Tyler Hamilton MS Bike Race (lots of photos)

[Samurai_Writer]

I shot this bike race this morning. The course was 9 miles up Sunshine Canyon. A 3000 foot ascent in elevation. The road was 5 miles paved, 4 miles hardpack dirt with some gravel. We have had some hard rains here in the last week, so the dirt road was full of washboards and potholes.

The race benefitted MS, and was done by class:

Top Notch
Age 20-34
Age 35-44
Age 45-54
Age 55+
Juniors
Hand Cycles

The very first one to make it to the finish line -- Juniors class, 19 years old


Looking good after a 9 mile race up a mountain


Second and third across the finish line -- 20-35 class, neck and neck


Racing on by...




The youngest entrant -- his mom helped him up all 9 miles! Go mom!


The youngst entrant to make it up by himself -- 11 years old


It was a hard, hot climb


The oldest entrant


Those racers really take care of their bikes, don't they?


Honor guard for the lone hand cyclist


Try riding up a mountain 9 miles peddling with your hands!


Steve's ride


Last to finish, but first in his class

[Blue_In_AK]

1. We just had a hand-cyclist race up here...

...the Sadler's UltraChallenge, which is advertised as the longest and toughest hand-cycling race in the world -- 237 miles from Fairbanks to Anchorage. These people are really amazing.

[Samurai_Writer]

2. My son is one of them

He sticks to pretty flat ground so far, though. He just did the MS 150 mile Houston to Austin, and he races in the Houston Marathon every year.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. You must be very proud...

Maybe sometime you all can come up here and do the UltraChallenge. We would love to meet you.

[Samurai_Writer]

4. Well, it's a long story, but I'd love to meet him too...

He's my birthson. We communicate through letters and emails, and exchange photos, but I have not seen him since he was six days old. He's a great guy, though, and I am very proud of him. :)

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Oh, THAT son...

I remember your story. I didn't realize that was the child you were speaking of. Well, I'd love to meet you both. :hug: