Quote of the Day

Cycle tracks will abound in Utopia. ~H.G. Wells

Santa Parade Pics

Scroll down to get the whole story.

Team Toughness

This weekends Sunday ride proved to me that I have the coolest team in the whole land. We met on the like the coldest day ever this past weekend and as most of you know it was wet all morning, with spitting rain and slick streets. It was cloudy, cold, and rainy. Every ingrediant needed to have a revolt of youth riders against their cycling coach to not ride. However the exact opposite happened. We went out on a 25 mile ride and never not once not for a second did I hear a kid complain. Not only that they rode their buts off with two of them clearly having their best rides ever. I love these kids and their efforts and it sure gives me a kick in the pant to do whatever I can to give these guys experieces that last their life times. After the ride was the most fun though. I had all the kids come back to my house and Daniela and I made them all toast and tea. The best part though was when they all huddled under the same blanket at our house in front of the space heater as they tried to warm up and turn their legs back to a reasonable color that was not bright red. Thanks riders it's these efforts and this attitude that keeps me coming back and wanting to work even harder. Also I told you that it is these efforts that will pay off later in the riding season, you guys are way tougher than you think.

Santa Rides in Style

Hey everyone thanks so much. I had a great time Rudophing Santa with my lovely wife. To see kids "lose" it with Santa approaching is about the most fun that can be had. My ear drums will never be the same but I will always understand true excitement as shown on the face of 6 year olds. Special thanks to all the El Grupo riders that came out and helped Santa make his way through the crowd, to all the riders, and especially Santa himself. Thanks everyone, a total success.
Ignacio

Santa Needs Your Help!

This Saturday night the 13th of December is the annual Parade of lights. This is the holiday parade in town were Santa appears and all the kids freak out.  For the 3rd year in a row BICAS will be delivering Santa to the masses on the back of the bike car and we need your help. How?  We need you to come out in all your Holiday attire and ride bikes with Santa. Just meet at BICAS at 5pm dressed to impress with your bike and as many lights as you can gather. The parade starts at 6pm and will be over by 7pm. If you cannot meet at 5pm at BICAS then meet us at 6pm at the corner of 5th ave and 17th st. All we ask participants to do is ride circles around Santa and have fun. So tell everyone you know so we can put on as big a show as possible.
Thanks
Ignacio

Calling All Bike Mechanics and Former Riders

Hey folks I need your help in getting the El Grupo MTB fleet ready for the new season ahead of us. I would like to start mountain biking with the new team but I need to get their bikes ready. I have about 8 that need tune ups and some part swappin' and I need to do it fast so I need your help. I am inviting you all to meet me at BICAS on Monday night December 15 at 7pm. I hope that with a group we can have a good time getting the bikes ready and do it much faster than I could do it by myself.  Please tell everyone you know. I should have all the replacement parts nessecary and BICAS has all the tools needed.  I will provide food and drinks so come hungry.

Ignacio

Thanks

4th Ave Street Fair Bike Valet

Well folks, this will be the biggest Bike Valet event yet.  The 4th Ave Street Fair, the one and only time that 4th ave is totally closed to cars and people fill the streets to look at and buy stuff, is coming up on Dec 12-14.  We are getting ready for the event by making sure we have enough folks to run the show for the three days. Judith is in charge of making sure we have enough volunteers and Daniela is helping her get it all together.  So to any one who would like to volunteer, please email us (info at elgrupocycling dot org).

Ignacio

Sunday Practice

Sunday Nov. 30th.
Practice: YES
When: 8am
Who: All El Grupo members
What: Just show up and the coaches will tell you
Where: meet at the Club house
The ride wont be crazy long or super hard, but we want you all there. I don't want you to forget about getting to practice and I want you to keep your fitness up.
Christian and Nelson will be your coaches, as I will still be in Florida visiting my mother with Daniela. Please be on your best behavior.
Have fun!
Ignacio

35 Mile Team Pics

More El Tour Pics

Hey Robbin, We did it!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right even with out the German we conquered El Tour. I said the night before at the team dinner that this would be my greatest coaching achievement ever, and I have to say now that it is my proudest. This year we definetly took a group of beginning cyclists and turned them into a team that took on the biggest challenge in town and conquered it without ever a hint of a complaint. People train for years and years to do what this team did and most of the team in a time less than four months got themselves ready to ride the whole 109 mile El Tour route. There was also a 3 person team that challenged the 35 mile course with less than 2 months of training and all said at the end that they wanted more. My kind of riders. I was not out with the 35 mile team so I will have one of them post about the ride.

