AZT 750/300 2015 Planning

[Yogi the Barry]

Moving the thread along... in the direction of maps... In addition to Scott Morris' most excellent TopoFusion http://topofusion.com/, my purchased copy of TopoFusion is the tool of choice for my backcountry ski and bike tour planning, check out Hillmap.com. Hillmap, gratis web based access, has two cool features I like. 1) You can have both a topo and sat image side by side. 2) The overlay feature, especially the custom one, can be used to show user defined slope steepness. Not so sure that slope steepness is as applicable to biking as it is skiing, but still pretty cool. Hillmap also comes in handy when you're lacking access to your own computer. You can import, generate and export GPX tracks too. However, reliably producing a correctly sized print usually takes me a few tries to get it right.
-B

[tanman1337]

Hey, just to break the mood check this video out. You guys should battle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx2e9jSSK6E

[dream4est]

Hey AaronD could you tell us about your pre AZT training ride in AZ last year? I remember you telling me about in in the car last year and I am interested in a similar move this Feb.

Maybe others might be interested too.

[aarond]

Mark, I doubt there is much I can tell you about training for the AZTR 750, but for rookies I would say  try and ride Oracle Ridge so you know what you are getting into.  If you are doing the 750, test your system for carrying your bike through the canyon, and don't be like 90% of us who only try to figure it out when we get to the rim
Last year I left my car near the Picketpost TH, rode the road to Sierra Vista, and the took the AZT back, although I skipped Mt. Lemmon.

[dream4est]

Thats a big training ride Aaron!
I liked your idea of using that to supercharge your pre race training. Since the only other area I can think of one can multi day training ride in feb/mar is El Paso, that sounds good but hard. Maybe I can do something else parked near Picketpost or ask Big Dave about El Paso.

[windowace]

Great stuff guys.  Very well supported decisions/preferences. You all have me convinced.  Most likely i'll run slimed/stans tubes for the 750, but convert to tubeless after.  The biggest reason for me is the sidewall repair issue. Unless I get a tubeless setup and then cut up and repair a tire (multiple times) I don't think I would feel comfortable going in to the 750 tubeless.
 
I ran the 300 with the rampages front and rear with slimed tubes, had one flat near Oracle.  It wasn't sealing quickly so I switched tubes. Since then I think I have only had one flat using regular tubes with some brand of sealant. Granted, most of my riding is in Washington State where everything is snotty and slimy not sharp and sticky.

Based on what a couple of you have said, it sounds like I may be running a bit high on psi.  I'm just under 150lbs, ride pretty conservatively on FS, and usually run 35psi. Too high?  

I know most of these subjects have been discussed many times, but I think there is value in rousting up that horse for a few more lashes.  

Thanks

[tanman1337]

Dude, most of the times between the new tire plugs they have from Innovations or just a simple Price Point tire boot you can fix it easy. If you can't then some needle and thread will hopefully work, but if the cut or tear is that big, it would have happened tubeless or not

[tanman1337]

Oh yah, way too high. I think about 29-30 for tubes or 22-55 for tubeless for your weight in AZ just my opinion

[Yogi the Barry]

Was that the section of the AZT which I had to mostly HAB and use my bike as a shield to fend off pointy plants? I don't remember riding more than a token few pieces of that passage, but do recall wishing I was a mountain runner instead and also wished the 40 # shopping cart wasn't tagging along with me. Think my neck also got sore from always looking left at the awesome views...

...try and ride Oracle Ridge so you know what you are getting into...

[schillingsworth]

I thought I'd throw this out there re: training rides. If anyone is going to be in the PHX area from Feb. 13-16 I'm putting on a 4-day bikepacking ride from my home in Queen Creek. It will overlap the 300/750 routes from AZ88 just north of the Lost Dutchman State Park to Kelvin (Gila River). That section will be in the opposite direction from the AZTR as the loop will run in a CW motion.

I'll post up a link to the .gpx & POI files as soon as I upload them.
I have a 3 part blog post on this loop from last year's inaugural run. I've only made a couple of minor tweaks to the course for added fun!

