2012 AZT 300/750

[raybum]

Maad,
I just bought a pair of the elites (arrived yesterday) and wore them around the house for a while.  They do seem to articulate under the ball of your foot and felt as comfortable as a running shoe to walk in.  I bought a size 44, and was surprised that on a scale, they are exactly (within a few grams) the same as my Shimano M086's.  BTW, got them at Bike Bling and with a coupon code, they were $110 delivered.
Ray

[Beardog]

What tires to most people ride on AZT 750? I was thinking cross marks with slime or stans? roll fast on dirt roads and hold up to rocks?

[ScottM]

Do you guys know when the updated cue sheets will be put out?

I'll try to get to it soon.  They should be pretty much the same until north of Oracle, I believe.

[ScottM]

What tires to most people ride on AZT 750? I was thinking cross marks with slime or stans? roll fast on dirt roads and hold up to rocks?

Durability seems to be a deciding factor, as DaveH pointed to earlier.  Pretty sure I will run a schwalbe racing ralph 2.4 on the front, not sure on the rear yet.

[wandas daddy]

Hey everybody new to the site im KC Fraser looking for a lift to Parker Canyon Lake from Tucson can help with fuel planning on doin the 300 and also a ride or idea on how to get back to tucson after finishing get ahold of me @ soulcyclist420@aol.com or 760-668-7112 Thanks and look forward to meeting new friends and doin the 300.....peace KC

[jbuchanan]

....and on that note....anyone with experience with the Pearl Izumi X-Alp Elite?  I've been happy with the X-Alp Enduro II's (on my 2nd pair, looking for a 3rd).  Wondering if the new Elite is similar and perhaps better?  Is this a case of the grass is greener....don't go there....what ain't broke, don't fix it?

In all seriousness....anyone have hands on the Elite?  If so, does it articulate under the ball of the foot like the Enduro's?  The Enduro's HAB extremely well and won't change them unless the Elite's are built similar.  From all I can tell from online viewing, they are very similar.

I need to pull the trigger on one or the other here so I can break them in before the 300....any beta is appreciated.

I'm a bigtime sucker for my X-Alp Elites. I have many many HAB miles on them and used to ride them even on my SS when anticipating a lot of HAB (the soles can handle the bigtime mashing and bigtime HAB that SS bikepacking brings). They are also my dedicated AM riding shoe, love them on the techy bits as they have enough grip to turn dabs into bone-saving dabs. I got the green and white storm-trooper ones, they are awesome.

I am also sold since Chad, Scott, and some other locals swear by them.

[AZTtripper]

Hey everybody new to the site im KC Fraser looking for a lift to Parker Canyon Lake from Tucson can help with fuel planning on doin the 300 and also a ride or idea on how to get back to tucson after finishing get ahold of me @ soulcyclist420@aol.com or 760-668-7112 Thanks and look forward to meeting new friends and doin the 300.....peace KC

KC there is a shuttle service planned out of Phx and my place in Tucson. Check the shuttle thread http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,2706.0.html for contact info. Pretty sure there are some spots left. Hoping to get it filled up so as to lower the cost for everyone.

[schillingsworth]

I guess it's finally time to officially throw my helmet into the mix for the 300. Really looking forward to the challenge & seeing a bit of new terrain.  We were out at Picketpost to Kelvin this past weekend, great section of trail, and the conversion from jeep road to singletrack is progressing nicely.  Heading out to bikepack the APC115 course this weekend. See you all at the start line.

Just curious as to any goals, other than making it to the finish, some of you have? For me, it's more of a 'just make it to the finish' ride more than a race. I'm giving myself 5 days of riding at my trailsweeper pace. Cheers!

-John
Queen Creek, AZ

[tanman1337]

Thanks Scott. I was wondering if a few of you might scrub my mechanical list I have for the 300. I just want to be sure I didn't miss anything and more importantly that I'm not bringing TOO MUCH. I should preface this by saying I'm running 29' Rampages Tubeless w/ lots of Stan's.

