2010 AZTR discussion thread

[ScottM]

First, congrats to Tim on his second finish of the 300.  Only a few people have finished the route twice.

Dave, the current image is much more encouraging!  I'm sure there's still a fair amount of snow in places without pixels, but at least there's some hope!

Brad and Matt are getting busy on the Highline trail this afternoon, and it looks like showers have rolled in.  I wonder if they are missing the warm temps that killed them the last two days yet.  40's and rain right now...

It'll be interesting to see how the first few miles up on the rim go for them.  It should tell us something about any snow/mud up there.

Ian is still rolling along, no doubt enjoying the cooler temps today, though the wind may be affecting him as well.  Very gusty here in town today.

[marycycle]

Congratulations to Lee and Tim!
Here's my Day 2 report:
http://clockoutclickin.typepad.com/blog/2010/04/az300-day-2.html

[tRoy]

Was planning to go mtbing tomorrow and maybe see some azters on the trail but it is cold, windy and wet...  Snow is starting to accumulate on the ground in Flagstaff... 

[wookieone]

pictures.....

[AZTtripper]

Thanks Scott after two years of not getting past Tucson I really wanted to make it all the way again this year.

It was great to see so many at the start even with all of the snow and actually having others to ride with out there. I had gotten used to everyone being long gone and riding alone for the most part. Finally more normal humans mixed in with all of the mutants.

Mary congratulations on making it back to Tucson and not giving in to self doubt and call in from Madera. Sometimes the hardest part of sticking with the AZT is all of the easy ways out, especially when you are local and know all of the easy ways around the hard parts.

Jefe way to go shattering the record, to all who lined up no matter how far you got I hope you had fun and got to ride some great trail. I really enjoyed riding with the North Carolina crew at the start then Mary and Lee for a while heading in to Patagonia also Mark and the Austin crew around Redington.

The last rider I saw was Mark out on the Gas line he was fighting flats at that point, heard he went into Hayden for a resupply. Just keep plugging away man don't let things get to you, every mile down is one less you have left to do.

[tRoy]

Brad and Matt are on the highline trail.  It is a very interesting trail, having beautiful stretches and really sucky stretches - par for the course on the AZT.  Ive done a few trips on the highline trail starting from the Eastern TwoSixty trail-head and I do recommend it to the adventure rider, along with the horton creek trail. 
Looks like Blair and I are going powder skiing tomorrow.... if the weather clears I may be able to get out on the trail to look for Matt and Brad on Saturday...

[tetontodd]

Way to Go Tim!! Stick to the prograqm right!!

Congrats on your finish and thanks for all your hospitality before the race! Crashing in the truck and building the bike on the new patio are great memories for me! Thanks for letting me pick your brain over pizza and beers the night before. Tell Grant it's "OK">> He warmed up nicely in the end! A few treats to get to the shower was all it took. I told the Carolina boys I'd never do this race again, but yet here I am thinking of ways to trim and get faster... hope you have a cool summer!

Todd J.

[AZTtripper]

Ah the Highline trail built by mules in the 1880's and parts of it really do seam that old. Definitely not a trail for everyone but there is a lot of fun to be had for the more adventurous.  

Todd your welcome glad you had a good time here in AZ.

[mtbcast]

FYI:
Mark Caminiti calls in to say he finished the 300 portion today at 5:35pm. He's soldiering on with tire and tube issues!

[AZTtripper]

Alright Mark way to stick with it to the bitter end. Don't stop now no mater how far off course you have to go to get what you need. Extra miles can be inevitable don't think about them they don't count it's just something you have to deal with.

[ScottM]

Nice work Mark.  His call in is pretty classic.  Both he and Ian keep getting epic'd but refuse to give up.  Very inspiring stuff.

Speaking of getting epic'd, after spending the better part of the day on the Highline trail, it appears that at least Matt, and perhaps Brad too, are heading off route, back towards Payson.  I saw some significant storms roll over them this afternoon -- beyond light rain at times.  I am wondering if mud shut them down.  Hard to say, though.  Right now only Matt's points are heading south, but Brad's point, right near the end of Highline, is fairly old, so he may be with Matt.

[ActionJackson]

When I was with Mark over on Tanque Verde, just to head a mile or so off course to the Circle K, he was swearing and cursing that he had to go that far to resupply. It was getting hot out and we had a long day ahead.  I can only imagine what he was saying on the 16-17 mile off course detour, but he did sound calm on that call in. Congrats Mark.

[AZTtripper]

I had a similar conversation with him he was definitely against off course travel. Back in 06 I had to go all the way to REI in Phoenix he couldn't see how I could go so far off course and then still be motivated to go back to the trail. I guess I just got used to it all things considered off course travel became par for the course.   

[ActionJackson]

Here's a write up I did of my attempt over on our shops webiste here in Austin, Texas. If anyone is ever in town and wants to go ride, just hollar at me.

http://www.hammerheadbikes.com/forum/index.php?topic=1819.msg14555#msg14555

Here is Mark in all is glory on some prime real estate on Red-neckington Rd. as he called it.



This is Ian "OurManIntheNorth" on the road right as you come up to the Smithsonian



Tim - 2x finisher of the AZT



Yours truly suffering up to Mt. Lemmon/Summerhaven.

[ScottM]

Brad and Matt are out.  They rode back to Payson to grab a hotel last night.

From Brad's wife, Joy:

They had to bail at Washington Park due to epic
conditions- took over 10 hours to ride 20 miles.  They are trying to get to Flag for an early flight out tomorrow. 
They sound bummed but OK.

And just now, from Matt:

Fusco & Kee out at woodland park after all day snowy hike a bike.... outta food.  Bikes trashed!!! Workin our way to
Flag,  then back east.  Thanks for the epic ride/hike!

Great job making it as far as you did, guys.  Sounds pretty epic.  I suppose temperatures were easily cold enough to see yet another snow storm on them.  What luck!

[DaveH]

Forecast today on the rim just north of Payson is 42 for a high, snow, and lows in the 20s.  By Tuesday it's looking sunny and 70.

Ah, springtime.  Timing is everything and it looks good for Kurt's try - at least the northern half

Nice ride guys, including a fast finish on the 300!

[layla]

Cool pics Jackson! Mark cussing....no way?!!!!lol Yep Mark stayed the course and is now at bike shop in Apache Junction...determined to at the very least get to Mogolin?(sp) rim? hmmm....hope weather holds out?! 

[sherpaxc]

What is Mark wearing?  That top looks like a dress shirt.

[AZTtripper]

Looks like Ian is about to finish the 300 if he hasn't already, way to persevere out there.

[ScottM]

Congrats to Ian on wrapping up the 300.  He's on into Apache Junction and refueling now.

Just as our front runners in the full AZT race drop out, we have a new comer... Kurt Refsnider is starting from the Mexico border tomorrow morning, and will be tracked on the main AZTR tracker.

Kurt is the former 300 record holder, setting the standard and winning last year's race.  I'll be dropping him off in the morning and should have a photo or two to post sometime tomorrow.  I'm very excited for him, and that we get to follow along here from home.

Look for his points to start rolling in soon enough!