Rigs of the 2022 Pinyons & Pines

Starting and ending in Flagstaff, Arizona, Pinyons and Pines is a self-supported bikepacking race along a route that offers a magnificent tour of Northern Arizona, utilizing a mixture of singletrack, doubletrack, and dirt roads. Although the course changes each year, it’s typically right around 300 miles. The fourth edition of Pinyons and Pines starts at 6 a.m. tomorrow, May 12th, and will be 310 miles with roughly 24,000 feet of climbing.

Flagstaff sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans around the region. The Peaks, which include Humphreys Peak, the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet, have religious significance to numerous Native American tribes. In particular, the Peaks form the Diné (Navajo) sacred mountain of the west, called Dook’o’oosłííd, which means “the summit that never melts.” The Hopi name for the Peaks is Nuva’tukya’ovi, which translates to “place-of-snow-on-the-very-top.”

With help from event organizer Dana Ernst and this year’s riders, we’ve gathered bike and gear details for more than 40 folks who are taking on the route. Scroll through and get a good look at everyone’s rig and then head over to the 2022 Pinyons and Pines event page to follow along live when they launch tomorrow morning.

Andrew Strempke

Age 29 / Vanlife (USA)

BIKE: Chumba Sendero Ti. Singlespeed 32×20. Fox 34 130mm fork. SON dynamo/DT240 hubs and Nox rims. 2.25″ Mezcals. Ergon SMC Core saddle and Wolftooth foam grips with Cane Creek bar ends.
BAGS: All made by me, Dispersed Bikepacking. Also bringing a Dispersed roll top hip pack for some small items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Things that will help me ride through the night: Sinewave Beacon headlight, Fenix PD35 on the helmet, Garmin Edge 1030 Plus for navigation.

Artec Durham

Age 36 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: Kona Hei Hei CR 29er with 120mm travel front and rear. Stan’s CB7 wheels with Maxxis Ikon 2.35 in front and Aspen 2.25 in rear. The drivetrain is SRAM 12-speed with a 32T oval front chainring.
BAGS: The Hei Hei is fitted with a custom direct mount frame bag made by Rogue Panda Designs in my hometown of Flagstaff. If you couldn’t tell, I really like Avocados! For hydration, I will be using the Bismarck Bottle Bucket by Rogue Panda, with an additional bottle on the fork, and a reservoir in the frame bag. Ideally, I’ll have almost everything on the bike.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I just got the new Fenix BC26R bike light with 5000mAh replaceable batteries (I plan to bring 3 batteries), stoked to give this light a try. The supper-long burn time and wide beam were the selling points for me.

Ben Ruffatto

Age: 39 / Bozeman, MT (USA)

BIKE: Strong frames titanium 29er.
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag and seatpost bag. Oveja Negra cockpit bags. Rockgeist harness.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I was able to keep air in my dropper post all week, so I’m hoping that trend continues!

Billy The Kid McMillen

Prescott, AZ (USA)

BIKE: 2020 SS Vassago Optimus Ti (large) on 29 x 2.6″ tires on 29 x 30mm inner width Light Bicycle wheelset with DT Swiss 240s hubs. Drivetrain is Single Speed 32T chainring and 21T cog.
BAGS: Oveja Negra Frame Bag, Mag Tank, Handlebar Harness, Outdoor Research stuff sack. Rogue Panda Jerry Can. Revelate Designs one-off Seatbag, super light/tough originally owned and tested by Kurt Refsnider then owned by Tour Divide winner Chris Seistrup. Water storage 3.5 liters. Three bottles on the frame and one on the front fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Marmot 40 degree ultralight down bag, SOL bivy, Klymit Inertia X Lite pad. Etrex 30 for navigation, Spot Tracker, Fenix TK09 900 lumen headlight, and Black Diamond Storm 350.

Braden Lloyd

Age 45 / Cayucos, CA (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a carbon Santa Cruz Chameleon. Her name is “Brown Cow.” The bike features a 1 x 12 drivetrain with a 28T chainring. We Are One Union wheelset. XT brakes.
BAGS: BIKE BAG DUDE bags with an ARKEL seat bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Nemo sleeping pad. Might be vulnerable to cactus needles but I sleep like a baby! Hammerhead Karoo 2 for navigation.

Creigh Godson

Age 42 / Durango, CO (USA)

BIKE: 2014 Salsa Fargo Ti.
BAGS: Bedrock, JPaks, Defiant, Revelate.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 3L of Monster to keep the kidneys flushed! Water is overrated. Fenix EO5R for the dark nights.

