Faces Behind the Dots- Arizona Trail Race 2022

The Arizona Trail Race (AZTR) starts this Thursday, October 20. This year, seven women are racing the AZT 300 and two women are racing the AZT 800. A truly singletrack route, the AZT 300 is 88.7% dirt and the AZT 800 is 92.4% dirt. It is rare to find long-distance routes with such an impressive dirt to pavement ratio. Much of this is due to race director John Schilling’s ongoing route scouting and development and the Arizona Trail Association’s continued trail building efforts. The route starts at the Arizona border with Mexico and traverses north through stunning desert country, goes into the alpine of Mount Lemmon, and continues on rugged and rocky terrain where the AZT 300 ends at the Picket Post Trailhead in Superior, AZ. Two women (Alexandera Houchin and Ana Jager) will continue their trek all the way north to the Utah border. These women will even have to disassemble their bikes to carry on their backs across the Grand Canyon! Read about these AZTR riders below.

You can follow dots at trackleaders.com. Keep an eye out for coverage during the race!

Alexandera Houchin

Home: Minnesota and Arizona

Bike: Chumba Sendero Singlespeed

AZT 800 or 300? 800

Tell us about your most recent bikepacking trip.

I haven’t really done any bikepacking trips since I completed the Colorado Trail Race back in August. I’ve been attending a lot of events since finishing that race. I attended Roam Fest in Fruita, and that was a fun space to ride bikes with other women. And last weekend, I was out in North Carolina riding mountain bikes at the Outdoors For All event at Camp Grier. I feel really unprepared to race and am leaving in the morning to ride to the start of the race at the Mexico border.

Editor’s note: you can read about Alexandera’s bikepacking background by reading her responses on the Colorado Trail Race Faces Behind the Dots article.

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

I wanted to have a proper chance to race since last year, but I fell while rock climbing in the Cochise Stronghold just five days before we were set out to pedal to the start. I messed my ankle up really bad and still set out to race. I’ve been doing physical therapy and trying to work my ankle back to “working” all year.

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I love the whole route. Last year, I was able to ride a bunch of the new stuff on this year’s 800 route while I did a AZT 300 southbound. I’m excited to hike the canyon with a foot that actually works. 

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

I bring a Platypus water filter. I like that they can attach to the Smartwater water bottles. They also backwash pretty easy. I bring iodine tablets for when the water looks dirty enough that it would clog up my filter. I’m planning on brining seven liters, with the occasional Gatorade purchase to add a liter in dryer sections. 

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

I am rocking flat pedals— Tectonic pedals. I switched from clips to flats when I was making a point that specialized cycling gear wasn’t necessary to ride a bike fast and I just ended up liking it. I like being able to wear whatever shoe I have on whenever I want to ride my bike. The flat pedals end up being more comfortable for me, especially when I am descending. I used to have hot-spots when I descended and now I just move my feet freely. I do like clipping in when I am riding technical trails— they help me clear some things I sometimes lose momentum on otherwise. But when it comes to these long events, I think comfort is super important, and for me, clip-in shoes are uncomfortable.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

I’m bringing a bigger backpack than I usually would. I also will be carrying hiking poles for the canyon hike. I’ll be bringing more back up power than usual too, seeing as the nights are really long and it’s going to be dark!

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

I’m wearing pants, which I hate doing. I will likely wear gloves more than I want. But the prickly plants get ya. Last year, I fell on a prickly pear and had cactus in my butt the whole race. 

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

Run away from: black bear

Shoo off the trail: rattlesnake

Take home as a pet: coatimundi

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

I will be going up the Lemmon Drop. I’ve hiked up Oracle Ridge twice last year, with my bike, and I can’t imagine that the Lemmon Drop is any more challenging. Maybe hiking up Incinerator… that may be the toughest part for me. The trail is so beautiful, magical and peaceful. There’s water, and views of the Galiuros that are stunning. There are no cars and very few people. It’s pure and romantic. And, it’s got AZT blazes all along the route.

Ana Jager

Home: Anchorage, AK

Bike: Salsa Spearfish

AZT 800 or 300? I am going to give the 800 a go!

Tell us about your most recent bikepacking trip.

The Colorado Trail Race was my most recent trip on a bike! It was a stunning and super challenging ride. I am excited to see new and different environments along the AZT and use this as a final bikepack adventure before transitioning to Alaska winter mode (puffy layers, lots of sleep, snow!!!)

