The Spirit World 100, bringing together hundreds of cyclists, families and out-of-town visitors, returns to Patagonia for its eighth year, Nov. 5-8.
Gravel riders from all over should expect live music, great food and a whole lot of community. While the event is technically a race, organizers Heidi Rentz Ault and Zander Ault have never been interested in making it a competition.
“It’s been my goal all along to make our venue feel like a farmer’s market and the actual ride to just feel like a big-ass bike ride,” Heidi said. “Like you’re going out with your buddies and you have the support of the aid station. And yes, if you want to hammer it out there and go all out and try and win, you can. But the majority of the people who ride the Spirit World are out there for the adventure of it versus the race.”
Despite limited advertising, Spirit World has once again sold out, but there is a wait list. Heidi credits much of that success to visitors saying “they want to experience the vibration of Patagonia … I think people also are drawn to our low-key vibe.”
The event’s four courses take riders through dirt roads and wide-open landscapes of the San Rafael Valley. The longest route covers 102 miles and climbs over 6,000 feet. There are also 83-, 58- and 30-mile options, ranging from 5,000 to 1,800 feet of elevation gain. Most of the riding will happen on dirt roads, with only 5-6 miles of pavement.
Eight aid stations will be situated along the courses, stocked with everything from pretzels, gummy bears, chips and donuts to electrolytes and energy chews.
The aid stations turn a simple pit stop into something closer to a roadside party. Dedicated team members like Terry and John Waldrop keep the stops lively and full of energy, encouraging riders to the finish line.
Riders will finish at Patagonia Lumber Company, where they can grab a drink, listen to music and spend time with new friends made on the trails.
Organizers said much of the event’s growth has been through word-of-mouth, which has helped create a loyal following. Spirit World activities are spread across four days to give visitors more time to explore the area. There is camping at Patagonia High School fields, allowing riders to settle in for the long weekend.
Forbes Meat Company will cater throughout the weekend, including Thursday’s fundraiser dinner at the Lumber Company, which will be open to the public and give those who aren’t participating in the race a chance to take part in the festivities.
This marks the fifth year Spirit World 100 has raised money for the Arizona Trails Association, supporting projects in the Patagonia Region. Last year the event raised $30,000.
After last year’s race, Zander Ault surveyed small business owners in Patagonia to find out how the weekend affected local businesses. He said businesses reported an increase in revenue during the event, but the results also gave organizers something to work on. Heidi says her goal is to make sure more local businesses have a chance to benefit from the weekend and influx of cyclists.
The Aults said their goal isn’t turning Spirit World into a massive cycling festival, but to keep their focus on making it feel personal.
Plans are in the works to expand reach to younger riders, with possibly introducing an event specifically for high schoolers. For now, younger riders can participate in the 30-mile course.
Heidi said the idea for Spirit World began long before the first race in 2019: “I always had this dream of starting our own event, on our own terms, and have it feel like a ma-and-pa style race without a whole lot of crazy venues set up with all these bike industry people, but more have it feel like a wedding,” she said.
The couple had already fallen in love with the area while riding dirt roads around Patagonia. “We did a 70-mile loop one day, and I was like, wow, this is the spot,” Heidi said. “This is the best loop I’ve ever done on my bike. We should see what it looks like to bring this event to life.”
The Aults spent about five years getting to know the area, its roads and community before finally launching the event. The first year had just 150 riders. Now, it is capped at 700 riders across its four routes.
The name Spirit World came from Heidi’s experience working as a mountain bike guide in Moab, Utah. She would take groups out on trails and by the middle of the long ride, she noticed her clients would get fairway looks in their eyes — exhausted and absorbed in the experience, as if “in the spirit world.” Zander suggested that the phrase also seemed to fit here.
“It’s so quiet, so kind of incredibly eerie, but not in a bad way, just kind of like, you know, you’re by yourself,” he said. “There’s so much landscape, huge vistas. There aren’t many places left in the United States where you can go and ride and not see other people, many cars, or the impact of daily life for a long time, and this is one of those places that remains.”
The Spirit World 100 is intentionally different from traditional cycling races. Winning isn’t the main objective, people are.
After eight years, the Aults say, that goal hasn’t changed: Giving people a reason to slow down, ride through the San Rafael Valley and experience Patagonia alongside hundreds of other like-minded individuals.
For more information on this years event, click here.