Stage Coach 400 route, Flexible Dates around March 25-29.

[isignay]

In preparation for the Colorado Trail trip which I'll be doing this summer I'm going to follow the stagecoach 400 route this coming March.  I live in San Diego, CA, so the plan is to leave my apartment and start riding clockwise, following the route, and finishing back at my apartment, possibly detouring to connect some of my favorite single track in the area.  But if you are someone that wants to strictly stay on point with the Stagecoach route I'm ok with that too.  If you look up my other "need a partner" post, which is most likely right below this one, you can learn a little bit more about me   I live near the SD airport so if you're not from here I can pick you up, the Amtrak station is close as well.  In terms of pacing or daily mileage with the route I am open to suggestions, so we can go as slow or as quick as you would like.  You are also welcome to stay at my apt. prior to leaving for our trip and afterwards as well.  The more the merrier, so let me know if you're interested!  Have a great holiday season and a happy new year.   

[Ty]

I would be interested in some riding on the SC400 loop that week/weekend and I'm up in Redondo Beach LA area.  I'm new to bikepacking but I've got a few 1 and 2 night trips under my belt in the 150+ mile range.  I'm sure you're stronger than myself with the 500 finish but I've got 7k miles for the year and did a bunch of hard road rides like Climb to Kaiser (155 miles 14.5k climbing ~10 hr) and Everest Challenge (220 miles ~29.5k climbing ~14 hr). I just did my first 12 hour solo mountain race in Temecula and did 11 laps easy with a failed freehub for 3 laps at the start, finished over 100 miles of dirt in the end.  When I'm with fast people I like to hammer out goal miles.  If I bring friends who like to tour that works as well.  I'm conservative on downhills and love to climb/hammer flats.

I'm planning to do the SC400 event as a learning experience to finish in under 5 days.  Not too worried about overall time for the first go.  I've been in contact on FB with the organizers and they are working on a modified route for 2013.  Race is April 26th.  I haven't been able to find a good GPS track of the whole 2012 race yet.  I've been planning on some S24Os to scout the area.  My racing philosophy is to best myself rather than another man.  I've got the bikepacking bug real bad, currently waiting for a custom TI frame to show up in Jan with a bunch of bikepacking features added to it.  It will be outfitted with the full complement of custom frame bags by March.  I'm knee deep in ultra light madness counting ounces and looking hard at kit lists so I won't be a liability on the trail and will show up ready with all the needed gear to have successful ride.

The only issue is vacation days, I have a crazy demanding day job as an engineer at a rocket company... sounds glam but just hard work in real life.  I'm also thinking about a brevet series, planning double centuries, and bikepacking trips so my days out of the cube are somewhat limited.  Looks like you are finishing law school and working this into a spring break trip.  If we could make something work it would need to use weekend days to make it happen.  Just throwing it out there if you're looking for a local guy who wants to ride.  Obviously we would need more planning and a couple day rides under our belts together but it might work out for that week.

[the tortoise]

I have the GPX file for last years route however I am reluctant to share it for the following reasons:

1. Near the start of the course and at the end, it goes through private property that created some issues last year.
2. Before you get to Sweetwater the course took you through Indian Reservation land and their police turned away several people.
3. In Penasquitos Canyon the course took you down a dangerous slide a bike downhill.

I am sure the course for 2013 will be changed to solve these first year problems. I was one of the first year participants and I had a great time.

I would think if you get hold of Brendan from the Hub Cyclery, that he would be happy to assist you.

[Ty]

isignay, nice bike and good work on the frame bag, I like it.  Nothing like a good trail dog too!  I'll have to post up some pictures of my new hardware when I get it.

tortoise, agreed with respect to being hesitant to sharing the GPX file for the 2012 route.  I'm really excited to see one of these adventure races right here in SoCal and wouldn't be too keen on mixing people up with the old route with private property and Indian reservations.  Seems like Brendan will have the new route ready and signups for the event rolling out in early Jan from what he has said.  Hopefully more of these events show up in CA.  Very cool of Brendan and team to do all the leg work setting this up for us to ride.