2009 Coconino Loop Race Thread

[DaveH]

Ditto. Cracked a frame and had a wheel failure. Counting on my LBS to save the day with the wheels...sweating bullets.

Dang you AZ boys ride hard!

[brink]

Fortunately, my LBS was kind enough to offer up a lender set of wheels, this has somewhat reduced my stress. But for this ride they may be a bit marginal (i.e., I may have to return them coated in salsa, spicy meat, lettuce and tomatoes).

If all goes to hell-in-a-hand-basket I will cry for help. Thanks!

[jonesy792]

so there's still a bunch of questions floating around in my head:
is there an "official" start/finish to the race?  (start/finish from anywhere in flag?)
where is a good place to leave a vehicle in flag? (I was thinking shultz pass area?)
is anyone interested in meeting up friday morning for pre-race breakfast?

[ScottM]

Good questions.  The first is addressed by the cue sheets, and also "v2" of the CLR waypoint file, available here:

http://topofusion.com/GPX/CLR/

You can start anywhere you want in Flag.  Time starts when you hit the urban path, heading out of Flag.  Time on the last stage (Stage 4) stops when you hit pavement a little ways after Schultz Creek Trailhead.  Both of these spots are marked as waypoints in the "v2" file.  You can take any route you want through Flag, but the one on the GPX is recommended and gets you to/from downtown.

The stage stops for Sedona and Mingus are also marked as waypoints.  Williams is going to be a little more tricky.  You can stay anywhere in the Williams area -- motel, camp on the outskirts?, or on the singletrack going into town?  Time for Stage 3 (from Mingus to Williams) stops when you hit pavement in Williams (marked as a waypoint).  Stage 4 time starts at the railroad bridge heading out of Williams on Route 66.  Again, it's a waypoint.

Hopefully this isn't too confusing.  We figured that everyone will want to go to Williams itself to eat and possibly grab a room/shower (there are also KOA and other campgrounds in the area).  After 3 days on the trail this seems likely.  The other option was to camp at the top of Williams Mountain, which seems a little much when food awaits just down the trail.

Sedona and Mingus stops function more cleanly -- time in and out of camp, basically.

As for where to leave a car in Flag, there are a few options.  Safeway is possible.  We also know some folks (in different locations) where a few people could leave cars.  What we don't have is a good place for 8+ vehicles for ~4 days.  If anyone knows of such a place, we'd love to hear about it.  Otherwise we can give suggestions, but everyone is kind of on their own to figure that out and just ride to the urban path to head outta town.

Any questions/comments?

[YuriB]

So where we meeting Friday morn? Late for Train across from the Monte Vista? Macys? Somewhere else?

[Chad B]

Brink, you can borrow my Lenz if you need it.

[ScottM]

Dang you AZ boys ride hard!

Chalk up another.  Just noticed a spoke pulled itself through my Stans Arch.  

I tried to email MC to lace another, but his auto-responder gave some nonsense about riding across Utah?  What a slacker.

[Chad B]

Yuri, are you rolling out at 7am with Chris and I?

[jonesy792]

ouch, at least you caught it now and not on mingus

[YuriB]

Yuri, are you rolling out at 7am with Chris and I?

Sounds good to me. I can watch you guys ride off into the distance.

[Chad B]

I am thinking The Place, like Scott suggested. Load up on some carbs before heading out for some miles and a good time.

[YuriB]

I am thinking The Place, like Scott suggested. Load up on some carbs before heading out for some miles and a good time.

Fine by me. Where is it?

[Chad B]

Edit: The Place is on Milton, northwest side of the street between Phoenix and Tucson St. It is right before you go under the bridge (if you are heading north).

Remember, if you plan on doing the stage race version, you can start anytime you want. "Thru-Racers" need to meet at 630am to eat, leaving promptly at 715 am.

Cue sheets will be posted tonight. As previously mentioned, it is highly recommended that you have a GPS.

[jonesy792]

I dunno...... according to the map its 3-4 miles off course.  Wouldn't want to tire myself out now riding to the start 

[ScottM]

I dunno...... according to the map its 3-4 miles off course.  Wouldn't want to tire myself out now riding to the start  

Actually it's right on the route, but it's also before the timed portion, of course.

Chad's map is wrong.  Are there two "the place"'s in Flagstaff?  I think so.  We want the west one.

[ScottM]

Cue sheet is posted in the same place as the GPX files:

http://topofusion.com/GPX/CLR/

BTW, for anyone forgoing GPS, I highly recommend downloading the GPX, loading it up in TopoFusion and following along with the cue sheets to visualize the course.

Remember that if anything the cue mileages will be a little short, since they are derived from GPS data.

Dang I'm excited about this route.

[Rob]

I'm pissed, I have a Garmin Edge 705 but it's messed up, I can't get a course to load on it anymore.  I don't think I'll be able to get mine fixed in time so I may just buy another GPS.  I get Garmin's at cost through the shop I work at.  Which is the best for bikepacking, price not a concern?

I was thinking about getting the Oregon 400t because they make a bike mount for it, and it works with the heart rate monitor too.  And it takes AA batteries.  

Would there be a better choice?

[Chad B]

Etrex Legend or Vista.

[ScottM]

I just received a brand new eTrex Vista HCx.  My old one served me well for 2? 3? years, but is dying in more ways than one now, including rubber coming off, paint peeling, and battery shut off.

It's still the GPS I recommend for bikepacking.  I had an Oregon but the screen is hard to see and buttons hard to use as well.  I'd stay away and save some bucks.

[Rob]

Thanks,

Have you tried the Colorado series?  The Roller looks like it'll work with gloves on. I really want to be able to use the HRM with the unit.