Rigs of the 2025 Pinyons and Pines

For many, Pinyons and Pines unofficially kicks off the bikepacking season in Northern Arizona, marking the beginning of warmer temperatures and mostly snow-free passes. Unlike most events, the Pinyons and Pines route changes each year, so although riders aren’t chasing records, there’s always a solid crew pushing the pace, and the route is normally around 300 miles. Last year, Jesse Reeves finished in first place with a time of just 1 day and 14 hours, and in 2023, Andrew Strempke finished in first place in 1 day and 11 hours, and he did it on a singlespeed!

The 2025 Pinyons and Pines route is 340 miles long with 30,000 feet of climbing. It’s a scenic tour of Northern Arizona, utilizing a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, and dirt roads, starting and finishing at Flagstaff Bicycle Revolution. This year’s route consists of a southern loop that takes in some of Sedona’s finest singletrack and a northern loop that winds its way past several extinct volcanoes. There are also two mandatory out-and-backs to summits, adding an interesting twist. Riders can choose between solo or duo (2-person team) categories.

The 2025 grand depart starts tomorrow morning at 6 a.m., and once again, we worked with organizers Dana Ernst and Dylan Turner and the participants to gather details for over 40 race rigs, featuring bike, bag, and gear highlights for each. Scroll through the submissions below, and then head over to the event page tomorrow morning to follow their progress live. But first, an introduction to this year’s event from Dana.

• 
• 

The 2025 Pinyons and Pines

Words by Dana Ernst

Pinyons and Pines has a reputation for bad weather. We’ve seen snow storms, massive rains, and intense wind, but the current weather forecast looks favorable. Hopefully, I didn’t just jinx us! We have roughly 70 riders expected to start Thursday morning. There are quite a few heavy hitters on the start list, too. A handful of names to keep an eye on are Abe Kaufman, Ezra Ward-Packard, Gregg Dunham, Holly Hovious, Jeff Kerkove, Karin Pocock, Leigh Bowe, Matt Annabel, Quinn Travis, and Stephen Scherle. There are also three teenagers lining up: Cruz Blue (age 16), McKenna, Marino (age 16), and Nixon Twomey (age 17). Our elder statesmen are Paul Kuzdas (age 67) and George Hollerbach (age 69). Moreover, we have eight women and two non-binary folks lining up. We are proud of these numbers, but there is room for improvement. More is better. Ladies and non-binary folks: we would love to have you participate in next year’s edition of P&P! Come join us.

Flagstaff sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region. The Peaks, which includes Humphreys Peak (12,633 feet), the highest point in Arizona, have religious significance to several 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.” This year’s course traverses the ancestral homelands of the Hopi, Ndee/Nnēē (Western Apache), Yavapai, A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo), and Diné (Navajo). We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.

Chad Ament

Age 38 / Durango, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: XL Specialized Epic. Shimano 9-45T cassette. RockShox SID suspension, SRAM Motive brakes. Ergon bar end grips and chopped down aero bars.
BAGS: JPaks custom frame bag and Large Farva top tube bag. Oveja Negra stem bags holding a Nalgene each. Revelate Designs Joey holding an XL Nalgene under the downtube and a Revelate Shrew holding rain gear under the saddle, though maybe I’ll take that off. There’s a Goodday Spacer cradle under the stem holding a tent and sleeping bag securely.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m bringing two things I’ve never taken on a bikepacking race before; a full tent (Big Agnes FC1) and a dedicated camera (Fuji X100F). I’m looking to sleep 4-ish hours a night, and stop to take photos. I’m content with any finish before Saturday midnight.

Matt Annabel

Age 50 / Fruita, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding ‘Badger’, my patched-up singlespeed WhyCycles V1 Wayward. It’s our first race together since I broke the frame in the 2023 Arizona Trail Race. Badger’s got a 120mm stepcast fork up front with some superlight I9 wheels and 2.25″ Mezcal rubber. I’ve never run a rig this light in an ultra. We’re gonna big gear it… 34x20T.
BAGS: Front roll and toptube bag by Dispersed Bikepacking. Custom frame bag by Rockgeist. Feed bags by Revelate Designs. I’ll be wearing a lightly loaded 20L Ultimate Direction Fastpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Hmmm…not much gear. No sleep kit. Definitely not a derailleur hanger. Maybe a little Golden Light?

