398 miles to the nearest WalMart

The $30 entry fee included camping at the local baseball park, breakfast, a commemorative pint glass and an after-race BBQ with local microbrews.

Additional proceeds went to the Great Basin Trail Alliance to help maintain and promote mountain biking in the region.

Ely’s superb network of singletrack bike trails was marked by volunteers for the enduro-style race format.

Only certain sections were timed, allowing riders to take it slow on the uphill portions and let loose on the downhill.

The course was split into four classes: An 8-mile fun ride; a 17.5-mile beginner course; 26.6 miles for the sport class and 33.3 miles for experts. 

The race began with riders touring through the aisles of a main street clothing store and two historic downtown casinos.

...Gambling patrons glanced up from their pursuits to watch the herd of bikes weave through the maze of blinking slot machines.

The skies were moody as riders began the 8-mile, 1,600’-climb out of town and onto the Ice Plant trail system.

A welcome alternative to the normally hot, exposed, desert conditions — the overcast sky was considered a friend, not foe.

...But the threatening clouds turned venomous shortly after the bikers hit their first timed section.

Rain, hail and cold temperatures battered racers during the 2nd half of the course.

The packed trails turned to mud and rider’s teeth chattered in the wet cold as they carried their heavy, mud laden bikes over unrideable sections. 

The 38 riders who completed the course (many bonked, dnf ...got hypothermia) came through the finish line shivering, some with dangerously low body temperatures.

A truly intrepid portion of the expert racers braved the last 6.7-mile loop, including a 1,900’ foot climb and the affectionately named, Whorehouse Hill. 

The skies parted for the expert's final descent and spectators gathered at the finish line to watch from the baseball bleachers and cheer on an impromptu peewee whiffle ball game.

Many of the riders who camped in the park Friday night opted for a hot shower and a dry hotel room at the Jailhouse Hotel post-race.

The post-event BBQ also moved to the Jailhouse and by 6 p.m. everyone was dry, warm and enjoying a few hard-earned beers.

A raffle drawing preceded the award ceremony and coveted prizes ranged from T-shirts from the local brothel to a week’s stay at a surf retreat in Nicaragua.

Results: Don Robertosn, the oldest racer at 77 years of age, won the Fun Ride division. Kevin Olsonawski took Men’s Beginner, Barrett Donovan won Men’s Sport, and Matt McNeil took first in Men’s Expert.

The first-place women were Sherrie Marquez in Fun Ride, Francine Johnson for Beginner and Melissa Basso in Sport.

Everyone walked away with etched beer mugs and an enormous amount of respect.

As racers packed up the next day and departed for their respective faraway towns, the question asked over and over was, “Will I see you again next year?!”

The repeated answer was “Yes, I’ll definitely be back.”