The Queen’s Ransom, conceived by bikepacking visionary John Schilling, is a celebrated 225-mile loop that unveils the stunning desert trails west of Phoenix. This non-competitive bikepacking event has become a beloved winter escape, renowned as a premier loop that beautifully blends challenging riding with a strong sense of community. Featuring three nights of group camping, the Queen’s Ransom cultivates camaraderie and lasting friendships as much as it celebrates the thrill of the ride. Known for its surprise margarita stops and well-planned resupply points, it promises a delightful desert adventure. This year, an inspiring group of women are participating, and we’re honored to share their stories. These are the faces behind the dots, ready to embrace the challenge: Queen, get on your bikes and ride!
Meet Emily Elliott: The Space Cowgirl
Bike: Quiring ti 29+ hardtail, affectionately named the Space Cowgirl
Home: Redlands, CA
Emily, a 37-year-old urban and regional planning consultant, perfectly balances her professional life with her passion for cycling. Her journey into bikepacking began in 2019, emerging from a successful yet demanding strongwoman career. Seeking a healthier lifestyle and a sense of community beyond the gym, Emily found freedom and joy in bike riding. What started as a suggestion from her husband quickly blossomed into a full-fledged passion, especially during the pandemic.
“Cycling became my new obsession,” Emily recounts. Her first bikepacking experience in the San Bernardino mountains with her brother in the summer of 2020 was transformative. Despite initial fears of night riding, remote areas, bike repairs, and even mountain lions, she discovered her resilience. “My brother really helped me develop confidence… showing me what I CAN do.” Fueled by YouTube tutorials and hands-on learning in her garage, Emily gained bike maintenance skills and a newfound sense of self-reliance. A solo 6-day bikepacking trip on a section of the SoCal Desert Rambler in fall 2020 solidified her love for adventure, despite the challenges and moments of fear.
Emily’s bikepacking adventures expanded, including trips like the Vermont Gravel Growler and Anza Hapaha, often accompanied by her beloved dog Skipper. These experiences led to new friendships and opportunities, culminating in tackling events like the Queen’s Ransom, Stagecoach 400, and Monumental Loop. Her passion for cycling has now intertwined with her professional expertise, leading her to route creation and event organizing. The Ranchita Rambler route, launched in partnership with local communities, was inspired by her experiences with John Schilling and the Queen’s Ransom, aiming to support rural economies and promote responsible riding.
For Emily, the Queen’s Ransom is more than just a ride. Having participated in 2022, she is eager to return in 2023, drawn to its unique format. “It’s not a group ride, but it’s not a race,” she explains, valuing the self-supported riding during the day and the communal camping experience at night. The camaraderie and shared stories around the campfire are what she cherishes most. Even when challenged by the technical terrain last year, the welcoming cheers at camp deeply resonated with her.
This year, comfort and a bit of privacy are on Emily’s mind for her sleep setup, opting for a 1-person tent in the desert environment. She’s experimenting with lighter sleeping bags, complemented by warm layers, to optimize packing on her bike. Dinner plans include the quintessential bikepacking treat – ice cream cookie sandwiches from gas stations, alongside the comforting warmth of Mountain House biscuits and gravy. Beyond the ride itself, Emily anticipates insightful conversations with fellow riders, seeking connection and community in the post-pandemic world. She also views the Queen’s Ransom as a “bootcamp to ride bikes better,” always looking to improve and challenge herself. She appreciates John Schilling’s dedication to inclusivity, ensuring women have a strong presence in events like the Queen’s Ransom, fostering a vibe of community over competition.
Beverly “The Bevinator” Rogers: Seasoned Mountain Biker Embracing Bikepacking
Bike: Pivot Les
Home: Phoenix, AZ
Beverly, known as “The Bevinator,” brings a wealth of mountain biking experience to the Queen’s Ransom. With 30 years in mountain biking, stemming from an ultra-running background, she is relatively new to bikepacking but eager to dive into the longer format. Having known John Schilling for a long time, she’s excited to experience the Queen’s Ransom, even if just tackling a portion of the route this year (around 140 miles). Beverly looks forward to the desert’s beauty, camping under the stars, and connecting with new people. Her sleep kit is minimalist and efficient: a bivy sack paired with a Thermarest foam mattress, perfectly suited for sleeping under the vast Arizona sky.
Anna Gallo: From XC Racing to Desert Bikepacking Challenges
Bike: Pivot LES
Home: Gold Canyon, AZ
Anna, 37, lives and breathes cycling. For her, life outside work is all about bikes – riding with friends, pushing her limits, and exploring different cycling disciplines from XC to gravel and now, bikepacking with the Queen’s Ransom. Her mountain biking passion ignited in 2017 after joining San Tan Racing and participating in XC races, which fostered her deep appreciation for Arizona’s landscapes. Remarkably, she started her mountain biking journey on a vintage 1995 Specialized downhill bike, a testament to her adventurous spirit from the beginning.
