Bruce Burbank

Hey Tucson road bikers! I live in San Diego, but I'll be out there for a few days. I have stuff to do on the night of the 25th and the night of the 28th, which leaves a few wide open days in between. I'm thinking about throwing my road bike in the car and putting in some miles on those days.

I've been there a handful of times over the past few years, but don't know the city all too well, and certainly don't know what the best bike routes are.

Who's up for riding with me? Or allowing me to tag along with them?

I'm not a total speedster, but definitely not a beginner, either. Coming up on the one year anniversary of my current bike, and closing in on 3000 miles. Flat road, neutral wind, I'll carry an 18-20mph pace. Overall with all the stoplights and traffic and wind and everything else, I'll usually average about 15-16. I usually go out two or three times per week, between 30 and 40 miles each ride.

And I don't shy away from the hills, even the giant ones. I'm not a morning person, so afternoon/evening preferred.

If I end up going solo, anybody have any suggestions for routes I should take? Stuff I should see?

Dalai

The obvious out and back would have to be Mt Lemmon to the gate for the Observatory, or if that is too far to the top of the main climb before the road drops to Summerhaven...

Mt Lemmon

bronco71

I concur, Mt. Lemmon (next to the Shootout) is the premier ride in town, not too steep but 25 miles long. No need to find a partner in advance because there's always someone on that hill. It's a terrific decent.

Cactus Cycling Club has a nice looking ride planned in that time frame. Cactus Cycling Club - Last Chance to Arivaca Ride! Great group of people.

What to see, Sabino Canyon, Karchner's Cavern, Desert Museum, Reid Park Zoo, Pima Air and Space, the Airplane Graveyard.

Bruce Burbank

Thanks for the infos.


Dalai, that Mt. Lemmon -> Observatory ride looks amazing! Sixty eight miles might be a bit more than what I'm looking for, but I might be in the mood for it.


Bronco71, I found that Cactus Cycling Club site and was checking out some of their rides, but I hadn't seen that one. I would do that one, but Saturday night is gonna be a late one for me. I won't call it a night until probably 3 or 4am, so unfortunately doing anything before noon on Sunday is out of the question.


CCC do have their regular Monday morning ride, which is still a bit early for my tastes, but I can probably manage to get there. Only 25-35 miles, pretty relaxed pace, looks like fun.
Cactus Cycling Club - Ken's Monday Ride B+/B/B-/C+:LH:25-35 ? 8am Start ?

bronco71

That's a fun little loop, add the Del Webb loop climb, its worth it.

Dalai

Main climb is closer to 25 miles long. And if that is still too much climbing even heading up as far as Windy point will offer a great challenge and wonderfull views! All three photos above were taken either just above or below Windy point...

rotor

Anyone know if the water stop at Palisades on Mt Lemmon is working? I've heard it is and have heard it isn't. I'm doing the ride this Saturday. Sorry for the thread hijack.

zonatandem

If you ride in Tucson in late spring/summer/fall you learn to ride early; unless you are acclimated to 90s and 100+ degree temps with super low humidity.
Have done many a ride in 100 to 110 range. 'Warmest' was 117 degrees with 2 % humidity commuting home at 3 p.m.

Bruce Burbank

OK so I think my tentative plan is to do the CCC Monday morning ride (hopefully with the Del Webb loop) and then on Tuesday the 28th as much of the road up Mt Lemmon as I like. Twenty five miles up is probably doable. Can't wait to get out there.

Thanks so much for everybody's input. I appreciate it.

beatlebee 

Fair wheel has a group ride on Tuesday morning. Its a hammer fest that eventually climbs (from west to east) over gates pass.

Bruce Burbank

OK, so it certainly wasn't a wasted trip, but it certainly didn't go according to plan.

I took care of all my official business on Saturday and Tuesday nights (audio/video recording a couple concerts). That was my primary purpose for the trip, so everything after that is icing.

Met up with the Cactus Cycling Club on Monday morning. Nice bunch of people; about 10 of us in the group. We start north, then west, then farther north. All is going well, not too fast not too slow. Then, at about 10 miles in, flat tire. Bummer. I was so looking forward to the entire route. But my bike had other ideas.

I was sort of out in the middle of nowhere, but like any responsible biker, I packed a tube and some tools, so it was only a few minutes later I was back on the road. But I was super bummed, so all I wanted to do is make a beeline back to the hotel and hit the pool.

Mt. Lemmon on Tuesday didn't go much better. I had stuff to do in the afternoon/evening, so the only chance I had to do the ride was the mid-morning. Problem is there was a really nasty wind blowing. Not exaggerating, probably ~35mph constant with of course some stronger gusts. I don't mind dealing with a moderate wind, but those conditions were excessively inhospitable, never mind potentially dangerous. I stalled and stalled as long as I could, hoping the wind would back off even a little bit. But it persisted.

I gave it a go, though, seeing that I make it out to Tucson only every couple years. I didn't make it too far. Only up to that first parking lot overlook with the weird name. Took a couple pictures and then made my way back down the mountain, and in doing so getting blown all over the road. Good thing there was next to no traffic.

But, they way I see it, is that this was a good introduction to the mountain, and it gives me something to shoot for next time I'm in town. Here's a shot from that scenic overlook.

tucson pano crop by albersbrian, on Flickr

And a couple more panoramas from my hotel room.

tucson horizon pano crop by albersbrian, on Flickr

tucson mountain face pano crop by albersbrian, on Flickr

bronco71

It has been pretty windy here this week. Spring is always windy, but this year there have been some special days. It is pretty good workout though. Definitely not the time for deep section wheels.

Babad do'ag is the Tohono O'odham name for the lookout, we call it Bad Dog. For me that first couple turns up the mountain is the hard part while I find my pace. Once I get to Bad Dog I'm usually in a rhythm and just enjoy the ride.

Nice pictures, that bottom shot is about 5 miles south of my house. There are about two-thousand good rides accessible from that point at Ina and Oracle. If your ever in town over a weekend let me know and I'll show you the route to the Ritz-Carlton and Marana from Oro Valley.