As for the 109 mile team we headed to the start late around 6:30 am. The event starts at 7am so we were at about position 5,000 starting the ride, folks show up for the start as early as 4am. This of course after fixing Logans chain in the morning and giving Hollywood a new tire for his front wheel. No time like the last minute to fix the teams bikes. Once the start gun went off it took about 20 minutes for us to get going and I never heard a word from any of the riders. For the majority 5 out of 7 this was there first ever event, race, and even some of them sporting "game". I know they were scared and probably totally overwhelmed but none of them let on and were totally cool. Once we finally got going I'm not quite sure anyone passed us for the first 30 or so miles. We were cruising along as a team, as we had always trained, and we were looking good. We got to the first river crossing without much fuss only Conner loosing a water bottle, but really no big deal. I actually picked one up for him that someone else dropped in the river bed. A few of us used "The Nature" for relief and we were off.

Zach stayed up front with me after the river crossing for about 20 miles up untill we took our first real stop around Fantasy Island where the great El Grupo support crew was waiting. Carol, Daneila, Kathlyn and more where waiting for us with warm home baked "Conner mama snacks" I mean fresh out of the oven warm. Like I can't even chew it because I am so amazed at how good they are. Out of the oven hot! I think we all used "The Nature" again, and then Daniela and Kathlyn helped fill out water bottles. I must say the ride up untill that point was quite uneventfull and actually kind of miserable. The road conditions stunk and we had quite a head wind. So after the stop when I told Zach he no longer had to be up front, he was pretty happy.

As we left our first stop we were all together and now with Max up front. Shortly after we finally turned north and the wind was out of our face. Max stayed up front with me all the way untill the river crossing, #2, with the only crazy event being Ricardo losing his chain at about 25 miles an hour coming down Houghton. We got it back on at speed and I think Ricardo stopped breathing for the whole episode. As there only about 2,000 people coming behind him flying down the road.

Through the river crossing we stayed together while Max and Pablo decided to use the bathrooms as "The Nature" could not suffice for their actions. We had to wait about 5 extra minutes for Max as he decided to bring the paper with him. At this point I still had not heard a single complaint from any rider. We were half way through and about an 1 1/2 hours ahead of time. We were cooking.

Daniela and Kathlyn found us again just out of the crossing and helped fill our bottles and pack us with food. They were awesome the whole day, and we could not have done the ride without them. Thank You ladies.

Leaving the river is usually the hardest part of the race, but again the kids never, not once, the whole day complained or said to slow down. They stayed right on my wheel with no hesitation. There were times where guys were hurting and we had to slow down and times when we dropped chains and we had to stop. But the team put together its best ride absolutely ever. Communitcation, was perfect. Team work, perfect. Support, perfect. I could not have imagined the race going so well. These guys went out and stunned me. It definelty makes me want to work harder to give them more opportunities. I have all the respect in the world for them.

The last stop came around mile 80, and Christian, made the best decision of the day at this point. Give the guys a five minute break. Up untill this point our stops had been fast. I was excited about our progress and I wanted to get the team the best possible. However we needed a break and Christian was right, the 5 minutes gave us the chance to catch our breath and finish strong. Thanks Coach. Also out at the last stop was Dave Bohm. The newest El Grupo coach. Thanks Dave for coming out and helping. We are excited to have you on the team.

Leaving the last stop I put Kramer up front as I new the main hill of the day was coming and who better to lead us over. The hill actually was nothing but most important it was our best group hill climb ever. Not a single gap opened. Nothing. I was impressed.

After the hill Max came back to the front and finished the ride for the team. The team really figured out how strong they were coming home on Silverbell. 10 miles from the finish they started to yell at me to look back and sure enough we were pulling about 100 people. These guys are special. But just like last year we finish with arms raised together, as a team. Last years team is called the dream team, but if we can keep this team toghether for a year for next years El Tour, watch out folks.

Finishing time 6 hours 46 minutes.
Complaints-- none
Finishers-- 7 riders, 3 coaches

Thank you to the whole team, parents, and cheering sections, for the ride of my life.

Pre-Tour Pasta Feast!

Calling all riders and their families...let's eat and celebrate! Everyone has put in many hours of hard work to get ready for this year's El Tour ride on Saturday, so we want to make sure that you are all properly fueled to ride your best. We have made it a tradition over the past several years to have a pre-ride pasta feast and want to do the same this year.