Editor’s note: you can read about Ana’s bikepacking background by reading her responses on the Colorado Trail Race Faces Behind the Dots article.

What motivated you to race the AZT this year?

I have really enjoyed watching and hearing about AZT experiences from friends who have raced it. I got motivated kinda last minute to give the AZT a try this year in order to try completing a “triple crown” paired with racing the Tour Divide and Colorado Trail Race earlier this summer. Alice Drobna has the women’s triple crown record. I read about Alice and I decided I wanted to take on the challenge of doing all three races in a summer too! It is a special chance to get to cover a lot of ground and see so many different landscapes on my bike and under my own power. The race courses have changed a bit since Alice triple crown in 2015, but I still think it is a cool challenge to race and compare the three events in a season. Another AZT motivator is the chance to see/hang with nice folks I’ve met at these events throughout the summer!

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I’m pumped to see the desert in a lush phase since it’s been monsooning. That has two sides to it because I’m also anticipating the overgrown cactus to be on attack throughout the route. The Grand Canyon hike section is hecka intimidating but I am also curious to see how my body and mind respond to that challenge at that point on the route.

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

I’ve got a Katadyn BeFree filter and will probs bring along some Aquamira drops. I have 7/8ish liters of water carry capacity. Long desert riding is new and for sure daunting to me.

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

I’m going clipless because it’s what I’m used to. I am carrying a pair of running shoes to put on for the Grand Canyon hike. My hope is to jam music and find ways to make long, rocky hike-a-biking a good time.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

More water capacity than I’ve carried before and running shoes for the Grand Canyon/ gnar-gnar hike-a-bike sections.

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

Long sleeves, long pants and some leather work gloves!

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

Run from mountain lion, shoo off snakes/crawlers, coatimundi looks like a cute pet!

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

Not me! The Lemmon Drop deal sounds wild and like a cool challenge, but I think the typical route will be plenty of a challenge for me. For now I think I’m drawn to the consistency of a set/standard route for group start events.

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

I like how days feel really long and really short at the same time. I like being awake for so many different phases throughout the day. I really enjoy the connection I feel to my physical body in these kind of adventures— both trusting its ability and learning to listen to what my body needs in order to feel capable.

Carrie Hammond

Home: Vista, CA and McCall, ID

Bike: Rocky Mountain Vertex, 2015 carbon, 2x

AZT 800 or 300? 300. I’d like to go back next year to ride the remaining 500. I’m kind of obsessed with the idea of hiking thru the Grand Canyon with my bike on my back.

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you get into bikepacking?

I have been bikepacking for almost eight years! I am a long-time adventurer and previously have done endurance events in MTB and things like adventure racing. Mountain biking since the 90s and racing since 1994! I LOVE BIKEPACKING! When I’m on these trips I laugh a lot with the girls. It is challenging and unpredictable. You gotta dig deep and push through low moments. Stagecoach 400 and Bones to Blue are my favorite bikepack routes so far!

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

Well, I’m certainly not getting any younger and my list of bikepack routes is only getting longer! We rode about 100 miles of it ten years ago and said we’d be back! The time is NOW! The schedules finally align!

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

Looking forward to riding with my bestie Shelly and seeing new trails, making friends along the way! I LOVE the navigation and route finding including how to plan for water and food resupply. I love sleeping under the stars! I’m not really intimidated by the route…but I know these will be HARD EARNED miles and I always wish I had more time to train. I will be doing my best to protect my body and bike from HARD rocks and sharp objects!

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

Sawyer squeeze (regular size; not mini) I could carry about six liters. No, not worried about running out of water. We will play it safe and carry enough. We’ve researched where to resupply.

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Crankbrother Eggbeaters… I can’t imagine pedaling up the hills without pulling up. It’s what I’ve ridden for years. I’m comfortable with this setup. Pearl Izumi XAlp Enduro shoe – good tread for walking. I don’t really have strong feelings about the hike-a-bikes; I mean, I always prefer to be pedaling but hike-a-bikes are just part of life. Whatever… just push it up and get over it. I lift a lot of weights in the gym so my upper body is not neglected when it comes to lifting my heavy bike over rocks and ledges. It’s just part of the deal.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

Small comb for removing spines. Kahtoola gators to keep debris and stickers from getting in my socks and in my shoes. An extra Platupus water bladder.

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

Arm warmers and Gore pants?? That catclaw is brutal though.

