I did an ITT of CTR in August with everything on my back.  I thought less weight on the bike would make it easier to HAB, and maybe it did, not totally sure.  But, this year I will try not to take a backpack at all.  The biggest drawback for me was that the backpack shifts around on your back when the straps are comfortably tight, and this ends up throwing your weight around and knocking you off your line.  I would ride with only shoulder straps on the uphils,and maybe the sternum strap since the waist belt seemed to interfere a little with breathing, but then you really need to cinch the waist strap for the descents to keep the pack from shifting too much, and it was kind of a hassle clipping and unclipping it all the time and I often forgot.  I will definitely try to get everything on the bike this year like a couple of trhe top guys did last year.  I have done a ton of backpacking and riding with a pack and don't really get sore from the backpack, but I still think everything on the bike is best.  Oh, and another big drawback is that standing up to pedal with the pack on seems much less efficient.

   +1 AZTR 750!   

I agree with Toby, 
+1 for podium girls on the CTR.

Truly amazing to ride that far in the Rockies with such a small amount of gear!

On another note, if anyone wants to give CTR 2013 a first or second try,( ) I will be driving to Durango from N. Wyoming for a planned Aug. 11 start.  Drop me a line if you want to coordinate transportation.

Thanks everyone for the offers of rides back to Denver, I hooked up with a car to drive back.  Good luck to everyone, I'm hoping to do an ITT in another 4-5 weeks.  Remember to have fun out there!

Hey Bikepackeers, I have come down with a dental abscess and so can't start the race.  I am in Durango, but I already dropped my car in Denver, so if anyone wants me to drive their car back to the Denver/Boulder area give me a call at: three oh seven, 751-4965.

Gave CT $100.00, plus $50.00 for old map  book.  Did this before I knew to mention mountain biking in the subject, but there's a good chance Bill Manning is watching anyway.

Hey Sean, looks like a great course!  Won't be able to make it up on the 31st, but thinking about an ITT a week or two later.  How well would a tandem work on this trail?

Quote from TobyGadd:  "I'm going to stop asking people to watch my bike."

We better not catch you getting any moral support either, after all, that would be pretty pathetic for a self-supported race!

It was great meeting and riding with you all!  Even though I had to drop at the North Rim I can't believe what a beautiful odyssey it was, how stunning the trail is and how gorgeous the scenery.  The AZTR is truly an incredible experience and I feel very lucky to have been able to do that much of it.  See you all next year!!!

P.S.  Scott, thanks so much for making this possible, definitely one of the best experiences of my life...so far!

Hey Scott, just wondering what the best option will be to pick up SPOT's for the race?

There is a tank with a float valve which is about 17.5 miles past Freeman.  It had water in March in a metal tank and in April the tank was replaced with a plastic tank.  It is pretty easy to find, while I never did find 'bathtub,' though I also did not look very hard.

33.01805° N 110.98990° W

It is described on the ATA website as: "tank with float value west-up jeep road ~0.1"

 
Here are a few more recent pictures of the trail between Oracle and Picketpost:

http://aarondenberg.wordpress.com/

I am also looking for a ride to the start of the 750.  Could possibly leave from Kanab, Durango or Tucson area, in case anyone has room or wants to split a uhaul/shuttle.

  Hi, last week I rode some of the 300 course in order to see what I would be getting into with the AZTR.  My trip report can be found here:  http://aarondenberg.wordpress.com/   The pictures I took are at the bottom in a slideshow format.  It was an awesome trip on a fantastic trail and I am looking forward to the real deal on April 19!

  Hi, I am planning on riding the AZTR this year for the first time, so last week I rode some of the 300 course.  My trip report can be found here:  http://aarondenberg.wordpress.com/   The pictures I took are at the bottom in a slideshow format.  It was an awesome trip on a fantastic trail and I am looking forward to the real deal on April 19!