✨ Support the Podcast ✨https://linktr.ee/theendurancestudio

What does it take to bring one of bikepacking’s original routes back to life? And what makes the rugged, remote West End of Colorado such a special place to ride?

In this episode of The Endurance Studio Podcast, I sit down with Tim Tait, Grand Loop race director and West End cycling advocate, after taking on the Grand Loop myself. We talk about the history of this legendary bikepacking route, the challenges of organizing a race on public lands, and what the future of bikepacking looks like as the sport continues to grow.

Tim shares how the Grand Loop went dormant, why he decided to bring it back, and what goes into organizing one of the most demanding bikepacking events in the country. We get into permitting, land stewardship, route design, and the delicate balance between creating challenging adventures and protecting the places that make them possible.

We also dive into Tim’s own racing career, including his recent Tour Divide finish, the lessons he's learned from years of endurance racing, and the now-legendary story behind his Tour Divide tradition of smoking a cigarette at every state line.

Plus, we discuss the Grand Loop's coin-flip start direction, the realities of riding through the brutal desert terrain of Western Colorado, and why the West End deserves a place on every bikepacker's radar.

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https://www.thewestendgravelrush.com

https://www.instagram.com/westendcycling/

https://www.instagram.com/tim.tait/

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(00:00:00) Choosing the Grand Loop and Early Challenges

(00:03:22) Water Sources, Red Canyon, and Technical Terrain

(00:10:29) Bike Failures, Resupply, and Route Logistics

(00:16:13) Grand Loop History and Route Evolution

(00:18:46) Fruita Resupply, Hotel Nightmares, and Gear Failures

(00:28:40) Geography, Hunting Season, and the Uncompahgre Region

(00:32:03) Route Changes, Scenic Highlights, and Night Riding

(00:42:21) Kokopelli Section, Trail Conditions, and Returning to Town

(00:48:43) Accommodation Challenges and Vestal House

(00:54:02) Pacing, Race Types, and Tour Divide Reflections

(00:57:53) The State-Line Cigarette Tradition

(01:02:54) Personal Background, Soccer, and Competitive Sports

(01:12:44) European Influence and Different Racing Perspectives

(01:19:07) Weather, Race Directing, and Mental Challenges

(01:24:46) Racing Mistakes, Personal Struggles, and Life Balance

(01:33:28) Future Races and the Origins of Utah Mixed Epic

(01:39:57) Reviving the Grand Loop: Community, Permits, and Planning

(01:45:02) Permitting, Funding, and Participant Limits

(01:48:57) Land Managers, Community Involvement, and Race Growth

(01:53:27) Nucla History, Mining, and Regional Development

(02:05:19) Land Use, Conservation, and Community Perspectives

(02:09:31) Trail Magic Debate and Community Reactions

(02:20:54) Grand Loop Logistics, Trail Magic, and Reflections

(02:25:40) Quick Q&A: Lessons, Gear, and Problem Solving

(02:32:54) Recommended Routes and Closing Remarks

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#endurance #bikepacking

✨ Support the Podcast ✨https://linktr.ee/theendurancestudio

Andrew and Katie Strempke have built a life around bikepacking—from racing some of the toughest routes in the world to running Dispersed Bikepacking, a handmade gear company born out of a simple need: making bags for their own bikes.

In this episode of The Endurance Studio, we sit down with Andrew and Katie to talk about the unexpected journey from van life to building a business, the evolution of their gear, and what it takes to push the limits of ultra-endurance racing.

We get into Andrew’s 2022 Bikepacking Triple Crown, completed entirely on a singlespeed, and the physical and mental toll that followed. They share why they’ve started rethinking sleep deprivation, training, and the pressure to keep chasing the next race—and how they’re rediscovering the joy of bikepacking without a finish line.

