2009 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo: Robert Dunn Images

Strategy Session

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:42 GMT

A couple riders check out the course and 24-Hour Town from the top of “The Rock”.

Happy Valentines Day!

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:26 GMT

The race started on Valentine’s Day, and this rider proudly showed off his feelings about the holiday. As he passed spectators on the course, he would shout, “Love Stinks…Happy Valentines Day!”

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:30 GMT

Sonja waits for the race to start so she can help her team’s first rider find her bike. The 24-Hours in the Old Pueblo starts with a Le-Mans style start, as riders from nearly a thousand teams run half a mile to where their bikes line the race course. Running, winded, and surrounded in a stamped of other riders, it can be difficult to locate your bike among the hundreds of others, so many teams have team members stationed nearby to guide the riders in.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:33 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:26 GMT

Anne at the Curve

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:38 GMT

Watch Anne’s mood improve as she navigates around “Broken Neck Turn”. Many riders dislike this portion of the course because of the off-camber, off-radius turns. One goes screaming down a section of singletrack only to come up to a turn like this that causes you to lock up your brakes and skid through, and then into another straight section. It’s hard to develop a “rhythm” as you ride this portion of the course.

Rock Rider at the End of the Da

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:40 GMT

On the night before the race, one of many riders that evening checks out, “The Rock”, the most difficult technical challenge on the course, a 12 foot drop down a 45 degree sloping rock face. As you approach the edge, sitting on your mountain bike, it looks far more vertical than that.

Silver Saguaro

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:44 GMT

Made with a goal in mind, this silver saguaro made of welded bike rims sits across from the staging tent, and collects discarded tires and tubes during the race. Through the course of the days that followed, the saguaro collected at least a hundred tires and tubes, a testament to the toll the coarse takes on the riders.

Night Ride

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:46 GMT

Even the night before the race riders are out getting a few practice laps in, even after night has fallen and the stars spin in the sky. Here, a rider floats by on this long 5-minute exposure, the lights of 24-Hour town illuminating both the nearby rocks and Mount Sassy in the background.

24-Hour Town

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:47 GMT

The relative peace of both the desert and the clear star-filled skies above is broken by noise of 3,000 campers preparing for the next day’s race. Generally, preparation for a race of this size involves music, whatever food can be grilled on the fire, lots of beer, and loud stories told around warm fires on this cold night.

Moon Rise over a Crowded Desert

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:48 GMT

A yellow moon rises over 24-Hour Town.

Desert Landscape and Moon

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:50 GMT

The race course winds through some beautiful Sonoran Desert, some flat, other parts rocky like this area.

Yellow Cholla Blooms

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:52 GMT

Yellow blooms on a cholla provide a beauty to contrast the pain it caused tens of riders who end up rolling into the cholla that lines the race route. In one story from this race, a professional rider was unhappy about having to compete in this ride, and was letting everyone know of his displeasure about contract that forced him to ride out here. Sure enough, when he later hit a cholla, and got his own personal piece of the desert.

Pre-Race Briefing

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:58 GMT

Hundreds of riders turn out for the pre-race briefing.

Mexican Rider

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:02 GMT

Riders show up from across the globe – this one from Mexico. Unfortunately, my Spanish skills were not up to the task of deciphering where in Mexico she was from. A tip for all those who are wondering how I choose who to photograph: wear interesting stuff on your head.

Watch Dog

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:05 GMT

24-Hour Town is a sort of laid back place, as most of the riders tend to be laid back people when off the race course. It’s the sort of place that allows everyone to bring there dog, and for the most part they all seem to get along.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:24 GMT

Flags

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:07 GMT

As one team from Texas put it, “We’re a drinking team with a biking problem.”

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:10 GMT

No – putting cards in the spokes of your wheels has not fallen completely out of fashion.

Crash!

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:18 GMT

The rider of this first bike crash was lucky, and simply stumbled out of the shot at this moment but later was able to get back on his bike and continue. One rider broke his collarbone and had to be airlifted out of the area.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:23 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:28 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:31 GMT

Tandom Team

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:41 GMT

Riders who take on the course on a tandem bike continue to impress me, as I find it hard enough to navigate turns like this on a considerably shorter bike, and don’t understand how they do it.

