We had 20 riders take off for a non-rain ride. Yes, it didn't rain, hard to say these days in the desert. We also tried a new route, Half Way around the Mountain. I think this route will be good, but we happen to pick the weekend for the National Drag racing, so we encountered a lot of traffic by the raceway. Most decided to head home early after the ride, so the few that were left went to Brueggers. We were blessed with the presence of Curb Jumper, and also now have a new nickname for Charlie, Fence Climber. You'll have to ask him how he got the name.

Breakfast was tame, Neal didn't talk at all. Ok, now that I have your attention, he did have a great quote which I must share. He was talking about his younger days and mentioned that the teachers thought he was "slightly energetic". Can you imagine Neal just being "slightly energetic", me neither. Oh yea, there was a discussion of mileage, with two points of view being offered by Mileage D and Mileage W. However, this being the family version of our write-up, I'll just leave it at that, but if you really must know, find me...

REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF

The Mining Country Century is coming up on Saturday, March 12, organized by PMBC-GABA. Great ride if you like hills. In addition, we are looking for volunteers to help with rest stops or sag vehicles. Your reward will include the great feeling you get from helping out, the fresh air and magnificent views in the area, and more concretely, PMBC give you your choice of a gift certificate to a bike shop or a chit for free registration on a PMBC ride. If interested, contact Tom Adams.

Ride Schedule

3/6 7:30 AM - PLEASE NOTE NEW START TIME FOR MARCH - Metro Mania - Mileage options of 36 or 45 miles mostly flat. Breakfast at Bagel Nosh on 48th & Warner - Breakfast is also close to the Hungry Dog Crit if you are interested in seeing the race.

3/13 7:30 AM - Tour de Lehi - Mileage options of 36 or 40 miles, all flat. Breakfast at Neighbors Cafe.

3/20 7:30 AM - Tour de Mesa - Mileage options of 35 or 45 miles, and a slight hill on the longer route. Breakfast at Einstein's on McClintock & Guadalupe.

3/27 7:30 AM - To the Towers - Mileage options of 30 mostly flat, 42 with some hills, or 50 with a lot of hills. Breakfast at Atlanta Bread Company.

Hi All!

Ah... a sunny Saturday! Never thought we would get tired of it raining here, did ya? We had 59 riders turn out for our gritty urban romp to downtown Phoenix. The lead group took on the streets around the capital complex by reaching down into their bicycle messenger roots and mixing in a bit of WWF rules. The standard pack followed their noses around the loop, with tacos, doughnuts, and BBQ taking top honors for best of smells. A bit of excitement at the breakfast stop when a phone embracing SUV driver attempted to park on top of Roger's bike. No harm done (though the driver actually did check their bumper after!) but considering the bike was parked on the sidewalk, possibly some remedial parking training need there. Interesting span of cultures we experienced today.

Coming up...

Saturday 3/5/05 7:30am. Kiwanis Park. Note the time change! Our rained out adventure to Mummy Mountain is rescheduled for this date. Route options 27 miles with a couple of climbs or 40 miles with a bit more climbing. Eats at Bruegger's Bagels, NW corner Mill & 11th.

Saturday 3/12/05 7:30am. Kiwanis Park. South Mountan Park is awesome after all the rain! After a couple more weeks of sun, the flowers are gonna be gorgeous. If you are not headed to the Mining Country Challenge, come with us to check out spring in Arizona, route options of 28 miles with gentle climbing, 42 miles with moderate climbing, or 44 miles with lotsa climbing. Our attempt at USEgg didn't work, so we'll head back to the ever welcoming (?) 5&Diner, on Priest northwest of Baseline. Hey... it'll be a nice day to hang out on the patio and talk while we wait for our food to appear!

Tid Bits...

We have a lot of new riders coming into the pack, spring has sprung. For their benefit, and as a reminder to our long time riders, life is a struggle for your bike... without air. As much as you need air to ride... so does your sweet steed. Friday night before you come out with us on Saturday morning, check your tires. On the sidewall of your tires is a PSI (pounds square inch) rating. If you ride with your tires under that magic number, you are setting yourself up for a heck of a workout, and also greatly increasing your odds for a pinch flat. If you don't have way to air at home, our stunning yellow club pump is always at the ready before the ride if you appear a few minutes early.

Ride safe.

