10 Soldiers Report For Rain and Wind.

Desert Breeze Park, Chandler, AZ - With 350 near perfect days a year to ride, ten Spin Cyclers reported in for this morning's rain and wind. What a hearty group we are! Roger was grounded once by a downpour on his commute in from the east and we all were treated to a parking lot spritzing with a nice little breeze from the west. What little determination the group had, faded completely when Roger announced he was loading his bike in Tom's truck for the return ride back to Mesa. YIKES! I'm pretty certain that's our version of the ground hog seeing its shadow. In this case, we knew more rain was coming.

Regardless, seven of us (including Tom and Roger) braved the elements and charged forward determined to enjoy breakfast at Bruegger's. Hey, three of us actually rode our bikes the mile over to the restaurant! We enjoyed hot coffee, bagels, and swapped cycling stories. Rain days are few, here in the valley, so why not kick back, enjoy them, and wait for tomorrow.

Tracy and her friend (oh no, I didn't get his name!! - I'm sorry!!!) joined us for the first time and we hope to see them both out with the Spin Cycle again. Maybe the next time we might even ride! They certainly learned some of the group character with the conversation at Bruegger's. This was Tracy's first day with the clipless pedals so all of us were very understanding of the obligatory journey to the parking lot surface when she couldn't get clipped out. Everyone revised that moment when we did the exact same thing.

Dave, I can't even clean your story up enough to make print. There just must be more jerks in the midwest; do ya think?

Next week is our Around the Mountain classic (South Mountain, that is, Mummy Mtn. is two weeks away). Its the first weekend in December so you can sleep in an extra half hour. The ride heads out at 8:00. We'll have three regroups on the route and will break into at least two pace groups. Paul, remember from last time, the racing teams ride this same route on Sundays so you might want to stay with us rather than ramping it up to 30 mph behind 24 year olds in body suits with 2% body fat! We're going to give The Farm a try for breakfast. I'll give them a call and see what kind of deal they might swing us. My current route map is one of my original hand drawn collectors items so I can't attach it for pre-distribution. Given a little time, I might re-draw it with the computer.

Have a great week. It is still you that makes the Spin Cycle.

Scottsdale Lures Motley Crew

Desert Breeze Park, Chandler, AZ - Nine hardy men reported for duty this beautiful Sunday morning in the shadow and aftermath of El Tour de Tucson. Lacking any femine influence whatsoever, the decorum decayed rapidly and common sense was clearly missing. Dave forgot his Camelbak right out of the parking lot and, of course, it took us three miles to notice he wasn't with the group. Terry and I doubled back a mile in a vain search. Little did we know, Dave had gotten his pack, shortcut the route, and was waiting ahead for us. Lesson learned, never look back for someone that is in front of you.

Bernie was a new face in the group and rode a VERY interesting machine, complete with three foot handle bar elevator and a head set damper. The group remained as a unit through the Papago Park regroup and all the way to Pima road northbound. Once there, the race was on. Bob C., Tom, Terry, F.R., Roger, and Dave broke into a couple of groups on the outter loop to Indian Bend. Bernie and I took and Chapparal cut off and beat everybody back to Papago Park.

Five of us remained to enjoy the Wildflower's coffee and french toast. What a treat. Tom and I conspired for a final sprint that petered out at the DB parking lot. What the heck, I figured without Gary, Vito, Rocket, Ron, ... the list goes on, the sprint championship was up for grabs. I've got to learn to not laugh when doing those things. Bottom line, this is a great route and a good time was had by all.

Coming up is the PMBC four day Thanksgiving Holiday stage event. Sue Fassett hosts Thursday/Friday/Saturday from Kiwanas Park. Next Sunday, November 25th, the Spin Cycle, from Desert Breeze, hosts the fourth leg of this Thanksgiving classic. We're calling Sunday's finale, the Giro de Turkey; a quick spin to the farmlands of the Southeast and back to Bruegger's Bagel Shoppe on Chandler (see attached map). All four rides go off at 7:30.