Jimmy Awad

Age 34 / Salt Lake City, Utah (USA)

BIKE: ‘19 S-Works Epic with XO AXS drivetrain with a 32T oval chainring. Hydra hubs laced to we are one faction rims. Reckon Race 2.4″ tires. 34 step cast factory fork at 120mm that’s in dire need of a service. Profile aero bars for a change of position.
BAGS: Salsa frame bag, Specialized holster with whatever dry bag I can get to stay. Some Chrome feed bags for snacks and hydration.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Going a bit minimal with sleep setup, sleeping pad and emergency bivy with down pants and jacket. COROS Dura for navigation. Olympus XA2 film camera for documentary on the scenery and suffering.

Angela Baker

Age 52 / Skyforest, California (USA)

BIKE: 2015 Salsa El Mariachi hardtail 29er. I call her “Chi-Chi.”
BAGS: Mix and match Ortlieb, Revelate Designs, and random thrifted items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I mean, it’s a 20-year-old bike that I picked up for $400. That’s my favorite part! Kickin’ it old school, steel is real!

Forrest Bandor

Age 30 / Fort Wayne, Indiana (USA)

BIKE: I will be racing my Scott Spark RC Team Issue with Zipp 1 Zero Hitop wheels wrapped in 2.4″ Continental Dubnitals. I will be using Eagle transmission with a 34T chainring for my drivetrain.
BAGS: I will be rocking custom made bags from Suffer-Stoke Gear, these include frame bag and twin feed bags. I will also be using a full length top tub bag from restrap, a Tailfin AeroPack, and for added water capacity I will be wearing a USWE hydration pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be using a Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation, and an Exposure Maxx-D MK16 and Diablo to light up the trails at night.

Brandon Bettes

Age 45 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Pinyons and Pines 2025 endurance race on my 2024 single speed Esker Japhy named “Louie duh Japhy”. The bike features Maxxis Rekon 2.6” tires, a 32Tx20 single speed drivetrain, WTB wheelset, Shimano Deore Crankset and BB, Shimano disc brakes and lever set, Surly Sunrise handlebars with a Thomson BMX gooseneck and Brooks C17 slotted saddle. Up front on the forks I will be cushioned by the Marzocchi Bomber Z2s.
BAGS: The majority of my bag setup is all from Pack2Ride.com (P2R) which includes the Joyride wedge frame bag (so perfect for the Japhy frame), P2R Inova Light saddle bag, P2R Top Rock top tube bag, P2R Bongo stem bags for food and water bottle carry, the P2R Dusty Cage mounted on the bottom of the frame for a 48 oz Nalgene water bottle and my Aeroe Spider handlebar cradle along with Aeroe’s 8L dry bag to carry my sleeping bag and clothes. Between the bags and the bottle mount I will be able to carry a minimum 3.5L of water on the bike.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For the little sleep I plan to get I will be using my Outdoor Research Helium bivy to serve as my shelter along with my light down Marmot Never Winter 650 fill bag and will be padded with my trusty old REI air mattress. I’ll be carrying a Bryton Rider computer on the bike for navigation and Nightrider lamps for when riding at night.

Nick Bierman

Age 27 / American Fork, Utah (USA)

BIKE: My first event on my new Revel El Jefe. 32T Chainring, 2.4″ Maxxis Rekons, Profile designs aero bars, Ergon GT1 grips (big boys).
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag, Mag tank top tube bag, Old Man Mountain rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big fan of my Restrap aero bar bag, making my aero bars non-aero.

Oliver Bingham

Age 31 / Ogden, Utah (USA)

BIKE: Santa Cruz Blur TR in the toxic waste green. Running the new mechanical transmission with a 34t chainring. (I’ll probably regret it later) Reserve wheels with 2.4 Recon tires.
BAGS: Bags are all Revelate Designs, Voile straps, and the CamelBak Chase.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gear highlights are easily my little inner bar ends for added hand positions. Navigation will be with a Garmin Edge 840 solar and a 540 for backup. And can’t forget my Sony RX100 to get pics of the dope environment of the desert.

Cruz Blue

Age 16 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: IBIS DV9 with pink cable housing (updated from the photo) new cassette and chain!
BAGS: Salsa EXP cages on the front of my bike, connected via the Tailfin Fox 34 mounts. Dispersed Bikepacking top tube bag DANA edition, with side pockets and a velcro strap for expansion or not. Super cool, custom frame bag from Rogue Panda. Gear jammer seat pack by Oveja Negra, with a quiver for my sleep kit.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Dispersed Bags given to me from Dylan, backpack from Mr. Kruger. Custom laminated POI sheet by my Mum.

