Bike Rodeo sponsored by City of Fruita was a success, April 18

the 18 Hours of Fruita were enjoyed for many reasons.

It was time to go home for four Summit County mountain bikers.

They had just experienced their first 18 Hours of Fruita endurance mountain bike race held at Highline Lake located to the northwest of Fruita. These four experienced the ride as the "DeBags and Donkey Team.

Eighty-five teams participated in the race, with some individuals going it solo.

The soloists pedaled 64 laps around the six mile lap as the teams shared the trail. Derrick Fish of Vail and Kris Cannon from steamboat Springs took the men's and women's solo titles.

With the sudden bad weather, hail fell around dinner time causing some difficulties, to say the least, for the riders. A nearly two-mile stretch became a bog and riders had all kinds of difficulties. Some broke chains, some carried their bikes through that part until the race course was altered to omit that stretch.

Jeb Marsh and Matt Venz of Summit talked about one rider who'd broken his de-railer and chain.

"He shortened the chain and finished the race in one gear," they said.

They described the two miles of mud as they pointed to their muddy bike tires, and noted that today the tires looked clean compared to low they had looked at the end of the race.

The 18 Hour Race will take place again next year.

Thus far, the race has increased in numbers each year.

Troy Rarick, owner of Over the Edge Bikes, has been with the race since its beginning. He enjoys the competition and the groups that are in it for fun as well as the endurance.

The afternoon of day three found many riders on the Kolopelli trails, on the Bookcliff (end of 18 Road) Trails and even some had found the slick rock area south of the Colorado National Monument. It seemed that everyone was anticipating a turn in the weather and they were right on.

Crowds gathered to watch the Klunker Race notorious for rule changing, strange costumes, some very unusual bikes and all kinds of antics by participants, a truly fun race at the hands of the master of Fruita Fat Tire Celebrations, Troy Rarick.

Caught on the trails before the race were some experienced riders and some novices.

Brian Estep from Dallas heard about Fat Tire from a friend who had been his neighbor until she moved to Denver. According to him, "I have really enjoyed this event. I have to admit it has whipped me. I am coming back."

The endof the event was marked by a small crowd due to the cold, the rain and the wind
offered by Mother Nature. The evening's band was really sharp. Had it not been for the weather, the crowd would have matched the nearly 1000 attending on Fruday evening. Those who braved the cold enjoyed the great music.

A friend photographed four visitors from Glenwood Springs.
Another fan said he was going to stick around and enjoy
the music.

"I didn't ride 25 miles for nothing," he said.
He had ridden his bike from the Clifton area.

Some of the crowd enjoyed the party held at End Zone after 10 p.m.

Thanks to Troy and Sara at Over the Edge for this, the 14th annual event.

Third day at Aspen Street