2012 AZTR/300 Discussion Thread

[ScottM]

Here are a few pics I got of folks during the race.







Beto Avelar







J-bake







Mark Caminiti and Tanner Morgan








Jill Hueckman and Leslie Handy







Me, asleep on my arm.

My big old writeup is up, with the full details on my ITT:

http://www.topofusion.com/diary/2012/04/23/azt-300-itt/

[mbeardsl]

Great write up Scott and congrats on the race!

The gummi worm "conversation" had me cracking up!

[spoke537]

Scott - Great pics!  Thanks for posting!

Some updates from Jill:

She's back on the grid.  New batteries loaded! 

22Apr@1307 - "I got here [Mormon Lake] this AM.  Went to pay and my debit card was gone!  Had 8 bucks to try to eat on.  HA "  "long drawn out process but got it shut off and got some cash finally.  Ordered lunch...So glad it worked out or I woulda starved.  Never coulda made it to Flag on two bags of skittles "

22Apr@1320 - "The trails from the [Mogollon] Rim to here [Mormon Lake] were SWEET riding.  So beautiful.  Like a cross between central OR and Durango "

22Apr@2005 - "I have been ripping through some of the smoothest, fastest singletrack I have ever ridden...and I just rounded a corner into a clearing that gave me the first view of a sky on fire.  The sunset I am looking at now on the AZT has my eyes filled with tears...."

23Apr@0941 - "Flagstaff at 2am this morning.  Woke to an ACE Hardware employee asking me if I was ok...ha.  Life is awesome.  Just got batteries. Back on grid "

23Apr@0948 - I asked if she slept at ACE Hardware.  "I did.  There is a lawn out front.  First place for batteries.  Tried to sleep outside town about 5 miles but decided to push on.  Can I eat all 3 meals for breakfast?  "

23Apr@0956 - "Time to eat a soft pretzel at Sams [Club]...and fix my feet.  Buy more food and roll.  Feet need lots of love right now."

23Apr@1020 - "The ride to Flag was the best one of the whole trail except some really bad rocky sections..."

23Apr@1124 - "My feet have been wrapped in duct tape for the past three days.  Just unwrapped them and it made me gag   gotta take care of them for a bit before I head for the [Grand] Canyon or I won't be able to do any hiking "

23Apr@1243 - "I can't walk right now.  My feet are blown up.  Swelling is insane when unwrapped."

23Apr@1502 - "Feet are dry. Swelling is issue.  Always has been even in CTR.  Hot spots covered.  Prewrap, moleskin, first aid tape, duct tape.  Shoes on.  Ready to roll."

23Apr@1504 - "Blisters are part of it.  Manageable, clean, covered.  Swelling causes pain like squeezing toes in a vice.  I am tough as F*** just need to manage to achieve the ultimate goal   ...Spot will be moving for a long time "

23Apr@1509 - "Alright.  I am out"

Next stop:  The Grand Canyon where she has trail hikers and shorts waiting at the post office.  Keep moving forward!  Get it!!

-Les Handy

[Done]

Looks like Mark C.'s bike has really slowed him down. Bummer. But he sounded pretty upbeat in his latest MTBCast call despite all of the issues. I hope that he getseverything fixed in Flagstaff--and that he still has enough oomph to get back on the trail. Sometimes I think that those who overcome multiple problems are the toughest ones out there. It takes a lot of discipline, grit, and character to sort out setbacks and keep cranking.

[krefs]

Sometimes I think that those who overcome multiple problems are the toughest ones out there. It takes a lot of discipline, grit, and character to sort out setbacks and keep cranking.

You said it, Toby. I have a ton of admiration for people who can push through such adversity. I'm not sure I'd have the mental strength to do it!

[fastmtnbiker33w]

Gotta wonder what kind of socks Jill is using.  Scott and I use the best sock in the world.  Save Our Soles mid-weight wool....the Absolute Bikes version!  I took mine off to roll the thinner SOS wool sock (my lucky Breck Epic socks) during the 3rd day, but they didn't have the cushion so I put the Absolutes back on.  No blisters or hot spots on any portion of my size 15 boats.  I'll bet Scott can testify same as me.  After seeing pics of Dave H.'s heels from last year, I did some MAD hike-a-bikes to make sure everything was going to be good to go.

