, with a lunch at the finish for all riders and some increased signage to avoid confusion.

• Hope to see you all there!   Tumacacori Santa Cruz Valley Tour

 

El Tour de Tucson and Tumacacori Training Rides have begun
Looking for a Day Ride? Check out our MeetUp page!
We have social rides, scenic routes and even training rides!
Join a Bike Repair here also!

GABA Wants You...for the Supported Rides Group! Join the Supported Rides Group and help GABA make the magic of the Supported Rides program happen!

Have fun and make new friends while helping your club be the best it can be and learning from one of the best-supported rides teams in the country. No experience necessary!

Supported Rides is responsible for coordinating and organizing the Century and Overnight Rides for GABA. These rides and events are the pinnacle for this organization. Having someone new with new energy and ideas for Supported Rides would be great for GABA and the Tucson community.  This position is open to more than one individual.

The Supported Rides Coordinator is a Board member position. The Supported Rides Coordinator is responsible for the direction of Supported Rides and will contribute to the success of GABA.  If you’re interested in becoming a Supported Rides Coordinator, please contact John at supportedrides@bikegaba.org or Matt Harmon at president@bikegaba.org.

GABA has a monthly newsletter, Paceline, available to both active GABA members and nonmembers. If you would like to receive this wonderful update on GABA happenings, please click this button. Paceline