SOUTHWEST GAS
 El Tour Orientation Meeting

Points of Discussion

1.        El Tour Hot Line: 520-576-4115 will be activated from 10am Wednesday, November 18 to Sunday, November 22 at 12pm. Leave no messages on this phone; we are unable to retrieve them. Call back if busy. This number is for: (1) notifying headquarters of withdrawal (2) needing assistance on the route (3) family/friends unable to find you and you have not crossed Finish Line. Keep this number with you and give it to those who are important to you.  DIAL 9-1-1 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES.

2.        SPECIAL 10-minute Orientation Meetings held throughout EXPO, Wednesday through Friday, every half hour.  Cyclists are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to attend to learn how to have a safer ride and to reduce crashes.  Orientation Meetings will be held in the main EXPO area of the Tucson Convention Center on Wed & Thurs and in Main Lobby on Friday.

3.        Personal Belongings – Do not leave anything at start line, aid stations or with event officials! Entrants are solely responsible for all personal belongings.  El Tour cannot be responsible for any personal belongings whatsoever, whether lost, stolen, placed in our care, or misplaced.  Keep your belongings with you.

4.        You must start in the “Official Starting Area,” otherwise your computer chip will not be activated, you will not receive results and you will be disqualified.  Read all the rules in the “Information & Rules Booklet.”  Please line up in the start area as much as one to two hours prior to your start time. DO NOT line-up in GOLD section unless you are confident of finishing in under six hours (men) or seven hours (women); line up in SILVER or BRONZE instead!

5.        Computer Chip for Results – El Tour uses computer chip technology for results.  You must pick up your computer chip at El Tour EXPO before Ride Day. No Chip = No Results!  Place the chip on your LEFT ankle (avoids chain grease). You must return chip at finish line. 
An Unreturned Chip will cost you $85! Please return chip promptly if you are unable to participate in event or withdraw.

6.        Rule violations, infractions or any discrepancy with El Tour Results must be reported prior to 6:00pm Ride Day at the Information Booth at the finish line.  After this time El Tour holds the right not to make any changes in its results or placement.

7.        Your cooperation with Police, Bike Patrol and other Event Officials is very important. Avoid un-sportsmanlike conduct that could result in disqualification!

8.        Follow all instructions given by police officers along the route – DO NOT CROSS a solid yellow line, whether double or single or
YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED!

9.        El Tour official rules state NO PERSONAL SUPPORT VEHICLES to be on the route at any time. You may meet your cyclist at an aid station if you do not have to travel on the route – go to the far end and wait for your cyclists.

10.     Energy/electrolyte replacement drinks ARE NOT provided to participants.  Drink plenty of water as you will dehydrate rapidly in the dry desert air. Carry your own electrolyte beverage/powder with you.

11.     Entering the Finish Line: Slow down and come to a stop at the end of the Finish Line; volunteers will remove timing chips and mark bib numbers for proper finish medallion. For safety reasons, DO NOT REMAIN in finish area once your chip is removed and bib marked.

12.     Results should be posted at Finish Line within 45 minutes after you cross the finish line.  Go to Information Booth at the Finish Line to find out where results are posted.  All results will be posted on Perimeter Bicycling website throughout the day.

13.     Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony will be held from 12:30pm to 6:00pm in the Michelob ULTRA Pavilion with music by Carnevaleros.  Everyone is welcome!  Public invited.  Schedule of awards presentations will be posted in the pavilion, next to the stage and at the information booth.

14.     AERO-BARS NOT ALLOWED.  Aerobars must be removed prior to participation.  HELMETS ARE MANDATORY!

15.     Always carry a copy of El Tour Route Map with you, available at Route Map booth at EXPO.

ROUTE UPDATES & CAUTIONS 
Wherever there is construction, dirt roads, railroad crossings, river & creek crossings along the route, exercise extreme caution! Slow down and ride defensively! Read all route cautions areas listed below.
Many route changes have been made for 2009!

16.     The start line for the 109-mile event and all Fun Rides (and finish line for ALL events) is now located at N Church & E Pennington St., three-tenths of a mile from Congress & Granada. Cyclists will now line up for the 109-mile event facing Pennington St. Unlike previous years, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze will now fall directly behind each other, respectively, utilizing both east and west lanes of Church St. Refer to line up hand out for more detailed information.

17.     Use extra caution in the following areas of the route due to new route changes, construction issues, and rough road conditions:

109-mile cyclists:
Mission Rd - watch for vertical panels due to shoulder work.