Dave Cavaletto

Age 37 / Boise, Idaho (USA)

BIKE: I’m riding a 2023 Specialized Epic Evo. Recon Race 2.4″ on the rear and Ground Control 2.4″ on the front. Mix of Fox 34 fork and RockShox rear shock. SRAM X01 drivetrain with Nobl 37 Wheels. Ergon contact points and Profile Design Aero bars make for all day comfort while in the saddle.
BAGS: An eclectic mix of Bedrock (frame, tank, downtube), DIY (roll top handlebar), REI (rear tank), Wolf Tooth (seat bag), Apidura (feedbag), Rogue Panda (feedbag), and USWE (backpack) hold all my gear, food, and water.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MLD bivy with 40° Enlightened Equipment quilt supplemented by a down jacket, pants, and booties. All that on a Nemo Tensor pad keeps me very warm. Fenix lighting to keep me going through the night and Garmin Edge 1040 to keep me on trail.

Mike Chapman

Age 52 / Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Why El Jefe.
BAGS: Draped with a mix of Revelate Designs, Oveja Negra, and JPaks bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Surely I’m packing too much stuff, but I hope to sleep comfortably at night with a full sleep kit of quilt, air mattress, bivy, and two pillows (I’m old and I’m a side sleeper and I need something between my legs. I’ll bring a tarp as well if rain looks likely. I’ll be packing plenty of clothes and other essentials like tools, first aid, and electronics, and should still have plenty of room for the snacks. 4+ liters of water capacity with the hydration vest.

Graham Christensen

Age 52 / Coeur d Alene, Idaho (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2024 Scott Spark ST 900 with a Vittoria Mezcal/Peyote 2.4″ tire combo. All components are mostly stock with a Pike 140mm, SRAM X01 AXS drivetrain, XTR Brakes and Syncros wheelset. I’ve added the Rogue Panda Bamboo Shoots for extra hand positions and a Fizik Vento Argo R3 saddle that is a bit more comfortable for that many hours in the saddle.
BAGS: I’m using the Rapha front harness and OMM Axle Pack with Salsa Anything Cages and dry bags for most of my gear. I’ve got various smaller bags for gear as well.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Big Agnes Pluton bag and Cooper Spur Tent for sleeping. Garmin 1040 for Navigation and Fenix BC30 if it gets dark.

Gregg Dunham

Age 46 / Thousand Oaks, California (USA)

BIKE: My faithful “Blue Squish” bike.
BAGS: I’m running a mix of bags from Dispersed Bikepacking, Rogue Panda Designs, Roadrunner Bags, Revelate Designs, and Hilltop Packs.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve opted for the full squish bike outfitted with 2.25″ tires along with mini aero bars from Ritchey to provide comfort on the mix of singletrack and gravel roads. Lights from Fenix with some extra batteries to get me through the spooky hours.

Kris Estes

Age 51 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding (not racing) the Pinyons and Pines on a 2018 Trek Stache. The bike features a new pair of Maxxis Recon 2.8” tires, 1×10 drivetrain with a 34T chainring, and Spank Oozy 395 wheels and hubs. Jones loop H-bar and grips along with Rockiest Loop Bar Harness and an Old Man Mountain rear rack and dropper post and Ergon SMC4 saddle.
BAGS: I am running a Happy Jack Snack Sack and Bismarck Bottle Bucket feed bags on the front made by Flagstaff’s own Rouge Panda. Revelate Designs frame bag, top tube Mag Tank and micro panniers along with a Rockgeist Armadillo Dry Bag Protector for the rear rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 will serve as my shelter along with a Mountain Hardware sleeping bag and Sea To Summit UL Air Mat. I’ll also be carrying a Garmin Bolt for navigation.

Stephen Fitzgerald

Age 46 / Denver, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’m taking the Rodeo Labs Show Pony prototype 3.0 hardtail MTB to Pinyons, where I will be fighting the urge to ride non stop, but also fighting the urge stop and take tons of naps. Components / Bags: FSA F-Force bar / SGX Loop aero bars. GX Transmission drivetrain. 34T x 10-52. I’m taking our 3.0 gravel rims on prototype boost hubs just to be as mean as possible to the rims. Tires are 29 x 2.4″ Vittoria Peyote. I’m using a Wove saddle because I can move around a lot on it.
BAGS: Tailfin top tube bag and frame pack. Wayward Riders seat pack sling with Sea To Summit stuff sacks fore and aft. Trying to go as light as possible without selling myself short if I need to bed down. Two bottles on frame. Hydration pack on back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Weather looks pretty decent, so I’m all about having thin layers to add and subtract with puffy things for the nighttime chill. I was going to run flat bars because this is such an MTB course, but I swapped to drops last minute so I would have more positions for my hands to move around. Garmin InReach for tracking. Old busted Wahoo for nav, so I’ll probably stray into the wilderness and get super lost.

