Rigs of the 2024 Arkansas High Country Race

The inaugural Arkansas High Country Race was held in 2019. At that time, the event followed a single 1,037-mile course based on Adventure Cycling Association’s Arkansas High Country Route. Since 2022, riders have been able to choose from three routes, ranging from 250 to 1,000 miles. For 2024, the three routes are: the full Arkansas High Country Route, the Central Loop, and the Ozark Odyssey.

The full Arkansas High Country route has a bit of everything over 1,000+ miles with more than 80,000 feet of elevation gain. The Central Loop tours the Boston Mountains of the Ozark Range and the Arkansas River Valley, following a 430-mile route with over 33,000 feet of elevation gain. The Ozark Odyssey is Johnny Brazil’s attempt to make the hardest possible route in the Ozarks. It is remote, the roads are non-existent, and the climbing is plentiful. It follows a 250-mile loop with over 23,000 feet of elevation gain.

With help from the organizers and the riders, we assembled rig highlights for many of those who signed up for the event, featuring bike, bag, and gear details, as well as what route they plan on riding. Dig into them below, and then head over to the event page tomorrow at 7 a.m. to follow their progress live.

Katherine Anderson

Age 49 / Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: My little pony “Dewdrop Dazzle” is a standard 2025 Salsa Cutthroat SRAM Rival GX AXS trans build, 1 x 12 drivetrain with a 34T chainring and 10-52T cassette. She sits on 29 x 2.2” Teravail Sparwood tires, DT Swiss wheels, and has Profile aerobars.
BAGS: Beautiful custom full frame and top tube bag from Zach at South City Stitchworks. Apidura 7L saddle bag, USWE hydration pack, and Revelate Designs feed bags for carrying up to 3L. Musette bag for ALL the gas station snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Snuggling up in a Spark bag and Helium bivy. I love my Doom bell and custom message board.

Angela Barcenilla

Age 44 / Rogers, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: This will be my first attempt at the Arkansas High Country Race as I explore the Central Loop on a 2022 Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon. The setup is mostly stock, with the exception of a SRAM Force crankset with 40T chainring and power meter, DT Swiss Ratchet LN SRAM XD-compatible free hub body, SRAM X01 Eagle 10-52T cassette, Specialized Power Saddle with Mimic, Profile Design Supersonic Ergo Aerobars, SRAM wireless blips, and Teravail 700 x 47mm Durable Cannonball tires.
BAGS: Due to limited space with a smaller frame, it was important to maximize the load capacity with my bag setup. To help accomplish this, I chose a Cedaero custom frame bag which accommodates an Apidura 3L bladder, Tailfin Alloy Aeropack, Tailfin Mini panniers, Apidura Racing aerobar pack, Apidura Racing bolt-on top tube pack, Cedaro Devil’s Kettle Packs matching my custom frame bag, Ortlieb Micro Two saddle bag, and Arundel Looney Bin Cages mounted on the fork for flexible hydration options.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My bike/gear setup secret weapon is my husband, he has been the mastermind behind much of the design choices and setup for my bike. He focused on a setup that carries the water on the frame to avoid having to hoist water on my back and modified a Polar water bottle to accept a hydration tube that will carry my electrolyte mix. The best hack of all is the custom CNC-machined 7075 aluminum extended seat post connector he designed to solve for a tight and awkward fit of the rack on my 49cm frame. Other highlights include an Outbound Lighting Trail Evo light, Garmin Edge 1040 Solar computer, and various ultralight camping gear.

Kelli Brannen

Age 44 / Moline, Illinois (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I’ll be attempting to complete the Central Route on my 2022 Liv Devote Advanced 2. Her standard 700c wheels have been replaced with 650b and a combination of Continental and Schwalbe 2″ tires. ‘Livvy’ is powered on a 2x (46/30T) GRX drivetrain with an 11-42T cassette compliments of the Wolf Tooth Goatlink. The Cane Creek seat post, Selle Italia Gravel saddle, Redshift ShockStop stem and TopShelf handlebar with Cruise Control grips all unite to put as much fun into the distance as my body can handle.
BAGS: I’ll travel with a mix of luggage including Tailfin, Rogue Panda, Brooks, Po Campo, Revelate Designs and a standard Sea to Summit drybag lashed to a Jack Rack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite part of my gear is the absence of cold weather gear. I feel like I’m packing to ride RAGBRAI instead of an adventure in October!

