THIS RIDE CAN ONLY HANDLE 42 RIDERS! SO DON'T WAIT TOO LONG AND MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT WEEKEND GET AWAY. PLEASE SIGN UP EARLY!!!
This 42 mile-per-day road ride takes you from Roadforks, New Mexico, to the eastern side of the Chiricahua Mountains and scenic Cave Creek Canyon. This is a great ride for anyone trying touring for the first time. Riders wanting more miles can add a loop through the little hamlets of Cotton City and Animas.
Roadforks lies along Interstate 10 near the border of Arizona and New Mexico. The first 30 miles of the ride is through gently rolling hills with one long downhill to the first rest stop. Next we turn east towards the Canyon and start a long, gradual climb to the tiny town of Portal.
Once entering the Canyon, we'll ride along a flowing creek in the shade of lush sycamore trees, meandering on the canyon floor between colorful towering cliffs. You'll pass small meadows where deer graze at dusk, and see birds of all descriptions around you.
Our unique destination is the Southwestern Research Station, surrounded by the Coronado National Forest, and offering a welcome retreat from the heat of the desert. The Station, with its comfortable dormitory-style cabins, is operated by the American Museum of National History.
As you come upon this oasis, the beautiful grounds with towering trees and green grass beckon you! A 60-foot-long, cool, creek-fed swimming pool will seem inviting at the end of your gradual climb to the Station. After lunch you can take a short hike, dangle your toes in the pool, or take a nap if you please. After dinner there is usually a spirited game of ping-pong happening in the game room, along with other games such as cribbage.
To get more details and to register for this great ride, click HERE
Jerseys Have Arrived
These colorful Club Cut jerseys are only $65 for the Sleeveless and $70 for the sleeved.
Pick up a couple of pairs of socks to go along with your jersey’s for a small price of $8 each.
Don’t hesitate, use up those GABA Bucks sitting in your drawer now!
They are available online in the GABA Gear section or you can pick them up at the monthly general meetings as well.
Calling All Volunteers
GABA NEEDS YOU TO VOLUNTEER!!
Is it your turn to volunteer for a GABA event? Have you always wanted to help but no one asked you? Are you ready to have fun meeting new friends and seeing your old friends while helping GABA put on great events?
Well now it is your turn, we are asking and yes you are ready!!!
GABA's most popular fall events are fastly approaching and we desparately need volunteers to help support these great rides and events.
Sunday October 24 - Tumacacori Century: This ride brings upwards of 400-600 riders every year and many volunteers are needed to help with registration and sign ins the day of the ride, SAG stops with great food and drink, sweep vehicles to help broken down riders, and yummy lunch at the end. Help out with this huge event by contacting the Century Coordinator,
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, or the Tumacori Ride Leader,
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.
Sunday, November 7 - Silverbell Century: This is a great supported ride that is just a couple weeks before the El Tour De Tucson which makes it a very popular training ride (200-300 riders). If you have organizational skills and like talking to people, then we need you to help lead this ride. All volunteer positions listed with the Tumacacori ride are needed as well. Please contact
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to volunteer for this ride.
Saturday, November 13 - GABA's Fall Bike Swap Meet: This is a huge event that brings the whole bicycling community together to sell, buy, trade, etc all bicycle related stuff! GABA needs volunteers to help man the GABA booth as well as help with crowd control and keeping the rowdies at bay, answering basic questions and generally have a great time with like minded people. This is a really fun event to volunteer for. You can help for a few hours or all day (5-2) if you want. Contact the Bike Swap Coordinator,
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, to get detailed information and sign up to help.
So what do GABA volunteers get in exchange for some very easy work?
.35 cents per mile for use of your vehicle (supported rides only)
GABA Bucks to use for other ride registration fees, GABA merchandise, membership renewals
Lots and lots of fun meeting all kinds of people and being part of a super event.
Help out with just one ride or event (or more if you want). Be part of a bigger community of cyclists and enthusiasts and have lots of fun doing it!
Gremlins Have Attacked our Newsletter!
The printing press was attacked by gremlins when our September Issue went to print!
Below are a few corrections that you need to know about:
1. The Cave Creek ride is October 16-17. Mail-in registration forms can be found HERE.
2. The GABA General meeting is Monday, September 13. Join us to see Richard Burris talk about his beautiful 3 month bicycle trip through Europe! The location of the meeting is the same as what is listed in the update.
3. The GABA Gruppo meetings are Monday, September 20. Anyone can join these meetings and make a difference in GABA's directions. The location of the meetings are the same as what is listed in the update.
4. The GABA Board meeting is Monday, September 27. The location of the meeting is the same as what is listed in the update.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, but rest assured, we have exorcised these demons!
El Tour Training Rides
Mark Your Calendars for the 2010 El Tour Training Rides! ...and considering helping out as a ride leader or co-ride leader!
Training time for the El Tour de Tucson is just around the corner, and GABA is preparing to help lead the way again. Starting the Sunday after Labor Day (September 12), GABA will begin both East Side and West Side El Tour Training Rides with some exciting new additions and changes.
