Just in from Bryan Staub, manager of the Arizona Masters Racing Team:

Arizona Masters Racing finds the podium at the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix!

Brian Forbes finished 3rd right behind the California State Champ in a wheel to wheel sprint finish.

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See all the results here.

Click here to learn more about the Arizona Masters Racing Team.

Last week we mentioned giving $100 to the Arizona junior who won the Spirit Award at the USA Cycling Junior Regional Camp in Flagstaff, AZ.

Does that ring a bell? Trigger the old memory?

Ok, click here to freshen up.

Alright, now that we’re all on the same page and in understanding how this all came about, we’d like to announce the Spirit Award winner and recipient of the $100!

At the end of the week long Junior Regional Camp, the staff and ride leaders selected Blake Savage as the winner of the Spirit Award!

Spirit Award winner Blake Savage (San Tan Racing).

Blake is a 18 year old rider from Mesa, Arizona. He is a member of the San Tan Racing team and has been racing his bike for 3 years now.

Congratulations Blake! We’ll slap a $100 check in the mail and send it your way! Keep up the good work!

Brian Smith from Team WM would like to invite all his Masters friends for an around the mountain ride this Sunday. Last ditch training before the US Masters National Championships in Louisville, KY. Ride leaves Landis of Tempe 6am sharp.

Good luck to Team WM Masters!

All the best,

Bill Maxwell

Just in from Steve Elwell… an update of the 1st ever “El Tour To Tucson”.

What in the world is an “El Tour To Tucson”? Click here for the lowdown.

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Inaugural “El Tour To Tucson” Ride was a success!

Congratulations to the 30+ riders joining us on our 1st “El Tour To Tucson” cycling event. Most of us rode from the Tempe Lifetime Fitness to the front doors of the Westin La Paloma in Tucson last Saturday. It was a brutal day, with an uphill course, 15 mph headwinds and heat in excess of 103 degrees by mid day. Our friends and family provided incredible support all along the route. Many thanks to Bill Maxwell of Team Waste Management and Ron Jensen – professional cyclist, who came out and assisted the group. Special thanks to David Benjes from DCB Extreme Adventures, who rode down to Phoenix on Friday, then turned around and rode back with us on Saturday. Yes – David is a mad man and we love him! We all had great times with our families and friends and hope to repeat our adventure when it’s a bit cooler out…perhaps a few weeks prior to IMAZ, when we need those long training rides!

Steve Elwell

Courtesy of Arizona Road Cyclist News, Jack Quinn – Editor

In 1981, Fred Sconfienza, then an ex-racer and still an avid cyclist, moved from Tempe to North Scottsdale. Not willing to travel to Tempe to join his former riding companions, he decided to see if he could get a bike ride going in North Scottsdale. He placed a sign in Bicycles of Scottsdale, which was then located on the Southwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard, saying he would be at the shop at a certain time Saturday morning ready to ride and inviting any other interested riders to join him. The first Saturday, six riders showed up.

The ride hadn’t yet acquired the name BOS (which stands for Bicycles of Scottsdale, of course). The ride was also not originally envisioned as a ride for active racers. Fred decided that the ride should be for older riders like him, and that the ride should go the crest of Nine Mile Hill and down to Rio Verde. Thus, the ride’s original name, The Over the Hill Gang, had a double meaning.

With time, the ride grew in size, and some of the racing members of the Phoenix Consumer Cycle Club stared to ride along, including some of the juniors. Then, Pima Road was extended to Carefree, and the ride changed destinations. The more lazy riders began to ride to Carefree, and the more energetic cyclists would pedal up to the microwave towers that sat on the hill to the east of Carefree. Then both groups would join for coffee in Carefree and ride back to Bicycles of Scottsdale together. Richard Fisher says that his ride logs indicate that the first time he rode to the towers was August 27, 1983.

As the ride grew in popularity, some of us began driving the younger Phoenix Consumer juniors to Huachaca shopping center to give them a head start on the other riders. Thus, we had many riders of different ages and different abilities all riding to Carefree. The Over the Hill Gang name no longer seemed appropriate, so the ride became known as Bikes of Scottsdale or simply BOS.

