Weekend Practice schedule

Friday- New West Loop. Cruising is the idea. Moving the legs, getting rid of Thursdays pains, and getting ready for Saturday shoot out, or Sundays ride.
Hunter will be leading this ride with whomever can help.

Saturday- Old Man shoot out. Richard will be at my house to meet anyone who wants to go. The ride starts at 6:15 am and Richard will be leaving my house at that time. If you are on time, great you make it. If you are late sorry, the ride waits for no one. Also this ride is "unsupported" by the team. That means if you get dropped you have to get home, or to my house safe, without the help of the coaches, but maybe by a fellow rider that also is turning around with you.

Sunday- Start time 8am. Ride leader Travis. The ride- Colossal Cave. Reason- To go ride next weekends race course.
I would like to see that the team can split into two groups, maybe three.
Group one- A fast group that is very intent on getting to know the race course and has a good steady fast ride.
Group two- Gets all the way out there and maybe only does one loop.
Group three- Gets to Saguaro east and turns around.

Nelson can you coach group one? Riders would be Donovan, Max, Logan, Pablo, Nathan
Travis can you coach group two? Riders would be Lizzy, Matthew, Milo, Ashley, Julia
Kate can you coach group three? Riders would be Rachel, Brianna

Of course the groups would leave the club house together and ride most of the way to Old Spanish Trial together, but at a certain point things heat up and well separations happen and then each group leader of course could change plans as needed.

Where will I be? In Denver of course. I will be at Thursday practice and then be excited to see you all at the GABA meeting. Stay posted to the blog to find out what that is all about.

--If you did not see your name mentioned as to being on the ride on Sunday, it is because you have shown such a lack of consistency that I am no longer expecting you to show up, and you are in serious jeopardy of loosing some privileges.If you beg to
differ than I would like to hear your arguments.

Ignacio

Sick Bro!

via DrunkCyclist

Thursdays are the New Mondays

That's right back to the beginning we go.

Monday shop hours are no more.

Shop hours are now on Thursday, same time though. 4:30-6:30pm.

However there is a change:

If you are an aspiring racer, and you know who you are, we are going to be starting starting a new practice schedule.

As follows:

Mondays: rest day
Tuesdays: rest day
Wednesday: practice 3:30 - 5:30
Thursdays: practice 4:30- 6pm Trainer practice
Friday: Practice 4:30-6pm
Saturday: Practice Old man shoot out or big boy one if no race
Sunday: practice ....

Of course if there is a race on the weekends then this will change what we do on the weekend, however if there is no race then I want us to ride 5 days a week. This will make a big difference for those of you who want to progress in their racing.

We will start the trainer work outs this Thursday the 1st of April.

See you then,

Ignacio

Tumacacori Road Race Pics!!!

Photo Album Click Here!

Tumacacori Road Race

What: Tumacacori Road Race

When: March 28th Sunday

13-14 starts at 7:17 am and does 2 laps for a total of 12 miles
that is Lizzy, Logan, Matthew
15-16 starts at 7:15 am and does 3 laps for a total of 18 miles
that is Donovan
Cat 4 starts at 7 am and does 7 laps for a total of 42 miles
that is Max and Alex
17-18 starts at 10:12 am and does 7 laps for a total of 42 miles
that is Marcos, Kramer, Pablo

Where: Rio Rico, Az
Directions to Tumacacori: From Tucson take I-19 South to exit 17. Proceed east (left) on Rio Rico Blvd to Pendleton. Turn
North (right) proceed 7 miles to Start/Finish….If the road turns to dirt you have gone to far. Turn back ¾ mile to S/F.

Why: Because it is my favorite race of the year. Super hard with plenty of climbing. Really one of the few races where the strongest person usually does win.

The drive takes about an hour so many of us will have to leave very early to get there with time to warm up and sign in. In fact the early group has to be signed in by 6:30am. That means we NEED TO LEAVE TUCSON BY 5AM SHARP. Yes I know crazy early but that is what it is. Between Nelson and I, I think we have plenty of space. However the question comes in, How do we get the later group of three down? Marcos junior can you drive down?

