News

RRTAP_December2023-VVCC-signed.pdf

About a year ago we focused our efforts on membership growth for a couple reasons: 1) to build a stronger & bigger local cycling community thus 2) creating more capacity to support all the great work the club does.

So, how have we done?

With this increased capacity, we’ve accomplished quite a bit:

• Bike Patrol: Funded/kicked off “Chime in Bell” program distributing 20k bells in the Verde Valley
• MTB Committee
• • Worked with Red Rock Trail Crew to outline the volunteer Trail work plans
  • Drawing out large numbers of volunteers to Trail work days
  • Rolling out Caltopo to assist in identifying trail maintenance needs
  • New trails in progress: Circle Trail, Red Rock Trails Access Plan and some new things at Mingus all active
• Road Committee:
• • Got Yavapai Co. to add a paved shoulder and rumble strips along parts of Cornville road
  • Got Hwy 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona swept
  • Partnered with the BAC Committee to add bike lanes & wider shoulders along 89A in parts of Cottonwood and Clarkdale

ROAD RIDING ROUTES ONLINE.

IF going for a ride and want to use one of the road routes from the website you can open the link on your phone and it will bring up the route. However, in order to “navigate” from the opened route you will have to have a subscription with RidewGPS. By “navigate”  I mean voice turn by turn guidance and written turn by turn instructions. If you do not have a subscription (at least at the “Basic” leve) you can still navigate using the map but you will have to zoom into it to get the road names at the various intersections where you will be turning to stay on route. This can obviously complicate your ability to stay on route.

RidewGPS has a “club membership” that would allow recognized members to be able to use all the “navigation” benefits of these RidewGPS created maps. The Road Riding Committee is exploring if this might be something the VVCC might want to look into if the road riding membership thinks it would be of use. 

ROAD RIDING  SAFETY & ETIQUETTE GUIDELINES.

The Road Committee has created a laminated card to hand out to participants at our various rides. 

The biking guidelines are as follows: 

• Go with the traffic flow and stay as far to the right as safety allows
• Ride single file when cars are behind or can ride two abreast when no traffic
• Obey all traffic laws-a bicycle is vehicle and you are a driver
• Yield to traffic when appropriate. No earbuds or aerobats
• Be predictable - Call out your intentions and use hand signals. Pass on the left-not on the right
• Call out objects/obstructions and when passing, slowing or stopping
• Call out cars ahead, behind. 
• Watch those car doors 
• Wear a helmet and use front and rear lights 
• Expect other riders to call you out IF you don’t follow these safety guidelines

Wide debris free shoulders and tailwinds- Jim Graham, Road Riding Committee

The Gravel Committee is looking for volunteers to help develop new opportunities for gravel riding in the Verde Valley. Gravel riding is the fastest growing segment of cycling in the country, and the multiple forest roads in the Valley offer exciting new ways to develop riding. We’re looking for volunteers who want to get involved with growing Gravel. Time commitment is a few hours each month; if you want to do more, that is up to you.

Help is needed with any/all of the following: Be a ride leader or sweep at group social rides; host gravel social rides on MeetUp; scout out new gravel roads for future group rides; and/or assist at the bigger gravel social rides associated with the Spring and Fall VVCC picnics.

VVCC continues to advocate for gravel cycling safety and riding opportunities. If you want to get involved in these efforts, we need you! No experience needed. 

The VVCC has an active road riding contingent. The MEETUP LINKS on the VVCC website have rides posted. Please join your fellow riders!

The Road Riding Committee is also an advocate for road cyclists through interaction with local/state cycling organizations and local/state governments. It promotes local road riding related initiatives that support safe and accessible riding on paved roads. One significant initiative is working with Yavapai Country on the road construction currently being undertaken along Cornville Rd between Cornville and the Beaverhead Flat Rd. junction. It will have 5 foot shoulders and 12 inch rumble strips increasing cycling safety along this busy corridor. In another action, Rich Leever, a Committee Member, was successful in getting ADOT to sweep the shoulders of Hwy 89A between Cottonwood and Sedona. This responsibility had been left undone for some time. ADOT has committed to sweeping it twice a year and to evaluate the frequency of the sweep.

The Committee needs passionate road riding members to be active participants to be effective.

Tailwinds and wide shoulders for now.

Submitted by Jim Graham, VVCC Road Riding Committee member.

Greg Miranda here!

I would like to invite the Verde Valley Cyclist Coalition to one the mountain bike events (Yavapai Hustle) I host here in the Verde Valley on December 2nd. It starts and finishes at the Southwest Wine Center Tasting Room (SWWC) on the Yavapai Community College Campus.

We have distances for everyone....2-mile kids race (free) 6, 12 and 18-mile courses (Blue) and a 20 and 32-mile more challenging course that has some black sections. 6,12 and 18-mile courses are kid friendly!

Part of the course travels through a vineyard before entering the single track. 

We will have live music and awards at the SWWC tasting room starting at 12:00!

I am offering a promo discount to the VVCC members of $10.00 off per entry...$55.00 TOTAL

Promo code is: VVCCMember! On BikeReg.com

All entries will receive an event t-shirt and all finishers will receive either a custom pint glass, coffee mug or event poster.

There is a team award (18, 20 and 32-mile) also, see the attached link. (1st= $500, 2nd= $300, 3rd= $200)

Even if you don't want to participate or volunteer, please come out and enjoy the day with like minded people!

