1.0

Registration

Registration may be done online, in our office or by mail. Registration closes Thursday, November 18 at 6:00 pm at Bike Expo.

To find out where and how to register call El Tour Headquarters between 9 am & 6 pm at (520) 745-2033.

Online registration closes Monday, November 15 at 12:00am.

1.1

Bike Expo & Packet Pick Up / Completing Your Registration

Do the following: (a) pay remaining fees and/or contributions on/or before Friday, Nov 19 if you haven't already done so (b) pick up your rider numbers, timing chip, packet and t-shirt at Tucson Convention Center (TCC):
sanofi aventis - Lantus El Tour Bike, Fitness & Health Expo
(downstairs in Exhibit Halls B & C)

Wednesday, November 17 (4:00pm –9:00pm)
Thursday, November 18 (10:00am – 6:00pm)
Friday, November 19 (10:00am – 9:00pm)

Packet Pick-Up instructions upon entering Bike Expo:

Step 1: Receive route card and Expo map from Station #1.
Step 2: Find your name on number boards adjacent to Station #1.
(Cyclists not yet registered skip to Step 5).
Step 3: Find your number.
Step 4: Write your name and your rider number on route card.
Step 5: Proceed to Station #2 (Sponsor goody bag)
Step 6: Proceed to Station 3: Go to packet pick up table corresponding to your rider number.
 
Step 7: Attend a FREE Safety & Orientation meeting
Attendance is highly encouraged for ALL participants.
Meetings held downstairs in Expo on Wednesday & Thursday.
Meetings held upstairs in Main Lobby on Friday.

Cyclists may pick up materials for friends, etc. Be sure all fees are paid or be prepared to pay them.

El Tour is unable to accept credit cards for fee payments except for online registration.

Due to the high volume of cyclists arriving at Expo on Friday, Tucson residents are asked to help El Tour by picking up ride materials on Wednesday or Thursday. After pick up, feel free to return to Expo as much as you like and to greet fellow cyclists!

  1.2

Directions To Bike Expo / Packet Pick-up - Downtown Tucson at Tucson Convention Center (TCC):

Take Interstate-10 to Congress Ave exit in downtown Tucson. Go east on Congress for 1/4-mile to Granada. Turn south on Granada. Go about two tenths of a mile, look to the east (left) for TCC building.
EXPO is downstairs in Exhibit Halls B & C on south side of complex.  

The Tucson Convention Center charges a $5.00 parking fee per vehicle.

1.3

Confirming Your Registration

All registered cyclists are sent a Welcome Letter from El Tour headquarters. Please allow approximately 2 weeks to process your application. Click here to view our list of currently registered cyclists; make sure all information is correct. If you do not see your name, please call Perimeter Bicycling at (520) 745-2033 or e-mail info@perimeterbicycling.com

2.0

Information & Rules Booklet

Complete information regarding El Tour will be given to you at the time of packet pick-up. All rules, activities, directions to start lines and El Tour tips are presented in this booklet. Due to many last minute changes, the booklet is not available until packet pick-up. In the meantime, please read all updates found in this section.

Arizona Bicycle Laws

3.0

Safety & Orientation Meetings

FREE Orientation meetings are held for El Tour cyclists. Meetings will take place each half hour at El Tour Bike, Fitness & Health Expo/Packet Pick-Up and contain important information about route conditions, updated cautions as well as offer safe cycling tips. Attendance is highly encouraged for all cyclists regardless of how many times you may have participated in El Tour.
2009 El Tour Most Important Orientation Points

4.0

Directions To Start Lines
(also see Section 12.0 for Starting Times and Locations)

Cyclists are advised to arrive one hour prior to your event starting time.  There is no check-in when you arrive. You have received all materials at Bike Expo. Click on the link for a directional map of your start line:

109-Mile Start Line: 7:00am start.
N. Church St  & W. Pennington St at Jacome Plaza, downtown Tucson. (.03 miles from the Tucson Convention Center.)

Updated parking information will be available closer to the event.

You may park anywhere in downtown area. There's plenty of parking at the Tucson Convention Center. See Section (3.2) for parking. Follow designated path to walk your bike to start area.