Dan Lambert

Age 51 / Carlsbad, CA (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Pinyons and Pines on a 2019 Salsa Fargo. The bike features Vittoria Mezcal 2.35”/2.25” tires, modified 2×10 drivetrain with a 24T small ring, and Spank Oozy boost thru axle rear wheel.
BAGS: My bike is outfitted with Revelate designs Ranger frame bag, Terrapin 14L seat bag, Jerrycan, x2 Feedbags, Handlebar Harness, and Egress Pocket. I’m set up to carry 7L of water for the long dry stretches.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Da Brim helmet visor that kept me cool during 2021 Stagecoach 400 mid-day Anza Borrego crossing.

Dan Moses

Age 43 / Venice, CA (USA)

BIKE: I’m stoked to be riding “Hayduke too,” an Esker Hayduke party machine sporting an 11-speed SLX/XT (11-46 x 28T) drivetrain, i9 Hydras with alloy rims, newish Rekon 2.4 front, half good enough Ikon 2.35 rear. Ergon grips and a Brooks C-17 seat.
BAGS: Keeping it basic with a homemade front roll, frame bag, and feed bag. Shrew seat bag by Revelate.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Hopefully pretty sorted gear wise: Wahoo Element and iPhone for guidance, helmet-mounted light, warm quilt for bedtime, lots of room for burritos, loads of bad music and good books on tape. Gonna be great!

Daniel Dickason

Age 25 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: 2020 Salsa Cutthroat with 1×11 SRAM Apex drivetrain with a 34t chainring and mechanical disk brakes. I swapped in a 100mm travel Fox 32 up front and a 125mm KS dropper post routed to the left brifter for capability on singletrack. Running 52cm Ritchey bars and 2.2 Maxxis Aspens on a NOBL 1/1 wheelset.
BAGS: In the frame is a bolt-on Rogue Panda half bag and an Adventure Hydration CrankTank4. Most of the other bags are Revelate as that’s what’s easily available at shops around town. I’ll also have a Salomon hydration vest for a bit of extra capacity.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Biggest highlight would be McFly, my rubber ducky that always joins me on the bike. I’ll be sleeping in an OR Helium Bivy with an REI ultralight pad and 40-degree bag.

Dylan Turner

Age 37 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: My trusty steed is a 2018 Motobecane Fantom Ti Boost 29er paired with a Fox Step Cast 34 120mm Fork. I have a Sunrace 11-50T 11-speed cassette that works great with the stock Shimano XT 11-speed derailleur and chain. I’m running mismatched carbon wheels: Stans Valor in the front and Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 in the rear with Maxxis Rekons on both. Cockpit includes KS Lev 100mm dropper, super wide 800mm Renthal Fatbars, and Ergon for the rear and hands.
BAGS: Revelate, Oveja Negra, and JPaks. Gotta share the love.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m able to get my Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 fast fly, sleeping pad, and 28-degree down bag all in a compression sack attached to the front harness. With some other small sacrifices, I was able to remove my larger seat bag and include only a tool wrap in the rear. I love this setup along with a small hydration vest and an Etrex 30 for navigation.

Ezra Ward-Packard

Age 27 / Vanlife/Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I’m racing Pinyons and Pines on a slightly modified version of my 2022 Tour Divide rig. The frame is a 2019 Bombtrack Hook EXT-C with an MRP Baxter 60mm fork. I’ve got Schmidt SON dynamo/DT Swiss 350 hubs laced into HED Belgium G rims. Teravail Rutland 650b x 47c tires. My “secret weapon” is TranzX jump seat dropper post for the singletrack descents. Total mix of Shimano Ultegra and GRX drivetrain. Gearing is 48/31 x 11-40. Zipp Service Course SL handlebars with TT bar set-up. Ebay aluminum stem.
BAGS: Bontrager top tube bag and half frame bag. Modified Revelate Sweet Roll handlebar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system is caffeine gum and podcasts. Light is a Sinewave Cycles Beacon. Kit is all Pearl Izumi. Garmin 530 and Wahoo Bolt (I use whichever one is giving me less trouble on that day). Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor (Type 1 Diabetic) is a Dexcom G6.

