15th Annual 24 Hours of Moab Pre-race Communiqué!

News About this Year's Race...
Lots of buzz about this year's race so let's get started. If your not signed up yet for this year's festivities, it looks like it's going to be a good one. Now is the time to sign-up! Go to 2009 24 Hours of Moab Online Registration>>>

USA Cycling 24-hour Championships
Thirteen different classes will race for the Stars & Stripes Jersey(s) and designation as U.S. 24-hour National Champs. Racers in championship categories must be US citizens and must hold (or purchase) a current USA Cycling racing license.

Championship classes will also be competing within 24-hour Series classes with matching criteria. So, for example, the Men's Solo Championship winner could also win the 24 Hours of Moab Men's Solo, or perhaps, take 2nd in the 24 Hours of Moab Men's Solo and, in either case, earn Series points and a cash purses accordingly. However, a Men's Solo that is not registered in the Men's Solo Championship class could win the 24 Hours of Moab Men's Solo class but would not qualify in the USA Cycling Championships.

Think of the USA 24-hour Championships as a race within a race. We've made it flexible this way so that racers would have a choice to race within the USA Cycling 24-hour National Championships.

If your team is currently registered in a matching 24 Hours of Moab class and you would like your team to be registered in one of the championship classes (see matching categories below), e-mail Connie to have your class changed over. If you don't currently have a USA Cycling license, you can buy a license online or buy one at late registration, in Moab, on Friday, Oct. 9th.

USA Cycling Championship classes
Men's Solo Championship
Women's Solo Championship
Men's Solo Singlespeed Championship
Women's Solo Singlespeed Championship
Mixed Duo Championship
Men's Duo Championship
Women's Duo Championship
Men's 4-Person Championship
Women's 4-Person Championship
Men's Junior (18 & under) Championship Women's Junior (18 & under) Championship Men's Masters (40+) Championship Women's Masters (40+) Championship

| Matching 24 Hour of Moab Series classes
<= Men's Solo
<= Women's Solo
<= Men's Solo Singlespeed
<= Women's Solo Singlespeed
<= Duo Pro/Exp (with male and female)
<= Duo Pro/Exp (with two males)
<= Duo Pro/Exp (with two females)
<= Men's Pro
<= Women's Pro
<= Men's Junior (18 & under)
<= Women's Junior (18 & under)
<=championship class only (Series class is 45+)
<=championship class only (Series class is 45+)

Eatough chases Tostado early-on at 2008 24 Hours of Moab but is forced to drop-out after 8 laps.

Chris Eatough's Last Hurrah?
Sounds like it. According to USA Today's Sal Ruibal in his most recent blog posting entitled: Chris has had enough, Chris is making his National Championship bid at Moab his last race. We salute Chris as one of the most accomplished and dominating figures in the history of ultra-enduance mountain bike racing, and one of the sport's greatest models of fine character and sportsmanship.

Chris will have lots of good company to help celebrate his swan-song-event and give him a run for his money. Current 24 Hour National Point Series leader, Brandon Draugelis bagged 1st place at both 24 Hours of Big Bear and 24 Hours of 9-Mile. Also, the word on the street is that 2008 Moab champion, Josh Tostado will be returning to defend his title.

Brandon Draugelis Current 24-hour Points leader at this year's 24 Hours of Big Bear.

Note: I recently received a facebook comment from Chris, on one of Roger Bird's photos of Chris from back in 1998 at The 24 Hours of Canaan (see below). Chris wrote, " I started my 24 Hour racing career with you in Canaan. Now I'm ending my professional career with you in Moab in a few weeks. Believe it or not I'm actually 22 in this photo, but I agree I look like a child!"

New Shipping Service - Wow! What a Service.
These guys are the pros! With their volume shipping rates they can provide amazing service delivering your bikes and equipment to (and from) the event cheaper than anyone and then deliver it ready to go! Definitely using this ourselves! Check it out:

Moab Bicycle Shipping and Assembly:
• High Country Shipping (HCS) provides bicycle shipping and can arrange for assembly/disassembly for the 24 Hours of Moab

• HCS is a registered Fed-Ex shipper with the same prices as if you trotted your prized ride on down to your local Fed-Ex store

• In addition you get over-the-top service; HCS acts a clearinghouse for all shipping questions.
> They consult with each rider
> Send shipping labels in advance
> Track each shipment
> Keep you informed via email
> And then personally deliver your bike to the 24 Hours of Moab campground or even local Moab hotels (call for details)

• After the 24 Hours of Moab HCS will pick up your bike and ship it home

What could be easier?
Check out the HCS website or call:
877.231.1363

Pua Sawicki to Attempt Guinness World Record for Mountain Biking
Pua and Ron Sawicki have petitioned successfully to have the 2009 24 Hours of Moab be designated as an official course for the setting of the Guinness World Record for "GREATEST DISTANCE CYCLED IN 24 HOURS IN A MOUNTAIN BIKE COURSE." Pua will be putting herself and her Ellsworth Truth to the test. Meanwhile Ron and his crew, in addition to providing support for Pua, will be busy documenting her attempt.

