Southwest - Mt. Lemmon

So I have been riding for about a month now, and so far I have done two training rides up Mt. Lemmon. I'm just wondering that if you ride mt. lemmon what is your average speed on the way up? Is my 8 mph super slow?

at least you made it up, I bet I can't get all the way to the top right now. I had a hard time making it up south mountain, thought my lungs were gonna fall out.

uh no, actually I haven't made it all the way up yet, the first ride I went to the first lookout point (baoba do'ag) and the second time I went to the ticket booth...I could have gone farther but my fiance only gave me 2 hours to ride so I had to head back home...I really want to try the whole thing sometime soon.

Last time I raced up the Lemmon was w-a-y back in 1978 (was only 45 then) and placed third in the event and was the oldest rider.
Ride up Kitt Peak instead. Nicer road, less traffic and only 11 miles of UPhill with 6 to 7% grade. Have ridden that on single bike and also on tandem.

Yeah, Actually I picked up "desert Journeys" yesterday and saw the kitt peak ride in there. Hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be able to get over there. Thanks for the tip Zona.

Mt Lemon road has been redone over the past few years and now has a great shoulder and smooth surface all the way up. FYI

8mph isn't a terrible speed and you will improve quickly if you keep climbing it. When I first starting climbing the mountain it took me 35 min to reach Malino basin parking lot, now I've done it in 27. (About 5.5 miles up) I'm a pretty avg. climber. A cat 1 friend on our team has done the base to baoba do'ag in 10:20 or so. Gives you an Idea...

Well that makes me feel a little better. I needed it after the crushing defeat I suffered on "hell hill" the other day.... not quite ready for that one :o

Assuming you aren't riding your bike to the mountain from somewhere within Tucson, where do you park your car to begin the ride up Mt. Lemmon?

Well, a lot of people DO park right at the base of the mountain, but personally I like my heart rate to be up before hitting the incline...So I'd start at one of the parking lots at the intersection of "Catalina Highway" (the road that goes up mount lemmon) and "Tanque Verde". From there it's about 4.5 miles to the first major incline

I went camping up there earlier this year and all I have to say is more power to you and great job if you make it any distance up that mountain at any speed haha. We passed plenty of bicyclists and I don't know how you guys do it...