July 2010
VVCC/Sedona "Celebrate the Red Rock Road" Bike Ride
  Celebrate Redesign of SR 179 Between Village of Oak Creek and City of Sedona. From Thomas McGoldrick.
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists Membership Drive
  An Open Letter From CAzB To All Arizona Bicyclists. By Bob Beane.
July 17 Saturday Cycling Report
  Construction, Storm Debris, Thorns and Glass on Length of Lindsay. By Sue Fassett.
July 10 Saturday Cycling Report
  Roundabout Route Draws 48 Humidity Lovin' Cyclists. By Sue Fassett.
July 3 Saturday Cycling Report
  Spiking Heat Index on Mummy Mountain Route. By Sue Fassett.

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VVCC/Sedona "Celebrate the Red Rock Road" Bike Ride
Celebrate Redesign of SR 179 Between Village of Oak Creek and City of Sedona
Added July 22, 2010
from Thomas McGoldrick
with commentary by Bob Beane

* ATTENTION ALL BICYCLISTS * After nearly 3 years of road construction in Sedona AZ, the road work is going to be finished and the town is having a party! As part of the festivities that will be happening throughout Sedona (Friday-Saturday, August 20 & 21), the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition is sponsoring a SATURDAY MORNING BIKE RIDE. We are inviting the entire cycling community in the Southwest and beyond to come join us and ride the new road through some of the most incredible red rock landscapes in the world. The VVCC lobbied long and hard, and with a coalition formed of community leaders and ADOT managers, we were successful in getting bike lanes added to the newly completed roadway between the Village of Oak Creek and the city of Sedona. Come ride with the VVCC on Saturday morning through the rolling hills of Sedona and enjoy a town that is becoming a bicycling mecca for both roadies and mountain bikers.

START TIME: Saturday, August 21, 2010 - 8:00am sharp

BEGIN/END LOCATION: Rear parking lot behind the VOC Outlet Shops. Corner of Jacks Canyon Rd & Cortez

TWO GROUPS TO CHOOSE FROM (both leave and end from the rear parking lot of the VOC Outlet Shops):

• GROUP 1 – Beginner to intermediate riders. Casual pace with several rest stops along the way. Will leave the VOC Outlet Shop rear parking lot and travel SR179 into the city of Sedona, west on SR89A, up to the first stop light and go right up to the parking lot behind Judi's Restaurant. Approximately 20 miles round-trip.
• GROUP 2 – Moderate to more advanced riders. Faster paced ride (14-16 mph) and longer mileage with few rest stops. Will leave the VOC Outlet Shops rear parking lot and travel out Jacks Canyon Road through Pine Valley and back. Will then follow SR179 into Sedona, west on SR89A, up to the first stop light and go right up to the parking lot behind Judi's Restaurant. Approximately 26 miles round-trip.
• BOTH GROUPS will rendezvous at the parking lot behind Judi's Restaurant in the city of Sedona between 9:00am -9:30am. As a unified group we will ride up the rather steep climb of Airport Road to the Sedona Airport, where we will rest and watch the VIP Opening Ceremonies which begin at 10:00am.
• At the conclusion of the VIP Opening Ceremonies, the VVCC Road Ride participants will return through the city of Sedona, down SR179 and back to the Village of Oak Creek.

HELMETS ARE MANDATORY & a signed ride waiver will be requested.
Bring plenty of water/fluids to stay hydrated.

Come ride your bicycle on the newly completed bike lanes of SR 179, and enjoy scenery like no other. Even better, make it a weekend trip and enjoy everything about Sedona Red Rock Country.

VERDE VALLEY CYCLISTS COALITION
www.vvcc.us
Thomas McGoldrick
VVCC Board Member / VOC Ride Leader
928-301-3621

----------
Commentary by Bob Beane

For those who don't already know about this project, the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition was an instrumental contributor to ADOT's first ever "Context Sensitive Solution" project to re-design Highway 179 from just outside the Village of Oak Creek into the center of Sedona. Previously, no sane person would have ridden a bicycle on that route. Now, the Sedona/VOC area has what I would describe as a truly bicycle-friendly (bike lanes, roundabouts w/ 15 mph speed limits, ramps to/from a sidewalk/path for a portion of the route, etc.) corridor so that bicyclists can share the scenic route between those two communities. Other advantages: (1) mountain bikers can "commute" to their favorite trails by bike lane, (2) center left turn lanes are designed to help avoid incursions by vehicles into bike lanes by cars who are continuing forward, (3) a number of scenic view parking lots are available and there are curbs to prevent cars pulling of to the side of the road and causing danger to cyclists.

I could go on and on about what a great project this has been, but it is better if everyone just comes up and has a chance to experience it for themselves. We'd like to try to get a group photo at Judi's and at the VIP ceremonies as the League of American Bicyclists has agreed to publish an article about this project in their nationwide magazine (American Bicyclist) this fall.

