Wearing many hats here at Campfire, Jake has found great alignment for his many skills and interests working with us. Jake grew up in the Tucson area enjoying many of the outdoor adventuring opportunities from running to climbing. But more recently Jake has gone all in into the world of cycling and bikepacking.
We gladly yanked Jake away from REI where he had gotten himself established as a bicycle mechanic. Now he is wrenching for us and along with taking care of our event and product photography.
Another great bikepacking business skill that Jake brings to the table is bike bag sewing. If you ask really nicely, you might be able to convince Jake to make you a bag 😉
When it rains it pours – August. 16, 2025
This weekend, we had a monsoon at the shop! We took a quick break to feel the drop in temperature outside and witness the Sonoran storm soak the streets. It’s not every day you see the streets briefly turn into rivers, and within hours, you couldn’t even tell there had been a storm. Rain is a spectacular sight in the desert.
Full Moon Magic – August. 10, 2025
This weekend I rode a full moon lap on Mt Lemmon with some friends. Night rides always make the trail feel like a new unrecognizable trail.
It’s always a good time. There were many bugs out and about that night.
A Trail-Ready Snack – August. 04, 2025
This weeks tidbit, I review a new trader Joe snack I haven’t tried yet. Passion Fruit Rounds fruit snack. These are made from passion fruit, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate and powdered sugar. This would be a great bike riding snack. Oddly, they taste like passion fruit 8/10. Could use more salt. Maybe some tajin would boost it to a 9/10
Making a bright orange recumbent even more orange – July. 28, 2025
Ellie and I had the opportunity to install orange tires on an orange recumbent tricycle e-bike, with orange bars, orange spokes, orange grips and anything else that’s orange you could imagine. It’s a bike you surely cannot miss.
Mike’s Singular build – July. 21, 2025
Here’s a sweet build we did for our friend Mike. This beautiful singular frame, shiny silver rims, grx groupo with the new campandgo slow bar tape really make this bike POP. We are looking forward to see where this bike takes Mike!
When life gives you Lemon – July. 14, 2025
Lemon the puppy swung by the shop last week. Thanks to Lauren for stopping by with this cute Puppy.
Even more Color – July. 07, 2025
This week, we added some additions to Cayce’s colorful cycle. I performed another harlequin pattern on the bars with cloth bar tape. Cayce couldn’t just choose one color, so here it is: a 4-color bar wrap! It’s fun and unique, with just the dose of chaotic energy Cayce loves.
Museum-Worthy Pull – June. 30 , 2025
A couple of weeks ago, I pulled a complete ring of dried orange seal from a customer’s tire. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime sealant pull—the rarest of the rare.
I believe it could be quite valuable to any dried bicycle tire sealant collector. If you happen to know anyone who collects dried sealant, please let me know. I’m open to selling it for the right price!
Swift Campout! – June. 23 , 2025
During the Swift Campout last weekend, we encountered a fire warning, meaning absolutely no fires were allowed in the mountains. To still create that signature campfire experience that we’ve all come to love, I improvised! I gathered up everyone’s red blinky taillights, headlights, Matt’s orange Nalgene, and a few stones and sticks. Presto! We had a fake campfire for everyone to enjoy sitting around.
Cayce’s Colorful Return – June. 16 , 2025
For those of you who remember my previous Tidbits about Cayce’s project to have the most colorful bike in the world, here’s an update: We’ve installed the most colorful crankset I’ve ever seen!
It’s a Cane Creek eeWing Ti crankset with beautiful Ti anodizing by Agave Works, paired with Alugear’s golf ball aero anodized chainring—it really pops! The cranks are spinning smoothly with a Chris King ceramic BB30 in the “Matte Mango” colorway. We’ve also had some conversations about drivetrain upgrades, and as always: fashion over function!
Rainbow bridge national monument – June. 09 , 2025
Last week I was able to visit Rainbow Bridge national monument. This amazing arch is the largest known natural bridge in the world (standing at 290 ft tall and 275 ft across)
This is a sacred place for many indigenous tribes in the region. (The Hopi tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Navajo nation, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, San Juan southern Paiute tribe, Pueblo of Zuni and Ute mountain Ute tribe)
This was an amazing to experience this special place.
Dexter’s Racy Otso Waheela – June. 02, 2025
Last week I took some glamour shots for my roommate, Dexter, who races on this awesome Otso waheela. He raced the Unbound Xl last weekend and did great!
Shawn Austin’s Cutthroat – May. 26, 2025
Last week I had the pleasure of working on Shawn’s cutthroat as he was preparing to ride the tour divide in a couple of weeks. Starting in Banff, Canada he will be riding south to the Mexico border. With a wolf tooth tanpan road to mountain conversion we installed a 11 speed mountain derailleur and cassette for those steep hills.
Good luck on your trip Shawn!
Toby meets Mia – May. 19, 2025
Mia the young puppy being trained to ride around on the front rack of a surly bridge club is bursting with energy meeting Toby. Definitely brought some light to our day. Thanks Mia!
2022 Tombstone Hustle B-Rolls – May. 12, 2025
This weeks tidbit; we look back at some photos I took during our tombstone hustle over-nighter in 2022. Some Toby and Nate action in the dragoon mountains, the prickly pear emporium and True Marmalade (Erik) and his titanium omnium he rode on the trip. Good times in Cochise stronghold.
Bike shop operation – May. 5, 2025
Pictured: Nate delicately pulling a splinter from Ellie’s finger using a nail clipper. Very unsanitary but it worked
Tricycle – April. 28, 2025
We had a cool 20″ tricycle come into the shop for service recently, and it got me thinking – could tricycles ever become an interesting option for bikepacking? Here’s Ellie taking a call on the tricycle.
Toby’s mustache – April. 21, 2025
Two weeks ago Toby came into the shop rocking this stache. You mustache him about it next time you see him.
Lonnie’s last day – April. 14, 2025
I wanted to share that last week was Lonnie (Burger)’s final day with us at Campfire. We celebrated with tacos and burritos from The Little One. We’re all going to miss Lonnie dearly around the shop. During their time here, we spent many breaks daydreaming about cool bike builds and fun bikepacking routes. On their last day, I took some glamour shots of them with their custom 26+ Crust Evasion.
Fun times at Cyclovia – April. 07, 2025
I had a great time at Cyclovia this past weekend in Tucson! It was hosted by Living Streets Alliance, a fantastic local non-profit dedicated to transforming streets into vibrant public spaces that connect people and places.
Many of Tucson’s bike-friendly boulevards are supported by events like this. Each event showcases a particular bike boulevard by closing it to vehicle traffic, which allows cyclists and pedestrians to move around freely and safely.
Ellie and I set up a free repair tent at one of the hubs, and we got many folks back on their bikes that day, as well as met some truly amazing people from our community.