We're just a few weeks away from the quarterly club meeting on Dec. 8th. If you're not a PMBC member, stick a crowbar in that checkbook and pry a whopping $15 out ($20 for an entire family, even if you're the Brady Bunch). You can't beat it. You'll get breakfast on the club, savings on the event ride entries, AND a monthly newsletter. All that for an entire year! That is absolutely better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Membership Form

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the regulars (or irregulars as the case may be) next week. Several of you have earned the yellow leaders cap. The polkadot climbers and green sprinters caps have yet to be awarded for the first time. They have been earned by several of you over the past weeks, so get there early to see who gets the honors for the day.

No doubt, it is you that makes the Spin Cycle. Have a great week.

The Spin Cycle Report Late Late Edition.

Will the trials and tribulations of life ever end? Yes, but I'll take the trials and tribulations over that option! Yet another time annihilating week has come to a close and I'm just now getting to last week's Spin Cycle Report.

Nineteen riders took it to town last weekend to meet up with BOTH riders from the west valley. We need a little membership work out where the sun sets, me thinks! After waiting for tardy Glenn to fix his flat, the troop began its sojourn into the preverbal gut of Phoenix. Trackstand Dave kept his rubber to the road, this time, on his left turn onto Guadalupe from Kyrene. That's always a good omen. Following the leader tradition, Sue had to make an unscheduled stop to buy water since hers was of little use to her sitting on the kitchen table where she had left it.

The group merged nicely with the running of the Phoenix 10K. Judy's "moves" on a traffic cop probably helped keep the group out of trouble even though she almost ran a barrier while she was checking out those Phoenix PD uniforms ... well ... at least the half the uniform.

Following breakfast at the FirstWatch, the group looped back home on Oak. The freeway overpass didn't shrink away from its urban reputation providing an adequate volume of glass to even remind Paul of his NY City roots. I hope Owen felt equally at home. Isn't asphalt the New York state gem? Sorry, I digress.

This week's ride (tomorrow, Sunday the 18th), threads to the north and east to Scottsdale. The map is a hand drawn classic collector's item so you'll have to show up for your copy. We head out at 7:30 AM. Get there early for the awarding of the caps. The yellow leaders cap will definitely be awarded. The green and polka dot may be awarded, as well, if any of the potential winners are in attendance.

Have a great rest of the weekend. Those of you not in Tucson, I hope to see with us tomorrow because it is ALL of you that make the Spin Cycle.

Through Mesa to the Raven? Why Not?

The MS150 and the Fountain Hills rides must have had great turnouts leaving eleven riders opting for The Spin Cycle this morning. We may have been small, but we were social. After threading a route along Bullmoose, Carriage, and Extension, the band of pedalers finally made their way to Rio Salado Parkway where Randy, Vito, and Tim broke away behind Jim. The crew hammered out at 26-28 mph in a rather spirited westbound run down the parkway. Meanwhile, the regular cycle spun along at 18-19 mph talking over everything from the unseasonably warm weather to Hillary Clinton's politics. Needless to say, if our world leaders would hold bike conferences, many problems would be quickly and efficiently solved! Vito was awarded the yellow cap for his work leading The Spin Cycle and sending field reports over the past month when I've been out of town. Congratulations and thanks for the all the help, Vito.

The Raven was its usual wonderful host to the eight of us that dined on french toast, pancakes, english muffins, and of course, breakfast burritos. We welcome Marie and Mike on their tandem to the group and hope you become regular Spin Cyclists. Val was particularly sharp with her editorial ideas for a new club journal, The Cottontail Porch (I hope I got that right), a down and dirty publication about the unspoken side of cycling. Keep working it Val, somebody needs to finally expose the darker side of our sport. Everything from restroom reviews to laundering tips. There just might be a market here.

Next week The Spin Cycle cuts its way into the viscera of Phoenix. This city ride promises to be unique, to say the least. The breakfast stop will be at The First Watch restaurant on Thomas Rd., where we'll meet our brethren from the West Valley. I'll be in NY city consoling those poor Yankee fans (I hope), so Sue Fassett steps to the plate to lead the group. A longer training option either Saturday or Sunday is being discussed, departing from the east valley riding out to Tortilla Flat. Which day, exact starting time, and location will be sent out in a SCR late edition along with the route map for next weekend. With Monday being Veteran's Day, I might suggest that as a possibility, as well.

