Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Second-place women’s finisher Katie Strempke just published a short video capturing her experience in the 2024 Grand Loop bikepacking race around Utah and Colorado, sharing some of her highs and lows from the rugged 365-mile route. Watch it here…
Photos by Johnny Price
Dispersed Bikepacking co-founder and inspiring ultra-distance racer Katie Strempke recently participated in the 2024 edition of the Grand Loop, a 365-mile race that blends the Tabeguache Trail, Kokopelli Trail, and Paradox Trail in Southwest Colorado and Utah into an incredibly demanding but equally beautiful route. She lined up on a Chumba Sendero Ti, and it was her first time racing with gears since 2019. You can find details on her bike in our Rigs of the 2024 Grand Loop roundup in the Further Reading grid at the bottom of this post.
Katie said she was especially excited about this race because it took place in her backyard, and she spent the spring riding on similarly chunky terrain, making her feel prepared for the route and effort required to finish it. Katie cites seeing two bears in a day, getting some much-needed Qdoba burritos five minutes before closing time, being pushed by her friend Alexandera Houchin, and making it to the finishers’ party with a group of amazing people as highlights. She went on to finish second after Alexandera, who passed her on day three and set a new course record. Watch her seven-minute video above.
Further Reading
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