Gregg Dunham

Age 43 / Thousand Oaks, CA (USA)

BIKE: Why Cycles El Jefe (METAL!) with a SID fork, Eagle GX AXS, and a short Race Face dropper. I have Ergon grips and SQ Lab Innerbarends for the hands and always the Ergon saddle for the bum. For tires, I’m staying with the Vittoria Mezcal 2.35”.
BAGS: A custom Loam Equipment frame bag with other bags by Rogue Panda, Oveja Negra, and Revelate Designs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m bringing a small mechanical kit, medical kit, lights by Fenix, an emergency bivy, a Montbell Plasma 1000 puffy, two Tubolitos, and 4L of water capacity. I will also have the rain gear on standby for a last-minute addition.

Ian Graham

Age 40 / Santa Paula, CA (USA)

BIKE: 2019 Specialized Stumpjumper. Found my rig on Craigslist and love it. Frame bag, long top tube bag, and 3L downtube bag are made by “Bikebuckets,” which is me. Zebra leather water bottle bag is from a $1 scrap I found at a swap meet. Lyzne bar bag with some modifications and an old La cumbre designs seat bag, also $1. I strap a homemade large lightweight Fanny pack on my bars for extra supplies and wear it for the steep hiking sections. A small gremlin bell a friend made for me hangs above my rear shock to keep the trail monsters away.
BAGS: Top tube for handy items. Frame bag for hamburgers, pecans, and dates. Down tube for water bladder with some shielding from the desert pokies. Seat bag for layering system and trash bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Brooks B17 saddle keeps my ass happy. Ergon large grips are a game changer and I wouldn’t leave home with out them. Maxis ardent 2.4” tires.

Ivan Moore

Age 54 / Bellingham, WA (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2021 specialized Diverge with custom DT Swiss 481 rims with a SON dynamo hub, rolling on Panaracer Gravelking SK+ rubber, powered by a GRX 10-speed drivetrain (11-42 and a 30/46 up front), Woodchipper bars with Profile Design aero bars attached.
BAGS: My bags are from Loam Equipment, based here in Bellingham, with the frame bag being the standout piece, a non-drive-side double zipper with bladder compartment, pump holder, and plenty of room for snacks, also two feed bags and two top tube bags as well as a harness to hold the tail bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Six Moon Design Solo tent will be my shelter, lights are dynamo-powered Supernova E3 pro front and rear. I’ll navigate using a Wahoo ELEMNT roam, and Anker batteries will power everything.

Jacob Miller

Age 33 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: Rolling on a 2018 Rocky Mountain Element. Nox Teocalli wheels, DT 240 hubs, Maxxis Forekaster 2.35 (F) Ikon 2.2 (R), SRAM Eagle drivetrain, Wolf Tooth 30t front chainring, Shimano XT brakes.
BAGS: Topeak top tube bag, Revelate Mountain Feedbags (2), Revelate Shrew seatpost bag. Camelbak Octane for smaller items and extra storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Garmin Edge 530 for navigation. Exposure Joystick/Diablo lighting. Cane Creek Ergo bar ends. Fox Transfer dropper post.

James Willis

Age 46 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding Trigger, my 2015 Niner ROS9. It’s got a Fox suspension fork, Maxxis Minion DHF 2.3s on the front and rear, Ritchey Kyote bars, and is set up single speed with a Raceface 32t in front and a Wolf Tooth 20t in the back.
BAGS: Revelate Magtank on top, Blackburn in the middle. Revelate seat bag on the back. Also going to be sporting my “new” Jandd Mountaineering fanny pack from the mid-90s to carry my many burritos.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Outdoor Research Helium bivy, Marmot Plasma 30 degree with a Therma-Rest NeoAir to keep me warm and comfy here and there. NiteRider Lumina 1200 on the bars to see where I’m going.

Jason Hanson

Age 49 / Florence, AZ (USA)

BIKE: Binary SuperBxc, Maxxis Ardent 2.25, NOX wheels, Lauf fork, SRAM 1×12 with a 28T Wolf Tooth chainring up front.
BAGS: Broadfork frame bag, Revelate Voile seat bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Etrex 30 GPS device.

Jason Marley

Age 43 / Bozeman, MT (USA)

BIKE: Ti Salsa Fargo, I9 torch on the back and SON dynamo up front, FOX step-cast fork, SRAM Eagle 12-speed 10-52, Mezcal 2.25 in back and 2.35 up front.
BAGS: Combination of bags from Bike Bag Dude and Revelate Designs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: BA Fly Creek tent, Western Mountaineering bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite pad, Wahoo Roam, eTrex 30.

