Archive for the 'Road Bike Rides' Category
This mornings Shootout was a fast one thanks to Curtis Gunn pictured to the left. Curtis is a professional cyclist and just got back from the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic stage race and was racing amongst top name cyclists Levi Leipheimer, Phil Zajicek, Tom Danielson, and Chris Horner just to name a few.
Curtis showed up this morning on his TT bike ready to put the hammer down. He is getting ready for a time trail and wanted to put some miles in on his TT bike.
From the start Curtis went to the front in his arrow position and drilled it. The 125+ riders were quickly strung out. Gord Fraser and a few others rotated through - That is if you could pull through at 25 mph to 30 mph+.
After the bridge the packed was down to about 25 riders still hanging on to the pace set by Curtis. As we started up the climb to the top of the sprint Team Rhino took over and set up the lead out for their teammate Kyle Akin. Kyle Akin took yellow followed by his teammate Richard Moore.
Coming back into town setting up for the sprint Curtis Gunn was drilling it from the front and Gord Fraser had his wheel with the pace around 33mph+. Unfortunately we got stopped by the light and I was slow to respond when the light turned green and don’t know who won the sprint. If you know who win please comment below.
No offense to the female cyclists but the CHICK-O-METER was HIGH today. In the old days, we us to gage the intensity of the Shootout by what we called the CHICK-O-METER. If there were female cyclists that made it all the way around the CHICK-O-METER was low which meant the Shootout was too easy. Lately I have heard some of the old timers like Peter Brown, Jimmy Ricatello and a few others refere to the CHICK-O-METER so I had to throw this in here. Again no offense to the ladies.
For a book of the best bike rides in Tucson, Arizona visit:
www.trisports.com/road-bike-rides.html
For the Shootout route visit:
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/shootout_/77
Popularity: 2% [?]
This morning Shootout started with a little photo shoot with Jason Karew of Eclipse Racing. Jason Karew lost a bet to Paul Thomas and the loser had to wear a Tri suit during the Shootout. If you ask me I would have liked to have seen Jason in a Speedo and a singlet top. Paul let Jason off easy. Pictured above Jason Karew and Paul Thomas and pictured below Jason Karew.
There was a good group of 100+ to start off this mornings ride. Ralph Phillips started the ride with his famous shout of “Its Bike Time!”
The pace was steady and fast. There was a rotation of about 10 riders up front driving the train. There were a few attacks 
but for the most part the group stayed together today. Pro racer Gord Fraser took Yellow and the sprint finish at the top of the climb.
Coming back into town Waste Management had the lead out train going leading up to the sprint keeping the pace high. Kyle Akin of Team Rhino was able to capitalize on Waste Managements efforts and took the sprint finish.
I have to brag a little about my wife Mimi Ford of Eclipse Racing. She made it all the way around the Shootout. On occasion a female rider will make it all the way around. It happens during the winter training months when the pro females are in town. It is rare that an amateur age grouper female makes it around. Scott Blanchard of Pyramid Coaching has been training Mimi for the last 6 months and it has been paying off. GREAT JOB MIMI!
For details on the Shootout click on the link below.
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/shootout_/77
Popularity: 3% [?]
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND!
Hopefully you got a little time off from work and you were able to get on your bike and do some good riding over the holiday weekend.
Well this mornings Shootout in Tucson, AZ was a good turnout being the morning after the 4th of July. I just say coming back into town was fast. We were averaging over 32 mph from Green Valley, AZ to the sprint finish sign on Old Nogales Highway in Tucson.
There were a few big guns on the ride this morning like Gord Fraser ex-pro cyclist and now running the Carmichael Training Center in Tucson, Paul Thomas 2-time US national duathlete champion, and Scott Blanchard cat 1 cyclist who runs Pyramid Coaching.
Paul Thomas flatted as the ride was rolling out so Marty Mares of Genuine Innovations the maker of CO2 inflators give Paul his rear wheel. Marty fixed Paul’s flat and then put Paul’s rear wheel on his bike to catch up with the group on the way back into town. Marty gets the team player award of the day.
The ironic thing is that Paul Thomas won the sprint finish at the top of the climb. I guess he felt obligated to make sure Marty’s rear wheel went to good use.
