Our ride to the Harrahs was outstanding. We maintained a great pace and performed the double line rotating pace line like pros.....Along the way, we did have one flat, where Sue showed us all how to change a flat, with Gary and Ron providing assistance while I as the leader of the pack, observed from a distance. Hey, why get closer when comments like, she has strong hands for a woman and I have a large CO2 cartridge for you to use are bantered about.

Alas, we were on our way again when someone asked, "do you know the hand signal to get off the paceline". For all of you wondering, look for oncoming traffic, once clear, signal with either hand by touching your hip. This is the signal to the rider behind you to not follow and assume the front of the pack. Also, some good pace line etiquette, once you get to the front, don't immediately push up the pace. Let the person who just took the pull get in line and gradually pick up the pace. A good rule of thumb, don't push more than one mile an hour than what the group is already doing.....

Breakfast was great for those that stayed, although we did get moved by the sounds of the white light and the eternal bill paying, but the food was great, and we didn't have anywhere else to go other than another 22.5 miles.......All made it back safe and sound. Gary gets the winning cap for the first sprint to Harrahs, and the second sprint over the Maricopa bridge is being viewed by our judges for the winner, ok, Gary got me in the end, but we were heading down hill, I guess 6 to 7 lengths ahead is still not enough......

For Sunday, 5/5, our ride is up to South Mountain and to the top. Mileage options of 47 - 40 miles and hills in the moderate to stand and mash.....We'll eat at the Raven, another great spot......

Sunday, 5/12, let's do the Tour de Lehi, with mile options of 30-35 miles, all flat and windy, ok, not sure about the wind, but it sounded good. Breakfast at Neighbors Cafe.

See ya...

glen

Hi All!

What a gorgeous day for our 44 riders to head Ahwatukee way. Carol Harris was kind enough to bring us warm from the oven cookies and we thanked her by managing to lose her within a mile of the start! Our front line went astray shortly after by following Skater (aka Gary "I don't need no stinkin' map" Wachsmuth) 'round a corner and they were not seen again until much later in the morning's adventure. Lots of newbies in the pack today-- thanks to all who made them welcome (at least we managed to not lose THEM!)

Coming up..

Saturday 5/4/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. The Lindsay Loop takes us to the southeast by way of (duh!) Lindsay. Mileage options 26 miles or 36 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Home Town Buffet, northwest corner Warner & Evergreen.

Saturday 5/4/02 3:00pm. No, it's not a double header ride day! It's our bowling bash! Come join us at McRay Lanes, southeast corner of McClintock and Ray. We have a block of lanes reserved, $9 gets you two games, shoes, and a ball with holes in it. Bring extra bucks for snack, drinks, bets, etc. If you are attending and bowling, we need to you RSVP so we can get a count for the lane reservations. Zip a note to Sue Fassett.

Saturday 5/11/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. The route for this date is still being sorted out. Assume you will pedal somewhere, then eat. What more do you need to know?

Saturday 5/18/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. We head over into Mesa to check out Pioneer Park. (If ya don't know where that it, you'll just have to come ride with us!) Mileage options 30 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast is all the way back near the start, Village Inn northeast of Baseline and Rural.

Tid bits...

A road trip! Once in while SatCycling gets the urge to see new places and unfamiliar roads. Our association has added a new ride to their calendar this year, a tour of Payson, on Saturday June 1st. See Tour de Payson for info. The start time is late enough for a drive up that morning if you don't want to come stay the night Friday night. The ride fee is el cheapo ($15) considering it includes lunch. Anybody that wants to set up carpooling, speak up and we'll get you hooked up. Pine trees, anyone?

Ride safe.

What a morning, does it get any better than that....Perfect weather for a bike ride. For the 14 riders that showed up today, we all enjoyed the nice weather before it becomes HOT...oops, I said the "H" word....

Our trip to Ahwatukee (ok, I have been corrected on the spelling and know have it in my spell checker) was great. We had four new riders join us today (Linda, Jeff, Arnie, and Donny), I didn't get everyone's email, but glad you joined us. We not only maintained some nice speeds for everyone, but made sure we regrouped enough to keep everyone in check.....We made an executive decision at the start for breakfast at Wildflower (man I love that place), since the map was a little out of date and the Country Harvest Buffet is no longer in business, but still managed to get in 42 miles. Not bad....

Next Sunday, 4/28, we head to Harrah's casino. Down and back with breakfast at the casino. Bring some gambling money.....Only one route and mileage option of 45 miles, but we'll keep everyone together.

For Sunday, 5/5, let's head up to South Mountain and to the top. Mileage options of 47 - 40 miles and hills in the moderate to stand and mash.....We'll eat at the Raven, another great spot......

I'm putting together a ride scheduled for May, but would be interested in any ideas or routes that people would like to do. Send me your inquiries/suggestions. If anyone has a map for Usery Pass, I would be interested in that....

see ya....

glen

Hi All!

