Cool climes, cool rides in El Tour de Zona: The Millers know all about it

Kevin Miller can’t wait to get down to southern Arizona to get out of the cold of Littleton, Colorado. It’s mid-February now and it reached a high of 20 degrees.

The low? Minus 6.

Of course, there’s more than just the weather to get away from – it’s an escape to great cycling in Sierra Vista, Bisbee and Tombstone for the annual El Tour de Zona.

It’s projected to be in the mid-70s from March 20-23.

Cool climes for cool rides.

Kevin, 68, and a family member or two have been coming to Zona for the last three years and this will be the fourth. He’s a cyclist who has enjoyed Ragbrai in Iowa a number of times, El Tour de Tucson (a number of times) and Tour de Scottsdale.

In essence, he’s ridden in so many of the El Tour’s events, he’s part of the family.

“Exactly,” he said.

He knows of what he talks about given he’s a longtime cyclist of 30 years and has traveled all over to do it. He past years he had ridden 12,000 miles a year, but is down to 6,000 a year.

Now, comes Zona, where he and his wife, Debi, will be enjoying the rides and weather. He’s brought some of his family who can see sights while they cycle.

“We like it because it’s a multi-day, stay-in-a-hotel event, change, shower and get out there,” he said.

His favorite ride of the three is Tombstone, “where we can watch the re-enactments (old gun shows),” he said.

“And the ride is unique, no doubt,” he said. “There’s decent climbing and the weather has been great.”

They also take advance of the trip down from Colorado, stopping in Santa Fe, Albuquerque to see more sites.

The family that stays together cycles and stays together. He said he just returned from Tour de Palm Springs and the difference between the El Tour de Tucson and Tour de Zona is the traffic. At Palm Springs he had to stop at 25 stoplights but at the El Tour events there were plenty of free roads with police escorts, making it more enjoyable.

“It’s so well organized and enjoyable,” he said.

See you in a month!