I ended up getting a Surley http://surlybikes.com/parts/mr._whirly_crank/ with the 5 arm 58 I can easily get a 20 tooth on it with no skipping. I was going to get a steel 20 tooth ring from http://www.actiontec.us/ti&steel.htm but my buddy had an aluminum one laying around his shop so I took that one for now.

I would think that with any GPS and the cue sheet any one can figure it out, one of the only problem spots I remember from my 06 trip was knowing if the track meant look for single track or ride the road. By having the cue sheet those parts should be easy to figure out, once you are on the AZT proper you will have official signage to help.

The only place I had any trouble was finding the single track next to the highway north of Payson. Scott had told me about it but that was like 3 plus weeks before and we had discussed the whole route in one meeting no notes. For the other 800 miles I pretty much just followed the track.

Wondering where you all are getting the 20 tooth rings.  Looked around but couldn't find them.

http://www.bikepacking.net/reviews/bike-components/actiontec-20-tooth-chainring/

I'm in.

Sweet!

Your going to love it, and hate it, just don't forget to curse Scott at every opportunity.

I'm pre-riding the AZTrail course from parker canyon to Patagonia on Saturday, March 20--anyone care to join me?
Sunday, I plan to ride the course from Box Canyon Road north for a couple hours, then back to the car.
I'll be either camping or staying with friends in Patagonia
--Mary

Mary I assume you meant to say the 27th not that I can make it sorry if I weren't so busy I would love to join you just can't get enough time in on the AZT.

I am friends with the Bike Monk he mentioned you were in the shop the other day great to hear you are planning to line up at Parker hope to see you there.

This is something I was told by a friend of mine who is an ER doc.

"When it comes to over the counter I's to get the full anti-inflammatory benefit you need to take 4 at once. This is equal to one 800mg prescription strength pill, and then never more then one dose every 6-8 hours. I usually start out the day with one dose and then not again until the end of the day for recovery.

I also like "Sport Legs" brand electrolyte pills they seem to help a lot at least I thinks so, and doc says placebo's do work so it may just be a mind trick but if it works it works.     

Weed!

And I do take vitamin-I but never more then 4 at a time and never more then 4 every 6-8 hours.

Thumbs up for a 20x36 granny on a 29r I have run 2x9 in the past the new cranks still have the big ring but I use it so rarely I will likely drop it at some point.

Looks sweet I need to get up that way again soon.

Ian

Everything changes on May 15 once the park opens. Not sure what your planned pace is but it sounds like most are planning to finish before May 15. Before the park opens there is not that much traffic on 89A afterwords it has way more. I meant to add that earlier the House Rock south to 89A option would be best before May 15. It is possible to take dirt roads back up to Jacob Lake 67 it's on the 200 mile version of the Kaibab Monstercross I believe, but that's a long climb back up. As for the charter I think, you would want them to come to the state line not the North Rim, I am guessing that would be pricey with the long dirt section but it is a option. You couldd easily call in from Jacob Lake to confirm, you should be able to give them an estimated pick up date while you are in Flagstaff.

Randy

Not sure if the Rim to Rim shuttle people are too keen on bikes.

Option 2

Just a thought as long as I am throwing other peoples money around http://www.cliffdwellerslodge.com/ this is the first resupply on 89A heading to Lee's. I seem to remember them having shuttle vans for their quests, I think it is mostly a fishing outfit but the website says they cater to mountain bikers as well. I should think this is worth looking into, looks like its about 40 some miles from the state line 20 some on dirt and 20 on 89A. You might not be able to get a room but as I recall they have good food.

