It all started with a Spiderman bike for Izek Saiz. The 10-year-old, who rode in the 32-miler Saturday at the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson, would take short rides around his neighborhood. Once he tried taking a much longer ride, the bike’s chain broke and he needed something a little nicer.
At the time, Saiz was watching his aunt, who was 10 at the time, train and take spin class at the JCC in Tucson. She was a member of junior El Tour.
“He would say, ‘I want to do that. I want to do that.’ I said when you are 10, we’ll do it,” said his grandmother, Veronica Saiz, who is the director of marketing and corporate engagement at Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Saiz trained by taking spin classes and riding the Loop. Saturday, he posted a time of 3 hours, 32 minutes and 53.3 seconds.
His favorite part of cycling? “I like to go fast,” he said.Â
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Mike Leland, the service manager at Bicycle Ranch, spent much of his time Saturday checking tire pressure. Temperature at the start of the 102-mile ride was 40 degrees; when it gets cold, tires’ air pressure goes down.Â
Leland said that the newly filled tires will last the entire race. He advises people to check their pressure before going out on a ride this time of year. If it’s at 50 psi, they, “are going to have a little bit of a softer cushy ride. They’re going to go slower and they’re going to be more susceptible to pinch flats while they’re out on the course.”
These days, tire pressure is determined by each rider’s weight. The range is around 65 to 95 psi.Â
“(Tire pressure of) 110 psi is great if you’re on a velodrome, a perfectly smooth track, but something like this pavement — chip seal — you’re just getting over all those little bumps and slowing you down. So a little bit lower psi is actually going to be faster and more comfortable.”
Leland has participated in El Tour a number of times and hopes to get back out next year.
Saturday, Leland saw a broken spoke, torque adjustments, crooked handlebar stems and a damaged tubular tire with a broken valve stem. Leland and his crew came up with a solution on the fly: Saran wrap.
Elga Soto was sitting to the side of the El Tour course with homemade signs for her husband, Gabriel Rodriguez, who was doing the 32-mile ride. Soto, who has lived in Tucson since 2007, was attending El Tour for the first time.Â
The two have been married for four months. Soto attended her first bike race last month in Albuquerque.Â
When they were first dating, Soto told her now-husband that she wasn’t so sure about the cycling thing.
“I was like, ‘Oh, really?’ Because I love hiking. I love to go hiking all over the place here,” Soto said. “When he said, ‘biking,’ I’m like, ‘No, it’s better to hike the mountains.’ And he’s like, ‘No, this is going to be nice. You’re going to like it.’ Yeah, (now) he’s getting me into it. He’s getting me a bike next year.”
When Rodriquez, who is changing his last name soon to Soto — a surprise to Soto, who thought it was “beautiful” — saw the signs, he smiled from ear to ear. He finished in a time of 2:02:09.3.
“Even though he participates in these frequently, he gets very nervous,” Soto said. “He’s like, ‘Oh, thanks for doing that. I really love it. It means a lot.’ He said calmed him down.”
Juniper John and Elle Lambson are 10-year old cousins who look a lot alike. John is from Marana, while Lambson lives in Santa Fe.Â
They took different tracks to training. Lambson rode on bike trails to prepare for the 10-mile fun ride. John didn’t train.Â
Yet, at the same time they both said that the best part of the day was, “Seeing and passing the finish line — and getting a medal.”
Both were excited to ride again next year, but first John had to finish her potato chips.
Mother-daughter connection
Scottsdale’s Lisa Fuller took part in the 63-mile ride using her mother’s Trek bike. Linda Prior, now 80, bought the bike in 1995 and rode the Trek in seven El Tours over the years.
Prior passed the bike down to her daughter in 2018. Fuller estimates that she has put more than 3,000 miles on it over the last four years.Â
“It’s sentimental,” Fuller said.Â
Prior didn’t give her daughter any El Tour tips, but did share how difficult training was before the Loop was built.