Mike O’Hara

Age 38 / Santa Monica, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the P&P on a Fezzari Solitude with a Rockshox Recon Fork. The bike features Maxxis Ardent Race 2.25” tires, SRAM GX Transmission, and Industry Nine Hydra Trail S wheels.
BAGS: Main bags are the custom Bedrock Bags frame bag and Tailfin Aeropack. Accompanying these are the Revelate Designs Gas Tank top tube bag, Jerrycan, and Mountain feedbags, plus a Bedrock Bags 1L Nalgene holder on the downtube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Sol Escape Lite bivy will be my shelter (so long as the weather holds) along with a Feathered Friends sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. For navigation, I have the Garmin Edge 540 and my Fenix 7 watch (as a backup). Trails will be illuminated by my Exposure Lights Toro MK15 light.

George Hollerbach

Age 69 / USA

BIKE: Esker George Washington Hayduke Titanium Single Speed, 30x20T, Maxxis Rekons 29 x 2.6″.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag, Broadfork top tube bag, and a few Revelate Designs goodies too. An Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack to carry sleeping gear and extra water.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Enlightened Equipment quilt, an old OR Helium bivy, and a new Coros Dura for navigation.

Julie Kanagy

Age 52 / Felton, California (USA)

BIKE: ‘22 Specialized Epic Evo, Fox suspension, and Santa Cruz Reserve wheels (supporting the locals).
BAGS: Revelate Designs Pronghorn and Rockgeist feed bags on the bars, Bedrock bags on frame and top tube, Oveja Negra on the rear top tube, and Rogue Panda tool bag on down tube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Small frame + full sus + dropper post = backpack. (Hyperlite Mtn Gear Elevate 22). Also, the King Cage titanium bottle cages and USB mounts on the fork lowers are helpful. There is a 600mL titanium pot, fuel can, and tiny BRS stove in the frame bag. Sleeping in my old trusty Borah bivy, or Zpacks Plex Solo tent (fits in the Pronghorn) if rainy.

Abe Kaufman

Age 42 / Harrisonburg, Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Trek Supercaliber with a Fox 34 SC 120mm fork, 1×12 SRAM AXS Transmission drivetrain with a 32T chainring and 10-52T cassette. The cockpit features Ergon grips and some inner bar ends wrapped with bar tape that can be used to give the hands a rest if there happen to be any smooth sections of the route. Contact points are rounded out with Shimano XTR pedals and a comfy Ergon saddle. Tires are the new 29 x 2.4″ Continental Dubnitals with the trail casing and an insert in the rear for a little extra security measure.
BAGS: The bike has a Rockgeist frame bag with warm clothes and spares, Tailfin top tube bag with electronics and snacks, and two feed bags for an extra bottle and even more snacks. I’ll also be wearing a USWE vest with a 2.5L bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Fenix lights with two Nitecore power banks to keep all of my electronics charged for riding through the night.

Jeff Kerkove

Age 47 / Buena Vista, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: The Canyon Lux Trail CF, featuring a 120mm FOX Factory 34SL fork, promises an exciting experience at the 2025 Pinyons and Pines. Efficient, durable, and lightweight, this setup has proven capable of tackling diverse high-desert conditions. Contact points remain comfortable thanks to the Ergon GS1 Evo grips and the SM Men saddle. Additional highlights include Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.4″ tires, DT Swiss XMC carbon wheels, Shimano XT/XTR 1×12 components, and the Garmin eTrex 32x for navigation.
BAGS: All bags are from Topeak. I’ll also wear a Salomon hydration vest with ample room for water and snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The lights consist of a combination of rechargeable Fenix products. Clothing items include Sportful warm gloves, Sportful arm and knee warmers, a Buff, and a Mountain Hardwear down jacket. Other items are the Limar Air Stratos helmet, Pearl Izumi X-Alp shoes, a medical/self-care kit, a bike repair kit, iPhone, credit card, cash, and an emergency bivvy. Wet weather clothing will be added if the forecast calls for it.

