Paceline 

February 8, 2015 

 

 

In This Issue 

  • President's Message
  • March Meeting
  • Board of Directors
  • Owls Head Butte Century
  • Sonoita-Bisbee Spring Bike Tour
  • Vanquished
  • El Tour News
  • Marvelous March
  • Bent Wanderings
  • Your Stories Wanted
  • Grant's Ride

Support The People Who Support Us!!  

 

 

Sabino Cycles  

Sabino Cycles 

7045 E. Tanque Verde

520-885-3666 

 





    4th Avenue



 
trisports ad 2011


 

        El Grupito, and 
            U23 Team

  

 From Damion Alexander's Facebook Page


 

El Grupo Youth Cycling unveiled the new kits tonight. Also, El Brupito had their first ever team shirts. Finally, an new U23 with 3 El Grupo Alumni was rolled out. I'm feeling like we might be seeing a whole lot of podiums in the near future. Stay tuned on The Damion Alexander Team for more photos.


 


 

Bikes and Links
of Interest....
  

 

 Norway Has World's First Bike Escalator

Bicycling is a cheap and healthy way to get around, but a steep hill can become a casual cyclist's Achilles' heel. Luckily, the Norwegian city of Trondheim has a solution to this problem - a bike escalator.

Invented in the 90's by a commuter who grew tired of showing up to work sweaty and exhausted, the Trampe lift, recently upgraded and reinvented as the CycloCable, has already carried over 200,000 bicyclists up this 150m-long cyclist deterrent. The curious escalator has become a tourist magnet as well.

Cyclists who place one foot on the escalator's angled platform will be pushed uphill at a speed of 5mph. Up to 5 people can use it simultaneously and it is not limited to bicycles, as it can carry basically any small wheeled transport with its owner, be it a kid with scooter or a mother with a baby stroller.

Installing this invention is obviously a great way to boost cycling in hilly cities, but they'll have to be quite busy - one meter of this elevator costs 2,000-3,000$.

You'll find photos of the escalator and at the bottom of the page you can watch a video of the escalator in action. Click Here

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And, Just in Case you'd like to walk up...



 

 

_____________________

 

Please send your ideas for new links to ...

[email protected]


 


 


 

     Bent Wanderings:
 
A Spiritual Journey Of a Recumbent Rider

by Susan Reed

 

 

 Dex Tooke is my hero, my model of how to be just a regular person who has an epic goal. He knew how to surrounded himself with a crew team of people who were totally invested in his succes--riding solo in Race Across America (RAAM) a one-stage race at age 60+. He fell short of the goal with the finish line nearly in sight in 2010. BUT, he got back on his bike a year later and crossed the finish line in Annapolis. His unfinished business was finally finished.

 

Every year since Dex published his book, Unfinished Business, I re-read it just before the start of RAAM. Even though I know the outcome I'm riveted by his compelling telling of his 2011 RAAM. Tears roll down my face; I cheer for him; I feel his demons (and my own) trying to choke out success; I feel his mental and physical fatigue and that of his crew. After all, this is a one-stage race 24/7 for 12 consecutive days for rider and crew. I collapse in a puddle of delicious tears of triumphant success and fatigue when he and his crew are received at the Annapolis finish line.

 

I am not and never was RAAM material; and, of course, I never will be given this is my 70th year.

 

But, I totally, totally relate to being just a nothing-special kind of rider who just happens to have my own version of epic goals. My most recent epic goal was that of riding 200 miles, a double century, in 12 hours. I caught the vision in 2011, went for it in 2013 and failed; went for it again in 2014 and failed. Went for it again in 2015 and Finished The Business--precisely 200 miles precisely in 12 hours.

 

Still don't know how I did that, I really don't.

 

But I do know that Dex rode with me, especially in the last 30 minutes of my race against the clock.

 

Let me share with you a few paragraphs from Unfinished Business that resonated in my mind's ear for the last minutes and miles of my 200/12 as I chased down my own ticking clock.

 

*****

 

From Unfinished Business pages 166-167 by Dex Tooke:

 

"Time was so critical that Joni timed my 15 minute sleep to the second. I awoke and immediately started asking questions. Joni just told me, "Shut up, we don't have time for your questions. You just need to get on your bike and ride!"

 

"It was a little after 3:00 a.m. when I climbed back in the saddle--in less than nine hours the RAAM official would turn off the clock at the finish line."

