Single-speed successes: Eagle County riders sweep Little Bighorn titles at Bighorn Gravel

A month ago, Erinn Hoban was in the ICU. On Saturday, the Eagle cyclist conquered the grueling 50-mile Little Bighorn route in a time of 4 hours, 44 minutes and 12 seconds — using a singlespeed bike.

“It was hard,” the 46-year-old said after navigating Bighorn Gravel’s second-longest race of the weekend, a challenging off-road loop which climbs and descends a daunting 5,690 feet. Hoban has completed six Leadville 100s on single-speed bikes and is no stranger to Bighorn Gravel: She captured the inaugural 85-mile single-speed crown in 2022 and returned to defend that title the following year before winning the Little Bighorn single-speed title in 2024. But when she arrived outside the Gypsum Town Hall on Saturday, finishing time and place seemed somewhat irrelevant.

“I’m just happy,” she said. “I’m going to do Steamboat 100 next week and this was to prove to myself I could do it.”

Over a spring vacation, Hoban contracted dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted through mosquito bites. When detected early, the fatality rate is generally less than 1%, but it can surge to 5% when it develops and even exceed 20% if left completely untreated.

“It’s not a fun one to be in the hospital for,” Hoban said.

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Even though she was at her physiological ground zero, Hoban not only won her category but inspired a wave of local single-speed successes at the fifth annual event. Mark Nesline won his fourth-straight Ram’s Horn Escape title; the Minturn 41-year-old finished the flagship 85-miler — which climbs 10,000 feet — in 6:45:44. Meanwhile, Matt Razo (3:51:11) was the fastest in the 50. Razo has participated in Bighorn Gravel all five years, but this was his first time doing it sans shifters.

“It’s even harder,” he said with a laugh. “(You’re) just grinding, full muscle tension. With every pedal stroke, you just don’t know if it’s going to get around on some of those climbs.”

Razo ran a 2-1 ratio, with 40 teeth on his front chain ring and 20 in the rear cog. He enlisted the expertise of Bighorn events director Jake Wells — an accomplished gravel, cyclo-cross and single-speed rider — the man who inspired him to give up gears in the first place.

“He’s the one who has encouraged and motivated me, not only with the races but pushing myself into another level and into different disciplines,” he said before explaining the calculus behind his setup.

“It all has to do with terrain,” he said. “That seemed to work for me, but I talked other people and they were running different ratios. So, it’s what you feel is comfortable.”

Hoban’s unique steed sported drop bars on a mountain bike frame with wide tires and a 38-22 gear ratio.

“The frame came from one shop, the wheels came from another shop and then a different shop put it together for me,” she said. “Just spreading the love. It’s a burly-looking bike but it’s only 16 pounds.”

All told, 95 men and 30 women competed in the Little Bighorn race. Glenwood Springs’ Manasseh Franklin dominated the women’s race in a time of 3:46:46. The 40-year-old was 19 minutes up on runner-up Kate Klinker as Anna Gasiewicz held off Aspen’s Jenya Berino for the final step of the podium.

On the men’s side, Littleton cyclist Carlos Casali (3:23:00) took the title, with Aspen’s Greg Strokes (3:26:05) holding off fellow Roaring Fork rider Evan Pletcher (3:26:10) for second. Hagen Strokes, 12, won the U15 division by almost 90 minutes, coming through in 4:20:29. Locals Alex Current and Jack Sargent went 1-2 in the 18-and-under division. Current repped a snazzy green Bighorn Gravel kit across the line.

“(It was) a lot of fun,” the former Vail Junior Cycling team member and Ski and Snowboard Club Vail Nordic skier said. “A lot of climbing. Once you get on top of Sylvan, it’s very pretty. Nice meadows. Wasn’t too hot today.”

Current, who is headed to the University of New Hampshire to ski in the NCAA DI ranks next winter, has been logging steady 15-hour training weeks on rollerskis all summer. But Saturday’s effort was just his second time on the bike this season.

“I just wanted to have fun today. I don’t bike as much anymore,” he said before offering his sales pitch for Bighorn events. 

“I think there are so many different distances you can do and it’s just great to get out there and enjoy the view,” he continued. “And it’s put on by great people.”

Hoban agreed.

“One of the best things about this race is (the) people are so kind,” she added. “This is one of those races where everyone asks your name, everyone is kind and everyone is awesome.”

Razo and Hoban are headed to Steamboat next weekend. Razo also hopes to hop in the Breck Epic in August, but isn’t sure if he’ll use the same bike there that he did in Gypsum. Hoban plans to compete at Leadville and Little Sugar. Her single-speed science centers around simplification.

“I’ve tried Leadville once on a geared bike and it was the longest time it ever took me. So apparently, if given choices, I’ll just goof around,” she said. “So why not just take one gear and do it?”