Downtown Tucson parking map

79-Mile Sargent Aerospace & Defense El Tour Start Line: 9:00am start. Pima Community College East Campus, at the intersection of Irvington Road at Fred Enke Drive, in southeast Tucson.

Directions: Take Congress east until it becomes Broadway Blvd. (approximately 2 mile). Take Broadway Blvd. east 6 miles to Kolb Rd. Turn right (south) on Kolb and travel 4 miles to Golf Links Rd. Turn left (east) on Golf Links and travel approximately 2 miles to Pantano Rd. Turn right (south) about 1 2 miles and turn left (east) on Poinciana Dr. and follow past the college around to football practice field. Park where directed.
 

66-Mile Intuit El Tour Start Line: 10:30am start.
Go to Morris K. Udall Center on Tanque Verde Rd, east of Sabino Canyon Rd.

Directions: Take Broadway Blvd. east for 8 miles to Kolb Rd. Follow Kolb Rd. north for 2 miles to Tanque Verde Rd. Take Tanque Verde Rd. east past Sabino Canyon Rd. for 2 mile to Morris K. Udall Park. Park will be just east of Sabino Canyon Rd. on Tanque Verde. The start line is on Sabino Canyon Rd. just south of Tanque Verde Rd). Participants are asked to park off site and ride to the starting point at Sabino Canyon Rd.

40-Mile Sargent Aerospace & Defense El Tour Start Line: 12:30pm start. Go to 2090 E Innovation Park Dr Oro Valley, AZ

Directions: TBA

Diamond Children's El Tour Fun Rides: 8:30am start.
Go to site of 109-mile event.
N. Church St  & W. Pennington St at Jacome Plaza- or see directions above.

5.0

Parking

109-Mile Event and Fun Ride- There is plenty of parking for the 109-mile start and finish in downtown Tucson, located at N. Church St  & W. Pennington St at Jacome Plaza.

To avoid congestion near Church Ave & Pennington St area, all cyclists parking for the 109-mile and Fun Ride events are advised to park south of W. Congress St, using either Tucson Convention Center (TCC) lots A, B and C or lots adjacent to TCC area and ride over to the startline from there. Parking fee: $6.00. Parking south of W. Congress St will help get you to the 109-startline on time! 

Overnight R.V. parking may be done in Lot B for a separate fee paid to the parking concessionaires.

Certain streets adjacent to this startline will be closed including:

--N. Church Street will be closed between Pennington St & Alameda St.
--W. Pennington St will be closed between Stone & Church.
--Alameda St will be closed between Stone & Church.

Avoid this immediate area to help prevent congestion.

City and county parking garages will be open for parking but use caution: remove bike from roof rack before entering parking structures!

Downtown Tucson parking map

Parking is FREE at local meters on weekends.

79-Mile Sargent Aerospace & Defense El Tour Start Line:  
Park where directed.

66-Mile Intuit El Tour Start Line: Park adjacent to the soccer fields at Udall Center or across the street in the two shopping center lots.
DO NOT park in the lot directly adjacent to the recreation center building. This lot is reserved for center members.

40-Mile Sargent Aerospace & Defense El Tour Start Line:
Park where directed.

There is plenty of parking at or near each start line. Please check Section (4.0) and (12.0) for directions to start lines and locations of each start line.

6.0

Shuttles

All cyclists are responsible for transportation to event start lines. There is NO transportation provided to start lines; however, transportation is provided to return cyclists back to event start lines after completion of ride. 

There is no charge for the shuttle ride back to your starting area (this is included in rider fees.) Since shuttle buses are not able to transport your bicycle due to limited space, all bicycles will be stored in the "El Tour Bike Check", located at the main entrance to the YMCA. You will be given a Bike Check ticket. Once you have checked your bicycle, board your Arizona Stagecoach shuttle vans, departing on Stone Ave, (behind the huge Michelob Ultra Beer tent). Visit the El Tour Information booth if you need assistance. Retrieve your car and return to pick up your bicycle. Present your ticket at the "check in room" and you will be given your bicycle. 

Shuttles begin at 1:00pm.  All bicycles must be retrieved from Bike Check on Ride Day by 6:00pm.