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

I wouldn’t run away from any of them but I hate the mountain lions (don’t run from them!) Shoo away the rattlesnake. Take home the roadrunner… they are the best!

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

Um, I’m not familiar with this crazy idea. I’ll be welcoming the smooth climb and a break from the rough trail. Red blinking light will be on and we’ll just power out the road climb while fantasizing about the “Cookie Shack” in Summerhaven!

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

No laundry. 🙂 Freedom. The unknown. Simple living. Problem-solving. Laughing on the trail. Meeting new peeps. Seeing new sites. Setting a goal, working toward that goal and then accomplishing it!

Have I missed anything you want people to know about you or your thoughts about racing the AZTR?

Life is short. Don’t wait. Don’t make excuses…you are stronger than you think you are! Train, plan and JUST GO FOR IT!!

Isabelle Fisk

Home: Durango, CO

Bike: Ti Slug Gasser

AZT 800 or 300? 300

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you get into bikepacking?

I commuted by bike and did weekend road tours around the San Juan islands when I lived in the Pacific Northwest around 2014, but it wasn’t until COVID times that I took up mountain biking. Bikepacking is still very new for me within the last year.

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

I find myself chasing bigger and bigger days on my bike, and the AZT 300 seems like the logical next step. This will be my first bikepacking race, and I’m curious if I can finish it. I’m also curious if this style of racing and riding is something I will enjoy.

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I’m looking forward to being fully present and slowing down, mentally. I am also excited to ride sections of trail that are new to me; I’ve only done a little riding in southern Arizona. I’m intimidated by… pretty much the whole thing! A year ago, I don’t think I was physically or mentally prepared for something like this, so it’s cool to see growth in myself. 

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

I’m carrying a Katadyn filter and I plan to have just over seven liters of capacity spread across my bike bags and a running vest. I don’t do well in the heat, so I’m definitely nervous about running out of water in the desert.

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Flats! I will be wearing my 5.10 trailcross LT’s. They’re comfortable for me, and I’ve found they hike really well. As for rocky hike-a-bikes… I like them! I can get frustrated on a long hike-a-bike, but eventually I get in the flow and then everything is peachy.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

This is my first bikepacking race, so I am not sure what will become part of my “normal” gear setup yet.

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

I will have tweezers on quickdraw… and I’ll try to stay upright! I’ll also be wearing low gaiters, but I think those will only protect me against tiny pebbles in my shoes.

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

Scorpion: shoo off the trail; Tarantula: take home as a pet; Rattlesnake: run away; Mountain Lion: run away; Black Bear: shoo off the trail; Road Runner: take home as a pet; Teddy Bear Cholla cactus: shoo off the trail (not sure it’ll listen!); Coatimundi: take home as a pet

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

I’m so excited for them! I thought about it briefly, but I’d better see if I can finish the race before I take on any extra credit assignments.

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

Bikepacking allows you to go on bike rides that are too long to do in a single day. It opens up lots of possibilities!

Have I missed anything you want people to know about you or your thoughts about racing the AZTR?

I’m getting hip surgery in December to repair an injury, so I’ve been wavering on whether I should even start the race. I’d like to finish bike season with a big effort, but I want to make good choices for my body in the long run. My mom told me to “listen to what my body wants, not what my brain wants” so I’ll be ruminating on that while I’m out there. I don’t have a great track record of listening to physical discomfort, so it will be a great exercise in really paying attention to myself!

Jennifer Hanson

Home: Ranch in the Desert

Bike: Salsa Spearfish

AZT 800 or 300? Racing the 300 southbound

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you get into bikepacking?

I have been riding a bicycle since I was a little kid…. I did my first bikepacking in 2016 on John Schilling’s Queens Ransom, Jason was doing it and I wanted to try out bikepacking !

My most recent bikepacking trip was three days on the Black Hills Expedition, I can’t wait to go back !

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

I have been wanting to race southbound for a few years now, The AZT is my favorite trail!

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I am most looking forward to moving through and seeing all the different landscapes along the AZT. 

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

My filtration system is the Katadyn BeFree 1.0L. I can carry seven to eight liters of water. Not nervous at this point in time as far as running out of water in the desert!

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Clipless pedals, that’s all I have ever used. My shoes are Pearl Izumi X-Alp Summit . Rocky hike-a-bike comes natural for me, I am good with it.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

My special thing I use for the AZT is my Outdoor Research gaiters.