I am going to stay of course for the whole event and will be at the feed zone. Meaning I will be handing out water bottles and food to all of you racers, very excitedly of course.

Please plan on it being cold in the morning. It is a bit higher in elevation where we are going so please dress accordingly. Also bring a change of clothes so you are comfortable watching the later racers. You should bring a back pack with a change of clothes and some snacks for your cheering energy. We should arrive back in town around 3pm-ish.

REMEMBER: helmet, team jersey, waiver form, gloves, 2 water bottles, arm warmers, change of clothes, snacks

Please make sure who ever you are planning to ride with knows that you are planning such. SO PLEASE POST SO THAT I KNOW HOW YOU ARE PLANNING ON GETTING DOWN THERE AND I CAN MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

PS Matt if you want to come please remember to bring your license and a copy for me.

pps Kathleen- as for a wheel car we have not been asked yet and so I am not planning on it. I suppose I will be prepared but I would really rather be at the feed zone.
thanks
ignacio

Wednesday Night Crit Photos

Photos Click Here

Nacho, you better work on your aim!

Solar Rock this Saturday!

We've got more bike valet parking to provide for the community this Saturday at the Solar Rock festival...and we are truly needed at this one! Last year we had well over 100 bikes during the day that we parked. I will plan on being out there all day, but I need your help too!

Please let me know if and when you can join me out at Himmel Park (Treat & 2nd St) between 11am and 6pm. It is always a good time, and the weather should be great, so this is a pretty easy event for us to enjoy. More info on the event can be found below:

"We have a fabulous line-up of speakers and musical guests include Spirit Familia, Kevin Pakulis, Mitzi Cowell, Leila Lopez, Run Boy Run and more. You can find a full schedule for the day and more information about the event at our website: www.SolarRockTucson.com.

Don't try this at home!

Bike Treadmill Fail - watch more funny videos

"Always, always, always, wear your helmet!"

Wed. March 24th Crit racing

This wednesday in lieu of practice as we usually do it, I would like to take you all out to the crit course that is used during the Colossal cave stage race.

I would like to meet everyone at the clubhouse at 4pm sharp. From there it should take about 45 minutes to get there.

Our race will START at 5:45pm and last 20 minutes.

This is the junior race and it is FREE.

However if some of you like, Logan, Pablo and Kramer, would like to try some big kid races and I think you should, then you must let me know via a comment to register you for this.

Anyone who is interested should come and do this one, it is a pretty fun and entertaining course. Also if there are any parents or interested readers that can help with transport please let me know.

PLEASE POST IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RACE SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT TRANSPORT.

THANKS
IGNACIO

Bike clinic tomorrow......

Lizzy, Pablo, and Marcos:
Please meet Logan and I at Ignacio and Daniela's house at 515pm tomorrow and I will drive you in their car over to the clinic which starts at 6pm and ends around 730-745pm. I will drive you back to their house by about 8ish-815ish so you can have your family pick you up. Call me @ 245-6711 if you have any questions.
See you tomorrow.
Kathleen

Thanks for the hubs!

Phil Wood died on March 14 at age 83. Story here.

24 Hours In the Old Pueblo!

Yeah, I ditched practice yesterday but I finally finished the video! You can watch a larger version here. Enjoy!

24 Hour article

I was surfing the web and found this article in the Mountain Flyer with these two photos of El Grupo riders. Lookin' good Ricardo!

Sunday March 21st Practice

North Loop is the ride.

Start time 7:30am.

Meet at the clubhouse.

Puke hill at least 3 times.

See you there!!!

ignacio

What's Happening

March 20th Saturday: Old Man Shoot. I will be riding. It starts at 6:45am. You cannot be late. Feel free to meet at my house and drop stuff off if you like. Donovan will be coming out for his first time, so heck yes and let's help him as best we can. Pablo, Logan, Kramer, Richard and Alex Strickland have confirmed they are coming. So if anyone else wants to come SWEET.

