Arizona

Hot and rural. I don't know where you are coming from, but don't plan on
showing up and getting 50 miles in if you are from some place cool. It's
about 95 at 5am and get to be about 110 my 10am. There are not alot of real
good places around Tombstone (actually, there is nothing good about
Tombstone period). Tucson has real nice riding but is the most god-awful
boring place in the world (sorry Tucson). Phoenix's riding not quite as
nice as Tucson, but the city is great.

Brandon

In article <[email hidden]>,

The Wogster said:

My wife and I would like to visit Arizona, maybe this summer, maybe next
(more likely next), probably around Tombstone, anybody know what the
cycling is like around there?????

If I was gonna do AZ, my first inclination & impulse as an inveterate
nerd would be a pilgrimage to the Lowell Observatory at Flagstaff
(up more northward).

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

"The Wogster" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My wife and I would like to visit Arizona, maybe this summer, maybe next
(more likely next), probably around Tombstone, anybody know what the
cycling is like around there?????

W

Watch out for goatheads. These nasty little thorns will vex your tubes with
teenie holes. You may want to get some of those tubes with the gunk in them
that seals small holes.

Dave
Noblesville, IN

What Brandon Said:
If your bike can mount more water bottle cages than at present, add
them for Arizona. Also, switch from the 16 ounce to 22 ounce water
bottle size if you're not already doing that, or get at least one of
those cages that accomodate 1.5 liter bottled water bottles as
available at 7-11s and minimarts around the US.

Then you might want to Google for Arizona cycling clubs and e-mail them
(or view their web pages) for suggestions about rides! Also try the
cities you'll go to -- they or their commuter support units may mail
you free bike route/lane/path maps.....

Robert Leone [email hidden]

The Wogster said:

My wife and I would like to visit Arizona, maybe this summer, maybe next
(more likely next), probably around Tombstone, anybody know what the
cycling is like around there?????

If I were going to southern Arizona, I'd try to do it in the spring or
fall, or even the winter. In the summer, I'd stay around Flagstaff and
Sedona. I like it warm, not baking hot.
The most stupendously beautiful rides in Arizona, and perhaps in the
world, are at the Grand Canyon. North Rim is high, cool, and forested.
Roads are all open to cars but not too heavily traveled. If you like
getting off the paved road I have two words for you: Point Sublime.
The western section of the South Rim Drive, roughly 10-15 miles
westward from Grand Canyon Village, is closed to nearly all cars. Go out
there and you share the road only with shuttle buses and other cyclists.
The eastern section of the road, alas, is narrow and heavily traveled by
cars and RVs.
If you hike there's lots to do at the Canyon, and there's a ski resort
north of Flagstaff from which you can hike up the highest mountain in the
state (12,000'+).
Even in Northern AZ, heed the good advice upthread about water bottles.
You can get maps and more info at nps.gov.

Bill

-------------------------------------------------------
| Conservatism makes no poetry, breathes no prayer, |
| has no invention; it is all memory. |
| --Ralph Waldo Emerson |
-------------------------------------------------------

We enjoy the short loop through Saguaro National Park east, near
Tucson.

I wouldn't plan to visit Arizona in the summer time, though, except for
the higher elevations such as Flagstaff and Grand Canyon.

We recently visited the GC, south side, and were frequently knocked
around by hundreds of tourists from many different countries who
disgorged from a huge number of tour buses that were ubiquitous. To
me, pushing and shoving to get to the front of the viewpoint was not an
enjoyable experience. As my wife has a bum knee, we couldn't hike to
more remote locations.

I would think the north side would be better.

The Wogster said:

My wife and I would like to visit Arizona, maybe this summer, maybe next
(more likely next), probably around Tombstone, anybody know what the
cycling is like around there?????

OK, I actually live in southern Arizona (Tucson) and will tell you that
the cycling is fantastic and there is pleasant cycling 12 months a
year. Also, while folks in Feenix mostly feel that Tucson is boring
those of us who live here love it and think of Feenix as LA East. If
you like LA then Feenix is the place to go.

Tombstone is a very small tourist trap town and gets old after a couple
of hours. However,it is set in a beautiful area and is just outside the
Dragoon Mountains. There are some very pretty rides around there but
all of the roads I know of are two lane country roads with minimal
shoulders. Not far from Tombstone are a number of other smallish towns,
Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Douglas etc. and visiting them for day trips is
interesting as they still show off part of their history as mining
towns and much of the area also shows off well the area's history as
part of Mexico.

However, Tucson is only ~ one hour from Tombstone. And the riding is
Tucson is great. Long flat areas and if you want it all of the climbing
you can handle. There are several mountain routes on good roads with
wide shoulders that make for great climbs and safe descents.

