Old Dogs New Tricks at 24 HOP

It's a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we're on the way to there

Why not share?

And the load

Doesn't weigh me down at all

He aint heavy, he's my brother

He Aint Heavy, He's My Brother, Bob Russell & Bobbie Scott (1969)

Thousands of teammates & crew await the runners of the LeMans start at 24 HOP in 2024.
The big white transition tent and orange finishing arch anchor the sprawling 24 Hour Town.
(image by SportoGraf.com)

I'm going back to the 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo. Not solo. This time, I called for backup.

For the past three years, I've loved my annual mid-winter road trip to southern Arizona that included riding solo, self-supported at 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo ("24 HOP"). However, when looking ahead to February 2027, I thought maybe that experience had run its course.

That thought sat uneasily, like a convenience store burrito that had been made too early.

Sunset lap at 24 HOP in 2024.

One morning over coffee with a few retired Correctional Officers from the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, we talked about our various traveling plans, e.g., visits to kids and grandkids, sightseeing road trips, snow-birding, cruises, etc. My friend Mark Steele asked me about 24 HOP. I responded vaguely.

He kept asking. I eventually realized these were no longer general questions from a curious friend, but questions of logistics, such as the course, the venue, the camping, the gear. This was different.

"Mark, are you interested in riding it?" I blurted.

"I think it would be a hoot!" he said with a glint.

Wow. Although Mark is an accomplished hiker and off-pavement endurance motorcyclist, he will readily admit to be but a casual cyclist. Indeed, this would be his first mountain bike race. Really?

Mark quickly added that his idea of a "hoot" would be to ride a day lap and then a night lap. Maybe another in the morning, maybe not. He just wanted to experience 24 HOP.

What a great idea. We'll form a four man relay team. We just need two more like-minded adventurers.

Sunrise lap at 24 HOP in 2026.
Elon Musk should study the outlandish energy surge from the first light of a new day
breaking the dark deepness of the last hours of a night at a 24 hour race.

My first phone call went to Dave Rubins, another former Officer now living in Florida. After hearing just a short description of the idea, Dave bursts out "I'm in!" Then his wife walks into the room and Dave turns to her, "Heidi! Boys weekend mountain biking, in Arizona, in February. What do you think?"

"#*@% yeah!" Heidi bellowed.

Alrighty, then. Finding a fourth teammate to commit didn't take much more. Tim Malone, another former Officer, just needed a little more time to arrange things, as he still works as a productive member of polite society. But it didn't take long. Tim even offered to ride the first lap, taking on the crazy chaos of the 500 meter LeMans running start and the first lap madness of the rutted, endo-fest called "The Bitches."

Three old dogs are enthusiastically tackling new tricks at 24 HOP.
The fourth dog is the oldest, who is pushing the limits of experience.

For Mark and Dave, 24 HOP will be their first ever mountain bike race. For Tim, it will be his first mountain bike race since the Clinton administration. None have raced at night, so none have raced through the night.

With a combined age of 241 years and over 80 years of law enforcement service, this team of old dogs will be learning a whole bag of new tricks.

It'll be a hoot! #*@% yeah!

Addendum. For more information about 24 HOP, go to their website epicrides.com. For my reports over the past three years, go to 2026 24 HOP Report; 24 HOP - Something Makes Me Turn Around; 2025 24 HOP Report; 24 HOP - Back At It; 2024 24 HOP Report.

He Aint Heavy, He's My Brother, The Hollies (1969)