Rider Rigs: Henley's Utilitarian Expeditioner

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



 

See what you can create by building your own custom Yaupon!

On Tour to Banff w/ Alexandera Houchin: Missoula, MT

Missoula, Montana May 23, 2023

Place allows me to time travel. 

I

n 2017, I spent a couple days in Missoula while I was pedaling north to Banff for a Tour Divide individual time trial effort. I ended up quitting my ITT in Whitefish– lots of reasons, no really good one I suspect. I ran out of money, mostly. I had some mechanicals, mostly. I was heartbroken, mostly. 

My friend, Serene lives here and is a fly-fisher. She drove an hour toward Helena to come get me from the impending thunderstorm. I pedaled the highway, west to meet her ¾ of the way up the pass. That is a nice plus about the tour– help from friends along the way is welcomed. I got to her place on a Sunday evening and have spent the better part of a week here exploding my gear, minimizing, shipping things all over and building my new bike! 

I ordered a tiny music player that I hated and now have to wait for Amazon to pick up during business hours today. I also have a zoom meeting with the Native Governance center for a committee I am a part of Thursday afternoon. I’m gettin’ itchy feet to hit the road again, I’ve been rather sedentary for the past few days sparing a couple walks up the hill near Serene’s house. She offered to drive me back to Ovando along the highway early tomorrow morning if I stay one more night. I’m heavily weighing that option as it’s storming as I type. What’s one more rest day? 

It’s hard to know! I’ve been doing this a while and I personally find joy in comfort from time to time. I have a really big year of stuff on my calendar and try to balance the long term goals (this year) with the short term ones (this week). Like, a Triple Crown + 2 thru-hikes, an important bike ride in Ojibwe country, and gathering season… or just getting out there and being hardcore. After reading Andrew Strempke’s write up about his Triple Crown effort, vision and recovery, I found myself taking a huge breath. 

I look up to Andrew. He’s really in touch and methodical about his competitive endeavors. He’s also super strong mentally and very disciplined. If I could be like any bike racer out there; I’d choose to be like him. So, in reading his essay, I was reminded how truly big this endeavor is. And to be kind to myself, soak up all the love that I can get in my journey to really push myself next month– it’s not weak, or lazy, but an exercise of self preservation. I love doing hard things, I love bike touring, but part of the bike tour, for me, is to connect with people along the way. 

I had my addictive racing year in 2018 where I raced in 8 different races in the time between my 28th and 29th birthday. I ran, I canoed and I biked. It was a lot. I kinda set a precedent for myself that year, however. I learned I was an endurance athlete; not necessarily the fastest, but I could cover lots of hours doing hard things. 

In the time since, I’ve been trying so hard to get better at these races often barely placing in the top 10. In the 2022 Colorado Trail Race, I ALMOST pulled off my first MTB podium with a 6th place finish and a new women’s record on my singlespeed. It was an effort that kind of surprised me. I guess I’ve been getting better; but every year, I am obsessing more and more and finally scooping up a little more in the resource department to be able to focus on the bike fitness thing. 

I’m really blessed to have met such badass athletes over the years and to consider previous record holders/fast as fuck people my friends. Everyone has been quick to answer my pleas. Part of me believes in myself simply because people I look up to and respect so much believe in me. And watching Trackleaders replays. That reminds me I’m not a slow snail like I often feel like I am. 

I can’t believe the Tour Divide is coming up. I kind of feel like that’s the only thing I have been talking about. But also, I’ve literally been dreaming of another chance at the Triple Crown since my 2018 attempt. And the 2018 attempt wasn’t even an “official” unofficial attempt as I left for the AZT750 in May of 2018. I fell short of completing the AZT that year– forest fires caused reroutes and I was on my way to Banff anyways to start the Tour so I went off course and continued my journey north. I did complete both the Tour Divide and the CTR that year. 

Anyways, I’m excited to stop talking about and thinking about the TD. It’s riding that’s out of my strengths and it’s definitely the hardest race for me mentally. I almost always feel like a losery snail because flatish roads are so boring (it’s not flat all the time, but man, some of the downhills feel like flat). I struggle daily with wanting to fall asleep on the bike, of wondering what the singletrack nearby looks like and with the large volume of cars/trucks that dust me out day in and day out. Oh yeah, and staying race focused for more than two weeks! That’s mental. 

So, I am grateful I got to read Andrew’s reflections on his goals and to dial my goals in too. I’ve kinda forgotten to think about what my goals actually are. I’m dialing those goals in over the next two weeks. Because, friends, the Tour Divide starts in 15 days! 

In 2019, I had my eyes on the powerful, incredible, Alice Drobna’s singlespeed record. I was talking with Matthew and he said that it could be a fast year (I have a hard time imagining that with all the rain and snow I’ve encountered on my ride north from Salt Lake) but he planted a seed that I can’t stop from growing! I may as well dream of a fast year, maybe I will even brainwash myself into believing that despite conditions and set my eyes on Plesko’s ‘16 record. Cuz why not? Why not believe I am as capable as legendary folks? Why not honor his effort by giving it everything I’ve got to try to catch his ghost? It’s kinda why I love the racing; it’s the language I know how to speak love. And love for my competitors keeps me pressing on. 

I believe that we all want to be the best, strongest versions of ourselves. - Alexandera