http://www.perimeterbicycling.com/%21ETT/ETThome.html

Participants may cycle 111, 85, 60 or 42 miles, plus the 6, 3 & 1/4- mile Diamond Children’s El Tour Fun Ride presented by McDonald’s, open to all abilities.

New this year:

The 111-mile startline (and finish line for all events) is located at Armory Park, across the street from the Tucson Children’s Museum in downtown Tucson at the corner of S. 6th Avenue at 13th Street. Upon crossing the finishline at the end of their ride, cyclists collect a special finisher’s medallion to commemorate their accomplishment. El Tour’s Downtown Fiesta will be in Armory park featuring food vendors, kids activities, the Michelob Ultra Beer Garden, El Tour Perimeter Store merchandise booth, and non-stop music and celebration throughout the day!

Don’t forget the “El Tour Bike, Fitness & Health Expo”

Tucson Convention Center (TCC)
260 South Church Avenue, Tucson
Downstairs in Exhibition Hall

Registration & Packet Pick-Up

Wednesday, November 16, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Thursday, November 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, November 18, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The El Tour Expo is the exclusive packet pickup location for over 9,000 cyclists.
◦It is free and open to the public.
The Expo offers something for cyclists and non-cyclists alike with over 100 booths offering:

•Sports and fitness products
•Athletic apparel
•Cycling gear
•Exercise equipment
•Recreational activity displays
•Nutritional products
•Free samples

For exhibit information contact Expo Director Kristi Wagner at (520) 745-2033 or development@perimeterbicycling.com.

I volunteer at the El Tour Expo every year, to assist Perimeter Bicycling’s efforts to fundraise for Tu Nidito Children & Family Services, a non profict agency. The 11 year old daughter of a friend of mine, Sydney Clanagan, was a Tu Nidito child and she passed away in April, 2003. Who they are:

Tu Nidito Children and Family Services provides comfort, hope and support for children and families whose lives have been impacted by a serious medical condition or death. Through its array of support groups and individual services Tu Nidito provides emotional, social, and educational tools to children and families and empowers them with strength and skills for the future.

Enjoy El Tour for the 29th year!

28th annual El Tour article already written by Co-editor Ryn Gargulinski (click here).

For more details: go to Perimeter Bicycling Association’s website, www.perimeterbicyling.com.

Several rides tomorrow November 20:

The Routes
Participants may cycle 109, 79, 66 or 40 miles, plus the 6, 3 & 1/4- mile Diamond Children’s Fun Ride, open to all abilities. Main routes expose participants to scenic areas of Tucson, with beautiful vistas of its local mountain ranges – three rising over 9,000 feet- complete with the backdrop of the mighty saguaro cactus, icon of the Southwest’s Sonoran Desert. The Fun Ride offers an exciting 6-mile route, highlighting the many special cultural aspects of downtown Tucson. Course profiles can be rolling to moderately hilly, though the 40-mile route is basically flat and great as a family affair or for beginners! Two often dry but sandy river crossings will greet 109-mile riders, while 79 and 66-mile cyclists experience just one. No crossings for 40-mile participants. All routes offer aid stations, spaced each 7-10 miles, full police support at intersections and plenty of morale-boosting volunteers and spectators.

The Finish (downtown):

“The 109-mile startline (and finish line for all events) is located at Jacome Plaza in downtown Tucson at the corner of W Church St & E Pennington St, just .03 miles from the previous year’s venue. Upon crossing the finish line at the end of their ride, cyclists collect a special finisher’s medallion to remember their accomplishment and then onto the adjacent El Tour Downtown Fiesta, a festive atmosphere complete with food vendors, Michelob Ultra Beer Garden, El Tour Perimeter Store merchandise booth, and non-stop music and celebration throughout the day!”

Proceeds from El Tour benefit Tu Nidito which is Southern Arizona’s “little nest” for seriously ill and grieving children. “Yearly, Tu Nidito provides comfort, hope and support to more than 800 children during the most difficult times imaginable. Thousands of children and families have received support from Tu Nidito over the years as a result of contributions made from cyclists of El Tour de Tucson. ” I am familiar with the work of this terrific group (as our son was a Tu Nidito child for 7 and a half years) and that is why I volunteer every year at the El Tour Bike, Fitness & Health Expo downtown at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. This Expo runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today.

UPDATE: 11/20 unofficial results posted online (click here).

El Tour 2009 poster

It’s that time again, for the Annual El Tour de Tucson, the famous 109 mile bike ride, as well as the 80, 67, and 35 rides, including the ever popular Kids’ Fun rides of .4 and 4 miles, plus a new 8 mile Fun ride for families. It’s in its 27th Year, to be held on Saturday November 21st. Once again proceeds from the ride benefit Tu Nidito Children and Family Services.

“Tu Nidito, which is Spanish for “your little nest”, is a very special not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to provide individual, family and group support through emotional, educational, social and spiritual services to children and their families as they deal with serious illnesses and death.” I’m familiar with Tu Nidito was our son was a Tu Nidito child for 7 and a half years.

One of the fun parts of El Tour is the Bike, Fitness and Health Expo on the days preceding the bike rides at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church, downstairs in the exhibition hall. This fair includes registration and packet pick up, and is scheduled for:

Wednesday, November 18, 4 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, November 19, 10 to 6 p.m.
Friday, November 20, 10 to 9 p.m.

The Expo also offers something for cyclists and non-cyclists alike with over 100 booths offering:

* Sports and fitness products
* Athletic apparel
* Cycling gear
* Exercise equipment
* Recreational activity displays
* Nutritional products
* Free samples

I’ve been helping with registration and distribution of children’s t-shirts for several years at the Kids’ Fun Ride booth. I’ve met some amazing cyclists and bike patrol volunteers, as well as very enthusiastic families and children who want to cycle the 109 mile El Tour ride someday. Many people think I am an El Tour bike participant, but the longest I’ve ever ridden is 30 miles, back in Virginia years ago.

Come on down to the El Tour Expo for information and current tips on bicycling in Tucson. For more info, call Perimeter Bicycling (2609 E. Broadway) at 520-745-2033, or write info@perimeterbicycling.com. There’s lots of information about El Tour and other community events on their website: www.pbaa.com.

NEW this year: start/finish line for El Tour will be moved to Church Ave. near W. Pennington at Jacome Plaza where the Main Pima County downtown Library is located.

Also, online registration for El Tour ends TODAY, so don’t delay!

Happy bicycling!