Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

2008-08-22 11:18 AM

Master

1882

Chandler, Arizona

Subject: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

Peeps, my plan calls for a TT on Saturday. Here are the details:

Bike: Bike LT Test
Assess Fitness
60
BT: Long warm-up of at least 15 minutes. Then ride a 30 minute time trial all out, race effort. Use a flat, out and back course. This can also be done on the trainer. This is a very hard effort. Record distance covered or average speed. Cool down for at least 15 minutes.

I've been riding Pecos road in Awatukee a lot but the way out is all down hill for the most part which means that the way back in is mostly up hill. I'm looking for a long, flat, safe route where I can go all out for 30 minutes without too much interruption from stop slight and signs. Anybody got any idea where I could do this at?

StandsWithFist

2008-08-22 11:59 AM

in reply to: #1621356

Pro

3715

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

The only one I can really think of is this: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2195634

Ellsworth Rd. There are places to park at Guadlupe and Ellsworth, then you head south on Ellsworth. There is only 1 stoplight a mile in at Elliot, and then it is smooth sailing with no inturruptions to Pecos. You can then either just loop right back North on Ellsworth, or make a right onto Pecos and tack on a few more miles. Pecos is closed right now at Sossamon due to construction, but you can just loop back at that point as well.

2008-08-22 12:17 PM

in reply to: #1621356

Master

1882

Chandler, Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

^{Are there bike lanes there?}

StandsWithFist

2008-08-22 12:24 PM

in reply to: #1621356

Pro

3715

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

OH, sorry. Yep. (I don't do streets w/o bike lanes)! Little bit wider than normal. Nice pavement. Only thing is that road is one of the only major arteries out of Queen Creek. So on a weekday morning, traffic heading Northbound is pretty heavy, and conversely in the afternoon it is heavy heading south. Pecos is always dead. On the map if you see where Sossoman goes north from Pecos, and how it kind of winds around the edge of Williams gateway airport....that is a goo stretch too with no stops. It will take you to Power road. You could turn around there, and/or park there as well, and take that south to Pecos, do Pecos turning around at Ellsworth, and heading back. Sorry...I am rambling.

2008-08-22 12:53 PM

in reply to: #1621565

Expert

1330

Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

I use SR87. Wide shoulder, separated from the road by a rumble strip. Lots of bikers use it (it's a staple of our Chandler midweek ride). The shoulder is wide and the road is flat for about 12 miles. No stop lights.

I'd probably do a lot like our midweek. Park at Fry's at Riggs & McQueen.

Bike south on McQueen to Hunt Highway. Make a right on Hunt.

Make the hard left at the light, and you're on your way.

-Jot

2008-08-22 1:58 PM

in reply to: #1621671

Master

1882

Chandler, Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

gamebofh - 2008-08-22 10:53 AM I use SR87. Wide shoulder, separated from the road by a rumble strip. Lots of bikers use it (it's a staple of our Chandler midweek ride). The shoulder is wide and the road is flat for about 12 miles. No stop lights. I'd probably do a lot like our midweek. Park at Fry's at Riggs & McQueen. Bike south on McQueen to Hunt Highway. Make a right on Hunt. Make the hard left at the light, and you're on your way. -Jot

I just checked it out on google maps and that looks awesome, thanks!

Is there parking anywhere at the intersection of the 87 and Riggs? If not I can use the ride from Frys to the 87 as my 15minute warmup. Do you ride to the intersection of the 87 and Casa Blanca Road? That is probably where I would turn around at.

So, this is pretty safe/cyclist friendly? Sounds like a good place to ride.

Edited by Mirg 2008-08-22 2:03 PM

2008-08-22 4:28 PM

in reply to: #1621863

Expert

1330

Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

There is no parking that you would want to use at Hunt & 87. From the Fry's to the beginning
of 87 is only about 2 miles. I'd ride that and another mile or two as warmup (watching for the
glass) and then put the hammer down.

I don't see where Casa Blanca road is. I'd just go until it's time for you to turn around.
The shoulder gets smaller after the 187 you would turn to go to Casa Grande, but by then you
should be at least 12 miles. You'll be hard pressed to cover that before you want to turn around (at the 20 minute mark or so).

HTH.

-Jot

2008-08-22 6:10 PM

in reply to: #1622276

Master

1882

Chandler, Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

gamebofh - 2008-08-22 2:28 PM There is no parking that you would want to use at Hunt & 87. From the Fry's to the beginning of 87 is only about 2 miles. I'd ride that and another mile or two as warmup (watching for the glass) and then put the hammer down. I don't see where Casa Blanca road is. I'd just go until it's time for you to turn around. The shoulder gets smaller after the 187 you would turn to go to Casa Grande, but by then you should be at least 12 miles. You'll be hard pressed to cover that before you want to turn around (at the 20 minute mark or so). HTH. -Jot

I looked at the map wrong and made a mental left onto the 587 and not a hard left onto the 87. I'll ride from the Fry's and just cruise for 15-20 minutes and then I'll drop the hammer for 15 minutes before turning around and covering the same distance with an equally hard effort.

Thanks for the route!

Wish me luck, this is gonna hurt!

Edited by Mirg 2008-08-22 6:10 PM

2008-08-22 6:35 PM

in reply to: #1622414

Expert

1330

Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

Make sure that you give yourself a mile or two extra on the out. There is normally a headwind in the morning and when you turn around you can run out of runway on the way back.

Good luck. 30min at full bore would be rough.

-Jot

2008-08-23 10:25 AM

in reply to: #1622441

Master

1882

Chandler, Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

gamebofh - 2008-08-22 4:35 PM Make sure that you give yourself a mile or two extra on the out. There is normally a headwind in the morning and when you turn around you can run out of runway on the way back. Good luck. 30min at full bore would be rough. -Jot

Thanks for the tip on the route!

The TT went good this morning and I averaged 20.6mph for the 30 minute TT covering just over 10miles I thought I could have pushed it a little harder but you were right about the head wind on the way out but that's a pretty good road to ride. There was a lot of glass on the road but I was able to avoid most of it.

Thanks again!

2008-08-23 4:45 PM

in reply to: #1623000

Expert

1330

Arizona

Subject: RE: Looking for a long flat route to ride TT on

Glad it worked out. The glass tends to be in that first mile or two.

One of these days I'm going to take my truck out there with a broom and try to clean
it up some.

At least they came through and cleaned up the dead coyotes a while ago.

-Jot