This one goes out to Desert dude and to anyone who has spent time training in Tucson
I am planning a 2006 Feb training camp and was wondering where you guys would base yourselves out of. Oro Valley or somewhere on the eastside of town? Which has easier access to good riding, running and pools? what about other non-training activities?
Thanks,
adam
Look at the Peter Reid site. Find his AZ training camp. That would be a good location.
www.endurancespecialists.com is Paul and Peter’s site. Good information there.
Adam,
East side SUCKS ASS. Smelly rotten festering in your cycling shorts have not been washed in two years but ridden daily ass. That being said the east side does have Mt. Lemmon but it’s a nice warm up ride across town or you can drive and park at Udall Park where there is also a year round pool.
I’d base myself out of midtown or the W, where your close to riding N,W,S and E if you insist. The Uof A pool is close as are some of the other community pools. There are better trails to run out W as well. Oro Valley is ok but traffic and limited routes or lots of riding (15miles) for a warm up. Not sure about the trails. Anothe option is Rancho Saharita. They have a 25m pool open year round. Your close to helmet peak and maderia canyon, you can ride to Tucson to catch the shoot out on Sat. It is a bit out there but I know someone who would rent you a house for how ever long you want. I’m actually thinking of doing a couple of camps based out of there.
Seriously the W of Tucson has much better riding, Starr Pass, Gates Pass and it’s lovely 12-14% pitch, The backside of the Tucson Mtns, Sandario rd, A Mtn which is great for hill repeats and a fun short descent. Better running, the XC trails and track at Pima CC, Starr Pass loop, the Rillito river path (runs E-W across town and further) and the Santa cruz river path. But the east side does have phoneline and bear canyon.
Shoot me an email I can fill you in. If Tucson was 10 degrees cooler all summer long it would be the ultimate training mecca.
Adam, Troy Jacobson’s camp in March used the Holiday Inn Express in Oro Valley as the host hotel. There’s a running path directly across the street from the hotel (which worked great for bricks.) I can’t tell you what pool we used but it was a very short ride…couple of blocks??? and it was a beautiful outdoor pool. For Gates Pass and Mt. Lemmon (if I remember correctly) we did load the bikes into vehicles but there were a couple rides that left from the hotel…away from town and traffic. The road out had very wide shoulders and was safer than most I ride on here in Connecticut. I do remember someone saying they did ride out to Mt. Lemmon from the hotel one year…but I could be mistaken.
The congested area of town was not pretty…but it was convenient for groceries and eating out.