•   2- 29’ SLIME TUBES
•   GORILLA TAPE/GLUE
•   PUMP
•   EXTRA CHAIN LINKS
•   2-POWER LINKS
•   EXTRA DERAILLEUR HANGER
•   TUBELESS VALVE STEM
•   CHAIN LUBE
•   MULTI-TOOL W/ PLIERS
•   TIRE LEVERS
•   PATCH KIT
•   SPARE CLEATS W/ BOLTS
•   ZIP TIES
•   SMALL AMOUNT OF 550 PARACORD
•   SPARE SHIFTING CABLE?
•   CABLE CAPS
•   TIRE BOOT
             SHOCK PUMP?

Thanks guys.
-Tanner

[Endurance Junkie]

List looks good -cleats if doing 750 maybe
Rampage great choice unless your going for a record?

[tanman1337]

Haha ok cool. Definitely not going for the record. I just want to finish How about the shock pump? Do you guys think 2 or 3 Slime Tubes?

[Endurance Junkie]

Two tubes and I always carry shock pump

[Beardog]

All of those out there riding the 750 who wish to join us riding all three selfsupported MTB bikepacking races (TDR and CTR next) and want to post your committment please contact me on or off site to add your info (whatever you'd like - url, website, etc to the blog I started). Committing BEFORE you start the first one is a bit dangerous but waiting one by one and seeing how your bike and body hold up would not really be fair, would it?

[the pedaling arborist]

It's past time to say... I'm in for the 300 again this year!  As a newbie last year all my gear worked great... except the engine.  This year I'm attempting some degree of conditioning to prepare and am looking forward to a great time on the trail, hopefully 200 more miles of it than last year.  And to the powers that be I will be in need of a spot rental set up if that is happening again like last year.  See ya all there!

[Endurance Junkie]

300,TD,CTR for me!

[raybum]

For those who have a Spot 2, how are you attaching them and where?  I've reserved one from Scott and would like to be prepared to secure it properly!

[Beardog]

I had serious issues (twice took a crap) with my spot 2 during last year's TDR-now I am convinced it must be no where near any other GPS instrument (the directions actually say not to put within 12 inches or interference can occur). The new one I just bought has an improved case and velcro srap so I am putting my GPS on the handlebar mount and spot face up strapped to the back of my camelback I ride with. If you are not using a GPS unit I would strap it to the stem - that has worked for me well in the past. Must be face up at all times.

[AZTtripper]

I have always just put the Spot 1 in the outside pocket of the Talon. Shove it down in far enough so it can't come out but make sure nothing is covering it. Face up of course. The fabric is so thin on that part of the pack that I can see the blinking lights without having to take it out.

The only time I didn't get tracked had nothing to do with placement. Seems to work well there and is about as safe as any place else.

On the tubes issue I have always felt better having 3. I know Mark C burned up 2 in the first 300 miles and had to go off course to find more. The thing that suck with just two is if you burn one then your down to just the one. On the 010 I only used the one but in 07 I used all 3.

[Beardog]

Even with slime tubes and new tires?? I had zero flats on my first TDR - 5 on the second - 8 on the CTR (rode in on duct tape)- I am thinking of running new Cross Marks with slime tubes (my rims do not hold stans very well -Mavic 719's and tend to blow out the side on rock contact so run tubes) What do you think based on your two experiences on the AZT?

[AZTtripper]

Yup new tires with slime tubes plus at least 2 or even 3 spares. Boots duct tape and a MacGyver mindset should play out fine.

On the 06 tour things north of Oracle were a lot thornier back then. I started out of Oracle with 3 tubes limped out to the Gila, about 60 miles later, with no spares and a slow leak. Rode into Kearny to the Ace Hardware to pick up 3 more tubes and slime. I was running 26 back then and the Mavic rims I was running were presta but they had a sleeve that came out to run schrader. Ever since then I have made sure that my rims could take schrader valves just in case.