Day 1: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/03/salty-gila-tour-14.html
Day 2: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/03/salty-gila-tour-14-oasis-in-gila-country.html
Day 3: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/03/salty-gila-tour-14-gps-woes-dirt-roads.html

As far as the AZT goes, I've recently been out on a few sections south of Superior. The stretch along the Gila River is in great shape. There has recently been a bunch of trailwork completed in Martinez Canyon following the strong monsoon storms here. I'll be putting tires on that section in a couple of weeks during the AES Gila100. The Ripsey segment is no worse for wear IMO, rides about the same as it always has. I should get a fresh report from the Antelope Peak section today from a buddy who's out there....hopefully now. The AZT Jamboree fundraiser is this Sat. so I'll see how the 40 miles between Box Canyon rd. & Pistol Hill rd. held up.

April 3rd will be here before we know it!! I've begun my weekly hike-with-bike Grand Canyon training, so far so good.

[tanman1337]

Hahaha woops, I meant 22-25 psi in my post

[Yogi the Barry]

http://genuineinnovations.com/products/tools-accessories/tubeless-tire-repair-kit/

Don't confuse this with mini precooked bacon. Doesn't taste as good. However, precooked bacon is another must-carry item.

... tire plugs they have from Innovations ...

[tanman1337]

They work great! Used them twice so far out in the middle of nowhere. They held until the tires were done for

[Flagster]

http://genuineinnovations.com/products/tools-accessories/tubeless-tire-repair-kit/

Don't confuse this with mini precooked bacon. Doesn't taste as good. However, precooked bacon is another must-carry item.

Is the glue different than the regular car tire repair plugs...I just use those...tool is a little bigger but they hold fine

[windowace]

So i have been working on a system for the GC portage and am encouraged with my last two training hikes.  I found it pretty easy to strap my bike and wheels to my pack (25l osprey), and as someone noted before higher is better.

What was discouraging was the discomfort/pain I felt in my shoulder blades.  The weight on my legs was fine, but after a  short distance I was really uncomfortable in my upper back.  So I ordered the tumpline from patagonia and after two hikes with it I am feeling pretty confident it will be part of my system.  I definitely need to work my neck muscles up a bit but i think after 8-10 more hikes it will be awesome.  Using the tumpline on the last hike, I had no discomfort in my back, although i felt it a bit in my neck muscles.  Not only does it help distribute the weight but it gives you a place to hold on to by grabbing the strap on both sides of your head near your ears, which gives you another position to hike in.   I bought the one from patagonia but you could easily put one together on your own.

I know there is a separate thread for this but it seems most appropriate here.

Cheers

[AZTtripper]

Interesting, I wonder how many of them are even sold. YC has been a fan since like the 70's.

[dgjessee]

I saw a couple people asking about shuttles and I found the ATA shuttles page. Any of those you vets have used in the past that are particularly cool/not cool with bikes? http://www.aztrail.org/shuttles.html. Right now still working out my time-off from work but currently thinking of driving out from Atlanta to either TH.

[Yogi the Barry]

Have you seen what Yvon looks like? Think he's part alien, part pit bull. I'm not sure he even has a neck. :-) I'm always giving his offspring company, Patagucci, the suggestion to make tall sizes, which Yvon can't really relate to either...

...YC has been a fan since like the 70's.

[AZTtripper]

Have you seen what Yvon looks like? Think he's part alien, part pit bull. I'm not sure he even has a neck. :-) I'm always giving his offspring company, Patagucci, the suggestion to make tall sizes, which Yvon can't really relate to either...

Ha not that I've met the man but yeah pit bull like, that might be helpful in tough situations. Lots of taller guys out in the mountains you'd think they would want to size them right.

[AZTtripper]

I saw a couple people asking about shuttles and I found the ATA shuttles page. Any of those you vets have used in the past that are particularly cool/not cool with bikes? http://www.aztrail.org/shuttles.html. Right now still working out my time-off from work but currently thinking of driving out from Atlanta to either TH.

I know that the rim to rim company said in the past that they wouldn't shuttle bikes while people hike. Something about not wanting to deal with the bike with out the owner there. No idea on the rest.