By now you may have noticed the Scottsdale Cycling Festival (formerly the Tour de Scottsdale) logo running on the right sidebar of our website. We were recently contacted by the event management team to discuss the event and how we might be able to assist. After meeting with everyone to chat about this year’s edition of the event we whole heartedly offered our support and endorsement. It’s not often that you come across a local cycling event that is not only excited about providing an excellent race but committed to seeing the event grow in the future. That’s the vibe we got from the people behind the Scottsdale Cycling Festival. It’s small grassroot events like this that grow into the larger national level cycling events we see today. All it takes is the support of the cycling community – that’s where we stand, in support.

So… you all will see a lot more about the Scottsdale Cycling Festival on our website in the near future.

But for now, why not browse their website to become a bit more familiar with the event. As an example, new to the event this year is an all-categories criterium.

Or, check out their Facebook page.

Thanks.

Admin

We like staying up-to-date with cyclists in our state. Whether you’re training for a big 24-hour mountain bike race, winning State Championships, or racing the NRC circuit – we’d like to keep in touch with you and keep our cycling community updated on your happenings. Staying true to that theme we decided to drop Jonathan Parrish a quick line with a few questions about what he’s up to and what the 2010 season has been like with Kenda Pro Cycling Presented by GearGrinder.

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Velocity Group Cycling: Jon, this is your second year in the professional ranks. Tell us how your season has been going so far?

Jon Parrish: This season has been pretty low key for me considering a deeper roster than last year.

Team Bio Photo

VGC: How does the professional racing in NRC events differ from a local event? Obviously we know it’s faster, but is it better organized, more focused, more team work, what?

JP: NRC events are more focused and more teams are represented which means the competition is greater and just about everyone knows how to ride their bike. There is very little negative racing and everyone really brings their A-Game.

VGC: Your team, Kenda-Gear Grinder, has added some real strength and depth this season. How has that helped the team?

JP: Picking up Luca Damiani from Colavita has really added to our consistency when it comes to sprinting. A few of the other strong riders, such as Chad Hartley and Chad Burdzilauskas, have given our team more options and depth.

The squad.

VGC: What’s it been like having Frankie Andreau as director?

JP: From what I see he has been a great addition of knowledge and experience.

VGC: What races are next on your 2010 schedule?

JP: Tour of Dairyland. After that the schedule for the remainder of the year is still to be determined due to budgetary constraints.

VGC: Any goals or plans with those races?

JP: One of my goals is to work towards getting my teammate Chad Hartley in the overall again and secure a stage win.

VGC: Thanks for taking a few minutes to chat with us. We’ll check back in with you in a few months for another update. Best of luck with the upcoming races!

The results for last weekend’s Thunder Road Time Trial have now been posted.

To view them, click here or visit our ‘Results’ page.

Thanks.

In late March, Heidi Clayton – a cyclist in our community – was hit by a car while on a training ride in Ahwatukee. We won’t go into great details recapping the incident, but Joe Wells wrote an article about it here and WomensBikeTalk.com wrote about it here. Read both if you need to be brought up to speed with what happened and get a picture of the tough road to recovery Heidi is facing.

Now for something positive…

2 Wheels 4 Hope is (and this is taken directly off their website) “an Arizona based, nonprofit cycling event helping cyclists in need! We are committed to offering hope through fundraising and awareness. Your participation in the TT or Fun ride as well as your donations directly supports a chosen cyclist in need”.

It makes me happy to know that there are people in our community that grab the flag, organize the troops, and lead the charge to support us when terrible things happen.

For more details, please visit the 2 Wheels 4 Hope website http://2wheels4hope.com

For more info on Heidi Clayton, the event beneficiary, please visit http://2wheels4hope.com/AboutHeidi.aspx

I know we all live busy lives, and have other personal and athletic related goals and obligations, but please consider coming out to McDowell Mountain Park on June 5th for a moonlight time trial. It’s for a good cause.

Thanks,

Admin.

The results for the 2010 Mt. Lemmon Time Trial have now been posted.

To view them, click here.

As one of the supporters of this website, we want to keep everyone up to snuff on the happenings at Bicycle Haus. The shop will be moving soon to a new location. See the message below from Shasta Keltz.

Thanks,

Admin

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Greetings!

Bicycle Haus has reached a new and exciting chapter. We have created a new Bike Boutique that adjoins our current Fit and Massage Studio. This has allowed us to “clean haus” and we are ready to move some inventory out. Starting June 1st, come check out the new space and see what we have on SALE in the existing space. These great items will go FAST. All sale items are final. See you soon.

Sincerely,
Shasta Keltz
Bicycle Haus
7027 E 5th Ave
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480.994.4287

We thought it was about time to check in with Chad Beyer at the Amgen Tour of California. He’s been racing up and down the roads of California since last Sunday; with some nice successes might we add…

VelocityGroupCycling: You were in the early break in stage one. It looked like a long day in the saddle off the front. Did the team ask you to cover the early move, or were you just in the right place at the right time?

Chad Beyer: On the first stage, we wanted to have someone in a big move. I was just watching and I saw about 3 guys going in a hard strung out section and I bridged across. It wasn’t a big move but I just took the opportunity. Its always good to have a guy in the move.

VGC: What goes through your mind while off the front in a small group as the kilometers tick over one-by-one?

CB: I’m usually just trying to remind myself to eat and drink when I’m in the break, you have to be prepared to go to the line. I like being off the front and just riding, you don’t have to worry about positioning in the field.

VGC:  What are your plans for the rest of the Tour of California? Any stages you have your eyes set on?

CB: The plan for the rest of the race is to keep Steve Morabito up on GC and help George go for a stage. If I have an opportunity to go in a break I’ll take it. I’m always day dreaming of riding everyone off my wheel and taking the stage though. Dream big right?

Thanks Chad. Best of luck with the rest of the stages.

We just posted the 2010 Arizona State Road Races results! A special thanks to the Procon Cycling Team for getting these to us so quickly and a big CONGRATULATIONS to all the 2010 AZ State Champs!

To check out the results visit our ‘Results’ page. Or, just click here.

Have a nice Monday.

Admin.

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Revised results were reposted 5/18/2010 at 8:00am.

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This Sunday is the Arizona State Road Race Championships. Promoted by Procon Cycling, it is once again being held in Globe, Arizona. With a tough course featuring decent climbing, it is sure to produce deserving Arizona state champs.

For all your race information needs, visit the Procon Cycling road race event page.

Or, click here to go straight to the race flyer.

Good luck this weekend to all!

Admin.

Many of our readers are on Facebook – we know this because 338 of you are ‘friends’ of VelocityGroupCycling.com’s Facebook page.

Today we came across a new Arizona cycling related Facebook page that we wanted to recommend to all. It’s called “Arizona Bicycle Racing – The Photographic History” and has some great information and photos of Arizona bike races from ‘back in the day’. Misery Loves Company Team Time Trial, Verde Valley Road Race, Copper Basin Classic – any of those ring a bell? If so, you’ve been around a while. Next time you’re on Facebook, search “Arizona Bicycle Racing – The Photographic History” and see for yourself!

Thanks.

Admin.