2023 North Valley 300km

Sunrise over the North Valley

 Pre-Ride Report

16 riders are signed up for the 2023 edition of the North Valley 300km brevet on February 4, 2023. This will be the second time this route has been on the AZ Brevet Calendar, and this year I pre-rode it to check the conditions for main ride.

It was chilly at the start, my computer touched 32F at the start and topped off in the mid-sixties later in the day. Lets get started!

Cave Creek Road Construction

I rolled out just before 6am, the main event will start at 7am. About 4 miles into the ride, there is construction on Cave Creek Road. It appears to be a sewer line conditioning project with a pipeline off to the right and traffic is pressed into the left lane. I was able to ride inside the barriers, protected from the light traffic for most of the mile long construction zone. 

Several things to be careful of. First, there was some construction tape connecting the barriers at an intersection, and I nearly rode through it. Second, there are some random pavement cuts near the bike lane to watch for. Lastly, near the end of zone, there is a pump connection in the right hand lane that will require you to enter the traffic lane for about 30 feet.

At mile 19.9 there is a left turn onto the Black Canyon Freeway (aka. South I-17). Don't worry, just after the turn, you stay to the right on the frontage road and don't have to get on the Interstate!

New River Road

The route enters Peoria and heads north toward Lake Pleasant Dr. The route here is the reverse of the Bartlett Lake 200 that was held a few weeks ago. There is an information control at the Paloma Park entrance along the way. If you rode the Bartlett 200, you'll be happy to know that the construction is complete near the Lake Pleasant Road intersection. From there, a quick turn and 10 miles along New River road will take you to the next control in New River.

Don't stop here!

Stop at the Mini-Mart, not the Nudist Resort. Probably no risk of seeing a nudist today in this cold weather, but you probably want to keep moving past Shangri-La road!

Time check in Carefree 

The route continues to back-track the Bartlett 200 route through Cave Creek and Carefree. Curios, French food, and biker bars, something for everyone in these two tourist/retirement communities! 

Nine-mile Hill

The route heads south shortly after leaving Carefree into high-end luxury homes in the Legends before turning left and down Pima to Dynamite Road. It’s time to climb back up toward Pinnacle Peak. Your reward is nine miles of downhill to the golf community of Rio Verde, with a shoulder/bike lane the whole way down.

Great views on McDowell Mountain Road

It’s 10 miles of scenic rollers to the planned community of Fountain Hills. This is a popular cycling route and there were quite a few riders on the road. The Fountain may be visible, but the route heads east before you get there. Down through Ft. McDowell to the Beeline highway for the run up to Bush highway. 

Bush highway has been recently repaved, but the shoulders go from slim to none until reaching the Salt River below the Stewart Mountain Dam and Saguaro Lake. From here the shoulders are wide and paved through the Salt River Recreation Area. 

Great views on the Usery climb

Climbing Usery Pass

About 3 miles of steady climbing will bring you to the top of Usery Pass. If you think you are hearing gunshots, you are. There is shooting range here! At least the ranges face away from the road!

Mike is checking on this!

On brevet day, Mesa is running a Marathon event that will start at Usery pass. They should be well on their way before brevet riders arrive. After clearing the pass, another joyful downhill awaits. Just be careful not to miss the right hand turn on McDowell road to the next control on Power Road.

More fresh pavement on Bush Highway

Leaving the control, Power road becomes Bush Highway. This section used to be quite rough, today fresh pavement allows a fast and fun descent down King Kong hill.

Salt River below Stewart Mountain Dam

Continuing east you will retrace the route back to the Beeline highway. I usually stop at the base of the climb out of the Salt River Recreation area. The view today was especially spectacular in the late afternoon sun!

Verde River at sunset

It’s easy to hold a fast pace on the Beeline highway with its gentle descent back to Fountain Hills. Just look out for debris and car-b-que scars on the shoulder. The good news is that some of the roughest sections had been resurfaced since last year!

The route continues past the light where you entered the Beeline earlier in the day. Continue up to Shea before turning right and the next control at the Circle K at Saguaro Blvd. There is also a McDonald's and other fast food options if it’s dinnertime!

The route continues on Shea. After a couple of short climbs, its a fast downhill into Scottsdale. The bike lane disappears, but the route exits Shea at 136th Street onto quiet roads through the McDowell foothills.

15 turns over the next 20 miles will take you though Scottsdale and North Phoenix and the finish.

Flat #1

Flat #2

I enjoyed two flat tires in this quiet and dark residential area. The first flat was a thorn, the second a failed stem on my spare tube. The second tube held, and I’m glad it did. I normally carry 3 on a brevet, but forgot to check my saddle bag before this one!

The finish

Riding hard the last 15 miles to outrun a potential third flat, I rolled into the Cortado Coffee Roastery just under 15 hours after I started. There is still time to sign-up for the main event, go to Azbrevet.com to sign up!

Steve Atkins

Click here for RWGPS data

 

2023 Bartlett Lake 200km Brevet

Ride Report

January 2023

Sunrise on a new brevet season

New year, new brevet season! 2023 is also a Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) year and that usually means a large turnout for the first 200km brevet. The PBP is the longest running organized bike event in the world and runs every four years. 8000 riders from around the world will ride the 2023 edition. It will be the 20th, and completion of a full brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600km) in 2023 is a requirement for entry.

