This Tour has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Spring Break in Arizona

Enjoy Spring Break in the high range country of eastern Arizona. This is a 10 day/9 night clock-wise loop which begins and ends in Tucson. Sun is promised with an average high of 24 Celsius.

The tour is van supported with motel lodgings. Participants will take turns driving the van, laying out lunches and arranging happy hour and water break refreshments/snacks. If anyone volunteers to drive the van, there will be $350 discount for that person.

You will have a day to explore Tucson, which is a very bike friendly town. Options include the challenging Gates Pass, visiting the Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson Studio, Saguaro National Park, El Presidio Historic District and REI. Tucson also features The Loop, a 100 mile bike path around the city. You will not be bored. You can also try some of the seriously authentic Mexican food here.

In Tombstone, you can visit Boothill Cemetery and watch a gunfight between the Earps and the Clantons. A cold one in a saloon would seem to be in order.

Bisbee is renowned charming town and you can spend the day exploring the shops, climbing scores of off-kilter steps and touring the Queen Mine. There are plenty of interesting coffee shops and cafes.

On your way to Nogales, be sure to stop in for coffee in quirky Patagonia.

On your way back to Tucson from Nogales, you can visit Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and Tumacacori National Historic Park.

Road bikes are recommended and, due to desert thorns, puncture resistant tires are advised.
If you wish to extend your time in the sun before or after the tour, Sedona is less than 4 hours away by car and the Grand Canyon is 5 hours.

March 19, 20 – Quality Inn Airport- 2803 E Valencia Road – Tucson- 520-294-2500
March 21- Quality Inn- 699 North Ocotillo Road – Benson – 520-586-3646
March 22 – Tombstone Grand Hotel- 580 Randolph Way- Tombstone- 520-457-9507
March 23, 24, Copper Queen Hotel – 11 Howell Ave- Bisbee- 520-432-2216
March 25- Rodeway Inn- 100 Fab Ave.-Sierra Vista- 520-335-2198
March 26- Quality Hotel Americana- 639 N Grand Ave.- Nogales- 520-287-7211
March 27- Quality Inn Airport- 2803 E Valencia Road- Tucson 520-294-2500
March 28- end of tour

Rooms will be shared by couples or same gender single. Please indicate if you are a couple when signing up so that we can do a proper sort.

The ride is generally rolling to flat with a minimum total distance of 415 km with a rest day to explore Bisbee. The longest day (from Nogales) is basically flat while the ride into Bisbee has a climb of 710 meters.

You will be going from the Saguaros of Tucson, entering the desert around Benson, passing through the wine country of Sonoita and then seeing trees (!) in Patagonia.

See the itinerary for full details of distances and climbing.

The route is a mix of low traffic Interstate with wide shoulders and secondary roads with average to wide shoulders and a bike path out of Tucson. There is one 30 km section on Highway 82 going from Sierra Vista to Sonoita that has some truck traffic and a narrow shoulder, but is low traffic. It will be noted in the cue sheet.

The fee includes all accommodations, hotel provided breakfasts except in Bisbee, a vehicle rental and fuel to haul personal luggage, sack lunches, vehicle supported water breaks and snacks,and happy hours snacks. Pizza will be provided during happy hour the first night. Soft costs included are the leaders fees and a contingency allowance. The hotel in Tucson provides free shuttle to and from the airport. You may leave bike boxes at the hotel. Any surplus funds remaining after the tour are returned to the participants.

The fee does not cover travel costs to and from Tucson, dinners, breakfasts in Bisbee, rental bikes, parking and other personal costs. If you wish to rent a bike for the trip in Tucson, you can contact Arizona Bike Rentals and Tours at 520-260-8292. They will deliver and pick up bikes. This delivery service is free if we rent 3 or more bikes. A beer and wine pool will be operated at cost.

Destinations and distances/elevation gain:
March 19, (Thursday) Lodging at Quality Inn Airport with group meeting at Happy Hour (~5:00 pm) with pizza and snacks.
March 20, (Quality Inn Airport) Ride of your choice around Tucson. Suggestions will be provided.
March 21, Tucson to Benson (Quality Inn) 73 km, 679 meters
March 22, Benson to Tombstone (Tombstone Grand Hotel) 40 km, 390 meters
March 23, Tombstone to Bisbee (Copper Queen Hotel )42 km, 710 meters
March 24, Bisbee (Copper Queen Hotel) Explore Bisbee.
March 25, Bisbee to Sierra Vista (Rodeway Inn) 62 km, 360 meters
March 26, Sierra Vista to Nogales (Quality Hotel Americana) 98 km, 715 meters
March 27, Nogales to Tucson (Quality Inn Airport) 100 km, 200 meters
March 28, depart

Total Kms – 415.

Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the date shown. A computerized lottery system and waitlist will be utilized in the event the ride is over subscribed. A $50 deposit is required. The lottery sign up will run for 4 days, after which the leader will review the results.

The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:
Fitness and riding ability and experience required for the tour,
A history of demonstrating safe riding practices, and
Acceptable social behavior.

The leader may interview riders and others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour. The ride leader may select up to 30% of the candidates based on preference. Selection may also be based on pairing same gender singles to hotel rooms.

The leader will notify registrants of their selection status and request the successful registrants make further payments. If the ride is not filled to capacity, registration will continue until the closing dates show. Deposits and payments are considered non-refundable in the event of cancellation, unless replacement persons are found.

Payment schedule:
Deposit when registering: $50 US
Second payment approx. 10/26/2019:  $1,075 US