AZT 750/300 2015 Planning

[dream4est]

Deal Sean. I think I even got a third already. Slowride.

That would even be easier than last year. Only 2 vehicles we meet in St George first then go to border.

[Sean Allan]

Fantastic, looking forward to the laughter.

[tanman1337]

So Mark, I figured I would ask you, since you have done the 750 so many times... what have you found to be the best setup for getting the bike across the canyon? I have heard of so many different techniques over the years.

[dream4est]

To me I think getting the bike as high as possible on the pack is key. Thats where I have failed over the years usually. Letting the setup ride low.

Padding is crucial. Low weight is crucial. I decided for this coming year to go really light bike and gear but one can send gear home at the south rim. Snickers bars and such can be bought at Phantom Ranch and water is important not to overcarry for weight reasons again.

I ran a purse/strap and a pack for wheel(s) setup 2x and just a pack setup 2x. This time I am going to do the purse/strap thing again but without a pack for the wheels I am just going to carry the front wheel in my hand and strap the rest more like a guitar on my back and less like a purse on my hip. Rear wheel up high hopefully.

The strap/purse is basically 2 lengths of webbing attached to fabric that can hold padding, like an envelope. I saw AZTtripper use it in the canyon in a pic once so I adopted it in 2012 when my pack failed rimming out. I havent perfected it yet- it rode my hip both tries badly 2013 and 14. Now I am going to change how the straps mount to the bike to get it on my back more and not my hip. To make it comfy I will use padding and cardboard from the general store in Tasayan.

Shoes- dont use clipless race shoes. anything else works- comfy clipless, sandals, runners, etc.

On the way down go easy on the steps. Saves the legs.

The fastest crossers (11-14hrs) have used poles, no poles, normal pack, shipped pack, etc. No one way was best. 21 hours is my best and hoping for 14ish next time.

[davew]

I ran a purse/strap and a pack for wheel(s) setup 2x and just a pack setup 2x. This time I am going to do the purse/strap thing again but without a pack for the wheels I am just going to carry the front wheel in my hand and strap the rest more like a guitar on my back and less like a purse on my hip. Rear wheel up high hopefully.

The strap/purse is basically 2 lengths of webbing attached to fabric that can hold padding, like an envelope. I saw AZTtripper use it in the canyon in a pic once so I adopted it in 2012 when my pack failed rimming out. I havent perfected it yet- it rode my hip both tries badly 2013 and 14. Now I am going to change how the straps mount to the bike to get it on my back more and not my hip. To make it comfy I will use padding and cardboard from the general store in Tasayan.

Mark, do you happen to have a photo of this set up? I see the word 'purse' and it is very possible I am visualising something other than what you are describing.

[mountainjah]

21 hours is my best and hoping for 14ish next time.

Hell Yeah Mark!Way to set the bar....now time to get er' done!

[AZTtripper]

Here's a thread on carrying the bike http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=90.20 on page 2 are my pics that Mark is referring to.

I'm still waiting to see someone use a trump line method to get the weight off of the shoulders.

[SlowRide]

I'm still waiting to see someone use a trump line method to get the weight off of the shoulders.

Not a bad idea at all.... I went to a Voyageurs camp in Canada and we portaged our canoes and all of our food and gear with tump lines for 6 weeks, I am going to experiment...

[tanman1337]

Awesome thanks Mark! I will be figuring out exactly what i want to do in the next few months. I had a good idea of how to get the weight up high, but that would require me shipping a few things up there and I would rather have the cool points of starting and finishing with the same gear, so I will work on seeing if I can accomplish it with gear I will be carrying anyway

[AZTtripper]

Not a bad idea at all.... I went to a Voyageurs camp in Canada and we portaged our canoes and all of our food and gear with tump lines for 6 weeks, I am going to experiment...

Yeah it's nothing new that's for sure, porters carry huge loads with nothing more then a strap.

Awesome thanks Mark! I will be figuring out exactly what i want to do in the next few months. I had a good idea of how to get the weight up high, but that would require me shipping a few things up there and I would rather have the cool points of starting and finishing with the same gear, so I will work on seeing if I can accomplish it with gear I will be carrying anyway

Started with or at least acquired along the way, something you could add to your kit when you get to Flag maybe. Now's the time to work out the details, looking forward to seeing some new innovative ways to portage.

