2017 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread

[mikepro]

Large contingent out there this year.  Lookin' good everyone, especially the 750 riders.  Well, at least your dot looks good.  The Full Meal Deal is always special (to me).

Thought I'd start the race commentary thread, seeing as how the riders started ~8hrs ago, and no thread started yet.  Drop your comments here, post links to FB, IG, etc., that you know of for the rest of us too lazy (read: old skool) to search social media for ourselves.

The usual tracker link: http://trackleaders.com/aztr17

[aarond]

Kaitlyn Boyle is on fire out there...appears to be leading the 750!

[mikepro]

Kaitlyn Boyle is on fire out there...appears to be leading the 750!

Seriously impressive opening prelude, and anyone into K-Camp before 5pm is fast in my eyes.  Very nice start, indeed.

I also like how hovering over dots shows different route miles for 300 vs 750 riders.  Sure, the color coding is there, but the accurate route mileage display relative to starting point (~14mile diff btwn border & PCL starts) is nice for geeks like me.

[Biggs23]

Jeff Hemperly going for the Single Speed 750 record.He has come into it super fit.Talked with him yesterday and he's super stoked to get rolling.See if he can come in under 9days.Come on Freko.

[aarond]

Ya El freako  posted a pic a few months ago of how much weight he had lost.  Looks like he put in some serious running and biking miles since then, sick SS!

[aarond]

Looks like Neil stitzer is leading the 300, or something wrong with warren Carroll track...anyone know if Neil is on SS. This year?

[taprider]

Jeff Hemperly going for the Single Speed 750 record..

is he getting a tattoo along the way?

[GunPilot]

Looks like BongZilla and rhino knifer have taken a wrong turn off the highway and are off route... bit of a course cut...

[GunPilot]

Sorry, road house, not rhino

[woodsy]

Rode the section of AZT from the 300 road on Mogollon Rim over to AZ 87 earlier. Some snow after General Springs cabin, couple stream crossings and several tree blowdowns. Looks good otherwise, though the riders have a few days till they make it that far!


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[ScottM]

You know that moment when you send a bunch of riders down a very long GPX file you put together only to receive an email from a property owner saying no one will be allowed through?  Not a great moment.  One that I wish would have happened yesterday.

Hewitt Station Road is summarily closed by the land owner -- they are sick and tired of idiot OHV traffic.

I am making two GPX files for alternates available, and will need to spread the word as best I can.

It's somewhat ironic given that it's one of few sections I *have* ridden in the last few months.  Things can change, quickly.  More soon!

[bmattingly]

At a family visit in Florida at the moment.  Remembering a long rough first day last year out in the desert.  Many will be rewarded with killer single track tonight heading toward I10 and past Colossal Cave.  Some will go past Colossal tomorrow and then head toward the giant climb up and over Lemon.  Hope the weather is good out there and the stars.

Sending good energy for all you riders out there.  Be safe and have a blast.

[ScottM]

Looks like Neil stitzer is leading the 300, or something wrong with warren Carroll track...anyone know if Neil is on SS. This year?

Neil's got gears this year.  He said he added gears and his bike got lighter.  Off to a great start.

Warren took a ride to Broadway bikes, surely for a repair, and is returning to the route.

[ScottM]

Sorry, road house, not rhino

I wish I could route everyone that way (Hog Canyon).  Private Property, though, and a significant short cut.  Wonder what they were thinking...

[ScottM]

REROUTE INFO

Sorry about this, but I was informed after the race start that Hewitt
Station Road, just beyond Picketpost and the finish of the 300 is
CLOSED and that no one will be allowed through.

I have verified the legality of the closure with the forest service
and spoken to the landowner.  Everyone needs to do their best to avoid
their now gated/signed property, and follow one of the two attached
detours.

Both are GPX files and both are legal.  One is dirt, the other is
simply US Highway 60.  I cannot recommend the highway as it is a very
busy (unsafe) one, but I do understand that not everyone has the
ability to follow a new GPX file, and the dirt reroute does have a
number of intersections.  So, use your best judgement and take
whichever route makes the most sense to you at the time.

Attached are the GPX files.  Additionally, there is a high quality
topo map, with FS road numbers, available here:

http://topofusion.com/azt/gpx/AZTR17-Hewitt-DirtReroute.jpg

Descriptions of the routes:

Dirt Route: On Hewitt Station Road (FS 357), approx 1.25 miles after
leaving the Arizona Trail, turn right on FS 252, follow it (through
several intersections, likely unmarked) to FS 172.  Turn left and drop
back to FS 357.  Continue on route.  Route adds 4.2 miles and 300'
climbing.

Highway Route: From Picketpost Trailhead, take FS 310 to FS 231 (car
route to US 60).  Then US 60 over Gonzales Pass for approx. 7 miles to
Queen Valley Rd (signed from highway).  Take Queen Valley road to
rejoin the route before the small town (resupply) of Queen Valley.

Both tracks are on the live tracking map as well.  Please help me spread the
news about this to everyone in the 750.

[taprider]

looks like dave wicks had to return to Sonoita
hopefully better luck for the rest of your trip dave

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Derrick Perrin called in overnight from Patagonia! And El Freako Jeff Hemperley and Dan Holmes called in overnight from mile 112!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[WyoRacerX]

Pretty light discussion thread so far this year. Anyone know what happened to our early 300 leader Neil?

[ECEGatorTuro]

Anyone know what happened to Neil? He was leading the pack the whole time but he scratched in Tucson.

Jerry scratched in Vail. The Canelos took it out of him unfortunately. He's a kick ass dude though for being almost 70!

Alexis is kicking ass leading the 300 ladies and most of the guys. She's not too far behind Kaitlyn!

Schilling looks like he was riding until about 2am last night!!

[ScottM]

Don't know what happened to Neil, but I saw his dot at his house in Tucson, so I called it a scratch.

Hart from Tennessee was catching him, but let me know that his top tube was cracked 85% of the way around (!).  So he's out.

Iam Wilkey had a strong start but just scratched at the Catalina Highway with knee trouble.

That puts Pete Basigner in the lead, with Kaitlyn leading the 750 (overall) hot on his heels.