Hi All!

A gorgeous red (brush fire smoke induced) sunrise enticed 88 riders out for our romp over to the foothills this morning. A dozen or so lingered in the parking lot for a line clinic, while the rest rolled out to see how many varieties of the route they could develop while pedaling hither and yon in the hills. One of the newer riders commented that the regroup at the beginning of the ride and the last regroup stopped at as we rolled back out of the area looked amazingly similar. Apparently this rider had looped around so much that he didn't realize the group stopped twice at the exact same location. Eh, all convenience stores tend to look alike anyway. Thanks to Ron Waller and Glen Fletcher for taking time to prepare and teach the clinic this morning. There are many skills to learn in regards to cycling, and not all of them involve bagels.

Coming up...

Friday 7/4/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. It's a holiday romp! Come check out a new route, the MidSummer Ride aka a Quest For Shade, a loop around town that takes advantage of the shady side of things. Route options 28 miles with one climb or 38 miles with a couple of bonus climbs. Breakfast is a bit of everything at the northwest corner of Baseline and Rural, giving you the choice of Jamba Juice, Starbucks, McDonalds, or the Whole Foods store.

Saturday 7/5/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Our favorite figure eight around town, the St. Francis Loop gives us options of 26 miles or 36 miles, moderate climbing on both. Breakfast at IHOP, southwest corner College & Apache.

Saturday 7/5/08 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Half Moon Sports Grill. The Tour de France is upon us! Our tour watching gatherings this year will be held at the Half Moon Grill, which is on the southeast corner of Kyrene and Elliot, just a couple of doors west of the AZ Bread Co. If you need the official address they are at: 325 W. Elliot Rd in Tempe. Check out the menu at www.halfmoonsportsgrill.com. So you can tattoo the remaining dates and times on your busy social calendar, we will be at the Half Moon on Sunday 7/13 from 11:30am to 1:30pm, Sunday 7/20 11:30am to 1:30pm, and grand finale will be on Sunday 7/27 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

Saturday 7/12/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The McKellips Loop takes us to the east (and usually into the wind) for 28 miles standard route or 37 miles advanced route, with one gentle climb on both. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe & McClintock.

Tid bits

The White Mountain Tour is approaching soon. Don't pine trees and cool air sound lovely about now? If you haven't registered, do so. See the White Mountain Tour for complete info.

Ride safe

Hi All!

The threat of a sizzling Solstice day reduced our herd to 76 riders this morning. We rolled out to the east, trying not to dawdle at the regroups too much, knowing the heat would chase us back home soon. Fletch demonstrated for us how to keep your toes cool by riding in street sandals instead of his forgotten bike shoes. (Yes, this is the same expert who will be co-teaching our line clinic next Saturday.) We played a twisted game of musical chairs at the bagel stop, with the air-conditioned inside seats being prime real estate If you stood up to get a drink refill or use the restroom, that call from childhood was heard "Shuffle your feet, lose your seat!".

Coming up...

Saturday 6/28/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The AhwaFooty route takes us to the foothills of Ahwatukee. Route options of 24 miles with one gentle climb or 35 miles with moderate climbing. Breakfast at AZ Bread Co, southeast corner of Elliot & Kyrene. Note, we still have a few spots open for the pace line clinic to be held on this date. If you would like in, zip a note to club prez Ron Waller.

Friday 7/4/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Don your red white and blue and come christen a new route map with us. Ken St. John has created a grand adventure, designed to be pedaled at the peak of the summer, a MidSummer Ride aka Quest For Shade, a loop around town that takes advantage of the shady side of things. Route options 28 miles with one climb or 38 miles with a couple of bonus climbs. Breakfast is a bit of something for everybody at the northwest corner of Baseline and Rural, giving you the choice of Jamba Juice, Starbucks, McDonalds, or the Whole Foods store.

Saturday 7/5/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Our favorite figure eight around town, the St. Francis Loop gives us options of 26 miles or 36 miles, moderate climbing on both. Breakfast at IHOP, southwest corner College & Apache.

Saturday 7/5/08 Afternoon, some where, some time. We'll be having a gathering to watch the opening day of the Tour de France in the early afternoon on this date. Stay tuned, we'll be back to you next week with details on time and place.

Tid bits

Yes, we ride every Saturday all summer long. Some in the group ride daily through the summer. Though you might ponder the question of WHY we do that, the better question is how do we do that, and live to tell the tale. Cycling in extreme heat is a skill to learn just like other riding skills. Learn the drill, what works for you, and then don't short change yourself on the steps.

Eat breakfast before you come out to ride, your body needs fuel to use the water you are drinking.

If you are drinking plain water, you'll need to snack at each of the regroups.

If you are going to ride for more than an hour, many riders do better switching to an enhanced drink. That could be Gatorade or any of the other plethora of drinks now on the market.

Keep what ever you are drinking cool, either by stopping for ice or using an insulated bottle.

The heat will elevate your heart rate, so give yourself a break on hard riding, back off your effort level.

Some riders swear by long sleeves, keeping the sun off your arms can help keep your body temp down.

Sunblock liberally applied will also do that, and help keep your skin peachy.

Post ride, within 30 minutes of finishing, have a light meal including some protein and hydrate well. If you skip the post ride recovery, the next day you'll be wiped out.

And, think cool thoughts. :-)

Ride safe

Hi All!

The lure of free food brought us 95 riders to the start point at Kiwanis Park today. Several who normally take the long route opted for the short course, for the sole purpose of allowing for more eating time. On arrival at the buffet they were stunned to find our Sun Lakes division already seated and chowing down. (If you can't be fast, be sneaky.) Thanks to the officers and board members who helped put on the floor show also known as our quarterly club meeting. And to the new members who joined today just to get the free breakfast, you have found your people.

