Arizona Desert Training Camp

Are You Going to Train All Winter Watching Old Cycling Videos?
Shhhh......Come Play Outside to Tucson, Arizona

Our 15th Year!

Originating in Tucson, Arizona cyclists will enjoy the fine weather and roads in the southern region of the state. Each week includes breakfasts, lunches, sag stops, motels, Travel Shirt, and technical support. Collectors Edition Jersey if you register before December 1st, plus some of the driest spring weather in the United States.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

We will begin each tour from the Country Inn and Suites Hotel located 1/2 mile from the Tucson Airport. Your arrival hotel room is included in Tucson the day you fly in to Tucson. Your departure hotel room is included the last night of the tour before you fly home the next day. A hotel shuttle bus is available to bring you and your bike to the hotel. You will be able to ship and store your hardshell bike case at the Country Inn and Suites Tucson. Rider Packets and Travel Plans will be mailed around December 15th.

Country Inn and Suites Hotel 6681 Tucson Blvd Tucson AZ 85706 Reservations call: (520)741-9000

Tucson Weather Now

The Country Inn and Suites Hotel will take your reservations should you wish to arrive early or stay over a few nights. Make those reservations early!

Whenever PAC Tour stays in Sierra Vista, Arizona - we will be staying at the Holiday Inn Express.

If you would rather not travel with your bike to camp - you have an option of renting a bike. Contact Jessie Menard of Cycle Tucson at www.cycletucson.com. They can put together a bike that fits you and will deliver and pick up the bike at the Country Inn and Suites.

This is an annual event first held in 1996.

See Desert Camp tips on RoadBikeRider.com.

2010 Info

Week #1
Cactus Classic Desert Tour

$995 based on double occupancy Single supplement $350
Arrive in Tucson (fly in), Saturday, February 20
68-89 miles per day to Wickenburg and back
Depart from Tucson (fly out), Saturday, February 27

This week of Camp is a fun week of riding through beautiful desert terrain. We will tour for six days in the flat lower desert west and north of Tucson. The weather is always warmer here and a good place for February training. Our out and back route offers flat to gently rolling landscape suitable for early season miles. We will eat breakfast and several lunches during the week at interesting local restaurants. This is a good tour to start your cycling season and break up a winter of indoor cycling.

2010 Itinerary

The riders at this camp will range from beginner to experienced. All riders should be able to ride 50 miles in 4 hours with stops.

Susan's Photos - 2009 Cactus Classic Tour

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Week #2
Coaching Week

$1095 based on double occupancy Single supplement $350

Arrive in Tucson (fly in), Saturday, February 27
Based in Sierra Vista 50-82 miles per day
Depart from Tucson (fly out), Saturday, March 6

Each day will begin with a stretching class. Breakfast will follow in the hotel restaurant. Daily rides will offer longer and shorter loops to interesting destinations surrounding Sierra Vista. Lunch and snack stops will be provided along the route. Additional miles will be available on some days. We will have afternoon and evening seminars presented by our staff of coaches. Topics will cover nutrition, training, motivation, equipment, event preparation and other long distance related topics.

Coaching Week Seminars by Fred Matheny

During the past 20 years Fred Matheny has been the fitness editor of BICYCLING Magazine and the successful Road Bike Rider.com web site. PAC Tour Coaching Week is an excellent opportunity for all levels of riders to learn from Fred and his practical training experience. Each year Fred chooses his most helpful and interesting topics to present at Coaching Week. The following are Fred's seminars this year.....

1. Common Sense Principles of Training (While Still Having Fun). A refresher course on the basics of training with some counterintuitive findings too.
2. Don't Fight the Gale, Use it: How to Use the Wind for Training. This one is from a new eArticle I'm writing this winter about surviving--and training--in the wind. Always a good topic for AZ in the spring.
3. How to Stay Upright. Solo and Pace line Survival Tips. This was popular a few years back and a refresher is always a good idea in a camp environment.
4. What is the Ideal Mix of Training Intensities? Based on a new article in Sports Science about "polarized" training. What percent of total riding time should be spent below lactate threshold? At LT? Above? Surprising findings from training logs of elite endurance athletes.
5. The Iron Controversy: Does Resistance Training Help or Hinder Cycling Performance? More new info on this evergreen topic. Also--does weight training help fight aging? Build strong bones?
6. Ten Climbing Techniques to Get You up the Hill Faster. A good talk just before Mule Pass!

Coaching Week Bike Fitting with Bob Olsen

Bob Olsen of Wheel Werks (http://wheelwerksbikes.com/) will be fitting riders for the seventh year in a row at Coaching Week. Bob has over 20 year experience as a professional bicycle mechanic and helping riders be comfortable on their bikes. Learn from Bob's knowledge of equipment and rider positioning to improve your cycling efficiency. Bob is offering the following video and fitting sessions as an additional benefit to Coaching Week.

