Chris finds a line less traveled on the 50 year trail in Catalina State Park. Photo by: Kip Malone
The chutes in Catalina State Park. Photo by: Kip Malone
Jumping cholla cactus keep the singletrack tight in Tucson Mountain Park. Yes I asked if I could take a picture before I removed it, no it wasn't a good idea. Photo by: Kip Malone
Easy single track in Catalina State Park. Photo by: Kip Malone
Good times in the sunshine. Photo by: Kip Malone
Snow on the Saguaros in Tucson Mountain Park. Photo by: Kip Malone
Super big slabs in the sunshine on the 50 year trail in Catalina State Park. Photo by: Kip Malone
Sweetwater trails were well marked and fun, with no shortgage of Saguaros. Photo by: Kip Malone
Lots of up and down on the 50 year trail in Catalina State Park. Photo by: Kip Malone
Riding the Sweetwater trails, rain chasing us back to the trailhead. Photo by: Kip Malone
I know we’re not Duluth, MN or Buffalo, NY but even here in New Mexico we get winter. As snow shuts down most of our mountain bike trails, we too sit in front of the computer planning next season’s trips, and dreaming about riding in one layer and sunscreen.
My favorite adult friend suggested a New Years bike trip to Tucson and really, there is only one response to that. We met up with some of her friends and had one glorious day in the 70’s, before winter dropped down and swallowed all of Arizona. But even with the colder temperatures and some rain the riding was sublime. There is no shortage of trails close to town, with easy flatish singletrack as well as big rocky super tech.
The local trails organization, Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists, is a great resources for planning a trip, with most of the local trails detailed on their site. It would take a few days to hit all the local singletrack.
Tucson is also a great town—like Phoenix with a soul. There’s plenty of fun food, a glowing downtown scene, and plenty of funk. With so much riding, it should be on everyone’s winter fantasy list.