2017 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread

[ScottM]

Crikey, there is another fire on Mt Lemmon.  I'm getting texts and seeing photos.  It appears to be west of Summerhaven and not directly on course, but it's very windy and it is possible the Catalina Highway could close as a result.

We may need the fire detour route after all, but let's hope not.

So many scratches!  They keep rolling in.

[ScottM]

Fire info here:

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5152/

Appears to be off Samaniego Ridge, not near Oracle or the route.  I think we are good, for now. 

Hopefully the smoke doesn't get too bad for riders.

[AZTtripper]

Wow this is one crazy year.

[Gimmearaise]

There's a bit more to Hunter's story than that.  There was some confusion and he may or may not have tried to start from the actual start of the AZT rather than the start of the 750...

Noticed this, was perplexed to say the least, but it appeared he figured it out. Bummer to hear about KB, and really all the scratches. Giddy up everyone!

[mvmorten]

Hey all we're (Michael Mortensen and Jacob Johnson) scratching at Oracle. Nothing wrong, we only had 4 days planned, so our time's up. It was hot so we took it a bit slower and carried tons of water. #azt200

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Overnight: Garrett Alexander called in from Mt. Lemon and El Freako Jeff Hemperley from Oracle Ridge!

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

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Derrick Perrin called in from I-10!

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

[schillingsworth]

Hey all, back at home and bummed I'm missing the Oracle Ridge party with all my friends right now. Canelos punched me in the junk something fierce on Friday, it was warm but not blistering hot and I fell behind on hydration. Yet, I think I still posted my fastest time through there...go figure. About an hour after leaving Sonoita my legs decided to join in the ride. Dave Wicks passed me going the wrong way as he took a spill and banged up his ailing knee. That guy has had one bad break after another this year, yet he's always smiling and ready for a brew!!

Anyway, I felt good the rest of the day and rode until 2 am, getting through Las Colinas. That was my original plan, so I was feeling good about a strong day 2. Fast, relatively easy trail into Tucson, right? Yep. But I found out very early that I had no juice. Every uphill was a struggle, it was warm and my water was low. Then of all things, La Posta Quemada Ranch was CLOSED!! No burritos to save the day. They last a lot of business that day, there were 10 of us ready to shell out cash. By the time I reached Alta Loma I was reduced to HAB'ing the paved uphills. So demoralizing. I was about to thumb a ride over to Safeway when my buddy Bob drove by. We tossed my bike in the back of the huge convertible's trunk. If you have to bail, do it in style.

I was in no condition to attempt the Redington climb in the heat. It would've been all HAB and I couldn't carry enough water. Oh well, next time. Best of luck to everyone out on course.

Jeff Z is riding really well, I believe he's ahead of where he thought he'd be right now.

[ec_duz_it]

Wow, day #3 and roughly a 30% scratch rate already.  Kaitlyn had such a good start. She was leaving most of the dudes in the dust.  That would have been cool to see a lady take first place on the 750 course.

Best of luck to all the riders still out on the course! Hang in there!

[mvmorten]

Word was Neil's fork blew up.

Sat with Hart at Summerhaven for a bit. Said he was prepared for just about any mechanical... except a broken frame!

[ScottM]

Good effort out there Schilling.  It can be hard to come back from dehydration like that, especially with desiccating wind.  BTW, Posta Quemada hasn't offered food for more than a year.  The cave (someone called it the "Massive Cavern" on MTBCast) entrance now sells pretty decent pizza, as well as other food, and even some good (?) beers.  But it's up a PITA steep hill.  Better to leave the trail where it crosses the road up to La Sevilla.  Last year I told the park they need to update the fork/knife sign to not say 0.25 miles.  The only thing that happened was someone scratched a "1" in front of the .25 ....., barely visible.

Road house and Bung Zilla are going down the Control Rd.  Combined with their Hog Canyon shortcut, methinks it's time for the dreaded orange dot.....

[ScottM]

Our Red Lanterns, the duo from Duke City, are on a solid SKT pace.  SKT being the opposite of FKT, and a title perhaps more coveted / impressive.

Waiting for an update from Max Morris.  Has he finished yet, winning the 300?

[Doutreloux]

Hey guys! I am starting a 750 ITT on April 21st. I am following the race on track leaders. Some riders seems  to be taking different routes/short cuts. Some lines are super straight where there is obviously no road... Is this a free game coming from the trackers reading? Is the gpx file that hard to follow? Dreaded orange dot... means a Warning? (Questions are allowed🤓?)

Cheers!

[schillingsworth]

Orange dot = alternate route, I chatted with Bong Zilla & Roadhouse y'day at Safeway, they were planning all along to take the Control rd down Lemmon. They are on a bit of a time constraint. I did my best to talk them into Oracle Ridge, sorry Scott!!

The .gpx is easy enough to follow. Remember, the points you're seeing on Trackleaders are simply a single ping from the SPOT devices. Some devices ping more frequently, sometimes a ping is missed therefore resulting in a longer straight line on the map. What you need to look at is the actual location of the ping on the map. Hopefully, the ping is 'on route'.

[schillingsworth]

BTW, Posta Quemada hasn't offered food for more than a year.  The cave (someone called it the "Massive Cavern" on MTBCast) entrance now sells pretty decent pizza, as well as other food, and even some good (?) beers.  But it's up a PITA steep hill.  Better to leave the trail where it crosses the road up to La Sevilla.  Last year I told the park they need to update the fork/knife sign to not say 0.25 miles.  The only thing that happened was someone scratched a "1" in front of the .25 ....., barely visible.

Hmmm, they sure looked like they offered food. Menu still posted in the window and the side snackbar looked functional. At least we all were able to get water there.

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 - Garrett Alexander called in from Oracle!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt17/

[ScottM]

Orange dot = alternate route, I chatted with Bong Zilla & Roadhouse y'day at Safeway, they were planning all along to take the Control rd down Lemmon. They are on a bit of a time constraint. I did my best to talk them into Oracle Ridge, sorry Scott!!

The .gpx is easy enough to follow. Remember, the points you're seeing on Trackleaders are simply a single ping from the SPOT devices. Some devices ping more frequently, sometimes a ping is missed therefore resulting in a longer straight line on the map. What you need to look at is the actual location of the ping on the map. Hopefully, the ping is 'on route'.

Good explanation, thanks John.

I'm still a little baffled when people show up for an event fully intending to 1) not follow the route.  2) not follow the rules or 3) not reach the finish. 

I switched the guys over to orange dots.  Also added Hart back to the map as a 'grey' dot.  He borrowed a bike (his cracked), got a ride to Oracle (I think) and is chasing down a buddy, apparently.  His status is 'notracing.'

Red Lantern duo is still on route, heading into the Santa Ritas.

[mtbcast]

#AZT17 -  Joe Paluch called in from Oracle!

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

[taprider]

SKT being the opposite of FKT, 

what is SKT and FKT?

[Doutreloux]

what is SKT and FKT?

Slowest Known Time and Fastest Known Time