2018 AZTR300/750 Planning Thread

[dream4est]

Hi everyone I am in for the 750. Looking for a 6th finish and a better time than 11d5hr. I am looking for a ride to start from finish willing to share gas etc.

I am making commercial bike bags on industrial sewing machines now for the first time as well!! I live in Naturita, Co now and have a full production shop ready to roll out bags. I am up and running so if anyone wants a custom bag I am fully capable to deliver in a short window of time. I can make all the bags I have for 5 years now and raced many events on my own creations including two straight triple crowns. I will only have one production model at first- a dual purpose bag thats a dropper compatible seatbag with rub protector or a vertical front storage bag that has a one hand user friendly bag attached for easy access. The bags will be used in the 750. Pictured is a prototype that worked perfectly in testing in Moab.

I also sell domestic sewing machines as well and I even will sell X-pac material to those who want to make their own bags. If you are looking to make bags I can help you decide which machines to buy or materials to use.

Mark Caminiti
Divide Bike Bags
dream4est@msn.com

[tubeSSnapper]

Hey Folks
I've committed to an ITT northbound starting on 3/28 at 7am.
sadly the group start doesn't line up with my vacation time.
I'm looking for information about the starting area and a good way to manage the logistics. Currently I'm debating between a few options all of which include me arriving in SV in a rented car around noon the day before.
Option 1. leave SV in the afternoon and ride to the starting area with extra food and water. Camp. questions...how long would that take? is solo camping on the border totally crazy?
option 2 . stay in SV and Uber an early morning  ride to montezuma pass. questions...is this possible?

[Ron Thomson]

Option 1. leave SV in the afternoon and ride to the starting area with extra food and water. Camp. questions...how long would that take? is solo camping on the border totally crazy?

I think (from memory) it's only about 30 or so miles from SV to start. It does end with a good climb up to the pass though. If you leave around miday you will get there in about 4 hours or so. I've camped solo at the border without incident. Border patrol will probably want to know what you are up to. Good luck on your ITT.

[aarond]

There is a local taxi co. that also claims to go up to the pass.  In addition, someone at sun & spokes bike shop might do it for some $ as well.

[hanyo66]

I think (from memory) it's only about 30 or so miles from SV to start. It does end with a good climb up to the pass though. If you leave around miday you will get there in about 4 hours or so. I've camped solo at the border without incident. Border patrol will probably want to know what you are up to. Good luck on your ITT.

looking at Google Maps with their "cycling" option selected:

There is a local taxi co. that also claims to go up to the pass.  In addition, someone at sun & spokes bike shop might do it for some $ as well.

Good info, I sent Sun and Spokes an email as I'm looking for a ride FROM the border upon a SOBO completion.

[Adam Alphabet]

Have folks started organizing/arranging rides to the border for the group start yet?

[ec_duz_it]

My write up from my ITT ride of the 300 last year:

https://steller.co/s/7zY9afBGRge

[RebeccaRusch]

I'm also looking for a ride from the finish or Phoenix area or Tucson to the start...anyone?

[Gimmearaise]

I'm also looking for a ride from the finish or Phoenix area or Tucson to the start...anyone?

You doing the 300 or 750, Rebecca?

[flyboy]

I'm also looking for a ride from the finish or Phoenix area or Tucson to the start...anyone?

Rebecca, from the blog link above, Erin used and recommends Kris from Ajo Bikes in Tucson. Maybe give them a call?
See you at The Border. 

[bmattingly]

Great to see you back in for another AZT 750 run Mark.  Your bags look great.  Wishing you good Arizona vibrations on your adventure this year. 

In Flagstaff Absolute Bikes is closest to the trail though town.  Other options are Bicycle Revolution on Mike's Pike and Single Trak Bikes on Milton.

Today I drove past North Rim AZT on Highway 89 on my way back from Gooseberry.  There was 6 inches of snow on the ground.  This could be more of an issue for Southbound folks.  Hopefully lots of drying by the time the majority come through.

Honorable mention to David Beardog Goldberg who passed this past year.  David was a great endurance athlete who made many runs of a few ultra mtn bike rides.  I had some positive thoughts of him lately as the AZT approaches.  Aho Dave.

[taprider]

so sad to hear David Goldberg died
he is/was worth so many good stories and made my AZTR a much richer experience for briefly riding with him

Dave riding towards Pickett Post in 2016

[taprider]

more Dave Goldberg

[Gimmearaise]

What?? Oh no, David was a joy to talk with, he was a big ball of energy. Sending my condolences to his family.

