Rigs of the 2026 Grand Loop

Long before iconic races like the Tour Divide, three brave souls set their sights on a challenging 365-mile route through Utah and Colorado, connecting three IMBA Epic trail systems together into a single massive undertaking. Annual grand departs were held for about nine years, but they stopped altogether until 2023, when the Grand Loop made its comeback. It’s a challenging track that connects the Tabeguache, Kokopelli, and Paradox Trails in Southwest Colorado and Utah. Not to be underestimated, the full loop boasts 38,000 feet of elevation gain over grueling, technical terrain.

This year, organizer Tim Tait is spicing things up with a coin toss the night before the grand depart to determine what direction everyone will ride. While this has surely deterred some riders this year, it has also created a fun element of anticipation for others. The weather is looking favorable, with temperatures around 10 degrees cooler than in previous years. As Tim explained, “It should make the trek across Kokopelli more bearable… but, it’s the Grand Loop, so it’s still gonna be hot.”

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With help from Tim and the riders, we collected rig details for nearly all of the riders participating in this year’s event. As always, you’ll find bike, bag, and gear highlights below, along with the GPS/navigation device each rider is using. Dig through the rigs, let us know which ones you like the most in the Conversation, and then head over to the 2026 Grand Loop event page tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. MDT to follow the riders live.

Chris Besnia

Age 41 / Gunnison, Colorado (USA)

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BIKE: I built myself a one-off custom bike, a long-and-low-down country bike. The Goodday ‘Javelina’ 29′ single-speed has a 130 MRP Ribbon SL fork. I’m running a 28:18 Gear Ratio with 160mm 5DEV cranks. I’m running 2.4″ Kenda booster tires.
BAGS: Custom, fully bolt-on Curiosity bags with Javelina and Prickly Pear Appliqué.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m running my proprietary front bar rack, the Goodday ‘Spacer Cradle’, Purple Lewis LH4 brakes.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin.

Marshal Bird

Age 70 / Grand Junction, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Specialized Epic EVO, same bike I used in the 2024 TDR, running 2.4″ Maxxis Recon in the front and a Continental Trinotal in the rear, SRAM AXS drivetrain with 28T CR. Ergon Grips, WTB seat and flats.
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag, seat bag, and rear top tube, Tailfin handlebar bag and top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Fenix lights, handlebar/helmet (with enough spare batteries for the entire route), simple bivy, Nemo pad and Montbell bag, 6L of water capacity.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Blake Bockius

Age 64 / Truckee, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Otso Hoot Ti with a 140mm Fox 36 SL. Tires are Maxxis Recon 2.6″. The build also includes SRAM wireless shifting, Hope brakes, a Wolf Tooth Resolve dropper post, and various other Wolf Tooth bits.
BAGS: On the bike, I will be using the Dispersed Dropper Seat Bag, along with their custom full top tube bag and frame bag. On my back, I’ll have a 2L hydration vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Exposure lights on the bars and the helmet. My sleep kit is based on the latest weather forecast. If things don’t change between now and the grand depart, I’ll be using the following for my sleep kit: Therm-a-Rest Uberlight pad, MSR Pro Bivy, Sea to Summit pillow, and a Western Mountaineering HighLite sleeping bag.
GPS DEVICE: Will include a Garmin 1040 for navigation.

Susannah Cadwalader

Age 37 / Woodville, Virginia (USA)

BIKE: I’m touring the Grand Loop on my Trek Top Fuel (gen 3), with most spec parts swapped out. Shimano XT 4-piston brakes, OneUp dropper, Fox 34 fork, SRAM Eagle 12-speed paired with a cute little 28T chainring, and a Salsa handlebar with Spank stem to keep things comfy. Plus some knobby 2.6” Bontrager Gunnison tires with Rimpact Pro inserts for fun and reassurance if I get a little too exuberant.
BAGS: a hodgepodge! Frame, top tube bag, and downtube bags made by me, Mountain Laurel Designs dry bags front and rear, and Resilience Custom prototype stem feedbags. Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rear rack and Rogue Panda Blue Ridge Handlebar Cradle. Also wearing a 15L Osprey running vest with 3-4L of water capacity. Will be able to run 4L on the bike, too, if necessary.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gosh, this is a hard question, but I guess if I have to choose, I really love my bike. Her name is Sparkles, and she’s such a fun ride on everything from flow to backcountry rock gardens. She’s also still fun to ride when loaded for bikepacking, something I’ve found isn’t always the case with other bikes. Also: down pants and booties. I hate being cold while sleeping!
GPS DEVICE: COROS DURA! Love that thing. Phone and InReach for backup and tracking.