Bike Maintenance

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:39:55 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:35 GMT

Just playing with my flash here – it’s set up remotely to illuminate the passing rider on this time shot. It’s a neat effect, but something I’ll have to work on.

Band-Aids

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:21 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:10 GMT

Pink Ears

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:47 GMT

Again, if you want to get into one of my shots, wear something interesting, like, for instance, bunny ears.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:53 GMT

No, you are never too old to have tassels on your handlebars.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:56 GMT

Who these are guys, I don’t know. But the guy on team #100 asked me about my webpage as he flew by, so if after the race he still remembers this, here’s you photo. So here’s another tip if you want in one of my photos: ask about the webpage.

Along the trail...

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:44 GMT

Nick "Speed" Shipley

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:01 GMT

Nick navigates around the bend down below the Rock in this panning shot.

Brett Bagwell 1

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:14 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:40:35 GMT

General Joe

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:04 GMT

Joe’s been doing this race since it first began ten years ago, and with his racing experience the rest of the team named him “General”, though modestly he protested his new name.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:06 GMT

The best example of a rear tire slide I captured all morning.

Brett Bagwell on His First Lap

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:18 GMT

Bagwell enjoys this race enough to ship his bike ahead of time here, fly from the east coast the day before, and assemble his bike hours before the race starts to be part of it. Some of us are more dedicated than others.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:48 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:23 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:27 GMT

Craig Seasly

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:30 GMT

Mechanical problems plague most races, and this is no exception. Here, a rider stops to fix a chain that has fallen off.

24-Hour Town and the Racecourse From Mount Sassy

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:36 GMT

The steep dusk climb up nearby "Mount Sassy" results in the reward of a nearly complete view of 24-Hour Town and the racecourse. At night, you can watch the lights of the riders as they pedal through the desert. The bright lights in the center frame mark the exchange tent, the start/finish point of the course.

Checkpoint India and the Beginning of the Highpoint Trail

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:40 GMT

Checkpoint India is one of several checkpoints set up over the course to provide aid to the riders. Checkpoint India is busier than most of the other checkpoints in that it also is placed where the course crosses the main road into 24-Hour town. Volunteers man stop signs, only allowing cars to pass when the course is free of riders. Not enough good things can be said about the volunteers that make this race happen, and as many riders do as they pass by, I shout out a, “Thank you!”

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:38 GMT

End of Night.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:52 GMT

The emergence of daylight marks the end of the night rider, though a few riders continue to use lights until sunrise. When those first rays of light in the morning appear, your moral instantly improves, as you that most of the race is behind you. I’ve found riding at night to be a completely different experience than riding in the day. During the day, you have a much better sense of your position and your rate of travel by the landmarks that are visible in the distance. At night, all you know is the desert that is illuminated by the all-too-dim lights on your handlebars and helmet. Your world at night shrinks down to that small patch of lighted trail in front of you, and combined with a bit of sleep deprivation the whole experience can be a bit surreal. You start seeing things in the shadows – people, animals, other things. To have a little fun the race officials have been known to dress up in bunny suits and jump up and down alongside the trail at night.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:41:58 GMT

Sweep

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:43 GMT

Another tip to get your photo taken: get big air on the Rock and have the race number, “SWEEP”.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:13 GMT

Kevin Utley, as many riders before him, misses "Broken Neck Turn", and continues along a through the desert that at this point is now well worn by past riders. His team finished third in their catagory overall.

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:18 GMT

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:32 GMT

Towards the end of the race I found this riding glove on the race coarse.

Nick Shipley Brings it On Home

robert@robertdunnimages.com (Robert Dunn Images) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:42:46 GMT

Nick was about three minutes from beating the noon deadline for the end of the race, but needed to stop for a loose chain at the top of the Highpoint trail. His was the final lap. The team, “Megasoreass” finished in eighth place among the 24 other teams in the “5 Person Co-ed 200+ Combined Age category” with a total of 17 laps.