Since its inception in 1990, the Dehydrator Bicycle Race and Ride has become one of Duncan Oklahoma’s biggest single-day sports events. The Dehydrator annually draws more than 400 bike enthusiasts, both competitive racers and casual riders. For the past several years, it has been sponsored by the Duncan Band Boosters, with assistance from the Duncan Bicycle Club.

Entries are being taken for the 18th Annual Dehydrator, which is slated for Saturday, July 26, at 8:00 a.m., rain or shine. Entry fee for either the competitive races or the various tour rides is $20 per person or $35 per tandem team. A free T-shirt and water bottle go to the first 400 entries. Entries should be postmarked no later than Tuesday, July 22.  After July 22, there will be an additional $5 late fee for those entries. Entry forms can be found at local bicycle shops, by going online to www.thedehydrator.org and printing a form, or by going to The Dehydrator event page at Active.com.  Packets for all entries will be available at Simmons Center (800 Chisholm Trail Parkway) from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 25, and beginning at 6:30 a.m. on day of the ride.

Simmons Center is the starting point for all routes. The fun rides take the bicyclists along routes that are west and south of Duncan. Fun ride distances include a 10-mile flat course, with other ride routes of 27, 54 and 69 miles. 

The 14-mile racecourse for competitive bikers is located northeast of Duncan in the vicinity of Humphrey Lake. The course has a reputation for rolling terrain mixed with a couple of difficult hill climbs.  Racecourse divisions and distances are:

 Men’s Under 20:  three laps, 42 total miles;

 Men’s 20-49:  four laps, 56 miles;

 Men’s 50-64:  three laps, 42 miles

 Men’s 65 Plus:  two laps, 28 miles;

 Women’s Under 20:  two laps, 28 miles;

 Women’s 20-49:  three laps, 42 miles;

 Women’s 50-64:  two laps, 28 miles;

 Women’s 65 Plus:  one lap, 14 miles

Tandem teams compete in male, female and coed divisions. Tandems have no age

groups and their race consists of four laps (56 miles).

Rest stops providing fluids, fruit and cookies will be found at intervals of approximately 10 miles on the fun ride routes. The farthest rest stop has free snow cones for the riders.  Rest stops are also available on the racecourse at selected spots.

At the Simmons Center following the event, the riders can use their entry number to get free food and drinks. The number will also get them a one-day pass to the Simmons Center’s recreation facilities.  Also, championship jerseys will be awarded to the winners in all of the men’s and women’s race divisions, with medals going to the first three finishers in each age group of five-year increments. Medals also go to the first three finishers in each division of tandem teams.

Flyers can be found at all bicycle shops.  If a rider can’t find one or needs more information, contact: Pagon Ballard at 580-255-1092 after 5 p.m. or via e-mail at pkbllrd@texhoma.net; Terry’s Bicycles in Lawton at 580-357-7580; or Mark and Susan Camp at 580-252-1197 or mscamp@cableone.net. For more Duncan, Oklahoma information call 1-800-782-7167 or visit www.duncanok.org