Yes, we have a report, and yes, some fools, I mean hardy souls, actually rode. Thanks to Neal for leading the group, here is his report.

Had 7.04 riders today. Sue blessed us with her appearance for the first mile or 2. We had three flats on our way to the VOS criterium(Tim, Bill from indiana, and Klein). Bill was surprised we waited for him to fix his flat--Mike had a sympathy flat immediately thereafter. Tim got one later.

No rain, but roads were drenched. Nice ride back with Klein yes Klein winning Galvin. He gave no thanks to Neal for a great pull up the hill (editors note, blah, blah blah). Marty won the Curry sprint (good job).

Ride Schedule

2/27 8:00 AM - Change in route - Since Saturday Cycling is heading to the foothills the Monday prior, we'll try our new half way around the mountain route. Head out to around South Mountain, but at the Texaco, head back. Mile options of about 30 to 45 ish (not sure of the actual miles yet), but all flat. Breakfast at the Wildhorse Casino on the return.

Hi All!

History in the making. SatCycling was rained out for the second Saturday in a row this week, which is a first. Roger "WaterWings" Simons appeared on schedule, splashing his way into the parking lot with every kind of fender and rain gear imaginable (and then some!) attached to his trusty steed. Tom O'Leary appeared in his SUV, just to give the official word that, yes, it was raining. We made a loop of the Gabriel's Angels charity event going on in the parking lot (apparently dogs and their pet people don't mind getting wet!) and then Roger rolled out solo into the downpour. Said something about going over to see if Ahwatukee was washed away yet. Hopefully not, cuz we have a great new route to check out there on the holiday Monday!

Coming up...

Monday 2/21/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. A new route, "AhwaFooty", headed clockwise thru the Ahwatukee/Foothills area. Mileage options in the range of 25 miles standard route or 35 miles with a few climbs. Breakfast and post-ride new map critique at Atlanta Bread Company, southeast corner of Elliot & 56th St.

Saturday 2/26/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. DownTown Phoenix, with route options of 30 miles with no climbing, 40 miles with a coupla climbs. Breakfast at Bruegger's, NW corner Mill & 11th.

Saturday 3/5/05 7:30am Kiwanis Park. Note the time change! Our rained out adventure to Mummy Mountain is rescheduled for this date. If you are not headed to the LeGrande (Casa Grande) ride this date, come with us for our own grand ride. Route options 27 miles with a couple of climbs or 40 miles with a bit more climbing. Eats at Bruegger's Bagels, NW corner Mill & 11th.

Tid Bits...

PMBC welcomed our newest club member this past week. Congrats to Rick and Kathleen Marquis on the birth of their babe, Kirsten. Proud dad says all are doing well and mom says the 24 hours of labor was a breeze. (Just kidding... way to hang in there Kathleen... what an endurance athlete you are!)

Ride safe.

We had 24 riders take off on this hot and humid day, ok, it wasn't hot, but it was humid. We also welcomed a new rider, Nancy, oops, wait, she isn't new, she just hasn't been acquainted with a bike in a while. Our group headed to the first regroup pretty much under some control. We then headed for Scottsdale and came across the first detour as Murray Ln was under a few feet of running water. The group quickly regrouped (ok, it wasn't too quick, and some actually thought about crossing the raging river), and we found another route to Pima. As I headed off, the group made its way around and was lucky to find Indian Bend not under water.

I hear breakfast was a little crowded, so bagels were in order, but not without a little bike dance by Neal. Seems he gets the turtle award for the month!

Ride Schedule

2/20 8:00AM - Downtown Phoenix - See the Crit at the Valley of the Sun stage race. Mileage options of 35 or 45 miles with the longer route having some hills. Breakfast at Ken McDonald Golf course on Guadalupe & Rural.

2/21 8:00AM - Presidents day ride - MONDAY - KIWANIS PARK - Saturday Cycling will host a Presidents day ride - A new route, "AhwaFooty", headed clockwise thru the area, mileage options in the range of 25 miles standard route or 35 miles with a few climbs. Breakfast and post-ride new map critique will be held at Atlanta Bread Company, southeast corner of Elliot & 56th St.

2/27 8:00AM - Change in route - since Saturday Cycling is heading to the foothills the Monday prior, we'll try our new half way around the mountain route. Head out to around South Mountain, but at the Texaco, head back. Mile options of about 30 to 45 ish (not sure of the actual miles yet), but all flat. Breakfast at the Wildhorse Casino on the return.