 

"I began to ride again, but my speed did not improve. Joe and Dan looked at their charts and they could see that my average mph was continuing to drop below the critical line. At this point, Joe was desperate to do whatever he could to keep my RAAM from going down the tubes, so he grabbed the PA system mike, knowing I could hear him better than when he used the headset, and he started working on me."

 

"Dex, you gotta go faster, You have to push. Dex, what do you want to say in three weeks? Do you want to go back to Del Rio and tell all the Dexans that you did the best you could but just came up short?"

 

"When you get back to Del Rio and speak at the Lion's Club and the Rotary Club, how is your speech going to end, Dex? Are you going to tell them you didn't finish RAAM? Are you going to give them excuses?"

 

"Dex, you are writing that speech right now. You are writing your final chapter in RAAM. How is that chapter going to end, Dex? I want you to show me right now with your pedals and your body how that speech is going to end. Do it right now, Dex."

 

"Tears of joy poured from Joni as she saw me wake up. She said, "Guys, he is doing what he does best now. I've seen this before. He's going to make it."

 

"Dan called it the single most impressive demonstration of pure will he had ever seen."

 

*****

 

As for me, well, when any of us is in our 70th year, the clock is proverbially ticking away from anything physically epic.

 

What I knew was that on January 11, 2015 all the conditions were as favorable as they were ever going to get: weather, bike, crew, physical health. I needed to give this ticking clock everything I had and answer Daniel's loud speaker:

 

"Ok, Mama, you can do this, but you gotta pick it up, you can do this but you gotta pick it up. We're going 20 but you gotta pick it up to 21." You can do this Mama, yes, you can!" No coasting, you gotta keep pedaling; you can do this, grab my wheel. You can't let up."

 

And when my clock stopped, I had finished the business: 200/12, an accomplishment that could only have happened with a huge supporting cast on that day and many years of days before January 11, 2015.

 

Huge hugs of gratitude to all of you who have helped me finish this epic goal. 

 

 

For Sale or Items Wanted

 

GABA Classifieds Added to our Website  

 

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Extra, Extra, Read all about it... In addition to the listings that we've started in the Paceline, you can now post your own classified ads on the GABA website. You'll find the link on the left side of the home page and when you click on it you'll find yourself on a page titled Want Ads. You do have to be a GABA member in order to post an ad, so...if you're reading this and you're not already signed up, here's just one more great reason to join GABA.

 

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If you have a bike related item you'd like to buy, sell, or trade, send the details to me and I'll put it into the next issue. Be sure to include your contact info so an interested party can contact you directly.

 

In order to keep the ads fresh, we're going to run them for a couple of issues, then make room for new merchandise.

 

If your item sells before I drop it, please let me know and I'll save you some phone calls by removing it sooner.

 

And, of course, if you'd like to re-list your bike... just send it in again.

 

Greetings!

   

It's February, which means that the weather could be anything from warm and sunny to pouring rain. But hey, before you grumble, just think of your friends on the east coast...

 

And, as always, I'd like to remind everyone that the Paceline is your newsletter... so... Please send us your articles and stories so we can share them with all of our GABA members. 

 

BT.

 A Message from the President

 

Just in case you missed Eric's message in the last issue, I thought I'd run this again. BT

 

Thank you for your support as we move into 2015.  I am pleased and excited to have the privilege of serving GABA as the new president this year.  You can email [email protected] with any suggestions and requests that you like.  I hope to hear more about what you would like in the programming for the general meetings.  Also, it would be great to hear from everyone as to what we do that you want more of.  Let me know your ideas for how we can grow and improve this already great bicycle club.

 

It is, of course, thanks to you and all of the volunteers that GABA is the largest bicycle club in the State of Arizona.  Good job, well done everyone!

                                                                                   

We intend to have a great program for the general membership meetings.  These meetings are the first Monday of every month (except holiday Mondays) at 7:00 p.m. at the Pima Medical Society, 5199 East Farness, Tucson.

 

Our Board meetings are open to the membership and we hope to see you there.

 

Very Truly Yours,

 

Eric Post

GABA President

 

March General Meeting

Monday, March 2, 2015

7:00 p.m.

 

Guest Speaker Eric Alikpala, M.S. : Notes on Exercise Physiology 

 

Eric Alikpala, M.S.

Exercise Physiologist, Cyclist, Father, Personal Trainer, and Lecturer

 

We all know what it feels like when tightened muscles "cramp" beyond speakable words.

