Date:  Saturday, February 1, 2025

Distance: 188 miles

Start Time: 7:30 am
There will be a mass start at 7:30 AM and announcements and time for questions at 7:25.

Start Location: El Con Plaza Starbucks in Tucson (Get directions)

Time Limit: 20 hours

Sunrise:  7:16 am
Sunset:  5:58 pm

Cost: $30 Pre-registration only. No day-of-event registration.

ACP sanctioned.

WAIVER NOTE: You will be automatically directed to the online waiver after you submit your PayPal payment. If you are not automatically directed to the online waiver after your pay, you may press the "Return to Merchant" button to sign the waiver. The online waiver may also be found at tinyurl.com/AZBrevetWaiver.

REGISTRATION NOTE: Once you are registered for a ride, you will see your name in the Registered Riders tab. It may take a day or so for it to appear. Registered riders WILL be sent a "Last Minute Notes" email the day after registration closes, normally the Thursday before the ride. If you do not receive it, please let me know. Also, check your spam folder for the email.

RIDE VERIFICATION: All of these events are sanctioned by Randonneurs USA (RUSA). As such, all of them will be verified using approved RUSA methods. Click HERE to see the details of available options for AZ Radonneurs' events.

Description

Madera Canyon 300k

Starting a few kilometres east of downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona (U of A) riders will have an early tour of the U of A campus before you will find your way to a section of the Loop bike path and use it to head south out of town.

Your southern journey takes you as far as Amado where you will then visit the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. After a quick stop, you'll descend back down to continue your journey toward your next obstacle, Madera Canyon. The 21km canyon climb takes you to 5500 feet and an alpine environment. Oh, and we need to mention the thigh-burning last few kilometers! You might consider bringing a few extra gears.

After descending Madera, you will make your way back north on roads used by the famous Saturday Morning Tucson Shootout ride and pay a visit to the San Xavier Mission which was founded in 1797. If your legs aren’t beat up by then, fear not, you now head into the rollers of the beautiful West Saguaro National Park.

Once you leave the main park area the terrain is more forgiving as you tour the NW Sonoran desert west of Marana. You'll enjoy a gentle ride back south along some of Tucson's fantastic bike paths and another tour of the university campus to find yourself at the end of your journey. The university area will be a tad more lively than your morning tour. There is good food and beer to be had before you enter the campus.

Saguaro National Park West

Directions to the start

Location: El Con Plaza Starbucks in Tucson

Address:

Starbucks at:

3421 E Broadway Blvd #191, Tucson, AZ 85716

Click here for a map to the start.

Directions:  East on Broadway Rd ~4 miles from I-10

There is plenty of parking near Starbucks/Walmart/etc.

 

 

Route Map

View  RWGPS online map here

The Ride With GPS map may be used to download a file for your GPS, if you wish.

Cue sheets may be downloaded and printed by riders if they wish. Cue sheets will NOT be passed out at the start. Make sure you have a cue sheet as a backup in case your GPS fails.

(Excel sheet is not available.)

Download cue sheet (pdf)

Elevation Profile

Total climbing is about 7,600 ft., depending on which measurement device you use.

Take note of the route profile as the climbs on this ride are mostly rollers, but Madera Canyon is long and STEEP toward the top.

The climb to Helmet Peak is long and gradual with a particularly fun descent!

Requirements

Lights, safety vest/belt, and ankle bands are required. Note that there is only about 12 hours of daylight for this ride so lights will be required.

Climbing Madera Canyon

 

Services

Start: Starbucks/Walmart – The start/finish control is in the El Con Plaza on E Broadway Rd in Tucson. There are multiple services in the area. Starbucks opens at 05:00 but closes at 10 pm. If riders finish after 10 pm, there is an alternate control location at a 24 hour Circle K noted on the route sheet.

There will be some support on the ride (detailed to registered riders) and there are stores located at convenient distances along the route. These will be noted on the route sheet.

Longhorn Grille in Amato

2 Registered Riders.

Rider Name	RUSA #	City	State/Prov
John Stroh	14908	Westwood Hills	KS
Mike Sturgill	1847	Phoenix	AZ