Riding Through the Pines with Jake Johansen: 2025 Pinyons and Pines Recap

In this episode, I’m joined by Jake Johansen as we recap our experience racing the 2025 Pinyons and Pines, a grueling bikepacking challenge through Northern Arizona’s rugged terrain with 327 miles of dirt and 27,000 feet of climbing. We ride together (literally and figuratively) through the first 26 hours of the race, covering the highs, lows, and what it’s like pushing through exhaustion in the middle of the night. Jake shares the full story of his epic ride, from little sleep to wild moments on the trail, and how brutal 3 a.m. can feel when the temps drop. Despite it being his first bikepacking race, Jake powered through to an incredible 4th place finish, crossing the line after roughly 49 hours in the saddle. We cover 163 miles together, and his perseverance for the rest of the race throughout was nothing short of inspiring. This one's for the endurance junkies and dream chasers, don’t miss it.