AZT 750/300 2015 Planning

[Adam Alphabet]

Back in 010 I did  the Broadway Subway ate b-fast picked up subs for lunch and dinner and yeah lost a fair bit of time. I think most will use the Circle K on Tanque Verde/Reddington just before heading out of town.

Can't remember if I posted this or not, there's a newly reopened bar and grill at the corner of Old Spanish Trail and Escalante. http://www.saguarocorners.com/ It's right on course but obviously another time suck.

Thanks a tonne! trying to avoid going in towards town as much as possible.

[schillingsworth]

Wow Tim, that second pic of Passage #21 looks...um...inviting?? The vegetation has definitely come back in that area. Expect to get some good 'ol fashioned AZ pinstriping on your arms/legs through there. I believe your pic was taken right at the beginning of the singletrack, it's a short HAB up then a really fun descent down into Boulder Creek on narrow trail.

[REV]

Funny you should ask.  I was out with Mr. Schilling attempting to add some singletrack in far east Phoenix (Apache Junction).  [Thanks for the tour and route work, John] There's great trails, killer views, and not too unreasonable routing.  Stay tuned for a possible change there.  It shouldn't add any significant amount of time (no more than an hour?), if it gets the nod.

I don't know of any changes for the 300.

Rookie from TeJaS here throwing my hat in the ring for the 300, and I am looking forward to sampling the desert of Az.  I also have the question if the 300 gpx file listed is complete?   This is my first time in an event of this nature, which of course causes some obsession over the course. 

[Adam Alphabet]

So being a mac user am I at a disadvantage not being able to use topofusion? Is there a way to get it to work?

I've got a crappy free topo of AZ that I laid the 2014 track over in garmin basecamp but wouldn't mind a better, more detailed base map and get to play around with the elevation profile stuff everyone talks about.

[mikepro]

So being a mac user am I at a disadvantage not being able to use topofusion? Is there a way to get it to work?
I've got a crappy free topo of AZ that I laid the 2014 track over in garmin basecamp but wouldn't mind a better, more detailed base map and get to play around with the elevation profile stuff everyone talks about.

Not sure about TF on a Mac, but the AZ topo map I got from gpsfiledepot.com last year worked great as a base map on the eTrex30, and also in basecamp on my Mac.  Not really solving you desire to partake in TF elevation profile bling, just mentioning that I like the gpsfiledepot.com AZ topo map and think that for a free map it's really good.  And, while approaching Flagstaff last spring during the 750, I used the map via the eTrex to find a cool way through a suburban neighborhood to rejoin the trail North of the fire closure.  Apparently, I even got these mythical things called 'bonus points' for the on-the-fly navigation: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10380.msg61499#msg61499.  Maybe they come in the mail a year later?  Or maybe they're more like karma points, where I'm pretty sure they exist just not entirely sure when I got them or how to use them.

[Adam Alphabet]

Not sure about TF on a Mac, but the AZ topo map I got from gpsfiledepot.com last year worked great as a base map on the eTrex30, and also in basecamp on my Mac.  Not really solving you desire to partake in TF elevation profile bling, just mentioning that I like the gpsfiledepot.com AZ topo map and think that for a free map it's really good.  And, while approaching Flagstaff last spring during the 750, I used the map via the eTrex to find a cool way through a suburban neighborhood to rejoin the trail North of the fire closure.  Apparently, I even got these mythical things called 'bonus points' for the on-the-fly navigation: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10380.msg61499#msg61499.  Maybe they come in the mail a year later?  Or maybe they're more like karma points, where I'm pretty sure they exist just not entirely sure when I got them or how to use them.

Thanks for that Mike.. I can't remember where I found the basemap I have. Do you remember which one you used?
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/state/az

I like elevation profiles, lots of advantages for planning and mental state. I may just copy the ones out of the guide book as a rough guide for each passage.

[ScottM]

Rookie from TeJaS here throwing my hat in the ring for the 300, and I am looking forward to sampling the desert of Az.  I also have the question if the 300 gpx file listed is complete?   This is my first time in an event of this nature, which of course causes some obsession over the course. 

I don't know of any changes to the 300 route, so it's complete as of today.  Always a chance something could come up that could force a change, but it's not too likely.

[ScottM]

Not sure about TF on a Mac, but the AZ topo map I got from gpsfiledepot.com last year worked great as a base map on the eTrex30, and also in basecamp on my Mac.  Not really solving you desire to partake in TF elevation profile bling, just mentioning that I like the gpsfiledepot.com AZ topo map and think that for a free map it's really good.  And, while approaching Flagstaff last spring during the 750, I used the map via the eTrex to find a cool way through a suburban neighborhood to rejoin the trail North of the fire closure.  Apparently, I even got these mythical things called 'bonus points' for the on-the-fly navigation: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10380.msg61499#msg61499.  Maybe they come in the mail a year later?  Or maybe they're more like karma points, where I'm pretty sure they exist just not entirely sure when I got them or how to use them.