7.0

Medallion Times - 109-Mile Cyclists

Revised Times for 2010

Platinum Male (Under 5 hrs) Female (Under 5:30)
Gold   Male (Under 6 hrs) Female (Under 6:15)
Silver Male Male & Female (Under 9 hours)
Bronze Male & Female (Under 11 hours)

All Medallions will be given out at the finish line in Downtown Tucson

8.0

Rider Numbers

Rider numbers must be placed in four different places (if applicable)

When you pick up your packet and T-shirt, you will also pick up 4 types of rider numbers:

1. Shoulder # - to be placed on your right shoulder

2. Helmet #s – (2) one to be placed on front of helmet and the other placed on helmet right side

3. Frame Number - on your bicycle frame

4. Rider bib or main event # - placed on your back over exposed article of clothing you expect to finish in. Pins provided in rider packet.

The first three numbers will be given to you by Freeze Frame Fotography and are used to identify you in the event, as well as to take and send photographs of and to you. The rider bib is for results and medallion distribution. Without this number, no results, no medallion - Please read section (11.1) very carefully.

9.0

Dedication Recipient TBA

Each year, El Tour is dedicated to an individual who displays outstanding support of cycling and/or healthy lifestyle and activities.

10.0

Route

Route map

Ride Day: LIGHTS REQUIRED AT SUNDOWN, which occurs at approximately 5:20pm. Any cyclist not prepared to ride in the dark will be stopped and sagged back to the start. Any cyclist who does not comply with this rule will be disqualified, removed from the route and may be cited by police.

NO EXCEPTIONS! If you believe that you might be on the route after sundown, come prepared with lights, both front and rear. See the Rules & Information Booklet for more details, available at Packet Pick-Up.
Event Closes at 6:00pm. All course support, including traffic control and aid stations will be discontinued at 6:00pm. El Tour support is available to those caught by the 6:00pm closing time. Finishing times will not be recorded after 6:00pm.

10.1

Route: Right-of-Way on El Tour Day: Be prepared at all times to stop for motor traffic along the route!!! Everything will be done to try and get you through the route without stopping. However, at times, you could be stopped to relieve traffic congestion. Please be patient with the police in case you are stopped. They do a great service for El Tour cyclists; wave to them as you pass by!

PLEASE OBEY ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTIVES AS WELL AS THOSE FROM BIKE PATROL AND OTHER EVENT OFFICIALS.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.

10.2

Route changes will be announced here
 
Route map

10.3

Route: Aid Stations, Food & Water

There are aid stations approximately each 5-8 miles (approx.18 stations total) serving bananas, oranges and water. Selected stations will serve grapes (or other fruit item), cookies and/or pretzels.

As water is the only beverage served to cyclists, if you have a special diet and/or nutritional needs, please come prepared.

To help reduce cramps and muscle spasms, drink plenty of water and eat bananas along the route or consider using an electrolyte replacement product.

For safety reasons, cyclists stopping at aid stations MUST remove themselves and bicycles from rodeway to avoid oncoming riders.

El Tour Cycling Tips

10.4

Route: Bike Patrol

There will be approximately 125 trained Bike Patrol on the route to help with mechanical problems, minor medical needs and encouragement. If you experience a problem on route just flag down a Bike Patrol member and you will be given assistance. Bike Patrol cyclists are event officials; they are out there to help you; however, if necessary, they will disqualify cyclists for not following rules - see section (11.0) on "Disqualification".

We strongly recommend you carry with you one or two spare tubes, tire levers, tire patch kit and other basic bicycle gear. Carry at least one water bottle, a cell phone, change ($$) and wear a CPSC-approved bicycle helmet (required).

El Tour Cycling Tips

10.5

Route: Map and Cue Sheet

Route map

Cue Sheets:
UMC 109-Mile El Tour Event
Sargent Aerospace & Defense 79-Mile El Tour Event
Intuit 66-Mile El Tour Event
sanofi-aventis Lantis 40-Mile El Tour Start

10.6

Route Cautions

Lower Santa Cruz River Crossing

At approximately 8 miles into the 109-mile event, cyclists must dismount their bicycles and cross the Santa Cruz River bed on foot. Approximately 1 mile before the river crossing, all cyclists should begin to slow down to avoid crashes before dismounting. Caution signs and guides are placed along Drexel, which is the road leading to the river crossing. The signs will notify cyclists of the upcoming dismount. An aid station is present at this location.

