24 Hours in the Old Pueblo is one of the best-known endurance mountain bike races in the country. Every February, riders and their crews set up a temporary town in the high desert north of Tucson, Arizona, and ride laps around a desert loop for a full day and night. Some race solo. Most ride as part of a relay team, handing off a baton every lap.
It's part race and part campout, and it rewards preparation more than raw fitness. This guide covers what to sort out before you show up.
Racing in 2027? See our 2027 race weekend guide for this year's key dates, schedule, camping rules, and race rules.
What you're signing up for
The course is a loop of roughly 16 miles through Sonoran Desert terrain: fast, flowy singletrack, sandy washes, rocky climbs, and plenty of cactus close to the trail. Riders keep cycling through the loop from midday to midday. Whoever (or whichever team) completes the most laps in 24 hours wins their category.
A few things make this race different from a normal XC event:
- It runs through the night. Roughly half your laps may be in the dark, so lights are mandatory equipment, not an extra.
- The weather swings hard. February days in the desert can be warm and sunny, and nights can drop near or below freezing. Plan for both.
- The cactus is real. Cholla and other spiny plants line the course. Expect thorns in your tires and maybe in you.
- Recovery matters as much as riding. Between laps you need to eat, rest, stay warm, and get ready to go again.
Race dates, categories, entry details, and rules can change from year to year, so check the official race website before you plan anything.
Pick your category
Most riders choose one of three formats:
- Team relay (4 or 5 riders): The friendliest way in. You'll ride a few laps with real rest in between. Great for a first 24-hour race.
- Duo: Two riders swapping laps. Much harder, since you get about one lap of rest for every lap you ride, including through the night.
- Solo: One rider, as many laps as you can manage. This is a serious endurance effort that takes months of specific training and a dedicated support crew.
If it's your first time, join a team. You'll learn the course, the camp routine, and the night laps without burying yourself.
Plan your rotation early
Teams should agree on a riding order before race day. Put your strongest night rider in the slots that land between about midnight and 5 a.m., and give everyone a written schedule with estimated lap times. Update it as the race goes. A missed handoff costs more time than a slow lap.
Bike setup for the desert
Your bike needs to survive 24 hours of desert riding with little time for repairs. Focus on reliability over weight.
Tires and sealant
- Run tubeless with fresh sealant. Cactus thorns will find your tires. Top up sealant within a week of the race so it's liquid and ready to seal small punctures.
- Choose durable casings. A slightly heavier, tougher casing is worth it on rocky desert trail.
- Dial in your pressure. Sandy washes reward a bit less air, rocky sections punish too little. Use our tire pressure calculator to get a starting point, then fine-tune on a pre-ride lap.
- Bring spare tires. A tire with a sidewall cut can end your race. Have a mounted spare wheel in the pit if you can.
Drivetrain and brakes
- Install a fresh chain a couple of weeks before the race, and ride on it once to make sure it shifts cleanly.
- Check brake pad thickness. Desert grit eats pads fast. Pack a spare set.
- Desert dust dries chains out. Use a dry lube and re-lube every few laps.
Pit spares to pack
- Tubes (as a backup to tubeless), plugs, sealant, and a floor pump
- Spare derailleur hanger for your frame
- Brake pads, chain, quick links
- Multi-tool, shock pump, chain lube, rags
- Tweezers or pliers for cactus spines (for tires and riders)
Night riding
Night laps are where a lot of 24-hour races are won or lost. The trail looks completely different in the dark, and fatigue makes it harder.
Lights
- Use two lights. A bar-mounted light lights the trail ahead. A helmet light points wherever you look, which helps in corners.
- Plan your batteries. Know how long each light lasts on the setting you'll actually use, and have charged batteries ready for every night lap. Charge between laps if you have power in camp.
- Add a rear red light. Faster riders will be coming up behind you all night.
- Test everything at home. Do at least one full night ride on your race setup before the event.
Riding in the dark
- Ride your first night lap a little slower than feels necessary. Learn where the rocks and sand are.
- Bring warm layers. Long-finger gloves, arm warmers, and a wind vest make a big difference on cold descents.
- Clear lenses or no glasses at all. Tinted lenses are a hazard after dark.
Nutrition and hydration
Running out of fuel is one of the most common ways people's races fall apart. Your body can't make up for skipped meals at 3 a.m.
On the bike
- Aim for roughly 200–300 calories per hour of riding, from drink mix, gels, chews, or bars.
- The desert air is very dry. Drink regularly, and use electrolytes rather than plain water so you replace the salt you sweat out.
- Use what you've trained with. Race day is no time to try a new product.
Between laps
- Eat real food soon after each lap: rice, pasta, soup, sandwiches, potatoes. Warm food matters more at night.
- Prep meals before the race, so all anyone has to do is heat them up.
- Be careful with caffeine. Save most of it for the early-morning laps when you need it most.
Camp logistics
A good camp makes a tired rider faster. Treat it like part of your race setup.
- Shade and shelter: A pop-up canopy for daytime sun, plus a way to block wind at night.
- Warm sleeping gear: A sleeping bag rated well below freezing and a pad. Cold nights in the desert surprise a lot of first-timers.
- Cooking setup: A camp stove, fuel, pots, and plenty of water for drinking and cooking.
- Lighting: Headlamps and lanterns for camp, so you don't drain your riding lights.
- Organization: One labeled bin per rider with their kit, food, and lights. When someone's tired at 2 a.m., they shouldn't have to search for anything.
- Charging: A portable power station or a way to charge light batteries between laps.
- A clear handoff plan: Know where the exchange area is, who's up next, and when they need to be there.
Race-week checklist
- Fresh sealant in both tires, and a spare tire or wheel packed
- New chain and brake pads installed and tested
- Lights charged, mounted, and tested on a night ride
- Spare batteries and a charging plan
- Team rotation written down and shared
- Meals prepped and packed by rider
- Electrolyte mix and on-bike fuel for every planned lap
- Warm layers for night laps and camp
- Canopy, sleeping gear, stove, and water
- Check the official race website for any rule or schedule updates
Show up prepared, ride the first night lap with respect, and keep eating. Get those right and you'll be riding strong when the sun comes up over the desert on Sunday morning.