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

My protection from the prickly plants are the gaiters, arm sleeves and long shorts.

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

Run away from teddy bear cholla, shoo the Tarantula off the trail and take the Roadrunner home as a pet.

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

I am not going up or down the Lemon Drop at this time !

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

My favorite aspect of Bikepacking is that you can travel through a lot of cool landscapes.

Have I missed anything you want people to know about you or your thoughts about racing the AZTR?

I would say the AZT is a very special trail.

Kat Roch

Home: Eagle River, AK

Bike:  2020 Ibis DV9

AZT 800 or 300?  I’ll be riding the 300

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you get into bikepacking?

I’ve been in love with two wheels for as long as I can remember, and my mom has pics of me on bikes that go back further than my memory. My love of bikes has always been there but around my teen years I got into running and then backpacking and then I discovered self-supported ultra running and fell in love. Unfortunately I suffered a pretty major ankle injury during a race in 2019, surgery was able to reassemble my ankle but long-distance running was now out of the picture. During my recovery is when I discovered long distance self-supported bikepacking, prior to this I had dabbled in some of the “shorter” self-supported winter bike races in AK, and once I was able to ride again I started doing incrementally longer rides and then added in self navigating and self-supported longer rides and races and found that doing this on a bike was very similar to what I was doing on foot and I was hooked. There’s definitely been a steep learning curve since I now need to maintain a bike as well as myself but I’ve been loving every step, even if sometimes that love appears in hindsight. Fun fact(I learned the hard way) factory freehub grease will freeze at -40F, although I’ll admit that lesson was maybe not so fun to learn. Less fun fact: body parts also freeze at -40F.

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

So far all of my bikepacking experience has been in AK, I was looking at options in other areas and started reading about the AZT. Since I’d been biking in AZ several times and really enjoyed the diversity of landscape, the weather and the desert I decided the AZT would be a fun way to see even more of AZ and get to see and experience a trail that is totally different from what I’m used to.

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I’m looking forward to discovering new parts of AZ and experiencing those epic desert sunrises and sunsets.

I wouldn’t say I’m intimidated by anything on the route.

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

I have a BeFree filter that fits into the top of my hydration bladder, and I’ll also be carrying a Life Straw mainly because I always carry it as a just in case. I’ve only had to use it once but it definitely makes drinking questionable water a little easier mentally.

I’ll have the capacity to carry seven liters of water.

Running out of water in the desert does make me nervous, but isn’t that true for everyone? I believe listening to those nervous things in your head helps us to make good decisions and hopefully keep us safe, or at least a little safer than if we ignored those things.

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Both. I ride Crank Bros Double shot pedals. I spend most of my time clipped in but have learned that as fatigue/sleep deprivation grows my muscle memory for how to unclip sometimes fades so in those times I spin the pedal and use the platform side. It provides a good compromise and having the option to use the platform side has so far worked well for me.

My shoes are Giro Terradura, they’ve been well loved and have covered many miles both on my bike and walking along side it, so decided to bring them along on my desert spirit quest.

My feeling about rocky HABs is probably similar to my feeling on waist deep snow drift HABs, it’s all part of the fun even if it doesn’t always feel like fun in that exact moment.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

I’ll be bringing a hair pick, I’ve heard that it’s a good way to get those overly friendly cacti off of you, I’ve previously used a tire lever but I’m willing to give the hair pick a try this go round. And who knows, I may discover a cool on-trail hair style courtesy of the pick and decide to bring it everywhere in the future.

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

Make friends with their leader and try to become one of them. But for a more realistic strategy I have low gaiters for the lower leg/ankle and will be wearing my G-form knee pads for protection above the gaiters. I’ll also have arm sleeves for the upper body

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

Run Away From(while screaming loudly): rattlesnake, but I’ll scream at pretty much any snake.

Shoo off the trail: black bear, the secret is to pretend you’re a big scary monster, black bears hate scary monsters.

Take home as a pet: coatimundi. I had to google what it is, I’ve never heard of or seen one before.

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

I’ve been intrigued by the Lemmon Drop but will be keeping it on pavement this go around. I have a love/hate relationship with the Catalina hwy, it’s only fitting it be involved in my first AZT attempt

The riders going up the Lemmon Drop aren’t crazy, just going on a bit of a different journey

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

I love that it allows me to experience the world from a different perspective compared to the fast paced everyday life we sometimes have to navigate. Traveling by bike allows me to experience my surroundings in a simpler, slower way and really get in tune with the quiet of the natural world and really be present in that moment. What’s more simple and enjoyable than pedaling a bike through the world?