Justin Chapman

Age 35 / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: I’ll be riding the 250-mile Ozark Odyssey on my Rodeo Labs Trail Donkey 3.1, named Leopold :) It’s equipped with SRAM Force AXS, 36T chainring up front, an eeSilk seatpost, a Redshift ShockStop stem, a Brooks C17 saddle, Hunt 30 Carbon wheels, a SONdelux dynamo hub, aero bars with ESI extra chunky grips, and 43c Panaracer Gravel King Semi-Slicks.
BAGS: My oversized top-tube bag and frame bag are homemade and have served me very well! The top-tube bag has dividers and plenty of space to keep gear organized and accessible while riding. The frame bag leaves just enough room behind it for an Apidura packable backpack, perfect for carrying extra fuel when needed. My saddle bag is an Oveja Negra Gearjammer, and up front, I use an Outer Shell handlebar harness with a Sea to Summit dry bag for my sleep system.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For lighting I’ll be using an Exposure Revo front light and Lupine Wilma headlamp, whose external battery also serves as a power source for other devices. My sleep system includes a Western Mountaineering AlpinLite bag, an OR Helium bivy, a Therm-a-Rest Neo-Air Uberlite pad, and a tiny Therm-a-Rest pillow. Additional gear highlights include a Hammerhead Karoo for navigation, Katadyn filter, Nitecore NB10000 power bank, and Sinewave Revolution.

Jeremy Cook

Age 48 / DeLand, Florida (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop.
BIKE: I raced the Full Loop last year and fell in love with the Ozarks, so this year I will be riding the Central Loop on my Salsa Fargo Ti which is built-up with a mix of mostly SRAM components. Gearing is 32T front ring with a 10-46T cassette and I will be rolling on Hunt XC wheels mated with Continental 2.2″ Race Kings. A Cane Creek eeSilk stem will smooth out the bumps, plus I have Profile Designs aero bars for some additional hand and riding positions.
BAGS: Framebag is a custom Nuke Sunrise, plus their Titan top tube bag. The rest is a collection of Swift Industries: Ollie seat, Kestral handlebar, two Gemini cargo packs, and I will be sporting their Anchor hip pack. Oh! Two Alpkit feedbags as well.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Nemo Hornet OSMO will serve as my shelter along with an Hammock Gear 30⁰ down quilt and Exped Ultra 5R air pad. My Garmin 540 Solar will handle the navigation. Helmet and headlight by Fenix Lighting will show me the the way at night while my big Singletrack Samurai safety triangle will help keep me seen!

Gary Cors

Age 51 / New Port Richey, Florida (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I will be riding a custom titanium Black Sheep Bikes 36er. Rolling over the Ozarks on 36 x 2.25″ Vee Tire T-Monsters, set up tubeless on Nextie carbon 36” wheels. 200mm DeVinci cranks to power the 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T Wolf Tooth chainring for climbing. The cockpit is equipped with a Redshift Sports Shockstop stem, Wren Sports Perseverance Bar, and DirtySixer mega grips for comfort.
BAGS: Two custom Rockgeist bags fill the old school klunker style frame. Rockgeist top tube bag and microwave panniers complete the set.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Quad Lock mount to secure iPhone and run RWGPS for navigation with Garmin eTrex 30 as backup. Thule Pack ‘n’ Pedal rear rack. Fenix bar and helmet lights.

Bret Darby

Age 36 / Verona, Wisconsin (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Ozark Odyssey on a mostly stock 2022 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features a new pair of Teravail Sparwood 2.2” tires, new lights (2 front, 3 rear), a bell, and rear view mirror. Pretty much the safest bike out there.
BAGS: I’m using a RouteWerks handlebar bag that is incredible for tools, snacks, and a few other essentials (Battery, GPS, and phone). The Tailfin top tube bag holds a pump and a few more snacks. The rear Tailfin Aeropack has extra water, food, clothing, sunscreen, and emergency supplies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A Spurcycle bike bell & R35 bar end mirror take safety to the limit, while outbound lighting with pass-through charging will help me see where I’m going after dark. Running the tech tracking trifecta: Garmin 67i for dot tracking, Suunto for wrist HR and Strava, and Whoop to tell me if I’m tired or not after the race.

Jack Davidson

Age 53 / Oak Park, Illinois (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I am switching it up this year and riding my modified Santa Cruz Highball hardtail with another custom set of “Curt Special” wheels built by Curt Warner of Bikefix featuring sick DT Swiss Three Decades hubs and We Are One Convergence rims on a mismatched set of Conti RaceKing 2.2” tires, a SRAM X01 34T x 10-52T drivetrain fine tuned by Jackalope Cycling in Russellville, AR, a 100mm 32 Fox Factory Float fork, Profile Designs aerobars, and *gasp* flat pedals for the gnAR.
BAGS: I’m most stoked about my awesome custom full length TT bag and frame bag from Zack Smith of South City Stitchworks who just crushed the assignment. I’m also running a Tailfin Aeropack and a Chuckbucket or two from Oveja Negra.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: It’s going to be a hot year, so minimal gear is best. I’ll have a Outdoor Resarch bivy, pad, maybe a quilt, and spare bladders for more water in addition to my Apidura 3L frame bag bladder, a 2L bladder on my beloved Nathan vest, and a Katadyn Befree filter for the couple of long stretches we have without resupply.

