Options for 100, 83, 74 or 67 miles
Two Weeks Before El Tour!
By Suzanne Couvrette
Scheduled just 2 weeks before El Tour, the Silverbell Century comes at a time
when your training needs to intensify for the last time before the great event!
Ride on a portion of the “El Tour” route on the northwest side of town, with
long stretches of straight flat roads, perfect to practice riding in a group
and/or paceline. Improved Course this year! The 100-mile course will have some
short climbs at the beginning, then a long downhill on Tangerine in the middle,
finishing with flat terrain for the last 50 miles! The other 3 options will use
basically the same course as the 100-milers, but with some short-cuts here and
there, allowing riders to pick whatever distance they want to ride.
Care has been given in choosing a course with less traffic and in avoiding major intersections. All major turns will be marked with GABA signs. If riding in a pack or a paceline, please let other riders behind you know of any road hazards. Riding at high speed in a group requires complete focus to avoid accidents.
General Course for the 100-milers: Riders will go east on River Rd. to Sabino Canyon Rd. to Sunrise. Pedal west on Sunrise to Kolb, north on Kolb looping back on Craycroft to Sunrise. Then, cycle on Sunrise to Skyline to Ina past Oracle Rd. Make your way to Rancho Vistoso via some neighborhoods. The course will take you west on Moore Rd. and Tangerine Rd. all the way to the west end of Avra Valley, turning around at the bottom of the climb to the Silverbell Ghost Town. Return via Airline Rd. and back on River Rd., then over the new Alvernon Bridge to Glenn and back to start. All options are on your route map. Turn-around points will be marked on the road with GABA signs. Riders can pick and choose a distance that suits their need; it will even be possible to change option at mid-point if you feel like more (or less) miles!
Starting Point:
All options will start at River & Craycroft, NE corner. Follow GABA signs to the
registration table, AND follow the directional signs of your chosen option when
you leave the parking lot. Registration begins and first riders depart
at 7AM.
No Mass start:
Start when you are ready. CPSC-approved helmets are mandatory. All traffic laws
must be obeyed. Ride two abreast ONLY WHEN THE BIKE LANE IS WIDE ENOUGH;
otherwise, riders must ride single-file.
PRE-REGISTRATION FEE:
GABA Members: $20
Non-Members: $35
DAY OF EVENT FEE:
GABA-Members: $30
Non-Members: $45
Why not join GABA-Tucson today? Get
our monthly news-letter delivered to your door AND this ride at member prices!
Add $15 for a one-year individual membership, $18 for a family membership, or
$10 for student members.
Ride Support:
This ride will be fully supported with 3 SAG stops with fruit, water, snacks and
sandwich makings. There will be roving vans along the course to help out in case
of mechanical failure. The course will be marked with GABA “sandwich” signs to
indicate all the turns of the course.
Ride Organizer:
Colin and Mandi Cordell, colinandmandi@comcast.net or (520) 572-6229. Volunteers
are needed: contact Volunteers Coordinator, Deb Harms at 906-4617 or at
volunteer@bikegaba.org.