Coming up...

Saturday 6/21/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Tour de Mesa, with route options of 29 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe and McClintock.

Saturday 6/21/08 3:00pm to 5:00pm Dave & Buster's. This isn't a ride, but you can bike there if you don't mind the heat! The club's summer social will be held in the nice cool indoor venue of Dave & Buster's at the Tempe Marketplace (2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe). If you aren't familiar with this place, check it out at www.daveandbusters.com. You can eat and play for about $16 or just eat for about $8-$10. Bring your friends and family, but we need a head count for how much space to reserve, so if you plan to attend, zip a note to Terrific Tina and let her know how many will be joining you.

Saturday 6/28/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. An adventure in Ahwatukee, the AhwaFooty route takes us to the foothills. Route options of 24 miles with one gentle climb or 35 miles with moderate climbing. Breakfast at AZ Bread Co, southeast corner of Elliot & Kyrene.

Friday 7/4/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Have the day off? (Or can you play hooky?) Don your red white and blue and come christen a new route map with us. Ken St. John has created a grand adventure, designed to be pedaled at the peak of the summer, a MidSummer Ride aka Quest For Shade, a loop around town that takes advantage of the shady side of things. Route options 28 miles with one climb or 38 miles with a couple of bonus climbs. Breakfast is a bit of something for everybody at the northwest corner of Baseline and Rural, giving you the choice of Jamba Juice, Starbucks, McDonalds, or the Whole Foods store.

Tid bits

Our club, in particular our Saturday morning group, is intended to be a learning environment. As the group rolls out each week, we have an eclectic mix of long time and experienced riders pedaling in the midst of new and inexperienced riders. Most of the time that teaching is impromptu, occuring as things are encountered in route. Later this month we are going to try something a bit more organized and focused for a teaching format. Drawing on one of our in-house resources, president Ron Waller is offering up a Line Clinic on Saturday June 28th at Kiwanis Park. The class will start at 6:30am, just after the SatCycling group rolls out. If you are interested in learning about riding in a pace line, this will be a perfect time to pick up the basics, learn safety, etiquette, etc. There will be a short class in the parking lot, then you will roll out following the club's route for the morning, rejoining the rest of the herd at breakfast. For those that don't know Ron's background, he's been cycling for about 20 years, is a former CAT 3 racer and has competed in the AZ and National Senior Olympics. We're going to limit class size to 12 cyclists for this first session, so zip an email to Ron Waller to sign-up for the class. If we have more than 12 sign-up, we'll set up a second class later in the summer. Assisting Obi-Ron for this event will be our Sunday morning advanced group ride leader, Glen Fletcher. This dynamic pair will make for an interesting and entertaining class, and you might even learn something about cycling.

Ride safe

Hi All!

A perfect June morning brought us 78 cyclists for our romp to Mummy today. Though most had map in hand (or pocket), the roll transmorgified into the adventurous trek the group usually has in that area. Some riders actually followed the designated route, while others went to check out a variety of scenic paths. Hey, you're on your bike, its a beautiful day, you have a few friends along... its all good. The pancakes (or bagels) taste just as good at the end, no matter what route you take to get to them.

Coming up...

Saturday 6/14/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. FREE FOOD! It's time for our summer quarterly membership breakfast meeting. Ride with the pack from Kiwanis Park, with route options to the southeast of 24 miles or 35 miles, no climbing. Location for the get together is the Home Town Buffet, northwest corner Warner & Evergreen. Breakfast is free to call PMBC members, $8 for non-members. If you plan to meet us there, aim for about 8:30am.

Saturday 6/21/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Tour de Mesa, with route options of 29 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe and McClintock.

Saturday 6/21/08 3:00pm to 5:00pm Dave & Buster's. This isn't a ride, but you can bike there if you don't mind the heat! The club's summer social will be held in the nice cool indoor venue of Dave & Buster's at the Tempe Marketplace (2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe). If you aren't familiar with this place, check it out at www.daveandbusters.com. You can eat and play for about $16 or just eat for about $8-$10. Bring your friends and family, but we need a head count for how much space to reserve, so if you plan to attend, zip a note to Terrific Tina and let her know how many will be joining you.

Saturday 6/28/08 6:30am Kiwanis Park. An adventure in Ahwatukee, the AhwaFooty route takes us to the foothills. Route options of 24 miles with one gentle climb or 35 miles with moderate climbing. Breakfast at AZ Bread Co, southeast corner of Elliot & Kyrene.

Tid bits

Rolling into the park this morning pre-ride, we were greeted by the sight of president Waller standing beside a giant pile of jerseys! The club's slick new colors have arrived, but only the jerseys, not the rest of the assorted items from the order, such as shorts, etc. If you ordered a jersey and didn't pick it up this morning (and didn't pay extra for it to be mailed to you) they will be available for pick up at the membership breakfast meeting next Saturday morning at Home Town Buffet. Special thanks to prez Waller and the other board members that put a lot of time and effort into creating and making our new jersey come to be. Best comments overheard, regarding the new club logo that appears on the back pocket of the jersey... "You can never have too many flames" and from someone who has seen one too many super-hero movies, "Flame on!"

And a belated thank you to Two-Wheel Jones Bicycles for their contributions to the munchies last week at the S Mt gathering, and for their mechanic assist to several of our riders that morning. For our east valley members, check out their store near I-60 and Signal Butte in Mesa, for details head to www.2wheeljones.com.

Ride safe