Rides
Welcome to our cycling club for SCOV residents and a limited number of Non-SCOV residents We offer many scheduled rides, and if you are unsure where to start, we recommend that new members join a Green Ride or a neighborhood E WOW Ride as an introduction to the club and club riding.
Vistoso Cyclists Club ride levels are classified similar to a heat index, progressing from cool to hot. The longer the rides are, the warmer it gets, right?
Green, Blue, Orange, Red, and A-E rides all have their primary ride planners, are defined below, and their common destinations are also listed.
Green, Blue and Orange rides are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A-E WOW rides are scheduled for Tuesdays. Red rides are scheduled roughly once per month from fall to late spring.
VCC Ride Group | WOW Ride Group | Ave MPH | Distance | Ride Host | Type of Ride | Group Structure | Rider Description |
Orange | A | 16+ | 35+ | No | Roads and Some Paths | No Formal PODS, Loose Pace Line | Experienced cyclist comfortable with single and double pace line rides and enjoys a coffee stop break. |
Blue | B | 14-16 | 35+ | No | Roads and Some Paths | No Formal PODS, Loose Pace Line | Experienced cyclist comfortable with single and double pace line rides and enjoys a coffee stop break. |
Green | C | 12-14 | 25-35 | No | Roads and Some Paths | Small PODS, No Drop Ride | Experienced cyclist with additional strength, seeking longer mileage and enjoys a coffee stop break. |
D | 10-12 | 20-25 | No | Paths and Some Roads | Small PODS, No Drop Ride | Experienced cyclist who enjoys a coffee stop break. | |
E | 10-12 | 12-18 | Yes | Bike Paths and Neighborhood Streets | Small PODS, No Drop Ride | A casual ride for the beginner or experienced cyclist who enjoys a snack/coffee stop break. |
Riders of all groups can challenge themselves by joining a faster paced group or going a longer distance. If you do so, please know the route and consider having a buddy join you.
WOW Rides: Ride with GPS
We are now using Ride with GPS to guide us to our coffee stop destination and home! If you are a WOW, you will need to download the RWGPS app on your phone. You will then be emailed the link to register and join our club account.
Please note that for groups A & B dropping a rider is not desired, but it may be acceptable when a cyclist cannot sustain the average group pace.
Ride start times vary by the time of year: Rides start at the Vistoso Community Church parking lot on Rancho Vistoso.
Normal Departure Times:
- October – 8:00 am
- November – 8:30 am
- December thru February – 9:00 am
- March – 8:30 am
- April – 8:00 am
- May – 7:30 am
- June thru August – 6:00 am or 6:30 am (Riders Choice)
- September – 7:00 am
During the summer months, destinations are selected at the start of each ride.
Green Rides Distance Range: 25 – 35 miles | Average Speed Range: 12 – 13 MPH Ave.
Green Rides Planner: Jim Elkan
WOW Rides Planner: Kathy Klug
Green and WOW-C Rides Menu
- Einsteins
- Bake House
- Bruegers
- Kneaders
- Beyond Bread on Ina
- Panera
- McDonalds
- Starbucks at Foothills
Blue Rides Distance Range: 32 – 57 miles | Average Speed Range: 14 – 17 MPH Ave.
Blue Rides Planner: Lynn Lamb
WOW Rides Planner: Kathy Klug
Blue and WOW B Rides Menu
- Ren
- Saddlebrooke Ranch
- Beyond Bread (Short)
- Beyond Bread (Long)
- Mercado
- Starbucks Outlet Mall
- Einsteins on Ina
- Ritz Carlton
- Time Market
- Panera at University
- Luce Coffee University
- Sky Rider Coffee Shop
- Copper Cafe
- Savaya on Swan
Orange Rides Distance Range: 35 – 75 miles | Average Speed Range: 16-18+ MPH Ave.
Orange Rides Planner: Lee Taylor
WOW Rides Planner: Kathy Klug
Orange and WOW A Rides Menu
- Decibel Coffee Works : 51 mile option
- Saddlebrooke Ranch
- Ritz Carlton
- Basha’s La Cholla
- Biosphere II
- Starbucks Outlet Mall : 45 mile option, 50 mile option
- AJ’s : 34 mile option, 42 mile option, 45 mile option
- Beyond Bread (Long) : 43 mile option, 45 mile option
- Sky Rider Coffee Shop
- Ren
- Le Buzz Swan
- Savaya Swan : 44 mile option
- Panera Bread University
- Oracle Patio Cafe
- Maynards
- Starbucks University
- Coffee X Change : 54 mile option
- Mercado : 50 mile option
- Cody Loop
- Copper Cafe : 49 mile option, 55 mile option
- Chuck Huckleberry Loop, 82 mile option
Red Rides Distance Range: 50-120 miles | Average Speed Range: 16-18+ MPH Ave.
Red Rides Planner: Scott Schlapkohl
These rides are scheduled on an occasional basis, are timed around good weather forecasts, and take place on weekdays.
Featured Red Ride Routes
- Picture Rocks and Gates Pass Loop 65
- Loop Century 100
- Mount Lemmon from Sun City…
- Summerhaven and Back 118
- Sabino Royale 65
- Park Link Loop 69
- Saguaro NP East 80
- Starr Pass Resort 72
WOW D-E Distance Range: 12-25 miles | Average Speed Range: 10-12+ MPH Ave.
WOW Rides Planner: Kathy Klug
These rides are for the cyclist who is looking for a casual ride through the neighborhoods and on bike paths. These are excellent introductory rides for cyclists who are new to the club.
Away Rides
Parker Canyon Lake 60
This page is not intended for navigational use. There could be half a dozen or more route variations for a single destination, and routes are changed up often for variety.
What this page should do very well however, is help new members become familiar with the Club’s ride destinations and ride levels. Each destination has one GPS route example, with the destination flagged with a coffee cup point of interest marker.
Notes:
If you’d like to find the status of a destination, click on the location name above and that will open a related website.
If you’d like to find the status of a road or the loop paths, see the club resource page.
If you are looking for the road rides schedule, click the button below.