2012 AZTR/300 Discussion Thread

[jryter]

Thanks. That sounds horrible to have to carry your bike. cant' push it? I guess you need some walking shoes also! Those mules make the trail too loose to have fun riding anyway!
jarral

[phil_rad]

Woops, that last post was me.  I'm on Chad's computer.  Huge thanks to him for pulling my carcass off the trail last night!

Awesome ride Scott! Amazing effort! What tires were you using?

Having fun watching and dreaming about doing it myself one day.

Good luck to everybody still out there! Have fun and be safe.

[riverfever]

I texted with Marshal Bird a bit ago. He said the last 2 days were tough on him but he's resilient so I know he'll be fine.

[krefs]

Kurt S is on the Rim, Jill's SPOT is in the middle of the lake, and Marshall is done with the 300! Those three must be feeling pretty dang good right about now.

[mikepro]

Jill's SPOT is in the middle of the lake...

Still in the water...must be an extended cool-off period.  Style points.

[Scatman]

Jill might have taken a dip as I suggested it but she was actually taking a break from the heat and getting food.  I guess the marina has a general store.  Just happens to be on the actual water.  Looks like she's awaited out the heat long enough and is on the move again.

[ScottM]

I just updated Paul and Karen's start time so that their splits and effective race start is roughly when they left Parker Lake.  From what I can tell, Karen is riding with Paul (her SPOT may not have tracking, only "OK" button functionality), but if she is, she is on record pace.  ~2:02 into Oracle, and right now they are nearing Antelope Peak.  Look out, we might have another late start 'poach' of the record in progress!  I think someone posted this earlier, but I hear they are both pro adventure racers.  I was surprised to see them riding together though.

[fastmtnbiker33w]

Forgot to mention that after I finished, Aaron Boatman came in minus his Garmin Etrex 20.  He had it stuffed under 2 zip ties on top of his gas tank bag.  I asked him why he didn't have it leashed....a couple hours after I left him he lost it north of Oracle.....not a good place to be w/o it.  I hit the toggle button on mine a million times that night getting the back light to come on.  That was some tough navigation through there in the dark. 

So if anyone rolled up on an orange etrex 20....with no maps loaded on it...it's Boatman's.  His spot shows him a bit off course near Pine and down a bit from the Asheville boys.  I'm pretty sure he went into Superior while Matt and Brad rolled on to Apache Junction that night.

[ScottM]

Awesome ride Scott! Amazing effort! What tires were you using?

Ugh, racing ralph in the front.  My big slice would have cut any tire, I think, even a car tire!  But the first one was preventable with a beefier tire.

I had a 29-3 in the rear and it was superb.  I dragged 1000's of rocks and sharp things across its sidewalls throughout the race and it still looks great.  Rolls like a ball bearing, too.

[fastmtnbiker33w]

  I just took the memory card out of my GoPro and there was only one short video.  

That thing was doing funny stuff every time I pulled it out.....which was a lot.  

[groundedkiwi]

Sightings on the Apache Trail

Hi everyone, was out training on the Apache Trail today and bumped into BearDog and Jill, both cruising along on the AZT 750.  Both looked in excellent shape and in high spirits.  Didn't get a photo of BearDog as we were too busy chatting and I had held him up too long as it was, but was ready when I stumbled across Jill and promised her I'd get it up on bikepacking.net tonight. 

First time loading a photo so hope it works........

[AZTtripper]

jryter - It does go through the Grand Canyon.  Riders have to pack their bikes on their backs for that section then reassemble them on the north rim and then ride the last 150 to Utah.  Damn Wilderness Act!!! (though I hate the Wilderness Act I think NP's should be off limits.  My two cents)

Back in 05 Scott called the Super at the Canyon and got permission to carry bikes thru. The stipulation was that no wheels touch the ground. The Canyon is not Wilderness, that's why they can run motor boats on the Colorado, bikes on trails in National Parks are up to each parks Super or some such situation. At the Canyon we are allowed to ride on the AZT above the rim. Even the short section of the rim trail the rest of the rim trail is closed to bikes. Below the rim you are allowed to have a bike just not ride or roll it.

In Wilderness on the other hand you are not allowed to even posses a bike. That's how the law reads. So even if you disassemble and carry it's still illegal.

In some ways the law sucks but I can see the need for there to be places that are left wild. I always figure that if anybody wants to bitch about bikes on trails they can head for a National Park or Wilderness and get over it.

As for the Wilderness sections of the AZT I can't see having a bike on some of them. Even if you could ride and roll it the Rincon's and Catalina's would be brutal.

Also we are trying to get a little more trail at the South end of Saguaro Park. They do allow bikes on a short section of trail inside the loop road. If we can ride a little more of the AZT in to the Park then there is an old jeep trail that would get us back out.

[tanman1337]

Hey Scott, it was nice talkin and riding with you up Mt. Lemmon. Thanks for all your help. I got to Picketpost Trailhead at 2:01 p.m. on Wednesday. It would make it 5 days 5 hours and 1 minute. Unfortunately I had to snag a ride to fix my bike after Kentucky Camp and then returned to the same spot, bht I know my finish doesnt count. Just glad I could be out there riding with everyone and finish all 300. Thanks everyone!

[ScottM]

I found Paul Romero on facebook.  Here is his update from this morning:

"Last night there was carnage, punctures, blown chainrings, OTB, vultures, puke,hypothermia,... And knees that are clicking."

Sounds like your average night on the AZT to me!

They are into Kelvin, but have not posted a new point for over 4 hours.  It's looking close for Karen to snatch the women's record.  If they haven't left Kelvin, there's no chance, especially with the heat setting in.  If they are well on their way, it's still possible.

Based on his FB posts, they are riding together.

[mikepro]

 Didn't get a photo of BearDog as we were too busy chatting ...

Yeah, dude's a chatty cathy for sure, so I could imagine.  Thanks for pics.  Pics from on-route are always fun to see, even if they only tell about 10% of the story.

6+ days and counting for 750 folks.  Good times.

[jbuchanan]

My writeup:
http://www.rocksnclocks.com/blog/2012/04/19/azt300/

[chachi]

Hi Scott,
Awesome race..and so much fun to watch the blue dots!!! I've been glued to my computer..  I was curious Mark Caminiti finished the 300 yesterday behind Tanner M and minutes ahead of Wendy L and Mark R. yet it doesn't show that he is a finisher of the 300 yet?  Is there a time delay?  I talked to him when he had reception in the desert and when he finished the 300 completely exhausted and spent from riding so hard through the heat...so I hope that the results are posted correctly?  I mean he pushed it hard to stay ahead of W L and M R. but now I see that he isn't even listed as a finisher of the 300? Sooo, what is up with that? lol sorry to sound demanding or anything just think it should be posted correctly after such extreme effort on his part?  Thanks again for such an inspirational event! Leila

[DaveH]

Paul Romero is putting up some funny tweets, https://twitter.com/#!/paulromero

Thoughts such as "Do not ever do this race.  Send morphine" have good chuckle factor.

Can't speak for Scott, but Mark C is not finished yet as he is a 750 racer!

[mikepro]

Romero and Karen must be having a good time, if they're able to update FB and Tweet as they go.

[chachi]

Oh? Thanks Dave H. I am just a gf who knows diddley squat?! and think i do at times?!  I guess that is the reason that it didn't show..huh? hmm, guess he can't say I don't have his back huh? ....sorry if offended anyone! I just really get into the spot track and sometimes I get a little feisty...again my apologies. Leila