Event Recap

Tour de Palm Springs 2026: A 58-Mile Comeback

Kyle Knight, Senior Category Merchant (Bike)
Kyle Knight
Senior Category Merchant (Bike) · Photos by Thomas Peralta · Published June 2025 · 4-minute read

The 28th Annual Tour de Palm Springs, honoring Military, First Responders, and Veterans, brought together 6,000–7,000 riders for an unforgettable day on the road. Mine was a first — my first-ever road event after more than twenty years on dirt.

Solo rider on a desert road at Tour de Palm Springs 2026.

Tour de Palm Springs by the Numbers

Twenty-eight years of riders, charity miles, and desert sun — the scale that makes this one of the largest road events in the Southwest.

28th
Annual Ride
Running since 1999
7,000
Riders Strong
From beginners to pros
5
Route Options
5 to 100 miles
80°F
Winter Sun
February in the desert

The ride benefits Military, First Responders, and Veterans — one of the reasons it draws the crowd it does.

The Story

From Mountain to Road

For more than twenty years, my riding life lived almost entirely off-pavement. Singletrack, technical descents, the occasional bike park — mountain biking was the whole story. Then a few injuries piled up, life got noisier, and the rides got shorter and farther apart. The bike never left the garage, but for a while, it stopped going out as often as it used to.

Recently, I decided it was time to get back out there and push myself again. A few months ago, I picked up a Scott Addict 10 road bike with a goal in mind: complete a 100-mile Tour/Giro by the end of the year. The mountain bike isn't going anywhere — but the road would be the place to rebuild the engine.

Scott Addict 10 road bike detail shot.
The Scott Addict 10 — the bike that started the road chapter. Photo by Thomas Peralta.

After some minor tweaks and a proper fitment, I was ready for my first-ever road cycling event. Tour de Palm Springs felt like the perfect place to start. I chose the 58-mile route as my entry point, and I was joined by my coworker Thomas Peralta — an avid road cyclist whose presence made the whole thing feel a lot less like a leap of faith.

Crowd of riders gathered at the Tour de Palm Springs start line under palms.
Start-line energy. Thousands of riders, downtown Palm Springs, palms in every direction. Photo by Thomas Peralta.

From start to finish, the experience was outstanding. With winter temperatures reaching into the 80s, stunning views of Joshua Tree National Park, and the backdrop of the Coachella Valley, the ride couldn't have been more scenic. The organization, the on-course support, and the overall atmosphere made it a welcoming and motivating event for a first-time road participant.

We maintained a solid pace and finished with a moving time of about 3:30, which felt like a real accomplishment for where I am in my journey.

“While I still have a long way to go before reaching my 100-mile goal, this ride was an important and encouraging step forward.”

— Kyle Knight

I'm grateful for the experience and the motivation it provided. I'm looking forward to continuing to build strength, confidence, and endurance throughout the year.

Keep pedaling. 🚴

What I Rode

My Tour de Palm Springs Setup

The bike, the parts that touched me for 58 miles, and the small stuff I'd take again without changing a thing.

Scott Addict 10 Road Bike
Scott
Addict 10 Road Bike
Carbon endurance road frame · Disc brakes · Picked specifically as a comeback bike to chase a 100-mile goal — fast enough to stay sharp, comfortable enough to ride all day.
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Fizik Tempo Overcurve R4 Wide Road Shoes
Fizik
Tempo Overcurve R4 Wide Shoes
Wide-last endurance road shoe · BOA dial · Asymmetric closure that follows the natural angle of the foot — zero hot spots over 58 miles.
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Fizik Vento Antares R3 Adaptive Saddle
Fizik
Vento Antares R3 Adaptive Saddle
3D-printed adaptive padding · Race-shape platform · The contact point that turns a long road day from survivable into enjoyable.
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Silca Super Secret Chain Lube
Silca
Super Secret Chain Lube
Immersive wax-based lube · Long service intervals · Quiet drivetrain, clean drivetrain. Worth the pre-ride ritual.
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Almsthre Compact Frame Bag, Midnight Black
Almsthre
Compact Frame Bag — Midnight Black
Top-tube mount · Tools, gels, multi-tool, phone · Out of the jersey pockets, off the saddle rails, and out of the way.
Shop Now

Tap any card for current pricing, available sizes, and full specs. Setup notes reflect what worked for Kyle — your fit and preferences may vary.

