Hi,

My friends and I want to plan a bike trip to start in Irvine, California (near LA) and end in Scottsdale, AZ (near Phoenix and Tempe). We would like to do the trip in six days (leave Sunday from CA, arrive Friday at AZ). We are planning it for mid-August. Does anyone know of any scenic routes we could take? Or if this is a realistic plan? Or any other advice/comments including where to get suitable bike maps.

Thanks,

dimrod80

Hi,

My friends and I want to plan a bike trip to start in Irvine, California (near LA) and end in Scottsdale, AZ (near Phoenix and Tempe). We would like to do the trip in six days (leave Sunday from CA, arrive Friday at AZ). We are planning it for mid-August. Does anyone know of any scenic routes we could take? Or if this is a realistic plan? Or any other advice/comments including where to get suitable bike maps.

Thanks,

dimrod80


6 days?

And in August??? Don't you know that's a desert out there? Are you riding at night????

For maps check with Adventure Cycling. (adventurecycling.com)

6 days?

i know it's ambitious, but we're all in good shape, and I figure it could take from 450-500 miles so at 100 miles or less a day, it's doable.

i know it's ambitious, but we're all in good shape, and I figure it could take from 450-500 miles so at 100 miles or less a day, it's doable.


I actually meant the opposite. 6 days that's way way too long. After riding your century what are you going to do with the other 18 hours of the day/night?

The Adventure Cycling maps start from San Diego. But I have the California part of the route starting from the Santa Ana River Trail, if interested PM me and I'll send you some stuff from home later this week.

From Chino Hills (north east of Irvine, but likley cose to same distance) to North Scottsdale is only 360 miles. Driven it too many times to count.

I have no clue about the route but any route you take will be taking you through the desert and in mid-August you should expect 112-115 degree temps (and with reflected heat off of the pavement maybe more like 120-125 at ground level on the road. Man the only way I can see doing that is traveling by night. Mid-August is monsoon season also in Arizona (humidity is higher than other times of the year although usually not much rain). My experience here is only growing up in Az and living in Phx and Tucson for over 30 years. You don't see too many people riding road bikes in Phx in the middle of the day during August.

I actually meant the opposite. 6 days that's way way too long. After riding your century what are you going to do with the other 18 hours of the day/night?

If they are on heavily loaded touring bikes and the temps are high they probably won't be doing 6 hour centuries.

If they are on heavily loaded touring bikes and the temps are high they probably won't be doing 6 hour centuries.

wussies:rolleyes:

kidding.

not a good time of year to do something like that.

August? You're crazy

Seriously, August? The desert? Good luck to you!

Can I be your beneficiary?;)

Jim

If you go to http://www.aswallace.com and click on bike ride, you can read about a father/son that went from California to Florida. I think they arrive in Phoenix on page 20.

Good luck.

If they are on heavily loaded touring bikes and the temps are high they probably won't be doing 6 hour centuries.

very good point.

Touring across the desert in August?......that's nuts.

Let me be the 1st to say that it gets hot in the desert in August.

Let me be the 1st to say that it gets hot in the desert in August.+1

Touring across the desert in August?......that's nuts.

Growing up in AZ, I heard way too many stories of unfortunate souls lost in the desert, fighting over drops of urine. I might consider an August crossing only with a SAG vehicle.

Let me be the 1st to say that it gets hot in the desert in August IN F.CKING ARIZONA.
..

I'll go with!

Do it in January.
Actually, 4 of us did a tour in 1990 and it was 105-110 every day for weeks. 3 of us tolerated it well and 1 guy wilted. It's tough to get enough water in during the day, but we guzzled it at night. The worst was headwinds going south in Kansas, hot headwinds dry you out.

I am in planning stages on a similar trip in terms of distance.. San Francisco to Upland.. I prefer the temps on Highway 1 over the furnace of the Arizona desert..

If they are on heavily loaded touring bikes and the temps are high they probably won't be doing 6 hour centuries.
+1

Consensus is that it may be a tad hot.

You'll be fine if you prepare properly.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Indonesia_bike3.JPG/800px-Indonesia_bike3.JPG

All I can say is that's hot.

If you divide your riding into two segments, early morning and evening, it will be cooler, a little.