The top of Fouche Gap was the finish line for a handcycle race Friday.

They started a few miles away down in Texas Valley and climbed up what I call the back of the mountain. It’s as steep as the front.

These guys impressed me.

What impressed me is not just that they have the upper body strength to crank their way up the mountain, but that they have the endurance in their arm muscles to do it. Legs are adapted to long, heavy work, but arms usually aren’t. These guys’ arms certainly are.

The race was one stage of the Clocktower Classic, which, according to the Website, is the only timed stage race in the world specifically for handcycles. They had done a 26-mile race the day before. That was two laps around Rocky Mountain, which divides Little Texas Valley and Big Texas Valley. I have ridden one lap from our house, down the mountain, around the loop and back up. They are riding another stage Sunday, the day this post is scheduled to post. I’m also impressed that they can do this kind of racing for multiple days.