 

Is it a task to remain hydrated daily, during a ride, and post-ride?  What stops you from stretching and staying hydrated daily?

 

Are today's modern technology gadgets getting in the way of why you originally enjoy cycling? Or are you getting the most out of your training because of new technology?

 

For over 20 years, with patience and a thorough knowledge of the human body, Eric has helped clients achieve greater strength and a renewed motivation for a healthy lifestyle. Mr. Alikpala trains others, teaches, and continues to endure as the best person and athlete he can be-- with the same continued passion decade after decade.

 

Eric received his master's degree in physical education at San Diego State University, and then completed a second master's degree in physiological sciences at the University of Arizona.  He specializes in aquatic therapy and rehabilitation, athletic endurance training, aging and disease states, and exercise for prescription of joint limitations.

 

Pima County Medical Society Building

5199 E Farness

Tucson, AZ     

       

The What...
The Why...
The Who...
&
Here the scoop on the 2015 GABA Board of Directors 

  

GABA supports the Tucson area riding community in many ways. It helps keep kids on their bikes by providing free bike repair events at each of the Boys and Girls clubs and other community events. GABA provides many opportunities for cyclist to ride their bikes and meet new friends by putting day rides and fully supported centuries and overnight rides. GABA's Swap Meet has grown and is now the biggest in the southwest. GABA puts on special events such as the Kids Toy ride, the Ride of Silence and Bike to the Zoo. GABA supports other bicycling organizations and events such as BICAS, El Gruppo and Cyclovia.

 

None of this would take place without a strong and dedicated Board. After many years as President, Wayne Cullop will be stepping down and Eric Post will be stepping up to become our next President.  Wayne will be taking on the responsibility for advocacy and volunteer coordinator.

 

We still need a new Vice President and someone to take over as Swap Meet Coordinator. The vice-president's duties include filling in for the president, coordinating the monthly program presentations and filling in where needed. The swap meet coordinator works with the Forth Avenue Merchants Association to put on two swap meets per year and to support the many vendors.  If you are interested in supporting GABA and the Tucson area bicycling community by serving on GABA's Board, please contact Wayne Cullop (520) 977-3018 or Eric Post (520) 297-9601.

  


President ..............................Eric Post 

Vice President ...................... Open  

Secretary .............................Patrick Rinckey

Treasurer .............................Janet Landis  

Volunteer & Advocacy ......... Wayne Cullop 

Membership ..........................Rich Rousseau 

Supported Rides ...................
Jim Harms 

Supported Rides ...................
Pam Cullop 

Supported Rides ...................Colleen Giles 

Bike Swap Coordinator .........
Greg Yares 

Webmaster ...........................Mike Blomquist 

Day Ride Coordinator ...........Chuck Martin 

Shed Master ......................... Paul Yurgen

Advocacy ..............................Susan Reed 

Social Coordinator ................Laura Horvath 

Publicity Coordinator ............Jennifer Watling 

Quarterly Compiler ...............Steve Correll 

Paceline Editor .....................Bruce Tucker 

  

  

Two New Board Members for 2015

  

Taking on the position of Publicity Coordinator is Jennifer Watling. Jennifer has done many volunteer events and has experience with a variety of non-profit organizations such as: the Junior League of Greenwich, CT, Boston, MA, and Tucson, AZ, the Breast Cancer Alliance in Greenwich, CT, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY, Handel and Hayden Society in Boston, MA. Jennifer will help GABA to better publicize events and recruit sponsors. She is a member of Living Streets Alliance.

 

Taking on the position Social Coordinator is Laura Horvath. Laura is very familiar with GABA as she worked for Territorial Newspapers where GABA's Update was published and has volunteered on past GABA events. She is on the volunteer board of the ADA's Tour de Cure.

 

Owls Head Butte Century

Sunday, February 15, 2015

 

 

The course has been under revision for the past few years, with improvements based on riders' feedback. Now the bumpiest and crudest of roads have been eliminated for your riding pleasure.

 

All riders will start and end at Ora Mae Harn Park across from the Marana Town Hall  and upon return, have a delicious Post Ride lunch (included in the price of the ride) waiting for them. Owls Head Butte Century will offer three ride length options: Short (36 miles), Medium (63 miles), and Long (100 miles). If you haven't done this ride (under its previous incarnations of Picacho Peak or Park links Century) in a while, it's time to give it another try!

 

Here's a link to the GABA page where you can register for the ride and get all of the other information you'll need to have a great time.