Bonus points were indeed awarded!  Just as they were to Ron Thomson's crew for riding the AZT on the North Rim.  That's some serious bonus/style points! 

The gpsfiledepot base maps are a good choice -- and free.  I'd recommend them fully.  TopoFusion can be run on a Mac but not without some due diligence of using a Windows emulator (like Parallels or VMWare Fusion).  But it does work quite well I'm told.  Basecamp should be able to do elevation profiles though, too.

[AZTtripper]

I should think that AZT bonus points work just like Karma points so you'll really never know when something bad doesn't happen to you.

Just like when something bad does happen, was it something I did yesterday or in a previous life?

[dream4est]

Gpsfiledepot AZ maps are great. I used them in 2010 to leave the course and find a tube and return to exact spot I left course, all without paper maps and no knowledge of area I was in at the time. Like I didnt know what direction to bail, where towns were, etc. The topos got me to water first as I was out and then got me to a road and then to a town. And back through the wash to the trail.

I was a dummy, but the topos saved my ass basically.

[mikepro]

Thanks for that Mike.. I can't remember where I found the basemap I have. Do you remember which one you used?
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/state/az

The one called 'Arizona Topo' with the star in the Editor's Choice column.  Created by 'Oz'.  Last updated in 2011, it looks like.

[Adam Alphabet]

The one called 'Arizona Topo' with the star in the Editor's Choice column.  Created by 'Oz'.  Last updated in 2011, it looks like.

Picked that one up, updated base camp, now I gotta play around a bit more to learn it better.
Thanks.

[Rorr]

How does the HABing in the aztr750 compare with the CTR? I did the CTR last year and found the HABing challenging! What are some of the harder ones other than the GC? I know some of you have done both races. Thanks

[the tortoise]

If anyone is interested Sun and Spokes bikes out of Sierra Vista is willing to provide a shuttle to the Mexican Border for the start of the AZT 750 race. The town is big enough for lodging and eating the night before.
I rode with them two years ago and they were awesome. They also helped me get my bike sorted out prior to the race.
If you are interested get hold of them via this e-mail: mrk.lapaglia@gmail.com
His name is Mark.

[Flagster]

If anyone is interested Sun and Spokes bikes out of Sierra Vista is willing to provide a shuttle to the Mexican Border for the start of the AZT 750 race. The town is big enough for lodging and eating the night before.
I rode with them two years ago and they were awesome. They also helped me get my bike sorted out prior to the race.
If you are interested get hold of them via this e-mail: mrk.lapaglia@gmail.com
His name is Mark.

Good info, thanks...
I will be staying in SV the night before the race...was wondering the best way to get out to the start...I should have room for a few persons/bikes I think depending on what truck I have...
Looks like W montezuma canyon road through the national memorial?

[Eszter]

How does the HABing in the aztr750 compare with the CTR? I did the CTR last year and found the HABing challenging! What are some of the harder ones other than the GC? I know some of you have done both races. Thanks

The 750 route has more BS-HAB. On the CTR, you sort of get to the bottom of a hill, look up, and say, we'll, guess I'm walking. The AZT has a lot more on again, off again, hiking, which is more frustrating than anything else.

The hike up Molino Basin in rough. The hike down Oracle Ridge makes you wonder why you have a bike. And the hike up to the Mollogon Rim after Highline rivals that of Fooses Creek or 10-mile.

[Rorr]

O Boy! Guess I'd better get my head right. I've been practicing hauling my bike, this is going to be a very hard race! Thanks for the info.

[dream4est]

I think Eszter forgot about the worst HAB on the route- Highline from about a mile past Pine trailhead to Geronimo trailhead. You hike up, down and all around!! Well one really can ride down the crazy boulders but the flat HAB kills you with the foilage scraping up the left leg and arm.

Its pure hell. But after Geronimo it loses its bite.

[Adam Alphabet]

A question of ethics... and really really not wanting to not open up the age old cell phones debate again.

Scenario: Approaching a town what is the call (no pun intended) on phoning a restaurant that you've reviewed the menu, learned the hours and stored the number in your phone to make a pick up order?

I'm not travelling with a phone as, well, I never do and it's from Canada anyways but calling ahead sure would save a lot of time. Do people do this? Secondly are burners (prepaid phones) still available in the states?

[SlowRide]

Anyone from Colorado or thereabouts still looking for a rider to head south with for the 750? Please drop me a PM if you have a spot available.