Paul Kuzdas

Age 67 / Phoenix, Ariozna (USA)

BIKE: 2020 Santa Cruz Tallboy CC 4 named Bumble Bee, which transformed well into a bikepacking rig. RockShox Pike Select+130mm and rear Fox Float DPS 120mm. SRAM XO1 1×12 with 32T chainring, Sella Anatomica saddle, and Vittoria Mezcal Trail 2.35″ tires.
BAGS: Custom-made Rouge Panda frame and full top tube bags. Rockgeist Honeypot feedbags and a small Bedrock handlebar bag. Sea to Summit Big River Dry bag (13L) strapped on the Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Stoked my Apidura 3L frame bag bladder fits perfectly. Knox front wheel laced to a Son Dynamo from my Chumba hard tail, although based on the route and how slow I ride, it may not generate much power. Sleep kit includes a Fly Creek HV1 tent, Therm-a-Rest pad, and Enlightened Equipment quilt. kLite Ultra v2 and Fenix HM62-T headlamp for lighting. Navigating with a Garmin Edge 530 and eTrex 30x for back up.

Tom Kvilhaug

Age 30 / Edwards, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Specialized Chisel FS.
BAGS: Tailfin Toptube and downtube bag, homemade frame bag, 5L drybag in Goodday Spacer Cradle, Rhythmus hydration pack on body.

Adam Lovill

Age 41 / Phoenix, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Phoenix‑built Vassago Mooseknuckle Ti as a 32×22T singlespeed. It’s fitted with Industry Nine wheels, Maxxis Rekon tires, and a Fox 34 StepCast fork.
BAGS: I’ll use a custom Dispersed frame bag, a mix of Oveja Negra, Rogue Panda and UltraLite bags, and wear an 8L USWE backpack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleeping setup is an EE 40°F quilt in an OR Helium Bivy on a Sea to Summit Ether Light pad. I carry up to 6 L of water for the longest stretches, run an Outbound Hangover headlight after dark, and pack plenty of ibuprofen.

Gordon MacMillan

Age 40 / Boulder, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: 2022 Santa Cruz Blur TR. Running a Rekon for the front. Decided on an ikon last minute for the rear hence the non matchy. XT/XTR components. Code brakes Wheelset handbuilt by C3 in Golden using Light bike rims w/ DT hubs. Reserve stems and 4oz of sealant each.
BAGS: For bags I have JPaks FramePak and Footlong EXT SnakPak. Revelate Designs pronghorn front bag. Rockgeist honeypots for bottles. Dispersed dropper seat bag on the saddle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For electronics I’m rocking the Fenix HM65R-T headlamp, Fenix bc26r head light and a Garmin eTrex 32x for nav. Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag, Borah bivy, and Nemo pad in the handlebar harness. Cyclite race backpack for a bit extra carrying capacity and water. Pretty excited, I’m going to carry some extra water out there and hopefully sleep some too.

McKenna Marino

Age 16 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Pivot Mach 4 SL equipped with Ergon grips for the long miles and Maxis Rekkon tires (29 x 2.4″) in front and back.
BAGS: I have Rogue Panda bags for the frame, seat, and top tube as well as an Aeroe handlebar bag for gear and REI handlebar bags for water bottles.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Rogue Panda bags are a huge highlight! I will also be using a Garmin Edge 840 to keep me on route and a 20 degree Sierra Designs sleeping bag to stay warm at night. I’ll also have a pocket-sized emergency bivy in case the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Jesse Mogler

Age 37 / Durango, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: 2020 Santa Cruz Highball also known as my flat bar gravel bike. 100mm Fox 32 fork. AXS 1×12 with a 32T chainring on 2.4″ Rekon tires.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag for food, repair gear, and water filter. Jpaks Large Farva for food. Rogue Panda Bismarck bottle bucket for snacks and water. Revelate Joey bag with a piece of the Bedrock Moab kit on the handle bars for layers. Mica Rat Tail rack will be supporting my sleep kit consisting of a quilt, insulated pad and OR bivy sack all wrapped up in an OMM Atlas rack pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll have the four bottles with a bladder/filter in the frame bag giving me up to 4.5L of fluid hauling potential. Currently the plan is to not carry anything on my hips or back.

Ian Nienhueser

Age 49 / Tempe, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a 2017 Pivot Les with a Fox 34 130mm, a 2° slacker headset, a flat bar and aero bars. SRAM X01 12-speed cable shifting with a 30T chainring. Running Continental Cross Kings 29 x 2.6″. Garmin Edge 1030 handling the navigation and 2 Fenix BC21r providing the lighting.
BAGS: Custom Rogue Panda frame bag and JPak’s top tube bag. Dry bag supported by an accessory bar upfront with a couple of Revel Designs feed bags. A 4L seat pack outback. A bottle cage mounted repair kit on the down tube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m packing as light as I can while planning to sleep comfortably with a 8oz Montbell Bivy, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite, and a 20° bag.