NEW RETUL Video Bike Fit Special

The most accurate way to evaluate your bike position and pedaling form. This is a new and optional addition to Coaching Week for the special introductory price of $200 per session.

This year PAC Tour will be offering Retul 3d motion capture fitting (http://www.retul.com/). Why Retul? Retul captures your position in a dynamic motion analysis over 15 seconds and, therefore, creates the most realistic replication of the actual pedal stroke and body position when out on the road and trails.

Retul uses state-of-the-art 3-D motion-capture technology that is accurate to less than a millimeter, resulting in truly objective data. The data can then be interpreted by our experienced fitter for the perfect biomechanical fit. Retul uses 3-dimensional views to capture the rider's precise mechanics which allows the fitter to see knee extension (from side view) in relation to knee wobble (from front view) along with back and arm angles. The fitter will also compare the left and right side to see any imbalances that need to be addressed which in turns makes you, the rider, more comfortable and more efficient.

Additionally, the fitter will objectively test at different watts what your body is truly doing under load. This allows the fitter to make the best adjustments for your body and cycling goals.

Cost in the shop is $250. For PAC Tour Desert Camp participants a special of $200 is being offered. If you would like an advance or Retul fit please reserve a slot before camp at bob@wheelwerksbikes.com.

As in years past Bob has done the Quick Fits of 15 minute at $20 each. This includes observation of your cycling position and giving advice for improvement and small adjustments. More time can be bought for later in the day if more help is needed. Also if some one wanted a full advance fit this takes 1-1.5 hours and cost is $100.

Payments and Scheduling of Bike Fitting and Retul Video Sessions should be coordinated directly with Bob Olsen at Wheel Werks.

2010 Itinerary

The riders at this camp will range from novice to experienced. All riders should be able to ride 50 miles in 4 hours with stops.

Susan's Photos - 2009 Coaching Week

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Week #3
Tour of the Historic Towns and Hotels

Special welcome to Bike Friday owners!
Bike Friday owners are responsible to bring their own spare inner tubes (4) and tires (1) to fit the unique sizes of their bikes.

$1,295 based on double occupancy Single Supplement $450
Arrive in Tucson (fly in), Saturday, March 6
Depart from Tucson (fly out), Saturday, March 13

Susan's Photos - 2009 Historical Town and Hotel Bike Friday Tour

Arrive in Tucson and saddle up for a tour filled with sizzlin' southwest history every day! The first day we'll ride 49 miles to the Old Sonoita Inn. This inn was built in the style of a horse barn to honor the famous race horse Secretariqt. Riders wanting to add 24 miles today can ride to the old Stagecoach Hotel in Patagonia and back for an afternoon ice cream treat. The following morning we'll head out on an easy 55 miles through the wine country of Elgin before spending an evening walking the wooden sidewalks of historic Tombstone.

On day three, we'll ride 47 miles to the hillside mining town of Bisbee. We will divide the lodging of our group between the Copper Queen and Hotel and Hotel La More. The first 25 paid entrants will stay at the Copper Queen Hotel. There's an optional side trip into Mexico to stop and smell the enchiladas.

The fourth day of riding is an optional 56 mile round trip ride into Douglas, Arizona to have lunch at the Gadsden Hotel. Then return to Bisbee for great shopping and things to see in the revitalized old town area. The final two days of this tour will follow the old stagecoach routes back through Tombstone and Benson before returning to Tucson.

This tour is for riders who are looking for a fun cycling holiday with less focus on training and fitness. It's the easiest tour of the PAC Tour Desert Camp format. You'll enjoy this tour more if you can average 10 mph to have more time to explore the old southwest along the way. If you want to train for racing and average faster than 15 mph you should not attend this week. Please consider joining a longer mileage week of Desert Camp.

2008 Photos

2010 Itinerary

Bike Friday welcomes all their customers to join this fun tour. See http://www.bikefriday.com/desertcamp for multimedia reports of previous Bike Friday Desert Camps. More PACTOUR on a Friday at http://www.bikefriday.com/pactour.

The riders at this camp will range from beginner to experienced. All riders should be able to ride 50 miles in 5 hours with stops.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Week #4
Chiricahua Challenge Tour

$1,095 based on double occupancy Single supplement $350
Arrive in Tucson (fly in), Saturday, March 13
Depart from Tucson (fly out), Saturday, March 20

This week is a cross between our popular Mountain Week with more time to ride the beautiful Chiricahua Mountains. The 15 mile climb to the Chiricahua Monument is considered one of the best roads in the region. You will spend 2 nights in Willcox and 3 nights in Historic Tombstone to customize shorter or longer routes if you wish.

