Hi All!

We had 74 cyclists head out for our ride over into Mesa today. The on and off overcast kept the temp down a little, but the humidity made for a rather drippy ride. For those who slowed down enough to take it in, Lehi was the usual mix of interesting flora and fauna. The zip back in across Rio Salado still makes for a good romp, but the incredible number of new stores popping up along there makes us ponder what the traffic will be like in that area in the near future. Breakfast chatter ranged from the excitement building about the Race of Attrition (AKA the Tour de France) to even greater excitement about what the morning temp will be next Saturday for those attending the club's ride in Flagstaff.

Coming up...

Saturday 8/4/07 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Mummy Mountain, offering route options of 27 miles with moderate climbing or 40 miles with a few extra climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers, northwest corner of Mill and 11th.

Saturday 8/11/07 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Tour de Sue, in reverse. We head south, with options on either Queen Creek or Riggs. Mileage either 25 or 35 miles, no climbing (unless you count the freeway over pass?). Breakfast at WildFlower, Chandler Mall.

Tid bits

Our Saturday pack is an all levels group ride. That means we have new and/or unskilled riders in the company of experienced and somewhat more skilled cyclists. The concept is that those needing knowledge and having the want to learn will gain it by observing the riders around them. We have some outstanding people in the group, a huge resource to draw on... retired pro-riders, state champions, active local team racers. We haven't taken the step of highlighting our skilled riders, but you can probably pick them out in the crowd. They are the ones who ride a smooth, straight line. They hold their position in the gaggle as we roll around corners. They know their front wheel is their life, always aware of where it is in relation to other riders and what road surface they are letting it encounter. We are a rolling classroom, if you're open to the lessons being offered.

Ride safe

Thanks to Randy for leading the ride on Sunday, below is his ride report. For some strange reason we had a larger than expected group of 25 riders for the Tempe Mountains and its 2 HC category climbs. (Anything to do with the fact that many riders knew most of Spin Cycle lead GC riders were doing the White Mountains?) Hard to report anything happened because I lead from the back and last saw everyone at the 1st regroup. When four of us arrived for breakfast no riders were to be seen. We had two days of great weather (some humidity).

Ride Schedule

7/29 6:30 AM - Ohcotukee Loop - Head down Ocotillo and then to Awahtukee with options of 35, 40, or 55 miles, with the last two having climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

Other news - Every Saturday during July we will be having the Tour de France watch party. Come watch the Tour de France every Saturday after the ride at CK's Tavern and Grill in Phoenix (Ahwatukee) (address below - 40th Street & Chandler) Watch the primo riders of the world do their thing. Every Saturday in July, immediately following SatCycling's morning ride, we will gather some where to eat, drink, and cheer for whoever and during the last day on Sunday July 29th. Oh yea, this is not a byod (bring your own drink) establishment, apparently someone in the crowd brought their own drink...

CK's Tavern And Grill
4142 E. Chandler Blvd. #105
Phoenix, AZ 85048
www.ckgrill.com

Hi All!

Thanks are extended to our ride leaders for the last two weeks, Ron Waller and Ken St. John. (And thanks to the pack for being easy on the "substitute teachers"!) The romp on the 7th was hot and humid, but that didn't squelch the enthusiasm of the 80+ riders who turned out for the loop up through Tempe. With some minor mechanic work employed along the way, most managed to find their way over hill and dale and back to the bagel shop. Last Saturday we had 79 riders head for the hills of Ahwatukee, with the unexpected assistance of Rick Marquis at Javelina Cycles providing much needed water and Gatorade. (Thanks, Rick... definitely a full service bike shop!) The breakfasting went a bit awry on the discovery of Kasha's being closed but, being cyclists, other food sources were quickly scouted out.

This morning the draw of the White Mountain Tour and the rain at dawn across the southern part of the valley reduced the heard to 47 riders. Those that did appear headed out into what turned into a lovely (ok... a bit humid) morning to ride. Breakfast chatter at Einy's of course involved gossiping about anybody who had not turned out to ride with us.

Coming up...

Saturday 7/28/07 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Keeping it short but sweet (a description of many of the gals in our pack?), we head out to Lehi. Route options of 25 miles or 35 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Brueggers, northwest corner Mill & 11th. The reason for the quick romp is... the following!

Saturday 7/28/07 11:30am to 1:30pm, CK's Tavern & Grill. Our last Saturday afternoon gathering for watching of the Tour de France! Located on Chandler Blvd, a block west of 44th St, on the north side of the road. This place offers great service and good food. Blend that with grand company and watching pro-bike racing, and you have the makings of a most excellent get together. Come cheer on who ever wears the yellow jersey by that point!

Saturday 8/4/07 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Mummy Mountain, offering route options of 27 miles with moderate climbing or 40 miles with a few extra climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers, northwest corner of Mill and 11th.

Tid bits

As some of you have now heard, we lost one of our own yesterday. Buddy Pylant passed away in his sleep Friday morning. Buddy has been a member of PMBC for many years, most recently serving as a ride leader for our Mining Country ride earlier this year. That service was a reflection of the life he led, having served our country in the military, served his community many times over as a volunteer for the MS Society, and having served his family and friends with a loyalty rare in today's world. When details are available regarding a service, etc... we'll send an email out to the club and post notice on the club's website.

Buddy Pylant (center, in green jersey) at the July 14th, 2007 Saturday Cycling Ride with Charlie Davis and Bill Davisson. Buddy passed away in his sleep Friday morning, July 20, 2007.

