20 Years of 24HOB

On July 30, 2021 at 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time several hundred bicyclists started riding down Queens Road in Charlotte NC to kick off the 20th year of “24 Hours of Booty.” This was the 14th year I participated. I started in 2007 and rode every year except 2020 (and you can guess why I didn’t ride that year).

The Booty Loop

or, where we ride

The booty loop is a 3 mile course that loops around Queens University in Charlotte, NC. The area is gorgeous and the residents are very supportive of the event, with many houses hosting outdoor parties to celebrate and cheer on the riders.

Inside the loop, on one of the university’s athletic fields is where the riders setup tents and shelters for the ride. There is also an area where food is served and vendors offer swag and support.

Spencer Lueders

The group (now called 24 Foundation) was started by Spencer Lueders, who wanted to raise money and awareness for fighting cancer. The bike route was already established as a place for cyclists in the area to have group rides. One weekend, Spencer set out to ride for 24 hours, having gotten a few people to sponsor him. He started out focusing on the ride and figuring out how to make the right choices on gear and setups, but he said that soon changed.

As he rode, other people started joining him, including cancer survivors, and by the time he was done, he realized that this was way more than “riding for 24 hours.” It was about sharing experiences and raising awareness for all of the people battling the disease.

My Journey

I started riding this event back in 2007. I had not ridden a road bike since I was a kid, but I had a few friends at work that rode and they talked me into buying a used Trek bike and joining the “FUN” as they called it. My first time on the bike was rough. I managed to go about 2 miles total and thought I was going to have a heart attack. Needless to say, I was out of shape.

But I persisted with the riding, and 3 months later I rode in the event for the first time. I managed to ride 53 miles during the first 12 hours and then packed up and went home. In 2008, I decided to try doubling my goal and I managed to ride 108 miles. By the beginning of 2009, I was addicted to riding and was participating in group rides all the time. I had gotten my weight back down to 171 pounds and was feeling really good. I figured I’d better double my ride this year, so I set a goal of 216 miles. I didn’t make that goal, but I did manage to ride 201 miles, which equated to about 14 total hours in the saddle.

In 2010, 24 Foundation decided to expand and start a ride in Atlanta. I rode in 4 of the five rides in Atlanta as well as continuing to ride every year in Charlotte. Some years I rode more miles, and other years I didn’t do as well. But I still focused on supporting the mission and enjoying the experience.

I started carrying all of my old jersey numbers on a flag at the back of my bike in Atlanta in 2014. To the left, you can see the flag as it was this year. On the other side, I put the names of people that I ride “In Memory of” or “In Honor of.” I may be older now than when I started, and I get worn out by the heat faster, but this is still an event I look forward to each year.

2021

I didn’t know what to expect this year since I had not ridden my bike for over a year and a half. I really let myself go with the lockdown and Covid. However, I started training by riding a recumbent trainer bike during my work team’s weekly training lunches. That helped a lot, but it did not prepare my for the heat.

Oh well. I had my faithful side-kick (“Booty Fig”) ready to go, and I figured that if he didn’t melt, I should be OK. At the start of the event, the weather on the course said 98 degrees, feels like 108 degrees. I felt fine for the first couple of hours, but I did slow down on my second round of riding (miles 16-27). By 10 PM I decided to rest until midnight and try it again. At midnight, I was still too hot, so I crashed for the night and got up at 6:30 AM. I was back out on the course by around 7:30 AM and managed to get another 18 miles in before my wife and sister showed up to cheer on the riders.

I visited with them for a bit, then hit the course and knocked out another 12 miles. It was almost noon and my body finally said “You’re done.” Being a good person, I obeyed and packed it up for the day. Given the fact that I am 57 years old, and the temperature was back in the 90’s, I felt pretty good about hitting 57 miles this year.

Thank You

I want to thank all of the people who donated to the ride this year. This event means so much to me, and the support I get from all of you is not only helping me keep going, but it is helping 24 Foundation provide “Navigation and Survivorship” to people all over Charlotte and across the country.

This year, I raised more than $1800, and the event has raised more than 1.2 million dollars. I am truly grateful to know so many people who are willing to help out and wish me well.

You Never Know

who you will meet at this ride. I got a donation from one of my old managers at Microsoft, Brig Bridges. I had not seen her for 4 or 5 years, and we hadn’t worked together since the year 2000. Brig has supported me several times in the past, so I continued to send her emails.

Her husband had ridden in the event before, but (despite being an avid cyclist) Brig had never done it. She decided to jump into the fray this year, sent me an email that she’d be there, and we ran into each other out on the course. She and her husband both pulled off 100 miles before packing up. I saw them again in Bootyville, and we laughed for a good 10-15 minutes talking about some of the good old days at work and about some of the crazy things that (people claim) our team did back then. Mike, Carl and Rob; your names never came up <bg>