24 Hours In The Old Pueblo - 2025

Every gambler knows that the secret to survivin'

is knowin' what to throw away, and knowing what to keep.

Cause every hand's a winner, and every hand's a loser,

And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.

You got to know when to hold 'em. Know when to fold 'em.

Know when to walk away. Know when to run.

You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table,

There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealing's done.

The Gambler, Don Schlitz (1978).

Sunset lap at the 2025 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo.
The cholla do not sleep.

After last year's rollicking race at the 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo, I had to go back. See, 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo - 2024 Race Report. 

So, I planned to ride solo again. To help justify the 20 hour one-way drive, I added a weekend with our daughter Cara in Denver, 3 days volunteering at the race, 3 days for the race itself, and another 6 days in Phoenix with a brother and a sister. That worked out to an 18 day road trip, taking a big bite out of a South Dakota February.

Overall? Great road trip. Rough race.

Sunrise at 24 Hour Town.

Let's deal with the race first. I came into race day with limited training, low energy, and little fire. For weeks, I had been fighting a lingering cold/flu/something that would not go away and left me in a continuous state of fatigue. I decided to start anyhow and work through it.

After four straight days of cold, overcast skies and unusually high winds in the desert, race day broke sunny and relatively calm. I felt pretty solid for the 500+ meter LeMans-style running start and throughout most of the first 16.7 mile lap. Not normal, but solid enough, I thought.

I pulled into base camp at practically the same time as last year, but this year found South Dakota Mines classmates Dave & Lori Litzen! They buzzed down from Phoenix for the weekend to check out this nutty 24 hour mountain bike race scene. Great to see you guys!

Back on the course, I faded early on the second lap. I simply had little strength, energy, or endurance. Managing my output, I stopped frequently to collect myself and finally limped into camp to prepare for the sunset/first night lap. This was going downhill rapidly.

Sunset at a 24 hour race is always magical, as it was this year. But about halfway around that lap, pitch darkness extinguished all light, and then my race. I know my normal tired at this stage and this was not it. This was a larger problem manifesting as overwhelming fatigue, growing chills, shooting stomach pain, bloating, cramps, and headache. On the final climb, I could barely pedal. The last miles took an eternity.

Eventually back at camp, I immediately changed into dry, warmer clothes for the upcoming cold night laps and searched for something hot to eat to settle things down and shake those chills. Nothing sounded good. Nothing tasted good. So, I drank some fluids, including my normal Hammer Recoverite and some hot broth. OK. Better. Maybe. But this stomach is a mess. Everything is.

Basically the same base camp as last year.

Meanwhile, temperatures plummeted. Angry winds awakened. Chills deepened. Stomach pain intensified.

I retreated into my Jeep. Racing thoughts vainly sought a path through this.

Realistically, I knew that I was in no condition to get back out there. Not now. Not for awhile. 

OK. I'll re-assess in 20 minutes. Sigh. OK. Maybe awhile longer. Another 20 minutes. Heavier sigh. SMH. OK, another hour.

Still not anywhere near OK. 

I knew that digging too deeply to finish an endurance event can result in months to fully recover. I knew that, in the past, I have lost at least two or three summers that way. Is this the time to dig that deep?

Ultimately, I decided no. This was not that time.

So, I rode 3 laps in about 8 hours, with 2 long breaks. Call it my own 8 Hours In The Old Pueblo.

And I lived to ride another day, much sooner.

SD Mines classmates Dave & Lori Litzen checking out the scene.
I'm still smiling after the first lap.

Other than a rough race, I enjoyed a great road trip. I first visited daughter Cara in Denver for a weekend and then drove some scenic back roads to camp at the race venue at Willow Springs Ranch, north of Tucson. I volunteered at early packet pickup on Tuesday, helped with venue setup on Wednesday, and volunteered at the venue check-in on Thursday. On Friday, I met my growing assortment of neighbors and enjoyed the vendor and sponsor booths. The race ran Saturday noon to Sunday noon, shortly after of which most all of the 4,000-some people left the venue.

On Monday, I drove to Phoenix for 5 days with my brother Cyler and his family, including two days on ranch land he's developing in the hills outside Prescott. Friday evening and Saturday I spent with my sister Candy, who took a break from remodeling projects to demonstrate her prowess on a recently installed putting green. I capped it all off with a Colorado Rockies spring training game on Sunday afternoon, the highlight of which was watching kids run around the bases afterward.

Overall, a great road trip, sandwiched around a rough race.