Jesse Davis

Age 56 / Manteo, North Carolina (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: Kona Raijin set up drop bar with a Fox 34 Stepcast fork. Rival/GX AXS with some blips under the aerobars. Generic carbon rims laced to an I9 hub in the back and a Son Dynamo up front. Conti Race King 2.2s when the time comes.
BAGS: Ortlieb small roll on the bars and a small Revelate Designs Spinelock on the seat. Tailfin medium stem bag and an Apidura cargo bag for fixins.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Running the kLite array to keep everything topped off. The sleep kit will probably be puffy pants and a jacket with a SOL bivy. Black Diamond hydration vest for cargo purposes. 1 or 2 other luxury items.

Henry Dietrich

Age 28 / Taos, New Mexico (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I will be racing the AHCR full loop on my 2021 Kona Sutra ULTD. I will be pushing a 34T chainring with a 1×12 SRAM eagle/Ratio drivetrain. Profile Designs aero bars adorn my Ritchey Beacon XL handlebars that feature Redshift Cruise Control grips and a Shockstop stem to smooth things out. I will be rolling on 2.2” Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, sitting on a Brooks Cambium C17 saddle, and my SP dynamo hub and Sinewave Beacon will keep my electronics charged and the road well-lit. I’m rocking a drop-bar dropper for when things get jiggy.
BAGS: My custom Rockgeist frame bag will primarily haul food and water for me, as well as various electronics, my repair kit, and anything else I can cram into it. A Jpaks Dropperpak will hold my sleep setup and spare clothes. An Oveja Negra and Jpaks Footlong top tube bags for snacks and sundries.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will wear a 15L BD hydration vest with up to 3L of water-carrying capacity to combat the heat and help with long food and water hauls. The 30 oz Hydrapak Breakaway water bottle/filter mounted on my downtube will also help up my water capacity. At night an Outbound Lighting Hangover helmet light will supplement my Sinewave Beacon. When it’s time for a little dirt nap I will be throwing on a puffy jacket and pants and snuggling into a SOL bivy on top of my Therm-a-Rest Uberlite sleeping pad.

Dave Easley

Age 43 / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop.
BIKE: I’ll be riding a Rodeo Labs Flaanimal single speed (42x21T) paired with a Santa Cruz Reserve 650b wheel set with a SON Dynamo hub in front and 2.1″ Vittoria Mezcal tires all around. Comfort provided by a set of Salsa Rustler flat bars and Profile Design aero bars.
BAGS: I’ll be using a Tailfin rack system with an 8L dry bag packed with a sleep setup and extra clothes. I’ll also have two stem bags, two top tube bags (front and back), and a half-frame bag, all from Steady Co.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite pieces of gear are my stem bags, which can hold drinks, snacks, layers—anything I might need to access quickly.

Chris Farney

Age 40 / Saint Joseph, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: Mone El Continente, Fleecer Ridge tires, bar ends, dropper post. This bike is my daily commuter, light duty mountain bike, gravel grinder, urban thrasher, etc. I do love her.
BAGS: Bags are Dispersed and Revelate Designs. The Dispersed custom bags were the best investment I could have ever made. ~80 oz fluid capacity.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m going with a bivy, quilt, and inflatable mat and pillow for my sleep kit. Platypus Quickdraw water filter. Outbound lights. Garmin for nav and satellite tracker. And of course, my Doom bell for safety.

James Flanagan

Age 35 / Fayetteville, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: 2023 Salsa Stormchaser, full SRAM Rival/Eagle GX AXS drivetrain, 36T front ring, 10-52T cassette, Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2″ tires.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L seat bag, Revelate Jerrycan, JPaks Footlong Snakpak, Road Runner bags 5L Wedge Frame Bag, and a 5L dry bag on one fork.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love the Spinergy GX wheelset. Aluminum rims with carbon PBO spokes weighing in at barely 1,400 grams.

Joe Fox

Age 41 / Kansas City, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: Slow Southern Steel (Fayetteville-made) single-speed (32/17T), SID front Suspension, and a fresh set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires.
BAGS: Handlebar and seat bag by Dispersed Bikepacking, Frame bag and top tube bags by Buckhorn.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Doom bell and full sleep kit on this one. Out for an Odyssey!

Tanner Frady

Age 33 / Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’ll be riding clockwise on a (new to me) stainless steel Otso Fenrir. 50cm Ritchey Beacon drop bars. Profile Designs T2 aero bars, 36 x 19T, Industry Nine 1×1 in the rear, and a SON dynamo hub up front powering a Sinewave Beacon for light and charging. 29 x 2.25” Vittoria Mezcals on RaceFace ARC30 rims.
BAGS: Custom frame bag, full top tube bag, handlebar bag, and “Lebarski” stem bags all made by my friend Zach of South City Stitchworks. Oveja Negra Gearjammer housing my sleep kit. I’ll also be using a Camelbak hydration pack with extra pockets.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sleep kit consists of a Mountain Laurel bivy, Klymit Inertia X pad, and 40 degree Sea to Summit down sleeping bag. Mini bluetooth speaker. Nitecore 10,000mah cache battery. DOOM bell to ward off evil spirits.

