For the love of a nephew … and cycling, Estupin rides El Tour

Bob Estupin had a bucket list of riding in El Tour de Tucson back in 1986, when the ride was still in its infancy yet getting traction abroad.

He knew he needed to be part of it so, well, he joined up – deciding to ride in the 113-mile event (yes, it was that long in those days) because that’s how he does things: all or nothing.

He can thank his brother-in-law Ike Martinez who was into cycling and Bob was just getting into it.

“He asked me if I was interested in going out there and trying this ride,” said Estupin, who had never ridden over 50 miles before. “I thought, it can’t be that hard. So, I went out there and I did it,”

He finished in six hours and 40-something minutes.

 

“I thought I was gonna die,” he said.

He was in his early 30s back then, now he’s 71 and is preparing for his 40^th ride in El Tour come November.

It went from a bucket-list time to a passion for the Redlands, California resident.

“It turned into a challenge as far as the distance was concerned,” he said. “Then, they throw that carrot in front of you of making platinum time (the fastest riders) so I started to ride a lot more and started racing in California.”

He eventually became a platinum rider for several years, losing it after COVID (2020-21) when he had open-heart surgery. He had just missed the qualifying time.

How was it coming back after surgery?

“It wasn’t that bad, but it was the legs,” he said. “The heart was good, but the legs couldn’t perform.”

Then came the back surgery where it’s prevented him from reclaiming his platinum status, where “I’ve just fallen short a few times.”

He stopped racing about five years ago when it “got kind of crazy and I wasn’t making a living out of it,” he said.

So, now it’s all about rides like El Tour, where he couldn’t say enough about it, so much so he’ll bring – or has convinced – 10 or so cyclists from the Redlands area with him to ride. Another 10 will be coming from the San Diego area.

They will come from his cycling club, Citrus Valley Velo, and another one, Ride Yourself Fit.

With a little over four months to the event, Estupin is “just building my base” for the ride in November. He’ll increase his mileage in September, something he’s done for more than 20 years.

“I also increase the intensity but it’s a little different now that I’m 71,” he said.

Still, he’s coming back for year 40.

“What I love about El Tour and what I tell those who want to join me is that it’s the only place where you can ride over 100 miles non-stop,” he said.

Other places have to stop at lights and signs.

The other feature he likes is the charity work. And how the sponsors are involved.

And lastly – yet, perhaps the most important part of it all – is his dedication to the memory of his nephew Nicklaus, who was killed in an auto accident 30 or so years ago while returning from spring break.

“We’d talk about El Tour de Tucson, and I was trying to get him interested in the bicycle,” he said. “He’s another reason I come back. I always take a jersey for him and place it on his grave before I head back to California.”