Hope to see you there!

Website: www.verdevalleyrally.com

Calling ALL road riders, if you have interest in any of these rides below or have suggestions about other locations/rides that would be fun, please contact Rich Leever rlleever@gmail.com

2023

Plans are to schedule the Skull Valley Loop Ride in Prescott before it gets too cold. This is a 50 mile ride with approximately 3700 elevation gain.

Possible ride to northern Phoenix area around the Anthem /Cave Creek Exit. Ride approximately 40-45 miles and have a meal after.  

Tucson -- this ride will be this year or sometime in the spring. There are several rides to do as there are a lot of bike paths in Tucson. Also considering a ride up Mount Lemmon.

2024

There will be 2 days rides and 2 nights of overnight camping (some stay at the hotels) at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We ride 30-50 miles each day and some riders also plan a day of hiking.

We may do a ride around Wupatki Monument and Sunset Crater in the spring. This would be a 50+ mile ride and may involve one or two nights camping. 

There are at least 1-3 riders going to Park City, Utah in August 2024. We are hoping to get more signed up. They have an incredible biking infrastructure for road, gravel, mountain, and electric bikes.  

Pedal the Petrified

This ride is at the end of September/first of October every year and is limited to 250 riders -- the ride fills fast. We normally ride up the afternoon before and have dinner in Winslow at the Turquoise Room and then spend the night in Holbrook and ride 63 miles the next day. We often eat dinner in Flagstaff on the way back. 

If you have interest in any of these rides or have suggestions about other locations/rides that would be fun please send your contact information to Rich Leever rlleever@gmail.com

Call for Art

The VVCC will be hosting a silent art auction at the 12/15 Holiday Party in Cottonwood. We are putting a call out to our member artists who would like to participate. Depending on the response and size of pieces, we will try to accommodate as many pieces as possible. Artists may submit multiple pieces.  

The details:

Who: This invitation to participate is open to all active members of the VVCC.

What: A Silent auction where art pieces will be sold. Artists will garner 65% of sales, 35% will go to support the mission of the VVCC. Paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, photography, fiber art, mixed media-all are welcome. We are unable to hang paintings on the wall so, if you are bringing a painting, you must supply an easel for display. If you cannot secure an easel, contact Mike Coyne.

When: The Holiday Party Friday 12/15 at the Cottonwood Community Clubhouse. Art should be delivered to the Clubhouse between 11 am and 1 pm Friday 12/15. Arrangements must be made by the artists for unsold pieces to be taken home following the auction that evening. (We are unable to store pieces for a pick up later).

Where: Cottonwood Community Clubhouse 805 N Main St., Cottonwood

How: A jury will review submissions, we hope to exhibit as many pieces as possible but, space constraints and response may limit the number of pieces accepted. There is no fee to enter.  For each submission, participants must provide: 

1- Photo of the piece with dimensions

2- Name of artist, title of piece, medium and desired starting bid. Artists must also supply a mailing address (for payments). Artists can have a starting bid as low as $25 or, as high as they would like.(Artists must be prepared for a piece to sell for as low as their chosen starting bid). Bidding increments during the auction will be by $10.

3- The money will come to VVCC and VVCC will reimburse artists via check after the event. 

4- Submissions may be made from 10/20-12/2 and should be sent to:

Michael Coyne via email at  mtnbikehike@gmail.com

Additionally, Mike Coyne will field any questions- feel free to contact him.

All notification of acceptances will be made by 12/5

Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition 

In need of a Trek Bike this year? Now until December 31^st 2023 Verde Valley Cyclist Coalition Members will receive a 15% discount on select models ordered through the Trek website. These models must be purchased online and sent to one of the 2 participating locations: Thunder Mountain Bikes in Sedona or Verde Valley Bicycle Company in Cottonwood.  

Step 1: Go to www.trekbikes.com and search these bikes using the number in bold. 

Gravel: 

• Checkpoint ALR 5 Driftless - 35814 

• Checkpoint SL 5 - 35169 

• Checkpoint SL 6 - 35170 

Road: 

• Emonda SL 5 - 36974 

Mountain: 

• Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 - 33073 

• Fuel EX 8 Gen 6 - 36348 

• Top Fuel 8 - 36789 

• Roscoe 9 – 35118 

Step 2: Ensure you select the correct size, Thunder Mountain Bikes or Verde Valley Bicycle Company can help you with sizing. Select the correct size and click “Add to Cart.” 

Step 3: Navigate to your cart in the top right-hand corner and click “View Cart” 

Step 4: Your Shopping Cart will now appear; you can now enter the code VerdeValleyCoalition  where it says “Enter Promo Code” and click apply. 

Step 5: Click “Proceed to Check Out” and finish your purchase. You will be prompted to select a delivery location. You must select Thunder Mountain Bikes in Sedona or Verde Valley Bicycle Company in Cottonwood for the option of pick up locations. 

Step 6: Await your bike to process and ship. You will receive an email once the boxed bike arrives at the shop. Your shop will need 5 days to assemble the bicycle.  

Step 7: Once the shop confirms the bike is ready, go by and say hi to your local shop! Bring your VVCC membership card for them to check as well. These shops love your support and can help you pick out ride essentials in store.  

Limit 1 per person, bike must be in stock at time of order. Order must be placed on  trekbikes.com in store purchases do not qualify.