fgv
Posts:48
 | | 11/07/2007 6:04 PM |
 Alert | | Any cyclist in Maricopa? If so, where do you ride? | | | |
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azv
Posts:20
| | 11/13/2007 1:23 PM |
Alert | | I ride ... we just moved to Maricopa though and I am nursing a broken ankle so I am yet to find some good routes. I can't wait to get back on the road though and check them out. | | | |
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ChimneyDuck
Posts:155
| | 11/14/2007 8:51 AM |
Alert | I'm a cyclist. Actually, cycling down 347 is how I discovered Maricopa.
Once construction is done, I plan on cycling 347 a lot more. There is a very wide shoulder, very few turns, and the bridge over I10 to chandler is very safe as far as freeway overpasses go.
Cycling to 347 and turning left onto Riggs and turning on Dobbins is a good way for a nice 80 miles or so ride "Around the mountain". When I meet my cycling friends in chandler, we usually just stop on the Pecos "park-n-ride" at 40th Street and do the 5 mile hill repeat loop.
I haven't really tried south of Maricopa too much. It's a little more rural and lots of loose dogs.
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fgv
Posts:48
| | 11/14/2007 1:52 PM |
Alert | Sounds like we have a couple of cyclist in Maricopa and one on the way. I'm new to Maricopa as well. I just got back on the bike three weeks ago and still working on my base and time in the saddle. Once I get up to speed, I'd up for longer distances. I've done a few rides out of Scottsdale and Paridise Valley as well as a few group rides with the Phoenix bike club on previous visits. Lots of fun. Nice riding up there.
I'm still exporing the roads here in Maricopa. So far I've been pretty much riding the local roads and riding along the major parkways of each development.
So far I've strung together the communiites, Tortosa, Sorrento, Rancho Mirage, Glennwild, Homestead, Lakes at Rancho Mirage, Rancho Eldorado, cross 347 to Cobblestones, ride south behind stores (walgreens, basha ect) or right on hwy 238 and left in Acacia Crossing, toward old part of Maricopa past city hall and eventually to Alterra. All of the above is 20 miles. I reverse the route for a 40 miles ride.
So far the rides have been low traffic an un eventfull till this early morning. I usually I ride late morning to early afternoon. And yes I found the loose dogs you were talking about or they found me  This morning I encountered and was chased by a dog while riding south on White-Parker just before the Sage Community. I could see it running from an older home through the open field to head me off. I turned around and it kept coming. Big brown dog . Then when I made a left to go west on Honeycutt, I was ambushed by a pack of 4 to 5 dogs that jumped out of the bushes right in front of me. I almost went down trying to avoid them. Had a car been coming east, it would have hit the dogs. When I jumped off my bike they backed away. When I started to ride off, they started to chase again. I've chased before, but being chased twice on the same ride and by a pack of dogs has never happen to me in the 18 years of cycling. Thinking that the rest of the ride would be a piece of cake I rode through Rancho Eldorado where I was chased again by another dog. All this on my out trip of an out an out back ride. On the ride back, no dogs were seen, but needless to I got in some interval training today. | | | |
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fgv
Posts:48
| | 11/27/2007 8:08 PM |
Alert | I usually ride during the week, mainly tuesdays, thursdays around 10am till noon for now. I can go earlier if needed. Just a base pace. I am in Tortosa. It would be great to get out on the road with someone local. Let me know when your ankle gets better.
I usually go out south on Hartman to Sorrento Community, then through Rancho Mirage, head west on Honeycutt, left on White-Parker through Desert Passage right on Bowlin to in an around Glennwild, left on Porter through Homestead, to the Lakes at Rancho Eldorado, left just before Global Water and in and around Rancho Eldorado. If I reverse it from here it's a total of 30 miles. If I have more time, I ride across 347 to Cobblestone, up through Acacia Crossing and eventually past city hall towards Alterra. I then reverse the route for a total of around 40 flat miles. I usually do the 40 milers on saturdays. I am gonna try hit some of the Phoenix bike club group rides in Chandler and Tempe on Saturdays. I still have a long ways to go as far as fitness, but I thought I give it a try.
Oh yeah, if you ride south on White-Parker , watch out for the big brown dog coming from the old home just before Desert Passage. He hasn't been out the last two times, but he has chased me twice now.
If your out and about, I am usually wearing a red and yellow cycling kit and ride a Litespeed.
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johnstd
Posts:21
| | 12/04/2007 10:02 AM |
Alert | I ride both mountain and road (although not lately). I've been trying to get back on the saddle, and hope to do a few organized rides next year (Rosarito/Ensenada is always fun), with a goal of ridding the Tour De Tucson (109 miles) next year after missing it for the last 5 due to laziness.
