You know you’re not riding your bike very much when…

All,

Last week was our annual escape hot weather, O NO, pack the bags because it’s time to go back to school soon weekend.

We had 20+ riders that hung for the ride.

Highlights and notes:

· A neutral start that lasted all the way to Cotton Bridge

· Ken winning Cotton sprint

· Shaun nipping PT at the line on WestStar (GPS said 38 mph at finish)

· Sorry, no insight on Verrado sprint

· Amy pulling most of the day

· 9 requests to be added to distribution list

· West Valley Cycle getting some postings on Velocity Group web site (see link below) Thanks Austin and Bill

· Leo, Heather, Vicki summiting Mount Humphrey’s

· Amy and Dan sponsoring 3rd annual tri kid race on September 26 (Estrella Mountain). Ping her to help or info at: amyvasquez@cox.net

· Hearing that Joe is taking swim lessons to kick my butt in the pool. I’m bringing in John P and Matt to counter

· My two boys Steven and Jonathon catching big Salmon up in Washington

· Being back after 8 days of vacation to ride with good friends!

We are sticking with 5:45 start time. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

New Cycle Partner Link:

http://velocitygroupcycling.com/

Saturday route:

West Valley Cycling Saturday Group Ride

Web Site:

http://members.cox.net/westvalleycycle/

Sprint Points:

1. Cotton: after you crest the top of Cotton, approx 100 yards from the end, there is a sign that says, BUMP

2. Estrella Parkway: approximately 100 yards from the end, there is a White no parking sign.

3. WestStar: 50 yards before the end there is a sign that says 35 MPH.

4. San Gabriel: the short climb before the first Market stop, at the beginning of the Center divider, 50 yards from stop sign.

5. Verrado: the far end of the second bridge. Where the pavement turns black.

Thanks!

David

949 212 4000 Mobile

david.herzog@aspect.com

All;

Check out this…

Opportunity of a Life Time!
IF you are not a Life Time Fitness Member, THIS WEEK is the week to pull the trigger as the initiation fees are waived and the monthly membership dues are reduced!

If you are a member – PLEASE tell your friends and family about this promotion!

The deal – join Life Time Fitness and all it has to offer for an amazing….
$0 enrollment fee
$49.00 administrative fee***(Offset by $50 gift card given to you!)
$49.95 monthly (26yrs old and under only $39.95 monthly).

*** This fee is being offset by Steve Elwell IF and only IF you Contact Mike King 480-735-5214 and tell him that Steve Elwell referred you!

I’m giving you my $50 electronic gift certificate that is paid to employees when they refer new members to the club. My loss offsets your administrative fee directly! The gift card is good for any purchases within the club – cafe, salon, goods and services.

End result – NO EFFECTIVE up front cost to join!
Low monthly dues for the best club in town!

It does not get any better than this – but the deal ends Friday July 31st so you MUST Act quickly!

Cheers!
Steve Elwell
s.elwell@cox.net
602-499-1133 cell

Arizona’s newest cycling transplant has picked up a win on the Southern California criterium circuit. Last week we reported that Eric Marcotte (Bicycle Haus) was close to nabbing a win in Ontario but it looks like this past weekend he sealed the deal.

Anyone who’s ever spent some time racing the SoCal criterium scene knows that it’s pretty competitive over there…

Check out all the results here. We don’t have a photo of the win at this time, but we’d be happy to post one if we could get our hands on it.

Congrats Eric!

As always, a special thanks to Bryan Staub for keeping us up to speed on the California racing scene.

The mayor of the south Valley cycling scene is at it again. I received this email from Steve Elwell yesterday evening and thought I’d pass it along.

Before you read the email below, think… it’s hot out, real hot. Like 104 degrees at 10 o’clock at night hot! So… you may be riding a little bit less these days. And when you ride ‘a little bit less’ you put on weight, feel sluggish, and fear the hell lurking 3-4 months off in the horizon better known as off-season training. So, why not get a gym membership to maintain fitness throughout the summer months? Come Fall you’ll want to keep the gym membership for off-season cross training. It’s a win-win.

