Don't box in cyclist Pat Irwin.

When Irwin finds that a bike race no longer suits his age, ability or interests, his answer is simple and effective.

Create a new one.

That's how a new two-day 300-kilometer event joined the ever-growing lineup that operates under the umbrella of the Fireweed 400. The Fireweed, Alaska's biggest bike race with an expected 800 racers this year, gets under way Friday morning at Sheep Mountain Lodge.

The new 300-K event isn't a race at all. Rather, it's tour from Sheep Mountain Lodge to Valdez with an overnight stop at Tosina thrown in to break up the pedaling.

"I didn't feel like doing it in one day," Irwin said of the Fireweed's 200-mile race that begins early Saturday morning and ends that night in the port city.

So last year, he went his own way.

"It wasn't a big light bulb moment, just a nice relaxing way to cover the 200 miles," he said.

"I left with the 400 guys (who start on Friday)," he said. "I got to stop and have a burger and beer in the middle (at Tonsina River Lodge before covering the final 80 miles to Valdez on Saturday). It was way more relaxing and enjoyable."

Irwin's experiment of 2008 is this year's shiny new event. As of Saturday, 47 had signed up for the two-day event -- more than double the number registered for Fireweed's signature 400-mile race.

"It's a fantastic ride," he said, "and you don't have to kill yourself doing it."

This isn't the first time Irwin, 42, has broken ground at the Fireweed.

The first Fireweed race in 2003 was a 400-miler, organized by Alaska riders planning to race the prestigious the Race Across America. They wanted an Alaska version with big mountains, glaciers and roaring rivers.

The inaugural attracted 124 racers. It has grown more than 600 percent in six years while adding races at 50, 100, 200, and 400 miles in time trial, solo and relay formats.

Among the initial 124 was Irwin with his wife Kathy Sarns on the support team. When the couple arrived in Valdez, Irwin had a question for his wife.

"Would you like to have a glass of wine and dinner or see my butt for another 200 miles?" said Fireweed 400 coordinator Peter Lekisch, relaying the story.

Easy answer.

Lest you think Irwin is a little too wedded to creature comforts, note that the Homer manager of Free Spirt Wear, a bicycle wear venture he operates with is wife, is a former champion of the 350-mile Iditasport winter mountain bike race over the frozen Alaska Range to McGrath. In 2002, he set that race's record to McGrath on a single-speed bike: 3 days, 19 hours, 30 minutes.

But Irwin doesn't mind creature comforts, either. By dividing the Sheep Mountain to Valdez trek into two days, "I was the first to finish at 3 p.m. and I felt better than I ever had getting into Valdez. I was able to fully enjoy the cookout at the finish."

That's no small matter. Splitting the race into two days meant he beat the top 200-miler racers into town, giving him the pick of Copper River red salmon filets on the barbecue.

"The cookout (Valdez) put on for us at the end is worth all the pain and suffering," he said. "Just grab some Copper River reds off the barbie and call it good, rather than turning around for another 200 miles of pain."

Even in a year in which the Fireweed added the two-day tour to Valdez, the grueling 400-miler has also become more popular than ever, with at least 21 solo and team entrants.

Both the men's and women's record-holders, Fairbanks cyclist Jeff Oatley and Anchorage's Janet Tower, are back. So is Rocky Reifenstuhl of Fairbanks, a former champion; San Francisco rider Sarah Shulman, the 18-24 women's age group winner in the 2005 Ironman world triathlon championship; and Anchorage's Cory Smith, the second skier into McGrath during the Iditarod Trail Invitational 350-mile race this winter.

"Jeff is really an outstanding ultra-cylist," Lekisch said of the Fairbanks rider who's completed the Race Across America. "I suspect he'll break his record in the 400. It was horrible the conditions he set it in.

"Nobody will be able to keep up with him. They're going to have to come from Europe to give him a race."

Despite the competitiveness of the 400-mile race and allure of the new 300-K tour for less-competitive riders, Lekisch said the 200-mile event remains the highlight.

"The most popular event is the relay to Valdez (more than 460 riders are signed up for various 200-mile races, with nearly 400 of them in two- or four-rider relays), Lekisch said.

"There's a real energy flow that happens in these relays. People cheering on the sidelines and the scenery is wonderful, the crew you have is supportive.

"It's a party when we get to Valdez and the Valdez community is partying with us."

And who can resist a party? Not Irwin, that's for sure.

Reach reporter Mike Campbell at mcampbell@adn.com or 257-4329.

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