You have a lot of good suggestions.
I just want to add that I lived in Tempe for 16 years and I can't imagine doing the kind of riding I do now, in that climate. I used to get up and walk at 5 AM and that was 25 years ago; I spent most of my time at the gym.
Now, riding October through March will be great, but I would be very careful. Heat exhaustion is nothing to fool around with.