Another PHX Visitor w/?'s

[Rumpled]

We're heading out in late August for a week (wife's idea to mostly spend time around a pool)
I'd like to bring both road an mountain bikes.
We'll be staying at the Legacy, basically S 32nd and E Baseline.

I'd like to ride w/o driving and leave the wife the truck when I'm gone.
If I can stand the heat, looks like I'll potentially try some South Mt for MTB, and also on the road and some canal rides.
We'll be right by Western Canal - is that fair enough for road bike riding?

I'm perfectly fine with MUP riding and do a fair amount of it here at home along our creeks and rivers. Not looking for big rides, probably no more than 30 or so miles on the road.

Another ? - I heard reports that AZ Police (Highway Patrol?) ticket for a bike rack covering up the license plate. Is this still going on? As that's how I transport my bikes.

[LarryMelman]

If I can stand the heat

Have you been to Phx in August before? 105 to 110 and humid during the day, and it won't get much below 90 at night. Just the worst possible time to be here.

There is a paved section of canal between about 40th St./Baseline and 24th St south of Baseline, into a quiet residential area that will take you into South Mtn Park. You can also get on the canal at Kiwanis Park (east of I-10) and ride east about 10 miles, connecting to many streets with bike lanes over in Tempe and Mesa.

See also:

http://www.azmag.gov/Documents/MAG_2...thways-Map.pdf
http://www.azbikeped.org/maps.htm

I have never heard of tickets for bike racks.

[Rumpled]

Thanks Bud
I've only been to the PHX airport - but am familiar with SoCal deserts in the summer. In understand it's not the best weather, but that's when we're coming out. We'll make do.

[Impoliticus]

If you decide to go for a longer ride, here's one I did earlier this year. Other than that, 48th street south from baseline has a nice bike lane. Going west while hugging south mountain is fun too.

[zonatandem]

Start riding just about daybreak; hit the pool with the wife at 9:30 a.m.
Do-able!

[Vicelord]

Legacy is in a location where you could get a few rides in. If I were you, I'd ride east on Southern into Tempe, where you have access to many roads with bike paths. In fact, you could ride east on southern, north on Hardy, east on university, north on mill, north on Galvin Parkway, east on osborn, north on 68th. That will take you into Paradise Valley which is beaufiul road riding. You could also ride west on Southern to Central, then head south on Central which will take you to the top of south mountain. It's a great climb.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=68...&z=12&lci=bike

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=68...&z=13&lci=bike

[Rumpled]

Well, we went and I did some riding. Here's a little bit of a report. Pretty much 110-114 the days we were there. Not humid until the day we left.
We got there Saturday and that day I just rode around the resort to check it out.
Sunday evening I did a road ride to scout some MTB trailheads, hit the end of 46th and Pima Canyon and a bit of a loop heading around the East end of SoMt for about 15 miles.
Monday I did an evening run with a local chapter of my running club for about 3 miles thru ASU - not bad with coeds about.
Tuesday, a not so early 8am start taking the dirt bank of Western? Canal to 46th St and up Beverly Canyon. Got to the Pima Canyon Dirt Road and went back to the TH and then Western Loop back to Beverly and 46th. Then west along Baseline to Highline Canal and then back to my resort. The MTB had a few HAB stretches and a lot of steps/drops and more rocky than normal for me.
Totalled something like 12 miles with most of it on the flats.
Tuesday we drove out to Tucson to check on a resort out there since we were already kinda (2 hrs kinda) close.
Wednesday we did some other sightseeing and drove up to SoMt to be tourists and so I could recon the climb. I thought it looked pretty good, if narrow - but my nonriding wife was trying to talk me out of it.
After that, I went to the Dbacks game. Neither my wife or daughter wanted to go, so it was just me. Got a $5 ticket (+$3.75 in dang Ticketmaster fees). It was a nice stadium and the home team won. They had a lot of discount food items. Kinda surprising so few fans for a 1st place team.
Thursday I decided to climb SoMt. Drove to the ranger station instead of the 7 mile ride from the resort. It was about 95 or so at the start. I took it steady without any real strong pushes until the two hard kickers in the last mile. That's when I met a local named Ted. He drafted me on the last flat and then passed me at the last stretch. Ted rode down with me and showed me Dobbins Lookout, which I had thought of checking out and I'm glad I did. Great views there.
Then I rode back to the truck and it was about 105 when I got there.
About 15 miles total. I'm really glad I didn't let my wife talk me out of this ride, it was my favorite of my trip.
I had a good time riding in the heat. It really didn't feel all that bad, not that much worse than 85-90 at home.
Hopefully, I can come back and do more riding in more temperate weather.

[Vicelord]

Sounds like a fun trip. Glad you decide to ride SoMo.