Started at 553 am ( the RWGPS displayed start time is incorrect) with Steve A on this pre-ride of Nov 8 Desert Series 200. Steve is doing the 300k and the 200k. A bit chilly at start, when really it was ok, but it was the 1st time this season that it might have been cool enough to wear extra clothes, so I did. LOL. Shed them pretty quickly. We got to about 18 before the sun was shining sort of in our face from the SE. No real issue though. Took a bathroom break at 21.6 then set-off for the rest of Ellsworth Rd. It seemed busier than usual, yet we never really knew. Maybe some of it was due to groups going to AZ Athletic Grounds. Others seemed to be heading to the freeway. We talked about maybe looking into another way through this area. North of AZ-24 the traffic was less and then north of Loop 202 even less. Stopped at User Pass Visitor Center. That hole in pavement on descent of Usery Pass had been filled-in, so that was nice. The climb out of Salt River canyon was not too bad, yet still lots of traffic. Didn't stop in Fountain Hills. That was a first for me. I think I can climb that hill of Fountain Hills easier by not having a full belly. On the way to our water stop at Aztec Park, mile 79.2, A cyclist came ripping by us down end of Via Linda ~74.4, so when we got to around Cholla 76.1, I decided to chase him down! Fun stuff. I caught him, with Steve following me, then the guy took 102nd St at mile 78.4 and came out ahead of us as we we approaching Aztec Pk. That was my excitement of the morning. Then up to Florence Ely Nelson park, 87.3. We could not recall if there was a paved way to get to the picnic table. I was pretty sure there was not ( except if use the strip mall parking to west and ride up the sidewalk toward bathroom building of the park). This is where I headed west on Pinnacle Peak Rd and Steve went north on Pima Rd. The south bound leg was full of sites of large houses and the Scottsdale green belt and ASU. So lot of people. The greenbelt had a temp Pedestrian path made of asphalt from mile 112.7 - 113.1. It was easy to navigate and clearly marked. ASU had a football game in a couple hours so there were lots of cars and people. DESERT LOOP 200 pre-ride report 1. The change to going through old Queen Creek was a good change. 2. The pothole at mile 44.4 was filled-in so remove that cue. 3. Probably review cue for turning into Florence Ely Nelson park and just make it a control, if do not have volunteers. 4. The greenbelt had a temp Pedestrian path made of asphalt from mile 112.7 - 113.3, due to construction. It was easy to navigate and clearly marked. 5. Probably review/remove cue for Desert Breeze park at mile 125.5, unless have volunteers. 6. As usual on rides, there is always construction yet it was easy to navigate by staying right of barricades. I do not think any special notes are needed for construction areas.