Zachary Gass

Age 35 / St. Louis, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: 2022 Salsa Cutthroat. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires to DT Swiss X1900 wheels. Hope RX4+ brakes, 1×12 SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with a 34T chain ring, 10-52T SRAM GX Eagle cassette, KMC gold chain, Look X-Track pedals, Ratio Technology adapter kit, Ritchey VentureMax alloy bars, Paul Components boxcar stem, Whiskey No. 7 carbon seat post, Brooks England composite saddle, Tumbleweed chromoly pannier rack, Fenix BC26R illumination, and Profile Design T4+ aero bars with Vans waffle grips.
BAGS: South City Stitchworks frame bag, SCSW top tube bag, and SCSW race paninis.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Arkansas is hot and dry right now so I’ll be carrying a 2L Apidura hydration vest plus a 32 oz. bottle on the fork. Restless sleep system is a NEMO Quasar sleeping pad, sleeping bag liner, and an Outdoor Research bivy.

Bavie Grafals

Age 34 / Bella Vista, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: Specialized Epic Hardtail, Salsa Firestarter fork, Hope cranks, Vittoria Mezcal tires, SQ lab inner bar ends, Profile Design aero bars, some lights here and there, fender thingy for the splashies, Wolf Tooth roll-top bag for flat/repair goodies.
BAGS: Handmade and local custom frame wedge and top tube bag by none other than the raddest dude, Sam, from Buckhorn Bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I like my bike.

Meaghan Hackinen

Age 39 / Kelowna, British Columbia (Canada)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Arkansas High Country on my trusty 2018 Salsa Cutthroat Force. The bike features Maxxis Ikon 2.2” tires, a 1×11 drivetrain with a 32T chainring, and Light Bicycle wheels. I’ve added a Redshift ShockStop Stem to help cushion the bumps and washboard.
BAGS: My Apidura Backcountry bag setup consists of a saddle pack, long top tube pack, downtube pack, food pouch, and full frame pack with hydration bladder. I’m also carrying Apidura’s tiny packable backpack that expands to 13 L for those longer stretches between resupply.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Gremlin bell dangling from my seatpost bag to bring me good luck.

Kayla Hall

Age 30 / Roanoke, Virginia (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: Otso Waheela C.
BAGS: Oveja negra saddle bag, frame bag (back and forth on using it for this race but love this bag), top tube bag, and two feed bags. Apidura bag on the bottom.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Sea to Summit dry bags mounted onto Anything Cages. Those anything cages really rock. Also planning on bringing a Sea to Summit pillow, ear plugs, and eye mask as well. Big miles requires big rest. Oh and a 180mm rotor in the front for some shredding on descents.

Aiden Holmes

Age 19 / Russellville, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: My Steed for this route will be a Salsa Cutthroat with GRX drivetrain and SLX brakes. There are aero bars up front to help with hand placement and reducing numbness, In addition to that I have carbon drops which should take some roughness out of the road. My bike also features a Salsa Wanderlust Rear rack.
BAGS: My bag setup is featuring my reliable Surly Bikes frame bag from last year’s Triple Crown Race. I opted to have EXP Series Anything Cage Bag on my rear rack to act as panniers and help with traction and to also keep less weight off the front axle. Up front I am running a Salsa EXP Series bar bag; this will hold most of my dry gear and any food I can afford fitting in there.

Eric House

Age 36 / Conroe, Texas (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I will be riding my Surly Karate Monkey. Full rigid. Single speed 32T (oval) x 18T. Running 2.2″ Teravail Sparwoods.
BAGS: These beautiful bags are custom crafted by South City Stichworks. The rear rack is the trusty Old Man Mountain Elkhorn.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Tater boost, podcasts, and lots of water!

Noel Howard

Age 47 / Springdale, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: 2019 Salsa Cutthroat 1×11, 30T oval chainring, 11-46T Sunrace Cassette.
BAGS: Salsa full frame bag, Salsa Front Roll, Revelate Designs feed bags, and Revelate Spinelock seatpost bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Outbound Detour light. I will be hammock camping, Eno Helios ultralite straps, Grand Trunk ultralight hammock, Enlighten Equipment top quilt and underquilt.

Walker Jones

Age 29 / Bentonville, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’m racing my Trek Supercaliber Gen 2. It’s setup with SRAM Transmission and a 38T chainring. I’m running Travail Sparwood 2.2″ Tires and Zipp Aerobars.
BAGS: Tailfin Aeropack, Revelate Designs Jerrycan, Mag Tank, and Feedbags, and an Apidura aerobar pack.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Jackalope Cycling created a custom seat post extender to allow for the dropper to function properly with the Tailfin rack. I’ve also mounted a speaker on the aerobars for some late night jams.

