riceowls

My wife and I are looking to do some short ~5-6 day touring in December and AZ seems like a good choice for that time of year. I am ideally looking for a loop similar to the ACA Hill country tour in TX that we have really enjoyed - a loop on a small low-traffic road with shoulders with motel accommodation options every 50 miles or so out of Tucson or Phoneix. Will also consider one-way from Tucson to Phoneix on detour roads with taking a bus back. Thinking of 5 days or riding or so averaging 50 miles a day. Any route suggestions?

albrt 

Sounds like a great idea. I live in Phoenix, but I'm not familiar with the back country that far out. Some of the recently repaved roads have nice wide shoulders, but out in the country the roads tend to be pretty narrow. I'll be interested to hear what people have to say.

RCMoeur 

One issue with the Phoenix metro area is that few of the roads leaving it are "low traffic". There aren't the network of country or farm roads that many areas have, and the 'rural' areas are developing quickly. Fortunately, some of the highways that do leave town do have shoulders and a not-too-horrible volume of traffic.

Wickenburg is 50 miles northwest of downtown (60 miles via an optimum cycling route along USBR 90) and has several motels. About 30 miles up 89 (and I mean up) is Yarnell, where I've stayed in the past. Prescott is another 35-40 miles north, and is a nice place to visit on a bike in the winter if it isn't snowing. Or go west on low-traffic US 60, but the only lodging options aren't until Salome (50 miles) or Quartzsite (90 miles).

Superior is about 50 miles east of Mesa, and the highway is busy but has shoulders to there (but not beyond - see the Claypool Tunnel thread). US 60 does have a few places east of AJ where the guardrail takes up the shoulder and a lot of traffic.

Florence is southeast of the Phoenix area, but the urban development has almost reached its outskirts.

Gila Bend is southwest of Phoenix, and has motels (including the remaining Stovall's Space Age). Old US 80 from Buckeye is scenic and low traffic, but the metro area now stretches all the way to and beyond Buckeye. Ajo is 45 miles farther south, but on a narrow busy road with no usable shoulders.

The USBR 90 route to Tucson is an option - see the ACA page for more info. Motels in Coolidge and Eloy. Or take the more direct route across the reservation, but some of the highways don't have shoulders. SR 79 between Florence and Catalina has zero shoulders, short hills with limited sight distance, and moderate traffic, so SR 87 might be better.

SR 87 to the northeast is on the Southern Tier route, but there are absolutely no services at all from the Fort McDowell casino until just outside Payson (60 miles). Payson does see snow, and there is 7,500 ft of climbing enroute (and 4,00 feet of climbing on the return trip).

diphthong

if you're not entirely opposed to having the same base camp/airbnb/hotel as the hub the entire time, plenty of differing rides in the tucson area in all directions. if you've got to keep shifting the base of operations (nearly) daily, that's an obviously different beastie.

riceowls

I am open to that as well. Without a car but with a bike - what would be a great place to use as base and what routes can you recommend? I guess doing the loop one day. What else?

riceowls

Thanks, I was checking of Phoenix->Wickenburg ->Prescott->Camp Verde ->Prescott->Phoenix loop based on your suggestions. but perhaps too long (needs 7+ days) and not for the winter. USBR tucson to phoenix is one trip I was considering but is there a good scenery and much to see on the way?

albrt 

I'm not super familiar with the Tucson area, but there is a thread just a little ways down the page that has a fair amount of information and pictures. I would say Tucson is a better base than Phoenix. There are lots of decent trails around here, but you can't get to them without a car unless you're comfortable spending half of each day riding in metro traffic. It also helps to know the city because cross-town routes that look good on a map often are not bike friendly. The only big advantage of Phoenix is the major airport.

diphthong

i’ve always stayed near dtown tucson or a few miles north next to the university of arizona. both areas have plenty of support and things to do within easy walking distance when not cycling.

this thread has a bunch of ideas/info along with listed strava/ridewithgps routes.

https://www.bikeforums.net/southwest...es-tuscon.html

Bob Ross

Since you're without car I would recommend finding a place slightly north and east of dead center metro Tucson to use as your base. That way you can use Sunrise/Skyline/Ina as your main East/West corridor -- which has wide shoulders with marked bicycle lanes, and gorgeous views -- rather than the more southerly East/West routes which often feel like they skew towards the ugly end of anonymous urban sprawl.