Many things have changed in the intervening years. Bicycles of Scottsdale has been closed, and the microwave towers no longer sit on the hill above Carefree. However, both have left their marks on the ride. The ride, now probably the most popular ride on the East Side of the Valley, is still called the BOS ride, and riding up the hill to the east of Carefree is still described as “riding up to the towers”. Oh, and Fred Sconfienza? He’s in his 70s now and still riding his bike.

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Like what you just read? Subscribe to the bi-weekly Arizona Road Cyclist News by visiting their website at www.azroadcyclist.com

Some know her, some don’t. But if anyone’s been out to a local AZ race this season, then you’ve probably heard the announcer mention the name Sabrina Savage. How could you not remember a last name like “Savage”?… Probably one of the better last name’s an athlete could hope for. Well, like many we’ve heard the name over and over again so we thought we’d contact her and get a little more info.

Velocity Group Cycling: When did you begin riding? Why?

I started riding in Kansas City in May of 2007 where I started doing charity rides and centuries. Before too long I was hooked and 3 months after starting I bought a carbon road bike and started racing here in Arizona in February 2008.

I used to always ride my bike to and from school from 2nd grade to a junior in high school but never competitively. While living in Kansas City a radio dj Kelly Urich convinced me to do Tour de Cure in which I road 70 miles on a hybrid bike (thank god I bought the bike shorts which I was hesitant on spending $50)

After that I started riding each day and found that I could ride for hours and not feel pain unlike when I was a runner.

VGC: What type of training are you doing at the moment?

A lot of interval and hill training and whatever my coach Brian Forbes tells me to do!

VGC: What are your hobbies off the bike?

Watching scary movies, traveling, and spending time with my family.

VGC: What is your favorite training ride in Arizona?

I would have to say Tortilla Flats is my all time favorite ride here in Arizona that I’ve done. It has amazing scenery along with some killer hills along with some great descent as long as the traffic is not bad!

VGC: What is your best Arizona racing memory?

Racing the state TT mixed Tandem race last year with Brian Forbes and breaking the old Arizona Record. This had to have been the most fun race in Arizona and I didn’t have to ever see the front!

Not afraid of a men's field! Sabrina shown here at the Hungry Dog Crit.

VGC: What is your favorite Arizona race past or present?

I would have to say Bisbee is my favorite Arizona race, even though I was unable to race it this year due to not having a women’s field (which I hope they will change for next year). This race was challenging with the hills and amazing scenery along with the support of the city. I hope to race it next year!

VGC: If you had to pick another sport to excel in which would it be and why?

Speed skating! I have a need for speed.

VGC: Do you have any mentors or cyclists you admire? Why?

Laura Van Gilder is one of the cyclists I admire the most because she has been racing for many years and still places at the top levels in women’s professional cycling at the age of 44. She gives me hope and inspiration with the sport of women’s professional cycling, and realizes that this sport takes time and experience.

VGC: What are your goals for the 2009 season?

My goals this season is to place in the up coming Manhattan Beach Grand Prix and to be the first woman at the upcoming El Tour de Tucson.

Sabrina Savage at the 2009 Tour de Nez.

VGC: What’s on your iPod right now?

Britney Spears, Yes I know! But her new stuff is kind of catchy.

VGC: If you had to be stuck on a tandem with one person for 100 miles, who would it be? Why?

My boyfriend Brian Forbes, since he is the only person I’ve been on a tandem with and who I trust enough to do 100 miles on a tandem without dying.

VGC: Thanks Sabrina. We appreicate you taking the time to answer a few questions. Best of luck with the rest of 2009!

We’re very proud to announce the increased support of Best in the West Remodeling. As you’ve probably noticed by now, there’s a large square logo of theirs directly to your right.

It will be there for the next year… and maybe longer.

Best in the West Remodeling is owned and operated by cyclist’s Orly and Effie Maor. They’re current members of the Procon Cycling Team and have been supporters of the local cycling community for years. We greatly appreciate their commitment to our website as well as the commitment and support of all our advertisers; Athlete Octane, Bicycle Haus, Cycling Classics and MissingSaddle.com.