Have I missed anything you want people to know about you or your thoughts about racing the AZTR?

I’m just an accountant who loves adventure and human-powered travel who tries to live by the mantra: “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll just be one year older when you do” ~Warren Miller

Katie Scott

Home: Durango, CO

Bike: Juliana Furtado

AZT 800 or 300? 300

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you get into bikepacking?

I started riding more seriously when I moved to Durango. I love challenging single-track and gravel. I also race cyclocross. I started doing longer distances when the pandemic started and I found myself with more time and energy. I was doing all these rides where I would leave from home and just see how far I could get. I also did my first endurance race- the Salida Big Friggin Loop- egged on by my friend Raf! Since doing that I became really interested in piecing together massive days on roads and trails. I haven’t actually done a ton of bikepacking. I got into it initially thanks to the Radical Adventure Riders. I went to the first summit in Whitefish where I went on my first trip.

What motivated you to race the AZT this year?

My friend Isabelle ! I jumped into this at the last second! I’m trying out saying yes to opportunities and doing things before I feel ready while dropping my expectations.

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I’m looking forward to pushing my limits and seeing what I can do. Mostly just getting to be out for however long it takes me. I’m intimidated by the water situation the most- in most of my experience in Colorado the next water source is always nearby. I’m also intimidated by all the newness in the way I’m approaching this.

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

Yes! I will carry Aquatabs and a Katadyn BeFree. I can fit about five-ish liters.

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Clipless- I feel more one with the bike, and my mom started me on clipless young! I’ll be in some pretty stiff soled xc Giros- probably not the best for this- but it’s what I’m used to. I may regret it. I am up for the hiking. I’ve been doing a lot of backpacking this summer.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

My sleep set up is going to be a lot more minimal. This is the first trip I won’t be carrying a tent.

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

Sleeves. I didn’t really strategize for my legs 😬 grin and bear it I guess.

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

Run away from scorpion. Shoo off trail tarantula. Might not have a choice about taking home a cholla.

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy?

I think this is going to be challenging enough for me already! I think the extra credit is awesome though for whoever is doing it. 

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

Covering a lot of ground, seeing a lot, moving my body, and just being a little human out in the world.

Meg Knobel

Home: San Diego, CA

Bike: Santa Cruz Blur

AZT 800 or 300? 300 this year!

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you get into bikepacking?

I grew up with several parents who loved bikes, so I’ve been fortunate that they’ve always been in my life to some extent. I’ve tried many corners of the bike world, both leisurely and racey, and really loved touring and mountain biking. So, bikepacking was love at first sight.

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

The desert! Love me some fall and winter desert riding. I’d also like to check out the first 300mi as a preview for hopefully doing the 800 sometime soon. Last spring, I got to ride a day with John Schilling and chat about the route, and that encouraged me even more to sign up for the group start.

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

I’m most looking forward to SINGLETRACK. The fatigue in these events really gets to me on the long doubletrack and gravel, where I can close my eyes… but the singletrack keeps my mind alert! I’m always intimidated by the cold, being acclimated to San Diego currently, so hoping temps stay relatively mild up on Lemmon.

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

I’m bringing a Katadyn BeFree. It was solid for me at Utah Mixed Epic last year, and I’m never going back to a Sawyer, too finicky. I’m carrying just over six liter capacity. I’m comfortable with desert riding and long stretches between water, being the steward of the Stagecoach 400 here in SoCal, and I’ve really meticulously studied previous year’s rider history and moving times between water spots… so, as long as nothing goes terribly wrong, I am not particularly nervous about running out of water, no. (crosses fingers). Generally I drink a bottle at a refill spot and then top off, which seems to help stretch that capacity.

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Clipless pedals bc it’s what I usually ride for almost everything. I keep them pretty loose for bikepacking, bc the unclipping tends to fatigue my achilles. I am wearing Specialized Rime shoes with the vibram soles. They look like hiking shoes really. I don’t mind rocky hike-a-bike, gives you a chance to stretch your legs and move differently. I have a tailbone injury that tends to nag me on rides, and the hiking gives me some reprieve from that as well.

