Grand Canyon connector Weather

[Felipe]

Has anyone done the GC connector in Utah to Tempe Arizona, during mid August? I'm am considering it but not sure if it is too hot for cycling?

Thanks,

Felipe

[Pat Lamb]

Short answer: check the weatherspark.com averages for locations along your route and the dates you're looking at.

Long answer: If you're going to try this, plan on checking in to a motel (or other indoor housing) by shortly after noon every day in southern and/or low elevation Arizona.  You can expect lows of 80F (but it's a dry heat!) and highs around 110F.  It's really hard to drink enough to stay hydrated and cool off enough to sleep at night, and that's before you start cycling, unless you're already acclimated.  And most of the "acclimated" cyclists in the Phoenix area treat summer like most of the country treats winter -- their end of season sales are in April and May.