Pick Your Distance for 2027

Tour de Palm Springs offers something for every level — from a casual neighborhood roll to a full century in the desert. Find the distance that matches where you are, not where you wish you were.

5
Miles
Family-friendly. Kids on cruisers, first-timers, anyone who wants to be part of the day without committing to distance.
10
Miles
A stretch beyond casual. Good for new road riders building confidence, or anyone treating the day as a social spin.
25
Miles
Real ride territory. The sweet spot for fit riders who train casually but aren't chasing endurance — a satisfying morning effort.
Kyle rode this
55–58
Miles
The metric-century range. A genuine endurance day with Joshua Tree views and Coachella Valley scenery. Where Kyle started his road chapter.
100
Miles
The full century. For experienced road riders — or, like Kyle, the carrot at the end of a year of consistent building.

Registration for the 29th Annual ride opens later in the year at tourdepalmsprings.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tour de Palm Springs?
Tour de Palm Springs is an annual charity road ride held in February in Palm Springs, California — one of the largest organized rides in the Southwest. The 28th Annual edition honored Military, First Responders, and Veterans, and drew between 6,000 and 7,000 riders across five distance options.
Who can ride it? Do I need to be a racer?
No racing license required — this is an organized charity ride, not a race. Routes run from a 5-mile family loop to a full 100-mile century, so the event accommodates kids on cruisers, fit recreational riders, and serious endurance cyclists in the same morning. Kyle rode the 58-mile route as his first-ever road event.
Do I need a dedicated road bike?
For the 5- and 10-mile routes, any working bike will do. For 25 miles and up, a road, gravel, or fitness bike is far more comfortable — rolling resistance and riding position make a real difference over distance. Kyle moved from a mountain background to a Scott Addict 10 specifically to build toward a 100-mile goal.
What's the weather usually like?
February in the Coachella Valley is one of the most reliable rides on the calendar — daytime temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s are common, with low humidity and a lot of sun. Expect a cool start, warmer than expected by mid-morning, and plan hydration accordingly. Sun protection is non-optional.
Where does the money raised go?
Proceeds from Tour de Palm Springs support local Coachella Valley charities, with a stated focus this year on Military, First Responders, and Veterans organizations. The current beneficiary list is published each year on the official event website.
How do I register for the 2027 ride?
Registration for the next Tour de Palm Springs typically opens in the fall, with early-bird pricing in the months that follow and a final cutoff close to the event date. Sign-up details live at tourdepalmsprings.com.
I'm a mountain biker coming to road — what should I expect?
Three things to adjust to: a longer, more aerodynamic riding position; sustained efforts instead of punchy ones; and the importance of fit. Spend the money on a proper fitment before your first big road day — Kyle did, and credits it for being able to finish the 58-mile route comfortably on his first attempt.

Build Your Road Setup at Jenson USA

Ready to start your own road chapter? Browse our full selection — bikes, components, and the small parts that turn a long day into a great one.

Brands featured in this story: Scott  ·  Fizik  ·  Silca  ·  Almsthre
First-time road buyer? Call a Jenson Gear Advisor — they'll walk you through frame size, gearing, and the contact points that actually matter over a long day.
Kyle Knight, Senior Category Merchant (Bike)
About the Author
Kyle Knight
Senior Category Merchant (Bike), Jenson USA

Kyle leads bike merchandising at Jenson USA, with more than twenty years of mountain biking shaping how he thinks about product. Tour de Palm Springs 2026 was his first-ever official road event — the opening chapter of a road-cycling year built around a 100-mile goal.

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