Next year? Maybe.

Solo? Maybe. Anyone interested in a team relay?

Elite endurance athletes Colin & Kristen Schindler (formerly of Spearfish, SD) stopped by with encouragement.

Neighbor Susie with her 5 person family team from Montana.
They enjoyed a 20 hour drive, too.

Joyous Jesus (red cap) raced solo, with his dad and brother as crew.
His first ever mountain bike race.

Solo racer Ben from Colorado with his fiancee.
Ben works for the City of Breckenridge and manages the Firecracker 50 race.

Neighbor Tony raced solo, with his wife crewing. 

Solo racer Ben from Colorado pushed for the podium.

Solo racer Dustin from Alaska was out racing. This is part of his crew.
They flew from Alaska, shipped all their gear, and rented a U-Haul in Arizona as a camper.

Bonus image of kids running the bases after a Colorado Rockies spring training game.

Bonus image of Arizona State Highway 77 that eventually drops into Tucson.

The Gambler, Kenny Rogers (1978).

24 Hours In The Old Pueblo - People Make The Place

The 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo ("Two Four HOP") is well known for its welcoming, celebratory vibe. The promoters, vendors, and sponsors certainly contribute, but the racers and their crew are the life blood of this event. Throughout the weekend, I enjoyed nothing but positive and enthusiastic interactions with everyone I encountered. What an affirming experience.

Even out on the course, with challenging passes on fast, twisty single track hemmed in by large, nasty cactus, I found every cyclist to be friendly and encouraging. Every single interaction was positive, even with the fastest of the fast guys and gals. Maybe especially the fastest.

Everyone genuinely seemed happy to be there, and happy to see you there.

Ultra Trail Runner Extraordinaire Kristen Schindler brings a ready smile and a cheering section.
(image by Ultra Cyclist Extraordinaire Colin Schindler)

Here's a short introduction to some old and new friends who shared this experience and, along with many others, made the whole weekend memorable. 

Local Fast Guys

Among other things, Kristen Schindler is an elite ultra trail runner and her husband Colin is a competitive cyclist. We met at a cycling event in the Black Hills of South Dakota in late 2021 when Colin was preparing to race the Tour Divide. After his amazing 19 day finish in 2022, I interviewed him for my blog and kept in contact with them after their move to Tucson last year. 

Colin entered Two Four HOP as part of Team "Los Pitudos" in the 4 person Mens Open division, with Kristen joining as crew. But her enthusiastic support could not be contained to one team. Kristen screamed and waved a "CRAIG" sign at the start and kept tabs during the race. I later saw her (and heard her!) near the transition tent with a "COLIN! COLIN! COLIN! COLIN!" sign. I can only imagine the energy at their team camp site.

Not surprisingly, Colin rode 5 of his team's 16 laps, including 3 of their night laps after midnight, which are the hardest of the entire race, by far. Go, Colin!

Colin Schindler effortlessly cranks out another lap for Los Pitudos.
(image by Kristen Schindler)

ChristianCycling - Tucson Spoke

In advance of Two Four HOP, I contacted the Tucson Spoke of ChristianCycling to see if any of their members planned to be at the race. Conor Johnson responded that he was racing as part of a 5 person co-ed team with other friends, but that he did not know of a formal ChristianCycling team. I didn't know Conor, but we communicated over a few days before the start and met at packet pickup. 

Out on the course, Conor flew by me on a few laps, always with a loud "GO CRAIG!" or "LOOKING GOOD CRAIG!" I would have loved to ride with him, but he rode much faster. His team, "Chill Team Ride," ultimately rode 22 laps to finish 2nd in the 5 Person Co-Ed (150-199 combined age group) division.

  

ChristianCycling - Racers from Vintage 24 Hours of Moab Teams

Checking into the transition tent on Saturday morning, I heard someone exclaim, "Craig!" I turned to face an excited Jovan Fritsch. He introduced himself as a racer on a ChristianCycling team at our 24 Hours of Moab ministry, way back in 2005, where I was Race Teams Director for our 10 race teams. The years melt away as we quickly catch up before the start.

Much later, while checking through the transition tent in the middle of the night, I again hear someone call my name. Now, it's Mark Berghoefer, another racer part of another group of ChristianCycling teams that I directed at the 24 Hours of Moab, this time in 2004. He's retired now, but looks as race-fit as he did 20 years ago.

