AZTR 2013 Planning

[joeydurango]

I do: sweet!  Thought about this method of transport but no time.  Also, probably not enough gumption.

[Foster]

Yeah, that's pretty sick to ride you bike all the way to the start...sick in many different ways!

[Sean Allan]

I've got one open seat in a U-haul leaving from Kanab on April 16th going to Sierra Vista if anyone wants to leave their car in Utah. Split the rental and gas 3 ways. Just though I'd check before I change the reservation.

[windowace]

Off topic but I thought it was cool.  Came across Scott M's (and Mathew Lee's) names in Inc. Magazine (March Issue Pg. 14 "Trackleaders".  Kudos and thanks to Scott and Mathew.  Your creativity and hard work is greatly appreciated by those of us who lake to play in the 'way out', keep up the good work!

[cjellmoney]

Yea. Riding from Colorado if the weather permits. taking off as soon as I can. see you fools down there.

[THE LONG RANGER]

I'm considering flying into Phoenix (cheap!) and taking Ray's shuttle (if you still got room, Ray!) from the AZTR 300 terminus to the AZTR start, and then riding to the start of the AZTR 750.

* Riding to the 300 termius from the airport: Any tips? I was thinking of flying on the 17th, and getting a cheap motel (put the bike back together), and perhaps even get a shuttle from the motel out of the airport, put the bike together and ride out early in the morn, for a ~60 miles, mostly pavement ride. Any routes out of the city/'burbs better than others? Nothing looks incredibly too fun.

* I'm assuming the ride to the start of the 750 will be relatively easy to do in the dark. Looks like... one turn. Something a simpleton with the route loaded in a Garmin should mess up?

[dream4est]

I'm considering flying into Phoenix (cheap!) and taking Ray's shuttle (if you still got room, Ray!) from the AZTR 300 terminus to the AZTR start, and then riding to the start of the AZTR 750.

* Riding to the 300 termius from the airport: Any tips? I was thinking of flying on the 17th, and getting a cheap motel (put the bike back together), and perhaps even get a shuttle from the motel out of the airport, put the bike together and ride out early in the morn, for a ~60 miles, mostly pavement ride. Any routes out of the city/'burbs better than others? Nothing looks incredibly too fun.

* I'm assuming the ride to the start of the 750 will be relatively easy to do in the dark. Looks like... one turn. Something a simpleton with the route loaded in a Garmin should mess up?

I am looking for someone to share a ride with me from Denver on morning of 17th to Tims (AZTripper) house in Tucson. Then go in my car to AZTR 750 start on 18th afternoon with a driver for my car (Tims got one lined up) to take it back to Tims house. Camp at start with group Tim has lined up. If your interested Justin pm me or call me

Mark 720635742nine

[jbuchanan]

I guess this should go under setups, but hopefully it gets some (MORE) stoke going.

Time to start getting those rigs dialed, here's mine:


Bike weight is right at 40lbs dry. No food, no water.

Gas tank and bar bag are empty.

Backpack (talon 22) is completely empty, save for my SPOT and a 100oz bladder. I have another 100oz bladder sitting in my seat bag.

I'll be throwing a fresh pair of rampages on before the race. FYI, the front rampage on the bike now is a bit worn and was put on right before last year's 300. And, the rear was taken off in favor of a better roller for some XC stuff. Rampage is awesome--we know this.

Fair weather setup, only bringing windbreaker, knee warmers, and a neck balaclava scarf (for the sun) thing.

sleeping pad, phantom 32

Lighting: fenix LD20 light + 8x AA's + 6x AAA's

[RossC]

I saw this advertised the other day and my first thought was how useful it looked for tyre repairs...

http://www.selleys.com.au/adhesives/household-adhesive/quick-fix-adhesive/selleys-ultra-repair-glue

[THE LONG RANGER]

Are you kidding, that's absolutely perfect, I'll PM you, as it's getting late.

[rhino]

AZT 300
arm/leg warmers vs. arm/leg coolers

I know the difference, I know they are different, but similar.  Any advice.  I don't want to wish I had one over the other while on the ride.  Any advice?
AZ Lizard, if that matters.