We also dig into the details that make Dispersed gear different, including the years of prototyping behind Andrew’s innovative seat bag, their approach to staying small and independent, and the lessons learned from thousands of miles on the trail. Along the way, we get into mountain lion encounters, lightning on exposed ridgelines, winter bikepacking, bike rafting, and their plans to take on the Tour Divide on a tandem in 2027.

This is a conversation about more than racing or making gear. It’s about building a life around what you love, knowing when to push harder, and recognizing when it’s time to take a different path.

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https://dispersed.bike

https://www.instagram.com/dispersed.bikepacking/

https://www.instagram.com/strempke/

https://www.instagram.com/katie.strempke/

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(00:00:00) - Quitting Jobs, Van Life, and Building Dispersed Bikepacking

(00:09:25) - Developing Dispersed Bags: From Idea to Business

(00:18:13) - E-Bike Growth, Business Scaling, and Trail Access

(00:29:20) - E-Bike Regulations, Lightning Risks, and Trail Use

(00:38:04) - Colorado Trail Yo-Yo Race and Single-Speed Adventures

(01:00:45) - Ultra-Endurance Racing: Fatigue, Sleep, and Recovery

(01:11:43) - Grand Loop Racing: Weather, Heat, and Health Challenges

(01:22:16) - Bikepacking in Bad Weather and Packrafting Adventures

(01:36:24) - Dispersed Seat Bag Engineering and Winter Bikepacking Gear

(01:50:23) - Lightning Round: Overrated Gear, Lighting, and Current Obsessions

(02:25:44) - Future Plans: Tandem Tour Divide and Closing Remarks

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#endurance #bikepacking

✨ Support the Podcast ✨https://linktr.ee/theendurancestudio

At just 17 years old, McKenna “MJ” Marino became the youngest female finisher of the Colorado Trail Race under race rules, completing more than 500 miles of rugged Colorado singletrack in 12 days, 8 hours, and 11 minutes.

In this episode of The Endurance Studio, McKenna shares how she went from her first overnight bikepacking trip to taking on one of the most demanding bikepacking routes in the country.

We talk about growing up in an endurance-focused family, discovering bikepacking, racing Pinyons and Pines, and what eventually convinced her to attempt the Colorado Trail. McKenna also opens up about one of her biggest fears going into the ride: being alone in the wilderness at night—and how nearly two weeks on the trail changed her relationship with that fear.

Along the way, we get into the realities of the CTR: high-elevation passes, hike-a-bike, exhaustion, resupply strategy, Cathedral Cabins, gear choices, sleep, unexpected trail closures, and the moments when she wondered whether something might actually force her to stop.

But this conversation goes well beyond bikepacking. McKenna talks about why she intentionally stays away from social media, the value she finds in disconnecting and being present in nature, how experiences like the Colorado Trail have built her confidence, and why she describes the CTR not as “life-changing,” but as life-defining.

We also talk about what her friends think of her adventures, her interest in sustainability and restoration ecology, college plans, and the much bigger adventures she might pursue in the future.

At 17, McKenna is just getting started.

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https://trackleaders.com/ctr26

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(00:00:00) - Episode Introduction and Support Reminder

(00:00:48) - Introducing McKenna and the Colorado Trail Race

(00:01:32) - McKenna's Early Bikepacking Journey

(00:06:59) - Family Influence and Training Support

(00:09:28) - European Volunteer Work and Language Experience

(00:11:57) - Pre-Race Fears and Overcoming Fear

(00:16:39) - Cathedral Cabins and Family Support

(00:22:20) - Moments of Doubt and Managing Fatigue

(00:25:18) - High Passes, Wind, and Night Riding

(00:30:33) - Gear Setup, Packing, and Sleep

(00:35:10) - Future Races and Bikepacking at a Young Age

(00:39:36) - Community and Solo vs. Group Experiences

(00:44:23) - Maverick Stop and Sponsor Spotlight

(00:50:55) - Post-Race Reflections and Confidence

(00:57:34) - College Plans and Restoration Ecology

(01:04:02) - Closing Remarks and Appreciation

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#endurance #bikepacking