Biking: From Novice to Experienced
Whether you’re a novice or seasoned veteran, biking in Lake Havasu can provide a memorable experience for all levels of enthusiasts. The fact that the Lake Havasu area caters to a wide variety of biking interests with numerous paths, trails, off-road adventures, and a BMX park serves notice that Lake Havasu is a biking mecca. And why shouldn’t it be? Few communities can boast the wide open spaces Mohave County has, and the year round sunshine does the rest.
Cycling comes in many forms, from the casual street rider to the racers and the more challenging BMX course riders and mountain bikers. If it has two wheels and you can ride, there’s a place in Havasu where you can get out enjoy a day in the sun. If you’re new to biking, there are a number of cycle shops in town that can point you to the nearest riding spot. They’ll even be happy to sell you a bicycle that is suited to your needs, and also have rentals so you can try before you buy. Tony Beck, owner of River Cyclery, points out that there is always a group that meets Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for a bike ride at SARA Park. “We usually have 5-15 people out for a ride and we try to gear things to all skill levels. Beck notes, “We usually start out on what is known as the Friends of the Fair Loop, a nice 4.7 mile loop that helps teach basics like how to shift, how to break, how to shift your body weight—it’s a great course to learn on.”
Island Trail makes for a comfortable ride throughout the year and many riders as well as pedestrians take advantage of the sunny weather, beautiful scenery, and paved pathways.
One of the more leisurely rides in town awaits you just over the bridge. Try out the Island Trail for a comfortable ride on flat terrain. The path is great for sightseeing and you can take in the breathtaking scenery of the lake, mountains, and even the city itself as you loop around the trail. The entire paved loop around the island is 3.8 miles. Bikers should be cautious when riding as the trail is also shared with a good number of pedestrians. Depending on your pace, the entire loop can take as little as 15 minutes, or stretch out to a leisurely and memorable 40 minutes. This is an ideal spot for out of towners and winter visitors to start their biking adventures. It is recommended that cyclists follow the path in a clockwise manner.
Multi-Use Trail (Island Path)
If you consider yourself an intermediate rider and would like a more serious workout, you might consider the 8.5 mile trail that parallels Arizona Highway 95 through town from north to south. The trail is paved and well maintained and is perfect for the moderately experienced rider. The course varies from completely flat to a series climbs and descents. The path is easy to follow and beautiful views of the lake, mountains, and city are spread out along the course. This trail is not a loop, so make arrangements to be picked up at one end or the other… or just bike the course round trip. Expect 1-2 hours to complete your ride.
Directions: The trail begins at McCulloch Blvd. S. and ends on the north side of town at N. Palo Verde Blvd. There are two points where the trail crosses Hwy 95, on the west side of the highway between S. Smoketree Ave. and Mesquite Ave. and between Kiowa Blvd. N. and Industrial Blvd. The four mile section from the starting point to the north near Mulberry Ave. and heading south is the steepest part of the ride.
Mountain Biking
Looking for family adventure that allows the entire clan to take in breathtaking scenery, challenging trails, and just flat out fun? Well then, you need to head out to SARA Park on the south side of town just off Hwy 95 at mile marker 175. Mountain biking reigns supreme at SARA Park with a number of trails designed for all levels of riding skills.
The Mountain Bike Association of Arizona is very active in Lake Havasu and most notably hosts a number of events throughout the year including the Attack the Crack on Thanksgiving and Havasu Havoc, which will be held on February 21, 2015. If you’re headed out to SARA Park for a trail ride, free parking is available along Dub Campbell Parkway as well as along Desert Hawk Dr. The trails are color coordinated to help navigate first time riders. “New trail maps will be available this spring,” notes Beck. “A lot of the trails cross county, state, and BLM boundaries, so the maps are constantly updated. A good map is indispensable when mountain biking.”
SARA Park- BMX
Girls, boys, young, old; BMX racing can be enjoyed by all of the family
Enjoying numerous mountain biking trails is just one of the draws to Sara Park. BMX racing is a featured event at the park with a number of events scheduled throughout the year. BMX racing is an exciting event because it doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment. Many racers just start with their 20″ street bike by removing the front brake, chain guard, kickstand, and reflectors. Padding on the top tube of the bicycle frame and handle bars is also a necessity. BMX is a sport predominately featuring younger riders who enjoy riding their bicycles aggressively in the manner of motocross, doing jumps and tricks on a dirt track. Two sanctioned leagues across the country promote races and competitions and the members number 70,000 plus. The great aspect of BMX racing is that the entire family can be involved, from watching and cheering on a rider from the stands to being a part of the pit crew.
SARA Park holds races weekly in the summer and bi-weekly the rest of the year. The track is operated by SARA Park BMX and requires ABA Memberships to use the track. New riders are allowed to sign up for a free one-day pass. Don’t forget your helmet! It’s a requirement to race and ride.
Location: SARA Park
Address: 7260 S. SARA Park Way
Phone: 928-854-5269
Website: saraparkbmx.com/
Check this website out: strava.com
This site, available for both Android and Apple phones allow you to track all of your biking and running experiences on line and then share them with your friends. If you love biking or running, this site is a must to check out!
