Farmington, New Mexico's Road Apple Rally celebrates 31 years of racing

 Road Apple Rally

(OCT. 1, 2011) FARMINGTON, NM--Farmington, New Mexico’s Road Apple Rally kicked of in 1981, earning this event a spot in bicycle history as the oldest annual mountain bike race in the nation.

And after 30 years on the road, the Rally is still a volunteer powered, community based event with no major sponsors…a true grassroots tradition. In the beginning, the 25 riders who showed at the start line were equipped with their sturdy 5-speed cruisers, bmx’s (the Stumpjumper was still in the making) and anything else deemed trail worthy at the time. Today, you can expect anywhere from 200-300 participants, many who have been showing up year after year, if nothing more than to see friends, enjoy an après ride brew, and talk bikes.

The trail itself is as flat as they come. Climbing is minimal, and so is the coasting. The 15-mile beginner loop as well as the 30-mile pro, expert and sport loop involves a whole lot of non-stop pedaling. Travis Brown, overall winner of this year’s race, and who’s first Road Apple was back in ’93 recalls, “The trail is fatiguing in a special way. It is rolly, really smooth, and has lots of transitions making it different than most other desert races. The climbs are all really short, but that means the descents and recovery time are really short, too. I’m sure that I coast a lot more in the mountains than at the Road Apple.” 

This year’s race was as bluebird as they come. Warm temps, slightly breezy and classic New Mexico scenery was enjoyed by all.  Taking the overall this year was Durango, Colorado’s Travis Brown, sending the 30-mile course in 1:45:54.85 with Kenny Wehn close behind at 1:43:15.75. Crushing the Women’s category this year was Shannon Gibson, also of Durango, at 2:02:27.95.