Speed the name of the game at El Tour...

For you old timers who feel like dusting off the old bike and hittin' the road, more power to you.

Don't worry about the speed just worry about staying upright and try to get in as many revolutions as you can. It's got to be good for the old legs. If you think you're ready to compete in the El Tour de Tucson, just take a gander at these statistics.

The three winners in 2008 crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 20 minutes for the 109-mile scamper around Tucson. That averages out to 24.9 miles per hour. Outrageous! I got into cycling, back in the late 1980s, and actually completed 70 miles, but my average speed was 17 miles per hour. I held my head up high and I figured I was flying. I could barely keep my shoes on. Wow! Close to 25 miles an hour, I can barely do that in my car as I rocket down Speedway during rush hour.

Granted, the three winners were from Hermosillo and they were top level athletes with plenty of experience. Many of the entrants last year rolled in averaging anywhere between 12 to 20 miler per hour. The guy who finished second to last averaged 9.1 miler per hour and the gentleman (Philip Kaslo of Tucson) was 62 years old at the time. The three winners were David Solomon (28), Carlos Hernandez (32) and Edgardo Logo, the youngin' of the group at 22 years of age.

I'm anxious to see what the winning time will be this year. Good luck to all the cyclist at the El Tour de Tucson and I pray for a safe race.

2009 El Tour de Tucson Update: Two fellas from Hermosillo (Rafael Escarcega and Hector Rangel) won the race in 4 hours and 17 minutes.