Cycling in Tucson

Native Tucsonan Joe Pagac painted this huge mural celebrating Tucson’s cycling culture in 2017 after raising money for the project on Kickstarter. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Chicago Tribune

Feb. 12, 2019 2:01 PM PT

From a snow-capped mountain to a 131-mile urban bike trail network, Tucson, Ariz., is a cyclist’s nirvana, especially during colder months.

A cyclist sticks to the bike lane on the Cactus Forest Loop in Saguaro National Park. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Old bike frames, wheels and other parts make up the Bike Church, a memorial honoring cyclists killed in traffic accidents. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Jimmy Bultman, owner of Tucson Bike Tours, stops outside of the Congress Hotel to tell the story of a 1934 fire that led to John Dillinger’s capture. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Cyclists and pedestrians share the road on the Cactus Forest Loop in Saguaro National Park. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Customers at Le Buzz cafe, a popular gathering spot for pro and amateur cyclists, grab some sustenance before hitting the road. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Cyclists gather outside Le Buzz cafe, a popular meeting spot to fuel up and head out for a day’s ride. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Soaring rock formations poking up from Mount Lemmon add to the scenery while you’re climbing up the road, which has a 4 to 6 percent grade most of the way. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Weekend farmers markets and public art are easily accessible from The Loop, a 131-mile network of paved paths devoted to cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Snow covers the ground outside the Cookie Cabin in the town of Summerhaven, near the summit of Mount Lemmon. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Cyclists can reward themselves with a cup of coffee and a colossal cookie at the Cookie Cabin, near the top of Mount Lemmon. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

More than 130 miles of pavement make up The Loop, an urban trail network that reaches beyond Tucson city limits. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )

Cyclists pay an entrance fee at Saguaro National Park before biking the Cactus Forest Loop trail, a mostly one-way road popular with bikers. (Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune )