Originally Posted by rruff

S CA is great of course... but Phoenix? I lived in Phoenix for a couple years... never again... too damn hot for too long. Tucson is a little cooler, and also has mountain climbs very near. The desert looks a lot better too IMO.

Where I live now the avg high is 50 in Jan and 82 in July. I don't bother going out unless it is at least 45 and sunny, and I get plenty of riding in winter. Being able to ride in the middle of the day helps.

I met some people visiting from Tucson recently (they bought a vacation home here), and the woman stated that this was the most beautiful place she's ever seen. I wouldn't rank it that high, but it definitely isn't bad.

The higher elevation parts of southern AZ, NM, and TX have the mildest and sunniest year-round climate in the US outside of the CA coast.