2008 Photos

2010 Itinerary

This week is for experienced riders. All riders should be able to ride more than 50 miles in 4 hours with stops.

Susan's Photos - 2009 Chiricahua Mountain Tour

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Week #5
Century Week

$1,095 based on double occupancy Single supplement $350
Arrive in Tucson (fly in), Saturday, March 20
Based in Sierra Vista 60-100 miles per day
Depart from Tucson (fly out), Saturday, March 27

This week is for riders who want to ride long miles everyday, but stay at one location during the week. Daily rides can be customized for riders with specific interests. Evening cycling entertainment and programs will be provided on a variety of topics. Each day will offer longer and shorter routes with 60-100 mile options.

2010 Itinerary

The riders at this camp will range from beginner to experienced. All riders should be able to ride 50 miles in 4 hours with stops.

Susan's Photos - 2009 Century Week

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Week #6
Mountain Tour

FULL

CALL if you would like to be placed on the waiting list. You will be notified by March 1st if there is an opening.

$1,195 based on double occupancy Single supplement $350
Arrive in Tucson (fly in), Saturday, March 27
80 -100 miles per day, to New Mexico
Depart from Tucson (fly out), Sunday, April 4

After descending for 5 miles, I took a picture of this sign... George M.

This point-to-point tour stays at different motels each night. Our route will loop around southeastern Arizona into New Mexico. This loop has become famous among veteran camp riders for the strenuous mountain climbs and variety of scenery. The four-hour climb up Mount Graham on Day 6 is one of the highlights of this tour. This is one of the most popular weeks of Camp and is limited to 50 riders.

2008 Photos

2010 Itinerary

The riders at Mountain Week are experienced. All riders should be able to ride more than 50 miles in 4 hours with stops.

Susan's Photos - 2009 Mountain Tour

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Training Goals Before Desert Camp

The training base for riders attending Desert Camp is different than for riders joining our other cross country tours. Most riders are coming from winter climates. They are unable to ride outside during the three months before Camp. These riders can still arrive at Camp ready to ride. Here are some fitness goals:

• Try to include 10 hours per week of physical activity in your routine. Walking to work, shoveling snow, chopping wood, skiing and snowshoeing all help maintain winter fitness.
   
• Join a Health Club and participate in Spinning Classes. Riding three sessions per week will help your cycling. Training with other people will help keep you motivated. While you are at the gym, include some stair climbing, weight lifting, pull-ups and stretching in your routine.
   
• Don't forget some intensity. Remember Lon's 90% guideline of max heart rate — try to accumulate one hour per week in this intensity zone. Use a heart monitor watch with upper limit memory. When you ride your indoor bike trainer; include sprints and hill climbs. Don't plod through every workout at a conversation pace.
   
• Eat Right. At Camp it is difficult to diet and still ride long miles. If you need to lose weight...start now. Lose those extra pounds gradually before camp.
   
• The Desert Camp days are planned at a 3-4 hour per 50 mile pace with rest stops. That means riding down the road at 14-18 MPH. Use this as a guide for planning your training pace.
   
• Overhaul and test ride your bicycle before coming to camp. If you bike has been sitting in your house all winter, make sure the cables and bearing are in good condition. PAC Tour will not be performing winter overhauls.
   

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Training Goals | Signup and Details

Chiricahua Climb

by Charles Breer

There's no question that Chiricahua is a tough climb, but I would say that it has some steeper parts and some less steep parts, so it's not just a continuous slog (like Mt Ventoux in southern France). The first few miles are relatively gentle as the scenery starts to change from desert to more forest and you get your first view of the unusual rock formations. To break it up, riders can stop at the Park Service visitor center, which has bathrooms and interesting displays. The middle part of the climb is deep in a forested canyon, which can be cooler than on the desert floor. Sometimes, water is flowing in a small creek bed and you get more close-up views of the bizarre formations. The last few miles are a bit steeper, but still not as steep as parts of the Mt Graham climb from Mountain Week. This stretch is also very rewarding because of the expansive views and switchback road that clings to the hillside. Riders are back into the open at this point and you can see the twisting road up ahead. There is a nice parking lot at the top, surrounded by miles of rock formations, with interpretive displays and short hikes to overlook vista points. In sum, while this is clearly a good climb, I've rarely been on a climb that is as rewarding as Chiricahua and best of all, there is very little traffic. The descent is thrilling, but with excellent smooth pavement, so it takes only a fraction of time to get down.