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

You’ll laugh, but this is my first time carrying a tube! I always bring a sidewall tear repair kit, and I’m generally very kind to my tires. I literally just took off my front Ardent Race from Utah Mixed Epic 2021 to put this new Ardent on! It did UME, a bunch of SoCal winter riding, Stagecoach 400, Pinyons and Pines, and my pretty minimal AZTR training. That’s a lotta rocky riding (Maxxis, sponsor me?). I almost felt bad tossing it out! 

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there? 

eh… avoiding them as much as possible… I might do the first day in tall compression socks. Hiking gaiters, and bringing tweezers.

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

This question made me realize there are bears on Mt. Lemmon, so, that’ll be the “run away from” …

Shoo the tarantula off the trail!

Not that I’d want to take one home, but Coatimundis are so cute! I also didn’t realize we were riding through their habitat. That’s pretty cool!

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

Not being local, I had to look this trail up. Looks rad, downhill. I’m going to venture to guess that 24hr+ into AZTR, I am probably not going to want to ride up a downhill trail when there is pavement in front of me? But we will see how morale is ;).

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

Personally, how the rest of my brain and life finally quiet down, and I can focus on the views more presently. Generally, how any distance is still so worth it, there are so many good ways you can bikepack.

Have I missed anything you want people to know about you or your thoughts about racing the AZTR?

This year will be interesting. I sliced my knee pretty bad while riding in late July, 3-inches down to the bone on my kneecap. After it healed, I got Covid for the first time… So I spent the better half of Aug/Sept recovering. I’d really love to do the 800 sometime if life allows, so I’m considering this year on the 300 as a preview. I got to ride some of the northern parts of the AZT during Pinyons and Pines, and really loved it… so, I’m going to just do whatever my body and brain are feeling. No arbitrary pressures or goals. Try not to split my knee scar open. Enjoy the scenery, singletrack, night riding, and camaraderie. I’m excited to see a bunch of my Stagecoach friends out there!

Shelly Peppe-Nani

Home: San Diego, CA

Bike: Advocate HayDuke set up as a 29r and it’s titanium

AZT 800 or 300? 300 and riding with a clip vs racing!!

What’s your bikepacking and bike riding background? How did you into bikepacking?

I did my first bikepacking event here in San Diego, Stagecoach 400, and I was hooked. I have ridden that race/route seven times. Each time I learn something new, meet someone new and discover another piece of San Diego County that I didn’t know about. I did Baja Divide start in 2017 with Lael Wilcox and crew. I have done Bones to Blue and Tour de Los padres. I am hoping to “trip” more this year and this time in my life! Most recent quality overnighter was on the Coast to Crest Trail where I slept on the beach!!

What motivated you to race the AZT this year? 

Best friend and partner in crime, Carrie Hammond. We came out and did a 100 mile section of AZT for her 40th bday, a decade plus ago. Vowed to return!!

What are you most looking forward to on the route? Is there anything you’re intimidated by on the route? 

Days unplugged, desert nights and Javelina!!

What is your water filtration system? Water carrying capacity? Does running out of water in the desert make you nervous?

Sawyer with back up aqua tabs. 250 ounces of storage if I had to. I really like water and have been obsessing about where to get it in the desert. A cow trough fed by a spring can be surprisingly delish!!

Clipless pedals or flat pedals and why? What shoes are you wearing? What are your feelings about rocky hike-a-bikes?

Crank brothers. May regret not having walking shoes!

Do you have any AZTR-specific gear that you normally wouldn’t carry during a bikepacking race?

Two sets of tweezers. The desert is so pokey

Do you have a strategy for protecting yourself against the prickly plants out there?

Arm sleeves and Gore-Tex light weight bottoms if it gets too scratchy

Let’s play a game of Run Away From, Shoo Off the Trail, or Take Home as a Pet (choose one for each): Scorpion, tarantula, rattlesnake, mountain lion, black bear, road runner, teddy-bear cholla cactus, coatimundi.  

I stop and make myself big and loud but want to run from a mountain lion. I shoo a rattler and take a tarantula home to snuggle!

There’s a contingency of racers going up the Lemmon Drop rather than riding the Catalina Highway up Mt. Lemmon. Are you going up the Lemmon Drop or are those riders crazy? 

Life is a highway and I want to ride it all night long. Highway I think!!

What’s your favorite aspect of bikepacking?

Simplicity of the job at hand. Ride and eat and sleep and do it again for days.

Have I missed anything you want people to know about you or your thoughts about racing the AZTR?

So excited to be able to ride my bike, take time away from work and meet some rad ladies that probably feel a lot like I do!!