Arizona Trail Race 2014 in progress

[mtbcast]

He's tough but it sounds like he's also playing it smart. He's taking cues from the pain so hopefully it's not something that gets worse.

[AlpineTherapy]

Greg Hardy (Durham, NC) and Eric Dannenberg (Phoenix) with a final report for the 300 ride. First bike packing experience for both of us and one that we will never forget. Between the HAB, sun, rocks, crashes, elevation, the food and water, this experience really re-defined our interpretation of mountain biking. Our appreciation for our local trails and the mountains we frequent has definitely changed to a more humble tone. Hardest moment of the race for me was turning down an offer for a car ride to the top of Mt. Lemmon. Couldn’t decide if that qualifies as “trail magic”. But the struggle gave us some incredible highs: peaceful night riding under the full moon, unimaginable downhills, celebration of full water caches, pro-level tan lines, and discovering our new tolerance for being “uncomfortable”.   

It seems this ride will have been the start of some great bike adventures for each of us. Thanks to everyone involved in the AZTR and the forum for their help in planning. A special thanks to Steve Osborne who drove 800 miles on the day before the race shuttling riders from all over AZ to the start. A perfect example of how great this community is.

Some advice for future rookies: You can easily drop 30 min off your time if you study your cattle gate locks. No two gates locked the same. We gained a cactus/thorn scratch at the rate of about 1/mile. Some arm and legs sleeves can help here. Full rigid is a great choice if you’re trying to work on your grip strength, but a suspension fork is probably a better choice. If youre looking to get some field use out of every repair tool you own, the AZT is the perfect ride. 

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Back-to-back calls from Mike Prochaska! First from Flagstaff then from the Buffalo Park Trailhead!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[Yogi the Barry]

300 Flashbacks...
Day-1
Lows:
Carefully riding past all the other folks pumping up tires in the first few miles. I was feeling so smug because I had read previous year reports and was riding carefully to avoid such a scenario. Becoming one of them at exactly [I can't remember names, but for some reason I can remember things like this] 4.78 miles by cutting a tire [tread and knob]. I hate riding the hours long wave of anxiety, not knowing if the tire is going to stay sealed.
Coming upon Big Dave and his chainring train wreck. All four chainring bolts were loose, two [three?] missing. I was third in line to offer up spare bolts. He only need two.
The afternoon [and even sleeping at night] heat.
Seeing a rider with two broken [below flush with the nipple] spokes at the store in Sonoita.
Night riding with Anna and watching her fall in front of me and harpoon her hand in the cactus.
While talking to the caretaker at Kentucky Camp and filling up my bladder from the hose, looking down to see my legs covered in mosquitoes.
Highs:
Finally getting to meet Scott Morris right before the start.
Thanks to the person who posted a bikepacking.net tip of using super glue and electrical tape. This works awesome to help speedup the tire sealing process.
Garlic and Canadian bacon 16" pizza at the Velvet Elvis in Patagonia. I ate half, took two pieces to go and handed out two other pieces to my fellow comrades of pain.
Tailwind to Sonoita. More food and drink in Sonoita.
The Flume Trail!
Flushing out birds sitting on the trail at night. Love the red glow of their eyes. Could have even grabbed one, as it launched up and hovered in front of my face, trying to escape, if I only had a spare hand.
After slapping all the skeeters off my legs, having the Kentucky Camp caretaker tell me about the sink around the back. No skeeters there, running water sink to bathe with, solar lights, picnic table, bathroom, hard to escape the tractor pull of that oasis.
Night riding fast enough to hang on and talk with Dave for about 20 minutes, before he went off the front.
Amusing:
Seeing a nice, whole and juicy carrot laying in the middle of trail, at about mile 10. Ten miles later, I would have washed it off and eaten it.
Waking up the first night, about 1-2 am, by my stomach growling. I was convinced it was a savage pack of javelinas or some other creature(s). Yelling out [my lame defense mechanism] at the person who biked by about 4:30 am and woke me up. Not a javelina this time, but it seems to work at scaring them away.
Photos: 1-Rare glimpse of the species Big Dave not moving [I can only imagine the stress after fixing his drivetrain and trying to get make up lost time]. After his little siesta, he caught up to me an hour later. 2 - Fat-free, gluten-free, vegan pizza [you know I'm kidding, right?].

