GONE CYCLING!
Elite Southern Transcontinental PAC Tour
Elite Southern Transcontinental PAC Tour
Here is the schedule for our PAC Tour (taken from pactour.com)
17 Days Coast to Coast
175 - 210 miles per day
San Diego, CA to Savannah (Tybee Island), GA
June 10 to June 26, 2007
Day 1 (June 10, Sunday) San Diego, CA to El Centro, CA 128 miles, 7,400’
We depart the Pacific Ocean and begin climbing the first 50 miles. After crossing four mountain passes from 3,000 to 4,000 feet elevation we drop back down to sea level near the 100 mile mark. The desert will be 110 degrees at this time of year. The climbing today is almost 7,500 feet. With all the climbing and desert heat this day is a tough introduction to the Elite Tour.
Day 2 (June 11, Monday) El Centro to Gila Bend, AZ 191 miles, 2,300’
Today the good thing is the route will be mainly flat. The bad thing is that we ride across the burning desert all day. A 1,000 foot climb over Telegraph Pass near Yuma, Arizona is the main climbing for this section. With a little luck we could have good tailwinds the last half of the day.
Day 3 (June 12, Tuesday) Gila Bend to Globe, AZ 147 miles, 6,000’
The first half of the day we climb and descend several gentle grades in the desert. After lunch we begin climbing steeper grades gaining over 3,000 feet. The Pinal Mountains offer cooler temperatures and relief from the heat.
Day 4 (June 13, Wednesday) Globe to Springerville, AZ 148 miles, 11,000’
The first challenge of the day will be the steep climb out of the Salt River Canyon. Dozens of hairpin turns along the edge of the Canyon give us spectacular views across the valley. After departing the town of Show Low the route climbs to over 9,000 feet. The final 20 miles are a fast ride from the forests down into the ranches of the valley.
Day 5 (June 14, Thursday) Springerville to Socorro, NM 158 miles, 4,000’
Today we cross into New Mexico. The tall forests give way to small scrubby pine trees. Hills and cliffs of red rocks line the road as we climb to the Continental Divide at 8,000 feet near Pie Town. The wind will dictate if the ride across the range country is fast or not.
Day 6 (June 15, Friday) Socorro to Roswell, NM 167 miles, 5,000’
Another day of big rolling grades. There are several three to five mile climbs. Over the final 30 miles the road drops from the mountains into the prairie. By the time we reach Roswell the only thing alien to us will be the feeling of fresh legs.
Day 7 (June 16, Saturday) Roswell to Hereford, TX 165 miles, 2,000’This is the flattest day of the tour. The scrubby vegetation changes to farm fields and cattle ranches as we enter Texas. It could be windy!
Day 8 (June 17, Sunday) Hereford to Sayre, OK 180 miles, 3,500’
We continue across the flat Texas Panhandle. In the afternoon we drop off the Caprock and begin to roll along the frontage road of Oklahoma's Route 66. The old remaining cement slabs offer a glimpse of highway travel 60 years ago.
Day 9 (June 18, Monday) Sayre to Ada, OK 206 miles, 3,500’
The scenery changes with more trees and rivers offering variety to the landscape. This is the longest day in miles but it will be interesting with many small towns and rolling hills.
Day 10 (June 19, Tuesday) Ada to Mena, AR 178 miles, 10,100’
This day will be remembered for the steep 15% grades of the Talimena Parkway. This Parkway follows the backbone ridge of the Quachita Mountains into Arkansas. 8,000 feet of climbing are packed into the final 50 miles of rollers.
Day 11 (June 20, Wednesday) Mena to Pine Bluff, AR 180 miles, 4,100’
Today is a recovery day from the steep climbing. We enter the dense pine forests of western Arkansas. Lumber and paper mills are the major landmarks today.
Day 12 (June 21, Thursday) Pine Bluff to Batesville, MS 159 miles, 2,000’
We leave the forests and ride out on the flat delta region. Rice and cotton are the main crops here with an occasional catfish farms. We cross the Mississippi River and climb up the rolling bluffs leaving the river behind.
Day 13 (June 22, Friday) Batesville to Forest, MS 176 miles, 3,200’
We return to the forests and hills in central Mississippi. Rural highways and farm roads make this a nice cycling day.
Day 14 (June 23, Saturday) Forest to Camden, AL 172 miles, 3,700’
Any rider who has made it this far is looking forward to the finish. The terrain and mileage are easier than anything we have traveled so far.
Day 15 (June 24, Sunday) Camden to Eufaula, AL 152 miles, 4,800’
A good variety of rural roads through the forests make this an interesting day. The humid heat will be the biggest challenge of today.
Day 16 (June 25, Monday) Eufaula to Dublin, GA 160 miles, 4,500’
As we enter Georgia, the big rolling hills are suitable for small chainring climbing. The ride becomes flat as we cross more than half the state today.
Day 17 (June 26, Tuesday) Dublin to Tybee, GA 142 miles, 1,500’
Our last day of riding. The route is nearly pancake flat with a slight downhill to the Atlantic. We cross the historic city of Savannah then ride the final 15 miles to the beach, arriving by mid afternoon. That evening we celebrate the completion of the Elite Tour with an awards dinner.
Total Distance 2,797 miles
Total Climbing 78,600 feet
Departure (June 27, Wednesday) - Schedule your departure for this day.
4 comments:
Just curious, but how many other cyclists are going on this little jaunt?
There are supposed to be 51 riders. We think Eric is the youngest at 30 years. There are ~ 5 at age 60 and ~ 1 at 62 and one at 65, although we aren't sure if some of there are crew members (not riders). I will be 50 on August 2nd. JM, thanks for the question. How is AM feeling?
AM is feeling very well...she actually got up today and went for a long run. We go on vacation tomorrow; I figure riding in a golf cart for 4 hours a day will be similar to your rides!
I had a friend in San Diego (I grew up there) that would ride out to Phoenix to visit friends as training for the RAAM. He would leave in the afternoon so that he hit the desert at night, after the sun had gone away. He'd show up in Phoenix at sunup the next day. The point here is that you all must be a collection of Englishmen or ..., well Englishmen.
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