Sabino Creek Crossing

At approximately 48 miles into the 109-mile event, cyclists must dismount their bicycles and practice same behavior as above. An aid station is present at this location.

Pay attention to these signs and slow down before dismounting.

Often these crossing areas are dry with sandy conditions. Cyclists will be updated with current conditions at El Tour Safety & Orientation meetings, held at Bike EXPO.

Railroad Tracks

Tracks are located on the Interstate-10 eastbound Frontage Road between Tangerine Rd. & Avra Valley Rd. After you pass the cement plant, there are railroad tracks that traverse diagonally across the road.
 
Use extreme caution when crossing tracks.

 11.0

Solid Yellow & Double Line Rule To Be Enforced!

Violators will be disqualified!  Due to concerns for the safety of all El Tour cyclists, the rule stating cyclists shall not cross a solid yellow or double line WILL continue to be enforced this year. Police, Bike Patrol and other course officials will take rider numbers of violators, who will be disqualified, and who will, as a result of their violation, not receive a finishing time or ranking.

We appreciate your cooperation in following all event official rules, directives from event officials including Bike Patrol, and abiding by Arizona bicycle laws.

Please do not become a DQ statistic! Help us keep El Tour as a safe, challenging and fun event for everyone!

12.0

Starting Times & Locations

UMC 109-mile El Tour start (7:00 am)
Downtown Tucson at N. Church St  & W. Pennington St at Jacome Plaza, 

Diamond Children's El Tour Fun Rides (8:00 am)
Downtown Tucson at N. Church St  & W. Pennington St at Jacome Plaza, 

Sargent Aerospace & Defense 79-mile El Tour start (9:00 am)
Pima Community College East Campus.
Irvington Rd at Enke Dr.

Intuit 66-mile El Tour start (10:30 am)
Morris K. Udall Center on Tanque Verde Road,
East of Sabino Canyon Road.

sanofi-aventis Lantis 40-Mile El Tour Start (12:30 pm)
2090 E Innovation Park Dr
Oro Valley, AZ

13.0

Lining Up - 109-mile Start

Line up will begin on the west side of Church St, in front of the pink Pima County courthouse rotunda building, between Alameda & Pennington Streets. Cyclists will face south to Pennington St (direction of Congress Ave). Line-up according to expected finish times in one of the following four medallion categories.  Posted signs will identify each area:


PLATINUM Medallion Section: Men under 5 hrs / Women under 5:30 hrs.
Must have special pass to Platinum Section - see "Platinum Information" below - Section 14.0.

GOLD Medallion Section: Men under 6 hrs / Women under 6:15 hrs.

Cyclists expecting to place with a GOLD finish time will begin lining up starting at approximately 4:30am.  Arrive early if you expect to be near the front of GOLD!!!  Bring warm clothing as morning temperatures may range from 35F – 55F.  Due to limited space, late arrivals may be asked to line up in an alternate section.

SILVER Medallion Section: Men & Women under 9 hrs.

BRONZE Medallion Section: Men & Women under 11 hrs.

Both sides of Church St will be used for line up as follows: 

--Platinum section - continuing to Alameda Ave. 
--Gold section - between Alameda & Council St. 
--Silver section - between Council St & Franklin St 
--Bronze section from Franklin St, continuing towards 6th Ave. 

View/Download LineUp Diagram Map

14.0

Platinum Information

Platinum cyclists are those with extensive experience in riding in a paceline/peloton formation. Cyclists meeting ONE event of the following criteria will be permitted to line up in the Platinum Medallion area:
 

1. Completed the '07, '08 or '09 El Tour de Tucson 109-mile event (men) under 5 hrs (women) under 6 hrs

2. Completed Tour of the Tucson Mountains:

2008 73-mile event under 2:50 hrs (men and women)
2009 73-mile event under 3:00 hrs (men) under 3:10 hrs (women)
2010 73-mile event under 2:55 hrs (men) under 3:10 hrs (women)

3. Completed El Tour de Phoenix:

2008 74-mile event under 3:15 (men) under 3:45 (women)
2009 72-mile event under 3:15 (men) under 3:45 (women)
2010 72-mile event under 3:05 hrs (men) under 3:20 hrs (women)

4. Completed 2008 Cochise County Cycling Classic:

252-mile event (men) under 12 hrs (women) under 14 hrs
157-mile event (men) under 8 hrs (women) under 8:30 hrs
92-mile event (men) under 4:15 hrs (women) under 5:15 hrs.

