Hanyo66: I'd highly recommend only camping in the Canyon if you have a permit. If you don't think you can make the full push when you arrive at the North Rim it may be best to grab some zzz's before dropping in. The last thing we need is for bikers to get hassled, fined, etc. for  sleeping/camping on the trail.

I fully agree on the last part. I definitely don't want to ruin anything for anyone and want to be a good steward of the bikepacking community

Everyone getting excited?? One week to go....

So excited and so nervous haha. Got the travel problem straightened out which makes me feel better about that near catastrophe.

Only thing I'm sketched out about right now is the GC portage - and only about permits, as I wasn't able to secure one for camping. We should be getting to the North Rim late afternoon / early evening on the 6th. Debating on whether or not to just drop down into the canyon and hike all throughout the night and the next morning until we're finally out, or to sleep on the rim and get up super early and get going. I'd like to drop straight into the canyon and hike as much as I can overnight but I fear that I'll need an extended rest / sleep at some point, and don't want to get into any altercations with a ranger and get told to turn around or worse, get fined (as I've seen some posts online, this happens quite a bit for people that try to sleep in the canyon without a permit).

I watched Jakob's video that he posted last night and looks like he camped right on the trail a couple miles below the north rim.

Thanks to the quick help of John Schilling and Craig Fowler, I got my travel issues straightened out! Crisis averted.

Red Alert for me and my gang...

Unfortunately, Great Lakes Airlines cancelled our flight from Phoenix to Page. From Page we were taking a shuttle to Stateline to start our SOBO journey.

I can rent a car and drive to St. George in Utah for $45 (to drop off the car in Page was over $600!!!). I'd need a ride down to Stateline or just to House Rock Road or anywhere in a 20 mile radius from Stateline. Does anyone have any connections or know anybody or companies in St. George that can shuttle down that way?

Extended forecast puts Jacob Lake around 60 degrees beginning of April(we know how quickly that can change). Not sure if anyone else will be in that area to check, but if not, I’ll update weather and snow status when we pass through on 4/6 providing I have cell service.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/11411

I use the standard etrex mount with zip ties on top of 90mm stem. I Velcro strap both left and right feed bag around my stem, then zip tie the garmin mount over the Velcro strap. I like the zip tie mount because if you crash the mount doesn’t break it just spins slightly. I carry extra zip ties for repair.

Hanyo -- the Garmin eTrex mount is known for ejecting its cargo at times, but it might be explained by the mount not being fully engaged.  They also fatigue after a year or two.  I've only ever had an older one throw a GPS on me.  After the second ejection, I replace.

Thank you everyone!

What handlebar mount are most people using for their Garmin eTrex? Not liking any that I've seen on Amazon or quick google search, figured I'd just go straight to the vets.

Damn that is one stacked 750 field! I am gonna get crushed lol

I think that's 300 and 750 mixed as of right now

Saw Neil on there....he coming out to take down his own record or going for the 300?

I think (from memory) it's only about 30 or so miles from SV to start. It does end with a good climb up to the pass though. If you leave around miday you will get there in about 4 hours or so. I've camped solo at the border without incident. Border patrol will probably want to know what you are up to. Good luck on your ITT.

looking at Google Maps with their "cycling" option selected:

There is a local taxi co. that also claims to go up to the pass.  In addition, someone at sun & spokes bike shop might do it for some $ as well.

Good info, I sent Sun and Spokes an email as I'm looking for a ride FROM the border upon a SOBO completion.

AZTR rookie question.  Is there a list of the best/ closest bike stores along the route?  I like to put waypoints in my GPS in case some repairs or parts are needed during the ride.  I am researching it now, but thought I would ask to save some time if it's been discussed already.

I think the most common one I see in discussion and in blogs is 87 Cyclery in Payson

Others I've seen info on:
Sabino Cycles @ Tanque Verde (8 miles off route)
REI @ Flagstaff
Absolute Bikes @ Flagstaff
Bright Angel Bikes @ South Rim GC Village

Keep the weight lower. Canyon hike was easy.

interesting note. goes against everything I know and practice when it comes to backpacking but I'll give it a test run lol

Tying up some more loose ends here.

Brainstorming on bike airline travel and logistics and might need some advice.

