Snow, hail, rain and wind did not deter more than 100 collegiate and professional bicyclists from participating in the 2004 Lobo Classic this weekend.
"The weather can definitely make things miserable when you are racing, " said Nina Baum, vice president of the UNM Cycling Team and a rider in this weekend's race.
The Lobo Classic, the UNM Cycling Team's annual fund-raiser, welcomed teams from three states and 10 schools in the Rocky Mountain Conference.
Collegiate riders raced in three different events that tested their individual and team abilities in a timed road race on a unusually short course, Baum said.
Saturday morning's individual and team time trials, originally penciled in for 9 a.m., had to be postponed until 2 p.m. on account of snow.
"A lot of teams drove a long way to ride, so we didn't want to just cancel everything," Baum said.
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The wind was agreeably the most challenging condition cyclists faced.
With crashes being what Baum called "part of the sport," and even more likely in windy weather, helmets were required for all participants.
Despite the weather, the UNM cycling team had a successful weekend.
"I think we look really good this year," Baum said. "I think we did really well this weekend."
UNM's Cycling Team has given the University community a chance to bicycle competitively since its inception more than 10 years ago and competes in the Rocky Mountain region of the National Collegiate Cycling Association. The team competes in mountain bike and road bike races and welcomes riders of all ability levels and ages, Baum said.
The team doesn't offer scholarships to its riders, but uses the Lobo Classics to raise money to help offset team members' costs of upkeeping equipment. The team is also sponsored by several local businesses that help them purchase new equipment.
Baum went on to place first in the women's individual time trial. She and teammate Sonya Looney placed second in the women's team time trial.
UNM rider Daniel Apello placed fifteenth in the men's individual time trial. Three other UNM men cyclists placed among the top 20 overall in the weekends events, which carried into Sunday and saw many semi-professionals participating.
The Lobo Classic, marking the start of the spring road cycling season, is one of many races conference teams will cycle in, Baum said . Riders try to accumulate points for themselves and for their teams. Later, the points will determine which four conference teams will be invited to the National Collegiate Road Championships in Madison, Wis. later this year, where the riders are looking forward to nicer weather conditions.
"We would have liked to have nicer weather for this race, but I think everybody had a good time," Apello said.
