New Year 1st Practice

So I want to get the wheels of the new year rolling in the right way. I want to make Fridays practice at A-MTN mandatory if you are here in town.

If you are here I want you there, 9am meet at Club House.

If you are in town and not here I will be upset and no excuse will get you an excused absence. The only way is if I hear from your parent that you are super sick. So don't miss.

I am going to be much stricter this year in regards to making practices and having excused absences and the like. So I warn you now and hope to excite you about the great things to come.

And for those of you that hope to race this season I will guarantee you that your competition will not be sitting at home eating cookies on that day and probably was not yesterday. So lets get ready to give them hell this year and lets get out and start working hard.

Now to the fun stuff.

I want to invite everyone to come to my house after the repeats to watch my beloved Florida State Seminoles play their last football game under the great Bobby Bowden.

Ignacio

Great day in the Dirt

The Island of dirt was like a fantasy. Pablo, Matt, Dean, Julia, Lizzy and Ashley came out and we had a fun fast day.

Other than Ashley totally eating it at the bottom of the shaft and getting a fat lip is was a fun day. She was tough though and rode back in and I really hope to get a picture of it because she will make the rest of us feel like weenies I think.

thanks for the ride
Ignacio

Meeting Tomorrow 10am

Tuesday morning 10am meeting at the Club House.

I did not write this: Coghauler did

‘Twas the night before Christmas
and out on the street,
Everybody was cycling and, man,
was it neat!
The fixies were hopping
at the stop signs with care, coz
Tucson Bike Lawyer said the
cops would be there!
El Grupo was racing, staying in a line
straight.
Ignacio was beaming,
saying, “Man, ain’t they great?”
And Mom on her Surly and me on my Trek,
Were loaded with presents, trying not
to wreck!
When over on 6th Street there came such a
noise,
The whole group did a u-ie,
but maintained their poise.
And over to Bicas they pedalled
like crazy,
Three fell on the tracks saying,
“Oh, woopsey-daisy”.
Into the lot the cyclists tore,
Looking this way and that to find
out the score.
They just couldn’t figure, so gathered
around
That one lowly window and here’s
what they found.
One huge cargo bike and
Eight La Supremas;
A ton of new bike parts
and the one we call Claus.
He spoke not a word and
got real busy.
Just standing there watching
made everyone dizzy.
He gave the wheels new tires
And put the bikes all in rows.
He oiled the chains and got
grease on his nose.
He fixed all the Peugeots, the
Raleighs and Schwinns;
put wheels on the racks and
parts in the bins.
But before the Supremas gave the
cargo a lift.
Lights, helmets and bells
were the bike’s final gift.
And he said as he left
flying o’er the freight train,
“Merry Christmas to all and bikes
may use full lane!”.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY

MTB Tuesday

Remember to comment on your wished place to ride.

Also recently Dean sent me an application via Google Calenders that will allow you to write me and tell me if you are coming or not. However since I do not have this up and running:

WILL EVERYONE PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT THAT PLANS ON COMING

this way I can make sure that there is enough car spots.

Thanks everyone
Ignacio

Yeah still no school for a week. I hope everyone has been sleeping in and not getting too cold. Thank goodness we did not actually ride at the proposed times of last week as it was freezing in the mornings.
I was able to go out a few days, and on Christmas I had a great day in the dirt where I did not see one single person on the trail but I did see a whole family of Javelinas and they actually looked in good and beautiful health.

I want to really honor the two week break that you all have definitely earned, but also want to propose a certain number of ideas. I want to make certain that you are all proud of your recent accomplishments over these past few month, as I know I am.

I know this team takes a lot of time and commitment and I am often even asking more, so I want to thank you all for your dedication and your hard work that you put into this team. I have rarely seen any of you give anything but 100% when at practice, so thank you.

