I am preparing for a trip to Tucson and plan on climbing Mt. Lemmon. I live in the mountains of western Pennsylvania and am curious as to what percent grade the climb is.
I no longer live in Tucson, but have climbed Lemmon many times.
If you are fairly strong, 39/53 and 12-25 will be plenty. The first 6 miles are steeper, then it levels out untill Windy Point and it goes steep again for a few miles.
Kurt
I just moved to Tucson in October and have made two runs up Lemmon since then. The first time I made it all the way to the top and the second time I made it halfway up (due to time constraints) and I’m certainly not a “strong” cyclist by any stretch of the imagination. I guess I sort of cheated though because my bike has a triple in the front. With that said, I was able to stay in the middle chainring for the first 6-7 miles before dropping down into the granny gear. So yeah, can’t really help with the gearing question, sorry.
I’ve heard it averages 5-6%, but can’t seem to find anywhere to confirm that at the moment.
Another fun climb is Kitt Peak. It’s ~12 miles to the top and slightly steeper than Lemmon (7ish% maybe?). It’s also a bit further out of town too.
It’s the going downhill part that you have to worry about.
It’s the going downhill part that you have to worry about.
When I searched for posts with the identical question, this is the only relevant thread that came up. Since I just road Mt. Lemmon while dropping off my daughter to UofA last Fri, thought I’d add my 2c for posterity.
FWIW, no PM, but I’m ~75kg, with estimated FTP from KK trainer ~280w, so ~3.7w/kg.
Did 90% of the climb in 39x23, rest was 39x21, though got into the big ring a couple times on the flats within the climb. I skipped the last part going up the narrow rd after the ski run, looked steep enough that I would have dropped into the 39x25 for the last mile or so if I’d gone up there.
Its an awesome ride, great views, not dangerous at all, IMO, with good shoulder and road conditions the entire climb, minus the narrow road at the end that I skipped. You can descend without ever touching the brakes once you turn back onto the Catalina Hwy from the ski run turnoff. The one hour descent was almost as tiring as the ascent! Temps changed at least 35deg F on the climb. Like Desert Dude suggests, if you ride in the summer, start no later than ~6am before the oven turns on.
It’s mostly 5% all the way. If you are a decent climber, 39x23 should be fine.
And no brakes needed on the way down. It’s a fun descent!
minus the narrow road at the end
That would be the summit road…2 miles of 10-13% grade.
If you live in a mountainuos area a 53/39 12/25 should be good. I have been doingt it every weekend, to prep for Silverman, on my tri bike and that is the combo I have…and I am by no means a great climber.
If you are in town long enough Gates Pass/McCain Loop and Kitt Peak are also great rides although lower altitude equals hotter. If you are on the climb by 6:30-7 you will be good. Temps will be upper 70’s-low 80’s at the base with temps at the top when you get there in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s. When you hit the bottom though expect upper 90’s. This time of year the humidity is also higher with the active “monsoon” season…but the rain also puts some flowing water in the small creaks along the way and there are a few nice water falls along the way (7 cateracts is one). Only free water on the mountain is across from the Palisades ranger station so go prepared. You can buy fluids at Summerhaven if you need.
thanks…did the climb in early 2008 and can’t wait to get back and do it again. Plan on taking friends the next time to make it another memorable event. As it was…ended up climbing most of it with TJ Tollekson. What an amazing athlete.
Guess I should have looked at the original date!?!?!?!? LOL
Yeah, it was a steady grind, but with plenty of “breaks”. I thought easier than Sandia Crest ride, which is shorter, but consistent steeper grades with only a single break.
Have you tried Mt. Graham? It’s listed in the book “The complete guide to climbing (by bike)”. The author has a ranking system similar to TDF and ranks it substantially harder than Mt. Lemmon. Its off 191 south of Safford, Arizona. Looks like ~90 minute drive from Tucson.
I’m already back in Houston, but thinking of riding Mt. Graham next time I’m in Tucson. I’ll definitely try the other suggested rides if I have time next time. Great place to ride, BTW, wish I lived there.
Graham is mostly graded dirt so bring some good tires. They also have a USCF race up it every year. I haven’t done it but know quite a few who have.
I did it with desert dude and Carl Spackler a couple of years ago. No need for the small chainring. However, you must stop a bit before the top to get some pie 
Mt. graham is paved.
It’s steeper then Lemmon, has cool switchbacks, hits the forest sooner, can’t remember the length (maybe 16 total) and I’m too lazy to open wko and search through my power files.
You can ride in with a 39/25 or at least I can and no one has ever accused me of being a climber. No one. Ever.
I’m no expert on Mt. Lemmon since I’m a newb here in Tucson but I have been up it three times including one time in the rain. That was just like fun, but different. Especially the trip down.
I use a 39/23. A 39/25 would be better. There is a place about half way up where there are restrooms and a stone-paved parking area on either side of the road. Nice views from there so a popular turn-off for people. Once I go above that point it gets hard.
There is bascially no water on the mountain. People have told me where to get it, but I’ve never found it. I basically do the ascent on two bottles and do the descent on nothing. There is a 7-Eleven or Circle K at the end of the flat road on the way back. I always stop there on the return trip. By the time I get there I’m nuked from four hours with only two bottles. There is a place to get water on the mountain- people have told me where it is. By the time I get up there I’m so brain dead I just want to get up to the little village, do a 180 and come down.
It is a good climb since the gradients are never super-ultra steep, just a long, long grind. On the first part you just dance up it. by the time you get about 10 miles in it starts to get pretty realistic. No human climb is longer than 10 miles. This thing goes on for over 20. Inhuman.
H2o located at mile 20.5ish at pullout on right side of the road (going up) just before you get to Palisades ranger station/visitor center.
Mt. graham is paved.
Shows how long it has been since I have been there! It was dirt when I went camping there 6 or 7 years ago.
Indeed, the pie makes the descent that much faster…
Except for the fact that is takes an hour to get the pie…
I’m going to be in Tucson this weekend and this thread makes me wish I could’ve brought my bike out. Damn.
There’s a cold water fountain by the restrooms in the side of the Welocme Center in Summer Haven which seems to be always open. I rode up with an 11/25 on my TT bike without to much bother.
The pie was just to get body fat to not freeze to death the first 2mi down 
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