Local Loops | Tucson
with Hannah Otto & Ryan Standish
SCOTT athletes Ryan Standish and Alex Colorito headed to Tucson, Arizona, to meet up with fellow SCOTT athlete Hannah Otto for the first episode of Local Loops.
Local Loops, hosted by Ryan Standish, takes you beyond the start lines and high-pressure races to meet SCOTT athletes away from competition and get to know the person behind the number plate.
Join Ryan as he goes behind the scenes in the places SCOTT athletes train, ride, and call home.
For much of the winter, Hannah calls Tucson home, trading the cold of Salt Lake City for endless sunshine and ideal riding conditions. It’s where she puts in the massive base miles needed to prepare for the endurance races and FKT projects she’s become known for.
What makes Tucson special isn’t just the weather. Within minutes of town, riders can access rugged desert trails and challenging terrain that help sharpen the off-road skills Hannah relies on for events like Big Sugar and the UCI Marathon World Championships. Between long gravel rides, technical trail sessions, and huge training blocks, it’s easy to see why Tucson has become a second home.
Ryan and Alex joined Hannah to experience some of her favorite local loops firsthand, getting a closer look at the roads, trails, and training grounds that shape one of endurance cycling’s most driven athletes.
Hannah Otto
The Local
SCOTT athlete Hannah Otto is constantly pushing the limits of what’s possible on a bike. As one of the most consistent athletes in the Life Time Grand Prix series, she’s become a familiar face at the front of major gravel and endurance mountain bike races across the country.
Recently, Hannah stepped beyond the traditional race scene and took on one of cycling’s toughest climbing challenges: an FKT attempt on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, climbing from sea level to the summit of the 14,000-foot volcano. Follow her journey and learn more about her background in the SCOTT film Infinite Pursuit.
Ryan Standish
The Adventurer
Adventure-driven and endlessly curious, SCOTT athlete Ryan Standish has lined up at nearly every major MTB and gravel race imaginable. Known as much for his personality as his riding, Ryan has become a fan favorite and familiar face at the biggest races in the US.
Recently, Ryan shifted his focus away from traditional racing and toward ambitious personal projects, including a solo attempt to link Utah’s Kokopelli Trail and White Rim Trail in a single push — more than 300 miles of demanding terrain. Follow the journey in his latest film, One Year Older.
Alex Colorito
Behind the Camera
While he’s usually behind the lens rather than in front of it, Los Angeles-based filmmaker and photographer Alex Colorito has become a key part of capturing some of SCOTT’s biggest stories.
From chasing Safa Brian through the roads of Los Angeles to filming in the high mountain passes of Europe, Alex specializes in bringing speed, adventure, and raw energy to life on screen. When the shot needs to be nailed at full speed down a mountain road, Alex is the guy you want behind the camera.
The Route
Hannah and Ryan roll out from Tucson and take on the iconic climb up Mt. Lemmon. The road twists its way out of the valley and into the mountains, with the elevation quickly stacking up as they leave the city behind. On some days, the climb offers the perfect grade for intervals or all-out efforts, but today it’s a chance to spin side by side and talk about life, racing, and the local terrain.
Of course, they didn’t pedal mountain bikes up the road without planning to take advantage of the elevation. About halfway up the climb, they leave the pavement behind and dive onto the singletrack. The route drops into a demanding network of loose, technical trails that wind all the way back into town. What starts as 4,000 feet of steady road climbing turns into 4,000 feet of steep, chunky descents — the kind of riding that makes every pedal stroke on the way up worth it.
The Bikes
When your ride route stacks most of the elevation on the road but still demands real mountain bike skills on the descents, the Spark is the perfect choice. Light and efficient on the climbs, especially with the TwinLoc suspension system, it transforms with the flick of a handlebar switch. Instantly opening up all 120mm of smooth travel, the Spark is ready to party on any trail the descent throws your way.
Hannah Otto’s Spark RC WC was built with Shimano XTR, Fox Suspension, DT wheels, and all the bells and whistles.
Ryann Standish’s Spark RC EVO is built with Shimano XT, Fox Suspension, and all the Rocket Sloth details.
Stay tuned into SCOTT channels for the next edition of Local Loops!