Alex Kowalski

Age 30 / Fayetteville, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Ozark Odyssey on my very special single speed Starling Beady Little Eye. This bike is set up with some light but bomb proof wheels consisting of Nox Teocali rims on Industry 9 hubs laced up with Berd spokes on some Continental Race Kings. The Beady was built around a Middleburn bottom bracket/crankset combo. Other components include a Bike Yoke dropper, Whisky moto bar with Wolftooth foam lock on grips (my absolute favorite grips) and Cane Creek bar ends. Stopping power provided via some 4-piston Shimano XT brakes.
BAGS: I’ll be running a minimal setup with a half frame bag and full top tube bag both custom made by Dispersed Bikepacking. Frame bag will house a tube/repair kit, extra socks, a sun shirt and food. The top tube bag will house more food and electronics.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My Fox SC was just expertly custom tuned by Mark and Caleb from Revolution Factory Suspension out of Bella Vista. I’m excited to put the essentially brand new fork through its paces this weekend with all the ups and downs ahead of me! I’ll be using the same nifty water bottle adapter from Cyclewerks NZ that I use for the Tour Divide this summer—truly one of the neatest accessories I’ve discovered. Fenix handlebar light will light up the darkness.

Corrine Leistikow

Age 65 / Fairbanks, Alaska (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I ride an approximately 10-year-old Felt Niner with 29″ wheels. They don’t even make this bike anymore and I really need to upgrade but this bike fits me so well and I have finished every bikepack race I have started with it so it’s hard to move on. This frame has over 35,000 miles on it. I still have a 3×10 drivetrain which I love for the range of gears it gives me. I use Continental Race King 2.2 tires. I use a BarYak to hang my handlebar bag from so it doesn’t rub my front wheel. I use flat pedals which makes hike-a-biking a lot nicer.
BAGS: I am a Revelate girl and use all of their bags including their frame bag, Sweetroll, Terrapin seat bag, two Feedbags, Gas tank and Jerrycan.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I love my Big Agnes Copper Spur 1-person tent, I use a 30-degree Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad. I use the Garmin etrex 30 for navigation.

Thomas Miller

Age 47 / Austin, Texas (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: I’ll be riding my Giant Revolt Advanced, with a Shimano GRX Limited (Silver) mechanical drivetrain. The wheels are a White Industries/Sapim Laser/Light Bicycle AR25 build, wrapped with 700 x 45mm Silk Shield Maxxis Ramblers. Shimano XTR pedals, Wolf Tooth ti bottle cages, a Pro Stealth Curved Saddle, and $30 Amazon aero bars round things out.
BAGS: I’ve been using the Leadout Racelite frame and top tube bag, paired with a PNW seat post bag. For extra hydration, I’ll have a 2L USWE backpack, with an additional pocket for snacks.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using a Garmin 530, as well as a Bryton S800 GPS unit. My Garmin has a habit of forgetting to alert me to turns, so my Bryton will stay on breadcrumbs to ensure that I remain on course.

Josh Mueller

Age 40 / St. Louis, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I will be riding the Central Loop on my Kent Eriksen All-Road. To maximize tire size, I’ll be running smaller hoops with Rene Herse Juniper Ridge 650b x 48mm Endurance tires.
BAGS: Ortlieb 11L seat pack, Bontrager top tube bag, and Camelbak Chase hydration vest.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This is my first bikepacking rodeo…and I have three young kids, so nothing is optimized. Just hoping for sufficient.

Jason Oestreicher

Age 51 / Spokane, Washington (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop.
BIKE: I’m going into AHCR looking to do a fast tour, rather than full-on race. My bike is a Boltcutter Peacemaker running a GRX 815 Di2 drivetrain. Skinny (for me) 45mm Pirelli Cinturato M tires are mounted on Hunt/Knight 650b carbon wheels with an SP dynamo hub powering my KLite front and rear lights. Selle Anatomica saddle, Redshift stem and Canyon VCLS seatpost give a little extra compliance when things get rough.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Tangle frame bag, Mag Tank 2000 top tube bag, and Mountain feed bag. Since the weather forecast looks good and I don’t plan on camping I opted for a smaller 10L Topeak saddle bag over my larger Revelate Terrapin.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’m taking a pretty basic setup since the Central Loop race is only 430 miles. Rain jacket and pants, some layers for warmth, a basic medical kit, and a repair kit with the essentials. Wahoo Roam V2 for navigation. I’m carrying a SOL Emergency bivy just in case.