Please join us at the Stone Curves Common House on this Friday, November 21st at 5:30pm. This is located on the NW corner of Stone and Limberlost. There is a south parking lot off of Stone, or a north parking lot off of Limberlost just west of Stone. Please park in an uncovered spot. Just walk on the paths that lead to the center area, and you will see the large "Common House" to the west.

Daniela will make tons of pasta, Judith will make a lovely salad from the local garden, Pablo's tia will make her famous "Tres Leches" desert, and I will be calling all the rest of the parents to help bring other things if you can.

There will not be practice on Friday but you will be expected to attend the dinner to fuel up and receive your new El Grupo jersey! We all send our love to "Hollywood" (Ricardo) who will not be able to join us since his big debut in the school talent show is at the same time. Break a leg! (But not literally, you have to ride over 100 miles the next day!)

If you have questions, please call Daniela or Ignacio.

More Swap Pics

Parking El Grupo Style

This past weekend at the Bicycle Swap Meet, El Grupo provided valet bicycle parking for the second time at a local event and it went great. We parked over 70 bikes and were greeted with great enthusiasm by all. This was the first time that El Grupo was out at a Swap meet as a team and I think the riders had a great time. They got to see bike dorks of all different ages and sizes in action and I think they are starting to "get it" - bikes are the coolest thing ever for everybody!

Folks out there were great to the team. I want to thank everyone who helped us out. We had a lot of people make a donation to us for parking their bike and many people donated bicycle stuff to us that they could not sell. We even got a complete cool mountain bike for $20.  24 hour race here we come!

Four days til El Tour and we are pumped.

Thanks to the riders for being so helpful during the event, thanks Judith and Kathlyn for making it all happen, and thanks Tucson bike dorks for being so supportive of the  greatest youth bike team in town.

Ignacio

Thanks Christian!!

First an apology-- Sorry Christian. We as a team, but most importantly me as a coach and friend forgot to tell you that practice time had been changed this weekend. I felt truely embarrassed and pretty dang cruddy dropping the ball on this so I'm sorry.

Second-- Thanks for everything you do. Did you all notice the new map to the club house tag?

Or the new links page set up?

Or the ever revolving home photo page?

Or the new decals on the Club house windows?

Or the new stickers?

Or the new propaganda flyers?

Or the hey give us your stuff flyers that were out at the swap meet?

Thanks Christian this team would not be where it is today with out you and I want everyone to know how much you give to this.

Valet Parking @ Swap meet

That's right. El Grupo will be providing Valet Parking to cyclists during the Swap meet this saturday. I expect all riders to help staff the booth and help out. It is super easy as we just have to watch peoples bikes. I want every rider to help for at least 2 hours and I will soon, like tomorrow have a sign up sheet for all riders to fill in. This is an important and valuable tool for El Grupo to have the cycling community meet us. So lets have some fun, help out, and try to get some sweet stuff. Let's make sure though that we know we all have to work the station for at least 2 hours.
Thanks
Ignacio

Greatness is near

Christian likes to call last year's team the Dream Team, and I agree. They were 3 year seasoned veterans with many races under their belts. We had trained for hundreds of hours together and were all great friends. So when we rode the 109 mile El Tour last year, we killed it. I mean we attacked it from start to finish and flew to a super fast 5 hours 26 min time. Had I known how close we were to platinum we totally could have done it.

However last year's team only rode the 109 mile once. We were only ready for the 67 mile ride the two years before. Conversly this years team is in year one. Our first year together with not nearly as many hours together on the bike, but definetly coming together as friends, and we are riding the 109 mile. We are not going to attack it, we are going to ride within ourselves and have a great time. We are taking this ride as a great lesson, so that next year the Dream Team's time gets destroyed. I have great confidence in the team and the kids riding. Each one has heart, determination, and guts. I will coach any kid that has these three characteristics; fast, slow, round, skinny, tall, weird or with fear if you have these three traits we can train you to do anything and that is exactly what these kids are going to do. Something that only last year's team has done. In the whole history of El Tour 26 years this will only be the second High School team to ever do the 109 mile race as a team, and the second El Grupo team to do it. I am more than proud of every rider on the team and I have full confidence that we are going to go out and have a time that will never be forgotten. We are ready for this adventure and I want all parents and riders to know we are, and start thinking like we are. Doubts are no more and confidence should be on the rise.
El Grupo also has a team of 4 this year that will be riding the 35 mile section. They are definetly going to destroy it and I feel bad that they have to ride such a short race. It's just that we just got a coach for them and they have been training with him enough. But these riders are just as ready and will be riding with the 70 mile team for the Tour of Tucson Mountains.