Forest Bakers rear wheel on, set up looked crazy off balance but at the risk of loosing parts keeping the wheel on made sense, especially with a DNF caused by loss of cassette that same year. Fosters old frame pack shipped to the rim looked cushy but avoiding shipping is a worthy goal.  

[davew]

Here's a thread on carrying the bike http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=90.20 on page 2 are my pics that Mark is referring to.

thanks for reposting this link

[HappyWanderer]

I put in for vacation.  Hoping to be able to do the 300 and maybe the 750.  I am still working on the details but am so far planning to do the race.  I may have to start a week early and ITT it if I want to do the whole thing, but I am going to wait and see what the weather is like.  Sheila T and Mark C said this was fun so I am pretty excited to give it a try.

[tanman1337]

Yeah it's nothing new that's for sure, porters carry huge loads with nothing more then a strap.

Started with or at least acquired along the way, something you could add to your kit when you get to Flag maybe. Now's the time to work out the details, looking forward to seeing some new innovative ways to portage.

Forest Bakers rear wheel on, set up looked crazy off balance but at the risk of loosing parts keeping the wheel on made sense, especially with a DNF caused by loss of cassette that same year. Fosters old frame pack shipped to the rim looked cushy but avoiding shipping is a worthy goal.   

Yah, not to say that this is a definite idea...but me being a long time military guy, I'm thinking of making my backpack for the 750 an old A.L.I.C.E. rucksack. I am going to have Larue Tactical comfy kidney pad and shoulder straps, but a medium size bag. The aluminum frame will allow me to secure the bike on very easy and I have had more than enough practice carrying heavy things like that...the only thing I'm struggling with is if I want to ride the other 730 miles of the race with a damn rucksack...

[AZTtripper]

Something like this http://www.amazon.com/A-L-I-C-E-BackPack-shoulder-straps-waistbelt/dp/B000KD3GTE/ref=sr_1_4/183-7195115-2042104?ie=UTF8&qid=1418044102&sr=8-4&keywords=military+surplus+alice+pack Looks like a very beefy frame but very thin on the padding. Assuming you have something similar but maybe with more padding. Have you ridden with this thing on? I can see hiking with it, but riding?

There is something to be said for going with what you know. If you can start riding with this set up now and make sure you can handle it day after day I think you'll thank yourself at the canyon.

[tanman1337]

Yah exactly...my pads are wayyyyyyyy better than that though...should be pretty comfy, just a tad bit heavier than a smaller backpack though

[ScottM]

I do like that people are going for the style points of not shipping.  It was nice to have shipped our packs to the S. Rim in the tour last spring, but there is something to be said for the purity of running whatcha brung.

Slowride suggested an AZTR 'club' for anyone that uses Strava and is training for the race this year, or in general is just a part of the AZT community.  I can see it being a fun way to see what other AZTers are up to, and maybe keep in touch after the race(s), too.  It's here:

http://www.strava.com/clubs/aztr

We're less than 5 months out....

[AZTtripper]

Yah exactly...my pads are wayyyyyyyy better than that though...should be pretty comfy, just a tad bit heavier than a smaller backpack though

Well you've got 5 months to figure it out. It's great to see your going to get your chance at this one, I am sure I won't be the only one rooting for you to have a smooth run.

[tanman1337]

Thanks Man! I'm soooo excited for a chance to do the 750. Sometimes I still can't believe that I ruined my leg weeks before the start in 2013... It's amazing what being laid up on the couch for 10 weeks can do for your own personal motivation to ride

[THE LONG RANGER]

$19! Probably the cheapest thing in the Patagonia catalog!


http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-tumpline?p=11685-0

[AZTtripper]

$19! Probably the cheapest thing in the Patagonia catalog!


http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-tumpline?p=11685-0

There ya go, if it's good enough for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvon_Chouinard

I vaguely remember him promoting the trumpline back in the day and there was a pack that came with one. Obviously it never really caught on, maybe someone needs revive it. SlowRide?