Rocky Gingg

Age 37 / Durango, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Pivot Mach 4 SL.
BAGS: Dispersed frame bag and top tube bag and Oveja Negra Chuckbuckets.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Fresh 2.4” Maxxis Rekons, Fenix lights, USWE Rush Vest, SOL Bivy.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Dan Hickstein

Age 42 / Boulder, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Grand Loop on a 2025 Ibis DV9 with mostly stock components, including Shimano SLX drivetrain and brakes. I swapped out the carbon bars for aluminum bars so that I can run my beloved 90’s style bar-ends. I’m running flat pedals and have Maxxis Rekon 2.4″ tires front and rear.
BAGS: The dry bag in the front holds a tarp, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. The seatbag (Bedrock) is for rain gear, while the frame bag (Revelate Designs) holds extra water and food. The downtube bag holds a tube, pump, and tools.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m packing while chasing my toddler around the house, so I hope that I’m not forgetting anything too important.
GPS DEVICE: I’m using a trusty Garmin eTrex 22x.

Andrew Hook

Age 36 / Durango, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: My bike is a 2024 Scott Spark. Running a 32t ring on 1×11 microshift drive (11-50 cassette) with 2.4” Vittoria Mezcal trail tires and SRAM Motive silver brakes.
BAGS: Running the trusty full-size frame bag custom cut from bedrock bags. A restrap race handle bar cradle and bag. I’ve got the full-length Large Farva top tube bag and a pair of feed bags from Oveja Negra. On the back of the saddle, I just run a repair kit in a travel wallet from Thule. I’ll also be wearing a Salomon running vest with 10L bag space and a 3L bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m pumped on the Fred bar steer tube insert for my profile designs aero bars that elevate them for comfort. The Exposure light and its 24-hour runtime are really nice, and I’ve been very happy with my OR Helium bivy.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin inReach for tracking and a Coros Dura for navigation.

Mayella Krause

Age 36 / Sao Bento do Sul (Brazil)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Juliana Joplin CC, aka Patsy Climb. I decided to race the Grand Loop two days ago, giving me just enough time to confuse panic with preparation. The original plan was to mirror my Colorado Trail setup, which immediately became impossible because I have apparently changed almost everything since then. Patsy now has a 28T chainring because I am of age. The brakes brake. The cranks crank. The pedals are present and accounted for. The suspension has not been tuned in at least a year and a half, and the tires do not match, but they have both agreed to hold air for the time being.
BAGS: Earlier this year, for Rigs of the Iditarod, I stated that in this economy, I would not be giving out free advertising. I regret to report that the economy has not improved. I’m using an assortment pulled from my large and shameful collection of bikepacking bags, then cramming things into them in a way that hopefully does not create a major geopolitical imbalance on the bike. Because this is a desert race, and late spring in the desert can range from “acceptable” to “biblical skillet,” I’ve added extra water storage and can carry up to 6 liters for the longest stretches. This should provide excellent hydration, truly medieval handling, and the sensation of piloting a small municipal water system.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For maximum discomfort, I’m bringing only a bivy and an inflatable pillow. I’m also bringing my Doom gremlin bell as a reminder that I can, in fact, do tough and idiotic things with stupid amounts of climbing. I’ll be racing this over my birthday because, apparently, my preferred method of aging is making poor choices in remote places while rationing snacks. I’ll be fueled by banana bread and the silty water of the Colorado River. Living my true and best desert rat life.
GPS DEVICE: I have done the Kokopelli and Paradox before, so I’ll be tapping into memory where memory exists, then relying on blind optimism and the ancient endurance-racing principle of “we’ll find out”… if all of that fails, I will have a Coros Dura.

Denny Newell

Age 56 / North Logan, Utah (USA)

BIKE: Why Cycles El Jefe, XT/XTR 1×12, Industry Nine Trail carbon wheels, Maxxis Recon 2.6″ tires.
BAGS: Mix of Dispersed (front, seat, top tube) and Revelate (frame) bags, Salomon running vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Capacity to carry up to 7L water, Sea to Summit 45 bag, Nemo pad, +/- OR bivy depending on forecast.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 solar.

