It would be hard to script it better, 70 degree days, 45 degree nights, 1500 plus riders and 24 hours to do what ever it is you do at these events. Part Woodstock and part Baja 1000, The 24 Hours at Old Pueblo is a place where some race round the clock while others enjoy the beverage inspiring atmosphere and the crazy fast single track.
The Hollywood setting for this weekends 11th riding of the 24 hours of Old Pueblo did not disappoint. The stories that will be told will not include snow or sub freezing temps, but the absolute perfection that organizer Todd Sadow and his awesome group of volunteers and workers managed to pull down.
With no official numbers to quote, I can only say that the field was enormous and the starting line of bikes at the Lemans style start will serve as proof. I was impressed by the great sportsmanship displayed as the throngs of bike jockeys funneled their way down the race course lined with thousands of family, friends and teammates in an effort to find their bikes. The start resembled a Boston marathon start where some riders were 10 minutes behind the fastest runners before finding their bikes or being able to ride. As for attitudes, they were all in the right place. What is ten minutes when you're going to be riding for a long, long, long time?
Here is a video that truly exemplifies the experience. Its one of the best videos I have ever seen of this type of event.
If you were there and had so much fun you can't wait until next year, check out some of Epic Rides other events. The Whiskey 50 is coming up Next! If you want to tell your story, be sure to blog about it below.
Bicycle World / Hammer Head Racing Takes Third Podium Spot. The newly formed team of elite Pro and Cat 1 riders sponsored by Bicycle World and Hammer Head Bikes out of Austin Texas, grabbed the third podium spot in it's first official team race of the season at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo. Lead by Jeff Herrera's consistently fast laps, fellow teammates Art MacFarland, Ryan o'Connor, and Scott Henry dished out enough punishment to complete 21 laps and fend off over 130 other teams in the men's open category. The overall victory went to Sport Systems MTC Dream Team who won by a full lap with Second Place going to the impressive U23 squad of Waste Management. With near perfect weather, the top three teams completed the 24 hour time frame with out any real issues. "Our riders are experienced endurance athletes and that is what it takes to finish on the podium in these type of races. That and some luck" - quoted the teams manager.
For a more detailed report. Read the blogs from the racers themselves as they post them here.
5 comments for "Old Pueblo is perfect and then some."
Wow, what an event. Hammerheadcycles.com entered the event with a top 5 goal and succeded in getting 3rd place out of 140 teams. The team was made up by Jeff Herrera and myself, Scott Henry on loan from our sister team in Austin, and Ryan O'Connor getting his first taste of a 24 hour race. We started off in the top 10, dropped into the top 5 by the second lap and stayed in there for the first 12 hours. We managed to have an almost trouble free race, with some minor crashes, cactus encounters, and some sleep depraved mistakes. We missed 2nd place by 12 minutes - we might have taken over 2nd place if we had made no mistakes, but it's hard not to make mistakes in a 24 hour race.
Our other Hammer Head team was not as lucky. The team of Jimmy Alexander, Dan Vasily, Paul Broadtrip and Jay Robinson had a few more issues during the race. Starting with a double flat in the first lap, then a bent wheel and a broked derailleur during a night lap.
Overall a mix feeling with one team doing well and the other team having problems - next time we'll see if we can get both team in the podium. Next weekend is the 3rd round of the Arizona State MTB series then Sagebrush in San Diego. And then, vacation in the beach in Mexico!!!
Posted by Art Macfarland | Monday, February 15, 2010, 6:36:05 pm
It has been 6 years since my last Old Pueblo experience and its hard to remember how difficult this race can be. A last minute invite as a sub on a 2 man team allowed me to compete again. There were 10 of us from Hammerheadcycles.com at this event spread out over 3 different teams with 9 of us from Arizona and 1 from Texas.
