Planning a ride from CA to AZ

TXTenere

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Dec 22, 2013
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I am planning a ride from San Diego to Arizona next week. Below is some sort of basic plan that I have in mind. Any feedback is welcome.

Day 1: Via 15 to Coachella Valley in some way, then 10 East, 177N, 62E, 95N to Needles and then 40E towards Kingman. From there, loop up and around on old 66 towards the town of Seligman. Back onto 40E and up the mountain to Flagstaff. About 500 miles.

Day 2: Flagstaff to Prescott -- Lake Mary Rd (AZ Route 3?) to 87 to Apache Junction. Then head north on 88 to 188 to connect with 260 to Prescott. About 350 miles.

Day 3: Prescott to Home -- Iron Springs Rd thru Skull Valley to Bagdad Rd along 96, and 97 to 93 to Wickenburg. From Wickenburg, TBD, but possibly via 60 to 10 to 78, and home. About 450 miles.
 

advswede1981

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Sep 9, 2012
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SE Arizona
Ride a bike to Flagstaff in February seems like a "hey, hold my beer" moment. You know it's a mountain town at around 7000 feet right? As Chris Rock would say - "I wouldn't do that shit if I was you"
 

TXTenere

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Loke said:
Ride a bike to Flagstaff in February seems like a "hey, hold my beer" moment. You know it's a mountain town at around 7000 feet right? As Chris Rock would say - "I wouldn't do that shit if I was you"
Yeah, but with daytime highs of 55-59, and overnight lows of 30-32, it seems fairly benign. Obviously if the warmer temps don't materialize, then the plan will need to be amended.
 

AVGeek

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Day 1 is a lot of desert. I've done most of that route in the opposite direction a few years back. 95 between Blythe and Needles was in horrible condition, and I don't expect much has changed. You might want to continue into Parker and take AZ95 instead.

There will be lots of fresh snow in the AZ mountains, the state is getting plenty of rain right now. Most of Day 2 is mountain towns (Payson is at 5000'), so you might need to adjust and take 89 south into Chino Valley in order to skirt around Flagstaff. If you do that, continue down 89 through Congress and Yarnell. The Yarnell grade is more fun climbing, for me, but still a thrill going down.
 

Chuck B

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Apr 2, 2014
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Flagstaff AZ
I live in Flagstaff. Weather can change in moments notice. Weather has been quite warm and forecast looks to be the same all next week but keep a very close eye...particularly Williams and Flagstaff area. San Francisco peaks (12K ft) cause all kinds of isolated weather patterns. We average 12ft of snow annually as a result...we've only gotten about 3ft so far. You'll find all roads above 4500ft have had lots of ciders thrown down and piled up along the edges and middle.
 
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