AZTR recap part 2

Picketpost Trailhead is pretty dead and desolate looking place as far as race finish lines go. Last time i finished here I limped to the Park wardens' trailer and asked if he could sell me a cold drink. He said he wont take my money but gave me a cheese string and a can of squirt. I was very thankful.

This time I expected nothing remotely better. However, Max Morris came to greet me, with another racer that arrived a little earlier. In lighting speed he cooked tacos, bacon and eggs, made coffee and offered cold drinks and a recliner. He was simply the best that could have happened to me. As we chatted I learned about him. That he did the tour divide eight times. Colorado trail race 9 times. And this AZTR thing also  many times.  Very generously he also called thru hikers over to feed them, and other tourers I met later had been fed here. The even more charitable thing he does is assembling backpacks full of essentials and food for homeless folks. A little later, Sabrina comes over: She is a fellow of  AZ Trail association. She raises awareness of the AZ trail in the adjacent small towns to make sure the Thru hikers are treated with some dignity, rather than undesirable vagrants.  She also has a business in designing hiking trails on private land. Like a lot of accomplished people down here, she also lives in a Van.

So Max and I are chatting about the new tougher routing of this race. He tells me there is a fraction of what he calls "single speed kids" which are lobbying for these hard hike a bikes to become the official route.  This harder Lemmon push route first became an optional alternative to the  highway climb. Alexandera H. and other singlespeeders choose to take it last year. Then this year it became the only option for the 800 race. John Shillings argument was: If you cant do this, don't even attempt the Grand  Canyon portage thing.

I generally think the argument is valid but I don't see the reason to add this test. There is plenty of hard stuff before the grand canyon. Also, the later you arrive at the south Rim, the colder it can get up there, making the whole thing more dangerous.  And why don't you let them bail at the grand canyon ?

So I have two theories why there is such interest to make this extra hike a bikey: 

1. The single speeders benefit from the hikes: their bikes are quite a bit lighter. An early long hike lets them get ahead. 

2. There is pressure from old course record holders who claim the course gets easier every year.

Now I am back on the trail, happy and fed.  Apache Junction, a suburb of Phoenix before evening is in reach.  Getting a Motel and dinner. Things are looking up. The trail seems to get more ridable for a little.

On  my way to the Motel, I ran into Phillipe again. He comes from a bike shop and is on its way back to the route. Apparently he had a wild ride since we last met, ran out of water in the desert. He was panicking. Then he heard running water close by, but believed he was hallucinating given his distressed state of mind. Turns out he was actually next to the Gila river. 

Then shortly afterwards he ripped his tire and his only tube wasn't working. He managed to get a tube from Johnny, but the had to walk for 6 miles, arriving in the town of Superior at 2am. 

But now he was good spirits, sat on a bag of ice while riding, and had fixed his broken shoes with epoxy glue, since he couldn't find new ones his size.

Leaving Phoenix before sunrise. Got laundry done, had great Mexican dinner, resupplied on snacks, and devices charged. The next stretch was going to be challenging resupply wise. There was a restaurant 30km ahead which I will make it to before it closes 3pm. After that, not much on the map until 100K later. 

So I get to the restaurant 11:30. Great timing. I meet Brad, another American racer who Is just leaving.  "So tell me how is the food here? I ask. he says: " I don't know, I just had a root beer, I got my own food with me".

I go in and have two entrees and 3 Cokes.  I am getting the sense all these racers are severely obsessive compulsive. Just going by their ability to pass on a good meal to gain a few minutes on their competitors.

Speaking of OCD. A day later that day I meet Trevor. He looks like the usual  Dork with all his MTB gear and talks a bit like a robot. Smart and meticulous man I will found out later, since we stay together for a bit.

It was a long day with a night out without dinner and breakfast before I meet Trevor. he passes me on a rocky trail, then I pass him on the gravel. we meet again at Jakes corner the Biker restaurant that I was unsure if it was open or not.  I sat down at his table at this biker Bar and lament how gnarly and steep the last downhill section was. 

He goes: "I love a good downhill. I don't mean to brag but I am an expert downhiller." 

Startled by his bragging, I respond: "What do you mean you by don't mean to brag, you are clearly bragging"

He goes: "I could probably place on the podium In a world cup downhill competition no problem".

Me: "Ok, what's stopping you from doing so then?"

Trevor: "Well, maybe I would place top ten, not podium".

Talented guy I conclude, maybe lacking a little self awareness.

Outside, Miron Golfman rolls up. He is from Alaska. Young and fast, won the Colorado trail race this year.  He tells me he had a rough start. he got heatstroke first day, got nursed back to health by people at Kentucky camp where he spend two days. He hasn't properly eaten since. All three of us decide to ride together to Payson and share a motel room. Miron isn't feeling well at all but I am barely able to keep up with his riding. later in the Hotel I realize how much of a mess he is. He lost his wallet earlier, he forgets his phone at the Safeway where he buys a shit ton of food he ends up not eating since he has indigestion.  I manage to do my laundry and also wash Mirons and Trevors stuff. which they are very thankful for. 

Miron has sponsors, so I ask him what they give him. Travel expenses? (no) Bike? (no)  Salary? (no)

Trevor, meticulous as  he is, leaves at 4 am. I am getting Hotel breakfast at 5 and leave at 6. Miron still lies in his bed groaning.

Which is something I realize. Lots of these dudes are super strong but  aren`t organized, or in tune with what their body needs. The women I meet seem to do overall much better in that regard. But this is a small sample size.

I ride up past Pine, to the Mongolan rim. Eventually Miron flies by me on his Santa cruz blur. At four times my speed. Looks like he is feeling better. He will end up finishing in forth place.

Finally some rideable trail. I see people working on improving it, and thank them profusely.

Unfortunately my legs are dead. Have no energy whatsoever.  I am bummed because it would be fun to ride this fast, so I take two 200 mg caffeine pills to see if I get some strength back. 

Eventually another racer,  named Greg passes me. He says he feels just as tired. we push up a bigger hike a bike up together and chat.  

Being right behind him, I notice that his green pants are completely brown in the chamois region. Not just a small skid mark, but soaked in brown all the way. 

At first I ignore it, but after warming up with him chit chatting,  I say:

"Sorry, but I can`t help noticing a brown tint at the bottom of your pants. Not sure if you aware"

He laughs and says: "What's your name again"?

I change the topic. But later we sit down to have a bite,

and I tell him that I  took 400mg of caffeine earlier and felt nothing from it.

Greg: "Four-zero-zero? you should be the one shitting his pants, not me!

Part three click here