Jeff Sowers

Age 53 / Tucson, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2022 Specialized Epic Evo rolling on Control SL wheels wrapped in Maxxis 2.4” Ardent tires. The bike is set up with SRAM 1X12 gearing with a Wolftooth 30T oval up front and Eagle 10-52 out back. Contact points consist of an Ergon SM Pro saddle, Ergon GA3 grips, and Crankbrothers Candy pedals.
BAGS: I have a combination of bags from Rockgeist and Revelate with some Voile straps keeping things secure. I’m using my well-used BarJam Harness, Gondola Dropper Saddlebag, and Cache Top Tube Bag from Rockgeist. The Frame Bag, Saltyroll, Polecat drybag, Feedbag, and Jerrycan are from Revelate. Extra water is carried in bottles and mounted to the fork tube via Tainfin SFM. Finally, water duties will be covered by my Camelbak Skyline LR 10 carrying 3L of water and an MSR AutoFlow Gravity Filter.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Primary navigation duties will be handled by my trusty Wahoo Elemnt, and lighting is provided by my Gloworm X2 on the bars and X1 mounted to my helmet. My sleep system consists of an OR Helium Bivy, Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag, and sleeping pad all “Swiss rolled” into my Saltyroll.

Jennifer Hanson

Age 55 / Florence, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding a 2019 Salsa Spearfish. I have Maxxis Ardent 2.4 up front and 2.25 behind on NOX wheels with Industry nine hydra hubs. SRAM AXS with a 28 tooth chainring up front.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag, top tube, gas can and down tube bags. Revelate Pronghorn handlebar bag and seat bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Enlightened Equipment quilt.

Jesse Boudart

Age 36 / Oakland, CA (USA)

BIKE: My rig is a Breadwinner Komorebi, which hopefully will survive the brutal freeze-thaw cycles of Flagstaff’s wilderness. The amount of clothes necessary to survive should at least insulate the bike!
BAGS: Gear-wise, there’s a bivvy on the outside, three pairs of gloves, puffy top and bottom, and a seven-layer cake of clothes. I’ll have just enough room for all the clothes with the Revelate bags and the Jones pouch, but maybe just short of proper burrito storage.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: With some carbon Wanderlust Astral 27.5” rims and 2.3” Terevail tires and Berthoud saddle, I hope the rigid-ish cushion keeps my body together. Because endurance racing is the most fun when you survive comfortably.

Joe DeSalme

Age 48 / Chino Valley, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Pinyons and Pines on a 2020 Salsa Fargo Ti. DT Swiss 350 hubs front and rear with XM 481 wheels on 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcal rubber to roll on.
It’s Shimano for me, including SLX brakes, XT cranks, derailleur, 1×11 drivetrain (11-42 cassette) with a 32t chainring, pushing down on Spank Oozy pedals. Chris King headset and BB.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Shrew in the rear, dual Feed Bags up front, and Tangle bag in the middle with an Apidura top tube bag. A silnylon dry bag is cradled with the front part of a Sweet Roll bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: ESI extra chunky grips (made right here in Chino Valley) are on the Jones H Bar. A Fenix e35 v3.0 light up front for all-night riding. SOL Escape Bivy coupled with a hooded Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer jacket for that quick sleep. Two Garmin Edge 530s for navigation (one in use and the other recharging).

Joe Mangan

Age 31 / Salt Lake City, UT (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2017 Rocky Mountain Suzi Q-90 RSL. Bike is pictured at full capacity on a desert trip, so it’ll be a bit sleeker during Pinyons & Pines. Carbon frame and fork. SRAM GX drivetrain, Industry 9 wheels with a dynamo up front, 29 x 3.0 Bontrager tires, Brooks Cambium C17 saddle, SDG dropper post (only about an inch or so difference with the saddle bag). Stoked with it because it’s not quite a fatbike and not quite an XC race rig, and the slacker geometry makes descents feel more like my enduro bike.
BAGS: Cranky’s bike shop in Salt Lake has helped me out a ton with my setup. Salsa Anything Cages (including the downtube for tools and a MSR stove), Salsa EXP 7L frame bag, Revelate Terrapin saddlebag – love this guy because there’s a skid plate and a rod securing it to the rails of the saddle locking it into place.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sea to Summit bivy and sleeping pad, REI magma 30° bag, and a trusty flask of Mezcal for when I get cranky.