Ezra Ward-Packard

Age 30 / Van Life (Boulder), Colorado (USA)

BIKE: After underbiking two editions of Pinyons and Pines in 2021 and 2022, I’m finally on an appropriate bike! Frame is a 2021 Specialized Epic Evo. Groupset is a hodgepodge of XTR and XT components. Zipp speed sticks to go fast on the flats. Fox Factory suspension and One Up V3 dropper post to keep me alive on the singletrack. Wheels are DT Swiss 350 hubs laced up to Reserve 30 SL rims with 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals. No batteries to be found on this bike, besides my Favero Assioma power pedals.
BAGS: Top tube bags are from Dispersed, handmade by Andrew and Katie Strempke in Old La Sal, CO. Handlebar bag is a heavily modified Revelate Designs Sweetroll.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Kit is Pearl Izumi, with some Outdoor Research emergency rain gear. USWE vest to keep my hydrated. Fenix BC26R to light the way. Garmin Edge 540 to keep me on course. Dexcom G6 continuous blood glucose monitor to keep track of my blood sugars. Sanofi and Lilly insulin pens to keep me alive. Sleep kit is Run Gum, creatine gummies, and Zyns.

Jared Petrocco

Age 38 / Lakewood, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Surly Karate Monkey nicknamed Huckleberry. SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, RockShox Psylo Gold 140mm fork, WTB Proterra tough 29″ wheels wrapped with Continental Crossking 29 × 2.3″ tires, SRAM Guide G2 brakes, trusty Brooks saddle.
BAGS: Oveja Negra frame bag, Oveja snack pack small bag, Bedrock bags handlebar bag and harness. Random mix of other bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My setup is pretty dialed from past races. Sleeping bag liner, tarp, inflatable pillow, and Big Agnes insulated air pad make up my sleep kit. Plenty of warm layers and definitely a spare Chamois! 5L water carrying capacity and plenty of space for Oreos! Fenix BC26R headlight and Wahoo make up my technology and navigation.

Karin Pocock

Age 44 / Moab, Utah (USA)

BIKE: Santa Cruz Highball.
BAGS: Dispersed all the way, other than one small bag under the saddle (and that’s only because I need to get another small custom bag made). Andrew and Katie make the most amazing bags that are perfectly customized to this bike. Love that all my bags come from 45 min away from my house and are made completely off grid with solar power.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This is my second year racing NOBL TR 32 wheels with I9 hubs, I’m so impressed at how such a light wheel holds up to the pounding of the AZTR and CTR. I changed to a 12L Rab running vest and have ditched the pack for this one, despite maintaining the capacity to carry a fair bit of water on the north part of the route. Using a Sea to Summit 40 deg bag (that I wish they still sold), Klymit tiny inflatable pad and SOL Escape bivy. BC26R light, Garmin Edge 1040. Not much else on the bike and stoked to be back riding P & P.

Steven Powers

Age 39 / Goodyear, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: Specialized Chisel, NOX rims with I9 hubs, XT 12-speed, 34 Step Cast and Roost Ti bars to help soften our AZ chunk, Magura brakes to slow down the extra food and water weight. For rubber, I’ll be rolling what is currently my favorite tire, the Pirelli Scorpion XCM in 29 x 2.4″.
BAGS: Bags are a mix of Oveja Negra and Rogue Panda. The Blue Ridge bar harness is a game changer.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be sleeping on the ground in a Kelty bag on this one, and bringing a waterproof emergency bivvy just in case. Navigation with a Garmin Edge 530, and lights will be 2x Light and Motion Randos. Nothing fancy here.

Rei Rey

Age 40 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: Pivot, Shadow Cat, Comp ‘ponents, 27.5’s Rekon 2.6″ front, Aggressor 2.5″ rear, 12-speed SRAM Eagle cassette, 30T SRAM chainring, 165mm carbon Race Face cranks
BAGS: Rogue Panda Ridgeline with elevated light bar (choice!), Rogue Panda Ripsey v2, Rogue Panda Custom center frame bag, Okey Dokey top tube, Oveja Negra Gas tank.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Shout out to Nick at Rogue Panda, as I am doing some product testing for this race, what an honor, if you don’t have Rogue Panda on your kit, YOU SHOULD (durable and pretty!)

