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
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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.
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.
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
Monday, November 17, 2008
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.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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
Thanks
Ignacio Call with questions if you got em
Monday, November 3, 2008
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
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
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
