Alabama Power’s Steve Hicks takes ‘1,000-mile’ buckle in Leadville Trail race, helps injured rider
An exhilarating ride through the Southern Rockies and heady competition lead many people to compete in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race, year after year.
Steve Hicks has that competitive spirit. He rivals only himself, seeking to cut his finishing time. On Aug. 14, Hicks joined about 1,000 competitors in the 105-mile ride, one of few who took home the coveted 10-year buckle.
Starting at 10,151 feet in Leadville, Colorado, the state’s highest community, competitors in the Leadville Trail race climb to 12,500 feet, then descend back into the town. Riders who finish under 12 hours receive a handmade silver and gold belt buckle emblazoned with “The race across the sky;” those under 9 hours get a larger buckle. Hicks’ ‘1,000-mile’ buckle is nearly iPad size.
“The elevation makes it a totally different ballgame,” said Hicks, fire safety coordinator at Alabama Power Corporate Headquarters in Birmingham. In comparison, the elevation of the Magic City is 614 feet, making the top elevation of the Leadville race around 20 times higher.
“You just about have to live up there to get the bigger buckle,” Hicks pointed out. “Somebody coming from the South, which is at sea level, it’s very hard to do. When you get up to the highest point, the oxygen gets slim. Over the 10 times I’ve done it, a couple of times I actually got a little dizzy, which is somewhat common.”
On the Leadville trail, cyclists traverse over two big mountains, up to the very top. Riders come down the same way they came in, so there are two big climbs on the way back.
Hicks arrived in Leadville four days early to acclimate and train on his specialized Epic full-suspension bike. For optimum performance, many competitors spend 14 days getting used to the elevation. Hicks didn’t have that luxury.
“That was my 10th time, and I’ve been out there as early as seven days in advance, and as few as two days in advance,” he said. “Getting out there a week early, versus two days, I couldn’t tell a difference.”
Falling into a contagious competition
Hicks stays in racing shape by training nearly year-round with a cycling group. About three to four months before the race, he begins structured training, mostly at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham.
“Oak Mountain is a hidden jewel,” said Hicks, a mountain bike rider for about 15 years. “A lot of people don’t realize it, but it’s a mountain-bike mecca.” Oak Mountain’s Red Trail is popular because it’s technically and physically challenging, and because of its immense beauty. Due to its difficulty, the Red Trail has appeared on the EPIC rides list for the International Mountain Biking Association.
Hicks’ cycling group trained the first year at Oak Mountain.
“Everybody finished, and we got to know the people that organized that race,” he said. “We were considered the ‘Alabama boys, the Alabama gang.’ We formed a great relationship with those folks and that made us want to come back the next year.”
The following year, some riders from Alabama Power wanted to compete. Hicks and his group trained with them and competed a second time. Later, another group contacted Hicks about the race.
“The next thing I knew, I was training with them. I went up there to do it again.”
Hicks kept going back to compete for more buckles. He thought, ‘Well, I can’t stop now.’
“It was just one of those things,” Hicks said.
Helping a racer trumps a winning time
The Leadville Trail race isn’t for the faint of heart. While great physical endurance is a necessity, Hicks brings courage and calm.
During his 10th trek, after a grueling 52 miles and near elevation 12,500, Hicks saw a group descending. Throughout the years, he’s seen many riders get dizzy from a lack of oxygen. He saw someone crash.
“There are usually people at the top that are having to get some medical support,” Hicks said. “That’s pretty common, because there are wrecks, especially on the section descending. So, if you’re dizzy up there, asking for medical support, you’re ‘DNF’ – did not finish. Once someone has to get that support, they’re out of the race – you can’t get back in.”
A retired paramedic for Vestavia Hills Fire Department, Hicks stayed with the downed rider for about 20 minutes, ensuring they were stable until medical personnel arrived. Medical crews are stationed along the way.
Completing the 105-ride ride is reason to celebrate. (contributed)
“So, it happens,” Hicks said. “The rider was OK but hit their head and had some shoulder pain, which is typical, as well. You can’t tell if it’s altitude or because they hit their head. They were a little disoriented and confused, so I stuck around with one other person until the Leadville medical crew got there.”
Despite the delay, Hicks finished the race at 11 hours and earned the coveted 10th Leadville race buckle, well-known among competitive riders across the country.
Hicks’ race against himself is complete
While Hicks’ love of the sport and competition remain, he said that he won’t be returning to Leadville. He has conquered his mountain – well-satisfied with the accomplishment of finishing 1,000 miles.
“People say, ‘I know what that belt buckle is’ when they see it,” Hicks said, with a smile.