Bodhi Roether

Age 26 / Durango, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Riding a Vassago Ludicrous after much love for my old Mone La Roca. Going to run what I’ve got on which is a 32x20T oval with 2.4″ tires. Some extra cushion Mega Fat Paws on the hands. Otherwise just a bunch of Doritos and some gummy bears.
BAGS: Andrew finally got me on one of his sleek frame bags after too long of riding behind him. Got a Jpaks on the TT and a little shrew in the rear. Other than those I’ll slap on one of the running vests in my closet and pedal along.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Finally pulled the trigger on a Coros after many years on the etrex and excited to see what’s what!

Forrest Saville

Age 40 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: Why Cycles Wayward V2 with a 130mm Pike. SRAM XO 1×12 drivetrain with Maxxis Forekaster 2.4″ tires.
BAGS: Rogue Panda top tube bag, handlebar harness, and frame bag. Revelate Designs feed bag. Mountain Laurel Designs dry bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Katabatic bivy with a Mountain Hardware Phantom sleeping bag. Garmin 1030 for navigation. Fenix light and Garmin InReach.

Mckay Stephan

Age 35 / Boulder, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Why Cycles El Jefe. Hunt 29 Proven Carbon Wheels, Vittoria Mezcal Tires 2.25″, and a RockShox SID Ultimate Fork with 120mm of travel. Drivetrain is a SRAM GX Eagle 12-Speed with a 10-52T cassette and a 32T front chainring. Cockpit includes Ritchey flat bar and stem and Ergon GP2 Grips.
BAGS: Front bag is a Swift Industries Catalyst, my favorite bag brand. I’m also using two Specialized Fjallraven Feed Bags that I got for free from a giveaway. Salsa EXP Series Direct Mount Top Tube Bag and an Oveja Negra Snack Pack to round it out. Rear saddle bag is a Revelate Designs Seatbag 16L.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The most important pieces of gear are my NEMO Fillo Elite Pillow for a good night’s sleep, as well as my Outdoor Research Helium rain jacket and Mont Bell Rain Pants. Instead of a sleeping bag I use a Mont Bell full down suit which includes a jacket, pants and booties and an emergency blanket if it gets too cold. I’ll be sleeping in a Black Diamond Twilight Bivy and bringing my Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 Bikepack Tent Rain Fly and ground cover and leaving the tent at home. A few wag bags, wet wipes, and caffeine pills are essential.

Jeff Taylor

Age 61 / Haute Cabin, Vermont (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding a Chumba Yaupon, featuring a well seasoned SRAM mullet T-Type drivetrain 30T 10/52T. Force shifters and brakes. Chris King and SON hubs. NOX Teocalli rims, 28H, laced with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires (Endurance casing). Suspension provided by a Rockshox SID Ultimate fork 120mm and a Cane Creek eeSilk seatpost. Ritchey WCS Beacon 46 handlebar. Berthoud Aspin saddle. Cane Creek eeWings 165. Ridefarr clip on aero bar system.
BAGS: Medley of Dispersed, Revelate Designs, and Tailfin. Velocio vest for water and miscellaneous. Frame bag will contain a water bladder and food carry.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep system: MSR Pro bivy, Western Mountaineering Highlite bag. Bar and helmet lights are from Fenix. Navigation is via a Wahoo Bolt. Tracking using a Garmin Inreach. Voltaic 6400mAh USB battery bank for charging. Gore rain jacket, Salewa puffy.

Sam Tezak

Age 31 / Mancos, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: 2022 Hudksi Doggler. The bike features Maxxis Forekaster 2.4” tires, new Hope RX4+ brakes in blue and rotors, WTB Rocket saddle, and some blue pops from Wolf Tooth. Everything else is stock.
BAGS: Custom Snack Bag (shoutout my wife, Lauren!), Osprey Escapist handlebar bag, Oveja Negra frame bag, Oveja Negra seat bag, and Osprey Escapist Velocity 6L on body.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: OR Helium Bivy, Therm-a-Rest Vesper 32 Quilt, and a NeoAir for sleeping, Garmin InReach Mini 2 for tracking. My iPhone 12 has a comically short battery life, so I have a Goal Zero external battery and solar panel. If all else fails, I’ll just follow the birds.

Johnny Townsend

Age 41 / Tabeguache Park, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: “Lipstick on a Pig” – Reynolds 520 Kona Unit in “Dusty Rose Metallic,” over-forked at 120mm with a Marzocchi Bomber Z2. A 32t oval (Works Components) turns a 21t Surly cog (peep the drilled out holes – definitely ultralight).