 

Want to help?   Everyone needs to take a turn to help make all our GABA rides a success! You could help at registration before the ride, or at a sag stop along the course, or as a sweep vehicle to help cyclists with problems. Click HERE for more volunteer information about the different positions. Please email any of the following; Volunteer Coordinator Wayne Cullop at [email protected], Ride Organizers, or by contacting the Supported Rides Coordinators Jim Harms, Pam Cullop or Colleen Giles at  [email protected]

 

Sonoita-Bisbee Spring Bike Tour

Saturday, March 21 - Sunday March 22

 

Sonoita Bisbee  

 

With the spring sun beckoning you to Bisbee and the wind at your back, travel east on Hwy 82, and feast your eyes on rolling grassland country with the lofty Huachuca Mountains at the horizon. Join us for a weekend of camaraderie, fitness and fun in Bisbee! Pedal long rolling hills and enjoy scenic vistas as you make your way to the quaint old mining town of Bisbee, now an arts colony, nestled in Southeast Arizona's Mule Mountains.

 

Click HERE for more details 

 

 20012 Vanquished

 

by Susan Reed

 

 

I DID IT, yes, indeed, I did it Sunday, January 11, 2015: exactly 200 miles in exactly 12 hours according to the iPhone world clock.

 

So why, 200/12?

 

Well, it all got started in Springfield, Ohio in 2010 at Calvin's Challenge, a 12-hour Challenge ride. The goal: how far can you ride in 12 hours? I'd never raced the clock before in an organized ride, and had no idea what to expect.

 

I don't remember how far I rode in 2010, but nothing impressive at all. But I learned a lot as I watched how other riders set up their personal SAG stop, whether they were riding self-supported or if they had a crew managing their fuel and fluids.

 

I rode Calvin's again in 2011; and again I would be riding it self-supported. But, this time I had a much better idea of how to organize my fuel and fluids to manage my off-the-bike time, an essential for time trial success. My goal this time was to complete a 300k distance (186 miles) in 12 hours. My computer read out was 186 miles in 11:30 and so I stopped. I had met my goal.

 

Only later did I realize that 200/12 was quite possibly in reach but I would have to hurry because Mother/Father Time was marching on: I was then 66.

 

2013 my husband Kirk and I drove to Coachella, CA for the 6-12-24 Hr National Championships. I would try again, this time with Kirk crewing, providing my food, fluids, and nutritional supplements along the way. I abandoned the ride after about 150 miles because of seizure activity, a new diagnosis I had acquired about 3 months before the Time Challenge.

 

I was keenly disappointed because clearly there was no chance I would be doing anything serious with ultra-distance cycling at my age. I would not be registering for any more organized time challenge rides. And so, it seemed, a goal was removed from my bucket unachieved.

 

Then Dan Fallon, an ultra cyclist from Prescott, AZ who also rides a recumbent, offered to support me doing a 200/12 apart from any "officially organized" Challenge Ride. THANK YOU Dan, for your idea and your awesome support April 2, 2014!!

 

On Dan's recommended course (Eagle Eye and Salome Roads West and South of Wickenburg, AZ) I punched out the first 100 miles in 5:30. Good start. Then this wall of wind just ground me to a halt. I abandoned the ride after 135 miles. No need to continue when 200 was nowhere within reach in 12 hours.

 

And so, the 200/12 goal was, once again, removed from my bucket unachieved.

 

Then, Good News! my cycling friend, Jeff Rogers, would be in Tucson for the month of January. He, too, had been questing after a 200/12. Maybe, just maybe, working together on the road with Kirk crewing for both of us, we could get 'er done; and so the planning began.

 

We wanted to keep it simple, do it locally, but we needed to find a course that was flat, with no stop signs, minimal traffic, and with a reasonably good road surface, the latter being somewhat hard to find in Tucson.

 

And the answer to those questions was: the I-10 Frontage Road between exit 236 (Marana Road) and exit 212 (Picacho Blvd) on the East side of I-10. There was a McDondald's at exit 236, lots of services at Picacho Peak, exit 219, and nothing at exit 212. Kirk would park the SAG vehicle at Red Rock, Exit 226, roughly half-way in between.

 

Our bike computers started rolling at 7:03.

 

Outbound, heading northwest, was ever so slightly downhill, an elevation gain over 24 miles of 22'. We also had a tailwind and saw speeds between 20-25. While that felt good, we also knew those 20's would become 12-15's when we turned around to head southeast. And that's exactly what happened. Not only did we have a head wind, but we also had an elevation gain of 428 feet over those same 24 miles.

