Fleck wrote:
Tucson is your best overall bet, but Scottsdale will be nicer weather. Flag should not even be considered that time of year.
I'm in agreement with this.
Flagstaff -it's winter, and they get winter weather there, mostly due to the elevation.
Scotsdale is OK - but metro Phoenix is home
7 million+ people these days. It's BUSY. here is some good riding in the area - but you need to know the right roads to ride on and be on
Tucson - by far, is the best option if cycling is your thing. So many great options in the area. Also Tucson is the size about a million people, that it offers all of the big city amenities, but you can ride right out of the city into the country in relatively short order - usually in a Bike Lane. They also have a 150km of completely off-the-road paved multi-use trails, where you can ride over 100km, and never be on a road! Add in legendary climbs like Mt Lemmon and Kitt Peak - it's awesome. We have been many times to ride.
Whoa there buddy. It's not that big here! Phoenix Metropolitan Area is only 4.5 Million people!
However, if you are wanting road cycling. I wouldn't do Scottsdale unless you wanted to go North up Pima and ride out in Cave Creek. Or out on Shea and to do laps on the Beeline. Not really a lot of options with limited traffic.
If you chose Flagstaff, be prepared that you're doing winter riding. The place just got a massive storm so there's snow everywhere. Prescott gets a bit less weather.
Tucson has the loop which is over 120 miles of paved mixed use, but cycling path.
Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.