2016 Arizona Trail Race AZTR planning thread

[billster6]

For those that were wondering the Safeway on Broadway is opening back up today. Its right by our house and we saw the sign saying it would be opening. Knew a few of you were wondering.

We also only have 4 spots left on the shuttles for those still needing one. Option 1- We can pick you up at the Picket Post Trail head(Superior)Thursday. Option 2- Pick you up in Tucson Thursday. Both options get you dropped off Thursday night at one of the two starting locations. Price is $90 for option 1 and $45 for option 2. Spread the word and leave the driving to us!! Happy to answer any other questions offline if needed. 52zero 23svn zero one two niner Cheers!

Yea saw the grand opening banner at the Safeway on Broadway yesterday! 24 March....

[aaron w]

So, why do this trail? Because it's the closest legal mountain biking trail to the Superstition Wilderness and it's not road.

Just want to say I like your philosophy, despite my horrible memories of Jacob's Crosscut. 

I am hoping this alternate will be made available soon.  Planning on starting my tour in Sierra Vista on Thursday.  I'll have to see how I feel when I get there, but I *might* give it a go.  Probably best not to mention to my touring buddies that there is an easier way....

[schillingsworth]

Just want to say I like your philosophy, despite my horrible memories of Jacob's Crosscut. 

I am hoping this alternate will be made available soon.  Planning on starting my tour in Sierra Vista on Thursday.  I'll have to see how I feel when I get there, but I *might* give it a go.  Probably best not to mention to my touring buddies that there is an easier way....

Aaron, I have the .gpx of the alternate route. Shoot me your email & I'll get it to you today. If I can get out of work soon, I'm going to try and talk my wife into joining me for a short hike & some rock lobbing on Jacob Crosscut this afternoon. I'll try and take some before/after photos of that 0.9 mile section. At the very least, take the alternate from Queen Valley to Basha's in Gold Canyon. The system singletrack trails are really fun. Also, since you're touring, there's a nice mexican restaurant around the corner to the left (west) from Basha's in the same shopping center. De La Cruz Mexican Grille it has a nice outdoor patio to enjoy views of the Superstitions.

[schillingsworth]

That's great news re: Safeway in Tucson. Thanks for the updates.

Flagster: I'll be out riding in Gold Canyon on Sunday, roughly 10-3-ish. If you see the green Voodoo on the trails, say 'Hi'.

-John

[Flagster]

thanks and I would have gladly said hi but I will be in the other canyon tomorrow

[ScottM]

Sounds like we will have an early contestant in the Price is Right.... I mean the 750.  Come on down.... Cjell Money.

Looking to get his SPOT live early this week.

John Schilling -- send me a final track for the singletrack option and I will get it online with some details on the site.  On Jacob's Crosscut, what's a little more HAB when you're already doing the AZT 750?

[taprider]

Just did Jacobs crosscut both ways
More real mtn biking than gravel grinder
99% rideable just some trouble squeezing between big rocks
I like it  

[schillingsworth]

Just did Jacobs crosscut both ways
More real mtn biking than gravel grinder
99% rideable just some trouble squeezing between big rocks
I like it 

Nice!! Glad you enjoyed it. How did you fare on the northbound return on the initial 0.9 climb on the rubbly bits?

[taprider]

That climb wasn't bad

[aaron w]

Go Cjell Money!!!

[Yogi the Barry]

Congrats to John Schilling on finishing the Sedona BFL... on foot, sans crank. Good luck with getting that messed up crank and BB repaired.

[schillingsworth]

Congrats to John Schilling on finishing the Sedona BFL... on foot, sans crank. Good luck with getting that messed up crank and BB repaired.

Haha!! For the record, I was doing a modified route anyway, adding in some of those re-opened trails: Sketch, Skywalker, Scorpion, Pyramid, etc. Really good stuff. I saw most of the fast guys as they topped out on Herkenham, I think I saw you there Barry. I stopped for a snack by the road. My crank woes came along about 35 miles into my day, but thankfully I was only 100 ft. from a paved road crossing, then mostly downhill coasting to pizza!! I didn't quite finish the route, but it was still a great day to be out. Good seeing you at the finish, you disappeared when I was getting ready to split.

Back to the AZTR chatter!! I emailed the optional route to Scott last night. Borrowed a buddy's SS rig for a ride out in Gold Canyon y'day, trails are in fantastic shape and the cactus are now almost in peak bloom near the Phoenix area.

[Yogi the Barry]

@John,
Re: Disappeared - I was doing laps to the front of Bike and Bean for a slice of pizza and then into the bowels of the store to pull on the unicorn tap handle to keep my mug sufficiently filled. Second half of those laps took a lot more time, which is why I probably missed you...
Re: Those blossoming cactus - I wonder if the needles are any softer when they are in bloom?

Haha!! ... you disappeared when I was getting ready to split...
... the cactus are now almost in peak bloom near the Phoenix area.

[bmattingly]

Hey Homegrown MTB,

I am thinking about the race.  If I do it your ride would be great for me, Option 1 that way I can leave a ride at the end.  Can you confirm with me that you have space.  I'm a veteran, have done race before.  My phone number is 928 525-6088 or my email is bmattingly44@yahoo.com.  I have to confirm a ride before I can confirm with Scott and get a tracker and get time off work.

Please let me know if you have space.  Thanks

Brad M

[Woodland]

I'll be running with slime tubes for this race, and was planning on carrying two additional slime filled tubes as spares. Is that overkill? Those things are heavy as bricks. Should I just carry regular spares? What have others done for spares when rolling with slime tubes?

[aaron w]

I think it doesn't matter if you are starting with slime tubes or tubeless, the backup tubes need to be slimed.  The tire will definitely be full of thorns and it seems like a regular tube would be pointless. 

[Woodland]

Thanks guys 

[ScottM]

Alright folks, I've updated the race-route page to include John's Gold Canyon singletrack option.  Load it up as a separate track on the GPX, and if you are feeling it, please take it and let us know what you think.

Grand Canyon has also requested I help educate the public about rules about permits by adding the following to the site:

Groups of 11 - 30 individuals day hiking through the canyon as part of this Race will need to obtain a Special Use Permit through our office. You can find details about our permit requirements at the following link: http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/sup.htm

So if anyone in a group of 11+ arrives at the Grand Canyon together, you'll need a permit to cross.  There is approximately a zero percent chance of that happening, but I posted it on the site nonetheless since I was asked.

Take note of the deadlines for SPOT tracker sign up, on the tracking link:

http://trackleaders.com/aztr-signup

That's all I've got right now.  Happy prep and... maybe it's about taper time now, eh?

[ScottM]

That is NOT all I've got.  The illustrious Cjell Money is on his way for a crack at the 750 route.  Looks like a 1 pm start from the border. He is digging his heels into the Canelo Hills as I type this.

I believe it was 2013 when he took a crack at the 750 and settled for a 300 finish instead.  Some may recall he has set very fast northbound Tour Divide times in the past, including wheelie-riding, cigarette smoking, tattoo-acquiring antics along the way

[Adam Alphabet]

Track Leaders layout update looks sharp Scott, tighter and cleaner, Nice Job.
Can't wait to get bouncing up and down that map!
Give'r Cjell!