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In This Issue
- General Meeting Info
- Tucson Bike Share
- Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb Experience
- Advocacy Desk
- BICAS Calendar
- ASK GABA
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ASK GABA
Dear GABA,
What does my GABA Membership Fee Get Me? Day Ride Insurance Coverage GABA members are covered with a supplemental insurance policy on GABA Day Rides. Non-members are only covered on their first Day Ride. GABA Support and Advocacy in our Community GABA provides financial and volunteer support for various other bicycling activities and organizations. Among these activities and organizations are the Tucson Bicycle Classic, Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Bicycle Inter-Community Art and Salvage (BICAS), El Grupo, Boys and Girls Club, Camp Abilities, the U of A Cycling Team, Ride on Tucson, Cyclovia and the Pueblo High School Cycling Team. Reduced Ride Fees Pay a lower Member Fee for all GABA's supported rides. Non-members pay a higher rate. Bicycle Travel Cases Borrow single and tandem bicycle travel cases on a first-come first-served basis, free of charge (with a security deposit to cover damage.) Only members may borrow these cases. So, If you are not currently a GABA member, please consider it as not only benefits you as a cyclist, but Tucson as a great cycling community!
click here for:
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A DAY RIDE LEADER Note: Day Ride Leaders MUST be GABA Members
Have a Question:
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Where In Tucson Can you find this Bat on a Bike?
(see below for location)
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GABA Classifieds
Do you have a bike related item you would like to buy, sell or trade? We now have two ways you can get the word out.
POST IT ON THE GABA WEBSITE To find out how to post CLICK HERE To do the you MUST be a GABA member. So, if you aren't, here is one more good reason to join GABA. AND/ OR POST IT IN PACELINE To send in a Classified CLICK HERE Please be sure to include all details, including your contact info so an interested party can contact you directly. We can take a (single) photo for your item. We will run them for 2 issues, then remove (unless you let us know they have been sold/found). |
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SEND US NEWS, STORY IDEAS OR ARTICLES!
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 monthly, but with more news from you we can publish every two weeks.
If you have something that you think others would like to find out about, please share them with me, Laura H at - paceline@bikegaba.org
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SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT US!
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Sabino Cycles
7045 E. Tanque Verde
520-885-3666
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You can find Bat on a Bike on the Pantano Bike Path. He is on the north side of the 22nd Street Underpass.
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Greetings!
It's time to get up early and ride. Mornings in Tucson are absolutely glorious with their cool temperatures and fresh air. Beat the heat and I'll see you out there early. Make sure you read below about the new Bicycling Advocacy Group in town, started by our own Wayne Cullop. This new venture brings together various cycling groups in town. The common is to address our common concerns as cyclists.
Thanks to those who sent me comments and messages. It's your newsletter and I love to hear from you. Please send your comments, story ideas, and photos to paceline@bikegaba.org
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President's Corner
Get ready for the Tucson Monsoons. The NOAA has data for Tucson's Monsoon season since 1895. The rains have begun as early as June 17 (that was in 2000) and bring from as little as 1.6 inches of water to nearly 14 inches. Those of you who are familiar with the season know that when you look up and see that dark, huge, anvil head cumulonimbus, well, you are about to get wet.
Riders, always respect the power of nature. Take your rain gear when the dark clouds are around. Some of the rains can be cold even if the roadway is 130 degrees. Don't ride into puddles because there is no way of knowing how deep they are. Keep your tires inflated and with good tread on them. The higher the pressure the less hydroplaning. If your tires have ridges on them, make sure they are going the proper direction. Ridged tires are usually directional tires.
Tall trees and poles tend to get the lightning strikes so they make for bad places to take refuge, best to just get indoors. Remember that drivers have reduced visibility--so take extra care to be seen. Often, the first rain lifts the oil in the roadway that has been building up during the dry season. And remember that the metal rail streetcar (or any metal) are going to be the slipperiest thing you ever encountered.
Very Truly Yours,
Eric Post, Esq.
