A Hilly Stage Around the Catalina Foothills, Starting and Finishing at Mona's

Did you watch the Tour de France yesterday??? Did you see the part where Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar modeled the Tucson Riders 4 The Cure's 2025 jerseys*??? You didn't? Guess you shouldn't have fast-forwarded to the finish, then! I swear, this is real! just look at the picture! Well, to celebrate the Tour, we're going to do a short, but hilly "stage" around the Catalina Foothills, with a couple of options to reduce the climbing for those who aren't quite up to it.

*Jerseys, bib shorts, jackets and wind vests will be available for purchase soon...Stay tuned!

Meet: 5:45 AM Depart 6:00AM
Distance 30.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 1533 ft

Start Location: Mona's Danish Bakery (4777 E. Sunrise Drive)

Directions: From Mona's parking lot, turn R onto Sunrise Dr, Sunrise turns into Ina Rd, turn R on Christie Drive, ascend the "Category 3" climb to Magee Rd, turn L on Magee Rd, turn L on La Canada Dr, turn R to get onto the Rillito Loop path & head east, exit the Loop & turn L onto Craycroft Rd, ascend the "Category 2" climb to Center Village Dr, turn R on Center Village Dr, turn R on Territory Dr, take the third exit on the roundabout and head north on Kolb Rd, ascend the "Category 4" climb to where Kolb turns into Craycroft, turn R on Sunrise Dr back to Mona's parking lot for coffee and kringle.

Note: Two suggested opportunities to cut-off the climbs (Matt), 1) Don't turn onto Christie Dr and just continue on Ina and turn L on La Canada, and/or 2) Don't turn onto Center Village Dr and just continue on Craycroft, and turn L on Sunrise Dr.

Regroup, water and bathroom stop: Loop Trailhead Ramada just prior to the Swan Rd bridge

Route Map: https://www.strava.com/routes/3382815522981658612

If you are not doing the ride as posted, please let the group know in advance. If you decide to make changes during the route (for example, are getting tired and need to take a shortcut back), please let someone know either verbally or leave a message on the ride leader's phone.

WE NEED SWEEPS! Our B and C rider groups need sweeps! A sweep is a rider that stays slightly behind their group for the entire ride to make sure nobody is dropped. People get dropped due to mechanical problems or not keeping up the pace. People also “fall off” the group at intersections or where there is a lot of traffic, such as on the loop. An ideal sweep is someone who knows the route and can assist with basic needs, like dealing with flat tires. PLEASE help out the team by volunteering to sweep. We don’t want to leave anybody behind!
Check out this guide for sweeping for a bicycle group: General Guidelines for Groups: https://www.wikihow.life/Ride-Sweep-for-a-Bicycle-Group

Before starting the ride, we will divide into groups depending on cycling speed, skill, and distance goals.

Average Speeds for A, B, and C riders
A riders = 17+ miles per hour
B riders = 15-16 mph
C riders = 12-14 mph

Reminders:
Please review the route map before the ride to become familiar with the directions. This is a safety concern for everyone but is especially important for the “A” riders. “A-riders” are not a “no drop” group. We will try to have sweeps for the B and C riders. If you’re a C rider or have questions, please let us know via email: [tucsonriders4cure@gmail.com](mailto:tucsonriders4cure@gmail.com)

Riding on the Loop: please be respectful of others when riding on the loop and slow down as necessary to safely pass.
Please RSVP for the rides on Meet-up. Other riders like to know who is going and we will post updates on the ride via Meet-up page as needed.
Meet up link: https://www.meetup.com/tr4tc_az/
Be Prepared: Bring water, snacks, equipment to fix a flat, and a cell phone. Make sure you have someone’s phone number in case you need help.

LINKS:
Email: [tucsonriders4cure@gmail.com ](mailto:tucsonriders4cure@gmail.com)
Meet Up: https://www.meetup.com/tr4tc_az/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ridersforthecuretucson

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