Bikers to face Hell in Marpi

By
|
Posted on Nov 06 2006
Share

Local racers got a dose of Tough Love last month when some of the top two-wheeled athletes pedaled their way to the top of Mount Tapochau the hard way—up the paved and unpaved section of Navy Hill.

Rather than sit back and wait for the XTERRA Saipan Championship, the hometown riders have a new challenge on the way as the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation is hosting the Hell of the North Mountain Bike Race.

According to race director Nate Hawley, the race will not be as vertically taxing as Russ Quinn’s brainchild Tough Love event, but it will have all of the pulse-pounding action fitting of a mountain bike race.

On Sunday, Dec. 10, racers will mount their bikes for a four-lap journey from the Last Japanese Command Post that will take them north toward the landfill, curve around the Cowtown Raceway Park to the Banzai Cliff seaside trail, past the monuments and the new CNMI Veterans Cemetery, and back.

Those not looking to go it alone can team up with a partner, but Hawley said that the race is a “flat low-tech course” and that “there are no excuses” not to grab your bike and set course for Hell.

Race day registration for the new event begins at 6:30am followed by the punctual 7am start. The cost to participate next month’s race is $15 for NMITF members and $20 for non-NMITF members.

Disclaimer: Comments are moderated. They will not appear immediately or even on the same day. Comments should be related to the topic. Off-topic comments would be deleted. Profanities are not allowed. Comments that are potentially libelous, inflammatory, or slanderous would be deleted.