In this next week I would like to invite you all to come play on your bikes, totally optional practice ideas:

Tuesday: Mountain biking
Start time: Meet at Club House 10am

Thursday : Road ride
Start Time: 9am meet at Club House

Friday: Road Ride
Start at 9am meet at Club house

Sunday: Lizzy Choice ( its her birthday the next day)
Start time: 10 am meet at club house

I want to start practice at times when you don't have to wake up without the sun. I really don't like to so I can only imagine that most of you don't. Sorry for proposing times last week that were really not fun, and in the freezing cold.

Where are we going:

Well the mountain bike ride istotally up to where you guys want to go. So please post your wishes and when we meet the winning rides gets the go. That will be for hte MTB day.

As for the road rides, Thursday will be the traditional fixed loop. Yes I know the same one that so many of us have done a 100 times, but really it is a great little ride and I enjoy racing a lot of you on that old familiar road.

Friday is going to be one of those end of the year crazy things. I want to do 10 A Mtn repeats in recognition of the New Year. Something crazy for the New Year, this is something that we used to do on my Swim Team and so it has one of those places in my heart where Crazy things go.

Merry Christmas Everyone and hope to see some of you soon!!!

Ignacio

Marcos and the marathon

Marcos recently competed in the Tucson Marathon and is alive to tell about it. Granted I have not heard too much from him about it but from what I know the boy can run.

He won his division by over in hour and finish 97th overall in a time of 3 hours 20 minutes. That puts him well within striking distance to qualify for the Boston Marathon. That means pretty dang cool.

So congratulations Marcos!!!!

Ignacio

Why?

I decided to cancel practices for the next two weeks to give everyone a break. We have been going strong now for quite a while. Since before El Tour (September) without a break. So I suppose it is time for some rest.

It was becoming apparent to me that people needed it to recharge their batteries and to get excited about riding again. I know for some it was really feeling like a chore and they were not enjoying it anymore. So I hope that with some time away everyone, including myself, can come back excited and motivated to work hard and ride with their friends again.

I am not upset in any way, more I am trying to let everyone enjoy some down time and not monopolize it all.

Have a great break and I will look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!!!

Ignacio

Hell Week Cancelation

First I want to thank Ashley, Matt, Lizzy, and Nathan for a great ride today. We showed up in the cold after a crazy night and first had free coffees at Espresso Art and then enjoyed Gates Pass, Nathans first time. On the way back we were able to do a few intervals and then were able race each other over the Irvington hills, so a fun ride.

SO NO MORE PRACTICES OVER THE BREAK, and we will see about the new year. If you want to ride feel free to contact me and ask if I will be riding. I will be but I don't want to spoil your break or burn you out.

Next ride: January 3rd.

Secret Santa and Practice Times and rides

Yes I know how to use the Google calender and should be using it a bit more as a way to distribute info so please be looking there in the near and long future.

All practice times and rides are posted on the Calender so you will not have to ask me, "Where are we going?".

I am hoping that as many of you make as many of the rides as possible. I hope I picked some fun ones and that you will be excited about some of them. I know that not everyone will make everyone but if you can let me know before hand if you are going to miss that would be nice so I know who to wait for and what not.

Secret Santa:
Rules-- NO MORE THAN $5 may be spent
HOME MADE IS WAY BETTER

ALL GIFTS DUE ON WEDNESDAY PRACTICE OR BEFORE

MTB Tomorrow

December 18th Friday.

Who wants to go Mountain biking?

I know that I had said that I could lead the ride but very unfortunately I cannot. If there is someone who can lead it please post such.

Please let me know how I can help put a ride together.

Ignacio

The Canadian Are Coming

Greetings:

I heard from the coach and he would like to have dinner and meet the teens on Jan 15th. Please reserve the community room.

Nippy has arranged for us to eat dinner with the Canadian National Mountain bike team. This is an amazing opportunity that I hope all of you take advantage of. So please put this on your calender and make arrangements to come.

This is something special.

thanks
Nippy

Oh by the way

Lance Armstrong will be at Borders Tucson this Sunday, December 13 at 4pm signing copies of his new book, COMEBACK 2.0.

