Riders gather at the flagpole in Cottonwood before a Monday ride.
Lee Evans
We’re back at it this winter so please join us for a series of relaxed, twice weekly bicycle rides exploring Sun Lakes’ network of roads and perhaps some neighboring ones. The rides are ongoing with a large contingent of eager cyclists. These hour and a half to two hour tours are currently launching from the flagpole at the Cottonwood Clubhouse every Monday and Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., returning by 3:30 p.m. The program is conducted under the auspices of the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club and is free of charge; but, to control group size and make certain no one’s left behind, registration is necessary by 5:00 p.m. of the day prior to the ride. Groups are limited to a maximum of 16 riders.
Monday is “Soft Spoke’N” day, designed to cover approx. 12-15 miles of essentially traffic-free miles and afford the leaders plenty of time to answer questions about bikes, offer cycling tips and demonstrate safe riding skills. The plan for Friday’s “Out Spoke’N” rides is more demanding; these will go about 16-22 miles and work on becoming comfortable sharing the road with motor vehicles. Friday rides may occasionally start from locations other than Cottonwood to explore places unreachable from the Clubhouse within a 20 mile round trip. These off campus rides will, as measured from their starting locations, still be subject to a 16-22 mile limit.
Helmets are required for these rides, fancy bikes are not. Hybrid, comfort bikes or mountain bikes are recommended but road bikes are perfectly acceptable.
To register send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 978-808-0900.
Leaders Bob and Lee Evans are Sun Lakes residents and have over 60 years cycling experience between them. For the past 14 years they’ve conducted programs similar to the above in the Boston suburbs and in winter 2012 initiated a similar program in Sun Lakes. Both are certified cycling instructors, retired racers, ex-bicycle commuters and former off-road crazies who now confine their riding to civilized surfaces. Check out their website at www.getupngoadventures.com for a glimpse of what their rides were like. E-mail Lee at [email protected] if you have questions.