March 20th and 21st- Street Fair Bike Valet. Thanks everyone for signing up.

March 28th Tumacacori Road Race: Donovan, Logan, Kramer, Pablo, Matthew, Marcos, Lizzy, Tulio, Alex Strickland you are all signed up.

March 27th and 28th-- Ashley and Nathan will be joining GABA on their Sonoita Bisbee bike ride. So I am very excited to hear how it goes for Ashely and her first time carrying weight.

Street Fair Bike Valet Work Times

That time of year again!! When people from all over the US come and take over our town for 3 days to sell their "stuff", and make us feel totally awkward in our town yeah.

But of course with this fun time we do bike valet. As I noted yesterday we are going to get PAID to do this so it should be a little more fun. Also we are no longer in front of Ordinary but on the other side of the street on 7th across 4th ave, right in front of the bands.

We still need some volunteers, so really feel free to help whenever you can. It is usually pretty chill, not too many bikes, and I have always bought a basket of curly fries, WITH NO RANCH.

So times we are open and who for now is working:

Sat. March 20th
10am- Christian, Greg Y
11am- Christian, Marcos
12pm- Marcos, Julia
1pm- Julia,
2pm-Pablo,
3pm- Pablo
4pm- Richard, Ignacio
5pm- Richard, Ignacio and we close at 6pm

Sunday March 21st
10am- Kathleen
11am- Ignacio
12pm-Lizzy, Ignacio
1pm- Lizzy, Ignacio
2pm-Ignacio
3pm-Logan, Chad
4pm- Logan, Chad
5pm- Chad,

Thanks for the help everyone!!!
ignacio

Wednesday Practice and this weekend

Wednesday Practice: For those that know they can do it or are confident in there ability to we are going to go MOUNTAIN BIKING AT STARR PASS. If you do not want to go then Starr Pass repeats are on tap for you.

This weekend: There is a crit in Phoenix that I will not be going to and on Sunday there is a time trial. I would be willing to go out to the time trial if there is interest. So please post if you are and if you would like to go.

Also this weekend is the street fair. El Grupo has signed a contract to get payed by the city to do this know and we need volunteers. If you think you have time this weekend to help please again post what times you think you could be available. It is saturday and sunday from 10-5pm.

Thanks everyone!!

Ignacio

TBC recap

Thanks Kathleen for getting the video up. I hope everyone gets to watch it and reads Mikes post. He does a very nice job of summarizing how the weekend went. I by the way am ecstatic about the whole weekend.

Donovan: Road hard and raced smart, and learned a ton, while keeping his head up the whole time.

Lizzy: Even with problems galore, never stopped smiling and loved the adventure.

Milo: Through sickness battled all through the weekend and was almost able to finish. He was right there with the group the whole time and I think realized he sure can pedal.

Logan and Tulio finished 1-2 in the 13-14 group and started to learn how to ride as teammates. Tulio was super strong and won all three events and Logan won the sprint lap in the circuit race. Those boys are fast.

Nathan: After only 6 months of riding and just 3 being comfortable enough to drink from a water bottle while on the bike finished every day with a smile and is hungry for more. His steady improvement has really amazed me. He is on his way.

Max: 6th place over all in the cat 4s. I hope it's enough to get to the 3's. You were pretty impressive out there and your hard work is paying off. We are all behind you and want to help in every way we can. Also thanks for hanging with us after wards and hope to see you soon.

Alex Strickland: Even after your crash on Saturday you came back to kill it on Sunday even though I and your brother hoped you wouldn't, but don't you know you proved us all wrong and held on to 8th place. Well done coach!!

Pablo: 3 years of hard work finally payed off. Pablo is a perfect example of the kid I love to coach. Maybe not the most talented at the start but with heart enough to continue working day after day, week after week, and year in and year out and in the end results come. I am so proud of his accomplishments, and will always refer to him with regard to what hard work can get you.

