Tag Archives: camping

THE SPIRIT WORLD 100

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dear gravel riders, soul surfers & anyone who uses the bike to escape time… 

We are Heidi Rentz & Zander Ault

We’re co-creators, gravel cyclists, chefs & party animals. We’re so freaking excited to see you in Patagonia, Arizona for a gravel road race that has inspired every aspect of our lives.  

The Spirit World 100 is a down home gravel road expedition that has been in creation for 4 years. We’ve been exploring the outer reaches of our abilities to be spirited entrepreneurs in an attempt to bring something from another universe to the event scene. Our main goal is to connect more people through our contagious love for riding bikes, cooking and throwing a mean party. Now, we just need all you special humans to bring your creative and powerful energy to the desert southwest.  

The Spirit World 100 and 50-mile course options are 2 of our most coveted and adored gravel routes in southern Arizona. Each course option is a reflection of the thousands of hours we’ve spent soaring through the San Rafael Valley since 2015. In order to showcase one of the Nations best remote and purely quiet destinations, we have partnered with the Town of Patagonia to invite riders and their families to the high desert. Obsessed with the landscape of the borderlands region, we’ve studied the maps of this area and are working closely with regional government, land management and private entities to make this place more accessible for the entire gravel cycling community. We want to help redefine the future of outdoor recreational tourism in the greater Tucson and borderlands region of The Copper State and The Spirit World 100 will be a key player in this mission.   

If we said this wasn’t a race, we’d just sound ridiculous. Any time you place 100’s of riders on the start line, it’s a race! This race is a place to find the answer to why challenging ourselves in unfamiliar conditions is so sought after. We’re only human and we were put on this earth to move, sweat, be affected and feel the power of confidence that our raw and natural surroundings can instill. The Spirit World 100 is a celebration of exactly what you’re searching for every time you jump on your bike. You’re welcomed in, wholeheartedly. 

Tucson, Arizona is our home. When we aren’t there, we’re hosting private gravel and road cycling camps around the globe. For sometime now, we’ve wanted to create an event that everybody felt comfortable committing to. Cycling camps aren’t for everybody. They may never meet your personal schedule or provide enough of what you’re looking for in a vacation. The Spirit World 100 has been designed to deliver fun, challenge and growth oriented human interaction over the course of 4 days. We couldn’t be more excited to show you Patagonia, Arizona and the San Rafael Valley. See you in The Spirit World!

Teeth to the wind,

El Tour De Zona

, , , , , , , ,

El Tour de Zona

April 22–25, 2027 | Sierra Vista, Bisbee & Tombstone, Arizona

If El Tour de Tucson is the big ride, El Tour de Zona is the cycling vacation.

Three days of riding. Three Southern Arizona destinations. Live music, food, beer and wine gardens, camping and plenty of time to sit around afterward talking about the day’s ride.

And perhaps best of all, nobody is in much of a hurry.

El Tour de Zona isn’t about a finishing time or chasing a podium. It’s a fully supported, multi-day cycling tour designed around something that sometimes gets lost when we start putting numbers on bicycles:

Riding a bike is supposed to be fun.

Three Days, Three Very Different Rides

Veterans Memorial Park in Sierra Vista becomes home base for the weekend. Set up your tent or RV, stay at a nearby hotel and then head out each morning for a different Southern Arizona adventure.

The first day’s ride stays closer to Sierra Vista with a beautiful trip toward Ramsey Canyon, historically around 27 miles. It’s a great opening day and leaves plenty of time and energy for the festivities back at camp.

Day two is the big one: approximately 63 miles from Sierra Vista to Bisbee and back. There is some real climbing involved, but the reward is riding into one of Arizona’s most colorful and wonderfully eccentric little towns.

Then on Sunday, point the bike toward the Old West for roughly 36 miles from Sierra Vista to Tombstone and back.

Yes, you really do get to ride your bicycle to The Town Too Tough to Die.

Three rides. Three completely different experiences. And you unpack your suitcase only once.

The Riding Is Only Half the Fun

This is where Zona really separates itself from a traditional cycling event.

When you get back to Sierra Vista, the day isn’t over.

Veterans Memorial Park turns into Zona Town, with live music, food trucks, local craft beer and wine, entertainment and riders hanging out together after a day on the road.

Camp right there and your bike ride basically ends at the party.

There are also showers and swimming available at The Cove, which becomes considerably more appealing after spending several hours riding through Cochise County.

It feels less like returning to the finish line and more like coming back to summer camp for cyclists.

Bring the Family

Zona is also particularly accommodating for families and non-riders.

You don’t have to ride every mile, or even ride at all, to enjoy the weekend. There are youth and non-rider registrations, and riders can historically register for individual days rather than committing to the entire tour.

That makes Zona a great introduction to a multi-day cycling event. One person can ride long, another can choose a shorter day, and someone else can skip the bike entirely and meet everyone afterward.

The point isn’t proving how tough you are.

The point is spending a few days outside, riding bikes and enjoying Southern Arizona with people you like.

