2011 AZTR Updates / Discussion Thread

[Chad B]

I thought Max was gonna be rolling this morning...The "recouping" meant a much deserved day off. I see a pool close by to where he is right now. Perhaps go for a little swim, order some room service, etc...

Keep it up Max!

[AZTtripper]

I was surprised not to see him moving this morning as well, maybe he's getting his moneys worth out of the hotel. By refusing to leave until check out time. Either way a good rest can do wonders.

Stick with it Max.

[ScottM]

Scott - looking at the replay and the trackleaders tables, can you work out why Lyndas split for Patagonia is a whole hour faster than Kurts? She was behind him (only a little mind!) throughout that section on the dot video.

Good point.  I had to change the way the first split is computed since the course no longer continues west past Patagonia.  It's not the best place to take a split anymore, but it'll work for historical reasons.  Times should be more accurate now, thanks.

Max did say he was taking a day off... not sure if that meant the rest of yesterday or today.  Either way it'll be a good break.

[Walkurtalk]

I was interested in knowing more about the split times as well. I know mine seem pretty far off, however my SPOT was not updating reliably either... Just out of curiosity, how are they calculated?

[ScottM]

Essentially they are just a 1 dimensional "geofence" in this version of the tracker.  So once you log a point that is further west (or north, or whatever) than the fence, you are considered past that checkpoint.  So the splits are almost always slower than the actual time you arrived at the checkpoint, due to SPOT delays and also just the nature of it.

For Patagonia I originally had it so you logged the time when you were at Patagonia or further west.  But that was when the course went west (ensuring that even if you don't get a point in town or near it, you'll get one west of there at some point further on the course).  Now the course goes north/east, so I changed the fence to be north... but the course actually curves a little north of Patagonia before going in, so I had to put the point somewhat north of Patagonia, more on the highway.  So the split is really when people left town, not when they got there.

There are better ways to do it, but also some tricky situations that arise, so it's not as easy as it may seem either.

Hopefully that made some sense.

[Walkurtalk]

Thanks for the explanation.The times make much more sense now. Very interesting.

[AZTtripper]

Looks like Max got his moneys worth out of the hotel and has hit the road. He's out past Tortilla Flat so that puts him in the dirt section of Apache Trail.

[LyndaW]

Hey'all,

I'm back home now. I had a super fab time out there. Fantastic scenery and magic route! The simultaneous sunset and full moonrise while I was ripping thru the Boulders section with a nuclear tailwind was one of many highs for me. Hallucinating there were spiders crawling on the back of my hands while riding down Bloodsucker wash in the heat of the day was perhaps the most intense moment.

Thanks for all the congrats. I am on a giddy high! That was a very cool experience for me.

Lynda

[ScottM]

Awesome, Lynda, can't wait to hear more!

Results for the 300 are up:

(pasted here as well)

I'll keep adding blog links as I find them, but feel free to email me them as well.  Good to add people's thoughts and experiences to the AZT canon.

2011

1. Lynda Wallenfels* - 3:04:05

2. Brad Kee - 3:08:26

3. Erick Lord - 3:23:52

4. Max Morris - 4:00:30


DNF: Aaron Gulley, Aleck Mackinnon, Andy Stevenson, Brad Mattingly, Dave Harris, Eric Foster, Jamil Coury (foot racer!), JC Cullen, Jill Hueckman, Joe Meiser, Kurt Refsnider, Marshal Bird, Matt Fusco, Matt Ruscigno, Michael Szerszunowicz, Taylor Lideen, Yuri Bahti.

* Lynda is the first female AZT 300 finisher!  Her time sets the women's course record.

[rhino]

I would like to hear/read more about Max's setup.  Appears to be carrying almost nothing?  No bar bag, small seat bag, looks like a Jandd frame bag, and small gas tank.  Would like to know more.

[Done]

I would like to hear/read more about Max's setup.  Appears to be carrying almost nothing?  No bar bag, small seat bag, looks like a Jandd frame bag, and small gas tank.  Would like to know more.

Yeah, it kind of reminds me of Mike C's setup. He rode the CTR with a pack on his back--but not much more.

[Erick L]

Glad to be reporting back from Colorado where the temps are in the 60s and water is simultaneously falling from the sky and flowing from the earth...heaven.

I would love to say that, like Lynda, I too had a super fab time but the truth is that I suffered hard, living what I characterized at the time as my own personal hell.  My body rejected the heat in the Canello Hills, and I spent 2 ½ hours laying in the shade in Patagonia contemplating my sanity.  After conceding that I would not be able to push myself through the day, I opted to slow my daytime pace and push into the nights. 

Like everybody else it seems, I too was also plagued with bad luck.  I sliced a sidewall, had a loose rear linkage, had a loose rear axle pivot, tore a half inch hole out of another sidewall, dropped my chain lube, ripped off my bike computer sensor, experienced monster chain suck that kept me from consistently pedaling the bike after Martinez Canyon, and had my fork go into permanent lockout mode for the big descents after Box Canyon.  Worst of all though was spilling a liter of water at the start of the Boulders segment as I was huddled in the shade of a 5 foot bush and helplessly watched the water soak in to the Sonoran sand.

It was a real pleasure to get to ride with you all down there.  Aleck, Matt F, Brad M, & Max, thanks for providing some relief from the solitary of the solo effort.  Lynda and Brad K, I saw you both for only brief moments in passing, but way to throw it down in the oppressive heat, I’m in awe of you both.  Max, I consistently pulled longer days, yet you caught me each day.  You have a huge motor powering the bike and there’s no doubt in my mind you will go all the way.

Tim and all of the other trail volunteers, thanks for all of your efforts in creating and maintaining the AZT and making this type of ride even possible.  A special thanks for the last minute work on the Oracle ridge. 