“Back then they didn’t have the Rillito or Santa Rita washes finished, so it was a little harder to put together a good 100 mile training ride,” Fuller said. “The paths they have now are fantastic.”
Fuller, 59, was a runner before turning to cycling in 2018. She and Mesa’s Allan Disner started slow, riding five miles a week. In 2019, Fuller decided to add a mile a week.Â
“I didn’t tell him right away that I was gunning for the El Tour de Tucson. It was like a little more, a little more. and then one day I was like, ‘Well, you know, we’re up to 30 miles, we could probably double that,” Fuller said.
The rode in their first El Tour last year.Â
Photos: 2022 El Tour de Tucson bicycle race in Tucson
Riders pass by Aid Station #3 on Pistol Hill Road on the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Sean Christian, of Tucson, raises his arms as he crosses the finish line and wins the men’s division of the 102-mile race in the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Anna Hicks, a native of San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast, won the women’s divisoin of the 102-mile race in the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Race winner Sean Christian of Tucson, second from left, and lead riders in a tight formation on Nogales Highway near Continental Road during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
A large pack of riders heads down Old Nogales Highway through the FICO orchards during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
A rider and a group of area neighbors exchange salutes as the main body makes the first few yards of the long climb up Pistol Hill Road from Old Spanish Trail during El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists wait for the start of the 63-mile race along Cushing Street during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A cyclists adorned in holiday cheer makes the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Laura Close, left, and Margaret Falkowski cheer for cyclists and Laura’s daughter and friend, who has Type 1 diabetes, riding with a group representing Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Andy Clark of Austin, celebrating his 52nd birthday on race day, grabs some Gatorade at Aid Station #7 on Mission Road while chatting with volunteer Joanie Rogucki during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Cyclists work there way up Mission Road at Twin Buttes Road in Green Valley during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Volunteer Mary Harris rings the cow bell for cyclists along Mission Road west of Green Valley during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Cyclists on Mission Road west of the mines during Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Volunteer Mary Harris holds bicycles from racers stopping to snag food and water at Aid Station #7 on Mission Road during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Lt. Steven Gardner, helping the U.S. Army man Aid Station #3 aids a rider needing air as the rest of the pack top Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The lead pack of riders heads up Old Spanish Trail just before the turn onto Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A small group of riders make the climb up Pistol Hill Road on the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A large group of riders start winding up Pistol Hill Road as the riders pass through the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A young rider and other cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists start to leave downtown at the start of their 63-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Two fans show their support for riders at the finish line during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A young rider joins other cyclists at the start of the 32-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A cyclist rides with a stuffed penguin on his helmut at the start of the 32-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Participants make their way down Cushing Street at the start of the 32-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Jesus Villa, right, holds up a sign to cheer on his Nana as she rides her first 32-mile race during the 39th Banner – University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A police officer directs cyclists onto Continental Road from Nogales Highway during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
A pack of leaders escorted a Tucson Police officer on Mission Road during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Cyclists manage the ups and downs of Mission Road near Twin Buttes Road in Green Valley during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
The Rincon Mountains rise behind the riders making the long climb up Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A handful of riders top a rise on Old Spanish Trail, headed for the turn onto Pistol Hill Road on the eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The lead pack makes the high speed turn onto Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The main pack of riders fight their way up the long rise of Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The bikers competing in El Tour de Tucson, cycling is a team sport at South Nogales Highway and Lumber Street 6th Avenue from Irvington to Ajo, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The bikers competing in El Tour de Tucson, cycling is a team sport at South Nogales Highway and Lumber Street 6th Avenue from Irvington to Ajo, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Just after dawn Josh Goldstein sweeps gravel and peoples off the hard right turn from Old Spanish Trail onto Pistol Hill Road for the far east leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022. Goldstein showed up with others from the neighborhood to cheer on the riders, and brought the broom along to make the intersection a little safer.
Contact sports reporter PJ Brown at pjbrown@tucson.com. On Twitter: @PJBrown09
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