Feet, hands, ass....in that order.  You'd better have them squared away or you're gonna be miserable.  Let's hope her hiking boots treat her right. 

[spoke537]

Gotta wonder what kind of socks Jill is using.   

She had some pretty beefy wool socks and some other thinner socks.  Its the swelling that gets her.  She's had issues with swelling in the past and tried wrapping and compression socks to help prevent it.  She'll  be good though.  She's tough as F**k!

-Les

[DaveH]

 After seeing pics of Dave H.'s heels from last year, I did some MAD hike-a-bikes to make sure everything was going to be good to go.

Good call.  Historically I need one good beat down ride to toughen up the feet prior to a big event.  Last year though, the issue was all in the shoes.  I bought a new pair of shoes shortly before the ride.  They were the same model/brand that I've always used, but they made some changes to the shoe design (slightly smaller and vinyl heelcup replaced the cloth heelcup) that turned out to be most unfriendly to being on foot.  I still wince thinking about it...

Jill's posts are creating quite the tale.  She will need to write a book when all is said and done! I sure do hope she can manage the foot issue on the hike.

Looks like Marshal will hit the South rim this evening.  Always the great strategist, I'll be interested to see how he tackles the hike.

[Jilleo]

I don't know if these are widely used in mountain bike circles, but DryMax socks are worth their weight in gold. I've run some 50K's in pouring rain and mud, feet wet the enter time, grit rubbing against my soles, and came out without any blisters. Also Hydropel or Climbing Salve applied generously, even if only once, can do wonders.

I don't think compression sleeves really do all that much to prevent swelling. If you're prone to edema (I am) I think the best thing to get is a pair of shoes one size too large. I don't use clipless pedals so I'm not sure how large shoes would affect pedaling in that regard. But they're nice for stuffing extra socks if it's cold, and also allows room for my foot to grow.

[mikepro]

I just got a photo of Kurt Sandiforth from a hiker in the Canyon.

That's a cool pic.  Thanks for sharing.  Anyone know why the skewer/bar between his front forks with wheel off?

[mbeardsl]

That's a cool pic.  Thanks for sharing.  Anyone know why the skewer/bar between his front forks with wheel off?

I'd assume to keep the fork from being damaged in case of a fall or other accident. 
Maybe also to keep it from getting snagged badly on vegetation.

[spoke537]

Anyone know why the skewer/bar between his front forks with wheel off?

His fork has a 15mm thru axle, not the old school skinny road type skewer.  It threads through a 15mm "hole" in the fork dropout, through the hub and screws into the other dropout. Its best to remove the wheel then screw the thru axle back in otherwise he would probably drop it or lose it somewhere.

[ScottM]

First I gotta say congrats to Brad Kee and Matt Fusco for wrapping it up at the border last night.  Here they are at Parker, ~10 days ago:



David Goldberg is standing on the rim.  Time to ride bikes again!

Marshal got up early and bypassed the Canyon Village completely, heading directly to the South Kaibab Trailhead.  Shortly after arriving, he was off down the trail.  Pretty sure he has the shortest GC transition time of anyone thus far.

Jill should make the South Rim with daylight to spare.  It'll be interesting to see if she grabs some sleep and rests her feet, or pushes right into the hike.

[ImAFred]

Such a cool accomplishment

[Joliver]

Scott,

I rode with you down into Starvation and out during the Vapor Trail a few years ago.  I just wanted to let you know congrats on your race!  Fantastic job!  That race sounds like a beast, especially in terms of massive and rapid changes in temparature/weather, not to mention potential and probable trailside tire and bike repairs!

To all others who raced (or are out there right now still battling), congrats!  Helluva accomplishment.

-Jerry

[fastmtnbiker33w]

What an adventure for Matt and Brad.  I'm jealous.

[mtbcast]

Mark Caminiti called in from Flagstaff where he's getting some repairs!

[mtbcast]

Mark Caminiti called in leaving Flagstaff. His bike is repaired and he’s heading out!

[fastmtnbiker33w]

Did he say he was getting Teva sandals for his hike through the canyon?  Crazy!

[AZTtripper]

Did he say he was getting Teva sandals for his hike through the canyon?  Crazy!

On my 06 trip I ended up in sandals for the hike better then the bike shoes I had for sure.