Jsliacan - Thanks you for all your well-researched comments. I think it sheds a whole lot of light on what is going on here. I appreciate it.

Hi Mike. Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I didn't realize more than one person was involved in filming Lael.

I agree that allowing media is a slippery slope.

TapRider - Unfortunately, good and inspiring people do often get pulled into other people's petty battles. I really hope that's not what's happening here.

Anyway, this is an amazing race, and I hope it continues to be that way.

[I do think there needs to be a lot more clarity about these rules ahead of time, given the tremendous energy racers invest in these attempts.]

Hey all. I'm the 2016 female winner - Sarah Jansen. I have a question: what constitutes a "media crew?" Was there an entire crew of people out there filming Lael? I thought it was her spouse, Rue, photographing/filming her?

When I was racing, someone came out onto the course and handed me a beer during my 30-mile hike (after my crank spindle literally broke in half). Is that accepting support? What if spectators take photographs? I do think there needs to be a lot more clarity about these rules ahead of time, given the tremendous energy racers invest in these attempts.

Just so y'all know - Lael spent the two months leading up to this attempt giving away bikes to girls in Tucson (some of them low-income) and teaching them how to ride and bikepack. She barely had any time to actually even train for this, because she was so busy running the GRIT program here.

We're so lucky to have Lael in Arizona investing in youth programming here. What if it was your daughter who went through Lael's program?

The sad reality is that women still aren't paid anywhere close to what men are paid to be professional cyclists. Lael has to have some media coverage to keep her sponsorship, and she's using that sponsorship to help youth in Arizona. Those bikes that our girls in Arizona now own came straight from Specialized.

Once again, not saying this means John should make an exception to the rules. I just think this requires a lot of diplomacy and care (which I'm sure John is aware of), and I hope the rules will be revised to be clearer in the future.

Thanks so much for hearing me out,

Sarah
 

Raced this in 2015 and toured the US-portion of the 2015 course in 2018 (South to North). Caught the front-end of the race that time, which was fun.

I'm touring again this summer, riding south to north (Silver City to Whitefish). Looks like the 2022 GPX file isn't out yet? Does anybody know what the route is going to be or which year/route I could use for touring?

Thanks so much!

Sarah

I am not sure how to take myself off of the signup list, but alas, I am not able to do TDR this year. I am "Sarah Jansen", the first person on the list.

I'm leaning toward doing it again this year. I raced in 2015 but would like to tour this year -- shooting for 4 weeks or more, leaving with the racers in Banff.

Thanks Brian!  Yes,the Beeline B&B in Pine is a good place to stop, even if it is insanely luxurious! :-) Thanks for reading along. Glad you enjoyed it! I won't be doing Powerline again. :-)

Hey all! I wrote a little book about my experience doing the Arizona Trail Race 750 in 2016. The ebook is free 8/4-8/8.

https://www.amazon.com/Pedaling-Home-Womans-Across-Arizona-ebook/dp/B073PGT2JQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501858060&sr=8-1&keywords=pedaling+home

Hope you enjoy, and best of luck to those tackling the race in 2018!

Sarah

I've posted a little bit on here (in preparation for bikepacking the Colorado Trail, Tour Divide and Arizona Trail Race). I've since moved to Northern Arizona and am hoping to do some bikepacking trips around here. Hit me up if you're local and want to bikepack on trails!

If you're staying near the Travelodge in Sierra Vista and need a ride to the start of the 750, let me know! My dad is driving me from there, and we have one extra space on my hitch rack. I think we're planning to get to the start at about 6:30 am (so, leaving at around 5 am, Friday morning) ... . PM me for my phone number, if you're interested.

See you out there!

Sarah

In case you're in BC an interested in a fun weekend trip, you can check out my report here: https://jansenaztr750.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/bc-bikepack-trip-1-part-1/

In addition to my Strava links (which include the Squamish trails I took), you can get the Sea to Sky GPS file here: http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/993190-tct-sea-to-sky-squamish-to-whistler/

Sea to Sky is a nice trail for bikepacking - wide, smooth singletrack, with bits of road and highway. There is good camping at Riverside Resort, which I mention in my ride report.