Cycling folks, this is a Big Deal for Arizona. It shows what can be done to create multi-modal access in high profile areas, and we expect great benefits from bicycle-related access and tourism, and favorable economic impact to the area as a result of this project. We hope you'll be there to be a part of the celebration...and please spread the word.

See you there!

Bob Beane, President
Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists
www.cazbike.org

Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists Membership Drive
An Open Letter From CAzB To All Arizona Bicyclists
Added July 18, 2010
written by Bob Beane

May 1, 2010

To All Arizona Bicyclists,

What is the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists? What do we do?

Why a membership drive? Why now? Why is it important to you?

The Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists (CAzB) is the leading bicycling advocacy and education resource for bicyclists in Arizona. We are affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking.

Here are just a few of the activities we have participated in recent months and continue to do:

• We advocate for safer conditions for bicyclists on the road, including bike lanes and other bicycle-friendly infrastructure.
• We educate bicyclists in techniques of safe cycling and participate in the Safe Routes to School program to get more children on bicycles going to/from school.
• We participate in governmental and public venues where bicyclist input is needed in order to secure, defend and/or appropriate transportation funding (e.g. Maricopa Association of Governments Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee, which recommends millions of dollars of projects for funding each year).
• We monitor local and state government entities (e.g. ADOT) and push for bicycle friendly policies, laws and our fair share of infrastructure spending.
• We participate in roadway and bike path design projects (e.g. Highway 179 reconstruction from Village of Oak Creek into Sedona, adding bike lanes and an off road path to a very scenic road that was previously unsafe for riding).
• We provide outreach to families of injured/killed cyclists, including educating them, if needed, on AZ law and connecting them with knowledgeable attorneys.
• We participate in media opportunities where we have a chance to explain AZ laws related to cycling (e.g. Clear Channel radio, AZ Republic, Ahwatukee Foothills news, City of Chandler TV…so far in 2010).

The mission of the CAzB includes the above and so much more, which is why we have raised funds to hire a full time Executive Director to lead our volunteer staff for at least one year. We are conducting a membership drive through August 31 to raise additional funds, grow our member base and locate additional volunteers who can take on either specific advocacy projects or provide general input as individuals or as representatives of a community, club or team.

Please visit our web site (www.cazbike.org) for more information, and please become a member to add your voice and support to bicycling advocacy in Arizona. Thanks!

Bob Beane, President

Win a new Trek or Gary Fisher bike!

Join or renew your membership with the Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists between May 1st and August 31st 2010 and you will be registered to win $500 MSRP credit towards any Trek or Gary Fisher bike valued at $500 or more at any authorized Trek or Gary Fisher dealer in AZ as well as Tour de France and Livestrong prizes.

Register online at www.cazbike.org or mail in the registration form. Help us make our voice in the fight for bicycling rights a little stronger!

July 17 Saturday Cycling Report
Construction, Storm Debris, Thorns and Glass on Length of Lindsay
Added July 17, 2010
written by Sue Fassett

Hi All!

The threat (or hope?) of rain at dawn didn't deter 74 cyclists from appearing in the parking lot this morning. We had a bit of sorting out to do, with a large run also launching from Kiwanis today, but figured out anybody without a bike between their legs was at the wrong starting line. Once we got the imposters out of the mix, we rolled out under beautiful overcast skies. Construction torn roads, storm debris, thorns and glass worked their magic, and the herd gradually shrank by attrition, leaving a string of flat tires in it's wake. George and Charlie were the most efficient, getting two flats each at one stop. Breakfast conversation ranged from wondering if our club jersey will again be spotted sometime in the next few days on mountain stages of the Tour de France to pondering how a large turtle managed to end his days on one of our city streets. (Seeing a dead turtle in the road while you're cycling puts an entirely different spin on the concept of "turtling" while riding!)

Coming up...

Saturday 7/24/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. We head south on the Tour de Sue, with options on Queen Creek or Riggs Road. Mileage 28 miles or 36 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at AZ Bread, southeast of Kyrene & Elliot.

Saturday 7/31/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The Tour de Mesa takes us on a loop to the northeast, with route options of 29 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe & McClintock.

Saturday 8/7/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The pack as taken a liking to our new version of the Ahwatukee area. The FootHills Training Ride, with options of 25 miles with one gentle climb or 38 miles with moderate climbing (or oodles of climbing if you are so inclined!). Breakfast at AZ Bread, southeast of Elliot and Kyrene.

Saturday 8/14/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. Mummy Mountain, with options of 31 miles with a couple of climbs or 40 miles with moderate climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner McClintock & Guadalupe.

Tid bits

Not a ride, though you can pedal to and from if you don't mind the heat, the pack gathers to cheer on who ever is in yellow at the end of the Tour. Join us next Saturday, July 24th, 11:30am to 1:30pm for a Tour de France Viewing Party, to watch Stage 19. Location is Bleachers Sports Grill, 15410 S. Mountain Parkway in Ahwatukee (aka Phoenix).

