The 13th annual Tour de Scottsdale is still months away, but registration is now open for the Sunday, October 9 bicycle race, which benefits the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Even though it’s still a ways off, you may want to sign up online sooner rather than later if you plan to participate—race officials plan to cap the tour at 2,000 cyclists.
Hosted by DC Ranch, the Tour de Scottsdale has two event options: a 30-mile route and a 70-mile route. Both begin (and end) on Market Street in DC Ranch and circumnavigate the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, offering views of Scottsdale, Carefree, and Fountain Hills. The 70-mile ride will begin at 6:30 a.m., and the 30-mile ride will begin at 6:40 a.m.
You don’t have to be a professional to ride in either event. There’s a four hour time limit for the 30-mile route and a five hour time limit for the 70-mile route. (Take note: Officially, the 30-mile route is 32 miles long, and the 70-mile route is 68.2 miles long.)
Almost all bicycles are welcome, as long as you can ride yours safely in a large group. Mountain bikes, recumbents, and hand bikes are all acceptable. However, for all hardcore riders, aerobars and other similar auxiliary handlebars are NOT allowed; this includes triathlon bicycles with aerobars that cannot be removed. Only bicycles with drop bars or flat bars are allowed.
Depending on when you register, entrance fees vary from $50 to $90 for the 30-mile event and from $100 to $150 for the 70-mile event. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
For participating, you’ll receive a “virtual goody bag” with exclusive offers, coupons, and sponsor messages in addition to a commemorative jersey and, if you finish, a medallion. The goody bag will be emailed to all riders the day before the race, October 8. Jerseys will be available the day of the race.
You can guarantee your jersey size by pre-ordering yours when you register. There will also be an opportunity to purchase a jersey before the race through the online store (coming soon) or at the race. Jerseys are unisex club-fit made by Pactimo ($75 each).
Friends and family who want to cheer you on can track your progress through text messages and Facebook alerts with links to your progress as you ride. They’ll also enjoy live music and a vendor expo with cycling-related merchandise.
If you don’t want to participate in the actual race, you can volunteer to help. The Tour de Scottsdale needs volunteers to help with registration, packet pick-up, and distributing jerseys and bib numbers in the days leading up to the race and the day of the race. Additionally, on the day of the race, volunteers are needed to provide support at the start and finish area (the race begins and ends at the same place), provide hydration and snacks to participants, and distribute medals to those who finish.
Located adjacent to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, DC Ranch is the ideal community for anyone who wants an active lifestyle. In addition to the Tour de Scottsdale, it hosts the Run for Ryan House in March. DC Ranch also boasts a 33-mile network of paths and trails within the 4,400-acre community, a fitness center, basketball and tennis courts, and fitness programs such as yoga, Zumba, and shallow water exercise.