Now the fun part… folks, as we’ve said all along… this website is by Arizona cyclists for Arizona cyclists. Lance who? Unless he’s racing in AZ, we’re not too concerned. You know where to go to get your National and International cycling news… not here.

We’d like to spread some of our new found advertising revenue back amongst the cycling community…and in honor of USA Cycling’s Junior Regional Camp currently going on in Flagstaff, Arizona…

Calling all Arizona junior riders at the Flagstaff camp… at the end of your camp this Friday, the staff, coaches, and ride leaders will be selecting one AZ rider to win the Spirit Award. Your hard work, team spirit, positive attitude, among other things will be used to determine who wins this award. One final bit of criteria, please send me an email (info@velocitygroupaz.com) describing in 100 words or less why you love to ride your bike… your email may appear on the site.

What will the Spirit Award winner receive?

We’ll mail you a check for $100.

Enjoy.

Arizona Masters Racing 2010 USAC Team

Arizona Masters Racing officially announces the intention of forming a 2010 USAC Team. The team will consist of racers with the common goal of training and racing to compete in the larger races in the United States. A major team goal will be to race at the 2010 United States Masters Nationals. Other races may include The Valley of The Sun Stage Race, Tucson Bicycle Classic, Tour of Murrieta, Southern Nevada Stage Race, Vuelta de Bisbee, Tulsa Tough, Tour de Nez, Ventura Stage Race, Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, and Super Week. The team will be comprised of Masters Racers CAT 1-2-3.

2009 Arizona Masters Racing Composite Team shown here.

The official roster will be announced this fall.

For more information, updates and sponsorship opportunities go to www.AZMastersRacing.com

It was brought to my attention that we failed to mention Team Waste Management’s recent successes at the Nature Valley Grand Prix in Minnesota. As you all know, this website is geared towards the local Arizona scene and all that composes it. We love to follow locals racing locally, as well as locals racing nationally and internationally.

So… how about we give credit where credit is due?

For a full break down of race results and blow-by-blow action, click here.

Podium #1

Podium #2

Sean Mazich going up!

As for the final scoreboard… it saw Arizona rider Stevie Cullinan standing in 15th overall.

Not too shabby!

RideClean® Team Member Dan McGehee Attempts to Break
World Endurance Record in 100-Mile Track Cycling

Phoenix, AZ – June 17, 2009 – Dan McGehee, a member of the RideClean cycling team, will attempt to break the 100-mile world track time trial record, long held by Rod Evans of Australia. Evans set the current record time of 3:47:26 in Australia on May 8, 1994, averaging speeds of 26.38 miles per hour. McGehee’s attempt to break this world record will be monitored and certified by the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, which sanctions the Race Across America and other long-distance cycling events and competitions. This event is one of the ongoing activities sponsored by RideClean to raise awareness about the issue of performance enhancing drugs in sport.

WHAT: An attempt to break the 100-mile world record for cycling endurance, requiring 644 laps around the largest indoor track in America.

WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 2009 at 12:00 noon. Dan McGehee is available for media interviews from 8:00am to 11:00am the day of the event, and after completing the track time trial.

WHERE: Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson, California, near Los Angeles. The Velodrome is a 100,000 square foot, 250-meter indoor wood bicycle racing track located at 18400 Avalong Blvd, Carson, California, 90746. Information on parking and directions is available at www.lavelodrome.org.

WHO: RideClean Team member Dan McGehee of Mesa, Arizona, an amateur athlete who has set several significant endurance records.

WHY: RideClean promotes activities designed to raise awareness of drug-free sport by supporting athletes that compete cleanly without the use of performance enhancing drugs.

RideClean is an LLC corporation that runs educational outreach programs and manages a cycling team officially sanctioned by USA Cycling. RideClean operates nationally from headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. The RideClean mission is to promote clean sport, raise awareness of drug-free competitive cycling, and support clean athletes. For more information, see www.ridecleanteam.com/Press-Room and www.rideclean.net.