Natalie Peet

Age 24 / Bentonville, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: Chumba Yaupon Ti, this is the bike that Alexandera Houchin set the Tour Divide Single Speed record on. She loaned it to me for this race season and I am excited to take it for a ride through my home state of Arkansas on the Central Loop of the High Country.
BAGS: I’ll be rocking a full length top tube and feed bag from my friend Sam at Buckhorn Bags here in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Accompanied by a cheetah print and black frame bag from Dispersed.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: An emergency bivy for shelter and a Doom bell to ward off evil spirits.

Darrell Pennington

Age 44 / Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I’ll be touring the central loop on a 2020 Jamis Renegade S1. The bike features a modified GRX 810 1×11 drivetrain with a 40T chainring and a Garbaruk 11-50T cassette and 16T lower pulley wheel. The cockpit is built around a Ritchey WCS Beacon handlebar wrapped with Wolf Tooth Supple Bar Tape and equipped with Bontrager Race Lite Aero clip-ons with a fabricated aerobridge. I’ll be rolling on a set of Rene Herse 700 x 48mm Oracle Ridge tires.
BAGS: My bag setup is simple consisting of a Restrap 4.5L frame bag, Revelate Mag Tank, and a SealLine 20L dry bag secured to an Axiom Streamliner rack. For hydration, I will use a 1.5L CamelBak and use my water bottles to store extra nutrition or water for longer resupply distances as needed.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My sleep system is a basic ultralight set up consisting of a Sea to Summit Spark (40°F), OR Helium bivy, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. For navigation, I will use a Garmin Edge 830, and for power and lights I will use an Anker 20,000 mAh power bank and Fenix HM50R headlamp and BC30 bike light.

Andy Phillips

Age 50 / Topeka, Kansas (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: Moots Routt 45 single-speed 42x20T.
BAGS: Revelate Designs half triangle bag, Terrapin 17L on the back, Sweet Roll on the front, and a large Topeak top tube fuel bag.

Jim Phillips

Age 53 / Springfield, Missouri (USA)

BIKE: Central Loop.
BIKE: I’ll be racing the demons from my closet clockwise around the Central Loop. My bike has two wheels which is way faster than a bike with only one. Despite its space age materials it is pretty heavy and weighs about as much as a four year old child. It has nine batteries on board and can talk to satellites. There are no cables, it uses mineral oil and Bluetooth instead.
BAGS: All my bags are from different brands because I like to spread the love. I could potentially carry over 180 Vienna Sausages, if you count them individually, but it’s hard to find that many on the road.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My bike’s name is Anxiously Attached because I got it when I was learning about more about myself and also it describes my riding style.

Matt Porter

Age 40 / Bella Vista, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I am riding an Otso Waheela C frame with Enve wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato 50mm rubber. I am running a SRAM X0 derailleur, Red crank and brakes, and wireless blips on the TT bars. Navigation from the Coros Dura bike computer. Lighting from Exposure, Toro headlight, and a small head torch.
BAGS: South City Stitchworks: Custom top tube bag, 3/4 frame bag, 3L saddle bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The bags are absolute perfection. Never thought I would say that a battery is my kit highlight but my Nitecore 10,000mAh battery bank is amazing.

Katy Rich

Age 45 / Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I’ll be riding the Arkansas High Country Central Loop on a Trek Checkpoint frame that was built up with a variety of components. The bike features a new pair of Maxxis Rambler 50mm tires, a modified 1×12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain with a 38T chainring and 10-50T cassette and a RockShox Rudy front fork with 30mm of travel. I also added a set of Bontrager aerobars and Redshift Cruise Control Tops and Grips.
BAGS: I went with Apidura Bags that fit well with my 49cm bike frame. The Backcountry Full Frame Pack holds a 3L water bladder and the 9L Expedition Saddle Pack holds all my other gear. I’m also using the Expedition Bolt-On Top Tube Pack for snacks and the Expedition Cargo Cage Pack for tools and flat fix supplies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be using a Wahoo Element Roam for navigation and I’m newly on an Ergon SMC Core Saddle. I’m loving the Fred Bar that gives my aerobars more height and adds attachment points for my gear.

David Richey

Age 39 / Clear Lake Shores, Texas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Arkansas High Country Race – Central Loop on a Black Mountain Cycles – Mod.Zero. 1×12 SRAM Rival 1 with Ratio Shift kit on 36×11-50. Running my trusty Continental TerraHardpack yet again.
BAGS: Excited to be running my brand new bags from SouthCity Stitchworks! Especially excited by the organizational level of these bags and quick access into the mini-pannis. No more dropping all of my things on the side of the road as I open a seat bag for a jacket to descend.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: CaneCreek eeSilk seat post and stem to glide over that Arkansas gravel. Exposure Race MK17 lighting my way through the night.