Borders is located at :

5870 E. Broadway Blvd.

Tucson, AZ 85711

But riding with Santa will be just as cool, because Daniela and I are Rudolph andd James Brown is the number 1 caroler.

Parade of Lights

Calling all El Grupo riders! Please help BICAS escort Santa's sleigh along the Parade of Lights on Saturday night (Dec. 12). You don't have to but you can decorate your bike for Xmas, attach a bunch of red bike lights, dress up in red+green or wear a Santa hat or whatever. We are meeting at 5:30pm at 17th street and 5th ave.

4th Ave Street Fair - bike valet

Super short notice, but many of you have heard of this from Ignacio.

We need your help this weekend to host the bike valet parking area in front of Ordinary bike shop on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 6pm each day. This is both a service that El Grupo offers, and it helps to raise money (donations/tips). There is no cost to us, just our volunteer time to watch over folks' bikes while they shop the street fair.

For riders, please talk with Ignacio tomorrow at practice about volunteering an hour or two on either Saturday or Sunday. If your parents are willing and available, they could help as well. We need to spread out the help, so don't all pick the same hours, but it is always more fun if more than one person is there at a time. These hours will count towards your "outreach" hours, and you can even much on total junk food (french fries!) while you do them if you are so inclined (though I would suggest sharing those huge portions!).

Thanks in advance for your help!

Kathleen's Request

Okey-dokey then....I just got notice that the voting polls are now OPEN in the Alliance photo contest.
For your ease, below is a link to each of the images.
You can rank the images with anything from 1 to 5 stars along with your vote.

Here is how your voting will help BICAS: I selected BICAS (as they are part of the Alliance that is hosting the contest)to be the recipient of the grant-like awards that are being given out.

Here is how your voting will help El Grupo: If any image official wins and I get a prize, I am donating the prize to El Grupo to use as part of a fundraiser...for example the grand prize is a bike trip for two to Tuscany. We could auction that off to put money down for the bus/van. Cool, huh?

So get your clickers ready and.....VOTE!!!! My name is listed at KathleenD.

Advocates in Action:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C23/P48/#12 Ignacio giving bike education to a young girl

Biking and Walking:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C21/P24/#3 Max and Logan walking their bikes after a race

Inspirational:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C25/P288/#2 American flag and coaches reflect in Avery's sunglasses
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C25/P312/#5 Max giving Logan a championship jersey
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C25/P336/#9 Old fashion biker watches the start of the 24 hour race

Youth:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P72/#15 Parents, coach and teammates help each other get ready to race
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P72/#4 Getting ready for the Show Low Ride
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P144/#14 Avery sticking his tongue out while he races
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P144/#22 Two teams One Goal (El Grupo and YBC meet up before the race)
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P144/#12 Team Spirit..El Grupo watching 24 Hour race
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P168/#3 Logan waiting to do his 1st lap, 24 hour race
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C24/P120/#15 Logan/Max State Tandem Champs


Biking:
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C26/P72/#21 Ignacio and Kramer after climbing Mt. Lemmon
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/photo-contest/category/C26/P720/#15 The start of the 66 mile Show Low...faded look image(not El Grupo riders)

There are 6 other images that were submitted but I do not see them in the photo groupings...if I find them, I'll let you know.

Thanks a bunch,El Grupo!
Kathleen

This just in from Larry Robinson

GABA would like to know if on Monday, December 7th, starting at about 5:30PM to 7:00PM and then 8:30PM to 10:00PM if any El Grupo kids would like to help set up and take down for the Holiday potluck. It would be volunteer hours and all good stuff! Let me know, or email LarryRobinson08@gmail.com or call him at 237-5792, he has more info.

Also Larry would like to know if any of us can help this saturday morning with the Toys for Tots bike ride. It starts and ends at Reid Park and Larry was hoping we could do some bike valet.

