By John Westergaard, The Arizona Bicycle Association.
Cycling writer John Westergaard of BikeAZ.org, the official media portal for The Arizona Bicycle Association contributed to this article. Jason “The Bike Bandit” Kirk, mountain bike guide for Tucson Bike Rentals and Guided Bike Tours also contributed to this story.
ORO VALLEY, Arizona – Oro Valley and the northwest side of Tucson is one of my favorite places to ride. The roads in general are newer than Tucson’s with well kept designated bike lanes and paths that are great for the novice as well as the serious cycling enthusiast. In Oro Valley alone, there are over 80 miles of bike paths and roads with bike lanes. Yes, there is nothing like biking among the desert scenery with the backdrop of the Catalina Mountains.
Cycling Oro Valley – Southern Arizona’s Biking Mecca
“If you are looking for an ideal road biking community to visit or retire, Oro Valley, Arizona has to be at the top of your list,” says Kirby Rodriguez, retired Air Force veteran and editor for BikeAZ.org. “The Vistoso area of Oro Valley is a center point for great, safe cycling with an ideal climate. We have it all. You can start here, stay close by and enjoy great bike lanes and paths. Or you can venture on long haul rides, such as heading east to Catalina Highway and take it up towards Mount Lemmon (9,159′), riding fantastic black top with safe bike lanes.” (The actual road up to Mt. Lemmon from the North is not paved. -kr)
Caution
Many cyclists choose to bike the spacious shoulder of Oracle Road. Oracle Road is highly trafficked and is not for the feint of heart. Be particularly aware that Oracle Road has lots of metal shards and small debris that causes flats. When biking Tucson in general, and especially on Oracle Road, riding with flat-resistant tires is highly recommended. Speaking of flat resistant tires, I highly recommend Specialized Armadillo or Continental’s Gatorskins.
Oro Valley’s Best Road Biking
Vistoso Loop of Oro Valley – Fun 15 Mile Loop
The Vistoso Loop is a 15 mile road bike ride on pristine bike lanes that give you fantastic desert, mountain and golf course views. Bike this and you will ascend 500 ft. to a maximum elevation of 2,987 ft. This is a relatively easy ride for most cyclists, but you will burn some calories.
Added Rodriquez, “Riding Vistoso Loop at sunrise or sunset is a great time to enjoy the incredible views of the Catalinas.”
Go For the Burn! Cycling Cody Loop
The road bike ride called Cody Loop is a popular ride among Oro Valley road bikers who live on the northwest side of Tucson and Oro Valley.
Once you get to the town of Oracle, turn right on American Ave. to ride the loop known as “Cody Loop.” It is a 60-80 mile loop with an elevation gain of over 3,000ft. Then, you ride back to Tucson on Hwy 77. This is a fun and scenic ride, semi-rigorous depending on where you start.
For more information on road biking Cody Loop, click here.
Road Biking Saddlebrooke of Robson Communities
Clean roads and miles of perfect black top with wide bike lanes make Saddlebrooke one of the country’s best and safest cycling routes. The Arizona Bicycle Association lauds Saddlebrooke as “one of the safest places for leisure cyclists”.
Oro Valley is often on the top 10 list of many cycling magazines, and Saddlebrooke receives its share of acclaim for cycling. Loops run between 20-40 miles and are moderate elevation gain, up to 1300 ft.
For more information on cycling in Saddlebrooke, read the article here.
The Robson Communities are designed as active adult communities and they are very cycling friendly. All of their communities are excellent places to enjoy some stress free leisure road cycling. For those of you who live near Green Valley, Quail Creek is a smaller version of Saddlebrooke.
Points of Interest
Between Oro Valley and Oracle (about 26 miles), there are several points of interest.
Historic Steam Pump Ranch is worth a visit. The old ranch house has been restored and now serves as a museum. On Saturday mornings, there is a farmers’ market here as well. Docents give tours. It’s located on the west side of Oracle Road (Hwy 77) just north of 1st Avenue.
Catalina State Park has a lot to offer. Here you can park your bike and walk the Romero Ruins loop (less than one mile) and see the ruins of this family’s ranch that was built over extensive Hohokam ruins. There are many interpretive signs that help explain what was once here. Cycling is permitted on all the trails except the Romero Ruin Trail. Picnic and campground areas include restrooms, hookups, and showers. Catalina State Park boasts 170 species of birds and dozens of desert critters. Entrance and use fees vary.
Oracle State Park, just outside the City of Oracle on Wildlife Road, is 24 miles north of Catalina State Park. Here you will find 4,000 acres of Oak grassland and mesquite covered hills. On Saturdays & Sundays docents offer tours of the historic Kannally Ranch House. In the park are 15 miles of trails that mountain bikers can enjoy. Check their website for upcoming events. The Oracle Inn Steakhouse & Lounge is a good place for cowboy fare. Entrance fee.
Oro Valley Bicycle Rentals and Delivery
BikeTucson.com rents and delivers road, mountain, hybrid and kids bikes to all of Oro Valley, Tucson and Green Valley. They are the only bicycle rental company serving Oro Valley. They rent Tucson’s largest fleet of bikes. They also rent carbon road bikes and full suspension mountain bikes. Half and full day road and mountain bike guided tours are also available. For cycling tours, click Here.
Road and Mountain Biking Media Resources
The Arizona Bicycle Association is the official road and mountain biking association for the state of Arizona. Visit BikeAZ.org for a thorough, updated list of all mountain bike trails, suggested road bike rides and more.
MountainBikeAz.com is one of Arizona’s oldest mountain biking resources.
