2018 AZTR300/750 Planning Thread

[xcracer]

Curious what 1x gearing AZTRs have used. Looking at SRAM Eagle 12 speed set-up on my rig. 32t front, 50t cassette. This sound crazy to any race veterans?


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I used Sram Eagle this year for the 300 and ran a 30T ring up front. 32 would be fine, but its nice to have that little extra for climbing when you need. I never had the issue of spinning out. Even on the paved section between Loma alta and reddinngton.

[Gimmearaise]

I used Sram Eagle this year for the 300 and ran a 30T ring up front. 32 would be fine, but its nice to have that little extra for climbing when you need. I never had the issue of spinning out. Even on the paved section between Loma alta and reddinngton.

I used a 28 with my 1x11 two years ago. It would be difficult for me to run something higher than a 30 tooth running Eagle, but the road sections after the first 300 miles would have me contemplating the 32tooth. Not sure what I would do if I raced in 2018.

[Trhoppe]

I ran a XX1 drivetrain with a SRAM steel 28T front (10-42 cassette) on the CTR last year. I plan on doing the same for the AZTR750 if everything materializes for 2018

[hanyo66]

Riding North > South in 2018. Flying into Page, saw this shuttle service and it looks like they can get me and my buddy out to State Line. Haven't had a chance to call them yet...anyone have any experience with them or can recommend something else?

Destination Services - Page AZ
Offers shuttle service from Page to Flagstaff, St. George, and everything in between.
928-645-2789

Also, anyone know of any shuttles that can pick us up at the Mexican border and get us to Tucson, or at least to Sierra Vista and then figure out a way to get from SV to Tucson (flying home from there).

Thanks in advance!

[bmattingly]

To get to the start its pretty close to page.  You will go about 30 miles West on the highway and then about another 10 miles or so on a dirt forest service road.  Should be easy for this shuttle service.

Glad you are doing a Southbound ride.

From Tucson it may be best to try and get someone to pick you up for money.  I don't know if a shuttle service would go for it unless you have several riders and if you do its easy to get spread out a bit and finish different days or different times.  Pretty sparce at the Southern Border.

Nights will be cold regardless of the weather early on.  Plan for this.  You will be happy when you head out of Payson and down to warmer temps.

Pretty cool adventure!!!  Seems like a long ways off.  Good luck.  I'll be checking out your progress.

[hanyo66]

To get to the start its pretty close to page.  You will go about 30 miles West on the highway and then about another 10 miles or so on a dirt forest service road.  Should be easy for this shuttle service.

Glad you are doing a Southbound ride.

From Tucson it may be best to try and get someone to pick you up for money.  I don't know if a shuttle service would go for it unless you have several riders and if you do its easy to get spread out a bit and finish different days or different times.  Pretty sparce at the Southern Border.

Nights will be cold regardless of the weather early on.  Plan for this.  You will be happy when you head out of Payson and down to warmer temps.

Pretty cool adventure!!!  Seems like a long ways off.  Good luck.  I'll be checking out your progress.

Thanks for the info! I have your SOBO write up from year's past saved in a word document that I reference frequently when planning it out. We are touring (I only say that from a standpoint that we will share food and sleep at a few hotels, we still plan to pump out as many miles each day as possible) so we won't be finishing at different times. So far two of us for sure with maybe a third. 

I've spent a lot of time out in AZ (my family has a timeshare condo in Sedona) and have been on different parts of the trail and have hiked all over the state, including backpacking the Grand Canyon. Been getting back in cycling shape the past 3 months and riding into March of next year. We're not worried about much other than how to get from the border to Tucson and get back to PA.

We're super stoked to get out there! Filming a short (20-30 minute) documentary about it.

[woodsy]

Heard through the grapevine about an 18 mile AZT re-route in the works on the Coconino NF between the 82 road crossing north to the Allen Lake Tank area. Riding through that area recently, they've got pin flags in the ground and it looks like they're wanting to get the trail off of the rocky 2-tracks that are the highlight of that section, no doubt. Breaking ground this week, but looking at a 3 year time frame for the whole project. Anyone else have any more details on this exciting news?

[Flagster]

http://www.kvoa.com/story/36510968/yurt-on-the-grand-canyons-north-rim-being-demolished-due-to-health-concerns

Yurt on the North rim to be demolished.

I know some individuals who have been saved by this structure in the snow...fyi

[Jeff Z]

Would a "plus" size tyre bike be an advantage from a ride quality point of view or would the tyres be too succeptible to punctures? I understand the trail is very hard on tyres. Do many AZ locals roll plus tyres in their general riding?

I personally went with gears and front suspension.

However, Rhino finished this on a full rigid single speed - with a "regular" sized front tire. I think he is crazy, and he wasn't the only one. It is all about what works for you.

Oh, and I hear that Rhino's grandma did the 750 on a fixie...

[Jeff Z]

Heard through the grapevine about an 18 mile AZT re-route in the works on the Coconino NF between the 82 road crossing north to the Allen Lake Tank area. Riding through that area recently, they've got pin flags in the ground and it looks like they're wanting to get the trail off of the rocky 2-tracks that are the highlight of that section, no doubt. Breaking ground this week, but looking at a 3 year time frame for the whole project. Anyone else have any more details on this exciting news?