Kyle Quinn

Age 39 / Poncha Springs, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Titanium singlespeed with a 32×21 gearing because my legs aren’t as big as Andrew Strempke’s, all the SRAM goodies, Hunt wheels, Doom bar, Wolf Tooth -2° Headset, Oneup dropper, and contact points brought to you by Ergon and Shimano.
BAGS: JPaks custom frame bag, JPaks LargeFarva packed with a liter of cola, and a few other bags for a few other items. Also sportin’ an Arctos Swift 6.2 on my back because I finally caved in to all their Instagram ads.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Rocking a purple shirt for pancreatic cancer. Two sets of Bluetooth headphones and a speaker so I can keep “The Let Out” on repeat and maybe I’ll do another Zepathon, I don’t know, I don’t know if we’ll have enough time. I thought I might run a geared bike but then I got scared so I’m sticking what I know.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin Edge 1040 solar.

Cameron Ramey

Age 39 / Boulder, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: 2021 Santa Cruz Blur TR, basically stock. Maxxis Rekon EXO+ 2.4″ tires front and rear with gobs of sealant.
BAGS: Rogue Panda Designs custom frame bag, a Revelate Spinelock 10L seat pack, and two Revelate Mountain Feed Bags up front. For extra water, I’ve got Tailfin suspension fork mounts paired with misc steel cages, a couple Zefal bottles, and Voile straps to keep them from leaping out.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SQlab Innerbarends and grips so my hands still hopefully work after the first couple days. SOL Escape bivvy + down jacket for sleeping, two reservoirs in a Salomon 15 Cross Season on my back for an additional 5L of water. Fenix lights on the bike and helmet.
GPS DEVICE: Garmin 1040 Solar (also carrying a Spot Gen 4 and Garmin InReach Mini 2 for tracking and chatting).

Thomas Ray

Age 56 / Denver, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding the Grand Loop on a 2025 Intense FRO. I’ll be rolling Vittoria Barzos 2.35″ front and rear. Sram 11-52T, 30T chainring. DT Swiss XRC 1200 Wheels.
BAGS: Custom Rogue Panda on the frame. Oveja Negra on the seat/bars with two chuck buckets. Topeak Ergon Top Tube bag. Osprey Duro 15 on my back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Exposure Light on the Bars with Fenix UC35 on the helmet.
GPS DEVICE: Spot Gen 3. Garmin Edge 830.

Phillip Reeves

Age 25 / Moab, Utah (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Stanton Switch9er, featuring a 12-speed mechanical GX drivetrain with a new used chain, well-worn Maxxis Forekaster and Rekon tires, and cushcore in the back. Up front I have Ergon GA3 grips and SQLabs Innerbarends to keep my hands comfy.
BAGS: I’m running homemade bike bags of varying quality. A frame bag will hold food and water, two top tube bags will hold bike and human repair gear and snacks, and a feedbag will hold more snacks. A small bar roll and rear rack will hopefully get most of the weight off my back.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ve foregone my usual 15 degree sleeping bag for a summer bag for this ride, which should be a welcome reduction in cargo. The unsung heroes of my ride might be the 12 wide tire plugs and large handpump I am packing.
GPS DEVICE: A Garmin Edge will keep me mostly on course!

David Scott

Age 44 / Klamath Falls, Oregon (USA)

BIKE: 2021 Salsa Spearfish, Fox 34 SC 120mm fork. Shimano components. 12-speed XT 32T / 10-51T drivetrain. Tires: Rekon 2.6″ front and rear. Carbon rims with rear foam insert. Onyx Vesper rear hub. PNW riser handlebar with inner and outer bar ends. ESI Chunky grips. Hose clamped bottle cages on the fork.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag (food, batteries, tools, extra ammo, extra water). Laurel Mountain handlebar harness with a sleep kit (OR Helium bivy, lightweight air mattress, down pants, and down jacket). Assorted top tube bags (food, food, and more food). JPaks seat bag (rain layers and warm layers). Nathan 12L trail ultra vest (2L bladder). I might leave behind the seat bag or small top tube bag, depending on how the weather forecast shakes out.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love my silent hub.
GPS DEVICE: Primary navigation by Wahoo Bolt. Secondary nav by phone using GaiaGPS. Garmin inReach for emergencies and Trackleaders. Fenix BC21 & BC26 lights on helmet and handlebar.