Alright, enough soapbox treatment… give the  email a read:

———-

From: Steve Elwell
To:
Date: Mon, Jul 27, 2009
Subject: Join Life Time Fitness – Killer Special!

All;

IF you are not a Life Time Fitness Member, THIS WEEK is the week! Contact Mike King 480-735-5214 or Kelly Iisakka 480-735-5257 – tell them that Steve Elwell referred you – here’s what you’ll get:
$0 enrollment fee
$49.00 administrative fee
$49.95 monthly
If you are 26 and under it’s $39.95 monthly.

On top of all that I’ll give you a $50 e certificate to offset your administrative fees! You can spend that in the club on the spa, cafe, etc… My referral “prize” becomes your prize for signing up!
DEAL!

You have to hurry – the whole thing ends this Friday the 31st so get after it and make it happen!

Yours in good health;
Steve Elwell
s.elwell@cox.net
602-499-1133 cell

———-

Follow www.velocitygroupcycling.com on Facebook! Click here.

Phoenix based BicycleRadio.com has moved up to the 3rd most downloaded ‘Outdoor Sports’ show on iTunes.

Congratulations BicycleRadio!

For those unfamiliar with the show, check out www.bicycleradio.com

Or tune in tonight at 7pm PST for the live show!

—– Original Message —–
From: Erik Luebkert
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 5:50 PM
Subject: Photos from the Health and Wellness Ride

Hello,

Where’s Waldo? Well something like that as you scan the 400+ photos from the link below for yourself or Floyd or maybe a friend.

Have fun and consider purchasing a photo from Bruce’s online photo business. Support the local guy!

http://yeungphotography.exposuremanager.com/g/sm_cycles_floyd_landis

Thanks again everyone!

Erik Luebkert
South Mountain Cycles
www.smcycles.com
480-706-0858

Are you familiar with the in’s and out’s of SEO?

Or is it just three letters to you (like it is to me)?

We’re looking to make contact with someone well versed in search engine optimization. Not only for this site, but also for our personal real estate site; www.velocitygroupaz.com. If you think you can help us, please send an email to info@velocitygroupaz.com with more details.

As people always interested in doing business with other cyclists, we thought we’d toss this out to the local cycling community first.

Thank you.

———-

About: The Velocity Group is a component of Keller Williams Realty, America’s fastest growing real estate brokerage. Established in 2005, the Velocity Group has quickly made a name for itself with an unparalleled commitment to customer service. Partners of the Velocity Group include cyclist Greg Kilroy and former professional cyclists Austin King and Nathan Mitchell. Since its formation, the Velocity Group has donated over $6,000 to the Arizona cycling community.

This popular photo from April, 1976 appeared on the cover of Arizona Cycling in June of that year. It was the final sprint in the final stage of the Mount Lemmon Stage Race; a criterium in downtown Tucson. It was popular because it showed the intense rivalry between three of Arizona’s top cyclists, a rivalry that lasted throughout the 1970’s and which resulted in many exciting and sometimes controversial races. The G.C. had already been determined and the riders needed only to finish with the gruppo. But the three came out of the pack and sprinted for the stage just to try
and out do the other. The riders, best known for their specialties, are from Left: Russell Mallams, Flagstaff (Time Trialing/Breakaways/Pursuiting), Center: Tom Nesdill, Phoenix (Road Racing/Hill Climbing), and Right: Alan Johnson, Phoenix (Criteriums/Sprinting). Notice the hairnet helmets, toe clips and straps, and brake
cables.