Up to the sprint finish at the top of the hill there was a group of about 5 to 7 cyclist that were off the front. Gord Fraser made a few attacks to set up the break. Paul bridge up to the pack and the rest is history.
Coming back into town I do not know who took the sprint. A friend of mine flatted and I stopped to help. If you know comment on the post and give us the update.
For details of the Shootout visit RoadBikeRides.com at the link below.
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/shootout_/77
Popularity: 4% [?]
During the summer months Lake Tahoe is a popular summer destination. If you are planning a vacation to the Tahoe area make sure you bring your bike because there are some awesome rides in the area.
The ride around Lake Tahoe is a Must Do Bike Ride! The scenery is absolutely amazing. The nice thing about this ride is you can start from anywhere along the lake and do the ride in either direction.
There are some tight sections along the ride with not much of a bike lane so be carefully. It is good to get an early start to avoid the traffic. My wife and I just did the loop and started around 6 AM from the Kings Beach area. We did the ride clock wise and had a blast. The traffic was a little crazy around the Tahoe City area so be careful.
Below is a link to the ride on www.RoadBikeRides.com :
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/ride_around_lake_tahoe/906
Below is the elevation profile of the ride.
Here are some links to other great rides in the Lake Tahoe area:
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/carnelian_bay_to_sierraville_and_back/1037
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/tahoe_city_-_truckee_loop/1012
Popularity: 4% [?]
Arizona is a unique state state with all sorts of topography. There are not many other states in the country where you can be at 2,500 ft and then 25 miles later be at 9,000 feet. Tucson and Phoenix Arizona are becoming a mecca for cyclists around the world during the winter months. Plus Flagstaff, Arizona is becoming a great place to train during the summer months because of its high altitude and even has a high altitude training camp.
Lacne Armstrong trained in Tucson in the winter months in preparation for his Tour de France victories.
There are some great road bike rides in the state of Arizona. I have had the unique opportunity to live in Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson and have done all the Must-Do-Rides in the state of Arizona. So here is my list of the top 10 road bike rides in the state of Arizona. If you click on the name of the ride the ride will open up.
TOP 10 ROAD BIKE RIDES IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA
- Mt Lemmon - Tucson, AZ
- Lake Mary - Flagstaff, AZ
- Shootout Group Bike Ride - Tucson, AZ (voted by Bicycling Magazine as one of the top group rides in the country)
- Tortilla Flats - Apache Junction, AZ
- Bartlett Lake, Scottsdale, AZ
- Skull Valley / Kirkland Loop - Prescott, AZ
- Usery Pass - Mesa, AZ
- Gates Pass - Tucson, AZ
- Snow Bowl Hill Climb - Flagstaff, AZ
- Saguaro National Monument East - Tucson, AZ
What is your favorite Must-Do-Ride in your area? Check out this post by clicking here.
Please visit www.RoadBikeRides.com to find road bike rides across the country or to add road bike rides to the site.
Popularity: 7% [?]
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/skull_valley_-_kirkland_loop/965
If you are ever in Prescott, Arizona there is a road bike ride that is a must do. The loop from Prescott that takes you to Skull Valley, AZ then Kirkland, AZ and then back to Prescott, AZ is right up there with one of the best road bike rides in the state of Arizona. The ride has everything; killer descent, flats, climbs with scenic views.
You start out in the pines of Prescott, AZ then descent down to the high desert of Arizona then climb you way back up the pines of Prescott, AZ.
I happen to be out exploring this ride and about half way on the loop I hooked up with the Prescott Sunday group ride that rides this loop. Pictured above Tim Hull and Keith Isaacson. Tim is the manager of Ironclad Bicycles and organizes rides in Prescott, AZ.
You can do the loop both directions but most cyclists do the loop counter clockwise which makes for a more scenic climb.
Below is the profile. As you can see you start out with a 7 mile climb up Iron Springs Rd then descent for about 20 miles. The last half of the ride you climb your way back to Prescott.
Pictured below Prescott Valley from Iron Springs Road at the beginning of the bike ride.
Pictured below from left to right: Michelle, Steve, Tim Hull, Keith Isaacson stopped at the Wilhoit country store.