Bicycle SWAP MEET Saturday

That's right folks this Saturday. One time only. Don't you miss it. Every bike dork, brother and sister will be out this Saturday from Sun up to 2pm on 4th avenue selling their bicycle stuff with bargain specials abound. All El Grupo riders are mandated to come, as I can gaurentee a good time, and we will need to be on the look out for stuff the team needs and be asking folks to donate non sold items to the team. So I need your help. We will talk more at Practice but please know it is mandatory to attend and help the team this Saturday.

HEY, KRAMER

This past semester we had the pleasure of riding bikes with Robin. An exchange student from Germany that lived with Max and family. He is now gone back eating bratwursts, good bread, and mustard with everything. I no longer have him coming to my house trying to eat whatever he can, and complaining that his butt hurts. He is not even around to yell at for putting his hands on the bars wrong. I have to tell you we talk about you quite a bit. Of course behind your back, because you are not around. We hope your trip home went well and will make sure to keep you up to date about the Tour. I suppose we miss you and hope that school back home is kicking your butt. Every time I say Kramer he responds, I miss Robin and I say I can fart as well as he can. Tell us how your doing and send us some pics of you in snow, so we can laugh about how we are not as cold. Also if you can remind us what happened this summer in the soccer tournament that would be great.

El Tour Work Trade

Ok Team. We will be able to finish our hours on Thursday this week. That is Thursday Nov. 6th at the Rise building. The same place as last time. We were told that they were not going to work tonight but would be at it again come Thursday night. I am very thankful to everyone that has helped out so far and hope that we can finish our hours soon.
Thanks
Ignacio Call with questions if you got em

El Tour Work Trade

In order for El Grupo to participate in El Tour de Tucson this year, we have been given the incredible opportunity to do work-trade for our entry into the event.  If we had to pay to ride, it would cost the team more than $1000. This means that we each have to help the PBAA (the organization that puts on the event) for ten hours. We have been asked to help stuff packets - packets like the ones you get at the expo when you pick up your registration.

We can do this: Nov 3rd through the 9th from 6-9pm and Nov. 13th 5-9pm at PBAA
Where: The Rise building at the corner of 7th street and Toole - it is big and blue (it is now used as a recycling place), caddy corner to Small Planet Bakery.
Why: So we can ride
Who: Anybody who plans on riding

If you have questions, please call me at 340-1701
Ignacio

Bicycle Valet parking by El Grupo

Thanks to Daniela, El Grupo has been awarded a great opportunity (via a grant from the Kryptonite bicycle lock company) to run bicycle valet parking sites at different events in Tucson. It is because of this grant that El Grupo has been able to rent a club house and do some of the great things we will get to do this year. This is a great way for Tucson to get to know us as a team and for us to establish a lasting relationship with Kryptonite. In the grant we agreed to provide parking at about eight events this year. This past weekend we did our first event. A big thanks to Judith, Max, Robin, Avery, Wolfie, Cathleen, and Logan for making it happen. They provided bike valet parking at the Green Festival downtown in La Placita village taking in over 150 bikes! SWEET!! More events are coming and we could use all the help we can get.  Contact us here.

Club House Needs and Wants

We need a few things for the clubhouse to make it into something totally awesome. Here is our wishlist.  We are registered with the state as a non-profit and we can provide tax reciepts.

Needs:
2 couches
Coffee table
computer
computer desk
small dorm style refrigerator
toaster oven
bicycle repair stand --2
lockers-- like the one you had in high school

Wants:
Small espresso maker
set of metric box end wrenches
tv
bicycle movies
your support

Club House Pics

These are not the best pics to show the space, however they are fun.  Check back for more...

New Club House!!!

So what is a club house for? Well, to get all the team's stuff out of my house for starters. Tucson has been great to El Grupo the last few years and I have been able to collect quite a bit of bike stuff (jerseys, shorts, jackets, some parts and camping equipement, etc). So I wanted to get this stuff out of my house and in a place where more of the riders could use it and know what they had at their disposal. We also wanted a place for the team to hang out, work on bikes, and meet before and after rides. In the near future I hope to have a mountain bike for every rider and we need a place to store all the bikes and stuff. El Grupo aspires to ride all kinds of bikes and the upcoming 24 hour race is one of the most fun events around. Having 12 riders and 24 bikes, well, my house is just not big enough. I am hoping to let the riders do most of the club house work, organization, cleaning and decorating. The club house is at 6th and 6th in the old Firestone building and we are excited to have it. Please see the next post for a list of our needs.