Yes. They are rerouting the fustercluck of Happy Jack. There should be much rejoicing.
From the ATA newsletter:

Last week, 14 volunteers traveled from all over the United States to help build a new segment of the Arizona National Scenic Trail as a part of the American Hiking Society's Volunteer Vacation program. Many of these volunteers had never visited Arizona before, and most of them had not even heard of the Arizona National Scenic Trail before registering for the event. They spent one week focused on trail construction of the first part of the new Happy Jack Singletrack Project on the Coconino National Forest. Ultimately, this project will result in almost 18 miles of new trail to get the AZT off of the long road walks of the Happy Jack Passage southeast of Mormon Lake.
 
The crew created 1.4 miles of new trail, nearly completing the northernmost reroute of the project. They hacked through oak thickets, dug out pine stumps and chopped through tedious grass flats to open up the corridor — even building some impressive stone retaining structures to finish the final climbs.

[rhino]

I personally went with gears and front suspension.

However, Rhino finished this on a full rigid single speed - with a "regular" sized front tire. I think he is crazy, and he wasn't the only one. It is all about what works for you.

Oh, and I hear that Rhino's grandma did the 750 on a fixie...

I did say after the AZT750 that riding rigid was dumb, then my Grandma Helga punched me in the mouth and I stopped talking about it.  If I had to do it again (which I probably will if I can find some money), I would roll rigid SS again even though my hands were numb many months after the race. I agree with Jeff, find what works for you, people have completed the AZT with almost any kind of bike and tire.  You can accomplish anything if refuse to give up.

Thinking about the 300, but I really want to SoBo...

[hanyo66]

Someone did the AZT750 on a unicycle, so I guess anything is possible!

[Foster]

Been about 4 years since I've ridden a bike so this ride sounds like fun again...so I'll be there.

[the tortoise]

I gotta see this!! 

[Yogi the Barry]

And I'll add...

Warning: This is a sweeping generalization of all bikepacking race routes, but most of the classic ultras seem to have this approximate mix of miles...

1/3 of the course is Awesome! These miles of the race/route are part of a lifetime experience not to miss. There will be miles of remote and stunningly beautiful terrain one would probably never get ride as a normal day ride, but the race course enables the experience. Cherish them. Many of those miles will forever be burned into your memory, in a good way. You would ride it again and again if you can or could.
1/3 is OK... Most of these miles are pleasant and you would repeat, but could also easily be swapped for some other ride/race/area. Some of these miles will be forever forgotten.
1/3 is... torture, hell, brutal [insert any other negative descriptor] or just plain ol' boring - These miles are the true test. They can be character building and/or soul destroying. They might just simply be irrational, like all the great ultras. All those awesome miles need something to contrast with and this is it. They will make you discover who you really are. They would/will never be voluntarily ridden again. However, they too will be permanently part of your memory.

-Yogi the Barry

My suggestion would be to go to the results page and click on all the linked blogs that are in there. Read, and read. In conjunction with this, download the .gpx then evaluate it in Topofusion or whatever. Try to tie in the blog stories with the actual gpx/map. I did join the ATA for their resources, mainly to support an amazing organization. You should as well. But nearly everything I received from them I was able to figure out through the vast amount of knowledge available here and in the race report blogs. Best of luck!

[woodsy]

Sounds like a good time. Who else is in for the full 750?

[flyboy]

Sounds like a good time. Who else is in for the full 750?

I have my leave application in with work and it is looking good but I won’t have confirmation until early January. Plenty of time.........!
I only have to source a bike, specialized gear and the route knowledge, oh and a bucketload of fitness in the next 4 months....... I am not planning on winning the thing, just getting along as briskly as I can. I also plan to take in some more of the route/experience than I did in the 2015 TD so all out speed won’t be my main priority. Looking forward to it!

[Mtnrunner43]

I'm looking at doing the 750 this year. What are the recommendations on the best pack for the Canyon hike?

[schillingsworth]

I'm looking at doing the 750 this year. What are the recommendations on the best pack for the Canyon hike?

If you're going with the 'standard' backpack mounted system, find something with a wire frame to support the weight. I used an Osprey Stratos 36, it worked for me and I liked having the extra carrying capacity along the way. That pack was extremely easy to attach the bike to, 6 included straps/buckles did the trick. Here's my system from 2016 with some trial & errors.

Experiment with a few setups and run through the motions of disassembly & reassembly. You'll want to have that dialed as you more than likely won't be thinking clearly during the ride!! Good luck. 

[bmattingly]

I used a military pack without a frame I bought at a surplus store.  It had many straps on it that i could tighten or loosen.  John's advise is good, you won't be thinking clearly when exhausted and do practice carrying prior to the event.  Training hike a bike or pack a bike is essential.  Bikes don't ride well on the back.  Rest for me was hard with bike on back.  I broke the canyon section up.  I'm amazed at anyone who hikes the full 25 or more miles across in one grind!  Wow. 

I'll be watching and maybe cheering a few through Flagstaff.  My office is about 2 minutes from the route in Flag.

Will be interesting to see what the weather has in store for winter and early spring.  Way dry here now.