OK, now THAT was a tour ride! Thanks to all who joined in on our adventure this morning. We had 38 riders at the start, but a few wandered off on their own adventure right out of the chute, and a few went that-a-way when the pack went this-a-way to start the tour portion of the ride, giving us about 28 riders on the wander aboot route. The turtles were turtley, the hole holey, and the cemetery was veeerrry quiet. To the advanced pack riders who took the tour option with us, just wanted to pass along a comment overheard being made by one of the "standard" riders as we headed to breakfast. She said "So THIS is what it is like to ride in a pack!". :-)

Coming up...

Saturday 4/27/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. We head for the hills, the Foothills that is. Off to Ahwatukee (THAT is how you spell it, Fletch!) we go with several mileage and climbing options. Breakfast is Perkins, northeast corner Chandler Blvd & 54th St.

Saturday 5/4/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. Some of the guys in the pack are having buffet-withdrawals so we head southeast by way of Lindsay with the sole goal being to end up at the Home Town Buffet, northwest corner Warner & Evergreen. Mileage options 26 or 36 miles, no climbing.

Saturday 5/4/02 3:00pm. Bikers Brave Bowling!! Come join us at McRay Lanes, southeast corner of McClintock and Ray. We have a block of lanes reserved and a discounted price. $9 gets you two games, shoes, and a really heavy ball. Assistance will be available for the lane-challenged. Bring a few extra bucks for junk food. No charge for spectators! If you plan to attend and bowl, we need to you RSVP so we can get a head count for the lane reservations. Zip a note to Sue Fassett.

Tid bits...

After the ride this morning there was a discussion about bike maintenance, in particular about keeping your drive chain clean and lubed. From the blank looks on some of the rider's faces, maybe we should talk this up a little. Your drive chain needs to be cleaned and lubed regularly. If you don't, you really kill the life span of your components, have to put more oomph into your pedal stroke because of the resistance, will start having trouble shifting and, probably the most important, it results in other riders looking at your bike and saying "Eeew, how gross!".

If you ride several days a week, you should be caring for your chain every week or 10 days. A lot of riders make a habit of Friday night clean-up/inspection before they come out with us. Air and check the tires, clean/lube the chain, etc. If you do it on a regular basis it only takes 10 minutes or so. If you don't know how to clean/lube your chain, ask yours truly, or our resident mechanic Tom Culp.

Ride safe.

Hi All!

We had 42 riders head McKellips way today. No sign of the long arm of the reservation officials this time as we zipped across their portion of the road, stretched out in single file. Thanks to Mike Litecky for keeping on eye on the rear peleton. Lots of chatter in the pack about the rides last weekend-- SatCycling was well represented in the Tour de Phoenix with about 25 from our gang strutting their stuff. Kudos to Jeremy Schultz and Ron Kast who both came in under 3 hours-- and keeping with our theme that girls rock-- Charlayne Hoover was at 3:13! (Oh yeah, and Steve Fahrner came in "second" over all riding stoker on the tandem that came across the finish first!)

Coming up...

Wednesday 4/17/02 7:30am Whole Food Store, northwest corner of Baseline & Rural. National Bike to Work Day! Come help us represent PMBC in the Tempe Mayor's Ride. This is a very short (about 5 miles one way) ride from the Whole Foods Store to the Mill's End Cafe (in downtown Tempe) that is lead by the Mayor. Lots of freebie swag-- t-shirts, food, etc.

Saturday 4/20/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. The Lindsay ride that was previously announced for this date? Fugitaboutit. We're moving it into May. Why? Because a much greater event has been planned for this date. Our long time riders know that occasionally we take a journey in which the goal is not speed or distance, but a ride for the sake of an adventure instead. To remind us that pedaling a bike is inherently a fun thing to do. A tour!! The Cross Cut Cruise takes us where some have never gone before-- along the little known Cross Cut Canal multi-use path. This is an old paved path that few know how to find, so we are going to go check it out. Come with us to see Turtle Bridge, where some of the turtles are older than your pack leader (yes, they are REALLY old!) See Hunt's Tomb! Wonder at Hole in the Rock, long used as lover's lane for the locals! Ride through the Salt Cedar Tree Tunnell! Mileage? Who cares? When we get back to the park you'll be done. Breakfast at Pete's 19th Tee, just north of Mill & Van Buren. We have a number of riders headed to the Tour of the Tucson Mountains on the Sunday following this ride-- so it will be a great "rest day" pedal for you. Leave those aero-bars at home and come play with us.

Saturday 4/27/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. Off we go to the Ahwatukee/Foothills area. The exact route is still in process (like it really matters when we go there!) Breakfast? Probably Perkins, but if not, assume it will be someplace with food.

Saturday 5/4/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. A loop to the southeast by way of Lindsay. Mileage options 26 or 36 miles, no climbing. Breakfast is Home Town Buffet, northwest corner Warner and Evergreen.