But of course Pablo's 3rd place in the 17-18's would never have been possible without the help of his great friend and teammate Kramer. I was almost in tears of joy watching those boys this weekend racing. It was really everything I hope for in the kids I coach. They raced with courage, heart, guts, and for and with each other. By the last day we knew Pablo had the chance to finish on the podium but they had a slim 8 second lead to hold on to. So Kramer disregarded his own personal results to ensure his teammates 3rd place and did through his gutsy and super strong riding. It was an act of true friendship and I loved watching Kramer chase down every attempt by their competitors, pulling super hard on the last lap to ensure that Pablo would be fresh for the finish and his rival would be beat. Thanks guys. If we race like this all the time and continue working hard, well we will have more than 2 guys in the cat 3's before long.

THANK EL GRUPO YOU ALL MAKE ME PROUD!!!!

IGNACIO

I also want to thank everyone that come out to cheer on Sunday, all the parents that helped selflessly all weekend, and the riders that came to cheer on Sunday.

Here's that video

From Michael of Tucson Velo

Thank you, Michael for this video and blog that encapsulates so well El Grupo at the TBC!

Tucson Bike Classic photo album here!!!

Or this link here!!! This public link should work for anyone who does not have Facebook. Please let me know if you have any difficulties.

TBC results are up

Here is the link:

http://www.tucsonbicycleclassic.com/?page_id=38

Sunday TBC meeting times

Tomorrow is the Circuit race and final race of the TBC. We all know this course really well and I am hoping we all have a great time tomorrow.

I would very much like it if we could all meet at the clubhouse and ride to the start tomorrow as warm up. Like I would really like that. All of us. Travis and Christian maybe you guys can post about what you want to do tomorrow, maybe just ride to the start with us or maybe go for a ride and meet at the race. However you guys want.

LEAVING THE clubhouse at 7:45am. So we are there about 8:15 at the start line and we have plenty of time to sign in, get ready, use the potty and stretch.

After the race I have been speaking with the teams from Hermosillo and we have loosly set up the idea of having lunch together after wards. They would really like to and I would really like to I just have no more details. I imagine though that we will ride back to the clubhouse and they will meet us there and then we can go out for some pizza.

So bring a change of clothes with you to the clubhouse so you can change when we get back.

I really hope to see you all in the morning and I am excited.

Ignacio

TBC Road Race Recap

I suppose I just first want to say how much fun I had watching everyone today. I am really proud of all the effort you guys put in and I hope we ride with that same pride tomorrow. We have a very good chance to finish quite well in a few categories and so I hope everyone gets good rest tonight and wakes up excited.

Milo, Tulio, Logan and Lizzy were the first to go today. Theirs was a 20 mile race. One lap of the said race course. The race starts on some rolling hills then turns right for about 5 miles and a very long down hill, at the bottom another right turn and a long flat. At the end of the flat another right turn to a long gradual climb of about 5 miles, at the top was another right turn and some really tough rolling hills to the end. The rolling hills at the end were tough on crummy roads.

Tulio won the race with a solo break on the last set of hills about 3 miles out as I heard. Logan sprinted into the finish and just got nipped and finished 3rd. Milo hung on until the very end but about 3 miles out couldnt hold on any more and finished with another 2 guys. Lizzy very unfortunately dropped her chain on the flat road and was never able to catch back on.

So we are still first and second in the boys 13- 14, and we all have one more day to enjoy.

Donovan was the only El Grupo 15 16 out there and he had to ride 40 miles or 2 laps against 9 other kids. He road hard and ended up in a group with one other rider, and finished strong with a smile. A smile so big he is ready for tomorrow.

Kramer, Pablo, and Nathan were our 17-18 representatives and I think this was the most beautiful El grupo team race I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I was in the chase car with Mark, nathans dad, Kathleen, Logans mom, and Lizzy. We were the wheel support. Nathan in his first american race road with a lot of heart and he too found another to ride with. He told me later that he had a blast and cant wait for tomorrow so mission accomplished. He was so close to finishing the first lap with the group and only fell off on the last hill, but tomorrow another chance.