Both Jovan and Mark bring big smiles, along with a flood of warm memories from those ministries and from many other team rides, races, and events back then. Better yet, both shout encouragement whenever they see me out on the course or in the transition tent. I really wish I had pictures with them and hope to ride with them again.

Checking in with Conor Johnson, captain of Chill Team Ride and member of the Tucson Spoke of ChristianCycling.
(image by Conor Johnson)

Other Racers

Right before the start, a woman burst out, "Hey! Do you know if Michael Hast is here?" I recognize that name as the Director of the ChristianCycling Tucson Spoke, so my team kit must have sparked that question. "No, I don't think he's here, but I don't know." Undeterred, she introduced herself as Sarah Mulholland and wanted to know all about my story. What an energetic bundle of good cheer!

Racing with Team Baaad Hombres, Sarah and her teammates sport custom jerseys that included a happy, excited looking goat to reflect their team spirit. Later, at the start and at unexpected times during the race, I'd hear Sarah's enthusiastic shouts of "Go Craig!" What fun!

Also exemplifying the event's friendly, welcoming vibe, Ty Pessin of Tucson introduced himself at the Outbound Lighting tent as we checked out some demo lights during the Friday expo. He was plumb full of positive excitement. The next time I saw Ty was well after noon on Sunday on the final lap. He looked strong on his 10th solo lap, but apparently was pacing a struggling racer around the course. I'd love to ride with him some day.

Neighbors

Peter Stocker and Lonnie Calmes entered Two Four HOP as part of "Toadie's Wild Ride" in the Corporate Team division. Peter has raced here 5 times before and, amazingly, Lonnie is back for the 18th time. Yes, their camp setup is primo. When I arrived on site after dark on Thursday night and stumbled around searching for a place to camp, Peter and Lonnie recognized my predicament and carved out some space near their site. They then offered food, drink, heat, and light throughout the weekend, along with a friendly spot to relax. Good neighbors, indeed.

Other friendly neighbors included Bob and Holly (unknown last names). They are an adventurous young couple from Phoenix that enjoy a wide variety of outdoor pursuits. Bob is here for his first 24 hour mountain bike race and chose to race Solo Single Speed. Holly is crewing this weekend, but will reverse roles with Bob at their next event. They both are so jazzed to be here and to just soak in the entire experience. They watched over me throughout the race, with encouragement and coffee.

Vegan Cyclist

At the venue expo on Friday afternoon, I spot Tyler Pearce, aka The Vegan Cyclist of YouTube fame. We met on a back road in Montana in 2021, where Paul Brasby and I were on Day 3 on our ride of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and he was on Day 1 of one of his "Impossible Rides." Tyler and crew pedaled up, cameras rolling, interviewed us on the fly, and included us in his film. After I introduced myself at the expo, he immediately remembered all that and genuinely wanted to know all about the rest of our ride. He's the real deal.

During the race, Tyler passed me several times, shouting encouragement by name each time. He ultimately rode 16 laps to finish 5th in the Solo Men division. Notwithstanding his high level of achievement, on and off the bike, Tyler fit right in.

At the Friday expo with Tyler Pearce, vlogger and film maker VC, aka the Vegan Cyclist.
(image by Tyler Pearce)

Vendors 

Even the vendors at Two Four HOP were awesome. Leading the way was Tom Place of Outbound Lighting, who patiently provided demo lights and neutral charging of all devices. He worked a long day on Friday and throughout the entire 24 hour race on Saturday and Sunday to keep the lights on for everyone. I demo'd their Hangover helmet light during the race and plan to buy their upcoming Portal light, which offers even longer run times. Great lights. Great service.

I enjoyed all the food vendors, but especially Single Speed Coffee Lab, which also provided high quality means to make it through the night. They even offered their "Wake Up And Kiss Me" specialty coffee in single serve steeped coffee bags to make back at your camp site. Nice. I bought an extra box to take home for #CoffeeOutside rides.

The 24 Hour Town expo additionally featured several non-profits and other organizations that contributed to the community spirit of the event. I particularly loved meeting and talking with Abby Wrent, an artist who painted, on site, four bike frame sets that would later be auctioned for charity. I recently found a short YouTube video she made of her experience, which includes the bikes she painted, some of the expo, and even the Whiskey Tree. Thanks for your positive presence, Abby!

Painting Bikes at Two Four HOP.

AbbyWrentArtistry.com

Many others contributed to my experience and to the overall vibe of the event. The 24 Hours In The Old Pueblo attracts special kinds of people. I'd love to return.