| Skull
Valley Loop Challenge |
Social
Cycling Opportunities In Prescott |
Prescott
Cycling Resourcs |
|
History ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 4/1/2011 It is spring in Prescott, AZ, and it looks like the local cycling landscape is changing. The Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance (PMBA) was formed last year, and they are really gaining momentum. They are now an official IMBA affiliate, and are busy working on access issues, cutting new trails, and hosting fun rides. Catch up with them at their website http://www.prescottmtb.org or on facebook. While we are pleased with PMBA's success, the club that had organized Prescott's home grown road ride "The Skull Valley Loop Challenge" decided to shut down. Prescott Cycling Club (PCC) was the evolution of the original "Prescott Chain Gang" which was formed well before the turn of the century. In the early part of this century, club stalwarts reorganized, and chose a new name to broaden their appeal. PCC had monthly gatherings, a nice variety of rides, and an email listserve that kept folks connected. Sometime around 2006, club member and mischievous instigator Jerry Doss, a retired recumbent fan, started stirring the pot for a bigger "organized " ride. The concept grew out of a bet that his gang of old timers could ride the 53 mile Skull Valley loop (a favorie local ride) faster than the local bike shop hot shots could ride the same loop twice. It was probably with some regard for safety that the original "challenge" never quite played out, but never-the-less, the Skull Valley Loop Challenge was born. Unfortunately Jerry's ticker gave out on a PCC Route 66 tour, and the first Loop Challenge was held in his memory. A second Loop Challenge was held, turning it in to an annual event. Then, liability concerns postponed the third annual ride while PCC reorganized again and got incorporated as a non-profit organization with insurance to hold the event in September of 2010 with some 200 riders participating. Unfortunately the core group of cyclists that had propped up PCC for most of the last decade decided they could not continue to sustain the club without an influx of fresh energy which seemed impossible to find, so they officially disbanded the club... But before they did, they took steps to see the Loop Challenge would continue. The PCC board of directors decided "hand off" the ride to Prescott Alternative Transportation (PAT), the local bicycle advocacy organization. PAT has been working to make the area more bicycle and pedestrian friendly since 1997, and had a number of bases covered: They are already a registered 501C-3 non profit corporation, and a member of the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) with access to their event insurance. PAT is also a membership organization experienced in administrative details. Providing more bicycle riding opportunities fits well with the PAT mission.The PAT board is always looking to provide more benefits to their members, and they are excited by the challenge of holding the Loop Challenge.They also hope the local cycling community will pitch in to help grow this great local event.... they are going to need a lot of help... but it's ok to just participate as a rider too! |