Plus, from a north-east base you have access to a crap-ton of routes: Saguaro National Park East, Mount Lemmon, Colossal Cave/Pistol Hill, The Loop south-east towards the Julian Wash, The Loop west towards La Cholla and then up to Rancho Vistoso, Dove Mountain, or Saddlebrook...or all the way out to Saguaro National Park West. (Admittedly if you're not up for 65-85 mile days some of those routes would be better served by a base in the north-west.) But plenty of options in Tucson.

Juan Foote

Not for nothing, check CGOAB to see if there are any featured 'blogs' for the area you are considering. There is an easy to use filter for geographic locations.

riceowls

Thanks - NE area sounds good. Any recommendations for the base area -- something lively, i.e. we can easily walk or ride to the restaurants/stores? Also, wouldn't the northern part of the loop be better to go eastbound, e.g. to Saguaro or Colossal Cave?

diphthong

my experience is that farther ne past the u of a is better for cycling starting/ending points but not as good for cycling widows/hubbys/so's or post-ride endeavors.

last viz out to tucson, kicked it in the ne corridor and the riding access was closer/better but drove more with the lady to hit civilization/hotel. apples/oranges.

we made it work but still lyfted to both dtown and the college area. didn't realize/see a must stay ne tucson area to hit sabino canyon/mt. lemmon/saguaro np east and other rides that included a "hipster/cool cat" area that easily accessed restos, bars, drug stores, markets, etc better than the college or dtown areas-asp within walking disto. may have missed it.

Bob Ross

Hmm...maybe look for an AirBnB (etc.) in The Foothills that's within walking distance of North Campbell Avenue either where it crosses East Skyline Drive, or where it crosses East River Road. Either of those intersections (and 1/4 mile in any direction from them) offers lots of gastro-entertainment and shopping.

Oh, sure, if you use the Loop for most of your East/West travel you don't have to worry about car traffic or ugly urban sprawl! I didn't mention it simply because a lot of serious roadies find MUPs a bit ...I dunno, boring maybe? But I'm perfectly happy riding it any time I don't have a workout agenda.

That is true, especially if you or your SO don't have a car.

riceowls

Ok - here is a current plan - need feedback. Staying in Catalina Vista and Palo Verde area. Will have 4 days of riding Sat-Tuesday.
Here are my plan (40-55miles/day):
Day 1 - Mt Lemon to 6-7k (is there a good turn-back spot that is not too anticlimatic?). Is Sat a good day to go?
Day 2 - Sabino canyon +??? (should I pair it with Sabono loop or smth else?)
Day 3: The loop - explore the city. What are the good detours/stops? [this is going to be Monday - I assume less foot-traffic]
Day 4: Sabino Canyon (if not done on day 2) + Colossal Cave OR (if sabino is done) perhaps somewhere to the north (e.g. Oro Valley)

For Sabino Canyon -cycling is allowed 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Does it mean I have to start the ride before 9 am or exit the park on a bike by then? I think I can get to the entrance by 9am but rushing to get out is a bit silly. What is the contingency plan if we are in the middle of the park at 9 am?
Aside from Mt. Lemon - which rides will not have any way to get water on the way?

diphthong

mount lemmon-saturday is okay but early/sunrise start recommended to avoid automotive lookey-loos and people unfamiliar with the road. the 16.5 mile point from the start
(just past all the pinnacles/flattish ridge/mega-views/just before the road goes into the mountain vs actively winding around the edges) is the sweet spot to turn around.
further on is still worthy but you've done the best parts. early start means you're exiting around/before 11am which is huge.

sabino canyon def worthy but will likely take up only 1.25 hours of your time. glad you're aware of the bicycling restraints both day/time. saguaro national park-east unit is
probably the worthiest ride in tucson after mount lemmon. a 9 mile loop with plenty of up/down. recommend doing the loop at least 2x but 4x is best. you could combine this with the
sabino canyon ride along with bike paths/old spanish trail road to do 50-60 miles.

re: the loop, really enjoyed this stop really close to dtown tucson:

the awesome, must see "cycling chapel" at the sw corner of the n. granada ave/w. davis st intersection...just north of the w. st mary's/w. 6th st area and a short distance from the loop.
very scenic and cycling-oriented. post #5. https://www.bikeforums.net/southwest...es-tuscon.html

loop just south of dtown tucson finds you with the obvious sentinel peak to the west of the bike path. nice little scenic climb.

local rider Bob Ross has frequently espoused the oro valley area/routes but haven't made it over there just yet.
hopefully in a few months here in january.

diphthong

will say, if you're still considering cycling from point a to point b vs using a hub like tucson or phoenix, that the stretch from prescott > sedona (or vice versa) is particularly scenic but has some solid elevation challenges/climbs here and there.