R. Cunningham

So. I got invited to Tuscon Arizona to try my hand at the Kona Bikes 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo--a race that one of my favorite editors raved about, saying: "Ya gotta race it at least once before you die." After riding the spectacular course and experiencing the vibe there, I could not say it any better.

This year began with rain and snow, Friday evening before the big day. Despite the sullen clouds, spirits remained high, although Pueblo Town was colored red-brown from the effects of the 12-mile mud-bog that was once the ranch road leading to the event. 1700 racers showed for the start--and so did the sun. The weather was picture perfect for the remainder of the race.

24 hours in the Old Pueblo is underwritten by Kona Bikes and produced by Epic Rides--a promotion firm that specializes in marathon road and off-road cycling events that are sold out well in advance. The key to their success can be read on co-owner Todd Sadow's face--a perpetual smile. Todd's first rule is: "Be nice." In fact, jerks, or those who are studying to become one, are warned in advance that they will be summarily thrown out of the race and sent home.

"We own this town," smiled Todd at the mandatory rider's meeting. "So we can do anything we want. You act mean--You will be thrown out."

24-Hour Town

The "Town" is a tent city in the center of Willow Springs Ranch, a vast expanse of cactus, boulders and some rocky hills in the high country North of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The nearest town is Oracle. There are no structures, no campsites, and no shade as far as the eye can see. Todd and company show up a week early, build their 24-hour town, run the race, and when they leave, the crew picks up every scrap of paper and returns the ranch to its rightful owners: the cattle, who were often seen grazing near--or on--the race course.

Most 24-hour events are staged on courses that take a relatively fit rider an hour to burn a lap. That's about ten to 13 miles. The Old Pueblo course was nearly 17 miles around--and every bit of it was action packed--without requiring expert technical skills.

Local volunteers were everywhere on the course, shouting encouragement and pulling cactus from cityfolk who must have thought that it was an accident that, after 100 years of cattle grazing, the cactus lining the race course grew unmolested. The trails are also made and kept up by volunteers. I rode with a 61-year-old solo single-speed racer who, according to locals, is almost entirely responsible for preparing "June Bug;" a beautiful uphill section of the course. I had the pleasure of riding with June Johnson, who earned third place in the race. June has competed solo in all nine of the Old Pueblo events.

June (June Bug) Johnson.

The rains made for perfect cornering traction and zero dust. Swoopy, rolling and curvateous, the circuit was primarily singletrack, with enough passing lanes and dirt roads thrown in to make overtaking (a constant occurrence in marathon racing) a no-hassle event for competitors. There were jumps, pump-track whoops and enough corners to confuse a basket weaver. The elevation changes were gradual, with only three oversized rollers near the beginning of the lap to keep riders honest. One lap was worth the price of admission.

All smiles on the race course.

For these reasons, Old Pueblo has become a must-race for single-speeders--who nearly won every major category. Lap times were fast. Serious racers were popping off the 17-miles between one hour and five minutes to an hour and a half. The fast lap went to Damian Calvert at one hour and nine seconds--he owned the fast night lap--less than two minutes slower. The best teams put in 21 laps (somewhere around 350 miles), with the overall win going to the 4-person-male: Team Kona.

If you want to know who hurt the most, my vote goes to the single-speed solo riders: Chelsea McGowan put in nine laps and Michael Melley rode an astonishing 16.

There were stars among the crowd: Marathon National Champ Monique (Pua) Sawicki was racing on a five-person team with Olympic medalist and National Champion Dave Wiens (yes, they won their class). Trek's Susan Haywood paired with Spring Clegg won the duo class. I probably left out a dozen other lumiaries because I was having too much fun riding the course.

Stunning trophies were made by a local sculptor.

Check out the winners (there are over a dozen classes) here (www.epicrides.com), although everyone who shared the Old Pueblo experience could be counted as a winner. I'm coming back.

Todd Sadow MC's the award ceremony. The end of a perfect race.