My first try on a 2 man team was far tougher than I could have imagined. The combination of an overly fast first lap and the short turnaround time between laps, quickly wore me down. My 9:00PM night lap was filled with leg cramps and a few "where is the trail" happenings. My Sunday morning laps revealed that the trail had changed in several areas from literally hundreds of riders experiencing "where is the trail" syndrome. Our 2 man team was a middle of the pack finisher. It was a very challenging race and a very fun event at the Old Pueblo. Next time I hope to be a little better prepared for this difficult race.
Congratulations to fellow Hammerheadcycles.com team members Jeff, Art, Ryan, and Scott, for finishing 3rd in the extremely competitive 4 man field.
Posted by Steve Hughes | Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 6:51:44 am
Race started out better than I expected with a 1:08 first lap, and I felt like I rode conservatively. Not one of my strong points. Unfortunately, Dan flatted on his BONTRAGER tires and we lost 25 + minutes out of the box. My next lap I was having stomach issues until the climb and pulled a 1:14. Booooooo! Decided to crash after a shower for my third lap. Woke up thinking I overslept to find Jimmy and Dan having a beer in the RV, Paul out on course. Game over. Decided to just sleep since Dan blew his wheel and rear derailleur. We went from 16th to 45th real fast, but I must say, still had a blast. One of the best trails in AZ and time with friends can't be beat.
Posted by Jay Robinson | Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 2:16:22 pm
How was your weekend? That was the first question I heard when I walked in the office on Monday morning. How do you recap a long weekend of racing with so many indiviual stories without talking non-stop until lunch. It was a great weekend, I said. Coach Art put his rally car and bus driver skills to the test getting our 40 foot RV into the venue. We watched as Old Pueblo town grew by the second until noon on Saturday when the first rider of every team toed the line for the LeMans style start. In my forth year participating in this event, this was my first year not doing the run and man was I happy. I stood by as rider after rider scrambled to find their trusted titanium, carbon, aluminum or steel weapon of choice for the next 24 hours. Ryan got us up to a good start, I went out second improving my personal lap time at this event then passed the baton off to Art then Scott. We managed fairly fast first two rotation then our night rotations slowed us down just a bit. In the wee hours of the morning I had another personal first at this event, when I brushed a cholla to find the outer side of my left arm and leg covered with clumps of needles. After locating a pair of sticks and resourcing to some acrobatics to get rid of the pain inducing stickers, I was back on the bike. We continue cranking out laps at a consistent pace. As morning came we though we were in second place and continued working on gaining ground on 3 and 4 place. Unfortunately due to a timing error one team didn't get one of their laps recorded which moved them into second. I discovered this as I was heading down to the exchange tent for my last lap. At that point I knew we had ridden as hard as we could so even third was a great result. As I stood on the podium I realize how competitive this event is and the caliber of riders that we raced against. Once the awards ceremony was done and all our gear was packed, we headed home to get some well deserved and needed rest. I hesitated for a second to inquire to my coworker about his weekend but I figured it would be the right thing to do...he looked at me and said, "even if I made something up about my weekend, it wouldn't be nearly as exciting as yours".
Posted by Jeff Herrera | Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 10:42:06 pm
Old Pueblo 2010, Wow this race had some challenges. From the get go, our team member Dan Vasily had a double flat putting us behind nearly the whole field of riders. By the time I started my lap as the second rider, Dan had passed back bunches of people. Unfortunately I had the task of passing lots more. My lap went well and I felt like I had ridden fast yet saved a little in the tank. By 9:00 pm we had had no bike problems and moved back up through the field into 14th place. I guess luck was not on our side this year and we had another mechanical problem that placed us so for back in the field it was futile to ride any further if we wanted a top 10 finish. I had a great time with my teammates Jimmy Alexander, Jay Robinson, and Dan Vasily. I would like to thank our sponsors: Geax, Hammerhead Bicycles, Bicycle World, and Pacific Health Labs for the support they give us.
Posted by Paul Broaderip | Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 8:16:42 am