Tumacacori Success!!

First THANKS GABA!!!!

So Gaba every year before the El Tour does a whole bunch for the cycling community in Tucson. They put on all sorts of training rides and centuries so the locals can ramp up and get ready. So for the past two years El Grupo has taken full advantage of this awesomness and has partcipated in the Tumacacori Century ride.

The bike ride starts in Sahuarita, just south of town, and heads further way south to the old mission at Tumacacori.

El Grupo has many riders that are trying to get ready to do the whole distance of El Tour 109 miles, so we decided to try and do 80 this weekend with the help of GABA.

We made it for sure, and the best part is we all learned a lot and realize that the month we have left is important. We are on track but I want all parents and riders to know that this next month is critical. We have to do all the little things right. Eat well. Sleep well and enough. Drink a lot and no soda or sugar drinks. Come to practice ready to work hard and to learn. We can do it, but we have to be mentally and physically ready. I am proud of what we did and I hope all riders are as well. Thanks for a great ride team!

Tumacacori GABA ride this weekend

Ok Folks, the great people of GABA have invited us to participate in one of there awesome events again. It is called the Tumacacori Century ride. We will not be riding the whole distance, however I want to ride 80 miles as a team. This will be our longest ride yet as a team and an important stepping stone for doing the whole El Tour distance of 109 miles. The ride starts in Sahuarita and travels south to the mission at Tumacacori and then returns to the school in Sahuarita. The great thing about riding with GABA is that they do an amazing job supporting the ride. That means that every 20 miles there is a table full of food, water, and drinks for riders to stop and enjoy. This will make our day easier and a little more enjoyable. The ride starts at 7:30am so will have to leave my house at 6:30 to make it there is time. I presume the ride will take us awhile so don't plan on having your kids back for afternoon chores.

So
When: this Sunday October 26th

Where: Start is in Sahuarita, AZ (Exit 75 off of I-19)

What: 80 mile bike ride--- longest ever as new team

Who: All of the Sunday riders, also please print and sign the registration form for the ride from the GABA web site and bring it with you on Sunday morning or you may give it to me on Friday.

You may look at the GABA website for more info at www.bikegaba.org

State Champ X 2

Congradulations MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again!!!! (because he also won the State Time Trial Championships)

Max won the Arizona State Hill Climb Championships by being the first of his age group to reach the 10 mile mark on Mt. Graham. He will now get a polka dot jersey so everybody knows. We are super proud of you Max and we promise that you will not have to go up the mountain alone next year. Well done!

PS. Go ahead and order a few more of those jerseys, I'm a size medium.

Pics from Get Fit Festival

Ignacio

El Grupo 2008 Orchestrates first Bicycle Obstacle Course

First off thanks riders!! This past Saturday almost all of the El Grupo team came together to put on a bicycle obstacle course in downtown to allow other kids to hone their bicycles skills and to just have fun. The event was put on by the Public Libraries and it was called the Get Fit Festival. So there were a bunch of tables and booths talking about health, fitness, and active lifestyles. There was a climbing wall, free apples, nutrition information and the bicycle obstacle course that El Grupo helped the Pima County DOT Safe routes to school project put on. We had at least 50 kids stop by and ride and all riders recieved a free helmet. As each new rider would come up they would get paired with an El Grupo rider and they would show them around and teach them a few skills. It was super fun to have young adults teaching kids. We had a great time, and I look forward to do doing more outreach like this in the future.

Thanks Team
Ignacio

NEW TEAM

That right!! Here are some pics of the new squad. Totally complete. 8 riders, but we are still looking for more. Goal 24, to have 2 teams of twelve. These guys now though are a fantastic bunch, and are practicing like they want it. I have had a blast of late at practice as the guys are working super hard. I want to thank all of you riders and let you know we are going to fly come late November.

New Team coming together

NO PRACTICE ON FRIDAY

No practice this friday.
Why?
First I want you to watch the debate.
Second I am asking you to help out on Saturday.

Thanks everyone

Worktrade for El Tour

Hey El Grupo parents and riders,
Sorry this is getting out a bit late, however here we go. So the PBAA the organization that puts on El Tour is giving El Grupo a great opportunity this year. They are going to allow us to work trade our way into the event. That means that we have to have to help them out at different events and such that they put on for 10 hours each for our free entry. So this Saturday one of those opportunities is coming up. This Saturday from 9am to 1pm Daniela and I will be in downtown Tucson across from the Library putting on a bicycle Rodeo. We are asking that all riders attend for as long as they can to help us out. I know you don't know what a rodeo is but come and you will see and I'm sure you will be able to jump right in. So I really hope that almost all of you can make it for some amount of time.
thanks
Ignacio

Arizona State Time Trial Championships Success

Congradulations MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!