[Marshal]

AZT 300
arm/leg warmers vs. arm/leg coolers

I know the difference, I know they are different, but similar.  Any advice.  I don't want to wish I had one over the other while on the ride.  Any advice?
AZ Lizard, if that matters.

Obviously the actual weather conditions/forecast should impact one’s choice, especially for the shorter 300.

Coolers were more important to me than warmers coming into AZ from a 8000ft home base in Colorado.

My coolers really helped thru the hot Gila section, on the other hand had I been one day faster thru that same section warmers might have been the better ‘overall choice’ for the entirety of the 750

Some nice things about coolers beyond cooling--they keep the arms & legs clean & offer minor scratch protection & you can skip oily sun screen except face & neck--this all may seem trivial but it all adds up on the longer 750

[AZTtripper]

I would think that for a desert rat warmers would be more important. Are you planning to ride late into the night, early morning hours?

I remember back in 06 Tucson local Rudi Nadler choose the leave the warmers at home. Scott told me he said "I've been doing night rides without them for a couple of weeks". Sure night rides that start at sundown and end a few hours latter. Not a full night and into the wee cold hours of the morning. As I recall he regretted the decision

Of course Marshall's first comment on the forecast the night before would be a good start.

[tanman1337]

I have the same coolers that Marshal has and believe that they are must have's for the the AZT. I live in Yuma and use them all the time now in the summer months. I definitely would say that keeping the sun off the arms and legs all day saves huge amounts of energy and it is nice not having to put sun screen on all the time. Even though I only did the 300 last year the backs of my legs and the tops of my arms were destroyed from the AZ sun. The coolers can definitely serve dual purpose if you ask me. I bought the De Soto coolers and they are cheap/great. I would definitely listen to Marshal he reigns supreme as far as ergonomic advice in my eyes

[ScottM]

Good looking setup, Jonathan. 

It's April and officially into the countdown for race day.  18 days!

Got out on several AZT segments in the last ~10 days and everything I rode was in great shape.  Cienega, Colinas, Redington, Molino, Canelos, Prison Camp... all in better than ever shape, from my perspective.  The trail from Gardner Canyon to KY Camp, in particular, has received a bunch of fresh (and needed) trail work.  Good to see that section get some love, even if the "Ascent of Death" was still loose with dirt and harder to ride.

We have our first ITT on the trail as of this morning!!  It's Chip Andrus, doing the 750.  Looks like he got a very early start and is well into the Canelos right now.  Jealous.

'13 Tracker with Chip on it is here:

http://trackleaders.com/aztr13

It'll be interesting to see how the northern half of the route goes for him!  Go Chip!

[Sean Allan]

Scott, any news on the finished track? A few of us will be leaving Ca. on the 15th and I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting killed with work so time is short for me to go through and waypoint a new complete track, especially for someone for whom that sort of stuff doesn't come easy for

Thanks for all the work getting us going in a couple of weeks!

[Holt]

Anyone ever have to deal with rattle snakes? I have a friend in Utah who told me to be on the look out. He has seen 2 in the last few rides. Guess its that time of year?

[ne14cycling]

Anyone ever have to deal with rattle snakes? I have a friend in Utah who told me to be on the look out. He has seen 2 in the last few rides. Guess its that time of year?

"to deal with"?  Yes.  they can get in your way!  Just keep in mind that they are not agressive - just VERY defensive!  Stay back and stay safe.

[dream4est]

Ripsey Wash 2012. I had just tweaked my heel/hammy like 20 feet before this pic walking too hard in the damn deep sand as riding it in the heat was killing me. So luckily this bad boy went right in front of me instead of coming at me from the side or as you see in the pic a total blind spot as they seem to blend in with the sand. Scary. I also saw a huge 8" centipede at night by Jakes Corner later in the 750. Set my pack on him to take a break and never saw him as I was down to one light (lost one) and last set of batts and I was running the light super low. Nearly peed my pants when I picked up my pack. He was just sitting there all still playing dead. Weird surreal scene.

[ScottM]

Been working on on the GPX today.  Have the 300 ready, 750 is next.  Soon!