The beauty came in Pablo and Kramer. They were up against some really still competition from all over the south west and mexico. I became the wheel car after the first lap when I got the wheels from Natalie and Miguel. On the second lap Pablo and Kramer were just hanging out in the back on the down hill and flat, while the young Mexican rider was on a solo break. They eventually all came back together on the flat road and made the turn up the gradual hill together. At the top of the hill Pablo and the Mexican made a move and created a gap of about 20 seconds. They had made some room, but nobody was chasing in any way so Kramer lept on a hill and tried to bridge, but of course the rest of the pack just jumped on and held on. I was screaming like crazy in the car having fun with it. I just did not want kramer to chase down a team mate in a break away, and don't you know all he did was help everyone else catch up. So at the start of the third lap everyone was together again and kramer looking like he was in trouble just dangling on the back but Pablo looking super strong at the front.

So they make the turn on the long gradual down hill and Pablo and Kramer move to the front about half way down. I was curious as they both hate the down hills. Like really both of them are usually the last two down Mt. Lemmon. But they had an idea. At the turn on to the frat road, they were in first and second position, they went for it, in blazing glory. There move pulled out the mexican and so it was now game on. 3 against 4. Break away group 3, chasers four. Over the flat road they were able to create a gap of just about 30 seconds. A good, beautiful, stupid gap, as the hardest part of the racing was to come. But they had done it. They allowed courage and a crazy idea to take control and now it was game full on. They were in front working together taking pulls together while the chase was kind of floundering and chewing through people. The boys made the turn with 30 second in hand for the gradual up hill. Slowly though you knew it was coming to an end. I knew they would get caught, but god dang I was proud. They had gone for it with glory with guts and few have that in born character. Half way up the hill Kramer couldn't help the break any more and sat up. Pablo and the Mexican were still off with about 15 seconds. By the time kramer was caught he had rested enought to ride with the group as they slowly realed in pablo. However the chase was falling apart and Kramer road away from 2 of them, while Pablo was able to hang with the 2 chasers and "the mexican". He eventually got dropped and they came in 4 and 5th, however they made the race. The drama was their creation. I really hope this is the moment that they always look back to as the moment they "realized." Those boys have something going so lets make sure they know it.

We had two more racers out there today though. Coach Alex Strickland and Max. They road with the cat 4's today and really I can say nothing as to the race as I saw none of it. It was a pack sprint at the end which ended badly as Alex was taken down hard. He finished but pretty banged up. Max stayed up and with the group so he will hold on to 6th place over all. If he can hold onto that he will score quite a few points and hopefully get him close to becoming a 3 and getting to nationals. We are all behind you max, good luck tomorrow and keep working hard.

That reminds me, Avery raced as well. 10 12 boys, they did about 12 miles. He had two competitors and he and his"nemisis" road away from the first boy in no time. Avery ended up in second place after almost getting a chance to sprint to the finsish, but again tomorrow another day.

Hew what fun, lets do it again tomorrow.

Ignacio

TBC Time Trial Results and Info

http://www.tucsonbicycleclassic.com/?page_id=38

This link should get you to the results page. If it does not then go to www.azcycling.com and go through the process of finding the results. It should be fairly easy.

Logan, Milo, Lizzy, Donovan we are all meeting at the clubhouse at 5:45 am to make sure that we are at the start with enough time to be ready to go. Please eat a good breakfast. Nothing too different than what you normally eat maybe just a bit more. YOU MUST EAT, and well !!!!

Tulio we will see you before the start hopefully so you can warm up with the team and Pablo, Kramer, and Nathan you are all meeting at the clubhouse at 7:15am. So you will be sure to make it with plenty of time.

Remember when you there to sign in at the registration table. Have water bottles filled up and goos in the pocket. Kramer, Pablo and Nathan I will leave some goos for you guys in the trough at the clubhouse, I will also leave a pump outside, and the keys will be on the counter next to the door. Please do not leave them there.

I have a set of spare wheels put together for us, a box of tools, plenty of water, and other goodies, so we should be ready.