DO YOU HAVE A MUST DO RIDE? IF SO CLICK HERE.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Pictured above the San Francisco Peaks just north of Flagstaff, Arizona.
There are some great road bike rides in Flagstaff, Arizona. If you are in Flagstaff, Arizona there are 3 must do rides.
- Lake Mary - Mormon Lake Ride
- Snow Bowl
- Wupatki - Sunset Crater
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/lake_mary_rd_-_mormon_lake/119
Pictured above Lake Mary Road and Upper Lake Mary.
The Lake Mary road bike ride in Flagstaff, Arizona is one of the best road bike rides in the state of Arizona voted by www.RoadBikeRides.com. This ride has it all; a great bike lane, no traffic lights, great scenery, some rolling hills, short climbs, and places to stop and fuel up along the bike route. THIS IS A MUST DO RIDE!
Below is the profile of the Lake Mary bike ride. There is about 2,479 ft. of climbing during this 56 mile bike ride.
Also check out these other 2 bike rides that are MUST DO RIDES in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Snow Bowl: www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/snow_bowl_hill_climb/844
Wapatki: www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/wupatki_-_sunset_crater/849
Popularity: 7% [?]
If you are in the Phoenix, Arizona area and want to do an awesome ride with some great scenery check out the Usery Pass road bike ride in Mesa, AZ. This is a favorite ride among cyclists in the Phoenix, AZ area.
There are some ride variations you can do from this ride to add mileage. Like the ride out to Bush Highway and back. Here is the link if you would like to add mileage. www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/usery_pass__bush_hwy/656
www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/usery_pass/190
Popularity: 7% [?]
DENNY VAUGHAN OF SUMMIT VELO TAKES YELLOW ON BOTH SPRINTS ON TODAYS SHOOTOUT BIKE RIDE!
Pictured above Mr Shootout himself, Ralph Phillips of Fair Wheel Bikes, before the start of the Shootout at University and Euclid this morning.
This morning ride started out fast with Waste Management hitting it hard after the light at Valencia. There were about 8 to 10 Waste Management guys up front putting it down and riding very aggressive which always makes for a fun Shootout.
The pace was fast and steady. The group size this morning was around 75 to 100 cyclist. A lot of cyclists are in Globe, AZ this weekend for a 2 day race but there were still some good engines in the group this morning.
Denny Vaughan of Summit Velo, who is a national champion, had a great Shootout today. Denny won the sprint up the hill and also took the sprint coming back into town. It is has been a long time since I can remember where the same person took both the hill sprint and the sprint coming back into town. Great job Denny!
Brian Cornelius of Waste Management was also a notable rider today. Brian took 2nd in both the sprint hill and the sprint into town.
The sprint coming back into town was lead out by Waste Management. They had the train going with all of their riders but started the lead out a little too soon. Dan Naef of ProCon Cycling took over and gave Denny Vaughan the perfect lead out and Denny took the sprint followed by Brain Cornelius of Wast Management and Frank Barnes of Summit Velo took 3rd.
For a map of the Shootout check out RoadBikeRides.com.
Pictured below Denny Vaughan and Dan Neaf after the sprint coming into town.
Popularity: 9% [?]
This weekend is the Ironman Arizona Triathlon in Temp, AZ and I had to run up to Phoenix to meet with some RoadBikeRides.com and Ride-Strong.com advertisers at the Ironman Arizona Expo. I decided to take my bike and make a day out of it. Everyone is always talking about the ride out to Bartlett Lake which I had never done until today. It was challenging but an awesome ride!
If you are looking for a scenic but challenging ride in Scottsdale, AZ then check out the ride to Bartlett Lake. It is one of the top 10 rides in Phoenix, AZ. Pictured above and below Bartlett Lake as you descent down towards the lake and the turn around point.
This is an out an back ride with tons of climbing. If you do the whole ride there is 4,794 feet of climbing. Check out the profile below to get an idea of the ride. You can start anywhere along the route if you want to decrease the mileage.
For ride and map details on the Bartlett Lake Road Bike Ride check out RoadBikeRides.com by Clicking Here.
As always RideStrong™!
http://www.roadbikerides.com/ride/view/bartlett_lake/189
Popularity: 6% [?]
