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Permian Basin Bicycle Association
4712 N. Midkiff Rd.
Midland, Texas 79705-2564

MEETING LOCATION - Meetings are held at the Knights of Columbus Building on Hwy 1788 (at the intersection with CR 60) between Midland and Odessa. Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month with social time at 7:00 PM and business starting at 7:30 PM.

The Permian Basin Bicycle Association was created to promote bicycle safety and education. Based in Midland/Odessa, Texas, the P.B.B.A. is associated with the League of American Bicyclists, the United States Cycling Federation, the National Off Road Bicycle Association, Texas Bicycle Coalition and many local organizations. They are involved in sponsoring local bicycle touring events, USCF Racing, mountain bike rides, safety programs, riding clinics and many local civic programs. The membership is dedicated to providing a safe riding environment and to help achieve this they are educating both cyclists and motorists on the rules of the road.
Remember, cyclists use the same roads and have the same rights as any other vehicle, but also remember we must obey the same rules. Everyone must SHARE THE ROADS!

PBBA Membership Application

Volume XIII Number 9
September 2006

Pesident Nigel Cowan 550-8006 nigelcowan@grandecom.net

President Elect

Secretary Peggy Smith 699-2080

Treasurer Betty Lewis 570-6511

Newsletter Clare Murphy 694-6566 wrmurphy@sbcglobal.net

Tour Director Kent Crowell 687-5292 kcrowell@apex2000.net

Mt Bike Director Scott Michael 432-586-2072 scottemichael@hotmail.com

Race Director Mike Hester 699-7006 HesterMD57@aol.com

Publicity David Shaw 689-6971 dvsrider59@cox.net

Food Director Billie Schulze 694-0476 billieschulze@acninc2.net

September Club Meeting

The PBBA Club Meeting will be on Monday, September 18 at 7:00pm. Please plan to attend!
Meeting Location – Meetings are held at the Knights of Columbus Building on Hwy 1788 (at the intersection with CR 60) between Midland and Odessa. Meetings are held the third Monday of the month with food at 7:00 pm and business starting at 7:30 pm.

FROM THE PRESIDENT!

August Meeting – My conclusion about our meeting on Monday the 21^st ……..must have been a success, because it seemed to have a life of its own and appeared to run itself!!

Scott Michael gave us a slide show and talk on the latest improvements and maintenance work, he and his weekend warriors have been doing on our Mountain biking course at Billy Cole’s ranch at Notrees. Scott, thanks for all your hard work building new hazards for us to tackle, and to prepare for the big event in November. Also, for the most enjoyable pictures of the loop course from almost every angle!! I hope the 35 or so, who were at the meeting, will tell your friends or go out there and/or have a crack yourselves.
Then, Kent Crowell recounted some of the great stories of a week on the road for RAGBRAI, the Ride across Iowa, including his brother Steve being blown off the road as Lance Armstrong’s peleton went whizzing by! We also enjoyed the newspaper tear sheets of the colorful goings on. Thanks Kent, for showing us how touring can be done on a grand scale. (Usually there are 10-20,000 riders).
Cyclefest – As of today’s writing, we have almost 170 registered, which is about 50% more than at this time last year. We are shooting to hit a new mark this year of 400, so if you have not yet done so please get your registration in asap. Accommodation – As we close in on the 400 mark it will be difficult to find a room or even possibly a camp site, so, Dan Hogan is advising you to book right now, if you want to be sure of a bed for that weekend. Remember that we can use motels in Marfa and Alpine also; they are only 25 miles from Ft. Davis.

Future meeting programs: We have a firm schedule, so mark your calendars now so you don’t miss out:

i. September: Photo essay of bike tours across the USA by Sam Vanlandingham – Come see some spectacular scenery where you too can tour.

ii. October: Stretching and exercise. Come hear how to avoid torn muscles and protect yourself from over-exercise as Chris Robichaud, of Odessa Physical Therapy, clues us in on the essential elements of stretching in our training plan. Come in your tennies and shorts and bring a mat if you really want to get down and dirty!!

iii. November: The proposed Nuclear Research Facility in Andrews County – One of the Directors will be here to explain how this new generation of Nuclear Reactors will operate and integrate with the existing infrastructure here in the Permian Basin. In July, they were in Japan touring a similar project.

iv. December: Christmas Party – We are still looking for a party animal, who would like to chair or help with this one. Any volunteers!!? Please call me.