GABA President
president@bikebaba.org
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 JUNE General Meeting Monday, June 1, 2015 7:00 p.m BRUCE SADILEK, N.M.D. FUEL FOR ENDURANCE Dr. Bruce Sadilek rides daily in the morning and again after his patient appointments to clear his head if the sun permits. He enjoys both mountain trails and the Loop bike path.
Dr. Sadilek received his medical degree from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, Arizona. He provides a comprehensive integrative approach to Primary Care Medicine. He was appointed to the State of Arizona Naturopathic Physician Board of Medical Examiners in 2008 and is currently serving as Chairman. Dr. Sadilek is an active educator and preceptor with Dr. Andrew Weil's program of Integrative Medicine at University of Arizona, lecturing to and mentoring residents from around the country. On March 2, Eric Alikpala, Exercise Physiologist presented an informative presentation about fluids, electrolytes, and hydration. Dr. Sadilek will be speaking about food and how we can eat during the week between rides as well as on the ride. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Pima County Medical Society Building 5199 E Farness Tucson, AZ 
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JULY General Meeting
GABA is taking the month of July off.
There will NOT be a General Member Meeting
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AUGUST General Meeting
Monday, August 5, 2015
Plan on attending our AUGUST General Meeting as it will be our annual ICE CREAM SOCIAL
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SEPTEMBER General Meeting
Monday, September 7, 2015
7:00 p.m
RACING UA CYCLING STYLE
Joey Iuliano, President
University of Arizona Cycling (2014-2015).
The UA Cycling National Team is eager to bring to you what it is like to race at a National Championship against the best riders in the country. Both the men and women who attended this year's nationals, will share a piece of their race. You will be given a front row view of the event from the racers perspective.
Our goal is to make you feel as if you were in the race rubbing elbows with 150 riders from the US!
Pima County Medical Society Building
5199 E Farness
Tucson, AZ
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Bike Share for Tucson
by
Jessica Hersh-Ballering
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Consultant, TDOT
Different bikes serve different purposes. A mountain bike will help you traverse the bumps and switchbacks on the trails at Sweetwater, while a light road bike is preferable for a weekend ride up Mount Lemmon. A touring bike will get you across the country, but a simple commuter bike is a better fit for a quick trip to the grocery store.
If you own all of those types of bikes - or more! - you may wonder: Why is the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) so excited about bike share? We are excited because those durable, brightly-colored bikes that you can find on the streets of over 45 American cities serve a different purpose than those bikes you have at home.
Bike share fills gaps in our current transportation system by making possible the "last mile" connection between public transit and an individual's destination. Bike share also provides both locals and visitors the option of hassle-free short trips by bike; unlike your bike sitting in storage, bike share bikes always have air in the tires, come with lights attached, and don't require that you lug around a u-lock to securely lock the bike at your destination. Also, you don't have to worry about your bike being stolen when you use a bike share bike.
What is bike share?
Modern bike share systems are high-tech networks that can be accessed by users through automated, self-service stations located throughout the community using low-cost subscriptions that can range from one-day access to year-long membership.
A bike share member can swipe either their membership card or credit card to release a bike from a station, then return the bike to any other station in the system. The check-in and check-out transactions take just a few seconds.
Most systems allow members to take as many trips as they like without additional charges, provided they return the bike within 30 or 60 minutes of checking it out. After that 30 or 60 minute window, operators charge more; this encourages bike turnover and ensures that bikes are available for other members.
What are the benefits of bike share?
As the number of cities investing in bike share grows, so does the research on the benefits of modern bike share. Here are a few highlights:
- Bike share systems improve the local economy.
- A study of bike share in Minneapolis-St. Paul found that businesses near bike share stations had more customer visits and higher profits due solely to bike share users.
- Washington, DC-area bike shop owners reported a significant increase in business following the implementation of the Capital bike share system. Bike share systems tend to generate interest in bicycling, effectively growing the market for local bike shops.