Despite what some other posters are saying it is ridable at all times
of the years. However,in summer most locals do get going at sunrise (~6
ish) and are back out of the sun by 9. Or, they concentrate on climbing
the higher sections of Mt Lemmon which rises to over 9000' and will be
25 F cooler than the city below. There is a large and happy cycling
community in Tucson and if you come you will have no problem hooking up
with folks and getting all the beta on rides that could fill any maount
of vacation.

BTW, if you can swing your work/vacation schedules this area has
fantstic weather this time of year. Today we woke to ~30 F but it will
be sunny and 70 F this afternoon. So, depending on your preference you
can pick the temp you like and ride then;-)

If you come out drop me a ine and I'll set you up for some rides.

Gary

We were in Tucson the first week of the year. It was great, highs in
the 70s, clear skies, some smog. We needed arm & leg warmers to start
the day at 9 or 10, but soon the temp was ideal 65, and then warmer than
needed for cycling, but perfect for sitting.

Tombstone is a little tourist trap. Riding S is desolate, you can see a
line of trees along the San Pedro River. Be sure to bring camelbaks and
food.

Very pretty around Patagonia where there's a lake with lots of water
even after 90 days w/o rain. And a desolate ride to Harshaw - one
deserted house but an active 50-100 grave cemetary . Took a nice ride
to Pena Blanca Lake just N of Nogales.

You can find history at missions (San Xavier & Tumacacori) and museums
at UA and the city.

In Tucson Picture Rocks, Gates Pass, Saguare E & W, Sabino Canyon, &
Agua Caliente park are all pretty destinations.

Check out Tucson Bicycles & GABA Tucson for local rides on the weekends
and some weekdays. We did the std Sun GABA-go ride to Pistol Hill.

Watch out for the cracks when you go over cattle guards!

The Wogster said:

My wife and I would like to visit Arizona, maybe this summer, maybe
next (more likely next), probably around Tombstone, anybody know what
the cycling is like around there?????

W

I do Tucson every year, for 10days to 2 weeks. Great pre season
training/riding, whatever you want to call it. CIty is easy to
navigate, has bike lanes all over the place, Mt Lemmon is downright
close to where I stay, not ot mention the killer rides leaving form
cross town at u a .

I can't for the LIFE of me understand why the hell someone would want
ot go there in the summer. As someone explained it to me...
OverNIGHT low= 73 degrees or so.
Sunrise-5.30am
Sunset-7.30-8pm
Daytime high 100 degrees......

Take the advice. Hit them up in the late fall, winter or spring.
January is real nice, early am close to freezing, mid 50's or better by
10am.
m

bikeguy11968 said:

I can't for the LIFE of me understand why the hell someone would want
ot go there in the summer. As someone explained it to me...
OverNIGHT low= 73 degrees or so.
Sunrise-5.30am
Sunset-7.30-8pm
Daytime high 100 degrees......

That is the common perception of folks who have never been here in the
summer.

But let me assure you that there are plenty of happy locals cycling all
summer. 90 F with a humidity in the teens is much more comfortable than
lower temps and humid condidtions. I grew up in the mid west and lived
in the norht east for many years. Summer cycling in souther AZ is in
better conditions than in the summer than either Chicago or NY. As
long as you don't try to push the riding into the afternoon ;-)

Hey , how do you think all those locals toughen up up for that Saturday
a.m. shootout.

http://wc.pima.edu/~bfiero/tucsonecology/climate/stats.htm

TUCSON CLIMATE STATISTICS (1894-1996)

Month Avg.
Precipitation Avg. Max
Temperature Avg. Min
Temperature Hours of
Daylight
Jan 0.87 63 38 10:05
Feb 0.70 66 40 10:36
Mar 0.72 70 43 11:31
Apr 0.30 77 47 12:31
May 0.18 85 54 13:27
Jun 0.20 96 63 14:07
Jul 2.37 101 72 14:13
Aug 2.19
98 74 13:44
Sep 1.67 96 71 12:49
Oct 1.06 90 63 11:51
Nov 0.67 78 50 10:53
Dec 1.07 67 42 10:12
TOTAL 12.00 82 54

Colorado Bicycler said:

http://wc.pima.edu/~bfiero/tucsonecology/climate/stats.htm

TUCSON CLIMATE STATISTICS (1894-1996)

Month Avg.
Precipitation Avg. Max
Temperature Avg. Min
Temperature Hours of
Daylight
Jan 0.87 63 38 10:05
Feb 0.70 66 40 10:36
Mar 0.72 70 43 11:31
Apr 0.30 77 47 12:31
May 0.18 85 54 13:27
Jun 0.20 96 63 14:07
Jul 2.37 101 72 14:13
Aug 2.19
98 74 13:44
Sep 1.67 96 71 12:49
Oct 1.06 90 63 11:51
Nov 0.67 78 50 10:53
Dec 1.07 67 42 10:12
TOTAL 12.00 82 54

See! Pleasant throughout the year ;-)