Josh Chapple

Age 37 / Denver, CO (USA)

BIKE: 29″ medium Myth Talos, 130mm Fox 34, 29 x 2.6 Rekons, 28t oval ring, Pedaling Innovations pedals, Myth handlebars, Spurcycle bell.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Pronghorn Medium, Rockgeist custom framebag, Rockgeist Gondola seat bag, JPaks top tube bag, and JPaks/Revelate water bottle/snack bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, base layers, groundsheet and sleeping bag cover in the handlebar bag. Puffy, rain jacket, and electronics in the seat bag. Can’t wait to fill the rest of the bags with Filiberto’s burritos.

Josh Hicks

Age 29 / Lakewood, CO (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a singlespeed 2019 Salsa Timberjack aluminum frame with 2.6 Maxxis Minion DHR II on the front and 2.6 Rekon on the rear, geared at 32×20. A set of beautiful brand new Black Sheep Bikes titanium handlebars paired with a White Industries MR30 crank and chainring, XT hydraulic brakes, Fox transfer drop and 34 fork, titanium Crank Brothers pedals, and an Ergon saddle/grips with Cane Creek bar.
BAGS: Another brand new custom piece of work is my Dispersed Bikepacking frame bag, Cedaero long distance top tube bag, Revelate Sweetroll, and a pair of Revelate Designs feed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A SOL Escape bivy with an ultralight Sea to Summit pillow, and I’ll have a Garmin Edge 1030 Plus/inReach Mini 2 for navigation and tracking.

Kate Sabo

Age 30 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: El Gordo is a new-to-me Niner ROS9+ with a 120mm Yari boinger sitting on i9 Backcountry 45s laced to Hope Pro hubs with a Bike Yoke dropper and badass Ti bars courtesy of Sean at Oddity Cycles. Equipped with an eccentric bb and geared at 30 x 22 (not because I’m a badass, but because I have absolutely no mechanical skills to deal with a derailleur).
BAGS: A hot mix of Oveja Negra, Broad Fork, Revelate, Rockgeist, and Re-strap allow me all the space I need for salami and two weeks’ worth of dirty underwear.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This bike was an impulse buy (my first singlespeed!) and has quickly become my favorite suffer vessel. It has been modified to fit two bottles in the triangle, an internal dropper, and a Widefoot cargo mount under the down tube. It’s an absolute tank and impossible to not have fun on. Catch me running sweep!

Katie Strempke

Age 29 / Vanlife (USA)

BIKE: Chumba Sendero Singlespeed, 32×20.
BAGS: Dispersed Bikepacking bags made by Andrew in our van!
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Lays barbecue and sour cream and onion potato chips all crushed up into one bag. I’m stoked that there are more women signed up this year! Go pink dots!

Lawrence Dennis

Age 52 / San Antonio, TX (USA)

BIKE: Kona Hozo DL, single speed (32×20 gears), for this race I’m sporting Maxxis Aggressor up front and Ardent Race in the rear, Stans Flow rear wheel and hub. And Crush Core front and rear.
BAGS: A mix of Moosetreks frame and feed bag, REI jerry can, Toepeak jerry can, Revelate Designs Vole saddle bag. Big Agnes Fly Creek bikepacking tent. Added three water bottle cages to the downtube and fork. Running without the back pack this time.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Food, water filter, and electronic doodads stuffed in the frame bag. Tools in one jerry can, food in the other. Quilt, tarp, pillow, and jacket/clothes stuffed in the saddle bag. Garmin 830 for navigation, Niterider front and rear lights. Extra Lexyne headlight for backup. Aftershokz headphones for in flight entertainment.

Mason Tuttle

Age 47 / Bozeman, MT (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2015 Kona Unit with Sid fork. Modifications for this ride include a Shimano XT 1×11 drivetrain, Maxxis Recon Race 29 x 2.35 tires and a Jones H-Bar.
BAGS: I’ll have an assortment of Revelate Designs bags: Terrapin seat bag, Jerrycan, Gas Tank, Feedbags, Sweetroll, and a standard Ranger frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep gear includes an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad and Vesper quilt. Garmin eTrex for navigation and plenty of music for motivation.

