I believe you can ride at Newton Hills State Park I haven't been there in years thou.

As for the Hills there should be tons of options on the Centennial and others just don't go in early August during the Sturgis Rally if you can help it. As for the tourist they are easily left behind about 1/2 mile from any TH.

King BB, Surly crank, 20/30/40 rings.

Dave did you have to modify the Surly crank to work with the 20 tooth ring.

Nice post. It makes me want to do that section again and explore some of the newish ST we missed.

Yes there is lots of good riding above the Rim well worth checking out. In the past I have felt that sticking to the official AZT was the only way to go, obviously we all have to make our own choices along the way. I have always felt that the extra work of staying on the trail was rewarded in the end with some (even if short) great pieces of trail. With a shuttle this section could easily be put together in a long weekend.

On the other hand Scott and I have discussed that it might be better to leave the AZT entirely in favor of the Black Canyon Trail thus skipping several big Wilderness passages all in one shot on good new ST.

VooDoo Canzo 29r.

For general stuff Campmore.com has a good selection of tarps, ponchos and the like, here in Tucson I like Millers Trading Post/Army Surplus for a lot of similar stuff especially string.

We had the same thought first Safeway then Wall Mart both have no overnight parking signs posted. We ended up parked on a side street off of down town. I happen to know the people who live on a corner lot and don't use the parking on one side.

As long as there are no signs getting towed should be no problem as for break ins well no way to stop it if it is going to happen.

Have fun on your ride.

Signage was pretty good out there actually I some how left tracking off so no tracks but I think Rob should have. Not sure that we did any thing new though I think we left the trail just as the new changes begin. I do have a waypoint that I made just after we left the signed route I can get that sent to you.

I've got some updates to the AZT network to do, including some new trail by Mormon Lake.  I hope to do that this week.

There are some changes out near Gonzales Tank if you head out on FS 93 near Happy Jack then to past Gonzales you will find the new AZT signs on the left.

Looks like a great course, perfect timing I was hopping to get out and do some riding after the Tour of the White Mountains.

I should think the 250 would fill the bill nicely.

I should think the hardest part would be all below the rim and as I recall there is a spring a short way into the Highline and then there should be a creek at Geronimo camp (there is in the spring any way). Then once you get up top things should speed up we were making good time until the mud slogged us up. So depending on timing and speed you might could make Blue Ridge (where the trail crosses 87) all the way to near Mormon Lake in one day with a reasonable amount of water.

I rode Highline like 14 years ago.  I'd love to do it again.
Thanks.

I think the Highline is pretty cool also but it can be a lot of work. In 04 I found lots of down trees and heavy over growth by 06 the FS had worked two fires in the area and the trail was a lot better. There should be water at Washington Park at the headwaters of the East Verde and more along the way up the Devin trail. The Devin trail is the big grunt gaining the rim there was lots of water in the first half of Blue Ridge not sure in the fall. We got water at the Blue Ridge campground not sure how late they stay open (keep the water on). There is a ranger station north of the trail on Hwy 87 then it is a fair ways to Mormon lake but you could always detour over to the Happy Jack ranger station I have gotten water at both in the early spring.

The GPS data found here on BP is helpful but we found the trail in pretty good shape and well signed I doubt you would have too much trouble even with out a GPS.

I would think that a trip from General Springs that's right above the rim on to Flag and even on to the South Rim would be primo AZT bikepacking. Starting in Payson/Pine adds a bit of hike a bike but also some good challenging stuff.

I would want 5-6 days from Payson 3 from the rim, it would be easy to go from Flag on the highway to Clint's Well head south about .5 miles to FS 141 (I think) then out to the rim in one day then 2-3 days back to Flag on the trail.

Yes it was a good trip I know Chuck Horner did some work on the Blue Ridge and that there has been ongoing work on Happy Jack. Just before as we left the AZT on FS 93 the signed trail took off on a different two track then the one I have used before. I am assuming that this leads to more new ST I had hoped to add to the data base but that will have to wait until another trip.

Day 2 continued riding even after the first rain and hail came down, a section of rocky trail less meadow lead to even rockier roads. Thanks to all of the rock we were not picking up any mud then the road turned to dirt but was completely dry.

This dry road suckered us in and we continued north until the second big rain of the day came in with a flash and bang almost simultaneously. It was hailing again even more then the first round and the lightning was very close. We sat it out under Rob’s tarp.