Ride safe.

July 10 Saturday Cycling Report
Roundabout Route Draws 48 Humidity Lovin' Cyclists
Added July 11, 2010
written by Sue Fassett

Hi All!

The draw of the club's White Mountain Tour up in the pines, and the rain storm over night here, reduced the home team to 48 humidity lovin' cyclists this morning. We looped around Tempe and then over thru an interesting section of southeast Phoenix. (In answer to a question raised, no, the "Kitty Kat" place is not a animal rescue facility!) By the time we reached the breakfast stop it was hard to tell which riders had gotten caught in the few light showers we rolled thru and which were just soggy from condensation.

Coming up...

Saturday 7/17/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The Length of Lindsay heads east over thru Mesa and down into Chandler. Route options of 29 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner of Guadalupe and McClintock.

Saturday 7/24/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. We head south on the Tour de Sue, with options on Queen Creek or Riggs Road. Mileage 28 miles or 36 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at AZ Bread, southeast of Kyrene & Elliot.

Saturday 7/31/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The Tour de Mesa takes on a loop to the northeast, with route options of 29 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner Guadalupe & McClintock.

Tid bits

You would be astounded by the number of contacts our club leadership receives from charity event organizers. "Ride For Bucks" for every conceivable thing you can imagine, and then some. They want our members to work as volunteers, our riders to financially supoport their endeavors and for us to give them free advertising by way of our website calendar. Because they are so numerous, and we don't have a way to sort out the real ones from the not so above board ones, for the most part we turn them away. But every now and then, something comes along that is just different enough to make us consider the adventure.

Over this past July 4th weekend, some of our club members had a chance to chat up a fellow named Jerry Stutzman at our breakfast stop. He told the group about an adventure his kids were plotting, a coast-to-coast bike ride to raise money for two Parkinson's Disease (PD) organizations - Michael J Fox Foundation and Davis Phinney Foundation. The ride will start on April 10, 2011 in St Augustine FL and end on May 21, 2011 in San Diego CA, which puts them coming thru Phoenix in mid-May next spring. The interesting twist is that they aren't particularly asking for financial help, but are instead asking if any of our club members would like to hop in for the section of the ride they'll be doing through our state (at your own expense). Jerry's son Shane has put together a great packet of info about their trip. For those that had a chance to talk to Jerry last weekend, and asked for more details, you can get that sent to you direct by contacting Shane.

Ride safe.

July 3 Saturday Cycling Report
Spiking Heat Index on Mummy Mountain Route
Added July 5, 2010
written by Sue Fassett

Hi All!

The spiking heat index reduced the pack to 72 human cyclists and two passenger dogs this morning. The home team was actually swelled a bit by a large contingent of riders from the local biker gang known as Los FreeLoaders descending on our turf, ready to rumble. We managed to get the blended group rolling without any blood shed (that group is always "Out For Blood" to promote blood donations), with the exception of one of our riders demonstrating why we require helmets to be on and buckled if you're in motion in the parking lot. (Yes, the asphalt in the parking lot is just as hard as out on the street!) Various versions of the Mummy route were sought out, depending on how quick people got toasted, which apparently was rapidly for some. The dogs weren't the only ones panting shortly into the romp. Our sources at Einy's advise club jerseys were spotted chillin' there quite soon after our start time.

Coming up...

Monday 7/5/10 6:30am Desert Breeze Park. Spin Cycling invites all levels of riders to their start point for a holiday romp, the Germannalupe Loop in the southeast valley. Something for everybody with route options of 25 miles, 33 miles, and 42 miles, all with no climbing. Breakfast at WildFlower, Chandler Mall, northwest of Price & Frye.

Saturday 7/10/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The Roudabout Route takes us around town and then on a loop up to Osborn and back. Route options 25 miles with no climbing or 35 miles with a couple of climbs. Breakfast is IHOP, southwest corner Apache & College.

Saturday 7/17/10 6:30am Kiwanis Park. The Length of Lindsay heads east over thru Mesa and down into Chandler. Route options of 29 miles or 39 miles, no climbing. Breakfast at Einstein's, northwest corner of Guadalupe and McClintock.

Tid bits

To momentarily take your mind off the summer heat, let's talk about... October! In the fall months here the local ride calendar is jam packed with cycling events. Races, charity rides, recreational pedals... something for everybody. But there is one event that is unique and, well, just plain silly different. The Tour de Fat will land on Tempe Beach with a splat on Saturday October 9th. The organizers (a term that is used loosely in connection with this event) have put out the call for teams of volunteers to make the show happen. They're sweetening the pot with the offer of two free beer tokens and a t-shirt for all worker bees. (A free t-shirt and you don't even have to pedal 100 miles to get it!) Further details here: http://www.biketempe.org/?page_id=877.