What we’re about
Based in Tucson, GABA is the oldest and largest bike club in Southern Arizona with over 1300 members! We host, support, and lead Day Rides, legendary centuries, multi-day rides, and rides for families.
GABA is more than just riding a bike. We are also active in the community supporting cycling advocacy, bike safety education, and bike repair. To learn more about GABA check out our webpage. Come join us for some adventures on two (or three) wheels!
If you are not already receiving our electronic newsletter, The Paceline, you can sign up HERE and there is no charge!
Our recurring signature GABA events include the following. Click on the link to go to the GABA web page for further details on the ride of your interest.
Centuries
Overnight Rides:
All Day Rides will include information about Pace, Terrain, and Distance. They may be coded as follows:
Pace
A 20+ mph
B+ 18-20 mph
B 16-18 mph
C+ 14-16 mph
C 12-14 mph
D 8-12
Terrain
1 Flat
2 Minor Hills
3 Moderate Hills
4 Long Climbs or Very Steep
GABA Ride Types:
Social – No Drop: we ride together two abreast where conditions permit. We often have a sweep rider and no one gets dropped
Re Group: We ride in smaller groups at our own pace and regroup at specified points in the route
Training Ride: The route is posted and all riders need to be self sufficient
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Eastside 001 C/3/35Black Rock Coffee Bar, Tucson, AZ
Ride Description:
This is a C paced ride meaning the final average should be between 12-14 MPH, though the pace during the ride may exceed that occasionally. Riders should stay within sight of the main group. We’ll ride down Freeman Road on this ride rather than up it which can be exhilarating.
However, for those of you who like climbs I have included an out and back climb of North El Camino Ricanado. This climb starts at 0.0 % and ramps up to 6% ,while briefly hitting 9%, in just under one mile. This section is optional. You can choose to wait for those who want to ride this to return.
Details:
Leaving Black Rock Coffee we’ll turn left and ride on Broadway to Old Spanish Trail. Then down Freeman Road to Broadway turning right then left on Wentworth. Turning right onto East Cape Horn Drive we’ll meander down a few roads until we turn left onto Reddington Road, which becomes Tanque Verde. Just over a ¼ mile later will be the right turn for North El Camino Ricanado. Here you can ride up the hill or wait for the others to return.
After the climb we’ll turn right back onto Reddington/Tanque Verde and ride to North Soldier Trail and turn right. Turning right on Prince we’ll then turn left on Silver road and then left onto East Rodger Road. A quick right after that will bring us into Agua Caliente Park where for our rest break.
Leaving the park we’ll head back to Soldier Trail turn right until we reach the Catalina Highway. We’ll cross the highway and ride down to Snyder. We’ll turn right onto Snyder, then left onto Houghton. Following Houghton we’ll turn right onto Broadway and then ride back to Black Rock Coffee.
Find the route here
Preview the North El Camino Ricanado Strava segment here
Wheels rolling at at the time listed above. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start to sign the ride waiver.
You must be current with your GABA membership. Click here to become a member.
What to Bring:
• Food & fluids for 2 hours - 2 24oz Bottles or Hydration Pack.
• Bring a tube/patch kit and a way to inflate your tires.
• Be sure your bike is in good mechanical condition.
• CPSC approved helmets must always be worn while riding.
• No ear buds! This is a safety requirement, not a request.If you are riding, I ask that you agree that:
• You will obey traffic laws. Drive your bike as you would your car.
• You are a representative of the greater cycling community and will therefore conduct yourself appropriately.
• You will represent GABA well.
• While riding, you will respect others. You will take care when passing pedestrians and other cyclists: ring your bell or call out "Passing" or "Good morning!" before passing.
• If any of these standards are unclear, you can ask for clarification.
• Route subject to change based upon, weather, road conditions, group requests, and or the ride leader getting lost or forgetting his helmet. - Vanderwall's NW01 SatRide (C+/2/32) Steam Pump Twin Peaks CDO11015 N Oracle Rd, Oro Valley, AZ
**Rescheduled from 6/21 to 6/28**
ROUTE 32 miles, 923 feet ascent, 14-16 MPH average speed.
