El Paso Puzzler

Start the year off with the 18th El Paso Puzzler.  Come on down to El Paso and enjoy our year around MTB weather.  Absolutely no riding the same loop over and over for the El Paso Puzzler for hours on end, this is one EPIC long course that gets you out into the back country of El Paso, Texas.

Slight change for 2025 due to trail restrictions on one of our trails, see the new course below.

   50 mile race - 8:00am Saturday January 18th, 2025

   35 mile race - 8:05am Saturday January 18th, 2025

   Kids race - 10:00am Saturday January 18th, 2025

   15 mile race - 9:00am Sunday January 19th, 2025

   Kids race - 10:00am Sunday January 19th, 2025

All proceeds from the Puzzler are used to support the Borderland Mountain Bike Association - Not for profit, run by all volunteers.  We support our mountain and trail system with any money made!!!

 

The current working race day roster is maintained here: coming soon

 

50 mile race, CASH PAYOUT HAS INCREASED!!! for top 5 overall finishers, both women and men paid equally

   1st place - $500

   2nd place - $300

   3rd place - $200

   4th place - $150

   5th place - $100

Prizes:  Our prizes will be EPIC this year again.

   50 Mile Race:  Along with the Cash Payouts listed above, Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for all categories.  First 75 finishers will receive a prize.

   35 Mile Race: Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for all categories.  First 75 finishers will receive a prize.

   15 Mile Race: Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for all categories.

   Giveaways and raffle's throughout the event. <-- so anyone might be able to get other giveaways/prizes

Safety Cut Off Times: For the 35 and 50 mile course, we have cut off times that each racers must pass before this time or they will have to ride in the safety vehicle back to the venue.  This is to ensure that each rider completes the course in the allotted time and safely.  

Mile 4 (Venue) 9:30amMile 12 (Aide Station) 12:00pmMile 22 (Aide Station) 2:00pmMile 35 (if racing the 50 mile, Venue) 3:00pm

Category Consolidation: Race director may combine race categories if there are not enough registrations to support each category.  We do not combine Male / Female categories.

Course Pre-riding: 90% of the El Paso Puzzler Course is within the Franklin Mountain State Park.  Your race day entry to the park is included in your registration.  If you are riding the course any other day, you must obtain a day use permit $5 per day per user.  Those permits can be obtained at the Iron Rangers (self pay stations) at any one of these trailheads (Lost Cow, Roundhouse or Chuck Heinrich Park), the park visitor center at the Tom Mays unit,  or online at  https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/franklin-mountains-state-park/r/deDetails.do?contractCode=TX&parkId=1200020  

Merchandise: All merchandise purchased online will be available for pickup at packet pickup times or the BMBA tent during the event.  There will be no shipping offered.

Parking: Parking is limited at the venue and will be first come first serve.  Parking will be charged $5 at the gate (donation to local organization), once full you will need to park near the Lost Cow Trailhead and ride the 1 mile to the venue.  Carpooling is great for the environment and also a great way to get into the venue.  We are also working on a shuttle option (more to come).

Spectators: All spectators entering the Franklin Mountain State Park will be required to pay the daily usage fee.  That can be paid via the Iron Rangers (self pay stations at the trailheads) or online at Here.  If paying online, please print the permit and have it on the dashboard of your vehicle.

Camping: Camping is available at the venue for $10 per night (payable in cash when you arrive), gates open Friday the 17th at noon and are locked on Monday the 20th at 10am.  No water, no electric, just a lot of fun.  NO CAMPFIRES in camp sites, please use the common fire pit near the big tent.  Camping is first come first serve, we have limited spots, but have not sold out in the past.

E-Bikes: This is an endurance race, so no form of E-Bikes are allowed.  Any rider who shows up with an e-bike will be disqualified and not permitted to race even in a noncompetitive manner.  There will be no refunds for disqualified riders.

Weather: Although the weather in El Paso is usually amazing in January, there is always the chance of race delays or cancellations due to weather.  We will do our best to hold the race on the dates scheduled.  If there is a weather event that does not allow for a safe race on Saturday or Sunday, the race will be moved to Monday.  If the race is cancelled due to weather there will be no refunds as this is a not for profit fundraiser.

No refunds for individual cancellations: BikeReg does offer individual participant cancellation insurance if purchased during registration  see here for details  https://www.bikereg.com/knowledge-base/104/Participant-Registration-Insurance--Allianz-Registration-Protection 

Cover photo by @lorecor_saenz