Coco 250

[Wyatt72]

Jason Hanson here with race results. To all those that don't know I did have a pretty severe mechanical/chain problem on day two that forced me to waist about 3-4 hours. The good news I earned about 15 extra bonus miles. Hiking Mingus in the dark might have been better though. Atleast then I only had to keep track of mileage on my Garmin. I'm sorry I missed the campfire at the top. I ended up camping the night a little farther down the trail. Couldn't find the camp site. I crashed coming down Bill Williams. Broke my helmet, banged up my knee, and jammed my wrist but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. The times that I'm giving you are off my Garmin. They might not be completely accurate because I started recording every day when I began to ride as opposed to when I actually got to the appropriate stage starting point. Thanks to everyone that gave advice. I learned a lot about using my GPS and look forward to the next event.
Stage 1: 6:58:53.  56.7miles.
Stage 2: 17:01:34. 68.4miles.
Stage 3: 10:39:04. 62.7 miles.
Stage 4: 10:06:39. 70.1 miles.

Stage 1 and 3 should be pretty accurate. Stage 2 was brutal. Ouch. Stage 4 I started when I left hotel and stopped when I got to the car at The Place in Flagstaff. I'm sorry there not more accurate. Please let me know if anyone is planning other rides. I'm always interested.

[schillingsworth]

Here are my times for an 'official DNF'. 

Stage 1: 6:52
Stage 2: 13:55
Stage 3: 11:10 (Skipped BW Mtn.)
Stage 4: 9:39

[AZTtripper]

Williams Mountain, at the end of day 3, is a hard one to get excited for. The first year having not ridden it I was pretty keen on seeing what it had. The second time there, I was about to bail until Dan showed and talked me into it. Then I think he regretted it, at the first stair step down, he did not seem to like steep stair stepped trail so that down hill didn't make him smile. Throw in the usual down trees and well you get the picture. I was glad I did it once we were cruising the easy ST at the bottom.

Another Coco in the bag very nice. It's certainly a great loop!

[Jeff Z]

Oh, it's all that and more.  You'll love your SS for the all the HAB -- it'll be so light to push!

As for the stupid steep and endless dirt road that is rideable in granny ring.... sucks to be you!

OK, I'll give you that. It was "all that", and then some. May be my number one most feared/hated HAB ever.

Anyhow, my spew on the whole experience is here: http://jzadventuretime.blogspot.com/2014/10/coconino-bikepacking-stage-race.html

Despite feeling like I've been beaten with a baseball bat, I'm really glad we finally got out there and did it. It has been said over and over, but the format of this race is one of the things that makes it special.

[AZTtripper]

Thank's for the trip down memory lane, Suckamore that's as good as Sickofmore! Seems like there's a trail that cuts across there away form the rim, loose the views but maybe more rideable.

Moto trails take a different riding style, Wing Mnt thru me for a bit that first year. Fun you just have to look at riding in a different way.

[geekonabike]

My pics: https://plus.google.com/photos/108795314430817013268/albums/6070801963025282801?authkey=CJPO_YWhjcy3mwE

How I could have fixed my Garmin in 30 seconds & not DNF:  Power off, Hold 'mode' & 'lap' for 5 seconds, pick you language & time zone.  All tracks & maps are now restored. Not sure about the current track as mine was already ended.
'lap' = 'reset' on many garmin models.

[ec_duz_it]

Super bummed that I was not able to come out this year  Congrats to all who finished, and all who showed up to start!  Here is my favorite random photo from the route after getting chased by an agro dog back in just before Cottonwood (April 2013).  Good times!

[schillingsworth]

Finished up my ride recap. Plenty-o-pics.

http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/10/coco-co.html

[ScottM]

Good stuff.  Thanks for the write-ups and photos, John, et al.  Makes not having the energy to participate a little easier to stomach.

Maybe next year we'll break the trend of pre-event rains, huh?

One of my projects that I never quite get around to is making a paper map for the Coco.  It's cool that there seem to often be people out touring it, and I think having a paper map would help legitimize it and get more people out there.  Plus it might help for some of the wrong turns... though no matter how good it is, Lime Kiln is always going to be a challenge.  As it should be. 

[yz129]

scott,a map would make us non gps geeks enjoy the route more. i would buy one for sure.

[Yyz2112]

I'm probably going to regret this, but I'm in. 

[pkshields]

Hey Yall!! I have never done this ride before but am really interested.

Iv done alot of self supported multi day routes and lots of bikepacking but this would be my first group event in a race format. I was wondering if someone could help me understand the sleeping arrangements, I definitely don't plan on doing a "non-stop ride".

Is it correct that the only designated sleep areas are at the 3 stage stops? Or can a rider just set there own pace and sleep where ever they need/are allow in the national forests?

Cheers,
Pat

[AZTtripper]

Hey Yall!! I have never done this ride before but am really interested.

Iv done alot of self supported multi day routes and lots of bikepacking but this would be my first group event in a race format. I was wondering if someone could help me understand the sleeping arrangements, I definitely don't plan on doing a "non-stop ride".

Is it correct that the only designated sleep areas are at the 3 stage stops? Or can a rider just set there own pace and sleep where ever they need/are allow in the national forests?

Cheers,
Pat

The stages are just a way for an event that has some camaraderie time built in, the stage stops are the only place you can stop the clock. Great to see people are still doing this, always had fun and enjoyed the stage stops, there's no requirement to use the stage stops. You can camp anywhere it's legal.

Tim