Queen’s Ransom marks Anna’s first foray into bikepacking, a bold choice she embraces wholeheartedly. Outside of cycling, Anna enjoys travel, stargazing with her telescope, rock hounding, and hiking with her boyfriend Patrick and their 15-year-old chocolate lab Madison. She works as an Operations Manager at SMS Assist, balancing her career with her adventurous pursuits.
Learning about the Queen’s Ransom from John Schilling himself, Anna is most excited about two aspects of the ride: the challenge and the scenery. Having never ridden more than 175 miles in a week, let alone while carrying bikepacking gear, she views this as an “insane” but thrilling test of her capabilities. The allure of the desert landscape, particularly the wildflowers blooming after a wet winter, adds to her anticipation.
While tempted by cowboy camping, Anna is opting for a Big Agnes tent for her first bikepacking experience, paired with a down sleeping bag. For dinners, she plans for a mix of local tacos on the first night (given their proximity to home) and freeze-dried meals for subsequent nights, focusing on protein and carb-rich options like beans and rice or pasta. Snack-wise, she’s craving salty and sweet treats – pickles, jerky, and gummy bears.
Anna hopes to gain confidence and self-assurance from completing the Queen’s Ransom, overcoming her initial nervousness about this new cycling discipline. She is eager to discover if bikepacking will become another cycling love in her life. Sharing this challenging experience with others is also significant for Anna, validating the effort and fostering camaraderie. She expresses gratitude to John Schilling for creating this opportunity and event.
Kara Woolgar: Pediatric Nurse Finding Joy and Challenge on Two Wheels
Bike: 2020 Niner Jet 9 RDO
Home: Mesa, Arizona
Kara, a pediatric nurse specializing in rare diseases for 18 years, finds solace and strength in cycling. Her demanding yet rewarding career in medicine makes biking her “happy place” and a vital stress outlet. With 18 years of riding experience, Kara transitioned from road cycling and century rides to mountain biking about five years ago, seeking trail adventures during camping trips. She quickly fell in love with mountain biking and now leads rides for Spartan Rides and coaches for Ninja MTB Performance, sharing her passion and helping other women build confidence on bikes.
Bikepacking naturally appealed to Kara as it combines her love for camping and exploring the outdoors by bike. After a few trips, she was “hooked.” The Queen’s Ransom came to her attention through Hawesaholics Babes Ride On (HBRO), a local women’s cycling group. Inspired by a women’s bikepacking Q&A and a Bikepacking 101 overnight trip hosted by John Schilling, Kara set her sights on the Queen’s Ransom for 2023, drawn by the “insane” stories and the challenge it presented.
Kara is most looking forward to the wildflowers and “breathtaking views” along the route, hoping for stunning Arizona sunsets. Her sleep kit includes a Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 Bikepack tent in fast-fly setup for lightness, opting for a tent over cowboy camping due to desert weather uncertainties. She’s excited to test her new 20-degree UDG bandit custom quilt on this trip. To keep her pack light and efficient, Kara is forgoing a stove, planning to enjoy crackers and prosciutto for dinner, supplemented by Picky Bars oatmeal (prepared with hot water from gas stations) for convenient and nutritious meals.
Kara anticipates personal growth and pushing her limits on the Queen’s Ransom. She knows the ride will be challenging but looks forward to sharing laughs and experiences with friends along the way. Training and planning with local women has been a highlight, and she is eager to meet new friends and explore Arizona’s rugged trails together during this four-day adventure.
Nancy Gray: The Seasoned Adventurer Returning to the Ransom
Bike: Pivot Mach 429 SL (Queen’s Ransom steed), Intense Hard Eddie Singlespeed, Spectrum Road Bike
Home: Nestled between Tonto National Forest and McDowell Mountain Park, Arizona
Nancy embodies the spirit of adventure, playfully comparing herself to Indiana Jones in her life outside of cycling. A professor by profession, her students might be surprised to know she spends her breaks on adventures like the Queen’s Ransom – a fitting moniker for a real-life “Raiders” expedition. Nancy’s connection to the Queen’s Ransom is deep-rooted, having known John Schilling since the early days of the Arizona Endurance Series around 2010. An experienced bikepacker, she has completed the Queen’s Ransom not just once, but three times already, with this year marking her fourth.
Nancy’s sleep kit varies with the weather. For pleasant conditions, she prefers sleeping under the stars in a bivy. If cold or rain is expected, a lightweight Big Agnes tent is her choice. When asked about what she hopes to gain from riding the Queen’s Ransom again, her answer is simple yet profound: “Why I keep doing this?” For Nancy, the Queen’s Ransom is not just a ride; it’s a continuous exploration of her own motivations, resilience, and enduring love for bikepacking adventures.
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