Bike Mechanic School X Gravel Camp
Tucson, AZ
february 12-15, 2026

Join us for 4-days of gravel camp meets bike mechanic school in sunny Tucson, AZ. This women’s only camp creates a safe space for you to learn, ride, and connect with other rad women!

You’ll split your days between learning bike mechanic skills (on your own bike) and riding on mixed surface roads in the country’s most popular winter training grounds. This all-inclusive trip is limited to 24 guests and will feature bike mechanics Casey Wytaske and Paige Stuart with Coach Serena Bishop Gordon joining as the bike coach.

Mechanic Sessions:

  • Day One - Arrive and Bike Build Party 🎉

    • Reassemble your bike with our mechanic present to assist with any assembly questions. Please note, the mechanic will not be building your bike for you, but will walk you through the steps if you need assistance.

  • Day Two - Tubeless Tire Maintenance and Set Up 

    • Learn how to service your tubeless tires, including converting from tubes

      to tubeless, maintaining tubeless setups, adding/changing sealant, taping rims

    • This session also covers tubeless repairs, terminology and tire pressure.

    • For non-tubeless riders, you’ll have the option to convert or partner with another participant for this learning session.

  • Day Three - Drivetrain & Cockpit

    • Chain maintenance, repairs and replacement

    • Cable indexing and adjustments

    • Wireless drivetrain troubleshooting and adjustments

    • Checking derailleur hanger

    • Derailleur parts and function

    • Bar tape replacement

  • Day Four - Brakes

    • Learn about different brake systems

    • Checking and changing brake pads & rotors

    • Bedding in brakes

    • Identifying when a brake bleed is needed.

  • Bonus mini-session: How to clean/care for your bike with a bike wash & a group bike packing party (30 minutes)

The camp will also include an optional pre-camp zoom session with Casey to learn to pack your bike and supervised bike-building sessions when you arrive (you’ll be assembling your own bike, Casey and Paige will be there to help if you get stuck!)

**You’ll be doing all of the work on YOUR bike for the weekend. The goal is for you to get your hands dirty and learn!

*Cost of the camp includes materials such as sealant, rim tape, and other items you may need for tubeless conversions. Items will be available for purchase at a discounted rate if you want to change out things like brake pads, chains, new tires, etc.

The Rides
Led by Coach Serena Bishop Gordon, daily rides will be a combination of skill work and riding. Riding from the front door, you’ll have the opportunity to practice on gravel, non-technical single track, and some of the most famous training roads in Tucson.

The Downtime

We’ve rented the entire Solana Spanish Villas property and you’ll have full access to all of the resort-style amenities including an outdoor pool, pickleball court, and plenty of areas to lounge and relax. If you want to add extra riding time, you’ll find plenty of routes right outside the complex (hello Mount Lemmon!). It’s the perfect spot to get away from the winter blues and gain some knowledge, skills and fitness to be prepared for your 2026 adventures.


Where you’ll stay:
Solana Spanish Villas is a resort-style property with a variety of housing options. You can choose options from booking your own villa to share a covered wagon (glamping plus - with heat, air and a private bathroom). Pricing is based on housing choice and are first come first serve.


Meals
A private chef will be prepare daily meals with consideration for dietary restriction and and will be served family-style for lunch and dinner. Breakfast will be available to grab in the main villa or to take back to your room each day.

What’s Included:

  • 4 nights housing (choose your occupancy)

  • All mechanic instruction

  • Group rides & skills clinics

  • 4 dinners, 3 lunches, daily serve-yourself breakfast

  • Snacks

  • Fabulous swag

Not Included:

  • Airport transportation (Tuscon is the nearest airport)

  • Alcoholic beverages (feel free to bring your own)

  • Excursions

  • Tips (optional)

Total Cost: $2500-$3500 (housing choice dependent)

Meet your Instructors

Casey Wytaske

Casey Wytaske is a pro bike mechanic and certified MTB instructor who has coached folks on bike maintenance and handling skills since 2016.

Casey is from Minnesota but has travelled the United States for the last 5 years as a bike demo technician. She's committed to making sure everyone walks away from her clinics with new knowledge to empower them out on their bike

Current Certifications: United Bicycle Institute Certified Mechanic, PMBIA Level 1, BICP Level 1, Wilderness & Remote First Aid, CPR & AED

Paige Stuart

Paige had a bike habit that became repair intensive so she decided to take a bike maintenance class.  What was meant to be a self-help education completely changed her career path and she’s been working as a professional bike mechanic ever since.  After working for years as a bike shop mechanic she landed a position as a race mechanic on the  Liv/ Giant team in 2021.   Whether in a shop or at races, she has been fixing bikes professionally for over a decade now and loves sharing space and knowledge with other tool-wielding women.

Serena Bishop Gordon - Bike Coach

Serena, the founder of Special Blend Gravel, is a professional off-road cyclist, coach, and community builder with over a decade of experience racing at the elite level. With standout performances at events including the Unbound XL, Oregon Trail Gravel Stage Race, Cape Epic, Breck Epic, and international UCI cyclocross races, Serena has proven herself as one of the sport’s most enduring and versatile athletes. Her strengths lie in technical terrain, strategic pacing, and mental toughness—skills honed over thousands of miles and many seasons.

She is dedicated to uplifting women through camps and coaching, and creating an inclusive community and transformative experiences on two wheels. Her coaching philosophy is grounded in a “person first, athlete second” mindset, recognizing that joy, balance, and connection are essential ingredients in both performance and life. Serena’s leadership has helped create a space where riders of all backgrounds and experience levels feel seen, supported, and inspired.

The team will also be joined by Girls Gone Gravel co-host Kathryn Taylor and Hit Play Not Pause host, Selene Yeager

Space is limited to 24 participants. We’ll be running our sessions in two groups of 12 - one group riding in the morning and mechanic Sessions in the afternoon and vice versa. This means you’ll have plenty of hands on time for both riding and wrenching.

All trips have a 30-day penalty-free cancellation policy and a free transfer policy. Details can be found on the sign up page.

FAQs

  • This event is for any woman who wants to gain confidence in her bike mechanic skills while getting in some winter miles and connecting with other rad women.

  • All rides will be a mix of skills work and riding. We’ll have several ride leaders to adapt to your pace. It’s also optional to skip a ride day if you want to relax or add miles if you’re looking for more.

  • The Tuscon airport is the closest airport

  • We have a 30-day no questions asked refund policy. After that 30-days, you can transfer to another person with no penalty. If we have folks on the waitlist, we’ll send emails on your behalf

  • We adapt meals for diet restrictions and try to manage preferences but all meals are served family style with special consideration for allergies.

  • Yes and yes. Exclusive for this trip, we have a non-camper add-on with limited availability (based on housing). Perhaps you have a partner who wants to come and ride solo or relax in the sun. They are welcome to join us for meals but won’t be able to join the mechanic camp. If they are interested in the group rides, we can discuss options. Email us at yourfriends@livefeisty.com for more

    And yes, you can choose a housing option that lets you bunk with a friend on a first come first serve basis. You’ll be prompted to enter their information once you check out.

More questions or interested in sponsorship? Email yourfriends@livefeisty.com