 Nate Draeger rides with a broken handlebar. Photo Mark Wancho January 2021- by David Wilson
The 2021 Puzzler got pandemicized into a virtual affair with a fraction of registered riders and even fewer that decided to tackle the course. This year's 50-mile "winner", Nate Draeger of Taos, NM, was literally left in pieces after breaking his handlebar somewhere on the Hitt Canyon Trail. After some adjustments, Nate rode another 23 miles full baller status with a handlebar width that would rival any skinny jean wearing Portland fixie rider and finished with a time of 4:52:07. Nate's amazing ride was flanked by a solid 50 mile finish by Lily Sanchez and the BMBA's Puzzler Volunteer Coordinator Rodney Dubois. Check out the finisher list here. If you know any of these riders, give them props for completing one of the toughest race courses around. Big thanks go out to Hunt Communities, Crazy Cat Cyclery, and Rad Dog Bike Shop for financial and prize donations to this year's event. January 2021, by David Wilson The January service day consisted of over a dozen volunteers who collected an entire truck load of garbage....and that didn't include the tires in the arroyo. Our Sunday clean-up included members of the Lost Dog Chain Breakers as well as most of the BMBA board of directors. Our timing was perfect as the city contractors with Xceed rolled in with their truck just as we were calling it quits. Our load topped them off for the day. For those who don't know, the Lost Dog Trail Head is maintained by the BMBA under a maintenance lease agreement with the city water utilities....the PSB (public service board). The parking lot, irrigation of the trees, and general cleanliness are all responsibilities of the BMBA.  Mark Wancho and Rodney Dubois perform repairs to the irrigation system at the Lost Dog Trailhead. Photo Susie Edwinson Debris in the area included a lot of construction trash, dumped trash, and trash that blew in on windy days. It's disappointing that people have no issues leaving their trash behind. The blown-in stuff is a standard issue in El Paso as we've all put our cans out in the evening to hear them blow over in the middle of the night when the wind decides to remind us who is the boss around here.  Xceed employees and volunteers load trash onto the Sunday service truck. Photo Susie Edwindson In appreciation for those who turned out, a raffle was held and we gave away a brand new Maxxis tire, a quart of Stan's sealant, and a gift card to Crazy Cat Cyclery. Thanks to Crazy Cat and Richie Sanchez of the once awesome Rad Dog Bike Shop for the donations.
Our next service day will meet again at Tranquil Desert and Franklin Bluff on Sunday Feb. 21 at 9 am. (See map below) We will be utilizing a dumpster. Come with gloves, water, and appropriate clothing. |