Hi All!

We had 49 riders turn out for our revised romp yesterday. We rolled out pf the park, except for one left behind with a flat tire, and then three returned for a Camelback left in a car, then two more arrived after the start time. Our "B" pack evetually got underway, with only slightly fewer riders than the lead group. We reunited at the first regroup, then set off for various versions of the roll across McKellips. Along the way we picked up the ASU cycling team, all of which but one was promptly dropped by our advanced riders. Breakfast at Neighbor's turned into family day, with almost as many non-riders in the crowd as those who had pedaled.

Coming up...

Saturday 3/3/07 7:30am Kiwanis Park. NOTE THE TIME CHANGE! Mummy Mountain, with route options of 27 miles with moderate climbing or 40 miles with bonus climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers, northwest corner Mill & 11th.

Saturday 3/10/07 7:30am Kiwanis Park. FREE FOOD! For some reason that announcement always brings out a crowd of riders... and eaters. Time for our first quarterly membership breakfast meeting of 2007. Location will be Home Town Buffet at the northwest corner of Warner and Evergreen in Chandler. Ride with us from Kiwanis Park at 7:30am for the Length of Lindsay route first or meet us at the restaurant at 9:30am. Route options 27 miles or 37 miles, no climbing. Breakfast is free for all PMBC members or $7.00 for non-members.

Saturday 3/17/07 7:30am Kiwanis Park. The journey to South Mountain, attempt two. Routes options 27 miles with gentle climbing, 40 miles with moderate climbing, or 42 miles with earn your cream cheese climbing. Breakfast at Atlanta Bread Co, southeast corner Elliot & Priest.

Tid bits

We have stressed in the past that you should ride in our large pack romps no differently than you do when you ride solo... keeping tight to the right side of the road, stopping at traffic lights, not impeding car traffic. But that concept is offered up under the idea that you ride safely and legally when out on your own. Maybe the thought needs to be voiced that the guidelines we offer on Saturday mornings should be observed when you are out solo, too. You represent the cycling community just as much on your weekday bike commute or daily fitness ride as you do when in our weekend herd. If you know the rules of the road and choose to ignore them, shame on you (and you also might want to increase your medical and life insurance). If you are unclear about the rules of the road and safe manuevering in traffic, we have a program here, hosted by the bike coalition, to give you that knowledge. Our club believes in it so strongly that we will reimburse the cost to you. Later this year, sometime after April, the bike coalition will be hosting another series of effective cycling classes. The cost is $35, and PMBC will reimburse that cost to any club member who completes the class. See www.cazbike.org for details. Contact Radar Matt and let him know you want to attend and classes will be scheduled. Learn and live to ride another day.

Ride safe

Hi All!

Thanks to Ron Waller for stepping up to lead the herd last Saturday morning. He advises we had 64 riders, no flats (which is pretty amazing), and one gentle fall over (the participant in which shall remain nameless in order to protect his rapidly declining reputation as a skilled bike handler).

This morning's gorgeous spring weather brought us 62 riders for a gritty romp up into east Phoenix. The group got so spread out that the lead riders had already departed the breakfast stop by the time the tail end of the group arrived, but that was just fine since ABC (the "other" club here in the valley) was using the same food stop this morning. Great minds eat alike or something along those lines.

Coming up...

Monday 2/19/07 8:00am Kiwanis Park. If you are off work or school, come pedal with us on the Tour de Sue in reverse, with options on Riggs or Queen Creek. Mileage of either 25 or 35 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe and McClintock.

Saturday 2/24/07 8:00am Kiwanis Park. If it rains a bit more, and the sun shines a bit more, there just might be wildflowers to be seen in South Mountain Park. We'll go take a look, with route options 27 miles with a bit of gentle climbing, 40 miles with moderate climbing, or 42 miles with lotsa climbing. Breakfast at Atlanta Bread Co, southeast corner Elliot & Priest.

Saturday 3/3/07 7:30am Kiwanis Park. NOTE THE TIME CHANGE! We'll try heading back to Mummy Mountain, now that the artic weather has receded. Route options 27 with moderate climbing or 40 miles with bonus climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers, northwest corner Mill & 11th.

Tid bits

All members of PMBC, and all cyclists valley wide, are invited to attend a service tomorrow (Sunday Feb 18th) in memory of Larry Harrison. The event is being hosted by ABC, to be held at 11:00am at their pack start point at Granada Park in Phoenix. See the Notices for further details.

Ride safe

We had 18 riders check out the dwindling cows on the milk run ride. However, those few cows still can do some damage to your nose if you know what I mean. For the most part it was a quiet and peaceful ride, if you know what I mean. Gene kept picking up the pace all day long. Ron decided to bail early, something about breaking his seat. What is it lately with all these seats breaking? Other than that, another day in the saddle.

Ride Schedule

2/18 - 8:00 AM - To the Towers - Mileage options of 30 mostly flat miles, 42 with some climbing, and 50 with a lot of climbing. We'll try the new Spokes Restaurant on Central and Dobbins.

2/25 - 8:00 AM - Tempe Mountains or hills next to Tempe. Mileage options of 38 or 45 miles, with some climbing on the longer route. Breakfast at Einstein Bagels on McClintock & Guadalupe.

Hi All!

We had 71 riders appear for our early spring romp this morning. The frost on the roof tops just after sunrise made us ponder the potential for another chilly adventure, but the temp rose along with the sun, and it turned into a gorgeous day to be out and about. Alex efficiently got his flat out of the way before we rolled outa the parking lot, as opposed to Marty, who waited until the lead group was zinging cross Rio Salado to get his. Breakfast chatter ranged from the style factor (or lack thereof) of white bar tape to how to blend the cycling life with a love of golf (hey... they both involve goofy shoes).

Coming up...

Saturday 2/10/07 8:00am Kiwanis Park. AhwaFooty takes us to the Ahwatukee Foothills, with route options of 24 miles with one gentle climb or 35 miles with moderate climbing. Breakfast at Atlanta Bread Co, southeast corner Priest & Elliot.

Saturday 2/17/07 8:00am Kiwanis Park. We'll go wander 'round on the Roundabout Route, with options of 25 miles with no climbing or 35 miles with a couple of climbs. Breakfast at Bruegger's, northwest corner Mill & 11th.

Monday 2/19/07 8:00am Kiwanis Park. It's a holiday, which for us means an extra day to pedal with our pals. We head down south, on the Tour de Sue in reverse, with options on Riggs or Queen Creek. Mileage of either 25 or 35 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe and McClintock.

Tid bits

For those asking, yes, our Sr Olympic champion Ann Chadwick did indeed suffer a bit of a wipe out while training this week down in Tucson. She is now officially a "real" cyclist... home nursing a broken collarbone.

Ride safe