One final note. I received an email expressing some concern about common courtesy. Last week, a strong rider, new to the group, pedaled alongside one of our lead group riders and simply asked what we were doing the next week. He was having fun with the pace and was simply expressing an interest in the group for the next ride. The answer was a clipped, "we're riding." The Spin Cycle is a recreational ride for intermediate to strong riders. This is a Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club event, so all of us, at times, must be ambassadors of our sport. Please be courteous to each other and particularly to new people joining the group. We enjoy the company of other riders, that's why we do these weekend club rides. Treat everyone in a fashion that is supportive, welcoming, and conveys a positive club image.

Enjoy tonight's ball game. Go Diamondbacks! Remember, it is you that makes the Spin Cycle. Have a great week.

20 Against, 32 With: Gone With the Schwinn!

With only sketchy field reports, the Germannalupe Loop apparently ended with a flare. After a casual, and deceiving warmup, the "big dogs" took off against a breeze from the east pacing at 20 mph. I'm absent any report from the lanterne rouge, but I'm certain better discretion was exercised by this division of the SC. After the two left turns, onto Higley and onto Guadalupe, the crew had the wind to their backs and away went the greyhounds. Ron, Gary, Mike, and a racing Glen, were clocked by Mesa PD at speeds over 30 mph. Remember gang, we don't have a bail fund for excessive speed! Sounds like the lead group had a pretty spirited run. Again, with no report from the conversationals, I'll have to assume a good time was had by all.

This week, I'm exercising my leader prerogative and using a hand drawn route map from earlier this summer. We'll take a VERY round about way to the Raven Restaurant and enjoy some wide open roads along the way. We'll warm up threading through the Bullmoose/Carriage neighborhood pass to Guadalupe then north on Extention. The Heavy Duty Cyclers thread through to Horne before returning back to the west on Brown and Rio Salado Parkway. Everyone continues west eventually making our way to Baseline via 48th Street. Some nice neighborhoods, good open road along Rio Salado Parkway, and some great coffee and breakfast burritos at the end. Its almost as good as a 2-1 lead in the World Series. ... And yes, I am riding in my own ride this weekend; what a concept!

Join me this Saturday as I pinch hit for Sue (that's baseball lingo and has nothing to do with fingers and anything else) at Saturday Cycling. I have the maps right over there on my coffee table and I'm certain the route is really good and we'll have a lot of fun and eat at somewhere nummy! (How's that for lazy @ 10:35 PM).

Just another reminder of our PMBC November special with Roy Kopel on Sun Nov 4, 8:30 AM at the Fountain Hills Safeway, Fountain Hills Blvd & Palisades Blvd. You'll will ride to Carefree and back, with lunch at the Bakery Café. Approximate distance is 75 miles with about 3500 feet of total climb. Nice tuneup for El Tour!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember, its you that makes the Spin Cycle.

Tim, Rick and me did the 64 mile route of the Frances Chubinski Memorial Heart of Arizona ride. It is a joint ride sponsored by ABC, GABA and Bullshifters to raise money for children's bike helmets.

Start/Finish at Congress, AZ, about 17 miles N of Wickenburg. Route choices are a very hilly 107 mile ride, a so called "flat" 64 mile ride, and a 27 mile ride.

The ride officially started at 8am, but there was a long line for the porta potty, so we didn't roll until 8:20. The 64 mile ride went from Congress S and downhill 16 mi to Wickenburg, then W 24 mi on US 60 towards Aguila (about 10 miles of uphill), and at the junction of SR 71 we turned for 25 miles uphill back to Congress. There were 4 well-stocked and well-placed rest stops along the route, and grilled hot dogs with all the fixin's and plenty of snacks at the finish line. We finished right at 1pm, with a ride speed average right at 16mph, pretty good considering the 35mi of uphill.

A (very) few pix can be seen at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=163087&a=13925856.

The weather was mild, the air was clean and clear, the desert scenery was outstanding, the road surfaces were good, there wasn't much traffic, and the sag support was outstanding. I'll be back next year for this ride, it is much better than the Nuke. Not only that, instead of yet another T-shirt, they give away Heart of AZ socks! What a great idea! A highly recommended ride.