Ride safe

PS To Buddy, where ever you are, may the roads be clear of thorns and glass, and always be downhill with a tailwind. Hold us a spot in the line. We miss you already.

We had 22 riders for Sunday's heat fest, and I don't think anyone was disappointed. The ride half way around was long and hot, especially the ride back on Queen Creek and the farm land. It made the breakfast stop that much more appreciated, unless you lock your bike, your wife's bike, and another couples tandem together and can't get the lock off. Good thing Tina decided to get involved and break them away. Other than that, another good day of riding and enjoying the company of good friends.

Ride Schedule

7/22 6:30 AM - Tempe Mountains - Mileage options of 38 with minor climbing and 45 with more climbing. Breakfast at Bruegger Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

7/29 6:30 AM - Ohcotukee Loop - Head down Ocotillo and then to Awahtukee with options of 35, 40, or 55 miles, with the last two having climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

Other news - Every Saturday during July we will be having the Tour de France watch party. Come watch the Tour de France every Saturday after the ride at CK's Tavern and Grill in Phoenix (Ahwatukee) (address below - 40th Street & Chandler) Watch the primo riders of the world do their thing. Every Saturday in July, immediately following SatCycling's morning ride, we will gather some where to eat, drink, and cheer for whoever and during the last day on Sunday July 29th. Oh yea, this is not a byod (bring your own drink) establishment, apparently someone in the crowd brought their own drink...

CK's Tavern And Grill
4142 E. Chandler Blvd. #105
Phoenix, AZ 85048
www.ckgrill.com

Lastly - don't forget to sign up for the White Mountain Tour in the cool mountains for July 21st & 22nd.

We had 21 riders show up, some later than others to see the many sites along Metro Mania. A couple of flats to slow things down so we could enjoy the heat. Speaking of which, this is a good reminder for everyone to ensure you are drinking plenty of fluids, not only during the ride, but prior to and afterwards. Our sprint/climbing points for today's ride were highly contested, with Steve getting the green jersey after utilizing his well oiled (or was that sweat) domestiques to block the rest of the gruppetos. There was a breakaway for the earlier sprint points, but apparently that rider was so fast, the rest of the group just didn't see him. Wow, what an amazing rider.

Ride Schedule

7/15 6:30 AM - Half Way around the mountain - Do the flat out and back around South Mountain with options of 20 or 45 miles. Breakfast at Wildflower at the Chandler Mall.

7/22 6:30 AM - Tempe Mountains - Mileage options of 38 with minor climbing and 45 with more climbing. Breakfast at Bruegger Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

7/29 6:30 AM - Ohcotukee Loop - Head down Ocotillo and then to Awahtukee with options of 35, 40, or 55 miles, with the last two having climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

Other news - Every Saturday during July we will be having the Tour de France watch party. Come watch the Tour de France every Saturday after the ride at CK's Tavern and Grill in Phoenix (Ahwatukee) (address below - 40th Street & Chandler) Watch the primo riders of the world do their thing. Every Saturday in July, immediately following SatCycling's morning ride, we will gather some where to eat, drink, and cheer for whoever and during the last day on Sunday July 29th. Oh yea, this is not a byod (bring your own drink) establishment, apparently someone in the crowd brought their own drink...

CK's Tavern And Grill
4142 E. Chandler Blvd. #105
Phoenix, AZ 85048
www.ckgrill.com

Lastly - don't forget to sign up for the White Mountain Tour in the cool mountains for July 21st & 22nd.

We had 27 riders take on the wind tunnel of McKellips and the heat. 26 of the riders made it, with one blowing a tire early on, but he eventually met up with the group to pose as a horse's A or was that a bear's A? The heat was in definite force today, but the call of omelets and sausage at Bogies Club house kept the group going. Only other interesting comment of the day was talking about a few of our brittle riders, or least how old some look.

Ride Schedule

7/4 6:30 AM - Come celebrate the 4th of July with your red, white, and blue at Desert Breeze Park. We'll do Tour of Queen Creek, with several mileage options from 25, 35, 38, 40, 44, or 50 flat miles. Breakfast at Wildflower at the Chandler Mall.

7/8 6:30 AM - The second day of the Tour de France, we'll do Metro Mania. Mileage options of 36 or 45 miles, with some climbing on the longer route. Breakfast at Einstein Bagels on Ray & Rural.

7/15 6:30 AM - Half Way around the mountain - Do the flat out and back around South Mountain with options of 20 or 45 miles. Breakfast at Wildflower at the Chandler Mall.

7/22 6:30 AM - Tempe Mountains - Mileage options of 38 with minor climbing and 45 with more climbing. Breakfast at Bruegger Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

7/29 6:30 AM - Ohcotukee Loop - Head down Ocotillo and then to Awahtukee with options of 35, 40, or 55 miles, with the last two having climbs. Breakfast at Brueggers Bagels on Chandler & Rural.

Other news - Every Saturday during July we will be having the Tour de France watch party. Come watch the Tour de France every Saturday after the ride at CK's Tavern and Grill in Phoenix (Ahwatukee) (address below - 40th Street & Chandler) Watch the primo riders of the world do their thing. Every Saturday in July, immediately following SatCycling's morning ride, we will gather some where to eat, drink, and cheer for whoever and during the last day on Sunday July 29th.

CK's Tavern And Grill
4142 E. Chandler Blvd. #105
Phoenix, AZ 85048
www.ckgrill.com

Lastly - don't forget to sign up for the White Mountain Tour in the cool mountains for July 21st & 22nd.