Sarah

Hey Sarah

I would say have a GPS on your handle bars and a cue sheet of distance to next food and water. Keep a close eye on your GPS track!

Those who take less tend to do better.

Carry something to boot a sidewall slice, an extra tire is over kill, too heavy and the next bike shop never that far. Ride the Canelo's conservatively there's some tire slashers in there as well as the limestone south of Colossal Cave. 

Some may carry winter shoe covers and go over the Lemmon in a snow storm, others will wait it out at the bottom. I don't think people skimp on gear just remember the go light moto.

I am still using the carbon bars I carried thru the canyon on my 06 800 mile AZT tour, the 07 and 10 AZT 300 plus. Easton Monkey Lites delaminating but still going I think you can quit worrying, obvious damage in a crash may kill them but that would be rare and should be avoided anyway.

No idea what dress tights are.

Pearl Izumi X alp Enduro are pretty popular.

Hopefully you'll get some other responses.

Tim

Thanks Tim! This helps a lot. Definitely planning on lightening up this time around ... too much HOB not to!

Hi there! I've decided to do the 750 a little late in the game. I've done TDR (2015 - Sarah Jansen) and the Colorado Trail (solo tour from Denver to Silverton, summer 2014), but something tells me this will be the hardest of the three, at least for me ... . !! As a Tucson native, though, I'm super excited. :-) Arizona riding has always been my favorite.

Anyway, just saying "hello"! And also, I have a few questions ...

I'm using the Arizona Trail Association as my main planning resource. So, I'm reviewing the Guidebook (put it on my iPhone, too) and the Data Book (also on the iPhone). I do well with just following GPS tracks (I take multiple GPS units), so the plan would be to know the food and water stops but, otherwise, to rely mainly on my Garmin units. This worked well for TDR, but is this a good way of going for AZTR? I imagine it's easier to miss turnoffs on the Arizona Trail ... . I'm wondering whether I should do the whole cue sheet thing ... .

I'm going to finally make the leap and try a minimalist structure, instead of a tent. I thought I heard somewhere about a dual sleeping-bag bivvy setup. ?? It actually looks like a lot of people do an emergency bivvy and a sleeping bag. I found I didn't really need an air mattress on the Divide, so I'm thinking of scratching that, too.

It sounds like a spare tire is a good idea. Yes or no? Or just go with super beefy tires, like the Ardent? Having had a tire completely blow up on me on the TDR, it seems it might be wise to have a spare tire ... .

Do you take a lot of rain gear? Rain pants? Rain gloves?

Carbon bars? I took them on the TDR, but I worried the entire time.

Has anybody tried taking wool dress tights, instead of cycling tights? I've tried them some on day rides, and they keep me warm and are way lighter/less voluminous than cycling tights. I'm wondering how they'll hold up, though ...

For those who hike in their bike shoes through the Grand Canyon, what shoes do you use? I'm hoping to buy a good pair I can both bike (clipped in) and hike in ... .

Any answers to any of these questions would be hugely appreciated! Thanks, and see you out there!

I'm planning on doing the 300.  Is there an informal signup somewhere, or do we just show up?

That does seem like a good option; I will give it a go! Thanks!

A rack really isn't idea for races, though. Ugh. Once again the bike industry absolutely sucks for small women. Go figure.

I tried the strap - not exactly a perfect fix.

I'm having trouble finding a seat bag that won't tire strike. Even though Revelate's website says the Pika will work, it doesn't. Any recommendations? What seat bag works well (and is durable!) on a small 29-er frame? I need something pretty sturdy.

Thanks,


Sarah

SlowRide - great idea! I hadn't thought of that, but that would make a lot of sense.

Jcluddite - thanks! In talking with people, I decided to go with two GPS units (hate relying on my iPhone - service spotty) and maps (shipping 'em back as I go). I'm also going to bring the aerobars - at the very least to hang things on. (I did find that feature helpful.)

I'm getting so excited!!!!

I just learned that my cell phone service provider (Straight Talk) does not have roaming services. Does anybody know where one might go in Calgary or Banff to get a cell phone calling card?? Can that be done with cell phones (temporary international plan through your an alternate service provider)??