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My Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb Experience
by Derrick Smith 
Had it not been for our son Jarrod, an avid cyclist, coming to Tucson for a visit, this event would have taken place without me ever knowing about it. Being new to the West myself, I was searching the internet for any special rides taking place close by during his visit. Jarryd loves climbing so when I saw the Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb would be held while he was here, I knew this was destined to be the highlight of his trip and it did not disappoint. Jarryd arrived the Monday before and talked of nothing else the entire week.
Jarrod brought his saddle, pedals, and shoes and we rented a Specialized Tarmac from Fair Wheel Bikes for him. Jarrod is a Graduate Student pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy back in Louisville KY. This bike was much nicer than his standard fare and would be icing on the cake for this worthy ride. I would take my 30 year old Peugeot for sentimental reasons.
I wasn't sure I would be able to finish but the glory of conquering such a prestigious climb wouldn't allow me to not attempt it. On Friday morning, we arrived early so I could begin at the suggested time for people like me, 6:00 am.
The plan was for Jarrod to start later and enjoy himself without having to worry about me. When he finished, he would simply rest a bit, turn around and come find me and either go back up with me or if I were unable (the most likely scenario) we would go back down at that time.
So I began early, resisting the urge to make good time on the flats for the first few miles opting to conserve energy instead. As the slope began to increase, I dropped into 1st gear and remained there for the duration. It wouldn't be long before I wished I had a still lower gear.
I knew grinding away at this low RPM was not helping matters but any attempt to increase brought nearly instant rebellion from my heart and lungs. Long gone are the days when my body responds to my commands. So this is what payback feels like.
The software on my smart phone read off my time, distance, and average speed. I knew the 8MPH average would soon fall to seven and I wondered how far I would get before I reached the anticipated 4MPH.
At the first pull out with a 180° switchback opportunity for some good pics, I pulled over and took a few shots. Fortunately, the RunKeeper software knows when I stop, and doesn't count this against me. As I was getting back on the bike, Jarrod passed by asking if I was okay. I waived him on saying I was fine. He would later recall thinking that I was already tired and that it was destined to be a very long day for me.
I would text Jarrod of my progress when I stopped at the aid stations so he could anticipate approximately where to find me, but things were going well and I began to have thoughts that I might actually make it. The aid stations were excellent and staffed by the most encouraging, friendly people. Their help was much appreciated and much needed on a ride such as this.
As the miles clicked off (slower than I was accustomed), I was surprised the MPH average wasn't dropping as quickly as I thought it would. The average wouldn't drop below 7.0 until 2 or 3 miles from the peak of the ride. This was the most encouraging part of the ride. I wasn't as decrepit as I thought.
Other than fatigue, the ride was most enjoyable. The scenery was ever changing and majestic. I was fortunate to have brought a jacket as the temps dropped below what we had anticipated.
Jarrod finally got phone signal and replied to my texts telling me not to miss the right turn toward the ski area. Translation: "I'll wait here for you, I'm NOT doing THIS twice". He was a welcomed sight when I finished but he was shivering uncontrollably. He had missed the turn off and had gone past some distance before turning around and climbing back up through the rain and sleet. The temperature was around 40°F, windy, and damp. I was concerned about hypothermia but he was ready to head back down. I stopped the clock at 3:51:52 averaging 7.41MPH (not including stops) and turned to start back down.
I wasn't looking forward to the short climb back out from the end point. As one fellow cheerfully exclaimed, "I don't know which is worse, the climbing or descending." The wind on the descent penetrated to our bones, and left our fingers and toes numb.
We could feel the temperature rising as we descended and the warmth was most welcomed. Twenty six miles downhill was something neither of us had ever experienced and it was a true delight. We can see why this is listed as a truly great American ride.
Jarrod gets to go home with a 5500+ ft. climb on his Strada record whereas most of his friends have never gone above 600ft. at one time. He was quite pleased.
Next year, I will have a year under my belt in Tucson and hopefully, Jarrod can join me again for a repeat. Thanks to all who made this ride possible!! It was a day both of us will remember for a long time.
