Congrats to all who have finished so far.
Had to bail on the 300 in Tucson with my buddy last week.
Heading out tomorrow morning on an ITT by myself. I feel fit, I have the time, and there's a window of cooler weather...
No spot tracker though, so I'll post when I'm done, hopefully sometime Wednesday.

P.S. I was at Picketpost Sunday, picking up a car, when Alex and Calvin came in. They were both pretty beat; Calvin was bailing on the 750. I was amazed at how little Alex had for the 300, he looked like he was just out for a day ride. My buddy gave them both a ride to the city on his way back to Flag.

Planning on the 300 with a buddy from Flagstaff. Last year I rode a shuttle for a reasonable price. This year it seems like fewer options, and more expensive to boot. Anyone have beta? Another option, I can drive to the start with two other racers beside me and my buddy. Just need to figure out how to get back to my car after the race.

In January, the water at Beehive well was fine, I just filtered it out of the spigot that feeds the tank. There's also good water in a tank at the abandoned Ripsey Ranch in a wash about 10 miles north of Freeman, and a little west off trail. I believe this is private, so emergency only, and don't camp there. If there's no water at Freeman, getting from Beehive to Ripsey Wash spring is a long haul, so load up.

The section before Beehive Well is so sweet! Ridgetop running on fairly vague trail.

OK, I thought this event (300) was later in the month; it looks like I can ride this year. I know it's a late decision, but what the heck. I'll be driving from Tucson to the start at Parker Canyon Lake on Thursday afternoon/evening, and I can carry two more with bikes, if anyone needs a ride. Now I just have to find a way back to my car from Superior.

I've bikepacked and ridden most of the sections so I know a lot of the trail. I'm not fast but want to give it a shot.

Please see ad from July - http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,4013.0.html

Me and some buddies are planning a bikepacking trip from Flagstaff to Phoenix. Has anyone done this, or have ideas about the route? Of course, we'd like to stick to trails and avoid pavement as much as possible.

Siren Song 29 frame, size XL. This is an awesome frame from one of the premier framebuilders in America, Brendan Collier. Handles tight and fast like a hardtail, but with 1 1/2" rear travel. Oversize alloy main tubes keep it stiff and light. Cloud Nine rear shock is super light and ultra plush. Perfect for XC, endurance racing, or bikepacking. Designed for the Tour Divide. A few small nicks from light use, but no dents or dings, see pics. Weight about 5 lbs, very light for a frame with rear suspension. Compare at $2300 for new. $700, paypal. Also listed on fleabay, I'd rather sell it here. Free shipping.

Dimensions:
HT- 5 1/8" long, standard 1 1/8 headset
ETT - 25"
ST - 23"
Chainstays - 17.5"
standover around 32"
Titanium flex plate for pivot
31.6 seatpost, 73mm BB
set for 100mm fork

Comes with Salsa Liplock seat collar and custom frame bag that fits inside the main triangle, see pic. Also included is a seal kit for the rear shock.
Added bonus, frame disassembles at the rear triangle for transport.

Contact: goyo46@mail.com

I suppose the damage will heal, the surface is pretty soft. It's more unsightly because the undisturbed surface is light colored, and the underlying material is dark. A lot of motor traffic would have a terrible impact. Yes, the area is wide open, and the trail crosses several roads. I was not aware of the land regs, I suppose one could argue the access point, but how could the trail assn. put up prohibited signs otherwise?

Having grown up riding MX, I'm certainly not against them, I just hate to see the disrespect for all the work that goes into building a trail. I wouldn't even mind the tracks, minus the roost trenches. They rode north to south; the uphill sections have more erosion.

I once descended Red Ridge trail off Mt. Lemmon, only to find a pair of MC's coming up the steep switchbacks, digging really deep trenches at every turn just to get up the steep hills. 20+ years of erosion in one pass, very sad. The desert is a beautiful but delicate place.

For the second year in a row, I am dismayed to find major motorcycle damage to the AZ Trail segment known as the Boulders. The offenders choose to ride after soaking rains with excessive use of throttle, contributing to the damage. Perhaps some kind of barrier would discourage them, since they choose to ignore the many signs prohibiting motor vehicles. The mountain biking there is fantastic, but riding in a trench created by big knobby mx tires really detracts from the experience.

