Date:  Saturday, April 6, 2024

Distance: 187 miles

Start Time: 5:00 am
There will be a mass start at 5:00 AM and announcements and time for questions at 4:55.

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

Time Limit: 20 hours

Sunrise:  6:04 am
Sunset:  6:47 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

Kitt Peak 300k

The Kitt Peak series of events (200k/300k/400k/600k) are new for AZ. Each of the distances start/finish in the same location. Kitt Peak is one of the iconic climbs in Arizona and each distance will get to experience it.

We’ll start in North Tucson with a short warm-up before we hit the first obstacle on the day – Gates Pass. You’re only 12 miles into the ride but will already get to test your legs as you climb into Saguaro National Parks (SNP). The descent into SNP as the sun rises will be a highlight! You will continue on gentle terrain as you make your way out of Tucson. Once about half way to the Kitt you will reach Three Points. This is a good place to refill your bottle and grab a snack since there is still 15 miles to the base of the climb.

The sun will be full when you reach the base of the climb. For a preview, check out this fantastic web site. All the details are there, but it’s a 12 mile, 3600’ climb which averages 5.7%. There is a Visitor’s Center at the top. We’ll have staff up there to greet you with food and water. With a full stomach, the descent will be a blast! After the descent, the routes will diverge. The 200k riders will head back to the finish. The 300k/400k/600k riders will head further west to the town of Sells.

It should be a quick 20 mile jaunt to Sells for your turnaround. You will then retrace your route back to Three Points. It will, again, be a good spot to refuel. 300k riders will return to the finish through SNP. In all, 300k riders will have covered 187 miles and about 7,500’ of climbing.

McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope on Kitt Peak

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. Remember, though, that the route sheet you receive at the start of the ride is official, this map IS NOT.

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.

(Cue sheet is not yet available.)

Download cue sheet (pdf)

Elevation Profile

Total climbing is about 7,500 ft., depending on which measurement device you use.

Take note of the route profile. The climbs on this ride are generally rollers, but 2 long climbs exist - Gates Pass and Kitt Peak. Overall, the climbing is not extreme over this distance.

Requirements

Lights, safety vest/belt, and ankle bands are required when riding before sunrise and after sunset. Note that there is only about 12 hours of daylight for this ride so a good set of lights will be required.

Services

Start: La Quinta Inn will be our host hotel. All distances will start and finish here. We will have a light breakfast at the start and dinner at the finish.

There are multiple services in the area as well. Check the map to see a complete list of services available.

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

Saguaro National Park West

4 Registered Riders.

Rider Name	RUSA #	City	State/Prov
Steve Atkins	3359	Tempe	AZ
Bob Fisher	9001	Spokane	WA
Stephen Kenny	11376	Calgary	AB
Mike Sturgill	1847	Phoenix	AZ