Above, author Derrick Smith (photo by Damion Alexander)
Below, Jarrod Smith
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ADVOCACY DESK
Cycling Advocates of Southern Arizona
by Wayne Cullop
The Cycling Advocates of Southern Arizona (CASA) has been recently established. Susan Reed, Paul Minnis and Wayne Cullop spent the early part of this year talking about the need for such an organization and doing some initial planning. In early April invitations were sent out to many individuals, bike clubs, bike retail business and other bike related organizations. Ten to twelve attended the late April initial meeting. This very diverse group talked about many things that it could/should do and things that it might not want to tackle at this time. The most important thing was they all agreed to meet a second time.
At the group's second meeting, it was decided to adopt the CASA name for the time being and be the "Hub of all things bicycle in Southern Arizona" by:
- Advocating for all types of cycling including road, mountain and BMX.
- Clearing house for the many bicycle related organizations including clubs, shops and other groups.
- Educate people who drive cars, ride bikes, walk on our streets, roads, and sidewalks.
- Promote all aspects of cycling in Southern Arizona
CASA agreed to work on three near terms. The first item is to promote the Pima County Bonds--this offers so much for cyclists. Passing the bond would provide funding for a Velodrome, a BMX park, making improvements to many trails used for mountain biking, adding to and improving the multiuse paths and bike shoulders.
The second item is to work at providing a safe crossing at 29th Street & Pantano Road. This crossing would be a safer approach for riders and walkers.
The third item is to replace or permanently repair the bridge between Craycroft Road & Swan Road (on the Aviation Bike Path). With all the good routes it is a shame to have an area in such poor condition. Especially because this path leads to 4th Avenue and downtown Tucson.
The next Meeting will be on June 2nd at 5:30 pm. Please contact Wayne Cullop (520) 977-3018) or Susan Reed at (520) 561-0204.
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BICAS Calendar JUNE Highlights
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BICAS Build-a-Bike Class
Call or register online: http://bicas.org/classes/build-a-bike/
Ever wonder what makes a bike roll, turn, and stop? Over 5 days, learn how to properly disassemble, clean and completely rebuild a bicycle. In pairs, students take apart and rebuild a BICAS project bicycle. Learn to rebuild bearing systems, replace cables and housing for brakes and shifters, install chains and properly adjust derailleurs. Upon completion of this fun course, each student receives a $45 BICAS credit to spend on shop time to fix up their own bicycle.
Course Outline:
- Introduction to BICAS
- Fix a Flat, tires & tubes
- Hubs
- Headsets
- Bottom Brackets
- Basic wheel truing
- Brakes
- Drive-train and shifting
- Test ride!
June 8th - 12th - Class meets Monday - Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM each day.
July 13th - 17th - Class meets Monday - Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM each day.
BICAS Benefit Bike Ride & Pool Party!
SATURDAY June 27th, 9am-3pm
Love riding your bicycle in the summer? We do, too! Gather up some friends and join BICAS for our 2nd annual HOTTEST DAY of the YEAR Benefit Ride and Pool Party. This is an easy-paced group ride with fun stops to cool down. It begins at BICAS with a light breakfast and registration and ends at Menlo Park for lunch, suds, and a dip in the pool. Heaps of fun for the whole family!
- $25 - Adult rider
- $50 - Family of 4 (must have one youth under 12 yrs)
- $15 - Youth rider (18 and under)
- +$10 - Day-of Procrastinator Fee (Sign up early!)
**Registration fee includes: BICAS water bottle, light breakfast/coffee, ride & fun stops, lunch, ice-cold drinks, and pool entry.
If you prefer not to ride, just register & let us know (bicas@bicas.org) and meet us at the park to enjoy food, drinks, swimming, and merriment with your BICAS friends!
REGISTER TODAY: http://bicas.org/25th-anniversary/events/hottestride/
To view the full BICAS 2015 Calendar click here:
http://bicas.org/calendar/
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