Join us for a mellow cruise from Himmel to Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory to enjoy some breakfast and great company!
We’ll bring our BOB Trailer loaded up with pancake making gear. Bring a plate, cup, fork if you are able to (If not, we’ve got you!) and an appetite for pancakes. You are also welcome to bring your own camp stove to brew yourself some coffee or tea if you prefer or want..
Meet us at Himmel Park at 7am. We’ll be meeting at the north parking lot near the library. Then we’ll mosey on over to Underwood Family Sonoran Landscape Laboratory arriving around a little after 7:30.
Join us for a mellow cruise from Himmel to Highland Quad (Tree Ring Laboratory) to enjoy some breakfast and great company!
We’ll bring our BOB Trailer loaded up with pancake making gear. Bring a plate, cup, fork if you are able to (If not, we’ve got you!) and an appetite for pancakes. You are also welcome to bring your own camp stove to brew yourself some coffee or tea if you prefer or want..
Meet us at Himmel Park at 7am. We’ll be meeting at the north parking lot near the library. Then we’ll mosey on over to the Highland Quad in the U of A arriving around a little after 7:30.
***If you would like to join this ride but it is cost prohibitive to do so or if you need to borrow gear to make it happen, please let us know.
We’ll be leaving Campfire Cycling at around 9AM for a +/- 30 mile ride down the loop (Paved bike path) most of the way to Colossal Cave State Park We’ll be staying at a group campground with room for 20 tents. We will also be setting aside a middle meetup option for folks that don’t want to/can’t ride the full 30 miles.
On our Community Events/Rides we follow our Campfire Code of Conduct. We strive to create a positive and supportive environment where everyone feels welcome and heard. We don’t assume anyone’s abilities based on outwards appearance. We take responsibility for our actions and words. We respect the land, it’s original stewards and leave no trace.
If this is your first bikepacking trip, we are here to help. If you like advise on gear need or want any other advice we strongly recommend you stop by with your bike or pack up your bike for the trip and bring it by the shop so we can checkout your setup and make recommendations as needed. Feel free to setup an appointment or just stop on by.
While this is a beginner oriented bikepacking trip, everyone is welcome. I’m sure all of the newbies will appreciate having experienced campers along for the ride. It’s a great opportunity to do a shake down run with new gear or a new to you setup as well as sharing experinece, knowledge and setups.
This will be a no drop ride. We ride at a party pace with many stops and chances for regrouping as well as resupply. Campfire Cycling will also always have a mechanic at the back of the ride so no one is left behind in case trouble arises. There is also food available near the camp.
Please be prepared with all of your own camping gear, food and water. This will be semi remote camping without many supplies nearby. Campgound has vault toilets and running water. There are businesses and a grocery store on the route with markets nearby the entrance/exit of the campground.
Protect the Land we Ride on. For this trip we will have beautiful scenic views of the Santa Rita Mountains who’s unique environment is under threat to some heavy mining. Rosemont Canadian Company want to extract and export copper while dumping tons of wast into a mile wide hole that will seep lots of toxins into our groundwater. The Tohono O’odham Tribe as well as many conservation groups have been fighting this mine and for years. We recommend visiting: The Sky Islands Alliance, The Calabasas Alliance, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas. Donate, show up to events and get involved!
***If you would like to join this ride but it is cost or transportation is prohibitive or you cannot afford all the gear, please let us know.
Are You Ready for the Adventure?
*Some details are tentative*
We’re really excited for a new to us route and to get our “Spring” bikepacking season rolling. We’ll be heading up toward phoenix to ride Scott Morris’ Gila River Ramble Route (Anything but a ramble, from what I’ve heard ) it’s 110 miles and 10,663 feet of climbing (and descending) into pure joy. Keep in mind this will be an extremely challenging route with lots of hike-a-bike, limited water/resupply and challenging single track terrain.
The plan is to meet up and Start at the AZT Parking in Kelvin and then camp somewhere past mile 30 or so on the first day depending on how the wind goes up on the ridges (we might opt to ride a little further down hill to get out of the wind). Second Day we will ride through Superior for a resupply (there is an optional route we will probably include) and then camping somewhere around between mile 75-80. On the third day we will finish back at the trailhead. We will try and collect water as much as we go, but plan on being able to carry up to 7 liters of water for safety. There will only be food resupply in superior if we plan on using that lollipop extension).
This ride is advanced bike packing with challenging terrain (technical singletrack, slickrock drops, fair amount of climbing and low sources of water as well as a possible river forging. We recommend a hardtail mountain bike with big tires or a Full Suspension.
Ride Pace is ride at your own comfortable pace. This is not a race. We generally ride at a party pace with many meetups and stops so we can re-group and enjoy the scenery. Campfire Cycling will always have a mechanic at the back of the ride so no one is “stuck” alone at the back or incase a mechanical issue come up.
Anticipate Temperatures to range from: 30 degrees (or slightly below) at night to low 70’s during the day.
