Alice Drobna: The First Woman to Complete The Triple Crown

Back in the summer of 2015, 40-year-old Alice Drobna from Bend, Oregon, completed the Arizona Trail Race, Tour Divide, and Colorado Trail Race, becoming the first woman to complete the Triple Crown challenge. She was also the first person to complete this monumental feat on a singlespeed, no less, with a total time of 36 days, 6 hours, and 56 minutes (36:06:56), a sum of the following times: Tour Divide (19:22:04), Colorado Trail (06:18:59), and Arizona Trail Race 750 (09:13:53). Her record still stands today. However, as we outlined in this post about the five women pursuing the Triple Crown this year, Alice’s longstanding record will likely fall, culminating with the 2023 Arizona Trail Race, which kicks off tomorrow. Alice’s effort will surely not be forgotten, as Alexandera Houchin summed up, “She set the bar racing a singlespeed bike, and it’s held for nearly a decade.”

To reflect back on Alice’s accomplishment, we just uncovered and republished this review that Lindsay Beltchenko put together with Alice just after she finished the Triple Crown. Read it in full below.

How did your youth shape your love of cycling, and When did you begin riding bikes?

Growing up, I had a couple of hand-me-down bikes and rode around the block like all the other kids. About the time I was in fifth or sixth grade, I got my first brand-new bike, and for about a year, I rode it like a madman. I forgot this, but my mom reminded me of a story. Apparently, some time after I got the bike, I decided to ride to my grandma’s one Saturday. It was about an hour-long trip by a car, and at that time, there were no bike paths or even bike lanes. Around lunch, my mom got a call from my grandma telling her I was sitting in her living room having a soda. My mom was beside herself, but she wouldn’t come pick me up. She told my grandma to tell me to get back on the bike and get home right away. I don’t remember it very well, but it was my first 75-mile ride. Thinking back, that may have been the beginning of my love for long rides. But as most kids do, I discovered other sports I wanted to try, and I didn’t return to biking till about seven years ago.

What was your first cycling race?

My first bike race was a 20-miler that my friends talked me into doing with them. I didn’t even have a bike at the time, so I borrowed one. I made it about 10 miles before leaving my entire breakfast on the side of the trail after a crazy steep climb. I didn’t really get into racing until many years later after I discovered single speeds. I tried everything from XC, cyclocross, marathon distances, ultra marathons, and a couple of 24-hour events. I kept moving up in distance, but I always felt like I wanted to do something else where I could ride a lot farther. And then I discovered bikepacking.

Why singlespeed? Do you ever ride a geared bike?

After my infamous race on a borrowed bike (with gears), I didn’t really ride much at all. Seven years ago, I met my boyfriend, who rode a single speed. When I saw his bike for the first time, I thought to myself: how’s he going to climb any hills? He has no gears!? Well, I was wrong. Not only did he climb them, but he was super strong and fast doing it. I just couldn’t understand how that was possible with just one gear. A month later, I bought my first single speed and never looked back. I fell in love with it. It was simple, quiet, and required very little maintenance. Most of all, it offered no distraction while riding, so I could experience the trail and scenery that much more.

You were the first person to complete the triple crown of bikepacking on a singlespeed and the first woman to finish the triple crown. What inspired you to take on this endeavor?

It was actually quite simple: I wanted to see if I could do it. Before my first Tour Divide in 2014, I didn’t even know if I could ride that kind of distance. But when I finished it, I realized I found what I was looking for. I started looking for more races like it. I read about the AZT earlier that year, and I knew I wanted to ride it. I also read about the Triple Crown Challenge, and the fact it had never been done by a woman was very intriguing. It felt like a worthwhile challenge, but I wasn’t sure I could even attempt it because of how much time I’d have to take off from work. Next spring, after I finished the AZT, the thought of the Triple Crown got ahold of me, and I made up my mind to try it. I negotiated my time off, and I was committed.

Mileage aside, which trail was the most difficult, and why?

