The only real
downside to
Victoria is that
it rains a lot
during the
winter and
spring. Usually
it’s the wet
winter that
makes me crack
by mid-March,
and I buy a
plane ticket to
Tucson. This
year I cracked
in January. All
the years of
riding in the
cold rain
finally caught
up. I just
couldn't do it
this year. I
needed to get
some major miles
in on the bike,
so I packed up
the SUV with
three bikes
(road, cyclo-cross
and TT), tons of
training clothes
and my cat and
made my way down
to Tucson at the
beginning of
February. I am
here for three
months. The plan
is to stay here
until the end of
April then make
my way back to
Canada, hitting
Wildflower on
the return route
home.
Why Tucson?
Well, I know
Tucson. I
discovered
Tucson in 1993.
Back then,
triathlons fast
guys like Mike
Pigg, Jimmy
Riccetelo, Paul
Huddle, Wes
Hobson, Chuckie
V, Paul Thomas
and some others
would base
themselves out
of Tucson. (It’s
interesting to
note that those
boys would crush
on the bike
during
triathlons.) I
could have gone
to San Diego,
where the
superstars were,
but San Diego
was too
expensive.
I still remember
the first ride I
did with Mike
Pigg my first
time in Tucson.
We were
hammering side
by side in our
13-tooth cogs
then I
downshifted into
the 12 (back
then 12 was the
smallest cog --
I am getting
old). Mike
turned to me and
said, “Hey, save
the 12 for race
day.” I learned
a big lesson
that ride: you
go hard in
training, but
you should save
your all-out
dig-deep effort
for race day.
These days in
Tucson there are
more
professional
cyclists than
pro triathletes.
I like it that
way. I can do my
thing and no one
notices. Plus, I
think of myself
as a roadie who
does Ironman.
Although, that
sure didn't show
itself during
Ironman last
year, when I got
crushed on the
bike by a bunch
of super-bikers.
There is no way
I am going to
let that happen
again; so rather
than just spend
two or three
weeks in Tucson
I am here for a
good period of
time to get my
cycling back.
Last year, I put
on a triathlon
training camp to
show others why
Tucson is a good
place to get
ready for
Ironman. The
focus was long
miles in the
saddle. This
year, due to
demand, I am
doing two camps
from March 12 to
25.
It’s easy to put
in the long
miles in this
town. The
weather is great
during the
winter and
spring months:
warm and sunny.
There are a
bunch of group
rides if you
want to ride
with a group.
There are also
some amazing
climbs, such as
Maderra Canyon,
Mount Lemmon and
Kitt Peak. I
personally love
the long solo
rides into the
desert with the
rolling terrain.
Tucson is a
weird city. It
is actually a
pretty big city.
It can take a
long time to
ride from end to
the other; yet,
the second you
ride outside the
city limits
there is no one.
Tucsonans don’t
venture out of
the city, so I
always have
quiet roads to
ride on. I try
to stay on the
edge of town and
never venture
though it.
Tucson also has
some great trail
runs as well.
Although, expect
to get lost once
or twice if you
go solo.
Plus, you can’t
beat baseball’s
Cactus League
during the days
off from
training. It’s a
great way to sit
outside, enjoy
the weather,
watch a quality
game with the
big boys and
rejuvenate for
more long days
in the saddle.
If you're headed
this way -- see
you on the roads
or on the
trails.