We will be contacting everyone who signs up for the ride to make sure they are prepared for the challenge. Please sign up if you plan on joining us.
Protect the land/area that we recreate on. For this ride we are very near to Oak Flat (Chi’chil Biłdagoteel). The Apache People and mining activists have fought for over a decade to protect this sacred land from a giant copper mine. You can read more about and it and get involved here. We recommend that everyone make a donation to Protect Oak Flat, write Congress and Senate and consider getting involved in some capacity. http://apache-stronghold.com/take-action.html. We will be riding through the traditional lands of the Akimel O’odham,O’odham Jewed, Western Apache and the ancestral lands of the Hohokam and Sobaipuri
The Tour leverages the Pinetop Lakes activity and equestrian center to provide a complete family experience. Attendees enjoy the onsite amphitheater for event activities and live music, nearby accommodations, campground games, a robust communal campfire and more!
At 7,000 ft. a limited field of riders will discover the challenges and gratification from riding awesome single track among a pine forest backdrop while witnessing the endless beauty (and perfect distraction) of the fall season in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
All finishers receive a custom award emblazoned with their distance and are welcomed to the post-ride after-party with live music, BBQ and cold Pinetop Brewing Co. beverages.
The communities of Pinetop-Lakeside are sure to please any visitor with their quintessential small mountain town charm and top notch restaurants.
For the benefit of: Tour of the White Mountains benefits TRACKS.
When: March 23ish, 2023 ITT: Choose your start time/day in order to avoid having too many bikers in one area. These trails have become VERY crowded, so we are trying to spread out and have different start times/days.
Where:
We will be starting and finishing in Oak Creek Village. Notice that the start time has changed to a choose-your-own adventure style of riding. Disperse around Oak Creek Village for parking. Afterwards, there will be a BYOB in the parking lots near Bike-n-Bean and Red Agave.
Route Warning:
Due to the nature of this route, I strongly advise you to have a GPS with the GPX file loaded, and some of the maps below. Sedona is generally a well-marked area, nonetheless, as you will see, there are tons of trails that deviate from the trail (unmarked most of the time). I highly recommend that you either pre-ride the trail or consider take a GPS on the route. ESPECIALLY if you are a local and think you know the trails/route, you need a GPS. It’s the only way to be sure you ride the correct course. The route doesn’t necessarily take the most obvious or most ridden connections.
GENERAL INFORMATION: Awesome views and fun trail. We will be staging at the Rodeo Grounds and there’s plenty of room for campers/RV’s etc. Havasu gets pretty busy with Spring Breakers so plan ahead if booking hotels in town.
100% of beer sales on Saturday at the venue go towards the local SARA Park trails!
CAMPING:
Free RV and tent camping at the Rodeo Grounds (dirt lot, no hookups) thanks to Mudshark Brewery.
PLEASE REMOVE ANY ROCKS YOU PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Gates open at 8:00 AM Friday, must be out by 3 PM Sunday.
MBAA REFUND POLICY:
The MBAA is a non-profit that raises money through these races to put towards trail projects in Arizona. If you sign up and cannot race we will donate your race entry to maintaining the trails.
MBAA MEMBERSHIP: Sign up for an MBAA membership when you register for just $25 ($15 for juniors) and contribute directly to trail projects across the state. Plus you’ll get a cool pair of members only socks and sticker. You’ll also be entered into out members only raffles!
CATEGORIES: Elite (Pro) – Competes at the highest level Expert (Cat 1) – Seasoned racer Intermediate (Cat 2) – Not just a weekend warrior, usually rides quite bit Beginner (Cat 3) – Relatively new to the sport First Timer – Newbie, never raced before Single Speed – Only one gear, likes to suffer Rock Crusher – Men 200-lbs + Athena – Women 165-lbs + Marathon – Long distance, approx. 3.5-hrs Junior – Ages 6-17 Kids – FREE 6 & under race
AWARDS: Podium is 3 deep per category.
Payout to top 3 Elite Men & Women: $250 | $150 | $100
VOLUNTEER Sign Up
Every event is not possible without the help and support of volunteers. Help make these events great by giving back a bit of your time.
Green Arrows– Junior (3-miles) – A fun quick loop around the fair grounds, great for spectating (GPX | Strava).
Blue Arrows – Long (10-miles) – A jewel in the desert with spectacular views of the cliffs. The Water Shed Loop course starts out with a fast rolling climb before turning onto the spine and through the canyon. The singletrack is sure to keep a big smile on your face!
Marathon – Complete 4 blue laps for a total of 40-miles. A 3.5-hr cutoff means if you cross the finish line after 3.5-hrs you are finished and do not have to go out for another lap. You are not a DNF, just race finished.
SCHEDULE:
Friday 3/15 –
All Day Course open for pre-riding (Final course markings underway)
4-5 pm Number plate pickup open (register online)
Saturday 3/26 –
7:00 am – Number plate pickup open (check in at least 30-mins prior to start time)
