24 Hours of Old Pueblo: Old Pueblo, AZ

One racer showed up at the IMBA tent with dozens of cactus spines embedded in the base of his shin. Watching him go to town with a pair of pliers left Kristin wanting to strap on a number plate and see what she could do.
It's pretty dry out in the desert, so naturally, the crews are going to get thirsty. Fortunately, the Epic Rides crew was happy to set them up with some brews to hold a "Happy Hour with IMBA" on Saturday evening. Cheers!
Somehow, race promoters and participants alike have accepted, and seized with pride, a practice in which spandex clad bikers sprint toward a bunch of bikes with balloons tied to the saddles, wearing the equivalent of Italian leather tap shoes.

The 24 Hours of Old Pueblo was the first 24-hour race the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crews had ever attended. They weren't racing -- Instead, they set up the IMBA tent and spent the weekend chatting up folks, doling out IMBA gear, recruiting new members and spreading the IMBA love. If you've never experienced a 24-Hour Event, you must go. Right now. Pack your bags with the essentials - a bike, extra clothes, Christmas lights and a sassy team name. And, if you're racing at Old Pueblo, pack a pair of pliers, because at some point, you may need them to pull cactus spines out of yourself or someone else. Cross your fingers and hope it's the latter.