Gear: Many races, if they're fortunate, offer a T-shirt with a logo. Prolific Homer artist Kathy Sarns has produced 15 different Fireweed shirts or jerseys -- including jerseys tailored for riders from Washington, Colorado, California, Arizona, Oregon and Texas -- as well as race jackets, socks and, of course, a wick-dry do-rag. Her company, Free Spirit Wear, sells them.
Riders: The 733 entrants last year was a record, but the 2009 race has already topped it and should break the 800-racer barrier. Entries closed midnight Monday.
Races: Will the number of races eventually top the number of riders? It's possible. Here's the 11-race lineup with start times:
• 400 solo: Noon Friday
• 300-kilometer tour: Official start is 9 a.m. Friday, but riders can leave anytime between 8 a.m. and noon
• 400 relay: 3 p.m. Saturday
• 200 relay: 7 a.m. Saturday
• 200 road race and tandems: 7:15 a.m. Saturday
• 200 solo non-drafting: 7:30 a.m. Saturday
• 100 road race and tandems: 10 a.m. Saturday. This doubles as the Alaska state championship.
• 100 solo non-drafting: 10:30 a.m. Saturday
• 50 road race and tandems: 10:45 a.m. Saturday
• 50 solo: 10:30 a.m. Saturday
• 50 fat tire non-drafting and non-competitive: 11 a.m. Saturday
Superb Performances: Jeff Oatley of Fairbanks has delivered some amazing times. Two years ago, he set the 400-mile time trial record of 19:56:32 and last year established the fastest time at half that distance, 8:32:55. To put that in perspective, no tandem combo of any sort -- men, women, mixed, two or four-person -- has gone faster.
Anchorage's Janet Tower owns both 200- and 400-mile records for women. Her women's 400-mile time trial record of 25:17:18, set six years ago in the inaugural, is Fireweed's longest-standing record.
Fireweed 400 Web site: www.fireweed400.com
Post-Race Parties: The 200-miler awards ceremony is 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Valdez. Awards ceremony is 5:30 p.m. Monday at Bear Tooth Theatrepub in Anchorage.
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