Larry's message to me:

It looks like we will have a nice area to do a bike valet at the Zoo this Saturday. We should have it set up by 10:00 am, probably would use a minimum of 4 to 6 El Groupos to manage it it is a large area it would last till about 12:30. I can be there to help set up and bring supplies like signs,table ,chairs ,rope etc. Also Pam can use some help with cleanup after the pot luck. So come early eat then cleanup. I would help to get anyone home who needs it as they will be late on a school night. Also my Mom likes the Idea of helping us out with a dinner in the campground on the Salt River Ride,something else to plan.

GOALS

Now that everyone has a 2010 schedule of races and El Grupo team events (e.g. 24 Hours in the OP, Tour of the Tucson Mountains, El Tour) it’s time to set some goals so that we can plan training. Why set goals? Many people find that setting goals helps keep them challenged, fresh, and focused. They help you see the progress you are making, and to plan your training so that your goals can be achieved. Whether you are aware of it or not, the coaches are constantly setting goals for practices and big events. Listed below are a few examples of goals:
Ride to the top of Mt. Lemmon.
Bike commute to school at least 75% of the time.
Do a 3-day self-contained bike tour.
Ride a lap of 24 Hours in the OP in under an hour and 45 minutes.
Ride a 20 km time trial in less than 30 minutes.
Enter and finish a race.
Be capable of changing a flat in under two minutes.
Win the U of A crit.
Learn to track-stand and bunny hop.
Ride A-Mountain in under seven minutes.
Completely overhaul and rebuild a bike.
Podium finish at the Tucson Bike Classic.
Help five novice cyclists feel safe and comfortable enough to ride to school.
Learn how to build a mountain bike trail, and help build a section of local trail.

These goals may or may not be relevant to what you want, so think about what YOU want; what’s important is to challenge yourself and have fun. It’s helpful, if you are going to set goals, to make them specific and measurable. A goal like “be a better rider”, for example, is tough to work with; if you want to be a better rider, state what that means to you in specific and measurable terms. It’s also important to make sure that while goals should be beyond where you are now as a rider, they are not ridiculously out of reach. For example, if you just started riding this year and are struggling to stay in the middle of the pack on El Grupo rides, setting a goal for next year of making the National Team is probably not achievable. Write you goals down so that you can see your progress and so that we can help you achieve your goals.

Dream goals are worth thinking about and writing down too, whether you share them with others or not. A dream goal is something that is way, way beyond what you are currently capable of, but with lots of hard work and focus over several years might be achieved. Here are a few examples: do a transcontinental self-contained bike tour, make the U-23 National Team, build a bike frame from scratch, set a national time-trial record, get the City to establish a bike boulevard through your neighborhood.

Just want to ride with El Grupo and let the coaches determine goals? No problem. Setting personal cycling-related goals is not a requirement for being involved with El Grupo. You should know, however, if you do not set your own goals then the coaches end up setting goals for you; this is your opportunity to determine your own goals. If you do have some specific goals in mind, please write them down so that we can help you develop a plan that will put you on track to achieve those goals. We will be discussing goals and training plans for 2010 during the next few Sunday practices.

Get on the BUS

El Grupo Team Members: This comes from Nippy

Ignacio & Daniela really want to get a bus/van for the team

I have a few ideas as to which company to approach to see it they will make a big donation.

Your help is needed to make our change better in getting the large donation.

I would like every one to hand write (computer is ok) two letters.

In the letter please put the following some place in the letter.

Name, age, class in school and school name, time you have been an El Grupo member,

Most important what El Grupo means to you (50 words or less)

Super important as the two companies if they will help El Grupo obtain a bus/van.



Address one letter to


ROD PACE, President/CEO
Rosemont Copper CompanyP.O. Box 35130Tucson, AZ 85740-5130




Second company:

Robert B. McMahon, Chairman / CEO
Metro Restaurants4644 E. Fort Lowell Tucson, Arizona 85712

Ouch!