Few things can compare to the thrill of exploring new places on a bike. Wether it’s bikepacking through rugged backcountry, or diving through crowded city streets, the possibilities for finding new terrain is endless. We talked with team rider Henley Phillips to break down what motivates him to explore by bicycle, and how his Chumba Yaupon Steel helps him do so.
How did you get started bikepacking?
I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America right outta college and have a vivid memory seeing a bike tourer for the first time while I was in the provincial capital one day. Both the bike and the person looked ragged and road worn, and I immediately knew that was something I wanted. In 2013, I flew to Guatemala on my first bike trip, intending to be gone for two years, and was robbed in the middle of the night just two weeks into the trip. Not the most positive initial experience, but I tasted enough to know it was for me.
Where are you riding? What type of terrain and trips do you have planned?
I'm a commuter first and foremost, so I bike everywhere for everything. Outside of utilitarian use, I pedal the trails and dirt roads in and around Tucson which are pretty rocky and loose. We have a great cycling community here with all kinds of rides and trips happening throughout the year, and I take advantage of it all. I was just awarded Attaquer's Out of Office Grant, so this Fall I'll be back out on the Arizona Trail to attempt a multi-sport yo-yo that didn't go to plan earlier this Spring.
Having ridden the Yaupon in both a flat bar and drop bar setup, what are some benefits of each setup?
Given my mountain biking skills, I much prefer the flat bar setup for the type of technical riding we have down here. With a set of wide flat bars and front suspension, I feel like I'm able to extend my comfort level quite a bit and ride sections I was otherwise tiptoeing through with drop bars. On the other hand, the Ritchey Beacon bars are great for when I want to run drops and stick a little closer to rough dirt roading instead. Swapping between these two setups is straightforward, so I feel like I've got two distinct bikes to choose from at any given point. I can envision swapping out the front suspension with a carbon fork and really pushing the drop bar setup into something fast and fun.
What are some key components you’ve for this type of riding?
The SQ Labs 30X bar paired with Cane Creek bar ends have been excellent for climbing and provide just enough variation in hand positions to keep things fresh. This is my first experience with hydraulic brakes, and holy crap the Shimano XT 4-Pistons are incredible! I mainly ride in flat pedals and sandals and really like the Wolftooth Waveform pedals; plus, that espresso brown color looks top notch with the root beer frame color. To top it off, the Dispersed top tube bag in leopard print gives a little flare and is wonderfully cavernous.
What's your go-to bikepacking snack?
Bean and rice burritos all day. Flamin' Hot Cheetos at the gas station.
Henley’s Yaupon Build Kit
Fork - Rockshox SID Ultimate, 120mm
Drivetrain - SRAM GX Eagle AXS 1x12 w/ 10-52 Cassette
Brakes - Shimano XT 4 Piston Hydraulic
Crankset - SRAM GX Alloy, 170mm
Bottom Bracket - Cane Creek Hellbender 70
Headset - Chris King Inset i7
Stem - Thomson X4 70mm
Handlebar - SQ Labs 30X, 30mm rise, 16° sweep
Grips - Wolf Tooth Fatpaw w/ Ergon Bar Ends
Wheelset - Astral Serpentine to Industry Nine Hydra Hubs
Tires - Maxxis Rekon EXO, 29 x 2.4″
Seatpost - PNW Loam w/ Wolftooth Light Action Remote
Bags - Dispersed Bikepacking Frame, Top Tube, and Seat Wedge Bags, Sea to Summit eVent Drybag, Rockgeist Gondola, 5L
Saddle - Selle Anatomica X2
Pedals - Wolf Tooth Waveform, Espresso