Matt Bowe

Age 40 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: 2021 Salsa Cutthroat built up with pandemic-available parts. SRAM AXS, 36T chainring and a 10-50 cassette. We Are One Composites Revive / Industry 9 Hydra wheelset with Maxxis Icon / Forekaster tires. Cush Core in back. PNW cockpit and Coast suspension dropper post provides a little squish.
BAGS: The Rogue Panda bags live on this bike all the time. For P&P, I added some Oveja Negra storage on the top tube and bars, and a Rockgeist Gondola bag behind the seat.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Safety green ultra running vest. Garmin eTrex 20x. Credit card. Some closed cell foam, and an SOL bivy.

Matt Porembski

Age 39 / Mesa, AZ (USA)

BIKE: 2019 Trek Stache 9.7. Stock aside form a carbon wheel set featuring a SON dynamo hub up front and an XTR race brake set. In addition I’ve fitted a 9point8 Slack-R headset kit, which reduces my head angle by 1.5 degrees. I also run a Brooks Swift leather saddle. Finally, the combo of my seat height and 29+ wheels means I don’t run a dropper when I bikepack.
BAGS: An old school Revelate seat bag (circa 2010), along with Rogue Panda frame bag and gas tank. I’ll also wear a backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For camp I’ll carry a Mountain Laurel Designs Grace Solo cuben fiber tarp, MSR Neo Air pad, and a Western Mountaineering HighLite bag.

Matthew Turner

Age 26 / Park City, UT (USA)

BIKE: Chumba Titanium Stella with SRAM GX drivetrain, Fox 120 34 stepcast fork, and Vittoria Mezcal 2.25 tires.
BAGS: Broadfork Frame Bag with Revelate shrew saddle bag, Revelate XL top tube bag, and Oveja Negra chuck bucket.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An emergency bivy along with my Big Agnes 40 degree bag and Columbia down jacket makes up my sleep system. Lighting will consist of a Sinewave Beacon and headlamp.

Meg Knobel

Age 37 / San Diego, CA (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my small 2022 Santa Cruz Blur CC, set up pretty much the same as it was for Stagecoach. I have a 2.35 Maxxis Ardent Race front tire, 2.35 Ikon rear, on Light Bicycle Wheels enduro rims with I-9 hubs. Salsa 17 degree bend bars, and Ergon GP2 grips. No aero bars for Pinyons. Changed down to a 30t wolftooth chainring in the front for some extra climby.
BAGS: The Rockgeist custom framebag has been great, providing almost the same capacity as I had on my hardtail, and the Speedgoat front roll is just thin enough it doesn’t hit my front tire. Everything else is Revelate: a couple cup holders, feedbag, and shrew seat bag (I get about 2″ of dropper use with this). I also use an Osprey Salida 12 hydration pack with a 2.5L bladder, and a liter bottle up front. I have up to ~4.5+L water carrying potential depending how the weather and all is looking.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m bringing a Sea to Summit UL pad, Big Agnes UL synthetic 40 degree bag, and a cheap mylar emergency bag to use as a liner, that can double as some light rain protection outside the bag if needed. If the weather looks bad, I might add a tarp. I have a Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt, and Fenix flashlights on TwoFish mounts on the handlebars and helmet.

Mike Chapman

Age 49 / Santa Fe, NM (USA)

BIKE: Surly Karate Monkey 29” wheels, Shimano 12 speed SLX, Custom rear rack by O’Leary Built Bicycles, PNW Dropper Post!
BAGS: Revelate Frame bag and feed bags, Tribulus Limited Handlebar Bag, Ovega Negra top-tube bags.

Perry Jewett

Age 50 / Spearfish, SD (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Salsa Spearfish on the Pinyons to Pines route starting with the grand depart. I have a 28 front oval ring and an Eagle 10-52 cassette, always nice when the going gets tough. The tires are Maxis Ikon 2.35 on some Kandy Bike built wheels with Onyx Hubs.
BAGS: The Frame bag is a custom from my niece at Dirtbags Bikepacking and fits like a glove. Handlebar bag is a Revelate Sweetroll, seat bag is their Terrapin 8L and the top tube bag is a revelate as well. The downtube bag is a rogue panda. I’ll also be carrying a Camelbak with 100 oz. bladder and room for extra food or overflow.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My trusty 10 year old Etrex will be my navigation tool. My sleep kit is a Mountain Laurel bivy, Western Mountaineering 35F HighLite down bag, and a 3/4 NeoAir pad. I’ll use a combination of Endurelite Products, Hammer Gels, real food, and gas station burritos to fuel my ride.

