Hosted by the Montezuma Land Conservancy and High Desert DEVO, the time-trial style bike race consisted of the nine-mile “Beatles Tour” and included divisions for adults and children.
Keith Evans, one of the event’s organizers, said that participation was up around 15 percent from its first year. He said that organizers worked to pump up the event this season by getting a special event permit to provide beer, and there was also pizza, music and riders dressed in their Halloween costumes.
Osprey Packs and Kokopelli Bike & Board provided prizes, and Johnson Physical Therapy put up a $100 purse for any new course record.
After the kids race, organized by Pete Eschellier and with the funds going to High Desert DEVO, Michael Grajeda claimed the $100 prize by beating his time from last year to set a new course record of 43:47.00.
John Nobil was the second-place finisher in the male division and Paul Adams was third.
Betsy Richards was the top finisher in the female division. She was followed by Julie Carpenter in second place and Melanie Cook in third.
The funds from the adult registrations went to the Montezuma Land Conservancy.
“The money that is generated benefits the land conservancy,” Evans explained. “But it goes into a specific locked fund that is for acquiring and expanding trails and maintaining the existing trails.”