Hi everyone! A friend and I will be in Tucson early April for a week of gravel riding and while we’re there we would obviously like to ride up Mt. Lemmon as well. Since I will only have my gravel bike with 44mm tires, can I reasonably consider using it for Mt Lemmon or it will be a long and painful drag.
I’m thinking it’s feasable (i have a very good carbon bike with shallow carbon rims and good punture resistant tires - i understand thorns can be an issue), i’m fit and this will mostly be a slow climb, not a fast paced ride.
I could also rent a road bike for a day but, not my bike, not my fit etc.
If some of you out there have ridden Mt Lemmon and have advices, they are welcome Thank you!
Depending on what tire you have you’ll be losing about 20-40W of rolling resistance vs a fast road tire. If you’re going slow the aero penalty won’t be very much. You’ll be fine. I assume the gravel bike will also have better climbing gearing so you’ll be able to spin as fast or as slow as you want as well. Maybe add a few more PSI to your tires that day if you’re staying on the road the whole time.
I’d say go for it! Any bike can ride on any terrain if you’re willing.
Gravel bikes are pretty darn close to road bikes, so I don’t think you’d have any trouble. Sure, it’ll be a bit slower than a road bike with road tires, but you can definitely make it to the top. Add a little extra air to your tires if you’ll be on the road the entire time, as @slipdog recommended.
Very true! I have a 2x12, 46/30 at front and 11/36 cassette, that should help. And i’m riding Rene Herse’s Manastash ridge that are said to be decent on pavement. I’ll definitely know for sure after Mt Lemmon! Thank you both
I rented a road bike to do Mt Lemmon and just cruised up slowly. Any bike will do, never gets steep or technical. Take your time and enjoy the views and grab a cookie at the top.
When people do the full lemon drop, some of them ride up to the VERY top of Lemmon on enduro bikes. Takes them 4-5 hours. I have ridden Lemon on my gravel bike and its 10 minutes slower than my road bike at the same avg power. There is water at mile ~20 on the right side.
Rode up on my gravel bike with 44mm tires. It was just fine. There was a tour group doing it on Pinarello’s. Seemed like I was enjoying it as much as they were.
I missed the road bike on the descent more.
FYI, I agree you need to get a cookie, but beware, it is NOT at the top, and it is NOT on the actual route to the top, it’s a small detour, but well worth it!
This (~10 minute difference). Except know that the water at Palisades is likely off right now (they turn it off in winter so the pipes don"t burst). So you’ll need to make it to Summerhaven to refill. Also… it’s currently snowing up there, for what that’s worth.
Gravel tires are nice for the crappy pavemet near summerhaven.
(Eta: don’t count on making it to the observatory of there is snow. They close the road.)
Aaaaand I just noticed you said April. There will be water and the road wil be open, so nevermind! See you up there.
I did it last week on my f/s trail bike with 2.4” tires.
There is a gated road going from the ski hill to the towers. I was using 32-50 for much of that steep climb. It was 42 degrees at the top.
Descending from Summerhaven, the pavement is rough so large tires were nice. Further down the pavement is better. 65 degrees at the bottom.
There were strong gusts that day so deep wheels could be scary. IDK if the wind is normally that strong.
Might be windy in April but usually it’s not bad. Agree that the cookies are not great, and the pizza is even worse. Sawmill is good but not bike friendly (!). Beyond bread at the lodge allows bikes on the patio. Restaurant up in ski valley… no intel. I haven’t tried to bring my bike to that one.
Thank you!
