Featuring a 36 Mile point to point course, the Prickly Pedal starts in Cave Creek in front of the Flat Tire Bike Shop, 6032 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331, and rides up through town to Spur Cross where you’ll join the Maricopa Trail all the way over to the finish line at Lake Pleasant Regional Park’s 10 Lane Boat Ramp. The event showcases the diversity of the Maricopa Trail and supports the Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation. Aggressive ascents and descents, grinding it out on the flats, rocks, water, sand, mud, and roller coaster runs are all part of the fun of this challenging course.

Featuring a 36 Mile point to point course, the Prickly Pedal starts in Cave Creek and rides up through town to Spur Cross where you’ll join the Maricopa Trail all the way over to the finish line at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. The event showcases the diversity of the Maricopa Trail and supports the Maricopa Trail and Park Foundation. Aggressive ascents and descents, grinding it out on the flats, rocks, water, sand, mud, and roller coaster runs are all part of the fun of this challenging course.

Besides being a challenging, exciting, fun race, why does the Prickly Pedal exist? To pour every dollar of race revenue into efforts that will add more pristine miles of Maricopa Trail for riders to enjoy. MT+PF envisions this event evolving into a world class, multi-day, endurance stage mountain bike race, drawing thousands of fans to the desert southwest.

The ride features numerous short, steep, rocky climbs and descents…some of which will require you to dismount and hike. This is not a race for the inexperienced – finish times for most racers are estimated at 3-4 hours. Be prepared for a long day in the saddle. This is a tough mountain bike race. 

There will be two aid stations along the long course stocked with water, sports drinks, fruit and other snacks.

Racers and volunteers will enjoy free entry into the After-Party and Award Ceremonies event from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. The After-Party will include snacks and refreshments, a beer garden and DJ.

All racers, their fans, friends and family are encouraged to join us at Lake Pleasant Regional Park for the After Party and Awards Presentation.

There will be a shuttle from the After Party back to Cave Creek for racers. Racers will check their bikes into a secure bike corral at the After Party while the shuttle takes them to retrieve their vehicles in Cave Creek.

Course Map