Hello Bikers,

Welcome back – the Toad rides again – and it is a wild ride for sure. Here are some notes and information about the big event.

Horny Toad Hustle Race Notes 

Race roster

The working race roster is here: 

https://my.raceresult.com/310707/participants

Take a minute to double check your info to confirm that it shows as you intend.

Packet pickup

The primary packet pick up is Saturday 9/28 from 1pm to 5pm with our friends at Outdoor Adventures, 1424 Missouri Blvd, in Las Cruces.

There will also be number pickup Saturday evening at the event site for folks arriving out there.

And more number pick up on race morning Sunday at the event site from 6.30am to 7.45am.

Venue

The event staging area is the Dona Ana Trailhead at the east end of Desert Wind Way in Dona Ana. https://www.google.com/maps/@32.4099094,-106.7735697,17z

Parking

There is no racer parking in the trailhead parking lot. Parking is alongside Desert Wind Way by the venue. Space will be tight. Please be courteous to your fellow racers. Please do not park in the area immediately adjacent to the event venue so as to allow access for emergency vehicles and event staff. Please be cautious when driving Desert Wind Way and watch out for ruts and other uneven surfaces.

Expected race starts 

It is a challenge to route racers of different abilities and distances on the same course. To minimize conflicts, we will send the short loop racers out first with a significant head start. As the race develops, we can expect that the faster long loop racers may catch some of the slower short loop racers. If so, be nice, communicate, and let the faster riders pass through. 

8:00 – All “Beginner” 1 short loop (10.5 miles) racers with 300 series race numbers (This is the Short Course group – One Short Loop)

8:30 – All “Advanced” 1 long loop + 2 short loop (34 miles) racers with double digit race numbers (This is the Long Course group – One Long + Two Short Loops)

8:35 – All “Intermediate” 1 long loop + one short loop (24 miles) racers with 200 series race numbers This is the Medium Course group – One Long + One Short Loop)

Staging 

All racers - men, women, young, and young once upon a time - in a race course group share the same start time. 

Start staging will line up on the two track road immediately West of the venue parking lot and will roll out facing North.

Course Description 

This is a mountain biker’s racecourse. Overall, it is a pretty quick ride. It is not the most difficult XC course out there, but it is also not the easiest. It features some fast, smooth sections that connect a series of more difficult and challenging sections. Head’s Up: Recent weather events have made some sections a bit more chunky and slippery than they may have been previously. 

The “technical” sections have some good lines and some lines that could have consequences. We strongly recommend that you take the opportunity to pre-ride the race loop to help avoid any unpleasant surprises at race pace. Please ride within your comfort and skill level. 

The course has been described, mapped, GPSed, and flagged. We also have a fantastic crew of race day marshals. However, it is each racer’s personal responsibility to understand and follow the course. Do not shortcut and do not get lost (please). GPS files are at hornytoadhustle.com

Course maps are also available on Trailforks – links at the Maps tab on BikeReg.

https://www.bikereg.com/horny-toad-hustle#event-maps

The long loop is flagged in pink and/or orange ribbons. The short loop mostly follows the long loop – but it has two bypass/shortcut sections to avoid some of the more difficult areas. Where the short loop deviates from the long loop, it is flagged in green ribbons. Ribbons are primarily set on the right side of the course. There are also other course flagging and markers to help show where the course goes.

Event timing

Our friends 12 Hours of Old El Paso are helping us offer electronic chip timing. Racers will cross a timing sensor at the end of each lap in the staging area. If you are not finishing a lap, please keep your race number (with chip) away from the sensor to avoid unwanted detections.

Race results

We expect to post live race results at 

https://my.raceresult.com/310707/results

And a big shout out to our sponsors and friends

1. Zia Velo Cycling: This race is a ZiaVelo Cycling event.
2. Borderland Mountain Bike Association: A valued supporter and partner for this event and an essential MTB advocacy resource for our region. They put on The Puzzler race, go race it next January.
3. SNMTB: a continued supporter of this race and an advocate for junior cycling.
4. Outdoor Adventures: all the sweet race swag and prizes.
5. Visit Las Cruces: for promotional support and providing the porta-potties (very important!)
6. Organ Mountain Technical Rescue Squad: for stocking and running the aid station.
7. DJ Solis: for his dope MC setup and capabilities.
8. Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance: for lending equipment for the start/finish area.
9. House of Grafix: for the huge t-shirt order and nice shirts.
10. Valley Pizza, LLC for all the pizza and soda you will enjoy. Go visit them at 3100 W. Picacho Ave..
11. 12 Hours of Old El Paso and its Race Director Mario Lopez: for providing their chip-timing equipment. GO REGISTER FOR THE 12HOOEP RACE THIS NOVEMBER. Camp out, party. It’s fun!
12. Dona Ana County Fire Department for putting a crew on stand-by at Station 8 in Radium Springs. Go say thanks next time you’re there.

People:

1. Gordon MacDonald, Boss Toad and lead event coordinator
2. Dave Halliburton, associate event coordinator, USA Cycling official, and timing.
3. Monique Garcia, former race director for assistance in coordinating the race and will be making a special guest appearance out on the course.
4. Anissa Valenzuela, designed this year’s art and race logo.
5. Hilary Dutcher of visit Las Cruces, for her ideas and contributions to the race.
6. Michael “Sully” Sullivan, volunteer coordinators, and all of our volunteers.