JT1

If anyone is interested in doing a long ride this Sunday I'm up for it. I'm shipping my bike to Tucson on Monday to ride in the Tour de Tucson the next Saturday. I would like to get one more long ride in before I leave. I would like to ride somewhere around the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Color Change a nice opportunity to get some miles on that new bike!

Psimet2001 

I would love to, but I have family in from out of town. Going to try to get to the Cyclocross race in St Charles though....

Good luck in Tuscon. Remember....It's a dry heat.

ColorChange

JT1 thanks, have my group ride tomorrow (Saturday). Wouldn't handle a 100 well after a hard 50 the day before. I usually rest or do a recovery ride.

SmokinMiles

Have you ridden the Tour de Tucson before? I did it last year. Had a really interesting ride. Instead of riding, you might want to practice carrying and running with your bike. If you haven't done it before, take my advice....do NOT walk your bike through the washes or you will invariably spend the rest of the day changing flats because you picked up thorns.

The first part of the ride isn't real scenic ( I remember rambling along trash trucks going by a landfill!) but I loved the rest of it and had a great time.

I would love to ride long this weekend but can't!

JT1

I hope you had a good weekend, I was able to get a 75 mile ride in on Sunday, I wanted to go longer, but it started getting dark early with the time change. Next year we can get that long ride along the Fox River in.

JT1

I'm looking forward to the Tour. This will be my first timed event. I've been riding a mountain bike recreationally for about 10 years, but I just picked up road riding in August. I've done 4 century rides, and logged 1750 miles on my road bike since then. I hope I'm ready for the mountains!

Thanks for the tips from your ride in the Tour. I question changing out my pedals and shoes from my mountain bike. Do others do this, or is the wash portion such a small part of the ride people just hobble along with their road shoes?

SmokinMiles

Roadies do just hobble along with their road shoes. Last year on the first wash I remember several people banging their shoes against their bikes having trouble clipping in but nothing major. You'll do fine with either.

You definitely sound prepared. The hills/mountains aren't that challenging. There is one challenging section that I remember right after the second wash and a section closer to the end that is hilly but pretty.

Also, the morning of the ride. Depending on where you want to be in the lineup you'll want to arrive early to get in the gold or silver chute. They start filling up really early and the officials close them. I didn't really care but just thought I'd give you the heads up.

Have a great time! Crystal