After this the roads were running like little mini rivers but we could keep moving as the water washed the mud off as we rode. We knew we would need to get out eventually and hit the pavement but at first the only way was to stay on route. We left the signed AZT at a point where it diverged from the GPS data and started looking at the map to figure out how to get to the highway. While Rob studied the map I went to look around I could see a large area of mounded earth and then a sign reading Gonzales Tank. Once we knew for sure where we were there was nothing to do but head out to the pavement. It looked like 4 miles to go before we would hit the improved road and as the water dried up the mud stuck like glue. I was not a happy camper those last few miles pushing, dragging, and cleaning the bike up and more pushing. We were very glad to see the hard pack of the improved dirt road even though it meant we would be back on pavement soon.

We stopped in at the Happy Jack Ranger Station and used their hose to clean off most of the mud. Then up the highway to find a place to camp for the night.

Day 3 was just a half day spin back to Mormon Lake for food and water and then pavement back to Flagstaff.

We ended up with 166 miles total and a lot of good riding on the AZT along the way.

Day 2 we broke camp and set out along the Rim to the start of the Blue Ridge Passage. The AZT guide book says “Only the most hardcore and masochistic riders will enjoy this.” We had a blast great riding blasting through the creek crossings and minimal (by AZT 300 standards) hikabike.

At Blue Ridge campground we loaded up on water ate lunch and then the rains hit. Not sure what would happen after leaving the camp rain and mud wise we were happy to find dry trail and fun riding.

We were well into the Happy Jack Passage before more rains hit.

Rob B and I wanted to do a 3 day bikepacking trip over the 4th. We decided on trying to ride from Flag to the Mogollon Rim and back. We knew full well that it was likely to rain and that said rain would lead to sticky mud that would likely force us off the trail. As most of the route would parallel the Lake Mary road (FS 3) we figured we could always bail to pavement.

Day one we enjoyed great riding south out of town toward Fisher Point and then up to Marshall Lake and Anderson Mesa. It was hot in the morning until the clouds built but that just meant that rain was on the way and sure enough we got hit about noon. We started picking up mud but found we could keep moving by staying out of the rutted trail and riding in the pine needles. Flat ground and open forests made it possible to continue on until we hit a dirt road and leave the trail for pavement.

After a quick spin on the Mormon Lake road we stopped at the store for food and a quick check of the map. It looked like we would be better off on pavement for the rest of the day so we made plans to shoot for a camp out on the rim. 27 miles on the AZT then pavement followed by FS improved dirt roads and we found a nice camp after 75 miles on the bikes. Not bad for day 1.

No offense but anyone who actually needs a 22/36 combo to climb using a 22.5 lb bike with 26in wheels should eat their Wheaties and train more.   

No offense taken or implied but any one who can stay in balance at 22/36 on a 26in bike (sub 2-3 MPH) and cleanly ride steep challenging terrain (I assume this is the point) has some mad skills IMO.

anyone know if you can run a bob trailer with one?

BobNutz I have seen these in my friends shop and he has them on his Sonny Gracia grocery store bike with an 8 speed. They are Bobs answer to bikes with out skewers.

I have one of the Epic seat post bags but surely you could get by just strapping the bag under the seat. And put some weight on the bars as well for a balanced set up.

I have used post racks but as mentioned they tend to add a lot of weight by themselves.

Very interesting post there is certainly a lot to do in the east but to me the West is the Best.

On comment 2 we do have out maintenance issues there are big trees on the AZT at higher elevations, and the Sonoran desert is fairly lush so trails can get over grown with thorny plants. Up around Pine on the AZT the pine trees have been infested with bark beetles so lots of them fall, there is also a lot of fire damage on the AZT. The hiking route is in even worse shape then the bike route as the wilderness passages we don't do are the most remote and hardest to work on.

The west is definitely has a more casual dress code living in Tucson you rarely see people wearing ties and when you do they look out of place. I would also say that we have our share of nonoutdoorsy residents.

I thinking about it more the hammock should be fine in most places it is just our desert trees that don't work for it. If you were in the mountains any where else around here there should be better trees Prison Camp and above with pines even the right pair of oaks should work. Chad made his work on his 300 trip it seams you just have to get creative.

I have never been a fan of the emergency bivvy for routine use, sweating is not good it just leaves you cold latter maybe as a blanket so you could still breath.

I have a Phantom 32 down with an REI bivvy that worked great when new but now at 3 years old it leaks and I need a new one thinking Mountain Hardware product as I have had good luck with their stuff. My first down bag was a 15 and ultra light but I didn't like the tiny zipper and it did tend to be too warm most of the time. Not that I got to use it for long.