Good for your health. Good for the Band. Good for Santa Fe

Ride For The Band is a fundraiser of the Santa Fe Concert Band that took place from 2013 to 2019 in conjunction with the Santa Fe Century. The fundraising activities included a bike ride, where band members and friends would pledge a minimum of $100 for the Ride, a Silent Auction, and a Raffle made up of prizes from local businesses. During several years, a Bike Art Contest took place for local artists. The Band would also perform a concert on Saturday during the registration for the event.

The Ride For The Band was sponsored by the Santa Fe Century and the Santa Fe Concert Band.

Event Info
RFTB is hosted by the Santa Fe Century. The Santa Fe Century typically takes place on the third weekend of May: registration is on Saturday and the ride is on Sunday. Riders may select a route of 25-, 50- or 100-miles. The Santa Fe Century typically hosts 2500 to 3000 riders. In past years, the ride has begun from St. Vincent Hospital, Santa Fe Community College, and the Santa Fe Railyard.

Registration
Riders will register with the Century and then fill out a pledge form for the band. Riders have the opportunity to train with other band members and receive cycling tips and maintenance assistance for their bicycles. Although the minimum pledge for Riders is $100, many band members would support each other to quickly help Riders achieve their goals. Registration with the Santa Fe Century allows use of the food stops and sag-wagon for the Riders.

Donations
Riders and band members solicited donations from family and friends to support the Rider pledges. Santa Fe Concert Band is a 501 (c)(3) organization, so donations are tax-deductible to the extent as allowed by law. Donations were collected via cash, check or online payments.

Training for the Ride
Read on for some of the past advice offered to cyclists from Treb Clef and his advisors.

• COMPLETE MEDICAL GUIDE FOR CYCLISTS $12.00 by Andy Pruitt PA. If a serious master age rider were to own a single cycling book before purchasing ANY training material, and before purchasing a new or used bicycle, or if I were helping a friend understand how to find her a comfortable but efficient cycling position, Pruitt is my choice. Take a look at the chapter headings. Fit Rules, Saddle Position, Handlebar Position, Pedals and Cleats, Knees, Back and Neck, Foot and Ankle, Hands, Arms, and Shoulders, Crotch and Skin, Eyes and Head, Overtraining and Recovery, Weight Loss, Physiological Testing, Developing a Personal Training Program, HEALTH MAINTENANCE, AGING AND THE CYCLIST, Comfort and Performance, Biomechanics of Cycling, Stretching and Rehabilitation, What We Don’t Know.
• Looking for a bike? When you walk into a bike store, chances are the “young” salesperson will not know much about cyclocross bikes. Cyclocross bikes are designed with a more relaxed frame, longer chain stays, and wider fork so one has the option of using regular street tires or wide more comfortable dirt type tires. I use the same cyclocross bicycle for club rides and dirt road riding. Nothing wrong with the typical road bicycle, but if you are a master age rider, I promise, you will be more comfortable, which directly enhances peddling efficiency, for longer rides.
• Many master age riders with varying degrees of back, neck, or shoulder issues are more efficient and comfortable on a machine that allows one to sit upright as opposed to the aerodynamic modern road racing bicycle position. Many riders want the option to ride grass, dirt roads, and importantly one never complains about chip seal vibrations with larger tires.
• And on a different note:   Gearing for Seniors? Smaller chain rings and large cassettes a.k.a. “low gears” allow us to climb with more comfort and less joint stress; however, aging studies promote pushing our heart rate as quite beneficial for physical and psychological health. Geriatric studies have shown raising heart rate to eighty percent of maximum, a couple times a week is good stress. For us older cyclists, standing a few times during climbing is also good weight bearing stress. On a steep grade standing on the bike will raise our heart rate six to eight beats within fifteen or twenty seconds, and what I find especially interesting is more of the studies are showing high intensity exercise in those of us over sixty and seventy can reverse some of our ailments, increase heart pumping volume, and overcome bouts of depression.

Rider Feedback and Memories
From 2013: The 1st Annual Ride for the Band is now history. Fifteen (15) individuals rode for the band on Sunday, May 19,2013 along with 2452 others who registered to ride the Santa Fe Century. It was a bit tough to ride because of changing weather: strong winds at times, chilly and warm, clear and cloudy, and a bit of rain for just a moment. The complicated weather conditions were pretty much like the event itself which had many components: the ride (25, 50, or 100 miles), a raffle, music, a silent auction, and a bike art contest.