This June, your cutoff jean shorts and wranglers are in high fashion. Ten-gallon is the only kind of hat you should go out into public with, and your bike is no longer a bicycle, it’s yer trusty steed.

That’s right, cowpoke, Tempe Bicycle Action Group is once again hitting you square between the peepers with a Second Saturday ride. June 9, the fine folk of TBAG will be escorting a rootin-tootin crowd of wild riders through the streets of Tempe on the Steers and Beers ride starting at 7:30 p.m. in Tempe Beach Park.

The herd will continue through the roughest saloons of the Sonoran Desert, so keep your wits about you, but your pea-shooters at home. We’ll be s’pectin all y’all to head out to this here ride, so all class of cyclist is hereby challenged to roll with the finest of Tempe cyclists. C’eptin’ any yeller bellies.

Where: Meet at Tempe Beach Park entrance: the northwest corner of Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue in Tempe

When: Saturday, June 9, 7:30 p.m.

Cost: FREE

How: For more information, contact biketempe.org or facebook.com/biketempe

Don’t let the summer heat get you down! Here are some tips for riding throughout the summer:

1. Plan: Plan trips well ahead of time, and give yourself enough time to ride and recover. Try to locate and follow shaded routes or routes traveling through cooler areas (i.e. flood-irrigated  neighborhoods). Check for public pools, stores, malls, or other potential cooling points along your route. Carry emergency bus money, and research where and when bus routes are available.

2. Acclimate: Start out riding slowly and avoid the hottest parts of the day (10 am to 4 pm). If you’re just getting started with commuting by bicycle, you might want to make the switch gradually instead of trying to dive in during the summer heat. Dress strategically: consider whether dry-wicking clothing and sunscreen work best for you, or if you’d prefer light, loose, long-sleeved cotton for sun coverage.

3. Hydrate: Drink lots of water before, during, and after riding, beginning up to a day ahead of your ride. Always carry plenty of water and don’t be afraid to ask businesses to refill water bottles. If you wait until you’re thirsty, you are usually not drinking enough and it may already be too late to avoid heat exhaustion. A good indicator of good hydration is the need to urinate once an hour.

4. Avoid Heat Exhaustion: Learn to recognize your body’s signs of heat exhaustion, which are similar to signs of fever. Initial signs can be subtle, so know them and pay attention. At the first signs of heat exhaustion: back off. Relax your pace, and increase your fluid intake, especially if you have stopped feeling thirsty. If you do not recover within 10-20 minutes, immediately find air conditioning or shade, and be prepared to call 911. Heat stroke can occur quickly and it is potentially fatal, so don’t try to tough it out, even if you only need to travel a short remaining distance. Lastly, if you get a flat tire or have mechanical problems, be sure to seek out shade or a place indoors
for repairs.

Join us and our good friends from SanTan Brewing Company for a bike ride in Arcadia on Sunday!

$20 gets you a beer at each stop and food at the end at OHSO Brewery

Check out the details and get your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/event/3520512949?nomo=1

Way to go, Arizona! Three AZ cycling communities received top-20 status as BICYCLING Magazine’s “America’s Top Bike-Friendly Cities”: Tucson, Scottsdale and, of course, Tempe. It’s an honor to get a mention as long strides have been taken by these cities to build momentum in cycling advocacy.

But totally snubbed: FLAGSTAFF… wut? Let us know your thoughts.

Check out the complete rundown at BICYCLING.com (heads up – the article loads one page at a time for 50 entries. Get some coffee.)

Attention TBAG advocates! The city of Tempe is holding an open house to talk about a project to improve pedestrian and bicycle facilities and enhance the streetscape on Hardy Drive between University Drive and Broadway Road. The open house will be held Wednesday, May 23 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Dennis J. Cahill Senior Center in the Westside Multi-Gen Center, 715 W. 5th St., Tempe.

Discussion at the meeting will include:
• Gathering input from residents, businesses and organizations along the Hardy Drive corridor on potential design elements
• Updating the public about the project process and timeline

See the City of Tempe website for more detail and a link to submit comments on the project.

Its’ not too late! Sign up for TBAGs first Traffic Skills 101 course. The class will focus on bicycle handling and traffic navigation skills critical for riding safely in any environment.

The class will be held at Landis Cyclery, North Tempe location, and will be divided into two sessions. First session will be Thursday May 24th 630pm-900pm and include the literature, “in class”, portion. Second session will be Saturday May 26th 800am-1200pm and include the road, “on bike”, portion. The class fee is $20, please prepay shortly after you register via PayPal. There are only 10 spots so make sure you sign up and pay now to guarantee your spot!