Rolling on alloy Hunt Trail wheels wearing a custom Maxxis “SS/SSR” front / rear rubber combo. Shimano Deore stoppers on 203/180mm rotors. Tumbleweed T-rack spun aft a shade so my heels don’t clip the rack-stays. DOOM bars help set the tone. I’m running a minimally-trimmed down Ti Lucky Riser in an apocalypse-enduring (and fascist-quelling) 2mm wall thickness. Contact points: XTRA chunky-squishy ESIs, Selle San Marco Allroad, and Entity composite flats. 30W Bluetooth speaker for a soundtrack to the emotional rollercoaster.
BAGS: Ruthlessly precise Dispersed frame and top-tube bags. A highly-functional “Rack Roll” of the same bloodlines and equal precision. Some bulletproof (and insulated!) Nuke Sunrise “Silo” feed-bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Pendleton wool shirt! It was a panic-pack item at DOOM and is quickly becoming one of my bikepacking staples. Sleep kit is minimal; chunk of foam, SOL escape bivy, puffy jacket and vest.

Nixon Twomey

Age 17 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my 2022 Specialized Epic Evo with about 4,100 miles to its name. I’m using a super worn down Maxxis Aspen 2.4″ in the back and an equally beaten up (makes ’em roll faster) Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ in the front. 1×12 30T chainring drivetrain. Ergon GS3 grips with a cool looking red cassette. Very awesome dropper post that rubs some aluminum in the interior that adds cool aluminum greasy slime all along the post that doesn’t come off your hands.
BAGS: Homemade handlebar bag and two home-made feed bags (kudos to father “working from home” for making them) Borrowed Aeroe Spider rack from Cruz Blue’s dad. Borrowed osprey daypack from mother. My very own personal Rouge Panda top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Navigating with Garmin Edge 540. Waterproof emergency blanket with backpacking blanket for sleep. Borrowed Sawyer mini water filter from Aunt. Mostly just making stuff up as I go. Goal is to finish, I have finals on Monday (starts on a Thursday).

George Uehling

Age 32 / Denver, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: This is the same frame I used for the 2023 Tour Divide, though nearly everything has been upgraded since. It’s a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat outfitted with a SID 100mm fork and a SRAM AXS 1x mullet drivetrain. The wheels are custom-built with a SON dynamo front hub, DT Swiss 240 rear hub, and WTB CZR rims. I’m running Maxxis Ikons for tires, with a Specialized Power saddle and Garmin Rally power meter pedals rounding things out. Every component has been agonized over and refined through countless miles. While the build isn’t anything unusual, I’ve developed a deep connection to this bike.
BAGS: The original Salsa frame bag is still going strong. Everything else is Revelate Designs (and equally well tested): a Jerry Can for tools, a Mag Tank, and two Feed Bags for quick access to food.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The water is carried in two bladders stashed in the frame bag. Navigation and tracking are handled by a Garmin Edge 540 Solar and an inReach Mini. Power comes from a Sinewave Beacon 2 and a Voltaic V50 battery. Under the frame protection tape, there are a few neon yellow reflective stickers for safety at night. The aero bars probably won’t see much use during this event, but they’re staying on just in case.

Eddie Urcadez

Age 62 / Tucson, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: Santa Cruz Blur with Recon Race 2.35″ Maxxis tires.
BAGS: Oveja Negra seat bag, Revelate Designs Frame bag, handlebar bags and Roque Panda downtube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep kit will include Sierra Design bivy, quilt and air mattress. Navigation: Garmin eTrex 20x.

Diego Velasquez

Age 27 / Moab, Utah (USA)

BIKE: Purple Surly Karate Monkey, XT-ish drivetrain, WTB CZR i30 wheels, Rubber: 2.4″ Rekon Race, Mone Meal Replacement Bars with the just the right amount of rise and sweep to keep my lungs expanding properly.
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag in need of a few patches, Dispersed top tube for all the burritos, Dispersed seat pack, Revelate bar roll. TBD if stem bag snack storage is necessary.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve been really enjoying the Apidura 3l frame bag bladder keeping the jangle to a minimum. Helium bivy, 40 degree bag, sleeping pad and a pillow shoved into the bar roll with puffy items in the seat bag. Wahoo bolt tucked in nicely on the stem and InReach Mini for dot following.

James Willis

Age 49 / Flagstaff, Arizona (USA)

BIKE: Niner ROS9 single speed 32×20, Salsa rigid fork.
BAGS: Revelate Designs on the front, back, and top. Blackburn in the middle.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Circa 90s Jandd fanny pack to carry the many burritos and gummy bears I plan to survive on. OR Helium bivy with Marmot Plasma 30 degree bag for nap times.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...