Sedona road riding
05-27-19, 08:38 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sedona road riding
Might make it to Sedona over the 2019-20 winter . I see a lot of MB riding posted on Strava but not much road. Is there any anyone would suggest or lead to info.?
05-27-19, 11:07 PM
#2
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,311
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
1,682 Posts
brrr...winter could get chilly. road riding is limited but doable. the 89a highway rolls north/south thru sedona. south of dtown sedona, it's pretty wide and the sightlines are good till clarkdale which is approx 25 miles away.
from clarkdale, there's a bangin little climb up to the historic mining town of jerome which is adjacent and highly recommended. fun little town. weather permitting, you can continue uphill from jerome to the top of the pass
(gotta be approx 6,000 ft) a few miles away and then enjoy a mad descent back to clarkdale.
taking the 89a hwy north of sedona is highly highly scenic but the road gets really wiggly and tight about a mile north of dtown sedona. i wouldn't ride it here unless you are comfy with traffic, slowing cars down and are rocking a few rear blinky lights.
it eventually takes you to 7,000 ft + and flagstaff. i think most riders would be more comfy descending this stretch as you'd be traveling 25+ mph nearly the entire time from outskirts of flagstaff to edge of sedona.
riding in town is relatively easy and you can follow your eyes for routes and your legs for permission for the most part. pavement's pretty good. be sure to hit the short but sweet climb up to the chapel of the holy cross off of
hwy 179. if you go far enough down 89a in either direction, you can carve out 50+ mile rides. if you toodle around locally, it's relatively easy to construct 15-30 miles rides with elevation. so many gorgeous dead end streets.
it's all pretty so def bring the road bike but bring your hiking boots as well. if you're not familiar with traffic circles already, you will be by the time you leave.
for off the bike adventures in sedona, tlaquepaque is a beautiful place to stroll and shop, grab a bite to eat or enjoy an adult bevvie amongst the sycamore trees.. if you like wine, vino di sedona on the south end of town has
a surprisingly nice wine store/bar/resto.
from clarkdale, there's a bangin little climb up to the historic mining town of jerome which is adjacent and highly recommended. fun little town. weather permitting, you can continue uphill from jerome to the top of the pass
(gotta be approx 6,000 ft) a few miles away and then enjoy a mad descent back to clarkdale.
taking the 89a hwy north of sedona is highly highly scenic but the road gets really wiggly and tight about a mile north of dtown sedona. i wouldn't ride it here unless you are comfy with traffic, slowing cars down and are rocking a few rear blinky lights.
it eventually takes you to 7,000 ft + and flagstaff. i think most riders would be more comfy descending this stretch as you'd be traveling 25+ mph nearly the entire time from outskirts of flagstaff to edge of sedona.
riding in town is relatively easy and you can follow your eyes for routes and your legs for permission for the most part. pavement's pretty good. be sure to hit the short but sweet climb up to the chapel of the holy cross off of
hwy 179. if you go far enough down 89a in either direction, you can carve out 50+ mile rides. if you toodle around locally, it's relatively easy to construct 15-30 miles rides with elevation. so many gorgeous dead end streets.
it's all pretty so def bring the road bike but bring your hiking boots as well. if you're not familiar with traffic circles already, you will be by the time you leave.
for off the bike adventures in sedona, tlaquepaque is a beautiful place to stroll and shop, grab a bite to eat or enjoy an adult bevvie amongst the sycamore trees.. if you like wine, vino di sedona on the south end of town has
a surprisingly nice wine store/bar/resto.
Last edited by diphthong; 05-27-19 at 11:18 PM.
