A Cyclist´s Delight - Mt. Lemmon, Tucson AZ

After Tara Norton had to pull out of Ironman Arizona due to a bad case of hypothermia, Tara took me down to Mount Lemmon to show me (and her husband Bruce) her most favourite ride up Mount Lemmon. We drove to Tucson and upon arriving at the base of the mountain, Tara couldnt see herself not riding it so pulled her bike out of the car to make the climb (her bike was still in its full race set-up!), rather than drive it. This is some footage of her ride up Mount Lemmon, its amazing views and Taras encounter with a couple cyclists doing a fast 20min hill climb interval. Tara got on the back of their wheel for a short while but let the boys go as she leisurely continued on her most favourite ride in the world. Jimmy Riccitellos brother has some words of advice and the ride finished with a plate sized cookie at the top with about two tubs of ice cream on top!! Good times!

[@markflolid5930]

I love this ride. First started doing it back in 1971. Love to include the dirty Lemmon when I have time. Amazing the pace Sam Long holds on this climb.

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

Hi Mark Flolid, Thanks for your comment. Yes this ride up Mt.Lemmon is so amazing. Unfortunately I was only videotaping the whole ride of Tara. But one day I will go up there with my bicycle. Was that really Sam Long who was riding up there so fast this day? There is another road up Mt. Lemmon, a dirt road which was used for the construction of the Mt. Lemmon road and is for sure interesting for a ride on a gravel bike. Greetings from Bavaria, Denis

[@ferndog32]

Well shot! I just rode up to Summerhaven this weekend!

[@50guitar]

That looks like a pretty fast uphill pace. Impressed!

[@dragon28226]

Im 14 and rode up it! Its a beast of a ride!

[@romegaucho]

videos of tara norton, yeahhhh!!

[@hellomate639]

I want to see you descend on that TT bike... With the aero and the downhill you should be able to hit a pretty high speed on that descent. Good thing I live in Tucson now that I've been getting into biking. Gonna take me some time to get in shape for Mt. Lemmon but I'm excited to do it.

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

Hi Tri4love Tara is just in New Zealand in Epic camp with Scott Molina and she does well there.

[@hellomate639]

Hit 47 mph going down with my roommate. Took too long for me to say how long to get to the top my first go at it : P

[@dishglove]

took me 3:02 to get 11 miles but im in no way an avid cyclist. it was only my second day ever riding. I hit 36 MPH going down around mile 7 marker

[@MoreKevinLiang]

Advice for when the best months to go is? Don't really want to go when it's 110 degrees F out :P

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

So sorry cosmic quandary that i can´t give you any advice because i was there only for a single day. But with a little research on Google you can easy figure it out if you are searching for average monthly temperatures for the year in this region. And don´t forget to take some additional layers of clothings with you, because the nights in this region can be pretty cold!

[@robertlewis741]

Can't wait to get back! Awesome stuff. Check out live web cams of Mount Lemmon Before you go at the Arizona Bicycle Association's new web site at bikeaz.org.

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

Hi Robert Lewis, Thanks a lot for the hint and the link to the website from bikeaz.org.

[@ThePXNDX77]

How long does it take a rider to ride up to Mt.Lemmon? anyone?

[@eduardoruvalcaba5603]

ThePXNDX77 took me almost 3 hours! But I'm not the best climber :)

[@shartmann2008]

I'm doing it next year CTS.

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

Sh Hartmann It's an amazing place to be and to do training. I wish you lots of fun and stay safe at the down hills because there are sections with sometimes gusty winds!

[@shartmann2008]

yep not used to speed!

[@dishglove]

@azspud took me 3:02 to get 11 miles but im in no way an avid cyclist. it was only my second day ever riding. I hit 36 MPH going down around mile 7 marker

[@Bruce88keys]

Transcendental-

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

;-)

[@tumbleweedking5668]

I wouldn't train on my racing wheels, no reason to do a hill climb on a disc and aero front wheel.

[@Eddythemadmechanic]

Hi Scott, You should read the introduction text below the video before you comment on this video ;-). Tara was first in Phoenix for a race and had no second wheel set in her luggage so she had to do this climb which was not planned first with her race wheels.