Southwest - Looking for decent routes in AZ this Thanksgiving week.

Hi Guys! Am from Socal and will be visiting my friend in Avondale the week of Thanksgiving. Just want to know some decent road bike routes with decent climbing that we can ride or drive to then ride during the week. Are there any regular group rides during the week as well that we can participate? Thanks for any info you can provide.

http://phoenix.about.com/od/sportshiking/ss/South-Mountain-Park-Trail-Map.htm

From Avondale, you can take Baseline East to Central Avenue and then take Central south to South MT Park. It is primarily a Mountain Bike Mecca. BUT, you can also just stay on the roads and climb to the towers or look out cabins. Its pretty cool. A lot of roadies make the trip.

This hook up will give you plenty of options as well. I grew up at the base of South Mountains. Used to ride my Schwinn varsity up there. The downhill was really exciting with those cheap brakes.

http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/country/254/region/124/city/7042

Good riding and Happy Thanksgiving. I was going to ride, but Golf has won out.

South Mountain is good and so is Tortilla Flat. Both are just out and back following the roads. The regular club rides that I know of don't do hills often.

Thanks for the response guys. I will recon your suggestions when I get there. Are there week day group rides in AZ that we can participate?

Here's some info if you want to get up early on Thanksgiving and go for a ride up South Mountain...

http://www.turkeydayride.com/

This link might give you some more info.

http://landiscyclery.com/articles/favorite-local-rides-pg65.htm

Have fun whatever you do.

http://phoenix.about.com/od/sportshiking/ss/South-Mountain-Park-Trail-Map.htm

From Avondale, you can take Baseline East to Central Avenue and then take Central south to South MT Park. It is primarily a Mountain Bike Mecca. BUT, you can also just stay on the roads and climb to the towers or look out cabins. Its pretty cool. A lot of roadies make the trip.

This hook up will give you plenty of options as well. I grew up at the base of South Mountains. Used to ride my Schwinn varsity up there. The downhill was really exciting with those cheap brakes.

http://www.bikely.com/listpaths/country/254/region/124/city/7042

Good riding and Happy Thanksgiving. I was going to ride, but Golf has won out.

Brakes? Did the Varsity have brakes? My back rim was so out of round I loosened up the back brakes almost all out. Good thing the front brakes worked. Always had my shoes. :lol:

Thanks for the additional info guys. The turkey day ride is intriguing so I might do that. I will visit South Mountain for sure and the McDowell loop in Scottsdale.

locolobo-the old canvas Chuck Taylor Converse All Star Basketball shoe was my original biking shoe. I think everyone should bike with them. Stop on a dime, turn on a quarter! Good luck Kimber-eat hearty on Thanksgiving knowing that SM is coming.

If you're looking for something really ambitious on the day after Thanksgiving, there's always the Flight of the Pigs.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-FFktXEfnM