10-11-07 // Events: 24 Hours Of Moab This Weekend

2006's 24 Hours of Moab went down in infamy as the rainiest 24-hour race in history. A storm of biblical proportions unloaded on competitors so relentlessly that the race was shut down in the early morning due to safety concerns. Singletrack was washed away by rivers of mud, the race pits turned into a swamp, temperatures threatened racers with hypothermia and bikes were ground to a hault.

2007's thirteenth-annual 24 Hours of Moab begins October 13, this coming Saturday, and thankfully the weather forecast sounds much more benign. Temperatures are expected to range from the low forties to the mid seventies and chances of precipitation, so far, are 20% or less.

Bike magazine will be attending this year's race with a web editor, an intern, a photographer and a few other employees spread amongst two teams including SRAM's Sid product release race crew. So along with some Moab race info here on Bikemag.com, be sure to check in for product news, with detailed photos, of the new Rock Shox Sid as we race the fresh blue utensil through the Moab moonscape. And of course if you are attending the race be sure to stop by the Bike Magazine booth and say hello!

According to race officials the course is in pretty good shape. As usual, there's a some blow-sand drifts in places but the course is marked and they've begun dressing-out the track, removing the blow-sand to make the course faster and more fun. They'll be working right up through Friday and invite anyone who wants to help them on Thursday or Friday. Volunteers will get one of the new 24 Hours of Moab heavy-weight Hoody sweatshirt. They will take up to five volunteers or a few more if you bring your own McCloud (fire rake). Call Kevin, our operations manager, at 304.614.5093.

You can see a course map HERE

If you want more info on the 24 Hours at Moab race go to grannygear.com.