 

Lap 2 was pretty much the same weather-wise. Kirk met us at mile post 236 at 1:00 p.m., with 96 miles done: A  Micky-D burger for Jeff and my long-distance bike lunch of moist rice, tuna in olive oil, kalamata olives, and avocado. All the bio needs, including having eaten our fill, were met and we were back on the bike in 15 minutes.

 

Mile 111 required a strategy change. Jeff was dealing with some digestive issues and urged me to continue on without him. He would keep riding, but didn't want me to slow down. He and I had had several conversations the week before the ride considering as many "what-if" scenarios as we could imagine so each of us could be as successful as we could be, neither of us encumbering the other with whatever life happened to us on the road.

 

And so, I rode on.

 

Daniel, our son who lives in Tucson, a strong rider who also just happens to be 6'-6", would be joining our team at 5:00 p.m. to put his fresh legs and billboard-sized body in front and let us grab the slip stream behind his wheel.

 

And so, at mile 160 I met him on the road, minus Jeff, and slipped behind his wheel.

 

Daniel shouted: "How's the pace?"  We were going 20 mph.

 

"Faster!"  I said. He picked it up to 21.

 

"How's the pace?" 

 

"Faster!" I said.  He picked it up to 22.

 

I said, "When you hear my Zipp freewheel hub clickety-clicking, pick it up, cuz then I'm coasting!"

 

And so we rode at about 22 mph till we turned around to head for the Marana Road, exit 236, for the last 20 miles. And then it got tough, really, really  tough.

 

It was full-on darkness now; Kirk was in direct follow-mode providing protection in the rear from any oncoming car traffic and adding his beams to the far less than pristine road surface.

 

I had a chance to make it, but a very, very slight chance. So slight that even taking a sip from my Camelbak hose would break up my cadence just enough to fall off Daniel's  wheel.

 

Every couple of minutes Daniel would shout out "What's your mileage?" I had put a little flashlight between my jersey and my partially zipped wind breaker. I'd dig it out and flash the light on my Garmin and Cateye and shout out the mileage. He'd grab his phone out of his jersey pocket and quickly do the math.

 

"Ok, Mama, you can do this, but you gotta pick it up, you can do this but you gotta pick it up. We're going 20 but you gotta pick it up to 21."

 

"You can do this Mama, yes, you can!"

 

Then I'd hit a dip in the road or a major hole or something unseen and my freewheel hub would go clickety click.

 

"No coasting" he'd shout, "you gotta keep pedaling; you can do this, grab my wheel. You can't let up"

 

"I can't reach your wheel!" I'd shout, after having lost cadence managing through the road surface irregularities.

 

He'd back off a bit while I shift up and down a gear to pick up the cadence and then grab the power.

 

And so the back and forth fighting against the clock continued.

 

He never, never let up with his encouragement. As tired as I was, I knew he had to be nearly as tired to be in all out sprint mode for 40 miles, no break from pulling, doing math to make it all come out right, navigating the road in the dark.

 

Then he shouted: "Do you have to stop exactly when it turns 7:03 or do you have the whole minute?"

 

"I don't know", I said. "I don't know what the seconds were when I started my Garmin. I'm taking the whole minute of 7:03."

 

"Ok then", he said, "I'll stop you with 10 seconds left in the minute of 7:03."

 

And then it was over.

 

Kirk pulled up behind us and stopped. None of us knew how far I had gone till I pulled out my flashlight buried in between my jersey and windbreaker.

 

200 miles exactly before the stroke of 7:04.

 

I know, our rules wouldn't have met RAAM standards, but I never was, and never will be  a RAAM-type ultra-cyclist.

 

But, it felt so unbelievably good to vanquish my goal of 200/12.

 

AND! Let me say just how amazing Jeff did!!

 

Not only did he have GI issues after lunch and had to slow a bit for awhile, but he never stopped. He was able to pick up the pace and continue to 7:03 with a PR of 187. AND, he did all of that without the benefit of Daniel's slip stream, Daniel's encouragement or Kirk's protection and headlights after nightfall.

 

Now, his accomplishment is amazing. But, being +/- 11 years younger, he's got a few more opportunities to hit that 200/12, if he chooses to keep that goal in his bucket.

 

And finally, NONE of this could have been even remotely possible without the wrap-around, comprehensive, cheerful support from Kirk. Crewing is hard, hard work and a sacrificial gift of love.