And finally, Scott...loved the route.  The climbs at the end were par for the course. But, lets be honest here, this is not a mountain bike race, this is a multi-sport event.

Erick Lord

[AZTtripper]

I would like to hear/read more about Max's setup.  Appears to be carrying almost nothing?  No bar bag, small seat bag, looks like a Jandd frame bag, and small gas tank.  Would like to know more.

No, he has plenty of gear along. He has a small stuff sack (sleeping bag) under his seat, his own system of holding it there (road bike inner tubes). He has a bag under and over the bars (pad under food on top) and the Jandd bag has his stove. His pack was not light at the start he had a fair bit of food, mostly stuff he didn't need right away. But knew he wanted and knew he couldn't get on course. He does have a very light bike though.

He is a super fit guy who rides all of the time. We did a bunch of riding together over the last month including a couple of overnighters in the Gila area. One was a reverse of the final leg Picket Post to the Well, so he knew what that part was and he wasn't happy about it. But he was also determined to do what ever Scott laid out. One of the hardest parts for him was the not riding for the last two weeks. Sure he got out for a few easy spins but he also took it easy so as to be well rested.

Keep at it Max you got this thing.

[DaveH]

Max is looking great!  I rode with him a bit in the Canelo hills.  He said he spent 20 minutes off-route after making a wrong turn near Cott Tank but was still all smiles and stoke.  In fact I think he is more excited to ride the AZT than anybody - maybe a tie with LW

Anybody know what his plans are at the Utah border?  It's only about 2 hours from my house in StG.  I wonder if he'd like some company from Jacob Lake to the finish followed by a ride to civilization?

[AZTtripper]

Tim and all of the other trail volunteers, thanks for all of your efforts in creating and maintaining the AZT and making this type of ride even possible.  A special thanks for the last minute work on the Oracle ridge. 

And finally, Scott...loved the route.  The climbs at the end were par for the course. But, lets be honest here, this is not a mountain bike race, this is a multi-sport event.

Erick Lord

Glad to hear you had a suffering good time on the AZT 300 Hike a Bike race. That actually might be a fair way to state it.

Now that Oracle Ridge has a Segment Steward things should improve. Not that it will ever be easy just less annoying hopefully.


The Magic Gate before.


And after.


Fritz clearing the way.


Kurt's all smiles here, and looking strong we were surprised to hear he was dropping.


Fritz with Joe. Joe was looking a little beat but all he wanted to know was how far ahead Kurt was. Tired yes, but still on the hunt.

Fritz was certainly impressed with these two guys.

[DaveH]

Glad to be reporting back from Colorado where the temps are in the 60s and water is simultaneously falling from the sky and flowing from the earth...heaven.
Erick Lord

Erick - I heard through the grapevine that this is but your second MTB race ever.  To that I say WOW, and tip my hat to you.  Congrats on a fantastic ride, way to keep it rolling!

[AZTtripper]

Anybody know what his plans are at the Utah border?  It's only about 2 hours from my house in StG.  I wonder if he'd like some company from Jacob Lake to the finish followed by a ride to civilization?

I know he would. His first plan is to ride south and east to Lee's Ferry and then on to Flag at some point putting his thumb up. I have a 2 day ride coming up on the 30th-1st somewhere up north. Chris Campy and I aren't sure what we will do yet but part of the plan was to swing by Flag on the way home if Max needed a ride from there. He has 18 days off total, I told him if need be we could do our 2 day ride at the State line. I bet he will finish faster then that though.

[Andy]

Looks like Max got himself another full nights sleep just outside the wide spot on the road called 'Jake's Corner'.  The road will take him through the town of Rye this morning.  Then it is a series of jeep roads with some hike a bike climbing up to Payson where he will finally be out of the desert for good.  After Payson, he will then start traveling along the Highline trail just below the Mogollon Rim.  The Highline trail is a 100 year old trail that used to connect a series of ranches and outpost.  Unfortunately that means there is 100 years of erosion on that trail.  The local district doesn't do much trail maintenance on the trail except cut out the down logs and brush.  The approaches to the drainages tend to be steep and rocky, and where the trail is flat, there are so many rock in the way that you have to debate with yourself if it is worth getting on the bike and bang along. Kurt R. said that it took him 7 hours to get through 17 miles of this trail last year, sounds about right. After the end of the this trail, is a pure hike a bike straight up to the Mogollon Rim.  If Max pushes it he may be able to make it to the top of the rim by tonight.
-A

[LyndaW]

Glad to be reporting back from Colorado where the temps are in the 60s and water is simultaneously falling from the sky and flowing from the earth...heaven.
Erick Lord

Congrats on finishing AZT!! Nice work.

[LyndaW]

have to ask LW but I think she had on tri style sun blockers-arm cooler's -not warmers-when she rode by on day 1

I have a pair of them--they do help up to a point

regardless she did handle the heat superbly

Troy is right I was wearing thermal arm warmers and knee warmers when I rode with them in Aug in Flag. My body just doesn't stay warm very well. I don't have a thyroid gland...

Marshall is right too. On AZT I wore De Soto brand arm coolers. They were fantastic. They started to fall down on the second day. I don't know if they stretched out or my arms shrunk! I taped them up on my arms with Gorilla tape :-) IMO they do keep me cooler but the biggest benefit was to stop any sun burn or even coloring to my skin as over days darker and/or sunburned skin makes you feel hotter.

...and I LOVE the heat. I really do :-) I get so tired of being cold so much of the time and on AZT I was nice and warm for the most part. I did experience some shivering at the Artesian Well. The descent down Battle Axe road was cold and it was cold down in that canyon. I carried a puffy jacket and put that on. I'm guessing I am the only rider on AZT that carried and needed a puffy jacket.