MARFA 100g
A guided group ride through the Chinati Mountains
Hot Springs Gravel Weekend
May 3-5, 2024
Starting and ending in Marfa, this 2-day 110 mile cycling experience will take riders on an epic journey through the Chinati Mountains. Along the way cyclists will experience the magical and unique flora and fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert, and discover the cultural human history of this fascinating corner of Texas.
The ride starts on day one with the familiar pavement route of the Marfa100 before switching to gnarly tequila gravel that cuts deep into Pinto Canyon, ending at the famed Chinati Hot Springs. On day two, cyclists will have an opportunity to visit the historic Ruidosa Church before beginning the climb out of the canyon and back to Marfa.
This is a small event limited to 25 riders
The Ride:
2 days, 110 miles, 7500 feet of climbing
Difficulty: 4/5 - This will be a challenging ride! Participants should have gravel riding experience and should be comfortable in the saddle for 5-6 hours. Steep rocky descents and rough washboards are common along this route. Participants should be comfortable riding paved, chip-seal roads with light vehicle traffic. E-bikes not permitted.
What’s included:
Meals for the Weekend:
Saturday - Fully catered Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Sunday - Fully catered Breakfast & Lunch
We can accommodate your dietary restrictions!
Lodging:
Saturday night camping or hotel room at Chinati Hot Springs* Those camping must bring their own tent and camping equipment
Full Ride Support:
SAG (Supplies And Gear) will take all gear and luggage to Hot Springs lodging
Bike swap at the end of the pavement, switch from road bike to either gravel or mountain bike if you choose.
Support along the road including water refills, gear swaps, general bike maintenance, snacks and electrolyte powder.
Education & Entertainment:
Learn about the history of the Chinati Mountains and Pinto Canyon Road with a lecture by Archaeologist David Keller the Friday night before the ride.
Experience Ruidosa Church, Sunday we will have breakfast in the historic church and hear lectures by those undertaking the restoration of this 1915 era adobe church.
Schedule:
Friday, May 3
Meet in Marfa and drop luggage going to the Hot Springs in SAG wagon
Talk by David Keller at the about the History of Pinto Canyon and the Chinati Mountains
Saturday, May 4
Eat catered breakfast and hop on the bike to descend into Pinto Canyon and ride 32 miles to the end of the pavement on Pinto Canyon Road
Get to the end of the pavement, eat a quick catered lunch and swap bikes to begin your descent into Pinto Canyon headed to Chinati Hot Springs
Ride another 23 miles and arrive at the oasis that is Chinati Hot Springs, take a dip in the cold pool or soak your muscles in the hot springs.
A special catered dinner will be served once everyone has had time to relax, spend the night in a cabin or camping in your own tent.
Sunday, May 5
Wake up early, grab a quick snack and coffee and ride to Ruidosa Church (~5 miles unpaved from Hot Springs)
Explore the ongoing restoration of Ruidosa church at your own pace, hear a history of the church by the Friends of Ruidosa Church while you eat a catered breakfast that will fuel your ride back to Marfa.
Ride the 55 miles back to Marfa, lunch will be provided along the route.
Schedule subject to change. Detailed itinerary will be provided upon registration before the event
Price:
$450 - 650 Depending on lodging choices
Restrictions:
E-Bikes not permitted due to rocky terrain and remote nature
Local Volunteers
Want to volunteer in exchange for a reduced registration fee? Locals who want to provide 5-10 volunteer hours towards the event for a reduced registration fee should email us at marfa100k@gmail.com and express interest. We have a limited number of spots available!
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m vegetarian/vegan/gluten free - can you accommodate my dietary needs?
Yes! With the possible exception of severe food allergies we can accommodate your dietary needs. You’ll have an opportunity to let us know about the food you like when you registerAre there enough hotel rooms for everyone?
No! There are 20 sleeping spots available divided among 10 rooms. When you register, we’ll ask you to fill out your lodging preferences. You’ll be able to indicate other registrants that you’d like to share a room with. We’ll work with all registrants to figure out the best hotel room scenario - you won’t be asked to bunk with anyone without your express consent!I want to share a room with my significant other, how do we indicate this?
If you want to share a single room with your significant other please have one person sign up for “Single Room” and one person sign up for “Camping.” Then please email us and let us know both people’s names.There are four of us that want to share a room with two beds, is this possible?
If you have a group of four that want to room together please have two people register for “Double Room” and the other two people register for “Camping.” Then please email us and let us know the names of all four people who will be in that room.Where should I stay on Friday night?
We would recommend finding lodging in Marfa on Friday night. Hotels include the Hotel St George, The Hotel Paisano, The Thunderbird Hotel, The Lincoln or the Riata Inn. There are also a lot of Airbnbs in Marfa. Both El Cosmico and Tumble In offer tent camping. Lodging in Alpine tends to be cheaper, but keep in mind it is a 30 minute drive from Marfa.What bike should I bring?
The nice thing is, you don’t have to pick just one! We will be offering a bike swap at the end of the pavement where the road switches to gravel. If you plan to switch bikes we recommend a road bike for the pavement portion. For the gravel portion, we recommend something with a minimum of 34mm tires - either a gravel bike with chunky tires or a mountain bike would work well.The road has a few technical descents that are doable on a gravel bike but we want you to be comfortable. Feel free to email us directly if you want to ask about your specific rig.What should I bring on the bike with me?
Sunscreen / sun protection / sunglasses - did we mention the sun is a big thing out here?
2 water bottles to be refilled with SAG
Snacks, gels, etc that you like to have on a long ride
Bike tools are not required, but we always recommend having either a small pump or canister and a spare tube or patch just in caseIt’s the desert, I hear there are a lot of spikey things on the road, how should I prepare?
We would recommend outfitting both bikes you plan to bring with a tubeless tire setup if possible. Whether this will work on your bike will be based on your rims (some are tubeless ready). If you’re not sure what you have your local mechanic should be able to tell you if you have a tubeless-ready setup
If you can’t or don’t want to run tubeless, there is a halfway hack option. Take some tire sealant (we recommend Stans) and squeeze it directly into your tube along with the air. We’ve had great luck with this on our own desert-ready bikesI’ll need a change of clothes / shower gel / camping equipment / my favorite pillow at the hot springs - how will I get it there?
We will drive all your gear down to the hot springs! On Friday night we will collect all cyclist gear to drive down to the springs ahead of the riders on Saturday. We’ll take all camping gear for those who are camping, and one bag from each rider (either camping or rooming) with your essentials for the overnight.Is this a race? Is the event timed?
This is a ride and is self-timed
