June 4, 2003 (Toronto, ON) – Ignoring current health concerns spurred by SARS and “Mad Cow Disease,” 700 mt. bikers and 2,500 spectators from all over North America will travel to Kelso Conservation Area in Milton, Ontario, June 14 and 15 for the fifth annual 24 Hours of AdrenalinTM mountain bike team relay and festival presented by Jeep.
The weekend revolves around a 24-hour team endurance mt. bike race starting at noon on Saturday and going until noon on Sunday. For racers wishing to file all-nighters under “Been there, done that,” there is the 7th annual 12-hour race starting at noon on Saturday and ending at midnight.
The majority of endurance racers ride on relay teams of up to ten people with an objective to complete as many laps as possible on the 14-kilometer course. League-of-their-own solo racers slink past the competition deep into the race when fatigue bewitches unprepared riders. Spectators take shifts urging riders back onto the trail or into the pit area for food and rest breaks. With as many as 2,500 racers participating in a single event and spectator crowds swelling to 7,000, endurance mt. bike racing is the new weekend getaway for weekend warriors, dedicated mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The weekend kicks off at 9 a.m. on Friday when fans and riders are welcome to set up camp and stretch their legs on the race course. As the sun dazzles with another famous sunset, the expo area sparks the action at 7 p.m. with product demonstrations and sponsor exhibits. Presenting sponsor, Jeep®, will be on-site supplying participants and spectators alike with cow bells, posters and loads of other great give-away items. Oryx Bicycles will be offering onsite demos of their exceptionally crafted Canadian bikes. For the curious, glow-in-the-dark tires and trail blazing bike lights will be on display for participants to test and sate their curiosity.
At high noon on Saturday racers line up on foot for the Merrell LeMans Start: a sprint to their waiting bikes. After the starting horn sounds amid a wildly cheering crowd, tones of the Lone Ranger send riders on their way while fans settle in for literally, a day at the races.
Festivities zero in on the pit area throughout the afternoon as racers must dismount their bikes and pass through the Start/Finish to have their lap times recorded. Pit crews busy themselves with feeding and supporting racers and dressing up their pits and themselves in pursuit of the event's “Best Pit Theme” and “Louis Garneau Best Helmet” awards.
Kids win big at “24 Minutes of Adrenalin” where prizes are awarded to each participant by race announcer, Krusty the Clown. Parents, no need to enforce the “early-to-bed” rule as the after-dark hours usher in age-appropriate movies on the awards stage screen with free hot popcorn. At the stroke of midnight, freshly roasted corn-on-the-cob should stave off late-night munchies until camp cooks return to their posts in the morning.
24 hours and roughly 25 laps later, weary racers cross the Start/Finish line for the last time by noon on Sunday. A post race pasta party starts promptly at 12:30 and fuels riders for that last trek up to the awards stage.
For more information, visit: www.24hoursofadrenalin.com