Richard Jara

Age 27 / USA

BIKE: Freshly squeezed Pivot Les 29″ hardtail frame I built up with Whisky components, No.9 Mtn Boost Fork, hand laced No. 9 30W Rims with Dt Swiss 240 hubs and competition j-bend spokes. Mixed Sram Eagle XX1 and X01 drivetrain paired with Sram Lvl Ult. Brakes.
BAGS: Oveja Negra bags all day, including their gearjammer seat bag, chuckbucket handlebar bag, and wack pack bodega full-frame bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SOL escape bivvy, Garmin Etrex 30, Big Agnes Zetto Jacket.

Richard Meyers

Age 55 / Scottsdale, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Pinyon and Pines on a 2018 RocaRoja Grava Ti(Flat Tire Bike house brand). Enve Adventure Fork. Salsa Cowbell drop bar. Redshift Shockstop stem. The bike features a set of I9 gravel wheels with gravel king sk+700x 45’s. Shimano components with a mix of Ultegra and GRX, a 2×11 drivetrain with a 50x 34T, 11×42 rear.
BAGS: Most of the bags are Revelate, Pronghorn for the drop bar,tangle bike frame bag ,Terrapin system seat pack and mountain feedbag. Rogue Panda for top tube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack Ten Anker powerbank 1lb brick to charge Garmin InReach and Lezyne 1600xxl. I’ll also be carrying a Hammerhead Karoo2 for navigation. Aegis Light weights sleep bag, matt and a pillow.

Sarah Higgins

Age 23 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing my 2022 Stumpjumper. I’m running a 2.4 Maxxis Ardent in the front and a 2.35 Maxxis Ikon with a Tannus insert in the rear, Roval Traverse carbon wheels, Sram XO1 AXS drivetrain, and XT 4-piston brakes. A Specialized power saddle, Ergon grips, and XT pedals round out my contact points.
BAGS: Bags include a Revelate Designs sweetroll, my trusty Rogue Panda dino top tube bag, and Salsa cages/bags mounted to the fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using my Camelbak Chase vest for hydration, Wahoo Elmnt Bolt for navigation, airpods with Cardi B blasting out of them, and Fenix PD35 for lights (thank you Leigh Bowe!!). I’m planning on using a 20 degree sleeping bag paired with my Thermarest NeoAir pad for my sleep system (weather pending, of course).

Scott Heinsius

Age 37 / Flagstaff, AZ (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding a Moustache Cycles custom bike with 29″ wheels, it has a medium length wheelbase and likes to ride it all. The bike has a custom Dt Swiss 240EXP/XM481 wheelset with Maxxis tires, Rekon 2.6 rear and Assegai 2.5 front, a battered SRAM X01 Eagle Drivetrain, Shimano XTR 4 piston brakes, and a RockShox Pike Ultimate.
BAGS: Rogue Panda has supplied the frame bag, handlebar bag and the top tube bag. I have got a Revelate saddlebag and handlebar roll cinch bag with a pocket which is great for snacks and stuff, some Revelate bottle bags will also be rigged up.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An Enlightened Equipment quilt and a Therma Rest Neoair inflatable pad will be my sleeping setup. I will not bring a shelter as the weather seems clear and I will be navigating with my phone.

Spencer Holmes

Age 33 / Chico, CA (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be rolling on a 2017 Norco Optic C9.2 29er with a Maxxis Forekaster 2.35” in the front and an Ikon 2.35” in the rear. I had a new wheelset built up with We are One Faction rims, a White Industries XMR Boost rear hub and a SON dynamo hub up front. The drivetrain is a Shimano XT 2×11 and the saddle is a Brooks C17.
BAGS: Rockgeist Gondola 4 liter seat pack and Swami handlebar harness with an 8 liter Sea to Summit drybag, Revelate Designs Mag Tank and Jerry Can on the top-tube, Carsick Designs Goodie Bags, and a Rad Works custom framebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using a kLite Dynamo system for keeping the path in front of me lit while on the move. My Shelter and sleep kit includes a Western Mountaineering Highlite sleeping bag, a Nemo Tensor sleeping pad and, a Nemo Spike Storm tent. For navigation, I’ll be using a Garmin Oregon 450 and my phone with the route loaded up on Ride With GPS as a backup.

Dana would like to thank Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution, Squirrel’s Nut Butter, and Pizzicletta for their support. You can learn more about the event at DanaErnst.com.

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