Yeahhhhhhh max!!!!!

Good effort Scott, that's just something you can't really control in a race where you want to be in control the whole time! I'm already getting excited about next year!

Unless he dropped his spot and someone picked it up! ))))

I got my work cut out for me! What's a realistic finish time?

check this http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,5514.0.html out we have been chatting with him. I believe he is inbetween max and blake.

I've parked mine when i did the KOKO last year. Did not have any issues.

Ill be watching... does anyone know the overall record?

Scott's giving er another go?

Any word on cjell? I can only assume he's up there with Blake!

so that was tough. really tough. i finished up the 300 (3days 3hrs 23min) and considering it was my first crack at anything like this
I was really stoked to finish. had no idea i would be hiking that much...ouch (esp in carbon race shoes).

TIP: don't ride GEAX aka in the back (i finished with pretty much a bald tire) but they never tore. the small knobs just got ripped off.
Ran the GEAX sagauro tnt up front and should have ran in rear as well. one small puncture in rear but stans plugged it fast enough.
the bald rear made those decents a bit touch and go.

*lost about 1.5-2hrs near "chiva tank" due to GPS acting weird and me being stupid and getting us off course.
*i didn't buy nearly enough calories in oracle to make final push (def was slow going on dead empty last 5-6 hrs)
*had to filter water from Gila, glad i did as i had about 2 sips left at finish.

great meeting lots of good people out there on the trails! (Ross, Neil, Max)

Luke Glad you got er done, and glad those tires held up! haha they were bald on orcle ridge so I'm sure it was tough the rest of the way with traction. I was also very low on food by the end, next time I'm going to get more no doubt!!!!! did your other boys finish?

Let me know if you guys are in CB this summer we can go for a ride. My Email is Neil.beltchenko@gmail.com

Cheers,

NEIL

Looks like Forest is at a bike shop in Apache Junction -- bummer.  Madmax is into Payson.  He is looking really good.  He must be stoked to be leading the race and the triple crown!

After talking to Max on route he is determined for sure!

Ouch.  Not being in shape for this one caused some hurt.  I cut my tire at mile 80 and stitched it without removing it from the rim.  It held 100 miles when I had to restitch and taped the inside with Gorilla tape.  That lasted 30 miles.  Pulled it off again and put some super glue on it and taped it with two layers of gorilla tape.  This was just past the Freeman Cache. I connected with Neil and we worked hard together to push to Kelvin before sunset.  Didn't happen, but luckily there was a shitload of water at the big parking lot.  It was 9 pm and we sat to eat our final meal taking inventory of what little food we had.  We worked hard to get through the Gila and ended up going down for a solid half hour nap with about 4 miles left before the climb to Picket Post. 

When the fun descending finally started with about 10 miles to go, I left Neil and did my best XC racer impersonation to beat the sunrise. I finished at 6:23 am and Neil was about 15 minutes or so back.  Much slower going on the SS for me this year, but no messing around and riding that final stretch from Oracle Ridge straight through to the finish with only a short nap improved my time by 11.5 hours.

Sorry I didn't join in on the trackleaders.  Money is tight and I'm especially pissed because my Spot didn't work so I had to update my wife via the rare text message.

I'll wait until I'm more lucid to do a blog post.  It was a great ride and I saw lots of cool stuff.

Big Dave

Dave thanks again for the motivation, and wisdom your a great guy! Can't wait to study up on my biker mechanics and talk bikepacks for the CTR!

Neil

Impressive!  Nicely done!

Sounds like the fork was rideable locked-out and rigid, which would have been fully rigid for you right?  Did you consider finishing the ride with no suspension?  Either way, good show for us watching from afar.

It was not all that bad a blow out seal but it was not holding any air. So yea it was pretty ridged. the big issue was my angle on the bike I was so hunched over, killing my back! I messed around with the lock out but nothing changed. I made some phone calls in Tucson but No one could look at my fork till Tuesday. So I decided to ride with a broken fork. However I figured to just go to broadway cycles and see if they had anything... They had a fox float 100 laying around all new and shiny! Hehe

Yahooooo just woke up from sleep! I got in today at 2days 21 hours and change! Attempt to do the final push with Big Dave not knowing how hard it was! It. Was. Tough. I can't believe what this trail has to offer, I'm very humbled! My fork blew out in the first 30 miles. I was certain I would have to call it. After deciding to sleep on it at la silva picknic area I biked into Tucson and bought a new fork at Broadway Cycles!  Luckly they had a 100 mm laying around! This turned into the most expensive race ever!!!Oh we'll after my two hour detour in Tucson I was determined. Yahoooo time for some chips and guac!!!!!

Cjell didn't let that slow down his training

I know, but this year was so similar to last I figured I would have more saddle time!

Thanks Mark.  Glad it at least still exists.

Extended forecast for Friday/Sat has been cooling down in the last few days.  Another system is due to hit us with wind and cool temps this week.  Hopefully it'll be enough to keep the 300 and low desert parts of the 750 out of the 90's.

That's what I like to hear! Crested butte just got its second 12 inch storm in the past week! It's making it mighty difficult to get ready for this thing!

Looks like Cjell is on his way, only 700+ miles to Sierra Vista. Will he make it on time? only time will tell.
http://trackleaders.com/aztr13i.php?name=Cjell_Money

There is a tank with a float valve which is about 17.5 miles past Freeman.  It had water in March in a metal tank and in April the tank was replaced with a plastic tank.  It is pretty easy to find, while I never did find 'bathtub,' though I also did not look very hard.

33.01805° N 110.98990° W

It is described on the ATA website as: "tank with float value west-up jeep road ~0.1"

great, ill take a look at it!

Tim and Scott,

Thanks for the clarification, very helpful. I hope not to use it and find this bathtub spring.

Chip sorry to hear about your the knee injury! you did a steller job thru the 300. Any chance you marked a waypoint at the bathtub spring?

I'm getting super excited/nervous. I'm heading out on the 17th from Crested Butte probably stay with a friend in Tucson on the 18th. Can't wait to meet all you guys on the 19th!

NEIL

Ok can someone explain to me the Freeman cache? can we put water in it prior to the race? rule 3 says no caches, so why would this even be an option??? Sorry i just need clairfication.

Thanks,

NEIL