Fears, Tears and Beers Celebrates its 15th Year

This year’s event to have record number of racers and new industry partners to support Great Basin Trails Alliance

By Jennifer Stein

Fears, Tears, and Beers, America’s oldest enduro bike race, will be celebrating its 15th year on June 8. The small town of Ely (pop. circa 4,000) in northeast Nevada is home to the race in which participants pedal through two casinos on their way to the top of Ward Mountain. Racers are timed at specific sections of the course; there will be 2-7 timed sections, mostly twisty downhills and sprint sections. The sum of the times on these special tests will determine the winner.

According to Ely’s Director of Tourism Kyle Horvath, the event has a record number of racers for the event so far, and you can still register online or onsite the day of the event. “The new trail Making Pancakes will be used this year; allowing for bypass of a nasty ATV road,” he said. “The weather looks great.” Also new this year, Salt Cycles, in Sandy, UT, and Cannondale have teamed up in supporting the Great Basin Trails Alliance (GBTA) and Fears, Tears, and Beers by donating a 2019 Cannondale Habit 5 (retail $2625) to be raffled off at the event. 100% of money raised will be reinvested back into trail expansion.

Fears, Tears, and Beers is the annual fundraising event for GBTA. In partnership with Nevada Division of Forestry and BLM, GBTA is responsible for the building and maintenance of the non-motorized multi-use trails in the area. All money raised during the event is used for grant matches and expenses associated with reinvesting into the trail systems. The event takes place on BLM and USFS administered lands under special use permits.

Race Details

Men’s and women’s events for all classes. Check-in is at Broadbent Park and begins at 8am. Races start at 9am. Awards are given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each class.
• Fun Run: Shorter in length and less climbing than the beginner class, 2 timed sections
• Beginner Class: 17.5 miles, 2,300′ elevation gain, 3 timed sections
• Sport Class: 26.6 miles, 3,500′ elevation gain, 4 timed sections
• Expert Class: 33.3 miles, 5,400′ elevation gain, 6 timed sections
• Pro Class: 40 miles, 5,700′ elevation gain, 7 timed sections

Stay to celebrate at the after-party/awards ceremony at Bristlecone Convention Center. Racers eat free; others will need to purchase a wristband for $10. The event is also great for visitors. There will be music and celebrating all day at Broadbent Park. Bring your binoculars and lawn chairs to watch the Expert and Pro classes take on the final downhill timed section.

Learn more and register at elynevada.net/fears-tears-and-beers.