Remember the little things helmet, racing shoes, gloves, water bottles filled.

Also the early racers it is going to be cold tomorrow at start time so please be dressed for this. It will be cold have your warm gear on.

Now if you are up and reading this then start to get to bed. You need all the rest you can get these next few days. GO TO BED!!!

Race recap:

The racing was great today. Perfect weather with only a slight breeze. It was fun to feel kind of pro today with the tent set up and all the kids on trainers under neath getting warmed up by Hunter. I was at the start line as he was getting them ready and they all showed up with big smiles and ended with them as well. There is not much more reporting I can do. It was a time trial they went out road like crazy and where done, most in under 10 minutes. Tomorrow is another day and I hope they are excited because I think we can do great in every age group. Sleep well and stories to come tomorrow.

Ignacio

For Those of You Not In the TBC

We'll still be having practice. Same time, same place. See the rest of you at the clubhouse for our 4:30 start.

TBC Start Times

Here we are:
Lizzy 2pm sharp
Avery 2:03 sharp
Matthew 2:03.30 sharp
Tulio 2:04 sharp
Logan 2:07.30 sharp
Milo 2:08 sharp
Donovan 2:09.30 sharp
Nathan 2:13.30 sharp
Kramer 2:14.30 sharp
Pablo 2:16 sharp

max 3:35 sharp
Alex strickland 3:43 sharp

So I will be at the clubhouse at 11am. I am going to leave at noon. If you need a ride please be there on time to be ready to leave. Kathleen will also be there to help with transportation.

Please let me know again if you are coming with me.

Ignacio

More TBC info

On friday I am expecting to see Matt Packard, Lizzy and Donovan Caputo, Logan, Kramer, Pablo, Milo, Nathan and possibly Tulio at the club house at 12 noon sharp ready to leave for the time trial. You are ready to go at this time. I want to be at the start with one hour to spare to not have to rush to do things.

After this race which really should take less than 10 minutes I have purchased new tires for everyone on the team. So if you read this, and post, then yes ask me for your new tires. Yes the only way I will give your new tires is if you post. I would very much like for you to have them on your bike for the road race.

Ignacio

I will post tomorrow on exact info for leaving time and rides for the Road race.

Google Maps adds new "bicycle route" option

Check out the cool new mapping gadget to the right. Just enter your start/finish location and it maps your bike route. I tried a few different routes and it seemed to get it right most of the time. Even when I swapped the start/finish locations it changed the route to compensate for one-way streets, etc. You can also click-and-drag anywhere along your route to change it.

Try the full-screen version here. Click on the "Get bicycling directions on Google Maps" on the left side.

Ride the Divide!

TBC Info

The biggest stage race of the year in our home town is coming upon us and sure hope all of you racing are as excited as I am. I am really looking forward to a fun three days of racing, where we can really welcome folks into our home town.

Friday is the McCains Loop Time Trial. I will have affirmative start times on thursday night beacause that is when they come out. However I can tell you that the first junior rider will be leaving at 1:30 pm. So we will all be leaving some time after that. I would very much like it if we are all at the start by NOON. The start location is Old Tucson studios. The back side of the Tucson Mountains. I can bring 4 riders and five bikes to the start and get kids home. So comment if you need a ride.

Saturday is the road race and it starts down in Green Valley. Roughly around the intersection of Duval Mine road and La Canada. Racing starts crazy early at 7:15 for the juniors ages 13-16 and at 9am for the 17-18 guys and 9:35 for the cat 4 men. So I will be driving down super early for the early racing and we will need help getting the older kids down. I will then stay for the whole day of racing. This race as the one on friday are not very spectatur friendly. I will be leaving town at 6am sharp if you want one of the four seats in my car please post and let me know.

However the race on Sunday is almost as exciting as the U of A crit. Almost. We will get to see a lot of action and it is right in our backyard right out in front of Pima College west. I highly recommend coming out and watching this stage. Racing starts at 8:45 am. All racers that day will ride to the start line as warm up and all non racing El Grupo member are mandated to be there.Racers should be at the start line by no later than 8:15. We should leave the club house together at 7:30am. I hope that the non-racers go for a ride and end at the race, ready to cheer and encourage their teammates.