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fgv
Posts:48
| | 12/04/2007 4:58 PM |
Alert | | Thats great. It does feel good to get back on the bike. I never heard of the Rosarito / Ensenada ride. Is that in Mexico? I hope to do the Casa Grande Century coming up next month. I plan to take a nice easy pace an enjoy the ride. I also plan on doing the Tour De Tuscon next year. Hopefully we'll see yoon the road. What days do you ride and where? | | | |
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johnstd
Posts:21
| | 12/05/2007 6:16 AM |
Alert | Yes it's in Mexico. A HUGE ride. About 10,000 riders. Its a 50 mile fun ride and you see all types. It follows the coast before going inland and then back to the water to finish (with a few miles of coming down off the mountain flying). For info you can search for Rosarita bike ride and you should find something. They have a spring ride and a fall ride.
I have a Trek 5200, and for the mountain an old Trek Y-33. Also a Trek 8000 that I use for a comutor play bike (Yes I like Treks).
As for where - I really havnt found a route that I really like, although as stated above, around South Mountain is a good ride, and I've been going 347 south, also down to Tortosa. Just depends on where I feel like that day. | | | |
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jestala
Posts:23
| | 12/05/2007 8:31 AM |
Alert | | I just looked into getting a bike yesterday. Went to the bike shop in Casa Grande. They were very nice. I use to do cross country in high school (about 20 years ago). Like most people hitting 35 years old I started putting on a few extra pounds. I started running again a couple of weeks ago and my feet and knees hurt. So I wanta give cycling a try. Anybody got any good tips for someone that knows nothing about the sport? Like I said I went to the bike shop, and from what I understand is I want a road bike. I was thinking about getting the Marin Kentfield. Mostly to get out there and ride a bit and see if It's what I really want to do before spending $2000. | | | |
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fgv
Posts:48
| | 12/05/2007 9:49 AM |
Alert | Sounds like a great ride. You can't go wrong with a Trek. Great bikes. Whats south on 347 like? Do you go to end and turn around? If so, how far is that to the end? Is there a good shoulder?
So far, I have been winding my way through the developements. Low traffic during the day and not bad riding for in town ride. Once the roads are done it should be a lot better with bike lanes.
Sat morning there is a group ride Sponsored by the Sun Lakes Bicycle Club. They do around 40 miles at a social paced of 15 -16 mph. Nice group of people. They meet in Cottonwood Golf Club just off of Riggs. Eventually I am going to try do some of the Sat morning Phoenix bike club rides that meet out of Kiwanis Park in Tempe and another ride in Chandler at Desrt Breeze Park. Ever done those? | | | |
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coreb
Posts:12
| | 12/05/2007 3:43 PM |
Alert | | There is a great bicycle shop in Scottsdale. The website is www.bicycleshowcase.com Dan is very helpful. | | | |
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fgv
Posts:48
| | 12/05/2007 5:41 PM |
Alert | I would say to make sure whatever bike you decide to purchase fits you. Having said that, a good shop will allow you to test ride a bike for a long ride and maybe let you take it home for a few days as long as you leave them a creit card. Good shops will fit you and if need be they allow you to switch out the handle bars, seat and or stem (goose neck) to give you a custom like fit for no extra cost. Reason being, the frame might be the right szie, but if the bars are too wide or too narrow, you will have aches in your shoulders. If your handle bar stem is too long, you'll have aches in your neck and low back and compromise control of steering. Bike seats are a matter of preference. Just make sure your SIT bones are supported and you'll be fine. The shop should be able to tell you that as well.
If the bike doesn't fit you won't ride it very long. If it does, you'll know it. They'll be some getting use to that is standad, but you shouldn't be in pain. Just ask anyone who enjoys riding and they'll tell you having a bike regardless of the brand, old or new, it must fit.
Ask the shop if they have any last years models in stock or even bikes on consignment. You can get some really good deals this way. Especially this time of year. Some shops offer tune ups for life and some offer tune-ups after 30 to 90 days. Make sure you take it back with in that time period so you can have the brake cables and gears adjusted as all the cables will stretch and the shifting and stopping will be compromised. Once you get the cables adjusted you may not have to do it very often after that.
Have fun and enjoy the process of finding you new bike.
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bgrafk
Posts:62
| | 01/11/2008 12:09 PM |
Alert | Mountain Biker here!
But I do venture out onto the road a little bit to help train for some mountain bike races. If you see a guy on a white mountain bike riding around the road, give me a shout-out <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/smile.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Smile' align='absmiddle'>
Those of you that venture out and ride the 347, man I give you much respect. I'm not sure I have what it takes to be riding out there with some of those drivers.
