Date: Saturday, March 10, 2012
Distance: 251 miles
StartTime: 6:00 AM MST. Registration opens at 5 AM. There will be a mass start at 5 AM and announcements and time for questions at 5:45 AM.
Start Location: Round Trip Bike Shop, 1148 E. Florence Blvd, Casa Grande, Arizona (Show directions)
Time Limit: 27 hours
Begin twilight: 6:18 AM Sunrise: 6:42 AM
Sunset: 6:33 PM End civil twilight: 6:56 PM
Moonrise: 9:34 PM, 92% illuminated
Cost: $25.00 All riders must pre-register. (No day of event registration.)
ACP sanctioned

This route starts and finishes in Casa Grande at the Round Trip Bike Shop.  From Casa Grande the route travels in a clockwise direction circling much of the Salt/Gila River Valley, including traveling along most of the length of the Valley of the Sun.  This is done on roads that generally only skirt the southern reaches of the cities of the Valley, which together comprise the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States.  Much of the first half of the route is across desert and reservation land.  The second half is primarily farm land.  The roads were chosen to minimize traffic and stop lights and many are formerly key roads that have been superseded by Interstate and highways, leaving them more enjoyable for cyclists.

Services are located at regular intervals along the route at the towns visited.  Towns and Cities visited:  Casa Grande, Sacaton, Casa Blanca, Maricopa, Gila Bend, Arlington, Buckeye, Estrella, Phoenix, Laveen, Komatke, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek and Coolidge. 

Terrain:  This route being in a valley, has only 2,858 feet of total climbing.  With the exception of the railroad grade climb between Maricopa and Gila Bend and some short climbs from Gila Bend to Arlington, this is a flat ride that drops in elevation from Casa Grande down to Gila Bend and returns with a gradual climb to Casa Grande.

Download Cue Sheet

View on-line map

This map is very preliminary, and may change before the event.

Elevation Profile

2,858 feet of climbing.

Lights, reflective vest, ankle bands: Required. There will be a light inspection at check-in to verify front and rear lights are working and are sufficient for night riding.

Start Mile 0: Bathrooms, water and parking at the start.  24 hour Wal-Mart down the street

Mile 24: Casa Blanca 24 Hour Market

Mile 37: Control # 2 Maricopa Bashas, Circle K, McDonalds, last water for 40 miles

Mile 79: Control # 3 Gila Bend Circle K, Burger King, restaurants along Pima St.

Mile 108 : Desert Rose Grill (Biker Bar)

Mile 125: Control # 4 Buckeye, along MC85 – grocery store, La Placita Café, Circle K,  Subway, Sonic Drive-In

Mile 137: Estrella Safeway

Mile 146.5: Southern Ave. Circle K

Mile 157: Control # 5 Laveen – Fry’s, Safeway, Starbucks, Pizza Hut

Mile 164: Komatke – Convenience store

Mile 183-4: Sun Lakes – Burger King, Bashas, Minit Market

Mile 185: Chandler – Safeway

Mile 195:  Control # 5 Bashas’, Subway, Circle K

Mile 229: Coolidge Circle K

Mile 251; Control # 7 Casa Grande – Wal-Mart

Carlton van Leuven, Chandler, AZ
Daniel Fallon, Prescott, AZ
Eric Simmons, Colorado Springs, CO (pre-ride)
Greg Olmstead, San Diego, CA
Irene Takahashi, Boulder, CO
Ken Knutson, Tracy, CA
Susan Plonsky, Flagstaff, AZ (pre-ride)
Tammie Nakamura, Aurora, CO (pre-ride)
Trev Williams, Calgary, Alberta