Living an Empowered and Adventurous Life
About one year ago, I crossed paths with Becky Jergenson. She was fresh off completing her very first Smoke ‘n’ Fire Race (SnF). I had made the decision to move to Indiana but had promised both her and our friend Cassidy that I would return to participate in the SnF bikepacking race. I had absolutely no clue what I was getting into, or how I would accomplish this. I had never gone on a single bikepacking trip and had only started mountain biking that year. Somehow, Becky (and probably a few beers) made it seem attainable. She mentioned someone might be putting together a group for novice women that could help with preparation. So… I was in.
The Last Woman Standing: Misty Nielsen and the 2022 Smoke ‘n’ Fire
Misty Nielsen takes home the honor of being the 2022 Idaho Smoke ‘n’ Fire’s Last Woman Standing. As with every woman in this year’s amazingly large field, Misty has a fun story, getting into bikepacking with the Idaho Women’s Bikepacking group, learning the tricks of the trade, and putting together a determined ride that involved blasting down the descents at full speed. Read more about Misty and her ride and help us celebrate every woman, from the first across the finish line to the last, of this year’s event!
SnF 2022 Women’s Podium: Lauren Brownlee, Carolyn Mason, and Irena Netik
The Idaho Smoke ‘n’ Fire saw a record number of women participants this year. This article covers the top three women and their impressions including Lauren Brownlee who was the first woman and second overall finisher!
Faces Behind the Dots⎼Smoke ‘n’ Fire 2022
The Smoke ‘n’ Fire 400 is an undisputed success story of increasing the number of women in a bikepacking race field. Steered by Laura Heiner, the Idaho Women’s Bikepacking group has led to what may be the largest women’s field in a bikepacking event. Get to know some of the faces behind the dots of this year’s race.
