Indoor El Tour Proves To Be Another Riding Success This years’ Indoor El Tour was enjoyed by more than 3,000 participants! Most participants were students from area schools being coached and organized by Elaine Mariolle, who handles public affairs for Perimeter Bicycling. But rider’s ages ranged from 10 to 81 this season like in years past. They rode for minutes not miles in pursuit of raising their awareness of the health benefits of indoor cycling. ‘Indoor El Tour’ was ridden, at home, in one of our ‘Indoor El Tour Centers’, (2 in Tucson, 1 in Phoenix), here, there, everywhere, several in Afghanistan, Belgium, the United Kingdom – anywhere there is a stationary bicycle!
We had many participants from ‘Rotary International’, several from ‘Valley of the Sun Charitable Foundation’, ‘Cakes for Causes’, ‘Big Brothers, Big Sisters’, ‘Habitat for Humanity’ and of course, ‘Easter Seals/Blake Foundation’ just to mention a few. ‘Indoor El Tour’ was sponsored by the ‘Tucson El Conquistadors’, and presented by ‘Arizona Health’, LaMonte Hunley, Owner. Hunley supplied Perimeter Bicycling with several exceptional stationaries and a complete gym, which was enjoyed at our ‘Bike Expo’ and Ride Day riders! This year’s Indoor event proved to be another record breaker for an individual. Isaiah Mendoza, a senior at Desert View High School, set the new
Indoor El Tour Record of 975 minutes. He broke the previous record of 960 minutes set by another Desert View student, Ivan Molina in 2015. Isaiah rode from 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 until after 10 p.m. In the final hours, Isaiah’s mom and brother (another DVHS grad) hopped on spin bikes pedaled with him for encouragement, each earning a platinum medallion for riding more than 106 minutes. Mendoza’s aerobic conditioning as a cross-country runner was an advantage. The greatest challenge was when his “butt and feet hurt and he had to change gears and positions continually.” Thanks to his teachers, Coach Linda Reinke and art teacher Mr. Martin Brown who put in the evening hours to support their student. Desert High School senior, Isaiah Mendoza, continued the school tradition of setting a new Indoor El Tour record, pedaling 975 minutes. His brother, Ray(L) and Mom, Jennifer(R) pedaled with him during the final hour. Elaine Mariolle Photo
Record Year for School/Youth Participation by Elaine Mariolle It was a record year in every way for school and youth participation in the Tucson Conquistadores 12th Indoor El Tour presented by Arizona Health. A record 3,359 students and youth (with teachers, staff and mentors) pedaled 94,186 minutes. They broke the record for the number of rides by 343 set in 2014. We had more schools/youth programs participating (nine total) from three school districts, including Tucson Unified School District, Sunnyside School District, and two schools in the Ajo Unified School District located in the far western reach of Pima County, and part of the Pima County Middle School Bike Program. For the eighth year, the Desert View High School Jaguars captured top honors and the Education Team Award with 802 rides pedaling 32,778 minutes. Desert View High School senior, Isaiah Mendoza, continued the school tradition of breaking the Indoor El Tour record pedaling 975 minutes (see sidebar). Although Desert View High School has the logistical advantage - running all week with 34 LeMond spin bikes in their fitness center - the mighty middle schoolers put in a gallant effort. Lauffer Middle School was the top middle school with 689 riders, pedaling 14,757 minutes followed by Utterback with 375 riders pedaling 13,910 minutes. “I can’t say enough good things about the bike program, Indoor El Tour and the confidence these kids are getting,” said Robin Dunbar, Utterback Middle School principal. “If I can master this [on a bike] then things happen in school. Kids in the whole school wanted to go in and log some minutes for Indoor El Tour, including teachers and staff. We got really competitive [with the other schools] and it gave our kids a positive attitude. We hope to win next year!” Indoor El Tour has also been a great starting point for spreading the value of bicycling throughout the school. We have bicycling for special education youth (stationary and road) at two schools. After experiencing Indoor El Tour, the Utterback computer classes started riding on Wednesdays to encourage students to use bicycling as a means to access new ways of thinking and problem solving. “You’re in a different environment, experiencing new