Weather forecast (1 week out): 80's with light windsStart/End Location: Parking Lot behind Baggins, 11015 N Oracle Rd.
Arrive 15 minutes early to sign in and get ready.
Route: Approximately 60% of the route is on roads with good bike lanes/shoulders. The remaining 40% of the route is on the Santa Cruz and CDO multi-use paths.Water/Bathroom Stops
0 Miles - Quick Trip
12 Miles - Dove Mt. Park (short stop)
19 miles - Wade Mclean Park (long stop)
25 miles - Christina Taylor Green Park (only if someone asks to stop)After the ride, feel free to enjoy the Farmer's Market in Steam Pump Ranch for post ride goodies.
If you sign up for the ride and are running a few minutes late call 920-737-3902 (John) or 920-737-1979 (Karen) and let us know that you will be a few minutes late. We will wait up to 5 minutes if you give us a heads up.
Pretty easy route, but to get into a good routine, load the route into your bicycle computer, your smart phone or print a copy of the cue sheet.
If you haven't ridden with NW Saturday group before, we will not have your contact information. If so, please send your name, phone number, emergency contact, emergency contact phone number (NOT 911) to Karen at kavjwvc@gmail.com or John at jwvanderwall@gmail.com. The ride waiver will be filled out prior to the ride, you will just need to verify the information and sign it.
This ride is expected to end with an average speed between 14 and 16 MPH. If you are not comfortable or not capable of this expected pace average, please do not participate in this ride, it is not fair to the other riders. This is a social ride, lots of conversations, and regroupings as we will not drop anyone. For those that want to go at a faster pace, there will be at least two opportunities to go at your own pace. The first is downhill on Twin Peaks and the second is the last few miles on the CDO. Other than these dedicated ride-at-your-own pace with their regroup areas, we will all stick together. If you are in front of the ride leader in other than these areas, you are on your own ride.
If you are not a member of our cycling club, please join at Sign Up Link
and support the club so that you will have secondary medical insurance, the ride leaders will be covered by liability insurance, and other club costs are covered. If you want to know how your membership fees are being spent, click on this Club Benefits Link. First time riders are covered even if they have not yet become a member. After that, if a ride is full and there are GABA members on a waitlist, any non-members will be placed on the waitlist to make room for members.What to Bring:
-Food & fluids for 3 hours - 2 24oz Bottles or Hydration Pack.
-Bring a tube/patch kit and a way to inflate your tires.
-Be sure your bike is in good mechanical condition.
-CPSC approved helmets must always be worn while riding.
-No ear buds! This is a safety requirement, not a request.If you are riding, I ask that you agree that:
-You will serve as sweep for a section of the ride if requested.
-You will obey traffic laws. Drive your bike as you would your car.
-You are a representative of the greater cycling community and will therefore conduct yourself appropriately.
-You will represent GABA well.
-This is not a "training" or "intensive" ride - this is a social, no drop, base building ride.If any of these standards are unclear, you will ask for clarification.
-Route subject to change based upon, weather, road conditions, group requests, and or the ride leader getting lost. - SNPE from First Watch C/3/33First Watch , Tucson, AZ
It's time to due Saguaro National Park East. Please bring your National Park pass, if you have one, to ride in the park and to allow entrance to riders who may not have a pass.
The temperature is going to be hot so remember to hydrate properly.
Ride Description:
We’ll ride down the Loop to Sabino Canyon Road. Then Sabino Canyon to Tanque Verde to Wrightson Road, take a left on Pantano and ride up the on ramp to Tanque Verde. After getting off the overpass we’ll take a left on to Woodland Road until it intersects Tanque Verde again.
At Tanque Verde we’ll turn right and ride out to the entrance to Forty Niner Country Club. We’ll ride through Forty Niner County Club coming out at E Cape Horn and N Wentworth Road.
Turning right onto Wentworth we will continue to East Speedway Blvd where we’ll turn right and continue to Freeman Road. Taking a left on to Freeman we’ll ride up to Old Spanish Trail, turn left and then left in to Saguaro National Park East.
