One of the four SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters riding groups on the Candy Cane Ride
Gail Thom
SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters is one of the most active and diverse clubs here in SaddleBrooke and the Tucson area. With more than 250 members, we have riders who ride 600 to 800 miles per month around Tucson and members who ride casually in SaddleBrooke for fun and social times one to two times a week for an hour. In other words, our membership spans all experience and ability. There is room for everyone!
On Saturdays we ride for an hour and socialize and have breakfast at our local restaurants. Our morning meeting time changes as the seasonal temperature changes. We also have Monday, Wednesday, and Friday “inside SaddleBrooke” and “outside SaddleBrooke” rides. The inside social rides are generally 10 miles and one hour in length, and the more challenging outside rides are generally 30 to 40 miles (with a refreshment stop approximately halfway).
One of the most important jobs we do is to deliver the Progress newspaper to every house in all of SaddleBrooke each month. We have numerous volunteers who stage papers for pickup and who bag and deliver the papers to your mailbox.
SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters also help support elementary schools in the San Manuel and Oracle school districts with a bicycle reward program. We provide new bikes and helmets to deserving students at the end of each school year (the recipients are selected by the school principals and teachers). The presentation ceremonies are very exciting to watch! Our club is also involved with collecting, repairing, and donating used bikes to the Wheels for Kids program.
At one of our last events of the year, the club installed our 2023-24 board: Kurt McMillen, president; Ric Holm and John Roberts, vice presidents; Julia Boyd, secretary; and Mark Byl, treasurer.
As you can see, the SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters club has many fun and challenging rides throughout the year. We also have many other social events planned throughout the year (such as our Candy Cane Ride and Breakfast in December!). Come out and participate with us for fitness, fun, and giving back to the community!
For more information, please take a look at the SaddleBrooke Cyclemasters website at saddlebrookecyclemasters.org.