Going to do a springtime edition. Added a desert loop so we will now have a three loop format. Total distance of around 440 miles.
Date will be Friday April 15th, 2016.

Date for 2016, Friday October 14th, 2016 to coincide with the full moon.

Will add desert loop to make it a three loop format.

Beach loop will be tweaked to add more dirt.

Mountain loop will stay the same except for starting out going down the Banner Toll Road vs. the Banner Grade.

ITT's open at any time. We will update web page and facebook page to have the latest loops. We hope to have the Desert Loop together by the end of November.

All these loops would make great multi day touring loops. The Beach loop gives the option of starting at or near the coast.

Any suggestions for route modification or additions are welcomed.

Results:

Beach Loop: 172 Miles (14,500 feet of Climbing)
1. Sam Johnstone 10 AM Saturday (27 hours)
2. Rick Rhetoric (Broke tie with Johan for 2nd by virtue of swimming in the ocean time bonus!) 10:30 AM Saturday (27 hours 30 minutes)
3. Johan Cronje 11:30 AM Saturday (28 hours 30 minutes)
4. Sharon Sell​ 2:30 AM Sunday (43 hours 20 minutes)
5. Shirley DuErmit 2:30 AM Sunday (43 hours 20 minutes)
6. Rich Wolf 2:30 Sunday (43 hours 20 minutes)
7. Alex Barnett DNF Ramona
8. Mike Hatalski DNF Penisquitos Canyon

Mountain Loop 159 miles (20,400 feet of Climbing)
1. Sharon Sell 6:30 PM Tuesday (53 hours 30 minutes)
2. Rich Wolf 6:30 PM Tuesday  (53 hours 30 minutes)
3. Steve Boland​ (57 hours)
4. Kenrick Buchanan​ DNF Indian Creek Trail

Both Loops
1. Sharon Sell 6:30 PM Tuesday
2. Rich Wolf 6:30 PM Tuesday

Most Inspirational:
Mountain Loop: Steve Boland
Beach Loop: Alex Barnett

Facebook Pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1618140971756406/

Track Leaders has sent out 7 spot tracker rentals. They are suppose to be here by Thursday. We will be handing them out at Granny's Kitchen on Friday Morning before the ride. Please bring 4 AAA batteries preferably the lithium ones. You are responsible for knowing the operation of this unit since we are not good at hand holding!
Info and getting started video here: http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=100

Wish I could make it out there for this Rich, I'll be following along on Trackleaders... have a blast everyone!

That would have been fun! We could both have dressed like homeless people and made a fortune along the way!

Trakleaders is now up! For any others that are going to get on the tracker, particularly if you need to rent a spot tracker do it ASAP! The rented spot trackers will be sent to me. Looking forward to getting on my bike and doing nothing else for about 5 days!
http://trackleaders.com/julianbikepack15

10 to 15 riders and I think all will do the beach loop with several doing both

Spot tracking is now available through trackleaders. Use your own spot or rent one from trackleaders.
Info here: http://trackleaders.com/julian-signup

Final routes have been set.
Here is the link to the web page on the ride. http://www.julianactive.com/Julian%20Bike%20Packing%202015.htm
Looking forward to it!

Revised the beach loop to get ride of some ooops moments and did a safer re-routing into Ramona Country Estates. This should be the final revision for the Beach Loop. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10393355
Will finish off the mountain loop gps ing in the next few days.
Scott Morris from trackleaders will be setting up tracking in the next few days and will offer spot rentals as well.

Finally got the beach loop gps'd. Around 172 miles with around 14,000 feet of climbing. Info here: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/6487600
Going to wrap up the full gps of the mountain  loop this week.
Should be a fantastic course.
Do one loop or two and in any order you want.
Beach loop ultimate bike would probably be a 29er hardtail.
Mountain loop ultimate bike would probably be a full suspension rig.

Time to get serious about wrapping up details on the Julian Bikepack event. Going to make it two loops this year. You can do one or both loops and in any order that you want. Mountain Loop and Beach Loop. Going to forego the desert loop this year until I can find a legal connector. Date is still the same starting on Friday October 23rd. Mileage will be around 320 or so for both loops.
I plan on taking a day next week to wrap this sucker up. Stay tuned!

--I'd really like to know in general how much suspension people are getting when buying bikes for riding CT-type stuff.  Looking to get my first full-suspension in another year or so, after many years of riding hardtails.

I did the AZT on a hard tail and wished I had a fully.
I hope to do CTR next year and it will be on my new 120mm fully. My wife got the same brand but in 140mm travel and I would trade her bikes in a heartbeat. Don't skimp on travel unless it makes the bike heavy or awkward. With many new bikes longer travel can still be efficient.
I did get a carbon bike and I am worried a little bit about it. would have had me cringing big time on the AZT race!

I want to hear the biker version vs just taking a disgruntled hikers word for it. Does not sound like a well trained dog which is the hikers responsibility before taking them out on the trail. and he or she makes it sound like all the bikers were pricks which is hard to believe.
I would think if there were more complaints then I would look more deeply into it.
But this is a reminder to share the trail and respect other users. 70 bikers spread out over many miles doesn't sound like a crowd to me.
Perhaps a staggered start and splitting the group into roughly halves for the two direction start points.

I have a great 60-mil loop in the Hodges area that might be able to use to piece together for that third loop. Some is junk since it was my first time riding it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14992867

thanks I'll look at it and perhaps PM you.

Trying to get a start list going. So far 9 confirmed. Looking to cap it at 40 riders, so pm me if interested and I will put you on the list.
one, two or three loop options.

Start: Friday October 23rd, 2015
All loops start and end in Julian, California
Pre ride get together on Thursday evening (site and time TBA)

1. One loop (mountain loop) around 165 miles
2. Two loops (mountain and beach loop) around 320 miles
3. Three loops (mountain, beach and desert loop) around 475 miles

Riders can do the loops in any order that they want.
spot trackers required
no trashing the place!
you can go off course at any point to get food, emergency medical, bike repairs etc. I don't care if you hitch hike or whatever. Just return to where you left off and start up again.
I hope to do the beach loop routing in the next week or so. Final maps and ability to download gpx files will be on the ridewithgps site.

I thought this was a 2015 race discussion thread and not a drag it up from the past thread!

Anywho, Will Bodewes is now in tenth place and within striking distance of being able to move up to 7th place!

I'm eating an entire pie today to celebrate. I always knew my pie-eating tendencies were the source of my own secret power!

Salsa had their bases covered !

Race was lost and won at Abique in my opinion.

Never thought Josh would ever bridge the gap.

Looks like Will Bodewes is poised to make it into the top 10! This might be the most amazing ride of this year's TD!