 

A huge hug of thanks to all who have supported me for so many years through so many times and events of joy and challenge.

 

Easter Seals Blake Foundation

Selected as New Primary Beneficiary of El Tour

 

Registration Opens on February 4

TUCSON, Ariz. (February 4, 2015) - Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. is pleased to announce the selection of Easter Seals Blake Foundation (ESBF) of Tucson to become the primary beneficiary of the 2015 El Tour de Tucson presented by Casino del Sol Resort.

"We are excited that Easter Seals Blake Foundation, after 2 years participation as a supporting beneficiary, has taken on the position of primary beneficiary. At the same time, our association with Special Olympics has come to an end; we thank them for their support and their positive impact in the community," said Richard J. DeBernardis, founder and president of Perimeter Bicycling. "We share the viewpoint of Easter Seals Blake Foundation. El Tour is an event that all individuals can use to address physical and mental challenges and as a means of coping with all life's challenges in a healthy way."

"Easter Seals Blake Foundation is fully committed to the health and well-being of our community. To be selected as the primary beneficiary for El Tour offers us a wonderful opportunity to highlight our shared values," said Ema Kammeyer, C.E.O. of Easter Seals Blake Foundation. "El Tour demonstrates the essence of what Easter Seals is about: working in partnership, providing support and inspiring action so that everyone can reach for and realize their full potential."

El Tour's primary beneficiary and title sponsor in 2014 was Special Olympics, but in light of other major organizational priorities this year - such as the Special Olympics World Games and the first-ever Unified Relay Across America - Special Olympics will not be returning in its role. "We were honored to be a part of the 2014 El Tour. We hope Arizonans and cyclists everywhere are inspired to continue to Ride Unified and support their local Special Olympics athletes in their hometowns," said Kymberly Jordan, Director, Special Events, Special Olympics.

Registration will open online Feb 4. The 33rd El Tour de Tucson presented by Casino Del Sol Resort will be held Saturday, November 21. El Tour, America's largest perimeter bicycling event, brings in more than 18,000 visitors from across the country and around the world, contributing an estimated $18 - $30 million in direct spending on ride weekend alone as well as $50 - $70 million year-round.

One of Perimeter Bicycling's major goals is to raise money for local non-profit organizations. Since its inception, more than 151,000 cyclists have participated in El Tour de Tucson and raised in excess of $51 million dollars for such charitable agencies as Easter Seals Blake Foundation, Special Olympics, Tu Nidito Children and Family Services, Rotary International, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Juvenal Diabetes Research Foundation and other Perimeter charities. In 2014, 43 El Tour beneficiaries raised $8.7M.

About Easter Seals Blake Foundation
The Blake Foundation, founded in 1950, started with one program in Tucson, AZ, serving young children with Cerebral Palsy. Sharing a close philosophical affinity with Easter Seals, in 2007 the Blake Foundation became an affiliate. This opportunity offered access to national brand recognition and program resources. Currently with a budget of $34M Easter Seals Blake Foundation offers 155 programs, serving more 18,000 children, families and individuals in Pima, La Paz, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Gila, Pinal, Graham, Greenlee, Yuma, Maricopa and the five northern counties. In addition, ESBF has partnerships, collaborations and strategic affiliations across Southern Arizona.

Easter Seals Blake Foundation is dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live healthy, productive and independent lives. Our educational, therapeutic, behavioral health, family support and community living programs are designed in accordance with our mission: to enable each individual served to discover and meet his or her maximum potential for independent, productive living and developmental growth.

About Perimeter Bicycling
Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax exempt organization responsible for the production and promotion of five major bicycling events - El Tour de Tucson, El Tour de Mesa, Cochise County Cycling Classic, El Tour de Vegas and Indoor El Tour - as well as an annual fall and spring Bicycle, Fitness & Health Expo, El Tour Adventure Walk/Run, and El Tour Fun Rides. Perimeter Bicycling also supports and promotes El Tour de Mt. Fuji and El Tour de Kusatsu, held annually in Japan. All events are modeled after Perimeter's concept of cycling in pursuit of wellness.

For more information on Perimeter Bicycling please call 520-745-2033, visit www.perimeterbicycling.com.