Alyssa Secreto

Age 35 / Colorado Springs, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: My newest girl is “Kiddo,” an XS Litespeed Pinhoti with 29” Reserve XC30 wheels and ti rack mounts from Okluma to make it all fit. Running a 1×12 SRAM drivetrain with a 32T chainring, 100mm AXS dropper, TRP Spyres, and Mimic Phenom saddle. First time racing on 29s.
BAGS: Fresh set from San Util (thanks Adam!) in white, including a custom frame bag, their mini panniers, and a stem bag. Diy top tube bag for extra chonk.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Bivvy and tarp to keep me safe from Dispersed. Apidura 2.5L bladder rounds out 6L on-bike capacity. Well-loved Tubus rack for sentimental reasons.
GPS DEVICE: Wahoo Elemnt Roam v1.

George S.

Age 32 / Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Cervelo ZHT-5, XT groupset, and 2.4″ Maxxis Rekons.
BAGS: Version two of MYOG bags. Updated with extra volume and pockets.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Quilt, mattress, and bivy in the handlebar roll. 6.5L water capacity (3L in the framebag and 2.5L in a backpack + 2 soft flasks). Snacks everywhere else.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

Bob Stovern

Age 58 / Fruita, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding my YT Izzo XL Trail Freighter for this adventure. It is built around a Fox 36 fork with 150mm of travel, Shimano XT drivetrain with Wolf Tooth oval chainring, DT Swiss XM1700 wheels, and Magura brakes with 203mm rotors. Contact points are an SQ Labs Infinergy saddle, Ergon GA2 fat grips and SQ Labs inner bar ends. With bold optimism, I’m running lighter weight Kenda Regolith TR 2.6″ tires front and rear.
BAGS: Up front is a Revelate Saltyroll mounted to a Topeak Frontloader harness and Restrap Bumper Bar. Nearly all of that space is reserved for food. A small cook kit and minimalist sleep pad round out the front end. Out back, the Topeak Backloader carries my ultralight sleep setup (bivy, sleeping bag, pillow, small tarp) and spare clothes. The cockpit hosts two Revelate feed bags for in-flight snack service and phone storage, while the tank bag holds riding lights and power bank. The triangular bag is dedicated to water filtration and maintenance gear, and the Wolf Tooth B-RAD bag carries tools, spare parts, tubes, and patching supplies. On-body storage includes a Camelbak Repack butt pack with everything I don’t want to become separated from and a Camelbak hydration vest with an additional 3L water capacity.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I am most excited about my sun hoodie from KETL MTN and the fresh insoles in my shoes. I also have an elite level cereal and milk kit that can be broken out in seconds for sunrise (collapsible cup, plastic spoon, granola with nuts and freeze dried whole milk powder).
GPS DEVICE: Gaia GPS and Ride with GPS on a Samsung S26 Ultra, backed up by a Garmin InReach Mini 2 for satellite communication and the occasional “still alive” message.

Austin Syme

Age 33 / Fruita, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: Kona Hei Hei with Shimano XT drivetrain and brakes. 28T chainring for the climbs. Rolling on 2.4″ Continental Dubnitals front and rear.
BAGS: Home brew frame and saddle bags, cheap stem/top tube bags courtesy of Jeffrey Bezos, and Revelate Designs Pronghorn holds my sleep gear. I’ll also be wearing a Black Diamond Distance 8L vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Dual Fenix BC26R’s will keep me going at night. ‘m mounting two bottles alongside the frame bag thanks to the Cyclewerks Double Bottle Cage Adapter.
GPS DEVICE: Coros Dura.

JOHNNY TOWNSEND

Age 42 / NUCLA, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: TURNER GILA, 32X20T. 120mm Fox Step-Cast 34. XTR brakes, Race Face cranks, Cane Creek Hellbender 70 headset, Wheels MFG bottom bracket. Selle San Marco Allroad saddle, Fox transfer dropper. Hunt Proven XC wheels with 29 x 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcals.
BAGS: Custom Dispersed frame and full top-tube bags from Old La Sal, UT. USWE Patriot 15L. Revelate Designs feed bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Moné Light Bars steer the ship.
GPS DEVICE: Lezyne Mega XL.

Aaron Weinsheimer

Age 57 / Salida, Colorado (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Esker Hayduke.
BAGS: For bags I’ve got a frame bag from Jpaks. My top tube bag and handlebar bag are from Tailfin. The water bottle buckets are from Rogue Panda.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: With this set up, I have up to 8L of water capacity.
GPS DEVICE: For navigation, I’m running a Coros Dura.

Further Reading

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