Not only will GABA coordinate "Short" and "Long" training rides to help cyclists train for the 65, 80 and 109-mile options, but a "Novice" ride will again be added to the schedule. The Novice option, named the "Rosa" Group will be designed for riders that are either new to cycling, or new to road bikes or longer distances. See the article below for information on the Rosa Group rides.
East Side long and short rides will continue to leave from Udall Park on Tanque Verde, but West Side rides will leave from either the Pima Community College West campus or the northwest side of town at Arthur Pack Regional Park (9101 N. Thornydale), hopefully to accommodate a larger population of GABA members. The Rosa Group will leave from the NE corner of River/Craycroft.
The El Tour Training rides have incorporated C to A level cyclists within both the Short and Long options. The positive aspect of this is that everyone finds other members of the group to ride with that are at the same level, or are able to challenge themselves by keeping up with a group at a slightly higher speed. However, these rides could be even better for everyone with co-ride leaders specifically for C/C+ levels and B-A levels. This would create a more supportive learning and training environment for everyone and smaller groups. To accomplish this GABA needs your help! The Day Ride Coordinator, other Board Members and past El Tour Training Ride Leaders will guide you and help out with sign-in sheets, route maps, safety tips and more.
Help make the El Tour Training Rides more successful and enjoyable for everyone by signing up to be a ride leader or co-ride leader for any of the following options –and earn $5 in GABA Bucks for each ride!
East Side Short: C/C+ pace or B- to A pace Long: C/C+ pace or B- to A pace "Rosa" Group Novice Rides
West Side Short: C/C+ pace or B- to A pace Long: C/C+ pace or B- to A pace
Contact Day Ride Coordinator Ike Smith:
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or 886-2919 to help out or to get more information.
Tentative schedule for the El Tour Training Ride Dates/Times (Sundays):
Long / Short / Novice Sept. 12 6:15 / 6:30 / 7:30 am Sept. 19 6:15 / 6:30 / 7:30 am Sept. 26 6:30 / 6:45 / 7:30 am Oct. 3 6:30 / 6:45 / 7:30 am Oct. 10 6:45 / 7:00 / 7:30 am Oct. 17 6:45 / 7:00 / 7:30 am Oct. 24 Tumacacori Century Ride Oct. 31 7:00 / 7:15 / 7:30 am Nov. 7 Silverbell Century Ride Nov. 14 7:00 / 7:15 / 7:30 am
El Tour de Tucson: Saturday, November 20
Be the best El Tour Training Rider you can be by taking a Bike Safety Class this summer. GABA strongly recommends that all members planning to ride in the El Tour Training Rides take at least the Road I class (it's free!). Visit www.bikeped.pima.gov for a schedule of free classes.
Rosa Group 2010
Rosa Rides Again
Last year the Rosa groups, East and West side, trained from 6 miles up to 35, in order to do El Tour's stupendous 35 mile ride. And the group was fantastic; several are going on to bigger and better mileage.
To change things up this year, GABA members Ann Pardo, Rosa Group Founder, and Andrea Lightfoot, GABA member and previous East Side El Tour Training Ride Leader, along with help from some other good people, will lead a ride every Sunday at 7:30 am from River/Craycroft (NE corner parking lot) during the El Tour Training season.
Our goal is to ride repetitive routes so as not to concentrate too much on maps and new areas, and in order to acquire competence and a few group riding skills. We will aim for close to 35 miles every week with about a C pace (+ or – depending on the group and route). There is even a possibility to have breakfast after the ride....
If you want to be part of this or know others who could use a non-competitive Sunday ride, based on camaraderie and healthy fun, please call Ann at 235-7222.
Watch for the schedule in the Day Rides Section of the GABA newsletter, starting in September.
Tour De Safford
The foundation board of the Mt Graham Regional Medical Center is proud to announce the first annual Tour de Safford.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
1. Incredibly beautiful desert route (moderate hills with some thrilling climbs and breathtaking downhills)
2. Outstanding roads (mostly new and completely swept by local authorities just before the event).
3. Three distances. 104 MILES/69 MILES/33 MILES
4. Endorsed by Perimeter Bicycling as an ideal final Tour de Tucson training event.
5. Timed event by CEP timing (the ones El Tour de Tucson uses)
6. T Shirts and Medals for all participants who register in time
7. One of a kind Medals to be minted from local Morenci copper. Now that's cool!
8. Registration fee only $50 with $15 processing fee.
10. WATCH for the upcoming YOUTUBE VIDEO of the 104 mile route!
11. Other family events that day at the Safford airport where the start and finish line will be. Antique airplane exhibit, classic car show, motorcycle show, food and live music.
This all benefits the local Mt Graham Regional Medical Center.
GABA Jersey Blow Out Sale
Hot Deals On Our Classic Jersey
We are lowering the price of our yellow/blue jersey to $25 for the sleeved and $20 for the sleeveless. These jerseys are quality made from Louis Garneau. LIMITED SIZES available, so buy one now while they last!
Click HERE to go to the merchandise page to order online or come to a GABA General meeting held the first Monday of each month and buy one there.
AND MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT WEEKEND GET AWAY. PLEASE SIGN UP EARLY!!!