[THE LONG RANGER]

Can't believe Mark is out there for the umpteenth time in a row for the 750. Total record there. I made it for about, I dunno, half a day, before succumbing to dastardly GI issues last year.

True hard man, right there (Mark).

[Gimmearaise]

Can't believe Mark is out there for the umpteenth time in a row for the 750. Total record there. I made it for about, I dunno, half a day, before succumbing to dastardly GI issues last year.

True hard man, right there (Mark).

I agree, the guy has some serious guts, year after year.

[ECEGatorTuro]

Looks like Caroline bailed back out onto the fire control road again. I hope she's not turning back to Pine.

[yz129]

hope all is well with caroline,she has spent a lot of time in the pine area. good luck girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep strong and get it done!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ScottM]

Sounds like Caroline is calling it in Pine.  Way to fight the good fight, Caroline!

JayP's SPOT is not transmitting.  Traditionally they don't work too well in the canyon for our bikepackers (in the other sense of the word).  His is mounted such that it's really buried at this point.  Plus the canyon is so deep that even regular GPS units don't work very well.

I was surprised that I got a number of points on our tour.  But I was trying to keep it in a good spot, and when we stopped I often pulled it out and stuck it on the ground.

At any rate, I'm sure we won't see a point until he pops up on the North Rim.  Likely that'll be very late tonight.

Aaron Johnson is making great time towards the Canyon!

[mtbcast]

AZT14 – Day 7 True Up!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[ScottM]

Eszter ran into Aaron Johnson this afternoon while she was wrapping up her tour on the Coconino Route.  She says:

"Aaron said he was trying to make it to Tusayan tonight. Stiff south wind blowing here in Flag. He was looking good, said Highline was horrible."

Here's a pic she grabbed of him.

He made great time today.  2.5 hours faster than JP from Flag to the Tusayan bike trails, where he is now.  Maybe it was the south winds, maybe JP was cracking, maybe something else.  At any rate, he's cruising.

[mtbcast]

JayP's across the canyon and headed for the Utah line!

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Aaron Johnson called in from Tusayan!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[Yogi the Barry]

Found: Custom cuben fiber article.
I was unpacking all my gear and came across this article that I had picked up off the trail. I think I picked it up along the Flume trail section, but I can't remember. I was tired and it was at night. I had stashed it in the bowels of my frame bag and forgotten about it. Describe it and I'll arrange to mail it to the owner.
-Barry

[Gimmearaise]

So why did Jay take the road?

[ScottM]

Because it's an allowed alternate - snow detour.  He'll get back on after Jacob Lake.

This is probably the lowest snow year we've seen on the north rim (in the last 10 years), but there is still a non-trivial amount up there.  I think every year that alternate is going to be allowed, as long as the race is in the spring.  I should just change the track to reflect that.

That said, the option to take the trail is always there if you want bonus (Long Ranger!) points.  I'm the only one that's ridden the trail after crossing the canyon on a race effort.  There's great trail in there, but also a lot of deadfall.  And the last thing you want to do, trust me, is get off your bike and hoist it over trees, after crossing the ditch.

Aaron Johnson mentions that he's waiting until 11am (!) for the post office to open.  Meanwhile Mike P. already has his canyon gear, and should be to Tusayan in an hour and a half or so.  Interesting the way that played out.

[Gimmearaise]

Thanks for clarification, Scott. Was a little worried.

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Mark Caminiti called in from Mormon Lake!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[Shirey]

AZT14: Mark Caminiti called in from Mormon Lake!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

Damn, I love his call-ins. I've been waiting all day and that one was well worth it. Keep hitting back Mark!

[Woodland]

"It's not how hard it hits you, it's how hard you hit BACK!"

Indeed - Mark's call-ins are always the best!