Thomas “Wheels” Busch loved riding from Ft. Davis up to the McDonald Observatory. Whether it was Hammerfest or Cyclefest, he participated just so he could race the climb to the observatory, and he also spent many a weekend training on the climb. What he remembered most about the climb was one magical night during NCOM when the moon was full, KD was following behind him blasting Tool, and he passed another racer. His memory wasn’t as much about that pass as it was about the euphoria of riding well under a blanket of stars and about
the feeling that everything was right in the world. But had this award existed during the many times he raced NCOM, he definitely would have hammered it to get a medal. Enjoy the climb for him.

Eligibility for this award requires a Strava account. The Wheels Up award will go to the male and the female NCOM 383 racers who ride Strava’s Mcdonald Observatory Approach segment the fastest. Winners will be determined after the last racer on the course has passed through the segment, and the winners will be contacted by the race director to come pick up their medal.