As far as trail difficulty, I found the Arizona Trail to be the hardest. I felt like I had to lift and carry my bike at some point just about every day. The hike-a-bike sections were incredibly steep and rocky. Sometimes, the rocks were so big I felt like I was rock climbing. And then, of course, there was the trek through the Grand Canyon. The place was very beautiful, but for a non-hiker like myself carrying 50 pounds of gear, it was pretty painful. As a race, the Colorado Trail was the toughest because it was the last race of the Triple Crown Challenge, and by that point, I just felt quite tired. The trail had many long hike-a-bike sections like the AZT, but at least I could push my bike instead of carrying it.

And which was the most enjoyable?

There isn’t one that stands out. Although each race had many tough technical parts, they also had some incredible trails that were smooth and swoopy and made me giggle like a kid. Each race was very rewarding, not just because I finished it, but because of what I overcame. I went through my lowest lows and highest highs. I woke up each day knowing the only thing I had to do was ride my bike. What’s better than that?

Did you use the same bike for all three races?

Yes, my Moots MootoX. It’s a super smooth and solid ride and the geometry is perfect for a fully loaded bike.

What bikepacking bags did you use, and how did your gear vary for each race?

Since this was only my second season bikepacking, I was still testing out different setups in each race. Only two bags were the same for all three races. Most of my gear was the same for all three with some variations below (excluding clothes, repair kit, tools, tubes, pump, and other knick-knacks).

All three races

• Revelate Designs frame bag
• SeaToSummit 13L dry bag (handlebar)
• Mountain Hardware Phantasia 32-degree sleeping bag
• Therm-a-Rest Air mattress
• 4L MSR DromLite water bladder (for clean water only)
• 1 water bottle (for filtered water or juice)
• Sawyer Mini water filter
• SP Dynamo hub with Exposure handlebar light
• Light & Motion Urban 800 light and Fenix L22 headlamp
• Gamin eTrex30
• USB charger

Arizona Trail Race

• (No seat bag)
• (No lunch pack)
• Camelbak Helena backpack (to carry food, and trek through the Grand Canyon)
• Black Diamond carbon trekking poles
• Homemade cuben fiber bivy sack

Tour Divide

• JPaks SeatPak
• Homemade lunch pack
• Homemade cuben fiber bivy sack
• Mountain Hardware tent top
• Aero bars

Colorado Trail Race

• JPaks SeatPak
• Revelate Designs Gas Tank
• Tarptent 1-person shelter

What was the most memorable moment during each race?

So much happens during these races. There are so many stories, and it’s hard to pick one. On the AZT, one of those moments was when I rode up to the top of South Rim. I literally couldn’t breathe for a moment when I caught a glimpse of the canyon for the first time. I just stood there and stared. I felt so small and insignificant. As for the Tour Divide, since it was my second time, I already knew mostly what to expect. But seeing a grizzly bear for the first time was one moment I will never forget.

And on CTR, one of those moments I’ll always remember was when I was climbing up to Tenmile Crest and over to Breckenridge. It’s not very long, but it was very steep and incredibly rocky near the top. It seemed like the entire mountain top was made out of rocks and boulders. I felt frustrated most of the way up and cried a little now and then. Some nasty words left my mouth too. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, I saw this happy gentleman in his late 60s, literally hopping over these boulders and smiling. As he approached, I noticed he was carrying something in his hand and waving it around. Then I saw it was a Payday bar. And he handed it to me. It was such a small thing, but it made my day. I thanked him and said I couldn’t take it because I was in a race (later, I found out that I could have taken it because it was offered to me and I didn’t ask for it).

Tell us about the most important piece of gear you couldn’t live without throughout your summer of riding.

I like to sleep a lot and be comfortable at night, so the most important piece of gear for me is my air mattress. I realize that in a race I lose a lot of time that way, but I prefer getting a long and comfortable rest and feeling good in the morning rather than taking a 2-3 hour nap and being miserable the rest of the day. Another piece of gear I’d like to mention is my down jacket. Even in the summer, the temperatures can vary quite a bit, and staying warm is very important. Plus, the jacket doubles as a very comfy pillow.

Lastly, anyone in particular you would like to thank?

Moots Cycles for making my awesome bike; Webcyclery, where I got most of my gear; Hydro Flask for letting me take time off for all my adventures; and CycleSoles for donating a pair of sweet soles. And most of all, Ross for always being there for me.

Further Reading

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