Milo, Tulio, Logan, Lizzy are all signed up to race the 13-14 category
Donovan is the only 15-16 year old we have
kramer, pablo, and Nathan are racing 17-18
Max and Alex Strickland are racing in the cat 4 group
Avery is racing in the 10-12 group

Please let me know if you would like a ride. I am very happy to help I just need to know who needs it. Also Mark Franklin can you drive the boys down to Greeb Valley for the second stage?

Thanks everyone,
Ignacio

Info and Answers

Answer: I was not at practice today because I was at a school on the South side all day. I am very sure that Travis and Hunter did an excellent job so I want to thank the two of them and all of you for being respectful.

I will see many of you tomorrow at the El Rio center and I look forward to that. Also thank you so much to all of you who offered to help.

Pablo, Tulio, Logan and Kramer I recommend you guys ride the "old Man" shoot out tommorrow and go the whole way around. Like I really think it would be good for you guys to do that before next weekend. I can leave with you in the morning and go to the bridge but I have to get things ready at the El Rio center. So then find me there. The ride starts at 6:45 so if you are going please let me know and yes you may leave a change of cloths at my house so you can change after the ride. You could even shower if you want to as well.

TEAM MEETING as well on Sunday at noon.

If it rains on Sunday we are still going to have the meeting.

As for practice 8am sharp start on Sunday. We are going to beat the rain. Last thing many of you will be using arrow bars for the TT in TBC. You know who you are and if you can come to BICAS on Saturday while I am working we can put them on. I would like to have this done before Sunday as we are going to practice on the course.

Over and Out
Ignacio

Outreach this Saturday @ El Rio

We will be out at the El Rio Health Fair for the 3rd year to lead lots and lots of kids through our super fun bike safety obstacle course. The event is from 10am to 1pm at the El Rio Community Center off Speedway west of I-10. We will need at least 5 EG riders to make this happen and the more the merrier...last year we had well over 100 kids participate!! \\

Please let Ignacio and Daniela know if you can help, thanks!!

PS Oh and don't forget our MONTHLY TEAM MEETING this Sunday at 12 after practice. Jason from Carmichael Training will present and talk with us about their new sponsorship and support of El Grupo!

'People Powered Movement Photo Contest Winners Unveiled'

'People Powered Movement Photo Contest Winners Unveiled'


Hi Everyone,
One of our images, "Ignacio Teaching Bike Safety" won second place in the Advocates in Action category of this contest. You can scroll down to see the image. In fact, 6 out of the 20 El Grupo photos I entered were finalists in 4 out of the 7 categories. Congratulations to all of you El Grupo...for this is about YOU!

Hermosillo Track Trip 2010

A total success, an absolutely fabulous trip that I look forward to making again next year. Everything went super smooth and easy and we treated as much respected guests. Really it was totally easy.

We left on Thursday morning around 8am from downtown and were in Hermosillo at the Olympic training center by 1:30pm. An easy drive on an interstate like road with pavement as good as the US, with only three tolls. As soon as we arrived we were taken right in. We ate lunch at the cafeteria that day and were on the road by 3:30 pm going out for a 60 km bike ride. A fascinating little adventure because the kids had to ride through town on the busy city streets, which made Tucson feel like a cycling paradise. To make the trip safe and easy though we drove behind the pack and escorted them out of the city while the “Cuban” Carlos, the head cycling coach, drove his motor cycle in front of the group.

As far as accommodations went we slept in a room that felt like a large hostel room from France. Roughly a dozen beds in a room, boys in one and girls in another down the hall. The girls room of course smelled better by the end of the trip even though they had a small child, Damiano, staying in there and his under garments. The rooms were actually inside of the soccer stadium on campus which was kind of fun and in the neighboring room to ours were the 8 cyclist from Obregon that had come up for the weekend.