-Bobby | | | |
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YoHi
Posts:16
| | 03/31/2008 12:11 PM |
Alert | | Are any of you currently riding as a group out of Maricopa. I have a bike, which is rarely in use, so I am read to get on the road. I am somewhat of a novice, but I would love to join in if there is a regular riding group out here. | | | |
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fgv
Posts:48
| | 04/01/2008 9:41 AM |
Alert | I don't know of any regular groups in Maricopa. I do see a few riders out there. Before my schedule changed I was riding on the weekends (saturdays) with the Phoenix Bike club out of Tempe. The Sun Lakes Bicycle club would be a good place to start if you are just getting back into cyclnig. Nice group of about 15 riders. Mostly all retired, but are n pretty good shape and just a fun group to ride with. They do about 40 miles each ride at about 14 to 17 miles per hour and stop for breakfast. You can find them at azcycling.com or just google them. | | | |
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JackInPapagoButtes
Posts:6
| | 04/02/2008 7:50 PM |
Alert | I'm an experienced bike rider who has been off the bike for several years and am now getting back into it. While I lived in Tuscon seven years ago I was riding my road bike ~170 miles/week. I then moved to Hidden Valley from Tucson and my home was 5 miles off the pavement. THe bike became an ornament hanging on the barn wall and I did other things like ride a horse and gain lots of weight!
I recently moved from Hidden Valley to the Papago Buttes area. Now that a bicycle is a viable option again I have begun a self-reclamation project to rid myself of the extra pounds and hopefully regain the fitness I had previously. I've got (sadly) a long way to go to get back to where I was!
I bought a SantaCruz Mtb and have over the past few weeks been riding the back roads and irrigation paths and some desert jeep trails that I know in the area. No heroic rides yet; 16 miles yesterday. I kinda figure Mtb miles are sort of 1:2 road bike miles. I've put new tubes in my road bike and lubed and cleaned and when the time is right I'll start being more adventourous. I miss the feeling of cranking along on a friendly pace line.
I meet dogs all the time, but I dont sweat it too much. I've trained dogs for Schutzhund and SAR and have a pretty good idea of how to handle the situations. (beside I carry a can of "bear spray" for the really stubborn mutts!)
If anyone is interested in seeing the sights from a bike out here in the wilderness of Hidden Valley/Thunderbird Farms/Papago Buttes area please feel free to get in touch. Back four or so years ago I made an attempt to get a bike group together in the Maricopa area but the time was not right. I put notices in the local paper and got a few responses but the skill levels and expectations of those who did respond were too diverse. There were moms who wanted babysitters for their kids and hard-core types who wanted (or said they wanted) 25mph training rides. It appears the times have changed - what with the growth of the hive in Maricopa - and the time may now be right to think again about forming a local bike group (I stop myself from uttering the "club" word!!)... to early, too soon? Dont want to jinx anything!
If you see me on the road say hello. I'm the middle aged guy with a pony tail riding the blue SantaCruz, or Havnoonian Ti road bike.
cheers
Jack | |
"Chance Favors The Prepared Mind" | |
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bgrafk
Posts:62
| | 04/04/2008 11:36 AM |
Alert | are there any other mountain bikers out here in the Copa or is it mostly roadies?? It'd be nice to have a carpool or something to hit up South Mountain or Hawes or somethin' on the weekends. | | | |
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GotBikes
Posts:9
| | 04/04/2008 11:21 PM |
Alert | I'm not sure how I missed this post before, but I'just found it. I would recommend that if you are looking for good road rides with a group that you go to the Northeast corner of Rural and Warner on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The rides are leaving the parking lot at 7:00 a.m. through April ( 6:30 in May, 6:00 in June). Saturday the group heads West down Pecos and does some loops through the foothills totalling around 40+ miles. On Sunday the group heads towards Maricopa on 347 then turns West on Riggs going around South Mountain. You have the option of climbing up to the T.V. towers and then back down finishing back at Rural/Warner. If you do the climb the ride ends up being about 60 miles or so. If you need any more info on rides or bikes or service, check out my website. I'm more than happy to help you with any cycling needs. | |
Where do you get your bike serviced?
www.maricopabikes.com | |
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do the jake
Posts:62
| | 04/09/2008 9:23 PM |
Alert | Thanks GotBikes I need my bike serviced and also find any out of shape road riders after bike gets serviced it will be my first time on that unforgiven seat i have so maybe 20 miles just to start sounds better to me local also so if anyone is up to it early mornings on the weekend. | |
My soul has been psychedelicsized | |
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ChimneyDuck
Posts:155
| | 04/28/2008 10:07 AM |
Alert | I thought White Mountain stopped those rides a couple years ago, GotBikes? They are still going on? I've stopped riding on those rides one July after every week there were one or two fairly severe accidents. Are the riders less squirrelly these days?
I need to find some fairly quick pace group rides, as I plan on doing the Mt Tam double August 2, and I'm in terrible shape. | | | |
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