I'm working in the Scottsdale/Camelback Mtn area for 3 weeks in December. I plan on bringing a bike with me, not sure if I should bring my road or mtn bike. Can anyone make any recommendations? Most of my riding will be in the early morning before work. I prefer road, as it will be easy enough to leave from where I'm staying (won't need to drive to an off road area).

Here're a couple options that are easy to follow.

From the corner of Scottsdale Rd and Doubletree Ranch Rd.

Option A
E. on Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Left on Via Linda (cross Hayden and go under the 101)
Right on Mountain View
Left on 124th Street (cross Shea)
Right on Via Linda
Ride to the end of the road and turn around.

I've done this ride several times in less than 90 minutes.


Option B

E. on Doubletree Ranch Rd.
Left on Via Linda (cross Hayden and go under the 101)
Right on Mountain View
Left on 124th Street (cross Shea)
Left on Via Linda
Right on Frank Lloyd Wright
Right on 100th Street
Right on Thompson Peak Parkway
Right on McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd.
Left on Thompson Peak Parkway
Now follow the directions in reverse

I've done this ride several times in a little less than 2 hours.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Traffic pretty reasonable early (6am) in the morning?

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Traffic pretty reasonable early (6am) in the morning?

Not too bad early. The ride sticks mainly to side streets but it's not rural by an stretch of the imagination. The 1st section on Via Linda, after you cross Hayden and go under the 101, will probably be the busiest.

There're a couple of weekday group rides in the area. I'll see if I can dig up the info and post it.

Camelback and Scottsdale Rd, there is some decent stuff down there as well, not just up in north scottsdale where 24hourssolo has listed. Don't get me wrong, there is excellent riding in north scottsdale and I've ridden on all the streets hes been so kind to post. You can also pick up a city of scottsdale bicycle map that actually shows routes that many riders use. I'm a category 3, and I always supplement my climbing workouts on streets up camelback mtn. There is also a bike shop right near Camelback/Scottsdale called Bicycle Haus, I'm sure they'd be glad to show you all the good routes near where you are.

McDonald is just shy(south) of Lincoln Drive, north from Camelback road. Head West on McDonald from Scottsdale rd. You'll be on the North side of Camelback mountain. The mountain reaches from McDonald to roughly Camelback road and Ivergordon to about 44 street if you had to draw a square around it. Anyway. Once on McDonald you'll see a host of other mountains that have residential streets. Many of which climb like billy goats and have some challenging grades. Less traffic on these roads since they cater to multi-million dollar homes with fat views of the surrounding city. Incidentally, this is a town called paradise valley in the mummy mountains. Say hey to Mike Tyson, Hugh Downs, Steve Nash and a host of other poor people...

Enjoy! Its great riding.