The View From Back Here

By Russell Livingston

When did I become such a creature of habit? When did a little deviation in my routine become such an obstacle that my entire day seemed ruined? When did common sense fly out the window … when the opportunity to ride presents itself? Have I morphed into a Gotta Ride Freak?

For the past several months, my early morning exploits have been discussed and generally laughed at. Monday Wednesday and Friday’s I roll out of bed and meet Robert Thomas at about 5:30 AM somewhere along Deauville Road near the Scharbauer Sports Complex. We enjoy a pre sunrise ride and generally are back to the house before Midland wakes up.

Wednesday afternoons have been one of the highlights of my week. The weekly ride from Peyton’s is fun and has found itself into my routine and is now a habit.

So, this particular Wednesday, things were wrong, terribly wrong. When we retired for the night on Tuesday, the weather forecast called for rain through the night and all day Wednesday. It was not too hard to roll over and go back to sleep when I could hear rain drops and wind blowing…. My day wasn’t starting out right.

I have lived in West Texas all my life. I understand we take rain any way and any time we can get it… But this is Wednesday! The weather kept me in the office as well. My day was spent writing reports and generally moping around because it appeared that the rain was going to continue for the rest of the day. In fact by 3:00 PM I had pretty much written off the Wednesday afternoon ride as well. My day was officially in the toilet.

Around 5:15 PM I received a call. Was I planning on riding? If I showed up at least one other rider would show up too. So, we decided to show up and if no one else was there, no one would know. It seems that 7 other riders had had days like mine. Public schools had resumed and 2 teachers NEEDED the ride, it wasn’t even good window washing weather and we even added a new rider to the group. Apparently, the weather had stressed the others enough to show up, ready to ride. Our small group left on time with a cloud over our heads but with a positive attitude.

The weather held, we completed the ride and stayed dry. The temperature was a mild 77 degrees and there was very little wind. It was a great day to ride. Afterwards, we adjourned to Rosa’s and my tacos never tasted so good. It turned out to be a great day to be a cyclist. That Wednesday turned out to be a success.

So, what did I learn? I don’t know… Maybe we need to be a little more flexible and maybe we should take our little victories any way we can get them. Have fun and ride safe.

FOR SALE

Trek 520 touring bike (medium size)

Moots mountain bike (medium size) $1200

Cathy Cunningham These were Dewaines bikes, please call and she can give more details. 432-366-2073

UPCOMING RIDES

Ft Davis Cyclefest 30^th Annual

September 16-17

Saturday tours: 75 mile scenic loop, 50 mile out & back to Alpine, also 10 & 25 mile routes

Sunday Mt Locke hill climb: 1.5 mile hill climb starting at Observatory visitor center; 7 mile hill climb starting at solar panels

SAN ANGELO CYCLOCROSS CLINIC

Organized by Team San Angelo

An informal cyclocross “how to” clinic followed by practice races that simulate a real ‘cross event. The clinic will begin at 1:30 pm, with the 1^strace going off at 2:15. Cyclocross is a growing discipline within competitive cycling, and many top road, mountain, and triathlete cyclists compete in cyclocross events during the fall and winter months. This clinic and the races will be appropriate for novice cyclists and experienced racers.

Location: Middle Concho Park, San Angelo. For more info: www.teamsanangelo.com or call Bill Cullins 325-223-9321

RIDE REPORTS

WATERMELON RIDE

Another great watermelon ride! Mary Ann Miles hosted this event and the weather for the ride was perfect. There were about 40 riders and guests from both Midland and Odessa to enjoy the ice cold watermelon and other treats. The special treat for many was Mary Ann’s gorgeous flower gardens. This master gardeners talents were easy to see throughout her yard. And the Statue Of Liberty and Texas star were most impressive!!! Thanks to all who attended making it a success.

And a really big thanks to Mary Ann and Carl for hosting the Watermelon Ride.

Joe Waite, Fred Hunley and Kent Crowell enjoying the watermelon Mary Ann brings out another watermelon with Cheryl’s help