Weekly Group Rides in Fountain Hills, Arizona
Follow our Facebook page to confirm weekly ride times and stay up to date on any changes.
We, at McDowell Mountain Cycles, believe very strongly in developing our cycling community and one of the best ways we can do that is in the support, organization and leadership of rides that serve as many of our MMC family as possible. Everyone is always welcome!
Cycling Santas from MMC
It’s time for the Annual Fountain Hills Thanksgiving Day Parade! Come join us and bring your friends and family for the MMC Cycling Santas entry. Anyone with a bike or scooter is welcome. We will have Santa shirts for everyone, or wear your own Santa related costume. We will also have lots of candy and Santa hats to share with all the kiddos (young and not so young) on the parade course. Meet at MMC between 8:00 and 8:15am on Thanksgiving morning for coffee, donuts and outfitting. We will ride our bikes together to the parade staging area.
Pancake Breakfast
Top of the Hill Gang & Pete’s Road Rockets will roll out at 8am on Saturday, December 7th and head to Needle Rock on the way back will stop off at the Rio Verde Fire Station to enjoy the annual pancake breakfast to support VerdeCares, LLC. Breakfast is free with donations accepted to benefit lower Verde Valley residents. Santa will arrive and hand out gifts to everyone!
Save The Dates Bike Information Sessions:
- Power Meter Basics with Pete & Larry
- Saturday, January 11, 2025 @ 3pm
If you’ve ever wondered how a power meter works… and what all those numbers mean, then this session is for you. Watch for more details in our January newsletter.
- Cycling Apparel Head to Toe… With Chris from Shimano
- Wednesday, January 22, 2025 @ 4pm
Tuesdays
- TNR – 6:30 PM – Four Peaks Lot (map)
- Dec 3rd, 10th, & 17th
McDowell Mountain Cycles Tuesday Night Mountain Bike Ride. Come join us for our long running TNR that has become a staple of the area. Typically the ride is approximately 15-20 miles with a new route each week. Several re-group spots throughout each ride. Lights and Helmets required.
Meet at the Four Peaks Trailhead parking lot (across the road from the Competition Loops) in McDowell Mountain Park. Don’t forget to bring your favorite beverage and hang out with the group post ride!
Thursdays
- Pedal & Pints + Social – 6:30 PM – December 19th – Euro Pizza Cafe (map)
YES…this is still the same great fun road ride through Fountain HILLS. We will enjoy a casual ride starting at Euro Pizza Cafe and finish back at the Euro Pizza Cafe. Following the ride you’re welcome to stay and hang out and enjoy the all day “Happy Hour” menu of food bites and refreshments. Those that don’t want to pedal feel free to join us for the social around 7:30 PM. The ride is approximately 15-18 miles.
Saturdays
- Road Rockets – 8:00 AM – Dec. 21st – MMC (map)
A fun, but spirited, group of road riders that usually ride 40 to 50 miles. It is a great group for intermediate to advanced cyclists. It is a NO DROP ride, so no one needs to be concerned about being left behind. Usual meeting time varies between 6:30am to 8:00am, depending on the time of year. Rides are held every Saturday from September through May.
- Top of the Hill Gang – 9:00 AM – Dec. 21st – MMC (map)
This ride is approximately 25-30 miles and the route varies each week. This group enjoys some beautiful routes. The average speed of this group ranges from 13-15 mph and is a no drop ride. Post ride we have been known to stop off for coffee and light refreshments.
Sundays
- Sunday Funday Gravel Ride – 12 PM – Dec. 1st & 22nd – MMC (map)
Calling all gravel riders to join us for Sunday FunDay Gravel Ride. The ride will be a mix of everything from gravel, roads, singletrack and just plain fun. Plan on riding around 40 miles, which is approximately 3 1/2 hours. There will be one group and this is a no drop ride and lots of fun. Post ride will either announce a post ride meet up and/or light refreshments at the shop.
Summer Night Rides – Done for the Season
McDowell Mountain Summer Night Rides – riders of all levels and abilities invited to come out and experience the trails!
Choose your trails, choose your companions and start out between 6:30-7:00 PM from the Pemberton Trailhead parking lot. Ride should start and end at the Pemberton Trailhead. Please look for and obey signage that shows what direction riders should ride for that night.
Required for the night rides are lights and helmet. Minimum of three hours of run time (power) is recommended. Both helmet and handlebar lights are suggested for optimum visibility out on the trails.
Plan to complete your ride by 8:30pm and hang out to enjoy light refreshments after.
Please respect the park guidelines and know you are riding at your own risk. Please be respectful of your own limitations, and riders around you, as this ride is open to all levels of riders.
There is a $7 entry fee to McDowell Mountain Park or you may use/purchase an annual Maricopa County Regional Park Pass.
Maps
McDowell Mountain Regional Park (Download PDF Map)
Fountain Hills & Connecting Trails (Interactive Map)
