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- Bob's and Wayne's Social Ride Airline Loop Ride (C/2/27)Crying Onion Cafe, Tucson, AZ
Ride with GPS map is located at: Airline Loop
Distance 34 Miles, Elevation gain 490 Ft
Ride Leader today is Wayne CullopIf you are not a member of our cycling club, please join: Sign Up Link
Start/End: Crying Onion 3684 W Orange Grove Rd, on the NE corner of Orange Grove and Thornydale.
Water/Bathrooms:
- 6 miles Mclean Park
- 22 miles Circle K
You are welcome to join us for food after the ride. This week we will go to Crying Onion after the ride.
Please review the route before the ride Start and load the route into your bicycle computer or your smart phone or print a copy of the cue sheet.
To participate in this GABA group ride you MUST:- Be willing to ride at a social pace (end of ride social pace 12-14 MPH).
- Be willing to serve as the ride sweep for a portion of the ride.
- Use the phrase "walker/bike up" when overtaking someone.
- Use the phrase "walker/bike left" when approaching someone coming at us. This should be used when on narrow parts of multiuse paths.
- Stay right of the center line on multiuse paths and right of the white line while on the road except to pass.
- Give at least 3 feet when passing someone walking or riding in the same direction.
IMPORTANT: If you have not ridden with Bob within the last 12 months, please send your contact information (Name, phone number, emergency contact, emergency contact phone number (NOT 911) to Bob at rmwillman@yahoo.com
The ride waiver will be filled out prior to the ride, you will just need to verify the information and sign it.
The end-of-ride average speed is expected to be between 12 and 14 MPH, preferably closer to 12 than 14.
If you are not comfortable or not capable of this expected pace average over the entire route, 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. Riders are expected to ride at the pace of the ride leader and between the ride leader and the sweep.
If you sign up for the ride and are running a couple of minutes late call (DO NOT TEXT) the ride leader: - Wayne's phone number is 520 977 3018. We will wait up to five minutes before leaving.
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 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 on the Loop, you will respect others on the Loop. You will take care when passing pedestrians and other cyclists: ring your bell or call out "Passing" or "Good morning!" before passing.
• 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.
If you have comments about this ride or would like to make suggestions for future Tuesday / Thursday Social Rides routes, please email Bob and Wayne at
rmwillman@yahoo.com
wayne.cullop@gmail.com
If you get this far and want to read some more, here are some interesting Arizona Bicycle Laws . If you are wondering about how you should act on the loop, read these Complete List of Loop Guidelines
- Cliffs NW23 (C/3/34) Biosphere, Zipline, Way of the BeanBiosphere 2, Tucson, AZ
ROUTE Link - 35 miles, 2,730 feet ascent, 12-14 mph average
Weather Forecast (as of Sat, 3 days before the ride)
6:30: 74 Deg F., Partially cloudy, Winds 3 S, Gusts to 5.
9:30: 84 Deg F., Partially cloudy, Winds 3 NE, Gusts to 10.Route: Leave Biosphere parking lot on Biosphere road, right on Madison Road, left on Charles, return to Biosphere road, turn right on Highway 77 for some rough shoulder, then right on American Ave, right onto Mt Lemmon Highway, left into Oracle State Park for a bathroom break (no water there), then back to Mt. Lemmon highway to the end of the pavement (at the Zipline), then back the way we came. If Cody lane is not still under construction, then we will take it to the back (South) side of Oracle before stopping at Way of the Bean Coffee Club, otherwise we will go back the way we came. I'm a member of the club so you will be my guests.
Most roads will be low traffic roads, but Highway 77 is a high traffic road. Fortunately, it has a wide (but rough) shoulder with the exception of a short stretch in front of Oracle Ford Dealership which has almost no shoulder. These are two lane roads with no dedicated bike lanes. Unless it is very clear that there is no traffic, we need to be careful and stay in single file.
Start/End: Biosphere parking lot. The Biosphere opens at 9AM, but the parking lot was open at 6:30 last week when I got there. If the gate is closed, we will meet at the gate and go to our secondary parking spot at the end of Charles.
Bathroom/water
8 miles - Circle K (we may need to stop here for water. We will see).
12 miles - Oracle State Park (outhouse only, no water here)
27 miles - Way of the Bean Coffee Club (we will stop for coffee before we ride back to the Biosphere)Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign in. If you sign up for the ride and are running a couple of minutes late call or text Cliff at 520-551-1155 and we will wait up to five minutes before leaving.
If you want to know where you are going, load the RideWithGPS route into your bicycle computer, your smart phone or print a copy of the cue sheet. Otherwise, follow the ride leader.
If you haven't ridden with me before, I will not have your contact information. If so, please send your name, phone number, emergency contact, emergency contact phone number (NOT 911) to cliffhaston55@gmail.com or text to 520-551-1155. The ride waiver will be filled out prior to the ride, you will just need to verify the information and sign it.
Due to the amount of elevation, this ride will be classified as a C (12-14 mph) rather than our usual C+ (14-16 mph) ride. There will be some ride-at-your-own-pace sections and regroup areas designated by your ride leader. Except in these ride-at-your-own-pace sections, riders are expected to ride at the pace of the ride leader. If you are in front of the ride leader and make a wrong turn, you are on your own ride unless you can find us again (I know.... it is harsh, but it has to be said).
If you are not a member of our cycling club, please join: Sign Up Link
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. The exception to this rule is if you have one earbud in to hear navigation cues. NO MUSIC! You need to hear traffic and other riders.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.
- This is not a "training" or "intensive" ride - this is a social, no drop, base building ride.
- Route subject to change based upon, weather, road conditions, group requests. Remember, the ride leader is always right, even when they are are not following the published route (lost?). If we make a wrong turn, lets do it together.
