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Thread: TR: Coconino 250
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10-15-2015, 04:17 PM #1
TR: Coconino 250
The Coco 250 is a self-supported bikepacking stage race through northern AZ. The format is pretty sweet, start each stage whenever you feel like and when you reach the stopping point of the day your timer stops. It allows for a much more social and relaxing vibe to other bikepacking events where you typically don't see anyone else and tend to push some really long days.
The ride starts with a bite to eat at a breakfast spot in Flagstaff and then people roll out to the AZ Trail when they feel like it. This was my only major navigational error of the route, I went to the other location of the restaurant, whoops! I made my way out of Flag and onto the AZT about 8:30
A cool, old railroad grade made from volcanic rock
The first stage stop was off the Hot Loop above Sedona. A pretty casual 50 or so miles into the day meant we had plenty of time to kick it and bullshit for a while. The whiskey and beer that I hauled up was a mighty tasty way to enjoy the sunset
The nice thing about the sun setting at 6 is it meant everyone was a in bed nice and early. Waking up at 4:30 is easy when you sleep for 8 hours. The morning started off with a proper shred down to town on Munds Wagon Trail, 6ish miles of techy descending down to coffee and breaky.
I was riding with this dude, Justin from Tuscon for a bit in the morning, cool to have some company for a while. Sedona singletrack kept me smiling all morning. Nobody on the white line
Taboot!
After the chunk and flow of Sedona came Limekiln Trail traversing over to the town of Cottonwood. I thought it was pretty cool, others tend to disagree. The last couple of miles leading into town were ledgy, drifty goodness
The high point to the left is Mingus Mountain, the stop for stage 2. It sits conveniently atop a 4 hour/4k ft climb, mostly HAB. Mingus is the crux of the route. With day 2 only being about 50 miles, the shortest of the 4 days, it was the longest in terms of hours and effort. There is no water at the top and none until 30 miles into the 3rd day. There also aren't any resupply points on day 3 so loading up in Cottonwood is it. Luckily there's a bbq joint and gas station for snacks just before the big climb. I started slowly climbing into the heat of the day around 1pm; belly full of pulled pork and a massive(heavy) burger in my pack for dinner that night, 6 liters of water capacity filled to the brim.
From the top, you can see Cottonwood way down there and the cliffs of Sedona out in the distance.
Day 3 started with an absolutely ripping descent off the backside of Mingus. So. Damn. Fun. 6 or 8 miles of sunrise swooping. What followed was not exactly my cup of tea, 50+ miles of dirt roads and 4x4 track. I like mountain biking a lot. I prefer to ride singletrack, when I'm not doing these events that's all I ride. Doubletrack is just a necessary evil to link together the good singletrack sections so I zone out and get it over with.
Here is a view looking out to Bill Williams Mountain and the end of stage 3. Ride a shit ton of road, HAB to the top of the mountain and then have a splendid old school, steep tech descent off the back. It was worth it, I forgot about all the road riding and giggled my way down, cleaning all sorts of shit that I shouldn't have.
The end of stage 3 is the town of Williams, a touristy RT66 spot with restaurants and motels. I killed some time eating ice cream and drinking at the brewery and split a room with Justin when he rolled in. Pretty sweet to get a shower and drink some beers that night.
Rolling out on the last day after a nice breakfast in town. Stage 4 was pretty casual for being 65 miles; some forest road, singletrack, more forest road, then more Flagstaff singletrack to finish 'er off.
Sycamore Rim trail was fun. Techy singletrack with cool views
Just about to rejoin the AZT for another ripper descent
15ish miles of downhill to wrap things up in a nice litte bow, good shit!
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10-15-2015, 09:20 PM #2
Good work! That's not an easy ride, not that I have ever done it but I can imagine! I do ride that section of the AZT quite a bit. That's some good Flag riding right there!
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10-16-2015, 10:17 AM #3
Nice work!
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10-16-2015, 11:39 AM #4Registered User
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Posts
- 472
That's a really awesome format for the race. Kinda wish the Colorado Trail race did that.
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10-16-2015, 03:18 PM #5
Great report! Awesome you finished each day before dark.
When I did it we didn't get going early enough each day for that to happen. It was pretty exciting though following a skunk that wouldn't get off the trail down the Bill Williams descent in the dark!
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10-16-2015, 04:51 PM #6
Super awesome!
No. AZ sure is a nice place to ride bikes. I'm glad to live here!
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