Any solo racer may make a bid for setting the World Record*, however each racer is responsible for providing their own documentation and submitting their bid to Guinness. Here are the forms that you will need and the information for documenting your attempt:

> RECORD BREAKERS PACK - General Evidence Requirements
>MOUNTAIN BIKE - DISTANCE IN 24 HOURS - Specific Evidence
>AGREEMENT REGARDING SUPPORTING MATERIAL
(The Claim ID is : 232153)

Pua Sawicki, winning at the 2008 24 Hours of 9-Mile in Wisconsin, earning her current 24-hour National Champion status with 18 laps and an unofficial record of 255.6 miles.

*We have yet to hear back from the folks at Guinness Book of World Records as to whether they will be recognizing both Men's and Women's record but I think it is a safe assumption. Also, we have made a request for clarification about how the final distance will be recorded in that it is most likely that any given contestant will be in the midst of their final lap when the exact 24-hour period is up. (We're thinking an accurate GPS.) More to come when we have more to report.

Demo the Sweetest Full Suspension Ride
With two years under their belts as the Official Bike of The 24 Hour National Series, Ellsworth has provided demos to hundreds of riders who have experienced why Ellsworth owners are so passionate about their race rigs. An exclusive patent makes the Ellsworth experience unique to all mountain bikes, a rear-suspension geometry that cancels out "squish" while remaining fully active. Words cannot do it justice but your demo lap will! Sign-up early. First-come first-served reservations at the Ellsworth booth. Meanwhile, check out their full-line here>>>

Hey Honey! Don't Forget the Kids!
There's more kid-oriented family fun than ever at this year's 24 Hours of Moab:

Two days of food, fun, and music (and lots of other kids!)
Race Spectating and volunteering (see below)
*NEW* Kids games: Scream Race and "Fuzzy Bunny" competition
Climbing Wall - for kids of all ages
24 Minutes of Moab kids race-4 pm

Take Your Hat Off to Volunteers or Put a Crazy One On.
Volunteer Seats at the Log-tables Still Open
This year volunteers are encouraged to join a "crazy hat" contest to add to the fun. Winners will win prizes for best "Crazy" hat. The race is exciting on both sides of the log tables! There are openings on the last three shifts. We'll have lots of fun together and we'll take good care of you with a commemorative T-shirt, a meal during your shift and plenty of hot coffee and cocoa during the wee hours.
>>>On-line Volunteer Sign-up
or call Connie at 304-614-5091.

Say Hello to Your Newest Lighting Sponsor!
They've been building lighting systems with cutting edge technology and top-drawer quality since 1989. Their technology and quality have made them the choice of elite pros like Rebecca Rusch and Chris Eatough and their friendly customer service and support have earned the loyalty of thousands of racers around the world.

Upon signing-off on their sponsorship deal, Light & Motion brand manager, Heidi Hall said, "This is going to be fun! It will be so great to put faces with all the people I've talked with on the phone and it will be great to have everyone get to meet us and get to know who we are as a company."

So Light & Motion is coming to Moab and they're stepping it up to support you, not just as an expo-vendor but as a true sponsor of the race. You can be sure that they'll be throwing down some great prizes, too. Lighting system rentals, sales and service will also be available. More on Light & Motion rentals in our next communiqué.

In the market for a new light? Check out their product comparison chart to find the light that works best for you. Then use their dealer locator to find your nearest Light & Motion dealer.

The Race is ON!
So far, it's looking like numbers are up and we'll have close to 400 teams by race day! The USA Cycling 24-Hour Championships are definitely going to add some excitement. If you haven't checked out the Moab Team Photo Gallery yet, you are in for some good chuckles. Don't forget to get all your team info, sponsor logos and photos uploaded before the race.

See you real soon!
Happy Trails,

-Laird Knight, Race Director
& all the fine folks at:

PS: Family update
Our trip to Addis Ababa was nothing short of magical. Our three new kids, Helen, Abel and Rediet, are home with us in WV and doing great! They love to ride bikes and they are so bummed that they aren't getting to go to Moab. But, I promised I would take them next year. I am so digging being a Dad!

My announcement of our plans to adopt from Ethiopia generated responses from several racing families who have already adopted from Ethiopia or are planning to. Don't be surprised to see Moab become a bit of a family reunion for ET adoptive kids.

3 Reasons I'm Not at Interbike this Year

Helen (10), Abel (8), and Rediet (10), standing on the same diving-board at Sodare Resort that I used to jump off of when I was five years old. In 1964-65, my father, a major in the US Army at the time, was stationed in Addis Ababa. Sodare Hot Springs Resort was a favorite destination of our family. Though a little run-down, Sodare was still a fun adventure for our kids, and, of course, a rush of childhood memories for me.

Granny Gear Productions, Inc.
P.O. Box 189 / 140 Fourth St.
Davis, WV 26260
Phone: (304)259-5533
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