[dream4est]

I had heard David was sick but didnt know of his passing. I only did the triple crown twice because a great man came up with such a brilliant idea. He kind of changed my life and made me obsessed with this sport. We drove down to the 2012 azt750 together with Marshal Bird. After i had finished i found a note on my car from beardog that was so neat he not only gave me props for doing it twice he left encouraging note on the chalkboard at the pumphouse in the ditch which i took a photo of. Most racers dont write notes to ones behind them but David was like that. I will never forget you man. RIP

[tubeSSnapper]

I meant to post this here...oops

GPS questions:
Will there be a 2018 edition of the track or is the course the same as 2017?

Also I purchased the AZT app which has 'a' bike version of the AZT.
 Has anybody compared the two routes?
 I plan on using my Garmin eTrex  as my primary navigation tool and my phone as a backup.

FYI the app is nice for those of us who have never before rolled tires on the AZT

[ScottM]

Will there be a 2018 edition of the track or is the course the same as 2017?

For 2018 there are some small updates, reroutes and some more dirt in place of pavement!

Wanted to mention, while I'm thinking about it, that AZ88 (Apache Trail) is under construction this year [thanks to John Schilling].  Here's ADOT's page:

https://www.azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/state-route-88/overview

Sounds like some riders may get caught in some one lane flagger type situations.  No construction at night or Fri-Sun, they say.  But during the day Mon-Thur it's possible it might be down to one lane.

So heads up to everyone on that one.  Also note that if construction crews don't want you riding through the one lane, it is perfectly fine to ride in a pilot (or private) vehicle.  Follow the law and rules that matter first and foremost.  Bikepacking purity and AZTR rules are always trumped by actual laws and rules.  This applies to other situations -- like fire closures, thinning, etc, too.

[carbonguy]

Assuming I'll be the last one of 70-ish riders through this area, I would presume that the Freeman cache will be ransacked by then. What are the options for water, other than carrying 8 liters?

I see water sources listed in the AZT water table, but having ridden twice through this area, I have never seen (nor looked for) any of them. Has anyone used anything else than the Freeman cache in the past? What are "tanks"? Do you have to climb up and into them? Is green water bad for you?

Thanks!

[phatmike]

Assuming I'll be the last one of 70-ish riders through this area, I would presume that the Freeman cache will be ransacked by then. What are the options for water, other than carrying 8 liters?

I loaded up on water at beehive well prior to freeman cache. Meaning I sat there and hydrated in addition to taking on 120oz of water. My intention was not to touch the cache at Freeman, but I did end up taking maybe 10-15oz anyway. Even without that, I would have made it to the tap at the ADOT yard in Kelvin. YMMV.

That said, I wouldn't count on anything outside of well established sources (stores/known spiggots) this year. It has been so freaking dry. It's more than possible to do the route without touching any of the caches. I recommend reading some ride reports (follow the hyperlinks on the AZTR results page). This will be valuable intel - and it's best to research this yourself IMO. If you're not sure, carry much more than you need. I had capacity for 240 oz but never ended up with more than 160. I'm a Phoenix native though and trained in the heat. I was commuting twice a week (including our brutal summer) with a commute round trip of 50-60 miles. Best of luck

[flyboy]

Assuming I'll be the last one of 70-ish riders through this area, I would presume that the Freeman cache will be ransacked by then. What are the options for water, other than carrying 8 liters?

I see water sources listed in the AZT water table, but having ridden twice through this area, I have never seen (nor looked for) any of them. Has anyone used anything else than the Freeman cache in the past? What are "tanks"? Do you have to climb up and into them? Is green water bad for you?

Thanks!

Answers (in detail) are in the first 11 pages of this thread. As a rookie, I found the following links particularly helpful and no, unfortunately there isn’t any substitute to putting the time into researching this “monster”. Happy reading.  (note: it isn’t just exit logistics in those links)

I always like to chime in on "exit logistics" to help with what I've learned from two previous 750 finishes:
 - go back through previous year discussion threads on this forum for the large amount of detailed information that is just too large to recreate;
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2017-aztr300750-race-discussion-thread/
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/azt-750300-2017-planning-thread/
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2016-aztr300750-race-discussion-thread/
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/arizona-trail-race-aztr-planning-thread/