Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
4/25/07 

Greetings Riders,
 
Well, It is now the end of April and riding season is squarely upon us. Hard to believe that it is this late in the year due to the fact that we actually had a Spring season for once. It didn't just go from cool to blazing hot all in one day. This weekend is predicted to be in the mid to high 90's in the Valley which means we are all going start thinking "ROAD TRIP!!!" With that in mind I have started going through all of the Day Rides on the site putting in new maps and adding satellite images of the areas that you would be riding in.
 
I will have to admit, with the weather being what it is now, it was fun, but hard going through all of those rides again. It left me wanting to hop on the bike and go. There have been about 200 new subscribers added to the newsletter list in the last couple of weeks. So for those of you that are new to the site, and to those of you that want to refresh yourself with the Day Rides section, I now have 6 multi-day trips, 2 overnight trips and 17 day rides. There are a couple of the day rides that could easily turn into overnight rides as well. I have tried to provide as much map as possible on most of the rides so that you can decide on your own routes to make them longer or shorter. Most of the rides have photo gallery links with them and a couple of them have videos. It is that part of the site that will let you do some good day dreaming in between tasks at work or at home in the evening.
 
As I was looking over all of these rides I started trying to figure out which one was my favorite ride. That was really hard to do because each one had their own moments and personalities. So I started breaking it down by sections. I generally like going North from Phoenix instead of South, so that took away a few of them. Then I started thinking about a ride that I would want to do over and over, that took away a few more. Then I narrowed it down to my top 5 favorites and that was Coronado Trail for the diversity of the ride, Tonto Natural Bridge for a good quick ride from the Valley and then the hike, Sedona Via Jerome because it is just a good ride full of eye candy, Tortilla Flat because it is such a cool road and believe it or not, Schnebly Hill Rd. because of the incredible scenery. Yes, it is a dirt road for 10 miles, but it is worth it.
 
Now came the task of narrowing 5 down to one. If I could only do one of these routes, what one would it be? This was really a tough one for me, but since I like mountain riding and varying scenery, I chose the Coronado Trail Ride with Schnebly Hill Rd. a close second. There are a few different ways to do it from here. I went to Globe, then South to Safford, to Morenci and up the Trail. But if you want to stay in the higher elevations you can drop down from the North and then turn around and go back up. Any way you do it, it is one of the best rides in the State and is even a National Scenic Byway. My plan this year is to do that route from the North and then go to Silver City, NM for the night and then come back up the New Mexico side of the rim. Should be a great ride.
 
That is my favorite, now let me see yours. I have put together a poll for everyone to vote. Click the following link and let's see which ride is considered the best by all of you. http://www.pollmonkey.com/p.asp?U=7598237536
The poll will also be on the front page of www.cyclerides.com if you want to keep tabs on the voting.
 
I so enjoy thinking about my next big ride, that I have an atlas on the night stand and will spend a few minutes before bed with the magnifyer glasses on planning some routes. We have done a lot of riding in the West for the last few years, so this year for our long ride I am considering doing the Blue Ridge Parkway from the bottom to the top and maybe ending in Washington DC. I have never ridden past the Mississippi, so it should be an interesting change of scenery. If you have any suggestions of where to go, or not to go, please let me know.
 
To see the Cyclerides.com list of Day Rides and Multi-Day Rides Click Here. I will be adding to the list in the next couple of week's as I get out and forge some more new territory. Stay tuned.
 

 Highlights This Week
 
 Thursday Night
Arrowhead Harley-Davidson Thursday Bike Night at
Gordon Biersch Brewery at Westgate. Live Music on the patio 6:30 - 9:30pm!!
Back by popular demand this week, the band "Come Back Buddy",
a 3 piece Buddy Holly Tribute band. These guys are a fun time.
 
Saturday, April 28th
Buddy Stubbs Hogs and Dogs. Join Buddy Stubbs for
their monthly last Saturday of the month HOGS and Dogs. 

This Week 

Next Week 

May 4th - 6th
Budd's Birthday Bash at Western Trails Ranch. 3 Day Biker Bash and Bike Run. 2 major Concerts, Vendors.

Friday: Gates open at 4:30pm. 6pm Burn Out Pit Contest. Opening act Phat Bastard at 7pm. Headliner Concert at 8:30pm Featuring TNT, The Ultimate AC/DC Experience. 10:30pm - 2am Post Party with Phat Bastard on Buzzard's Saloon Stage. 11pm - 2am: Go Go Dance Cages Open. Judges will invite best girls to finals.

Saturday: 8am - 11am Breakfast Buffet Available. 10am - 12pm Registration for Chopper Show. 10am - 2pm Rock with DOK & Gal. 11am - 5pm Go Go Dance Cages open. 2pm - 3pm Female Pineapple Wrestling. 3pm - 7pm Rock with PHAT Bastard. 4pm - 5pm Tattoo Contest, 5pm - 6pm, Go Go Girls Dance Finals. 7pm: Opening Act, Lil' Debbie & Blue Plate Special. 8:30pm: Headliner Featuring Dr. Hook on the Main Stage. 10pm - 2am: Post Party with Lil' Debbie & Blue Plate Special. 11:30pm: Wet T-Shirt Contest.

Sunday: 8am - 11am: Breakfast Available. 10am - 12pm: Registration for Budd's Annual Birthday Run. Ride pin for first 500 to register. Ride up the hill to Peeples Valley and back to the ranch. 3pm: Best Poker Hand. 1pm - 5pm: Music with DOK And Gal.

More information at: 623-388-0450.
 
Saturday, May 5th
Roosevelt Lake Motorcycle Rally. Ride supports Huntington's Disease of America, Arizona Affiliate. Sign In at PERA Club, 1 E. Continental Dr. Tempe, Arizona from 9am - 10am. Cost of Ride is $20 single, $35 2-up. Ride Sponsored by Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson, Salt River Project, Arizona Avalanches. Ride North up Bee Line Hwy. through Punkin Center to Roosevelt Lake. Lunch at SRP PERA facility at Roosevelt Lake and then back to Buddy Stubbs. 
 

Saturday, May 5th
American Legion Riders Post 79 (Yarnell, AZ) 2nd Annual Motorcycle Run. Sign in from 9am - 11am at Drifter's Restaurant located 19359 S. Hwy. 89 in Peeples Valley. Breakfast buffet available for $5.00 starting at 8:30am and will end at the Yarnell American Legion, Post 79. $15 Per Person includes run sheet and lunch. Ride Pins for the first 100. Get an extra raffle ticket for bringing a DVD or CD, new or used which will be sent to our troops overseas. More information at prescottbikers@hotmail.com . 
 

Sunday, May 6th

Amanda's Run. Amanda is a 19 year old victim of a violent crime that left her paralyzed from the neck down in Jan. of 2006. Through miracles and physical therapy, she has made great progress. To help in this life changing ordeal, a Poker Run will be held on May 6th to benefit Amanda and her 3 year old daughter. Register at The Black Bear Diner on I-10 and Dysart Rd. at 8:30am. $20 entry, $10 for passenger. Raffle, Food, Entertainment ending at end. Call for details at 602-218-0846. Or email b57rooster@aol.com .

Extras

 
Xtreme Consignments – “Don't List Your Ride – Sell Your Ride” “Never a Consignment Fee”
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For you gearheads out there. Here is a video that a friend of mine took of a boat at Lake Pleasant. It has two 900hp motors and is doing about 110-120mph in these shots. Click Here to View.
 
Here is a guy who obviously had NOTHING else to do. Click Here to View.
 
I think I might have had this one in before, but I couldn't confirm it. And it is funny. Click Here to View.