Version 4 of the Puzzler is ready to go.  Here are the details:

• January 16, 2011 – 8 am
• 50 and 35 mile options (view gps files on www.geobetty.com)
• Same venue at the Bowen Ranch Round House
• More singletrack….yes….MORE!
• Registration is now open here.
• Equal pay out to top 3 men and women.  ($400, $250, $150 and $100 to the 4th and 5th mens overall finisher).

Here are some links….

http://www.mountainflyer.com/news.cfm?itemid=335

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/3rd-el-paso-puzzler-50-miler-ne/results

http://www.mtbracenews.com/2010/01/plews-and-rasmussen-solve-el-paso.html

We also got some great local coverage.  Check out the pictures below.

January 11 El Paso Times

January 16 El Paso Times

Lessons learned….

1. Don’t let people start who check in at the last minute and don’t make it to the riders’ meeting.
2. Warn people more about the difficulty…though the word is out there now.
3. Have tougher cut-off times.
4. Get even more signage and course markings.

Click on the  RESULTS tab above to see how everyone fared.

Here’s the press release on cyclingnews.com. 

Hey everyone,

This past month has been really amazing with the Puzzler and all.  After the puzzler I got an email forwarded to me regarding the visit to El Paso from the IMBA trail care crew.  I was suprized that we hadn’t heard anything about this since we are the IMBA affiliated club for the area.  I made a few phone calls and found out that the city…yes…the city has hired a young lady who wants to finish a dirt trails master plan for the entire city.  We’re talking skills parks, trails through power line areas, connectors from Monk’s to Redd Rd., trails on the east side, mountian to river trails, more trails on psb land….(north of Heinrich???!!!)

The trail care crew needs a place to crash.  It’s a husband/wife team that need a place from the 26th of Feb to the 1st of March.  If anyone wants to host, please let me know.  You need to be on the west side.  I’d offer, but logistically it would add an hour or so a day of driving for them as I live off Magnetic.

Also…..we need as many people as possible to join us for dinner the night of the 26th as this city planner is inviting developers to meet with the IMBA crew.  We need to be there in force to push our agenda.  We have several priorities that need to be addressed before the needs of the city as they have secured tons of land and her plan is to just get the trail master plan within 6 months.

Our priorities consist of the following:

• Finish the epic loop around the park with a trail over the mountains into Hitt Canyon
• Develop bike patrol to help educate users…mostly for the northeast as the state park has little influence there at this time
• Begin a signage program for all of our amazing trails

This master plan is a huge opportunity and I’ve given her the club’s commitment to helping her gps all the potential and existing trails.  I told her to stop killing herself on the trails stuff….secure the land and we’ll out the trails.  I’m assuming the city will pay for the construction.

So keep your calendar open for Thursday the 26th…dinner somewhere with the IMBA trail care crew and city developers.  I’ll keep everyone up to date on the location and time.

Also plan to join us on Saturday on the west side for a trail building clinic and construction session at the “three hills” off Redd Rd.

Contact me for more info.

David Wilson

Club President

PS.  Thanks again to all the Puzzler volunteers.  I would have shot myself without your incredible help Saturday.

Check out the coverage at cyclingnews.com.  http://cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2009/feb09/elpasopuzzler09