08-23-19, 01:27 PM
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Arizona
Posts: 166
Bikes: BMC Road V2; '17 Marin Pine Mountain 2; '91 Marinoni Special TSX; '89 Specialized Stumpjumper Comp; '98 Salsa La Cruz; '79 Centurion Pro Tour; '77 Romic custom sport-tour; '77 Centurion Semi-Pro; '23 Kona Sutra LTD
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times
in
79 Posts
Similar to what ooga-booga said, road is a bit limited but what you get is beautiful. But, if you have supple tires/a gravel-ready bike, there are a LOT of forest service roads that you can get out on explore on. A fun ride (if you have 2 cars and want to run a shuttle) is from the intersection of Lake Mary Rd & Stoneman Lake Rd up on the rim, W/SW on Stoneman Lake Rd to just before it intersects with I-17, then L and down Blue Grade Rd/FR689 to Hwy 179, and take that into Sedona. Mostly downhill and a good mix of gravel, screaming-fast downhill pavement, and cruising along Hwy179 into and through the red rock formations. Abt 40 miles or so of fun riding--and there are lots of opportunities like that if you're willing to look off the pavement a bit. Have fun!
09-07-19, 01:25 AM
#4
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,311
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
1,682 Posts
just rode there today. a little warm so spun a bit in the am...
https://www.strava.com/activities/2685039180
and from a previous ride in 2018...
https://www.strava.com/activities/1602672067
maybe those give you an idea or two.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2685039180
and from a previous ride in 2018...
https://www.strava.com/activities/1602672067
maybe those give you an idea or two.
09-07-19, 05:51 AM
#5
Senior Member
I've never been - but if you look at Google Streetview the paved roads do look to have beautiful views and no shoulders - a potentially risky combination when riding a bike in a tourist area.
However, if you look at the individual photos on Streetview taken in the off-road area to the west of Sedona it does look like there are some good gravel/bike packing opportunities.
There is even a photo of a couple tents with bike packing rigs in the background:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8817...7i10240!8i5120
Bring plenty of water, food, etc. and always know where you are and how to get back - very inhospitable terrain if you are lost without supplies.
Have fun.
However, if you look at the individual photos on Streetview taken in the off-road area to the west of Sedona it does look like there are some good gravel/bike packing opportunities.
There is even a photo of a couple tents with bike packing rigs in the background:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8817...7i10240!8i5120
Bring plenty of water, food, etc. and always know where you are and how to get back - very inhospitable terrain if you are lost without supplies.
Have fun.
Last edited by jlaw; 09-07-19 at 05:56 AM.
09-07-19, 07:55 PM
#6
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,311
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
1,682 Posts
I've never been - but if you look at Google Streetview the paved roads do look to have beautiful views and no shoulders - a potentially risky combination when riding a bike in a tourist area.
However, if you look at the individual photos on Streetview taken in the off-road area to the west of Sedona it does look like there are some good gravel/bike packing opportunities.
There is even a photo of a couple tents with bike packing rigs in the background:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8817...7i10240!8i5120
Bring plenty of water, food, etc. and always know where you are and how to get back - very inhospitable terrain if you are lost without supplies.
Have fun.
However, if you look at the individual photos on Streetview taken in the off-road area to the west of Sedona it does look like there are some good gravel/bike packing opportunities.
There is even a photo of a couple tents with bike packing rigs in the background:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8817...7i10240!8i5120
Bring plenty of water, food, etc. and always know where you are and how to get back - very inhospitable terrain if you are lost without supplies.
Have fun.
speed limits are low and traffic is minimal once off the main arteries.
i'll take my chances with the visiting matilda and curtis vs locals debbie running late for work and rex rushing to pick up junior from lacrosse practice anytime. if i felt it were any more dangerous than
anywhere else because of said tourist area, i'd be the first to say so. haven't gotten that vibe at all.
Last edited by diphthong; 09-07-19 at 07:58 PM.
10-24-19, 05:09 AM
#7
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,311
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
1,682 Posts
10-24-19, 05:15 AM
#8
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,311
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
1,682 Posts
10-24-19, 05:16 AM
#9
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,311
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1627 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
1,682 Posts
go grab you some.
