Boudicca

I've been looking forward to my winter biking trip for months, ever since I decided that Arizona in February just has to be the place to ride.

And then I see the winter storm warning for southern Arizona, with snow at high elevations, and rain for 3 days this week, including my arrival day (Thursday) and my first full day there (Friday). And there's a risk of "severe thunderstorms" when I change planes en route.

At least Saturday looks good (so far), which is when the real riding starts, and I've booked the bike in for a service for Friday so I wouldn't be riding then anyway.

But wtf? I wanted to get away from the cold, not fly right into it.

Cougrrcj

I'll be in PHX for ten days starting this Friday as well, visiting family... I'd like to ride some, but my mother sold her bikes at a garage sale a few years ago... Maybe I'll pick one up off Craigslist while I'm out there, ride it next week, then store it until this next fall when I start my 'snowbird' routine.

climberguy

From my perspective, injuries and health problems that keep you from riding are unfair. Weather is weather: sometimes it co-operates with what you want to do, and sometimes it doesn't.

Biker395 

Sux.

Desert's kinda funky. In the winter, can be warm and sunny, or a stormy freeze fest.

Rain is always a crap shoot, but staying near the coast avoids the nasty white stuff.

Where in Arizona were you going?

Boudicca

Starting in Tucson and heading south. Will stop before I get to Mexico and head back north. (Actually, it's part of an organized tour. I will just do what I'm told to do. )

Biker395 

Tucson's a great place to ride! If you're headed over to Tombstone, make sure you see the Birdcage Theater. Way cool.

velocycling

Several years ago, My wife and I did a Pac tours week. Rode from Tuscon to Sierra Vista about 90 miles. It snowed on us. Locals said it was the first time in 19 years. Rest of the week was cold. The camp was ok. There are better ones out there...

valygrl

Bummer! What trip is it?

Boudicca

I looked at Pac tours, but worried it might be more hardcore than I would be. Biking buddy is doing their century week. Biking buddy is hard core.

I am happy to do an unsupported tour -- I just bought swish new panniers so that I can do an unsupported tour -- but this early in the season I'm happy to have a van around so I can squeal for help if I want to.

gcottay

On behalf of the (usually) happy citizens of Southern Arizona I can only offer a combination of sincere commiseration and abject apologies. There is, however, some bright side. While we year-round desert dwellers are still shivering at 60 degrees our Canadian snowbirds are walking around in shorts and a smile.

CommuteCommando

The snow is North of where you are headed. Was in Yuma (across the line from California) last weekend, and half the cars there this time of year have Canadian Plates. The locals call them "The Snow Birds".

Boudicca

Apologies accepted.

And yes, 60 degrees will do quite nicely. Must remember to pack the shorts and the smile.

JamieElenbaas

Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period

Cougrrcj

According to the forecast for the coming weeks, it looks to be 'cooler than normal' in AZ. Yes, I'll be packing a pair of shorts and trying to 'sun' myself, but I doubt my mother's neighbors will view me as anything resembling 'normal', LOL!

valygrl

I'm doing a pactour in a few weeks, AZ better get its weather sorted by then!

B. Carfree

I remember riding from Sacramento to the Canadian Rockies one fine June. While I was wearing everything I brought and even bought another pair of wool tights, the locals were all in shorts and T-shirts commenting on what fine summer weather they were having. It was 60F colder than what I had left behind, putting the highs somewhat short of 50F.

stapfam

Thermal Long Johns and a thick vest work--If you do a lot of standing about

We have just had a couple of days of warm weather for February and I missed them. Gym and gardening took the place of riding and we are now back into our next cold spell of around 30F and wind of around 20 to 30 mph bringing a chill factor in.

But ride planned for Sunday and I have the hip flask ready. Have just enough "Cheap" brandy to offer to the other riders in the hope it will slow them down--The other flask will have the cognac in and is a very small flask that will not be noticed in the pocket.

TromboneAl

If the forecasts are as inaccurate in AZ as they are around here, you're good to go.

We often joke that the weather will be the opposite of what's predicted, but it often turns out that way.

NBC Nightly news even predicted a terrible rain/wind storm sweeping down from Oregon through California. There were a few light showers in the morning, and I was working outside in the sunny afternoon.

Also "Rain" doesn't always mean "constant rain."

Good luck.

zonatandem

Today (Wed. Feb.20 '13) had a good dusting of wet snow in Tucson.
Lived here since 1978 and this is the 4th snow we've had since then.
Sound like weekend will warm up a bit with temps in P.M. to 50s. Mor ings can still be cool 30s to 40s, but being from Canada you must be used that!
Dress in layers, wear full fingered gloves and keep pedalin'!

SpeshulEd 

There was snow flurries in South Scottsdale today too, at least thats what a coworker said.

Too bad your trip wasn't last weekend, it was gorgeous. This winter has been funky in AZ, gets really nice for a couple of days, then really crappy for a few days - can't seem to make up its mind.

Boudicca

I've been watching the Twitter pictures of snow-covered palm trees with interest and alarm. But I reckon (hope) most of the snow will have melted by the time I get in tomorrow afternoon. Just in case I added a hat, long-fingered gloves and goretex socks to the packing pile. Leg warmers, winter jacket and light weight jacket were there already. Worst case I just wear everything I've brought, one layer on top of the other.

And we don't actually start riding until Saturday, by which time the weather has to be better than what we have up here, right? And if I've forgotten anything, I can always give the credit card a bit of an outing when I arrive.

I still feel vaguely cheated though.

Biker395 

I dunno man ... I think you're gold!

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...95230102539062

miss kenton

Best of luck (& weather), Boudicca!

Artkansas 

My relatives in Phoenix are showing pictures of the snow in their backyard. Sorry about that.

On the bright side, all the zonies on the trip will be whining endlessly about the cold, and you'll be able to one-up them effortlessly with Canadian riding stories.

Kazzy

Yeah, it snowed/sleeted/hailed a bit around town (Phoenix) today. I got caught out in the sleeting for a few minutes as I was running to my car. I thought it was only big raindrops until I realized there was ice in my hair. I think it's already melted. It's supposed to clear up tomorrow I think. It might be a little cooler than normal. You should be fine. I have been enjoying the weather here this winter.