Scott Ross

Age 32 / Rockport, Texas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop.
BIKE: I’ll be riding my trusty Salsa Cutthroat. I have a fresh set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 700 x 55mm, Deda Parabolic aero bars, 1×11 Shimano GRX, Crankbrothers Eggbeater pedals, and a Prologie Seat.
BAGS: My frame bag is Rogue Panda. I will also be using a Tailfin Aeropack, two Revelate Designs feedbags, a Fjallraven top tube bag, and a Restrap race aero bar bag. I will also carry an Osprey Raptor backpack for hydration and quick access items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: All of my electronics for the trip are Garmin and I will use a Edge 540 for navigation. I will be using an Outdoor research Helium Bivy for sleep.

Shannon Sanders

Age 53 / North Little Rock, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: 2020 Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 5.0 set up with AXS beep boopers, XPLR 40mm fork, SON dynamo + Beacon headlight. Running a Mezcal mullet setup with 29 x 2.1″ front (biggest tire I can squeeze in the fork) paired with a 27.5 x 2.4″ rear (because my 700c rear wheels are all in dire need of maintenance, but I ain’t mad about the extra volume and traction out back).
BAGS: Full suite of bags from Southcity Stitchworks, apart from the Swift Bandito handlebar bag. Feedbags, top tube bag, frame bag, and mini seat bag all made with care by Zach Smith in STL.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The SWOOD Twisted T-bar really dials in the cockpit bag setup providing a solid anchor for the feed bags and stable support for the handlebar bag. Gonna be hot so to keep my drinks cold on those hot afternoons there’s 1.75L in double wall insulated bottles plus 2L insulated bladder in a USWE hydration pack. Aero bars on 50mm risers are more bout comfort than speed.

Gavin Scott

Age 51 / Austin, Texas (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: I’ll be crawling over the hills of the Ozark Odyssey on a 2024 Salsa Cutthroat from my friends at Clown Dog Bikes in Austin. Stock except for a bigger rear cassette for 46/30T x 11-42T gearing.
BAGS: Revelate Designs Harness with Egress Pocket, pair of Ortlieb fork packs, an Oveja Negra Superwedgie that I pretend is a full frame bag, and an Ortlieb Saddle Bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Excited about the battery life on my Coros Dura GPS—it goes for days!

Craig Shucart

Age 37 / Springfield, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I will be riding the Central Loop clockwise on a Trek Checkpoint complete with a mullet setup, featuring a 40T up front and a 10-52T out back to keep it spinny. A pair of Mezcal 44mm tires wrapped around some Spinergy hoops. A Karoo 2 is in charge of navigation and lighting the way at night is a headlamp zip-tied to my lid and Fenix torch dangling out front.
BAGS: The bags are a hodgepodge of Tailfin frame and top tube that will serve as my main vending machine and power supply, a Revelate Designs Shrew for the things I hope to not need but have to carry, and two Snackwell Baggins by my local Commute Softgoods for anything that tickles my fancy along the way. I will also be running a Camelbak with a 2L reservoir and various self care items.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A narrow Ergon saddle and a Redshift stem are two of the newer additions, but have been real game changers for long rough rides this year. Various 3D printed mounts for a Dynaplug, computer, and light. A Doom bell to ward off the gremlins.

Joseph Shults

Age 63 / Ophir, Colorado (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’m riding my Salsa Cutthroat with SRAM mechanical 1×12. Gearing is a 32T Wolf Tooth elliptical and a 10/50T cassette. NOBL wheel set with a SON Dynamo and a Sinewave light. For tires I have 2.25″ Thunder Burts.
BAGS: Highlight is the Bedrock custom frame bag. Up front is a Mountain Laurel Designs Handlebar Harness with a Relevant Pronghorn dry bag. Ortlieb seat bag, REI top tube bag and Relevant Jerrycan.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I use a Garmin 530 for navigation with and 830 for backup (prefer the buttons over the touch screen, which can go bad in the rain). For water I have a King cage on the bars and 2L USWE on my back. For shelter I bring a Z-Packs Plex solo Dyneema tent (bulky but light) because I am afraid of bugs.

Zach Smith

Age 44 / Saint Louis, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I’ll be racing the Central Loop clockwise on a Rodeo Labs Flaanimal 5.0 laced with 2.1″ Mezcal TNTs on DT Swiss GR1600 wheels, a brifter modified 1×11 drivetrain with a 36T chainring, and 11-51T cassette. It’s an abundantly fun setup.
BAGS: Everything is custom-built to spec from South City Stitchworks. (I should mention I am the one-man operation at SCSW.) Wanting to finish this as quickly as possible, I chose Ultra 200X fabrics. Nothing is lighter and more durable, in my opinion. I’ve chosen a 3/4 frame bag (food and tools), bikepacking’s most curious MVP the full-length top tube bag (cache batteries, snack access, camera), a Challupa™️ saddle bag (spare tubes and plugs). Additionally, I’ll be prototyping the new South City aero bar system (warmth/sleep things, snack access) on this ride. Three 1L bottles will be mounted to the fork and seat tube.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The Ultra 200 fabrics are sensational. I’m also happy with the Fenix BC26R headlight’s long battery life for some extended (hopefully!) night moves. Let’s go!

