Jonesy I have been thinking about a bikepacking trip some time in the next month. I am thinking of linking the AZT starting near Pistol Hill and then south to Box canyon road and then head for the Elephant Head trail down to Patagonia then back up the east side and back on to Pistol Hill looks like about 180 miles.

Getting your car to the finish would be a good plan. As things get closer people usually start planning a ride down to the start. If there are several coming in from out of state meeting up at the finish and then carpooling in to Tucson is a good start.

Right Box Canyon rd. aka Greaterville rd. officially known as hwy 62 that sections does get a fair bit of use by legal trail users as well as migrants. The migrant numbers must go down though as you don't see as much trash or as many spur trails. So in the end way easier to follow. This trend should continue on farther north.

Signage gets better up north and there aren't as many illegal trails to get off on. Once you join into the AZT near Pine you should be able to ride between the signs staying on the AZT the entire way to Flag. And if you don't get snowed out most of the way to the end after you get past the new construction area by Flag I think there is one spot out the the middle of nowhere north of Babbit ranch were you stay on dirt road instead of riding a trail-less prairie parallel to the road.

Not sure what section you mean after hwy 62?

Here's some options.

Parker Lake CG less then 15 minutes away.

The Sonoita Inn is less then one hour away. http://www.sonoitainn.com/

There's the Stage Stop Hotel in Patagonia as well as a B&B called the Black Dove adds 11 miles driving back up to Sonoita.

Or any one of the chain places in Tucson. There are several in the downtown I-10 area about 2 hours drive to Parker.

Mostly all road some 2 track down to the border then all dirt except a little bit of the AZT leading up to the TH. Should go fast so you guys can meet the 300 riders.

Sleepless nights should be good training.

I'll try to answer some of your ?'s.

I was able to do the whole state by GPS in 06 with only one problem spot north of Pine just don't get on the highway there is trail in the drainage along side. Cue sheets for the 300 are pretty well set by now and should have most of the water stops. But it would be good to check out other sources such as the ATA website and their water list. The down side is your mileage will be completely different from theirs. But it will give you a good idea of whats out there when you are on the true AZT.

As to maps it would make sense as a back up to print the route from TF and carry them as well. I also like to carry photo copies of the Gazetteer maps to help with planning off route travel (resupply/bail one you need the other you hope not to).

The 90 miles from Oracle should be the biggest one. It does get dry above the rim the campgrounds have water but it will likely still be off when you get there. Not far off route there is the Blue Ridge Ranger Station and they should have water turned on (always have in the past).

Hope that helps it's an awesome trip wish I could go but I have to work that weekend of the start. Looking forward to watching this on Spottracker.

Not that I consider my normal riding as training, not that I am much of a racer. But I never try to lighten my pack for day rides. I thought of this yesterday as I was loading up to go down the street meet some other riders for a quick 3 hour ride. I added a change of clothes shorts and shirt and a lock in case I wanted to hit the Mexican food place after. I figure that if I keep a fair load on my back all of the time then I won't notice it so much when packing. Also I always try to do several day rides fully loaded prior to any pack trip so as to get used to the way the bike feels loaded.

Nice pics, but all I can say is burr!

Well the Arkels look pretty good not too impressed with bungee's as hold down system but it looks like the cam system under the hook should make up for the lack of a Jandd style strap down system. A little pricey though.

Even off the bike I use it to pack my bike cloths when I load up in a friends rig to drive to a TH.

I still have the Jandd Mountain Panniers I used for the AZT in 2004. I really like the way they attach (no bungee cords) rock solid once you crank down on the strap. Most Jandd stuff is over built to last a life time, that's the down side though as they weigh a ton. Of course we have been over this on the rack thread. Since you are not a weight weenie that shouldn't be an issue.

I no longer have the REI set that was on the back but if you can find them they worked ok slightly bigger then the Jandd ones but not as tough but lighter. And though they didn't have bungee's the straps didn't provide the same torque as Jandd and I had to use string to tie them on (not a problem on roads just on the trail).

I would highly recommend Jandd products for heavy duty applications I also have their Rack Pack Duffel for a light weight option. http://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FDRP
 

- some sort of lightweight theft deterrent. enough to be able to leave a bike outside a supermarket for 30 minutes.

I have 2 of the seatpost cables (made by Kryptonite just for locking seats) linked together and a tiny Brinks brand lock. It wouldn't stop a determined thief but it will slow them down and at least stops them from being able to just grab and go.

Sweet no excuses for Mr. Morris not now that there is some healthy competition.

Roughly, what I'm looking at is a MUCH more modern successor to this arrangement.....



....plus a little bag on the handlebars. At the very least, I ought to be able to better the weight and gearing range, considerably!  My only concern will be, where do I put the water bottles?

Also, after reading more online reviews, I'm increasingly leaning toward the Sherpa: it seems to be far more popular with this crowd, both on this site, and several others.

(P.S.  I only recently realized that this should have gone on "Questions and Answers."  My apologies; it's my first, real post. Is there any way to move it?)

Something like this would be a more modern version. The front rack is held on by some heavy duty hose clamps lasted the whole trip just fine. The rear rack eventually broke but that's a large size "Dromedary" bag and I did fill it a couple of times and well that's just too much weight.

And Speaking of weight that's the problem with racks in general. Even if it were only for dirt roads I wouldn't want to ride such a heavy bike again. Now I have one of Eric seat bags I made my own handle bar harness pretty simple design just a sheet of cordura with some buckles and straps. I also made frame bag but the seat post bag looked like too much work.

Well that's a pretty big bag I assume it's your sleeping bag and that you need something that big for winter camping. All I put on the bars is my sleeping pad, less then half the size of yours.

A couple of thoughts stiffen the fork, or add a patch of material to the wear spot maybe even just a patch of shoe goo to help protect it. That's all I got.

Seems like every March we get a week of 90's here in Tucson. On the other hand we have had snow in the valley (not just up on the mountain down here in town) in early April. Up north of the canyon one year things will be bone dry in early May the next year, well we've seen Scott's pics of the giant snow banks.

Moto's are certainly high on the list of most damaging to the environment IMO.

Equestrians have their shit together as a group you have to give them that. They were way ahead of the game in getting us banned from the PCT even before there were a lot of MTBs on the market.

At least they didn't take away the whole CDT as well. From what I have heard IMBA is not interested in trying to change Wilderness policy, feeling it is better to choose their battles more to save what we have, or gain ground in other areas, rather then spend time trying to gain something that is most likely unattainable any way. Just my .02

Have you used a Thudbuster before? I have not so my info comes second hand. My partner on the 07 AZT 300 had one on his 26r for years but didn't like it on his 29r. He ended up taking it off and going with a standard seatpost. I personally like my Moots post it has just enough flex to take the edge off but not some much that you feel it moving around. They are pricey tho.

Just say no to 10 speed. I never had an 8 speed went straight from 7 to 9, but I have seen here and elsewhere on line that a lot of riders think the 8 speed stuff wears better. Too bad there isn't a good high quality 8 speed drive train aimed at the endurance crowd. Hint hint Sram an 8 speed 36/12 made to be just light enough to still be durable.

Good luck with the build up,

Thanks, Arizona is a great place and an AZT thru trip is a great way to experience it.