Saturday 5/4/02 3:00pm. Bikers Brave Bowling!! Our much anticipated spring social thang has been delayed to an early summer event. There is nothing more fun than watching athletes try an unfamiliar sport! Come join us at McRay Lanes, southeast corner of McClintock and Ray. We have a block of lanes reserved and a discounted price. $9 will get you two games, shoes, and a really heavy ball. Never bowled? Not a problem! We have a closet pin-man in our midst who has volunteered to act as our "pro" and teach any and all the finer points of bowling. Bring a few extra bucks for deliciously nutritious food items from the snack bar (can you say "chili cheese fries"?) Absolutely anti-bowling? Come turn out and join the ranks of spectators jeering...uh...that is, cheering on our champions. (Rumor has it that Dave Ludwig actually OWNS a bowling shirt with his name on the pocket-- and you thought cyclists wore goofy clothes?)

Tid bits...

The purple Jacaranda trees were in bloom this morning, along with the gorgeous yellow carpets made by our state tree, the Palo Verde. Know what that means? That Leo is ghost writing this last paragraph? No!! To us desert rats those two trees in bloom tell us something. It is very quickly going to be very, very dang hot. Find those Camelbacks that you put away last fall. Get out that sunscreen. It's gonna be a corker.

Ride safe.

Congratulations to the 11 riders who made it out on this great day. We had a lot of tired legs, so the group took a nice spin through Chandler, Gilbert, and Sun Lakes. I am pleased to report that the group did a lot of good things on this ride, including keeping the pack together, staying at an even pace line, and more importantly, pointing out those pesky holes and objects in our path. Great job gang......

Only bit of mix up was we got lost on our way back and ended up eating at Wildflower instead of Bruegger's. Our tandem made it there, but we didn't. I apologize for that, we will stick to the schedule going forward.

Sunday, 4/14, I need a ride leader, I will be out of town. I have tentatively scheduled the McKellupe Loop for this day.

Sunday, 4/21, I need another ride leader. I planned on doing the Ohcotukee Loop (up to Queen Creek to 56th, then to Ahwatukee...).

Sunday, 4/28, I'll be there, how about to Harrah's turnaround, some gambling is in store......

Take care, let me know if you are interested in herding the lost sheep (actually, its not that hard, if I can do it, you can too).

thanks glen

Hi All!

Our guest pack leader, Leo Rogers, wrote such a great note about the group's adventure on Saturday that you are just going to get a copy of it instead of a rewrite. He says:

"Perfect temperature, perfect relative humidity, light over cast with sun rays bursting through. The vote was taken and ride we did. There had been lightening toward Chandler, again toward Scottsdale, some from Apache Junction, and bolts over South Mountain, but not near us. A few drops of liquid sun bathed us here and there, but a clean ride it was. The ASU Research Part was greener than ever as the infrared was attenuated by the clouds. The purples were more purple, the greens greener, the reds vibrant, and the road a gentle tour through Balboa Park in San Diego. The two dairies gave us our ranch feeling and the sheep our sense of peace. (Short ride) The alfalfa fields, the fresh plowed earth, the wide cycling lanes, and did I say it felt as if the wind were at our back in every direction, made the morning an experience to remember. The fragrances were divine: acacia blooms, orange blossom perfume, sausage scents, bacon bouquets, and toast colognes. Our heads followed our noses. At the regroup the long riders took off for Riggs to the west and the short ride the more green filled pleasure of seeing South Mountain grow closer with every crank. The camaraderie was good, the breakfast refreshing, and the good-byes were all, "See you next week." Our one new rider Cory rode a Bianchi of course. We all knew that many of our group were competing or on a tour. We eighteen wished you our best."

Hmm, don't think you editor could have said that any better. Thanks for stepping up, Leo.

Coming up...

Saturday 4/13/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. Off to the northeast we head by way of McKellips (Yes, Buddy we will go the RIGHT way this time!). Mileage options 28 miles or 37 miles, a little gentle climbing on each. Breakfast is Neighbor's, northwest corner Guadalupe and Alma School.

Wednesday 4/17/02 7:30am Whole Food Store (northwest corner Baseline & Rural). National Bike to Work Day. If it works into your schedule, come join the Mayor's Ride in Tempe. This is a very short (about 5 miles one way) ride from the Whole Foods Store to the Mill's End Cafe that is lead by the Mayor. Neal draws an interesting (?) crowd and this ride has become a bit of a travelling circus kind of affair-- lotsa fun if you have never come to check it out.

Saturday 4/20/02 7:00am Kiwanis Park. We loop down to the southeast by way of Lindsay. Mileage options 26 or 36 miles, no climbing. Breakfast is Home Town Buffet, northwest corner Warner Evergreen. (We are still working on eating this location out of business!)

Tidbits...

Congrats to all who participated in the slightly damp Tour de Phoenix and the incredibly intense Tucson Bicycle Classic. What adventures our bikes take us on!

Ride safe.