Lower Santa Cruz crossing -  (dry) area has been redesigned; watch for cables, poles and new plantings.

109-80-66 cyclists:
Approaching intersection of Sabino Canyon Rd & Snyder Rd, watch for new speed tables in road.

Sunrise Rd – shoulder construction between Kolb & Craycroft Rds.  Vertical panels present.

Oracle Rd –  watch for instructions from police for LEFT turn onto Calle Concordia.

La Canada Dr – at right turn from Calle Concordia onto La Canada; cyclists will travel to left side of stop signs.

Naranja Ave – at left turn onto First Ave – slow down; cyclists will stay in the far LEFT lane; vehicular traffic will be on your right side and will use the curb lane and bike lane. Cyclists continue traveling in the far left lane until the left turn at Moore Rd.

All cyclists:
Tangerine Rd – vertical panels and possible debris present at Dove Mountain area.

Silverbell Rd – barricades present at Twin Peaks Rd.

Airline Rd & Lambert Rd – rough road with potholes.

Silverbell Rd – (new route) LEFT turn onto Ina Rd. Cyclists will make RIGHT turn onto I-10 Frontage Rd.

All cyclists approaching finish line – cyclists make a LEFT turn from the Frontage Rd onto  westbound Congress, passing underneath  the underpass.  Cyclists must use the 2 far right lanes (on the LEFT side of Congress). Vehicles will be traveling in opposite direction in far left lane, separated by vertical panels.

18.     El Tour crashes often occur when a front wheel touches someone else’s rear wheel. This is not always the ‘fault’ of the person in the rear. If you (with cyclists behind you) need to slow down, KEEP PEDALING WHILE GENTLY APPLYING YOUR REAR BRAKE (This will help slow you slightly and help prevent your knocking someone behind you down.)

19.     It is extremely helpful, especially in the early miles (~25) to YELL ‘SLOWING!!’ when you are slowing down. Do not be shy about this, as there is a ‘ripple’ effect – once you say it, the person behind you will say it and so on….It’s good practice. PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL, and watch those in front of your wheel. Try to watch not just the cyclist in front of you, but several ahead, as that will give you more time to react to ‘things’ less precipitously.

20.     PLEASE BE EXTRA CAREFUL, and watch those in front of your wheel. Try to watch not just the cyclist in front of you, but several ahead, as that will give you more time to react to ‘things’ less precipitously.

21.     CONES - El Tour does not approve of (but often has no control of) the usage of cones along the route.  At times, different agencies will place cones to help with traffic organization at specific points along the route without our knowledge.  When you see a cone, yell out “CONE AHEAD!” and slow down!!!!  Help your fellow cyclists!

22.     Crossing the “Lower Santa Cruz River” (109-mile cyclists)  – Before the river crossing on Drexel, pay close attention to “slow down” and “dismounting signs.”  The riverbed is dry.  All cyclists should dismount from bicycles and walk across the riverbed, carrying bikes on your shoulder. Crossing is approximately .25 of a mile.

23.     Sabino Creek Crossing (109-80-66 mile cyclists) – Dismount from your bicycle at the entrance to the Sabino Creek area.  Walk through the property and across creek to Canyon Ranch.  Once onto Canyon Ranch property, mount up and ride again!  Aid station and port-a-pots are placed at this crossing.  This section is approximately one-third of a mile.

24.     Railroad Tracks – There are four (4) railroad crossings on the El Tour Route: (1) 109-mile cyclists only: on Nogales Hwy, about ¼ mile south of Los Reales Rd. and  (2) on Hughes Access Rd. immediately after turning left from Nogales Hwy there are tracks in rough condition. Slow down, cross perpendicular to tracks and proceed with caution. (3) For all cyclists:  At the bottom of Tangerine Rd, before you reach I-10, there are the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Slow down, (not too much!!), hold your handlebars firmly, and keep pedaling to cross perpendicular to the tracks.  (4) On the Frontage Road between Tangerine Rd. and Avra Valley Rd. after passing the cement plant, there are railroad tracks that cross the frontage road diagonally. Again, slow down, (not too much!!), hold handlebars firmly, keep pedaling and cross the tracks as perpendicular as possible (check, then move left, then cut across the tracks heading to he right. At all times when approaching railroad tracks, yell out “Railroad Crossing!”.  Help your fellow cyclists!!!!

Enjoy your ride!