Arizona Insurance Coverage Shamefully Low

Erik Ryberg notes on his Tucson Bike Lawyer blog that the minimum liability coverage for Arizona drivers is only $15,000. That means that if you get hit by a car whose driver carries the minimum, all that you are likely to collect is $15,000, which may not begin to cover your medical bills, let alone your pain and suffering and mangled bicycle. Erik points out that the likelihood that our dysfunctional (my word, not his) legislature will up the minimum liability coverage to some reasonable amount is practically nil. If you ever attend a campaign event for someone running for the Arizona State Legislature, perhaps you may want to bring this subject up.

Tour de France on Versus

Versus's coverage of the Tour de France begins July 3 with the prolog time trial in Rotterdam.  Each day of the Tour, Versus will broad cast live coverage in the morning followed by several rebroadcasts later in the day. Although I prefer to record the live broadcast for viewing when I get back from my morning bike ride, I am told that editing improves the rebroadcasts. Live coverage of the time trial begins at 8:30 a.m. Arizona time on July 3, and live broadcast of the next five stages begins at 5:30 a.m. Live broadcast of some of the subsequent stages begins as early as 3:30 a.m.

The complete schedule can be viewed by clicking here. Please note that the times listed on the Versus Website are Eastern Daylight; subtract three hours to get Mountain Standard Time. Also, when broadcast times are rescheduled, Versus does not always update them on the Website, so it is wise to check the schedule with your cable or satellite provider as the date for each stage approaches.

Incidentally, the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club is hosting a party to view the prolog on July 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Four Peaks Brewing Company at 1340 E. 8th Street in Tempe. For information about the event in PDF format, click here.

Tortilla Flats Road Race Series -- Tuesday Evenings

The Tortilla Flats Road Race series continues most Tuesday evenings through August 17 (there is no race on July 6). The race starts at the Mining Camp Restaurant at 5:30 p.m. except for the last two evenings on August 10 and 17, when it moves up to 5:15. The race proceeds out the Apache Trail through Tortilla Flats to the end of the pavement and then returns for a total distance of 39 miles. Anyone who has ridden this stretch of road knows that there are several climbs, lots of rollers, and tricky corners to negotiate on the fast descents. Riders race in two groups, an A group for the real animals and a B group for other riders. The entry fee is $10, half of which goes toward the cash prize payouts for the first 5 finishers in each group with 15 or more riders or the first 3 places if fewer riders show up. To view the race brochure in PDF format, click here.

Arizona Track Series -- San Diego June 26-27

Arizona's competitive track riders are spending this weekend in cool San Diego, riding the Velodrome in Balboa Park. This weekend's races include time trials on Saturday afternoon and mass start races on Saturday morning. To view the Arizona Track Series Website, click here.

Time Trial Clinic -- Tucson July 4

While some of us will be out doing early morning rides with our friends followed by barbeques in the neighborhood park on the Fourth of July, the real macho types will be in Tucson learning how to more efficiently ride a time trial. Topics to be covered in the one-day clinic include pacing, position, training, fuel, warm-up and technique. The clinic takes place from 7 to 9 a.m. at the corner of Sandario and Ajo in Tucson. The cost is a very reasonable $10. For more information, click here.

PMBC's White Mountain Tour -- July 10 & 11

According to the Phoenix Metro Bicycle Club's Website, this tour has been an annual event for 20 years. Before that, this route was used for the annual Springerville Road Race, although the racers finished the 100+ miles in a bit over four hours instead of the two days dedicated to the tour.

The ride starts at Hon-Dah in Pinetop on Saturday morning with check-in from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. Riders may depart as soon as they're checked in. There is no mass start, a practice that I wish more ride organizers would follow for safety reasons.

The distance the first day is 63 miles from Pinetop through Show Low and on to Eager and Springerville with sag stops along the way. Saturday's ride is a shorter 38 miles, which disguises the face that riders must climb to the Sunrise Ski Resort before whizzing downhill most of the way back to Pinetop. The cost of the event is $70 with a $10 discount for members of PMBC, GABA and ABC. The fee includes a free feed Saturday evening in Springerville. Those who plan to camp out on Saturday night should include an extra $5 to cover the camping fee. For more information, click here.

Arizona City Cotton Classic TT- July 11 & August 8

The Arizona City Cotton Classic was formerly known as the Picacho Peak Time Trial Series and used to start on the i-10 frontage road in Picacho. Now the start has been moved to the Mesquite Grove Assisted Living center in Arizona City. This three-race series takes place every year and serves as a warm-up for the state championship time trials in September. Registration is from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. and costs $20 for adults and $3 for juniors. Riders have a choice of 20- or 40-kilometer options. This race includes a feature that we would like to see adopted by all time trial promoters: there is a race for every USA Cycling category and age group. For more information, click here.

Sonoita-Patagonia TT -- July 23

The Sonoita-Patagonia Time Trial is a fast 11.7-mile point-to-point race with an elevation loss of 700 feet. As it's name implies, the race starts in Sonoita, Arizona with the first rider off at 9:30 a.m. Registration is on-site from 8 to 9 a.m. and costs $20 for adult riders and $3 for juniors. The event's Web page can be viewed by clicking here.

Taylor House Benefit Century -- Flagstaff July 24

The Taylor House Benefit Century starts at 7 a.m. on July 24 from the Flagstaff Medical Center. The ride benefits Flagstaff's Taylor House, which gives families of persons undergoing medical treatment in Flagstaff a low-cost place to stay. The minimum donation to participate in this ride is $55, although for higher donations, riders receive the benefit of free stays in the Taylor House. For more information on this ride, click here.

ABC's Grand Canyon Overnight -- August 20 to 22

The Arizona Bicycle Club's annual Grand Canyon campout and bike ride takes place on August 20 to 22 this year. Registration is $30 for members of ABC and GABA and $40 for others until August 10. After that, add a $5 late fee. For your registration you get event insurance, sag support on the rides, and a space to pitch your tent at Mather Campground. Saturday the group will pedal out the East Rim Drive to Desert View for a total of 49 miles round trip. Sunday's ride is a brief 19 mile jaunt out to Hermit's Rest and back. For more information, click here.

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