Austin Stump

Age 29 / North Kansas City, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Ozark Odyssey
BIKE: Chumba Stella Steel, bought second hand and built with a mix of new and used parts. Highlights include a Microshift Advent X drivetrain, Shimano SLX brakes, SRAM cranks with a 34T Wolf Tooth chainring, OneUp 180mm dropper post, Specialized Mimic saddle, and some SQ Labs inner bar ends. Stan’s Arch rims laced to DT Swiss 240 hubs with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires full of Orange Seal.
BAGS: Oveja Negra 1/2 Pack, Front End Loader, and Gear Jammer seat bag. Dispersed Bikepacking XL top tube bag. Fork mounts on either side to carry my sleeping pad and bivy.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Planning to enjoy the route over a couple days, so I’m packing a full-ish sleep system. My frame bag is full of Fillo’s Walking Tamales for the first long stretch to Oark.

Jennifer Swartout

Age 50 / Bella Vista, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: 2023 Specialized Diverge Expert Carbon. It’s sporting brand-new Pirelli Cinturato 45mm tires along with Roval Terra carbon wheels, Future Shock carbon fork, and wireless SRAM GX Eagle AXS 12-speed drivetrain.
BAGS: Custom frame bag from Southcity Stitchworks in St. Louis! The absolute best. It was made for my Specialized Fuse, but luckily fits almost perfectly on the Diverge as well. Also sporting a couple of great bags from Moosepacks in Austin, Texas.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Indispensable for this small bike frame is the Aero Spider rear rack. It is very lightweight and handles all of the usual rough terrain without problem.

Doug Urbaniak

Age 33 / Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’ll be riding the ARHC full loop on a custom Marino steel drop bar MTB that’s been in development in my mind for quite a while. Up front I’m running a RockShox SID Ultimate 120mm fork. I’ll be rolling on Bontrager carbon hoops laced to SP Dynamo front up with 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tires. Drivetrain is GX T-Type with blip buttons in the drops and on the aero bars. Lighting is provided by KLite with a Trek Carback radar in the rear.
BAGS: The bags are made by Cedaero in Two Harbors, Minnesota, with a rack pack from Jay Petervary. I’ll be running a 3L bladder in the framebag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Shelter is provided by a Sierra Designs bivy bag with down quilt. Navigation is provided by a Garmin 1030.

Jacob Waterman

Age 32 / Springfield, Missouri (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop.
BIKE: Mosaic GT-2X rolling on Vittoria Terreno 2.25″ front, 2.1″ rear. I’ll be riding flat bars with inner bar ends and compact aero bars.
BAGS: Full frame bag and top tube bags are all Dispersed Bikepacking.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll be riding pretty light with no sleep system and prioritizing nutrition and water capacity.

Preston Williams

Age 39 / Bonner Springs, Kansas (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’ll be racing on an Otso Fenrir Ti. I’ll be running a 34x18T gear ratio. Maxxis Rambler tires and Ride Farr gravel handlebars. Gremlin Bell from Doom.
BAGS: Apidura handlebar pack, saddle pack and handlebar food pouches (for chips). Oveja Negra frame bag. Revelate Designs Mag-Tank. As much Tailwind and LMNT as I can stuff, wherever I can stuff it.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Exposure Six Pack headlight. OR Bivy with a cut down foam pad. Garmin Edge 840 Solar.

Randy Windle

Age 45 / Hot Springs, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Full Loop
BIKE: I’ll be racing the ARHC on my Black Sheep Custom Ti ATB. Rear rack and fork are also made by Black Sheep. 29 x 2.2″ Ultradynamico Mars Robusto tires on Stans Arch MK4 wheels with Berd spokes. Sinewave Beacon powered by a Son dynamo hub. 32 x 17T gearing.
BAGS: The full top tube bag, 3/4 frame bag and rear rack roll bag were crafted with care by Zach at South City Stitchworks. Up front I’ll be carrying an Arkansas Lunch Bag from Alpine Luddites, and feed bags from Randi Jo Fabrications.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Doom Gremlin Bell to ward off whatever needs warding off.

Patrick Worthley

Age 39 / Bentonville, Arkansas (USA)

ROUTE: Central Loop
BIKE: I’ll be riding a drop bar Soma Juice hardtail with a custom extra wide Microshift/90’s XTR 2×9 drivetrain and some other choice retro dorky components.
BAGS: My partner was kind enough to lend me her custom full top tube bag from South City Stitchworks. Oveja Negra handlebar harness/bag combo up front. A Salsa frame bag will carry a 3l bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: SCSW hip pack for extra snacks on the long runouts.

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