I highly doubt that any of the above ways amount to anything remotely comfy, figure out what works for you. I really liked the duffel bag system I used but the straps did dig in even with a jersey or vest as padding. What really got to me in the end was the pack straps even though all I had extra on that was the wheels I ended up pulling them off and just carried them in my hands for the last half of the third day. Well actually I was using them like walking sticks at one point.

ian

One option that I have used to get back towards Flagstaff, from the state line, head south down House Rock Valley road (dirt/sand) to 89A (paved) then east on 89A to Lee's Ferry. It's a fairly easy ride there is  resupply along the way and at Navajo Bridge there are showers at the laundry mat well there were in 04 anyway. From there I rode on to Cameron but I wouldn't recommend it, what I did think of though is that there is a lot of river runner traffic between Lee's (the Grand Canyon put in) and Flagstaff. We did a river trip in 08 the shuttle we took up had two extra passengers picking up vehicles there, and the big truck we went up in went back to Flag empty. Somehow there should be a way to get on one of these vehicles and get back to Flag most likely for free.

Any way that is a plan that I came up with to get myself back from the state line someday I will do the whole thing again and I do think this could work.

Toby clearly you should not wear a backpack!

Steel is real after all. Do you have a Tubus those are nice.

Those are REI branded panniers on the back of my Razorback they were light and had a large capacity, I don't think they would have held up as well as the Jandd set on the front but for the trip they were great. I gave them away in Flagstaff when the rack broke and I had the Bob sent in.

Dork or not I have no doubt you can finish the CTR. And I would even say that there are people who could be fairly competitive riding/pushing a heavier bike. Then again if you don't have a pack you may in the end have to go lighter then some who have a pack on even without panniers on their bikes.

One thing that I have learned, and then also had to relearn, lighter is always better for making good time on a bike. No mater the length of the trip if there are stores along the way there is no point in trying to carry too much food, even if I don't night ride I can get by with a simple camp kit. Tho I do like my new lightweight stove and ti-pot kit.

At one point in my weight shaving but still using panniers days I do recall doing short trips with just one, still had the pack tho. I guess I have been wearing one for so long I just can't relate to the whole hating on the backpack thing. Again I see it as a balance thing, I have carried way too much at times but I can't see having all of the weight on the bike either. Plus I really like, bite valve hose feed water access.

The latest kit is the lightest of all dropping the weight of the rear rack wasn't that much only a couple of lbs but it makes a big difference in how the bike rides. For starters the balanced load is way better and I can get into the same body positions as with the bike unloaded. Most importantly getting not only back behind the seat but also below it makes a big difference in the down hill sections.

Starting in March of 2004, 6 years ago now I rode my 2001 red, white and blue Razorback Team bike fully loaded with panniers front and back. I had so much stuff with me stove, food for up to 9 days, a heavy synthetic sleeping bag, pad and the chair kit to go with it. Sandals to wear in camp not to mention all of the things that I actually needed like tools, tubes, ect, the bike weighed in at about 75 lbs.

By 2006 I had a completely different kit, the Kona hardtail is lighter to start with one rack light weight duffel on top of that so nothing on the sides to hit during hike a bike sections. Everything is lighter on this one down sleeping bag, prolight pad, no chair kit and I never carried more then a couple of days worth of food. At least for the AZT it is never more then 3 days between towns, and I got there a lot faster and with less effort along the way. I also spent more time in town staying in rooms overnight rather then camping like I did in 04. The 06 trip was more expensive but all in all things came off a lot better getting a room sounds wimpy but in the end I was able to keep my stuff cleaner (washing bike clothes in the sink) and feed myself better (eating more fresh food rather then freeze dried).

I think it depends on what you want to ride, and perhaps a lot of people on here want to ride single track. From my personal experience over the years it is a lot easier if the bike is lighter. Panniers and the racks that go with them make a bike heavy in the first place then add gear and you will end up with a pretty heavy bike.

I am just going to have to say that May is most likely your best bet on this one, with all of the snow this year.

I could see doing the 250 again, that was a great 4 days of riding in October, the 300 is in April I'll have to see how that goes first.

Here's the earlier post

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,90.0.html

He's off to a great start I am getting ready to head out too I should be on the trail in Rincon Valley before he gets there.

His snow bypass looks pretty good.

Looks cool and all of that is only 11.5 oz I would consider putting one of these together how much did you spend on the fabric?