Training in Tucson, Arizona during the winter months. The place to be for cyclists and triathletes!

Looking for an ideal place to train during the winter months? If so, you need to take a serious look at Tucson, Arizona.

Tucson, Arizona is the place to train during the winter months. Many top cyclist and triathletes come to Tucson, Arizona to train during their winter training preparation. An average winter day in Tucson is sunny and 65 to 75 degrees. The mornings can be a little chilly but nothing to stop you from getting out on the road.

Lance Armstrong used Tucson as his base training camp. He rented a cabin on the top of Mt. Lemon. He would spend his day riding the back roads of Tucson and then finish his ride off with a 30 mile climb to the top of Mt. Lemon which gains a total of about 5,000 feet in 26 to 28 miles.

Tucson has one of the best group rides in the country called the ‘Shoot Out’ according to Bicycling Magazine. The 60 mile loop cuts south from Tucson into desolate, mountainous desert toward Green Valley, Arizona almost to the Mexico boarder. During January, February and March the Shoot Out is loaded with professional cyclist from all over the world. The pack ranges from 100 to 175 fit riders. You can often see local pro riders like Phil Zajicek, Gord Fraser and Curtis Gunn gracing the peloton along with pro triathlete Jimmy Riccitello.

For a map and description of the Shoot Out click the link below: www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/shootout_/77

The other notable ride and a must do is riding to the top of Mt Lemom.

For a map and description of the ride up Mt. Lemmon click the link below: www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/mt_lemmon_/117

For the triathletes out there, Tucson has one of the best masters swimming programs in the country.  The program is called Tucson Ford Aquatics which is at the University of Arizona pool.

There are 3 daily workout times to choose from: 6 AM, 12 PM, and 6:30 PM. You can often see many top professional triathletes at the pool. The noon workout is the favorite time among the triathletes.

Triathletes like Peter Reid, Jimmy Riccitello, Hillary Biscay, Heather Gollnick, just to name a few, have utilized the Ford Aquatics program for their swim workouts.

For more information visit: http://homepage.mac.com/jimstites/FordAquatics/index.html

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FREE Entry To El Tour De Tucson 2008 Cycling Event

Ride-Strong.com is giving away a FREE entry to the 26th El Tour De Tucson event held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 in Tucson, AZ. You can select any distance with the FREE entry.

The El Tour De Tucson is the largest one day cycling event in the US. It is a great ride with beautiful sunny Tucson, AZ weather.

Just comment on this post as to why Ride-Strong.com should give you a FREE entry.

We will select a lucky winner on Friday, October 31, 2008.

For more info on the El Tour De Tucson visit the link below.

http://www.pbaa.com/!ETT/ETThome.html

Below is a link to the route.

http://www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/el_tour_de_tucson/977

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