 

I should not have been surprised that 'only' 14 riders were starting the 200 this year, because a second 200km brevet was on offer in Arizona only two weeks later! Another 20 riders signed up for that one!

Mike Sturgill gives the rider brief

In addition to the 14 riders on the 200km course, four riders were taking on the 100km course. As always it was great to see some of the usual suspects (Tom Altemus, Brian McQuire, and Roger Peskett) at the start and get caught up.  After Mike Sturgill (Regional Brevet Administrator for Arizona) gave the rider brief at 0755 we rolled out at 0800. Mike and Brian had pre-ridden the 100 and noted only a bit of construction on the first 5 miles of the course needed to be navigated; they both were also riding the 200 this morning!

Entering the construction zone

Some pipeline work is happening on Cave Creek road and traffic is pushed into one lane. However, there was no construction activity going on and we were able to ride inside the barricades to enjoy a 'protected' bike lane. My goal for this one was to ride at an even pace all day, and that meant resisting the urge to ride in the group that invariably starts fast. By the time we hit the construction zone, I thought I was lantern rouge (last rider).

Club group in the Legends

Waiting for a light at Scottsdale road, Luciano rode up to my surprise. I thought I was last! After the light turned, he rode off and I was now the lantern rouge! The route continued into the Legends development and I rode into a club group of riders also out enjoying a perfect morning for riding. They were riding in a regroup style, which meant they would string out, then regroup as they continued to ride. The only issue was I was riding at a steady pace, and I would catch them, only to have the faster ones then pass then see them again at the next regroup.

The pavement ends here!

The club group stopped for coffee where Cave Creek Road becomes Seven Springs Road, and thankfully, my game of hare and tortoise was over. The course continues to the end of pavement then U-turns and heads back to the control at Sears Kay and, for the 200km riders, to Bartlett lake.

Great views toward Sears Kay Ruins

The best part of the U-turn format, is you get to see and greet the other riders out in front as they continue on the course.

Rest and refreshments at the Sears Kay control

Charles (North Dakota) and Bill (Tennessee) were riding the 100km and were in the control when I rolled in. After a quick visit, a welcome Mountain Dew (Mike said to save one for Steve, thanks Mike!), some snacks, and a handful of pocket food I was back on my way.

Next stop Bartlett Lake

The route generally descends to the next control at the Bartlett Lake Marina. Winds were favorable and after climbing about 1000 feet to get to the last downhill, I was moving through this section at 40+ mph! The photo above, is from last year's 200, I didn't want to stop in that tailwind! Of course, the lead groups were heading up while I headed down and that would be the last time I would see the leaders.

 

I rolled into the Marina, picked up some food to eat, reload the pockets, and get back on the road. What goes down must go up, and every tailwind becomes a headwind, but the weather was perfect and the climb out was actually quite enjoyable.

Pot is legal in AZ!

With plenty of water in the bottles and food in the pockets, I didn't need to stop in Carefree/ Cave Creek for supplies. I heard that Pot is now legal in AZ, and had to stop at this purveyor, who obviously had embraced the change with gusto! No room in the pockets today for one of these beauties, so I headed on!  

Road to New River

The next official control is in New River. But feeling hungry, I stopped for lunch at a Circle K at Carefree Highway and 7th Street. They had tables out front and a wide selection of snacks and sandwiches. In honor of the PBP, I grabbed a Jambon et Fromage (Ham and Cheese) sandwich, some chips, Mountain Dew and some Gummy Savers for pocket food! OK, the sandwich and food was nothing like the PBP. But for this brevet, my food strategy was to carry only pocket food acquired on the route and not carry carbohydrate drink mix, to mimic my food plan for PBP.

 

New River Control

12 miles later, I rolled into the official control in New River and was surprised to see John and Ann there on a tandem. The last time I saw them, they were in one the lead groups heading toward the lake. Their tandem had a mechanical, and after a long delay, were back on the course. I topped off a bottle and they were already gone!

 

I caught and passed them at the very tricky intersection at Lake Pleasant, and we then made our way through 300 meters of unpaved road under construction. I was looking forward to some company for the last 25 miles of the course, but alas, a staple punctured my rear tire and I stopped to repair it.

 

Balloons over Peoria

I was back on the road in under 10 minutes and into several planned communities of Peoria. The roads are relatively new, all have bike lanes, and while there are many turns to keep track of, there was little traffic and even a few parks with water and restrooms along the way.

Slow pace = Nice sunset!

With a start at 0800 and my slow pace, I was rewarded with a great Arizona sunset. I rolled into the Cortado Coffee Roastery a few minutes before 6 pm to put this one in the books at 9 hours and 53 minutes. John and Ann were in the parking lot and Tom Altemus was there packed up as well. After a quick visit, I threw the bike in the car and headed home.

Debby had homemade soup on the stove, and my food strategy worked during the ride. I was not starving at the end and could generate consistent power to the finish.  I snacked on some pocket food on the way home to an awesome dinner and a great start to the 2023 brevet season!

Next up is the North Valley 100/200/300; something for everyone, come join us!

Steve Atkins

Click here for GPS data