Max won the 13-14 year old age group division at the time trial championships this last weekend. He set a scorching pace averaging 23.40 miles an hour over a 20 kilometer course. His winning time was just over a half an hour. Well done Max.

Blue Loop Round Up

So I gave you the short short before but heres an attempt at a recap.


We left Tucson on Friday night packed in the Cronyn van 4 bikes on back and 6 humans inside. The younger ones made the air quality on the inside horrendous so we stopped at the Benson rest stop to eat dinner even though Max and Robbin had already eaten. The boys though were able to eat 4 pounds of pasta without hesitation. Logan even cleaned his plate. Thanks Daniela!
We got to the camp ground quite late and set up in the dark park in Clifton, AZ. A Bisbee that couldn't or hasn't yet. Kramer awoke in the middle of the night to a family of skunks and the rest of us in the early morning to a drizzle.

Saturday
Leaving Clifton, Az
We spent the morning running over and killing thousands of grasshoppers. It's not that we were trying but they were all over the road. Really the asphalt was day glow and flouresant. Making it worse though, Grasshoppers are apparently canabals so the live ones were eating the dead ones on the road creating more death.
The total elevation gain for the day was 4,800 feet and most of it was gained in one chunk. A fun little climb where at the top we reached a rain cloud. A fun experience for the new riders. To climb a hill up into rain. Once we reached Glenwood, NM the boys were pretty proud of themselves, and it seemed to me that Kramer "learned" to ride today. He came alive at every hill climb and realished the fight. This was the longest ride they had ever been on. We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the camp ground and watching the crazy heavy ran coming over the mountain and onto us. A pounding rain that lasted for hours. Good thing though we had a nice covered area to stay dry in. Diner was awsome too!!

Sunday

We awoke in super wet tents, but just the outside of them, and had a superb breakfast with the same folks that made us diner. Touring with GABA is so easy and awesome! I mean it was hot and ready to go as soon as we awoke. Day 2 started with some difficulties, within the first 2 miles we had 4 flat tires. Enough for like a whole month. We got it together though and rode on, in what turned out to be the first epic ride for the new El Grupo team. By mile 30 Robbin had, had enough and called it quits. 30 miles though saw us 3,000 feet higher than Glenwood and freezing cold because the rain had started to come down. Not just a drizzle either but coming down. We made it into town with about 10 minutes to spare I rode in with Kramer and Logan and we were freezing and nearing trouble. We were totally soaked to the bone and proud as hell. The best part of todays ride was when I asked Logan to get in the car and to take a ride in. He absolutely did not allow that to be an option. He let me know difinitively that he was going to finish. Thanks Logan! Exactly the kind of spirit that is going to make you a great man. This again was the longest ride ever for both Kramer and Logan and we only climed 5,346 feet. This was a hard day of riding that ended in the town of Alpine 8,000 feet high.

Monday
After a great night of sleep, we set out to return home. This ride was to be 96 miles long so today I sent Kramer and Logan to the first sag stop so they eneded up riding 70 ish miles, while Robbin went to the third sag stop and rode about 30 miles. The morning then started with me, Nelson, and Max on the rode climbing another 1,500 feet into thick big tree forest and misting clouds. Just like Tucson! We cruised the first miles and once we got to the first sag Kramer and Logan were so ready to go that as soon as they saw us they were on their bikes trying to get us not to stop. So we didn't stop for long and back on the road we only were able to go about 15 miles before we realized a great problem with Max's tire and we had to put him in a car and send him to the next sag. Not to big a deal because we got lucky and were able to find a replacement wheel. The riding was spectacular with hardly any cars, perfect vistas, and great climbing. Kind of like dream land bike riding. Once at the second sag we got Max a new wheel and down we went. Super down hill fun! To just about sag three, just about because there was one last climb to concour. At sag three we picked up Robbin and had about the greatest down hill ride of all time. Really scary, really fun, and really fast! Everone should get to do it. The ride today ended with 6,831 of climbing on the day in the town of Clifton and 17,000 total for the three days.

Thanks GABA! We loved the opportunity. We can't wait to do it again, and know that there is a youth bike team in town that is willing to help out in any way that we can. The whole club treated us wonderfully and we want to make sure we have chances to give back.

Thanks Ignacio