Discover Cochise County From a Bicycle

There is also something special about experiencing this part of Arizona at bicycle speed.

The mountains surrounding Sierra Vista, the climb toward Bisbee, the streets and architecture of Bisbee itself, and the history of Tombstone all become part of the ride rather than simply places you pass through in a car.

And unlike Tucson’s Sonoran Desert landscape, southeastern Arizona has its own personality, with higher elevations, grasslands, mountain ranges and enormous views.

You aren’t riding through one destination.

The ride connects the destinations.

A Cycling Vacation on Wheels

That’s probably the best way to describe El Tour de Zona.

Wake up. Have breakfast. Get on your bike.

Ride somewhere interesting.

Come back. Take a shower. Find some food and a cold beverage. Listen to live music. Tell increasingly exaggerated stories about what happened on the ride.

Go to sleep.

Then wake up and do it again.

There are harder rides. There are faster races. There are events with bigger crowds.

But there aren’t many cycling events where having fun is quite this clearly the point.

Three days. Three destinations. One bicycle. And absolutely no reason to hurry.

The Whiskey Off Road

, , , , , , ,

Whiskey Off-Road

April 30 – May 2, 2027 | Prescott, Arizona

Starting in the middle of Prescott’s historic and always lively Whiskey Row, the Whiskey Off-Road quickly leaves downtown behind and heads into the mountains and spectacular scenery of the Prescott National Forest.

And that’s where things get interesting.

The Whiskey combines some of the area’s best singletrack, double track, gravel roads, serious climbing and just enough pavement to connect it all together. Riders can choose their challenge, but whichever distance you pick, you’re going to earn that finish.

The Whiskey boasts about a 94% finish rate, which sounds reassuring until you see the course.

This is no walk in the park.

What makes the Whiskey special, though, is everything surrounding the ride. For three days, downtown Prescott becomes a mountain bike town, with an industry expo, live music, events, professional and amateur racing and thousands of people who share an enthusiasm for bicycles and being outside.

Whiskey Isn’t Just for the Grown-Ups

With a name like the Whiskey Off-Road, you might assume this is strictly a 21-and-over affair. Not even close.

The Whiskey is truly a family-friendly cycling weekend, and one of my favorite parts of the entire event is the kids race. Before some of the biggest names in mountain biking take their turn, the next generation gets to line up and race through downtown Prescott.

Kids show up on bikes of every size with parents, grandparents and spectators lining the course and cheering like it’s the World Championships. Some of the kids are just happy to make it around the course. Others are tucked over their handlebars and racing like there are professional contracts waiting at the finish line.

It’s fun, a little chaotic and one of the best reminders that the Whiskey is about much more than racing. It’s about introducing kids to cycling, getting families outside and making everyone, from the smallest rider to the fastest professional, feel like they’re part of the same mountain bike community.

So yes, there’s plenty of Whiskey in Prescott that weekend. But you definitely don’t have to be 21 to enjoy the Whiskey.

It’s also hard to imagine a better setting for the weekend. Prescott’s Wild West history isn’t something recreated for the event. Whiskey Row, the Courthouse Plaza and the historic downtown are already there. Add several thousand mountain bikers and the result feels like the town and the event were made for each other.

Then there’s the reward.

Finishers roll back into downtown Prescott and receive one of the Whiskey’s best traditions: a commemorative pint glass emblazoned with the distance they just completed. From there, the shaded lawn of the historic Courthouse Plaza is waiting.

Find some grass. Take off your shoes. Fill the pint glass. Compare stories about the climb that seemed like it would never end and the piece of singletrack that made you forget all about it.

The Whiskey Off-Road is challenging enough to give you something to brag about, but it’s also a three-day celebration of mountain biking, Prescott and the people who make this sport such a great community.

Come for the singletrack. Bring the kids. Earn the pint glass. Stay for the party on Whiskey Row.

THE SPIRIT WORLD 100

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Dear gravel riders, soul surfers & anyone who uses the bike to escape time… 

We are Heidi Rentz & Zander Ault

We’re co-creators, gravel cyclists, chefs & party animals. We’re so freaking excited to see you in Patagonia, Arizona for a gravel road race that has inspired every aspect of our lives.  

The Spirit World 100 is a down home gravel road expedition that has been in creation for 4 years. We’ve been exploring the outer reaches of our abilities to be spirited entrepreneurs in an attempt to bring something from another universe to the event scene. Our main goal is to connect more people through our contagious love for riding bikes, cooking and throwing a mean party. Now, we just need all you special humans to bring your creative and powerful energy to the desert southwest.  

The Spirit World 100 and 50-mile course options are 2 of our most coveted and adored gravel routes in southern Arizona. Each course option is a reflection of the thousands of hours we’ve spent soaring through the San Rafael Valley since 2015. In order to showcase one of the Nations best remote and purely quiet destinations, we have partnered with the Town of Patagonia to invite riders and their families to the high desert. Obsessed with the landscape of the borderlands region, we’ve studied the maps of this area and are working closely with regional government, land management and private entities to make this place more accessible for the entire gravel cycling community. We want to help redefine the future of outdoor recreational tourism in the greater Tucson and borderlands region of The Copper State and The Spirit World 100 will be a key player in this mission.   

