Marie Walsh’s FKT on the Kitchen Sink Loop
In the early hours of the morning, of July 25th at 1:34 a.m., Marie Walsh rolled back into Fort Collins having completed the full Kitchen Sink Loop—465 miles and over 43,000 feet of climbing—in 5 days, 17 hours, and 56 minutes. Exhausted but proud, Marie became the first rider to set a Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the route.
The Kitchen Sink Loop itself was created by local cyclist Scott Ruff (kitchensinkloop.org) and links together some of Northern Colorado’s most demanding and rewarding terrain: rugged jeep roads, iconic climbs, high alpine passes, sweeping descents, and remote campsites. Designed to push limits while showcasing the best of Colorado’s backcountry, it delivers equal measures of challenge and beauty.
Rather than coming up with her own interview prompts, Marie turned to her community. She asked her friends on Facebook what questions they wanted answered about her ride—and their curiosity shaped the Q&A that follows. Paired with images from her adventure, Marie shares the highs, lows, and unforgettable moments from her five-and-a-half days on the Kitchen Sink Loop.
15 Questions About My Bikepacking Journey Answered
Thank you to everyone who contributed by asking thoughtful questions and offering encouragement as I put together this Q&A-style write-up about my most recent adventure on the Kitchen Sink Loop. Your curiosity and support helped me reflect more deeply on the experience and share it in a way that feels both personal and informative. Hope you enjoy!!
1. “What is it?”
The Kitchen Sink Loop is a 445-mile bikepacking route in Northern Colorado that begins and ends in Fort Collins. Designed for adventure cyclists, the route primarily follows dirt and gravel forest service roads, with sections of high-quality singletrack woven in for added challenge and variety.
It offers a diverse riding experience through scenic landscapes, remote areas, and even includes 3 different opportunities to soak in hot springs—making it a truly unique and rewarding journey.
The route is thoroughly documented at kitchensinkloop.org, where riders can find detailed maps, stunning photos, and comprehensive resources for camping, water, food, and services. The site also includes a downloadable PDF with a suggested itinerary for an 11-day trip, as well as alternate route options to help make the loop more accessible to gravel bikes by bypassing the more technically difficult trails.
2. “Could ordinary mortals do it?”
That’s actually the beauty of the Kitchen Sink Loop—it’s a bikepacking route that’s not just for elite athletes or ultra-endurance riders. It’s absolutely achievable for any intermediate-level bikepacker, and with a few modifications, even beginner riders can take on sections of it to get a taste of what bikepacking is all about.
By following the suggested 11-day itinerary outlined at kitchensinkloop.org, riders can plan their days to end at hotels or established campsites, making the experience more comfortable and accessible. The route’s proximity to towns, convenience stores, and other services adds a layer of safety and flexibility, to carry about 2 days of food if following the 11-day itinerary.
From a safety standpoint, you’re never too far from a road accessible by motor vehicles, which means that assistance—whether for medical or mechanical issues—is always within reach.
This flexibility makes the Kitchen Sink Loop a welcoming and rewarding experience for “ordinary mortals” and seasoned riders alike.
3. “How far and how many miles to do it right every day?”
The Kitchen Sink Loop can be approached in many ways to suit different experience levels and schedules. For the best pace that includes good camping, food, beer, hot springs and resupply every couple of days, I highly recommend following the 11-day itinerary suggested at kitchensinkloop.org.
Alternatively, the route can be broken into segments and tackled one weekend at a time, following the sections outlined in the downloadable PDF on kitchensinkloop.org.
This flexibility makes the loop accessible to a wide range of riders, whether you’re aiming for a continuous adventure or a series of shorter, manageable outings.
4. “What kind of gear did you use?”
For this bikepacking trip, I went with an ultralight setup that prioritized performance, durability, and a few well-earned comforts.
I rode the Specialized Epic World Cup, outfitted with Traverse SL wheels—heavier than what I normally ride because I wanted them to be tough enough to handle rugged terrain with confidence. For tires, I ran the newest version of the Fast Trak Grid Light.
The drivetrain featured a 30-tooth chainring up front with a standard gear range on the rear cassette (10-52), paired with the SRAM XX electronic transmission, which I was using for the first time on a bikepacking adventure. The electronic shifting was smooth and reliable, even under load, and added a layer of efficiency to the ride. Thankfully, I did carry an extra battery because I did have to replace it somewhere near Eldora.
Suspension included 120 mm of front travel and 80 mm in the rear, striking a great balance between control and comfort.
One of the standout pieces of gear was the Rogue Panda Ripsey seat bag. It’s a harness-style system with up to 8 liters of volume, which allowed me to bring a bivy tent and a small sleeping bag—luxuries compared to my usual tarp and bivy sack sleep system. Despite these additions, the overall setup remained ultralight, enabling me to stay fast and nimble without sacrificing rest and recovery.
This trip marked a thoughtful evolution in my bikepacking approach: still minimalist and weight-conscious, but with a few strategic upgrades that made the experience more enjoyable and sustainable over longer distances.
5. “What food did you eat?”
For this bikepacking trip, I actually took a much more disciplined and calculated approach to nutrition than I have in the past. I’m ballpark guessing I consumed about 4,500-5,500 calories a day, which really feels like a lot of food to me. I was intentional about fueling consistently, aiming to consume at least 100 calories every 20 to 30 minutes.
To support this, I relied on Tailwind Nutrition as my primary hydration source early in the trip, switching to Skratch Labs after resupplying in Winter Park.