We are flying from Pittsburgh to Phoenix, then Phoenix to Page. I have that part covered, as we will be bringing our bikes in BikeFlight boxes on the plane(s) with us. Riding SOBO.

Where I need advice on would be making this as easy as possible to either fly with or ship our bikes back when we finish.

My current idea is this:
- Fly with bikes from Pitt to Page.
- Assemble bikes in Page
- Fedex empty bike boxes from Page down to either a Fedex holding location or a hotel in Tucson
- Catch our shuttle out to Stateline
- Do the AZT
- When we finish, we will head to Sierra Vista and then we are catching a shuttle up to Tucson
- Pick up bike boxes from either Fedex location or hotel
- Ship back home or take on plane when we leave AZ

Anybody see anything wrong with that or have a better idea of coordinating this? It's the last thing on my plate to figure out before April. So excited it's almost here!

I wonder if I'm the only one anxiously and constantly checking back here waiting for the Trackleaders sign-up link.    

Only about month away and I'm super excited...and a bit scared.

If I had a SPOT tracker, I would be too! haha

I guess I never considered obtaining a backcountry permit until now. I know there are provisions for AZT riders and you can get them as a walk in at the south rim...but we're coming SOBO and everything is closed up north.

Should I send away for one to the address in the site below and note we're doing the AZT?
https://grandcanyon.com/planning/backcountry-permit-procedures/

I don't think I would be brave enough to hold a rag over a bear's nose! 

I think he meant just using the clorox as a scent to ward bears away hahaha

not chloroforming a bear

Can we talk tires for a hot minute?  I've been rocking Maxxis Ardents (29x2.4) as of late, and am a fan.  Only one puncture, they hook up good, perform pretty well in the soggy PNW winter and were great in the super loose summer gravel.  However, I need new tires for this year's full fun and am curious if some vets and/or locals want to steer me away from the Ardent and to something else.  I've been happy with Maxxis in general - was sponsored by them a long time ago when I raced collegiate.  Now I rock them on almost everything I ride, MTB, gravel, commuter.  I won't be in the front pack, so super fast/light isn't my jam.  I just want a great performer for the Arizona conditions that I'm not familiar with riding.  Also, I'm riding rigid if that makes a difference in any comments.  Thanks!

Over the years I've seen a lot of people on here recommend Maxxis Ikon

Hey all, the new kid on the block back in 2017 FINALLY finished his trip report.  It's long as hell, has lots of pictures, and can be found here:

https://bdbsoutdooradventures.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/my-2017-arizona-trail-race/

Maybe it'll help get some of you lucky saps doing it in 2018, more stoked up.  Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket:  I held off finishing my trip report so it'd be ready just before this year's event.

I really hope is that Rhino's grandma doesn't read it, track me down, and throat punch me in disgust.

Just read that bad boy in one sitting straight through, incredible detail, not sure how you remembered everything so vividly. Excellent write up!

take to the road to Jacob Lake once you are out of the Park

Not a bad idea. From the North Kaibab Trailhead to the "true" official Grand Canyon National Park border at the ranger station, it's about 9.7 miles (900 ft. elevation gain) on the AZT then you could come back onto the road.

So a few questions I wanted to ask that will potentially save me a bunch of research time

1) How do you get back from the Northern Terminus to somewhere that has an airport? What IS the closest airport?

2) What about the southern end? Figured that would be easier, as I'd fly into Tucson and catch a ride to the border from some sort of shuttle company

3) I've seen quite a few contraptions for carrying the bike. Anyone do an external frame pack? That seems to be a pretty easy button and I've seen them on Craigslist for $20-30. Figured ship that sucker to the South Rim post office, do the hike with it, and then just put a free sign on it and leave it for someone

I can only speak on #1 that the closest airport to Stateline is in Page. Great Lakes airlines flies twice a day from there on a four seater plane haha. I'm riding SOBO, flying into Phoenix then up to Page with Great Lakes. The ticket was like $65 to get you to a major airport. They might fly to Denver and Salt Lake too but don't quote me on that.

I think St. George has a regional airport too but I have no experience flying in/out of there. Looking at their site, they have some big airlines that fly in and out:
http://tracker.flightview.com/CustomerSetup/sguairport/custom/?view=VIEW_ARRIVAL

Lee,
Of course!! Better yet, I'll flip the entire route and offer a SoBo version.

you da man!