Tucson News Now24-hour mountain bike ride kicks off in the Old Pueblo

24-hour mountain bike ride kicks off in the Old Pueblo

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By Paige Hansen - email
PIMA COUNTY, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Some call it a race, others a 24-hour party. Either way, it's one of the largest bike races of its kind in the world.

Thousands of people have descended upon The Old Pueblo from all over the world to take part in the 13th annual "24 Hours in the Old Pueblo" ride, happening about 40 minutes North of Tucson at Willow Springs Ranch.

If you've never been here before, it wouldn't be hard to mistake the event for a party.

"It's somewhere the middle ground between Burning Man and Woodstock for mountain bikers," said Todd Sadow, the president of Epic Rides, and a co-founder of the biking event.

This year, there are 1,800 riders participating and more than 3,000 people in all, either there to watch or cheer on friends.

People there call the tents and RV's set up a 24-hour town. "I mean, it's just a giant town of everybody getting along and having a great time, enjoying the outdoors and there happens to be a race going on in the middle of it," said Al Lewis, who's riding for the third year now.

From noon today, until noon tomorrow, the 24-hour ride through narrow mountain-desert terrain is on.

And while this event mostly this is about the ride, but part of the registration fees go to benefit the Arizona Cancer Center.

Copyright 2012 KOLD. All rights reserved.

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