These hydration mixes helped me stay on top of both fluid and calorie intake, making it easier to maintain energy levels throughout long days on the bike.
In addition to liquid nutrition, I packed a variety of snacks that were easy to access and digest while riding: Larabars, Honey Stinger waffles and chews, fruit leathers, chocolate-covered almonds, and animal crackers. I also left room for flexibility, picking up whatever sounded good at gas stations and convenience stores during resupply stops.
For my main meals, I pre-made food using cold-soak recipes from Backcountry Foodie, which allowed me to ensure balanced nutrition without adding bulk to my ultralight setup. Also.. cold-soaking means space and weight saving because I didn’t need to bring a stove or fuel.
Breakfast and lunch typically consisted of the chocolate peanut butter shake—a calorie-dense, protein-rich option that was easy to prepare and satisfying (free recipe here).
For dinner, I had prepared Backcountry Foodie’s Pesto Pasta, which offered a comforting and flavorful end to long days in the saddle. Pre-making these meals was a game-changer, giving me confidence that I was fueling well without relying on town stops.
Interestingly, I didn’t eat much when I was in town because I was already so full from constant snacking and hydration. But one meal stands out: in Hot Sulphur Springs, the hotel lobby offered a cold Caesar salad and a ham and cheese sandwich. After such a hard effort, even the wilted iceberg lettuce and brown edges of the salad tasted divine. The sandwich, topped with Caesar dressing, was unexpectedly euphoric—proof that sometimes, the simplest meals can feel like gourmet experiences when you’re deep in the effort.
6. “What did you eat for breakfast and dinner?”
Breakfast was almost always the Backcountry Foodie chocolate peanut butter shake. It’s calorie dense, packed with protein, and easy to prepare first thing in the morning. Dinner was usually Backcountry Foodie pesto pasta. Both meals were cold-soaked to save weight and bulk from carrying a stove.
These became my anchors—nutritionally balanced, easy to prep, and reliable no matter how tired I was at the start or end of the day.
7. “Did you ever feel unsafe?”
Not really. I felt confident in my ability to get out of any situation, and the route is designed so that you’re never too far from a road or town.
There were a few sketchy traffic moments, especially on paved sections where drivers weren’t paying attention, but nothing that felt life-threatening. I carried a Garmin inReach for communication and emergency SOS, which added peace of mind.
The remoteness was actually part of the appeal. I found myself more in awe than afraid.
8. “Where did you sleep?”
I used the Rogue Panda Ripsey seat bag to carry a bivy tent and a small sleeping bag. Most nights I camped in dispersed sites off forest service roads, but I also stayed in hotels when the timing lined up with towns.
That flexibility—mixing camping with indoor overnights—helped me stay rested, clean up, and reset mentally for the next big push.
9. “What did you learn?”
That food really matters. I’ve under-fueled on long rides before and it always catches up with me. This time, being consistent about calories and hydration was the biggest difference in how strong I felt all the way through.
I also learned that having a little extra comfort—like a seat bag big enough for a tent and sleeping bag instead of just a tarp—pays off over a trip this long. A better night’s rest is worth a little more weight.
10. “What was the hardest moment?”
Climbing up Rollins Pass. I was exhausted, the weather was rough, and it felt never-ending. My legs were toast, and mentally I was in a hole.
But once I crested and started descending, the relief and beauty of the landscape flipped the switch. Those low points make the highs that much better.
11. “What was the best moment?”
Hot Sulphur Springs. After days of grinding, I checked into a small hotel and ate a simple ham-and-cheese sandwich with Caesar salad from the lobby. It was euphoric.
That moment summed up the whole trip—how even the simplest pleasures can feel overwhelming after you’ve been stripped down by effort and isolation.
12. “What advice would you give someone thinking about doing it?”
Don’t overcomplicate it. Start with the 11-day itinerary and trust the resources on kitchensinkloop.org. Carry what you need, fuel consistently, and give yourself grace.
And don’t be afraid to mix in hotel nights. This isn’t about suffering—it’s about experiencing the route in a way that leaves you excited to ride again tomorrow.
13. “Would you do it again?”
Yes. Absolutely. In fact, I’m already thinking about how to tweak my setup and approach for the next time. It’s one of those routes that feels like it could teach you something new every time you ride it.
14. “Why did you do it?”
I wanted to test myself in a new way—physically, mentally, and logistically. The Kitchen Sink Loop is right in my backyard, and it’s this incredible blend of terrain, challenge, and beauty that feels like a rite of passage for Northern Colorado riders.
It wasn’t about racing or proving anything. It was about being immersed in the ride, day after day, and seeing what I’d find out there.
15. “What’s next?”
For now, recovery and reflecting on everything I learned. But I know I’ll be back on the Kitchen Sink Loop. And I’m already eyeing other bikepacking routes, both in Colorado and beyond.
This trip reminded me why I love riding: the simplicity, the challenge, and the way it strips life down to the essentials. Whatever’s next, it’ll be in that spirit.
Who is this nutjob?
Dr Marie Walsh is a Kaiser Permanent family medicine physician in Fort Collins who takes a holistic, preventive approach to care, with special interests in sports medicine, musculoskeletal injuries, and women’s health.
Off the bike, she helps families thrive. On the bike, she’s known for big adventures—riding 24 hours up Horsetooth’s Towers climb (17+ laps, 30,000+ ft), a 200-mile day to the WY/CO/NE corner, a moonlit ride to RMNP’s Alpine Visitor Center and back, and multiple runs at the Colorado Trail Race—among other feats.
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