things and refreshing your brain,” said Jose Licea, an eighth grader. Eight of the nine schools and youth programs are part of the Perimeter Bicycling/Pima County Middle School Program (Ajo, Dietz K-8, Doolen, Gallego Intermediate, Jr. El Tour, Lauffer, Secrist and Utterback). Each school has a fleet of hybrid bikes and Pima County bike ambassadors lead bike skills classes and activities during PE, and/or after school. Junior El Tour held its Indoor event in the Tucson Jewish Community Center spin bike room (where they train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings) in preparation for riding the 40-mile El Tour event. Thank you teachers and staff at each school for enthusiastically promoting and actively participating in Indoor El Tour! A very special thanks to the Pima County middle school bike ambassadors for their dedicated and upbeat energy during El Tour Super Week: Brian Beck, Chloe Black, Ashton Burris, Andrew Gannon, Maggie Gormley, Donna Lewandowski, Vera Merriott, Missy Russum and Cynthia Quijada. And also to volunteers: Trudy Duffy, and Lisa Terfher (from Wheels For Kids). Final thanks to the Tucson Conquistadores and Arizona Health for supporting the 12th Indoor El Tour, and especially youth sports. The Tucson Conquistadores and its members are dedicated to promoting amateur athletics among youth, particularly disadvantaged and mentally challenged children. As part of their primary purpose to foster interest in athletics for youth, the Tucson Conquistadores helped underwrite the 2017 Indoor El Tour School/Youth Program.
Jr. El Tour riders, coaches and mentors held their Indoor El Tour event at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Fitness Center(where they train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings) in preparation for riding the 40-mile El Tour event. Scott Blanchard Photo
2017 INDOOR STATISTICS Rank School/Youth Program 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Desert View High School Captain: Coach Linda Reinke Lauffer Middle School Captain: Thom Luedemann Utterback Middle School Captain: Coach Susan Darling Gallego Intermediate Captain: Coach Pam Robles Secrist Middle School Captain: Coach Jane Reuter Dietz K-8 Captain: David Paun Ajo Unified School District Captain: Lily Williams Jr. El Tour Captain: Scott Blanchard Doolen Middle School Captain: Michele Erickson Youth Total
Riders
Minutes
802
32,778
689
14,757
375
13,910
559
9,972
410
8,495
305
7,772
151
3,657
40
1,800
28
1,045
3,359
94,186
Competing Against The Odds By Bobbie Bennett One of the things we can be sure of in our lifetime is unexpected challenges. One of mine was getting COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in my latter years. And just as I reached a time of retirement, ready to start doing all the things I had been putting off until I had more time. One of my goals was to volunteer more and give back to causes I believe in - only to find out I don’t have enough breath in me to achieve some of those goals. But, I refuse to give up. I have lived my life on overcoming challenges and I’m not going to stop now. I’ve learned to limit my physical activities but by no means give up on them. That’s why I competed in the Indoor El Tour fundraising program, which is the annual stationary cycling event where you ride for minutes instead of miles. I was honored to have the Ability 360 Sports & Fitness Center sponsoring my ride. And I’m very proud to contribute to The Valley Of The Sun Charity Foundation supporting Title 19 schools with classroom supplies for underprivileged children in the Mesa school district. I encourage everyone not to give-up on your goals but to enhance your dreams and follow your passions even when the odds are against you!
Bobbie Bennett (left) rides with friends while dealing with COPD. Photo courtesy Bennett
Results become official February 1, 2017 and are posted on our website www.perimeterbicycling.com. Contact the El Tour office with changes or corrections: (520) 745-2033; E-mail registration@perimeterbicycling.com WINTER 2018
T A I L W I N D S I N S E R T — U N O F F I C I A L R E S U LT S — I N D O O R E L T O U R
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