Hi All!

Most of the Saturday pack yesterday came to the conclusion that staying in their nice dry beds was a good choice. Thanks to ride leaders Tim Kjelberg and Tom Adams, who did crawl out of theirs to drive to the park to tell the three riders who appeared that the ride was cancelled due to the heavy rains. Roger Simons gets the award for most dedicated (?) pedaler by slogging through the weather from his house in east Mesa on a quest for his typical Saturday 80 miles. He was last seen riding off into the wet in the general direction of the Foothills.

Coming up...

Saturday 2/19/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. Mummy Mountain, origional route. Options of 27 miles with a couple of moderate climbs or 40 miles with a bit more climbing. Breakfast at Bruegger's Bagels, northwest corner Mill & 11th.

Monday 2/21/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. A new route, "AhwaFooty", headed clockwise thru the Ahwatukee/Foothills area. Mileage options in the range of 25 miles standard route or 35 miles with a few climbs. Breakfast and post-ride new map critique at Atlanta Bread Company, southeast corner of Elliot & 56th St.

Saturday 2/26/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. DownTown Phoenix, with route options of 30 miles with no climbing, 40 miles with a coupla climbs. Breakfast at Bruegger's, NW corner Mill & 11th.

Ride safe.

Attached is a ride report from Gary who was gracious enough to lead the group this last Sunday - thanks Gary!

Ride Schedule

2/13 - 8:00AM - Tour de Scottsdale - ride to Scottsdale, all flat miles with 40 or 44 miles. Breakfast at US Egg on Mill & Baseline

2/20 - 8:00AM - Downtown Phoenix - see the Crit at the Valley of the Sun stage race. Mileage options of 35 or 45 miles with the longer route having some hills. Breakfast at Ken McDonald Golf course on Guadalupe & Rural.

2/21 8:00AM - Presidents day ride - MONDAY - KIWANIS PARK - Saturday Cycling will host a Presidents day ride - A new route, "AhwaFooty", headed clockwise thru the area, mileage options in the range of 25 miles standard route or 35 miles with a few climbs. Breakfast and post-ride new map critique will be held at Atlanta Bread Company, southeast corner of Elliot & 56th St.

2/27 8:00AM - Ocotukee Loop - Head out towards Ocotillo and then into Ahwatukee. Mileage options of 30, 40, or 50 miles with hills on the longer routes. Breakfast at Brueggers Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

Hi All!

We had 57 riders appear at the park this morning for our romp to the Foothills. Shortly after the first "climb" (over the freeway) the pack stretched out into it's usual form for this route... which is everybody choosing their own version of it. Most eventually appeared at breakfast, where the discussion ranged from just how dang old Jack Graham will be on his birthday tomorrow, to the idea of maybe reversing the route we ride in the Foothills. When headed east on Pecos and attempting the left turn north onto 48th St, a lot of riders are entertained by watching their heart monitors red line in reaction to trying to cross a couple of lanes of traffic going 70 mph. Flipping the route around would put us going clockwise, making right turns, and being on Pecos west bound early when the traffic is much lighter. A reasonable idea, we'll bump it up to pack management and see if a new map can be created.

Coming up...

Saturday 2/12/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. The Tour de Sue offers loop options to the south on either Queen Creek or Riggs Road, 25 miles or 35 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Atlanta Bread Company, Elliot & 56th.

Saturday 2/19/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. Mummy Mountain, original route. Options of 27 miles with a couple of moderate climbs or 40 miles with a bit more climbing. Breakfast at Bruegger's Bagels, northwest corner Mill & 11th.

Monday 2/21/05 8:00am Kiwanis Park. OK, pack management has throughly reviewed the idea of reversing the Ahwatukee/Foothills route, and we'll give that a go for our President's Day adventure. (Things move a bit quicker here than in the real corporate world!) A new route, "AhwaFooty", headed clockwise thru the area, mileage options in the range of 25 miles standard route or 35 miles with a few climbs. Breakfast and post-ride new map critique will be held at Atlanta Bread Company, southeast corner of Elliot & 56th St. (This breakfast location has been bestowed with the title of "Perfect breakfast stop" by none other than John Arle... the very same John who led our quest for French Toast perfection a couple of years ago.)

Ride safe.