In reply to my previous post, you might have an incredible adventure sticking to your original plan, so take our advice with some salt...I've bike toured from Tucson up east of Phoenix through Payson, on to Sedona and Flagstaff, to the South Rim, up through the reservation to Lee's Ferry, to the North Rim, etc. This was in April, and temps were good. Around Phoenix you'll have to sit out the afternoon heat in May. The reservation was extremely windy. Colorado may still be under snow in May, but the lower parts will be excellent. Stay in touch, you may be able to meet up with other bikers while here.

Judging from your description, and the fact that your route shows up in German, this will be a real learning experience for you. It can be downright hot that time of year, even in northern AZ, so plan on lots of water. I doubt you will need a warm bag, unless you go into the high country around Flagstaff, which you should, and even then nothing below freezing.... The leg out of Phoenix will be very hot, but Prescott is not to be missed, especially for off road camping. All that way through the reservation...I could not recommend it. A whole lot of nothing out there, deep sand, and very windy, and the natives prefer their privacy. I would suggest the Grand Canyon north rim, and up through Kanab and across to Page. You can go from the South Rim all the way to Flagstaff off road, they used to do it 100 yrs ago... You've also missed some of the best of AZ that time of year, namely the Mogollon Rim; Pinetop, Eagar, Luna NM, the east side. Try to stick to the high country for cooler conditions. Catch a shuttle from PHX to Prescott and start riding there. Travel as light as you can. Hope this helps.

My name is Greg Armstrong, aka Goyo, what they called me in Mexico (Goyo is the spanish version of Greg). I've been riding since I was a kid in LA, then my family moved to Tucson in '72 and the desert was a better place for adventure. Did a lot of motocross but switched to bikes after HS. I used to ride an old Schwinn 5 speed around Starr Pass in the early 80's, then got my first real MTB in '85, a green Diamond Back, with rollercam brakes. Many bikes later I'm down to just 2, a Motobecane road bike and my new joy, a Siren Song 29er. I bought the frame used from this forum and built it up from various sources. It's the first MTB that fits me well, and rides like a dream.

I moved to San Diego 2 years ago to join my fiance, but the biking there is great, so no worries, plus it's cooler in the summer, all last June it was 75 degrees every day!

I'm also an avid rock climber since 1976, having done routes all over the western US and Canada. Yosemite is a favorite, but Tucson, especially the Cochise Stronghold, is a close second.

I started flying sailplanes in 2004 out of El Tiro Gliderport and that has been incredible. My current best flight is Marana to Mt Lemmon to the Rincons to Mt Wrightson, leaving cloudbase at 16,000 ft for a beeline back to Marana, all without benefit of an engine. If you've never tried soaring, look up the Tucson Soaring Club, it's a great group of people, the club is an unbelievable bargain, and it's cooler at 12,000 ft in June. I tell all my friends, it's like riding a mountain bike up in the sky! I have a couple videos on Youtube under goyo4122.

I've been a professional musician since 1980, see my (outdated!) webpage at www.gregarmstrong.com. I have a Master's degree from UofA. Now I'm looking for a new career; not sure what I want to do yet. I considered Pharmacy, and did well in the science prereqs, but think I need something more engaging. In the meantime, adventure on!

I tried this trip last May before it got too hot. Granted, I was not in great shape, but the road is rugged and steep with a capital R+S. AZ trail is terrific, after that it gets much harder. Skip the nasty and tiring bushwack up canyon to the artesian well; just filter water from the stream. I made it almost to box canyon before tire problems forced me to backtrack. It is beautiful though, and really remote - I felt like the last person on earth. Some pics to follow.
In a related note, I'm looking for riding partners for Oct 24 thru Nov 9 here in S. AZ before I have to return to San Diego. I'm building up my first 29er, a Siren Song. Thinking about AZ Trail 300, Gila RR again, maybe something in Flagstaff if not too cold. We'll see if the big wheels help. Drop me a line!

Is this frame still for sale? I know it's been awhile, but I just saw the ad....