 

Marvelous March 

by Jack Wolfman

 

 

The percentage of women getting breast cancer in this country has soared 30% since the 1970s. 3500 women and 50 men are expected to be diagnosed this year in Arizona. In response to this crisis, I have signed up to help with the SUSAN G KOMEN BREAST CANCER RACE FOR THE CURE. The race is on March 22. No one in my family has cancer, but I have signed up for 2 volunteer shifts helping with preregistration and recruitment. Please come on by the Frys at Grant and Swan to say hello and support my efforts to help you!!!! I will be there on March 14 for 4 hours from 10AM to 2PM. Don't wait for a diagnosis of cancer to step up to the plate and help. Anyone can volunteer. 

 

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In the past 2 years the percentage of people with diabetes in this country jumped a shocking 20%. If this trend continues, which appears very likely, 75% of the USA will have diabetes within 25 years. Sign up now for the Tour De Cure bike ride for Diabetes on March 1. According to the ADA, Diabetes can lead to blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and amputations. Is that what you want in your future?

Even though no one in my family has diabetes, I have been riding this event for 13 years. I love using my bike to help people. What are you waiting for?

The ARIZONA DAILY STAR recently named Tucson the diabetes capital of the USA. 

Tyler's Coffee is going to partner with Tucson Tour de Cure to promote the event and provide coffee to riders on the morning of!


Oroweat Bake shop will donate, bread, bagels and pastries for the event.

My friend Pat Heimman will be providing a free sound system and DJ services for the event. This is Pat's description of his contribution. "Anyways I will bringing everything I should need for the event. I will be bringing a 10X10 ft. canopy, 2 4 ft. tables, 250ft. of 12ga. power cords,4 full range Yamaha speakers with 2 Yamaha subs, I will have wired and wireless microphone's with a 8chanel audio snake and mic. stands. I will have play back music on my android tablet or laptop. I have all my needs pretty much covered. If you think of something you need Audio/Video wise not listed let me know." Thanks Pat. 

 

 


 

When: March 1, 2015  
Where: Tucson Harley Davidson 

Address: 7355 Interstate 10 Frontage Rd

Registration Fee: $15.00  
Fundraising Minimum: $200  

Route Distances: 10K, 50K, 100K, TBA

Contact your event manager, Briana Biondo:  

[email protected]  (520) 795-3711 x7112 

 

Or click HERE or more information on the Tucson Tour de Cure

 

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And there's more to do in March

 

There are a million cases a year of child abuse in this country. Help put a stop to this disaster by riding an event to raise money to help battered children:


 

Register to the 4th Annual 
Nogales Bicycle Classic!
"The most scenic ride in Arizona"
March 28, 2015

Registration is now open!
 
We are excited to announce we are added a "Century Ride" this year that will take riders from Nogales to Sonoita and back! Ride lengths are: 112, 51 & 31. Route descriptions and maps have been posted and can be downloaded to your GPS and smartphone!. This ride really is the "most scenic ride in Arizona." 

Start and stop location will change to the Nogales High School to accommodate our growing numbers. All information on the Nogales Bicycle Classic website.
For children under 12, we will have a "Fund Ride" to raise money for the Circles of Peace. This is a fun way for children to participate in the event in a safe location. Lots of activities, music and booths are planned.

Early Bird Registration by March 1, 2015 - $65 
There is no "day of event registration" 
All Riders and participants must pre-register online  

 

 

Lots of Interesting Info from the 

Living Streets Alliance

 

 

http://www.livingstreetsalliance.org/category/news/ 

Stories Wanted  

 

Now that our winter friends are back in town after a summer in their home towns (or traveling) I'm sure they have lots of stories to share with us...

 

So hey - winter riding buddies - send your "What I did on my summer vacation," stories to me and I'll put them into the Paceline. Be sure to include a photo or two to show us where you've been.

 

And, as always, I'd like to remind everyone that the Paceline is your newsletter... so... Please send us your articles and stories so we can share them with all of our GABA members. 

Grant Anderson's Ride

by Grant Anderson

  

Editors Note: Grant is quite the shutterbug and his article refers to many photos that I did not include due to the space limitations of the Paceline. I've tried to pick one or two photos from each of his days on the road that I think best show what he was seeing.

 

11) Fourth day, summary

 

This is 11th installment in which I suffer through high winds, driven rain and some city riding


Not many pictures for my second part of the ride today. I was behind when I left breakfast and got a good gale-force-wind-rain for all my trouble of trying to wait out some of it going by. All-in-all I had to stop and put on or take off my rain jacket 4 times between 11:30 and 4:15 when I arrived in Vermillion.