Completed 2009 Cochise County Cycling Classic:

252-mile event (men) under 13 hrs (women) under 14 hrs
157-mile event (men) under 8 hrs (women) under 9 hrs
92-mile event (men) under 4:30 hrs (women) under 5:30 hrs.

Completed 2010 Cochise County Cycling Classic:

234-mile event (men) under 12 hrs (women) under 12:30 hrs
157-mile event (men) under 9 hrs (women) under 9:30 hrs
92-mile event (men) under 4:15 hrs (women) under 4:45 hrs

5. USCF Cat #1 or #2 (Must show USCF Card)

6. A top ten nationally or internationally ranked cyclist, triathlete or duathlete.

7. A Tour de France or Giro d' Italia qualified starter

Questions? email platinum@perimeterbicycling.com

14.1

Platinum Passes, Meeting, List and Starting Time

1. Platinum pass: in order to enter the Platinum Section on Ride morning, you MUST have a platinum pass. This pass will be handed out at a special Platinum Meeting. Remember you will not be given entrance to Platinum Section without a Platinum Pass.

2. New for 2010 Platinum meeting: There will be two platinum meetings to choose from, to be held at the Tucson Convention Center on Wednesday, November 17 and Friday, November 19 at 6:30pm. Passes will be issued at the completion of meetings to qualified cyclists.
~Photo I.D. required~

3. Platinum list: a current Platinum list is posted on this website.

If you believe your name is missing from this list, please call 520-745 2033 or e-mail:platinum@perimeterbicycling.com

4. Platinum Line-Up - all Platinum Cyclists must be on the 109-mile start line by 6:30 am.

15.0

Chip Timing System

A computer chip will automatically record your time as you cross the Finish Line. (Note: Your start time is "gun time" at your event Start Line, and NOT the time you cross the Start Line)

You will be issued a chip with Velcro band at El Tour Bike Expo, which will record your ride time.
PLEASE BE SURE NOT TO MIX UP YOUR CHIP WITH YOUR HUSBAND/WIFE/CHILD, ETC. – THEY ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL APART ONCE THEY ARE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR ENVELOPE!
If you decide to change your event mileage on the morning of El Tour, you must inform an event official at your new start location, as this affects event results!
Attach this to your ankle, preferably your LEFT, to avoid chain grease. Upon crossing the finish line, volunteers will collect your chip at the END OF THE FINISH LINE. It is your responsibility to make sure your chip is removed!!!! No Chip, No Results, No Time!!!! Chute volunteers will also be marking cyclists' bibs for proper medallion.

For safety purposes, please DO NOT REMAIN in the chute area once your chip is removed due to the continued flow of fast-approaching finishers.

If you are unable to ride the event, please make sure you return your timing chip to Perimeter Bicycling as soon as possible.  This will avoid being charged the $85 replacement fee, referred to in your application’s RIDER WAIVER FORM.

17.0

Post Event

Compliments, Concerns & Issues

Should you have any issues, compliments or concerns after the ride, please e-mail us at: info@perimeterbicycling.com or post on our message board. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

We hope you have a great ride and thank you for participating in El Tour!

17.1

Result Corrections

If we made an error in your results (omitted or reported incorrectly), please notify us immediately by calling 520-745 2033 or e-mailing: info@perimeterbicycling.com.

Please excuse any error; we will attempt to make the correction once we are notified.

17.2

Office Hours After El Tour

Since El Tour staff has been working almost 4 weeks straight without a break, our office will close for the Thanksgiving holidays starting Wednesday, November 26 thru Sunday, November 29.
.

For answers to your questions not found here, contact us
Monday through Friday
9 am - 6 pm at (520) 745-2033