There will be a brief regroup at the Ramada before we head out to ride the Cactus Loop. Riders can also choose to stay at the Ramada or just ride out to the Picnic Area. Those riders doing the Loop can add the Picnic Area if they wish.
After we’re all back at the Ramada, we’ll head back to Udall Park via Old Spanish Trail to Kenyon and get onto The Loop Back to First Watch.
This is a C paced ride meaning the final average should be between 12-14 MPH, though the pace during the ride may exceed that occasionally. Riders should stay within sight of the main group.
Wheels rolling at the start time listed above. Please arrive 15 minutes beforehand to sign the ride waiver.
You must be current with your GABA membership. Click here to become a member.
What to Bring:
• Food & fluids for 2 hours - 2 24oz Bottles or Hydration Pack.
• Bring a tube/patch kit and a way to inflate your tires.
• Be sure your bike is in good mechanical condition.
• CPSC approved helmets must always be worn while riding.
• No ear buds! This is a safety requirement, not a request.If you are riding, I ask that you agree that:
• You will obey traffic laws. Drive your bike as you would your car.
• You are a representative of the greater cycling community and will therefore conduct yourself appropriately.
• You will represent GABA well.
• While riding, you will respect others. You will take care when passing pedestrians and other cyclists: ring your bell or call out "Passing" or "Good morning!" before passing.
• If any of these standards are unclear, you can ask for clarification.
• Route subject to change based upon, weather, road conditions, group requests, and or the ride leader getting lost or forgetting his helmet. - Bruce's- Udall Park to the Julian Wash Greenway C/1/32Bruce's Udall Dog Park Start, Tucson, AZ
The Summer is Here - so we'll start this ride at 6:30
This will be a social ride of 32 miles at a C pace (which means, depending on the wind, on this ride, about 12-13 mph average) over mostly flat roads. We'll regroup as needed and no one will be left behind due to a mechanical problem. Wheels rolling at 6:30.
Options for a snack afterward near Udall Park.No Plus 1's - Each participant must register through Meetup and provide their contact info beforehand.
Map Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27358896
Ride Description
• Start Time 6:30 wheels rolling
• Pace: 12-13 mph End of Ride Average for 32 miles
• Terrain: Mostly Flat
• Elevation Gain: 774 ft
• Traffic: Very Light
• Ride Type: Social - Regroup as needed
• Route: Udall to The Loop to Fantasy Island to the Julian Wash Greenway to the Roy Schoonover Trail Head rest rooms.If you are not a member of our cycling club, please join: Sign Up Link
⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ Rider Information Requested ⬛ ⬛ ⬛ ⬛
- If you have not sent me your contact information since January 2021, please send me: Your name, phone number, emergency contact, emergency contact phone number (NOT 911) to btucker4sos@cox.net.
- I will fill in the ride waiver prior to the ride you will just need to verify the information and sign it.
Please Bring
• Food & fluids for 3 hours - 2 24oz Bottles or Hydration Pack.
• Bring a tube/GABA patch kit and a way to inflate.
• Be sure your bike is in good mechanical condition.
• Helmets must be worn at all times while riding.
• No ear buds! This is a safety requirement; not a request.
• Obey traffic laws. Drive your bike as you would your car.
• You are a representative of the greater cycling community and should therefore conduct yourself appropriately.
• Please represent GABA well.GABA Ride Types:
• Social – No Drop: we ride together two abreast where
conditions permit. We often have a sweep rider and no one gets dropped
• Re Group: We ride in smaller groups at our own pace and
regroup at specified points in the route
• Training Ride: The route is posted and all riders need to be self sufficient
Please select GABA rides where you are confident that you can ride the posted distance and pace.GABA Ride Codes:
Pace
• A 20+ mph
• B+ 18-20 mph
• B 16-18 mph
• C+ 14-16 mph
• C 12-14 mph
• D 8-12Terrain
• 1 Flat
• 2 Minor Hills
• 3 Moderate Hills
• 4 Long Climbs or Very Steep