 
The day was longer than expected, though not overly so. I added a mile at the beginning by doing a loop around Pickstown. I was concerned about starting up that hill I described and showed in my morning post without warming up. Starting a steep climb right off is a good way to pull a muscle. I also tooled around Springfield and Marty.


 
Stats were: 119 miles, just short of 7 hours on the bike, averaging 17.2mph.


 
Interesting thing about my Strava/iPhone GPS system. It went haywire around Pickstown and suddenly showed me jumping up 3,000 ft in elevation. Both coming into and going out of Pickstown. 3 miles out of town this morning and it was back to normal. My guess is that the dam's large generators/high voltage lines/transformers mess up the system. Or the US military scrambles GPS signals near critical national assets....


 
There were a lot of abandoned farm houses and shops along my route today. But also two abandoned country "one room" schools--one of which is shown here. Sad, as I don't think you could open one today with the DoEd regulating what you teach. But they produced some great engineers--when filled with farm kids.


 
The sign for the national hatchery drives my son, Gavin, nuts as it's missing an apostrophe. But then there is Gavins Point Dam, and Gavins Point itself, which is a point where the 7-9 miles bike trail starts that is the third picture. I've searched in vain on all US Corps of Engineers, the hatchery, and the recreational area's websites and Facebook pages and nowhere does it explain the origin of the name. But in all cases they omit the apostrophe. Gavins is a name for hawks in Welsh, so maybe that's the origin?


 
The bike trail was fun but slow as it was twisty and had children crossing or using the path. But being down by the River was nice. This is near Yankton.


 
You can see in all pictures the threatening sky. It was COLD today, one problem that I thought I would not have these high-summer days, even during rain. The high was 64 or so. Combined with consistent stop and start drizzle it made for a not-very-comfortable day. Tomorrow is showing 70-73. Still well below normal but it should be pleasant.

 

Well, off to repair one clip on a shoe and oil some parts.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12) Fifth Day, Morning

 

This is 12th installment in which I start off cold, cross into Iowa and find a great breakfast at Harvey's on County Route 12 in Sioux City.


 
Weather radar says no rain until south of Sioux City. Outside is overcast and damp--but not raining. Sunrise view out my motel window is nothing to write home about. The pic shows the broken clip I had to replace last night (lower is broken, upper is replacement) and the final result. Clips come in pairs but the foot you put down when stopping, which happens to be my right, wears out twice as fast so having a used clip is normal. Glad I remembered to pack mine.


 
Boy, the weather app said that by 10 am it would be clear and warming. So I delayed my start yet again today. When I finally got on the road, it was 7am. I tried starting out in my sleeveless rain jacket but even that was too cold (53deg) and so I had to stop and don the sleeves about 5 minutes in.


 
I had a lovely ride through the Univ of S.D. Campus on the way out of Vermillion. The two pictures below show "Old Main". It's quite a bit fancier than Old Main on the Univ of Arizona campus. The USD mascot is the Coyote...it's like I never left Tucson...though I doubt you'll see a Coyote walking down your neighborhood street like you do in Tucson sometimes.


 
Jefferson had and old turn of the century French Catholic Church so I got to read another plaque. The cemetery behind the church WAS spectacular, but I didn't see it until getting back on the bike and didn't stop to take a picture.


 
Running through Elk Point I was surprised to find a wonderful, grassy, open paved bike pathway. I went about 800 yards on it, over a rise and ran into the pictured sign, bollard, and end-of-the-road. It took maximum breaking to keep the 250 lbs of bike, gear and me from running of into a corn field! The dangers of riding an unfamiliar road...


 
My intention was to eat breakfast in Sioux City but when going through Elk Point I was feeling a bit hungry. But again, even though it's the County Seat, there was no place open. Stopping and talking to a local, they recommended a place in North Sioux City called Harvey's just off CR12, the route I'm on. It's great and I just finished breakfast here.  The last picture is crossing the Sioux River.  I'm officially in Iowa!


 
On the road again. Still only 61 deg out at 11am. And now forecast is calling for rain by 1pm in Sioux City. I'll see if I can out race it. Guess the rain jacket stays on!

 

 

 

Your Article Could Go Here                 
  
Do you have something interesting to share with the Tucson cycling community?  A link to an event?  An article that we don't know about?  A topic that might be worth looking into?  We publish the Paceline every two weeks and need content...
  
If you have something that you think others would like to find out about, please share them with me, Bruce Tucker at - [email protected]

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