If we said this wasn’t a race, we’d just sound ridiculous. Any time you place 100’s of riders on the start line, it’s a race! This race is a place to find the answer to why challenging ourselves in unfamiliar conditions is so sought after. We’re only human and we were put on this earth to move, sweat, be affected and feel the power of confidence that our raw and natural surroundings can instill. The Spirit World 100 is a celebration of exactly what you’re searching for every time you jump on your bike. You’re welcomed in, wholeheartedly. 

Tucson, Arizona is our home. When we aren’t there, we’re hosting private gravel and road cycling camps around the globe. For sometime now, we’ve wanted to create an event that everybody felt comfortable committing to. Cycling camps aren’t for everybody. They may never meet your personal schedule or provide enough of what you’re looking for in a vacation. The Spirit World 100 has been designed to deliver fun, challenge and growth oriented human interaction over the course of 4 days. We couldn’t be more excited to show you Patagonia, Arizona and the San Rafael Valley. See you in The Spirit World!

Teeth to the wind,

Beginner Overnighter to Colossal Cave State Park

, , , ,

***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!

Spokes & Ale

, , , , ,

The Spokes & Ale is an event where bike, beer and outdoor enthusiasts come together in the desert for a fun filled, active weekend with riding, racing, hiking, learning and beer drinking. The day includes organized hikes, rides, clinics and seminars as well as a mountain bike race that finishes up with live music, bonfires and beer and a fun night glow ride/run.

The Spokes & Ale is an event where bike, beer and outdoor enthusiasts come together in the desert for a fun filled, active weekend with riding, racing, hiking, learning and beer drinking. The day includes organized hikes, rides, clinics and seminars as well as a mountain bike race that finishes up with live music, bonfires and beer and a fun night glow ride/run

IMG_3242.jpg

  • Mountain Bike Racing,Beer tasting from multiple breweries,Food Truck,Expo,Live clinics & seminars,Beer,Fun group rides, hikes and runs,Warriors Outdoor Festival Presentation,Live music,Bonfire,S’mores,Beer,Camping,Free race photos by Frozen Motion Photos,Evening glow ride and run – Sponsored by Bicycles of Phoenix, Plus more!

​Camping is primitive at own risk

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Spokes & Ale is an event where bike, beer and outdoor enthusiasts come together in the desert for a fun filled, active weekend with riding, racing, hiking, learning and beer drinking. The day includes organized hikes, rides, clinics and seminars as well as a mountain bike race that finishes up with live music, bonfires and beer and a fun night glow ride/run.

 

The Whiskey Off Road

, , , , , , ,

WHISKEY OFF-ROAD

April 24-26, 2026

Prescott, AZ

REGISTER SCHEDULE RESULTS

Starting on Prescott’s historical (and lively) Whiskey Row and climbing into the beautifully distracting views of Prescott National Forest, riders will connect some of the area’s most exhilarating (and challenging) pieces of singletrack, double track, gravel roads, and the occasional paved segment.

During your visit to Prescott, enjoy three fun-filled days of event festivities and being submerged in the mountain bike industry. Mingle with the most bike-minded people you’ll ever encounter while appreciating the area’s wild wild west heritage and feeling welcomed by its modern-day appreciation for the outdoor enthusiast.

With a finisher’s award in the form of a well-earned commemorative pint glass emblazoned with the distance you’ve finished and the comfort of the former Arizona Territorial capitol’s shaded lawn waiting at the finish line for all Off-Road participants…this is a finish line that will make every mile worth the effort.

The ‘Whiskey’ has a 94% finish rate. However, it’s no walk in the park

 

El Tour De Zona

, , , , , , , ,
ARIZONA’S MULTI-DAY CYCLING TOUR & FESTIVAL!

El Tour de Zona is a three-day, fully-supported bicycle tour during the day and a fun festival at night visiting the towns of Sierra Vista, Bisbee and Tombstone. The ZONA is all about having FUN! Enjoy three-days of destination loop bicycle rides mixed with post-ride festivals featuring live music, great food and a local craft beer gardens.

Come out for just a day or ride all three.

Choose Your Registration *

Thursday March 21, 2024 – Sunday March 24, 2024

Open to ages 17 and under.

$99.00 + $6.94 

Thursday March 21, 2024 – Sunday March 24, 2024

Open to ages 18+.

$219.00 + $14.14 

Friday March 22, 2024

$49.00 + $3.94  

Saturday March 23, 2024

$99.00 + $6.94 SignUp Fee 

Sunday March 24, 2024

$99.00 + $6.94 SignUp Fee 

Thursday March 21, 2024 – Sunday March 24, 2024

$179.00 + $11.74 SignUp Fee 

Thursday March 21, 2024 – Sunday March 24, 2024

$99.00 + $6.94 SignUp Fee 

Thursday March 21, 2024 – Sunday March 24, 2024

$49.00 + $3.94 SignUp Fee