We awoke early on Friday morning to take advantage of everything that the Olympic center had to offer. Of course we ate breakfast at the cafeteria and then it was on the track. We started with some stretches and push ups and sit ups before we got on the track. The kids were all pretty nervous to try it at first but I think as soon as I got up and road they all knew they could do it.

I was the only one with a track bike, and let me tell you 52x15 was too much. Next year a at least a 16 for me. The rest of the team just had their road bikes and it was no problem at all. Not a bit. As long as they did not shift, kept up speed, and did not ride close to each other it was totally cool. Yeah so it was not totally ligit but the other kids jumped on all together in a huge group road bikes and track bikes together following a motor cycle. So really we were uber safe. Man it was fun.

The track is poured concrete 250 meters in length with a bank of 44 degrees. Steep and fast with no real strait way. Even the straight-aways are banked.

Every rider got on the track and road the whole thing. Through every turn, road up the banks, came down at top speed, and covered every inch. Some took to it right away, others took their time to wet their feet, but everybody rode it the first day and loved it. Logan’s response at one point illustrated to me why tracks are so fun. He said, “ It’s just as fun every time you get on!” It never gets old.

By 2pm Friday we were off the track and at the pool. At the center they have an Olympic size swimming pool with a huge diving well with all the big high dives. I made the team swim quite a bit and Daniela had them do a hard treading water drill. Most of the kids then jumped off of the big high dives. Most of us were pretty tired after this so we really chilled out after. But alas there was a soccer game that night at the stadium where we were sleeping so of course we went. So fun!! Soccer in Mexico of course is like Football in America so the stands were totally alive. However we only were able to stay up until the 60th minute because of exhaustion and because we had to race in the morning, with the home team loosing 2-1.

Saturday

The race started at 8am. And it was in fact a pretty punctual start. It was an out and back race with an extra hill at the end of it. About 60 people started the race that was about as hard as the Old Man shoot out with some more attacking.

I wish I could drive SAG in the US the way I did for this race. Since I only brought my track bike I could not race but none the less I had a great time. Daniela, Damiano and myself as a team in the car, so fun. We motor paced Lizzy, Nathan and Donovan at the appropriate times. They never even flinched. We followed the Peloton like in the great bike races giving feeds out of the car, yelling out the window, and receiving things from the riders that they threw through the windows. It felt super pro and was really fun, like I was a real deal coach of a great team. The kids road and raced great. Donovan and Nathan worked together in their chase group of 5 and gained incredible amounts of experience. Lizzy was able to hang with the other two girls that were in the race, that were easily twice her size, and the other boys really impressed me with how they raced with their heads and in their team work. Kramer road and communicated like a captain, Tullio a super star initiating attacks and breaks, Pablo a super class act, and Logan a cool customer following all the moves. They finished in the front bunch of what was left of the 60. All placing in the top 20. I was so thrilled at how we road and I heard it from the Mexican coaches. They now know we are the real deal and they said as much. They invited us to come and race more their and many times complimented me on how strong the kids were.

To the beach we went next and on the way we ran into a parade. So of course Daniela and I decided that all the kids had to get out of the car and partake. It was classic. About 30 cars long with every other one playing super load music with girls dancing all over and every car honking.

We actually did finally make it to the beach and there we treated the kids to a boat ride around an island and back around. Nathan ate fish for the first time and Miguel bought us a Mariachi song from a band.

So on Saturday we road in a road race, went to the beach, took a boat road, got serenaded by a Mariachi band, and saw a parade. All after riding the track for the first time the other day and watching a soccer game.

Sunday brought us rain and sadness because we would not be able to ride the track again. So we left at 10am and were home by 5pm.

You know on second thought there is no way we can top this trip so maybe we should not go down again until every rider that went on this trip moves on from the team because there is no way we can top this.


I want to thank all the riders for a great trip. You guys really were class acts. Please recognize the individuals you were on this trip and never change, because you were great to be with. Also to Natalie, Miguel, Jeanette, and Jillian for all your support through out the trip.

Can’t wait for the next time!!

Ignacio