The Cat 1&2 final results were as follows. Perhaps some of your readers will remember some of these names and teams.
1. Bob Cook, Hammer-Cool Gear
2. Tom Nesdill, CCC (Phoenix Consumers Cycling Club)
3. David Lash, PRP
4. Andy Zollar, T.W. (Tucson Wheelmen)
5. Barry Smith, T.W.
6. Eric Madson, Aspen, Monte of Italy
7. Russell Mallams, CAS
8. Alan Johnson, Montrose-Suntour Nishiki
9. Ralph Phillips, PRP
10. Tom Kelly, PRP

Bob Cook and Andy Zollar each went on to win the La Vuelta de Bisbee, considered the most difficult stage race in North America at the time. Bob Cook was a Colorado native who studied engineering at the UofA and who raced in Arizona during the school year. He was considered by many to be the best pure climber in the U.S. He, unfortunately, died at the young age of 21, I’m told, and the Mount Hood Classic in Colorado is named in his memory. The only rider on the list to remain active in cycling throughout his life, that I know of, is Ralph Phillips. Ralph was a top road racer who is well known in the Tucson area for his support of the sport as a promoter and business owner. Perhaps your readers may know if any of the others are still riding their bikes??

-Alan Johnson

The photo as seen on the cover of Arizona Cycling, June 1976.

Yesterday, we featured a write up of the West Valley Cycle. We also received a weekly email update from ride organizer David Herzog. After every Saturday morning group ride, an email is sent out to riders (nearly 300+) giving a summary of how the morning ride shook out. Who took the sprints, who had the bunch strung out like a runway model, who were the aggressors, stuff like that. We here at VelocityGroupCycling.com are now on their distribution list and will be receiving and posting the weekly update of the West Valley Cycle group ride.

This update is from July 18th, and will give everyone an idea of what is to come:

———-

All,

Despite the heat, last Saturday brought out 50 riders. Ken and his Colavita gang dominated the sprints (except for the downhill Verrado sprint where Ken pulled PCCC rider Joe to a nice win). Way to go in spreading the love…

Overall Highlights and notes:

· Kathy, a new group rider who just moved to Goodyear. After doing the full route on Saturday, she drove up to Flagstaff and took 1st place (female) in Sunday’s Mountain Man Olympic Triathlon. Wow, thanks for the referral Brian and Jill, what a great addition!

· Colavita brought several new riders, amazing how the average speed of the A group can go up 3 MPH in one week. And we didn’t even have Amy pushing the pace

· Ryan gave up the Verrado sprint to fall back and pull for the B group up the hill. Nice guy of the week award.

· Tracy, Jill, and Vicki hanging tough for the full route

· If anyone is counting, Ken has the most sprint wins YTD

· The unnamed Moped rider who designated himself pace setter. I also saw him pull back a few riders who flatted. We might have to add this guy to the payroll. If he could only clear out the rocks.

· On that note, Jim and Jerry are recovering nicely, keep them in your prayers along with Jill Grasky who took a tough fall in Tucson

· Jared willing to cut his ride short to help me get Jay back to LifeTime after a slight mishap on the way to Verrado

· Speaking of helping efforts, at least three times each Saturday I see riders willing to fall back to help lead out the slower group or left behind riders. Too cool

· Good luck to next week’s Mount Humphrey’s summit climbers, contact Leo if interested

· West Valley cycle Mid Summer golf match was held on Sunday, with no practice, Joe took it to the final hole, but the dollar and trophy ended up on my refrigerator. Rematch?

· I’m heading to Seattle and will miss our ride, Ken and Joe can rally the water stop breaks to keep us moving. Will miss you all!

We are sticking with 5:45 start time. Timely water starts and we’ll beat the heat!

New Cycle Partner Link:

http://velocitygroupcycling.com

Saturday route:

West Valley Cycling Saturday Group Ride

Web Site:

http://members.cox.net/westvalleycycle/

Sprint Points:

1. Cotton: after you crest the top of Cotton, approx 100 yards from the end, there is a sign that says, BUMP

2. Estrella Parkway: approximately 100 yards from the end, there is a White no parking sign.

3. WestStar: 50 yards before the end there is a sign that says 35 MPH.

4. San Gabriel: the short climb before the first Market stop, at the beginning of the Center divider, 50 yards from stop sign.

5. Verrado: the far end of the second bridge. Where the pavement turns black.

Thanks!

David

949 212 4000 Mobile

david.herzog@aspect.com