Looking for AZT300 partner in Jan, Feb or March

[bikepackingdana]

I want to pre-ride the AZT300 course before the race. I can ride the course in one the these months: Jan, Feb or March. Touring pace would be fine, but we can step it up a notch too. Message me if interested.
Dana

[joeydurango]

Hey, CLM and I were just talking about this trip potential yesterday!

[Dr.Dre]

I'd be interested.
What is earliest you can do this route?
is your touring pace slower than JJ?

[bikepackingdana]

January 28th - Feb 3rd or 4th. Sound good? We can shorten or lengthen it. Let me know. Where do you live? I'm in Grand Junction, Colorado.

[Dr.Dre]

Hey there,
I would love to join you but I have plans for that and the following weekend (fat bikes races).
If you can do it after those dates, I have tons of flexibility.

I live in GJ (just moved from DRO). I only know one person in GJ so we should ride together. PM your cell if you want.

Keep me posted.
dre'

[bikepackingdana]

Yeah, absolutely. Throw some dates out there. March would be good. Let me know and let's go! My friend Stacy who is a very strong cyclist would likely join. We rode the CT in late August. It was awesome!!

Dana

[AZ_BikePacker]

I would be happy to do Parker Canyon to Sonoita just about any Saturday (not January 9,10 or Feb 13,14 because of other races).  I live in Sierra Vista so I can provide a place to crash the night before. 2016 AZT300 will be my first bike-pack, so I really want to load up my bike and get a feel for how it handles.  I have a GPS, so I'm really planning on doing this first leg of the race this Saturday.

See, you April 15th, if you can't make down here sooner.

~Don

[Dr.Dre]

Dana, I should have plenty of date flexibility through March. End of February early March would b great


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[Sandstorm]

+1 for wanting to pre ride the course.
Looking for a tour pace as well, just to learn the course and get use to new gear.
I am a newbie bikepacker, but would love to give the AZT 300 a go this spring. I live in Tucson and am planning to at least get in Parker Canyon to Tucson in the near future. Would prefer not to ride solo. I need to get the bike and gear sorted. Also the GPS, which is the harder part for myself as I'm not super tech savy.
Hope to get on the trails early Jan and even Feb.

[Flagster]

I'm down let me know dates

[jjhpf]

Looking at options to come pre ride course as well - last week jan through feb 10, coming from Mich if anyone else interested...
Would the first mt normally be snow covered this time of the year?

[AZTtripper]

Lemmon is the biggest, highest peak and right now they have a 32 to 40 inch base up at Ski Valley http://www.skithelemmon.com/  The Canelo's AZT Passages 2 - 3 the start of the 300 likely have some snow as well. North from Oracle to the finish of the 300 would be your best bet this year.

[jjhpf]

Thanks AZTtripper for info!
If my april schedule works i will be doing 750 this year, 300 for sure, my first.
How far north of the 300 finish could one ride the first week of feb? What would you estimate the total milage from Oralce to furthest ridable point north of 300 finish?
- jim

[AZTtripper]

Jim

Staying on course you could ride a long ways but it turns to all roads all the way to Roosevelt Lake beyond that your getting higher and colder. Staying on the AZT proper you could to all the way to the Superstition Boundary. Climbing on 4x4 roads and descending the trail is better. This https://rockyroad5050.wordpress.com/8-picketpost-punisher/ See John Schillings AZT http://www.bikepacking.net/tripreports/the-arizona-trail-via-mtb/

Oracle to PP and the the PP Punisher would be a great 300 trainer.

[Flagster]

I will be heading to Tucson from Feb 6th-16th for some preriding on various segments with an overnight...If those dates work for anyone let me know I would love some company.
Matt