Meet Larry Gitman

Larry Gitman, Co-Founder

After 32 years in academics, Larry Gitman at age 57 retired as Professor of Finance at San Diego State University in May 2004 in order to devote more time to his two great passions--textbook writing and ultracycling.  He is the author or co-author of eight major college texts ranging from a thirteenth edition (first published in 1976) to a first edition (published in 2011).  His books have been used by well over 1 million students and he continues to actively write and revise his numerous successful texts.

Larry has been involved in ultracycling for many years. He has completed many dozen centuries, 30 double centuries, and qualified to participate in Paris-Brest-Paris in 1987, but decided not to go. He has completed the famed Markleeville Death Ride 4 times, the Spooktacular, the Horribly Hilly Hundred, and the Breathless Agony rides.  He has earned the California Triple Crown 9 times between 1998 and 2010.  Larry was a member (at age 55) of Team San Diego--a four-man RAAM team with an average age of 46 that completed the Portland, OR to Pensacola, FL route in 2002 in 6 days, 20 hours, and 3 minutes.  In 2007 he was member of four-man RAAM Team 60 Going Hard with an average age of 60 that completed the race in 7 days, 3 hours.  He has also done four PAC Tours--the Eastern Mountain (2000), the Ridge of the Rockies (2004), the Southern Transcontinental (2006), traveling 2,920 miles from San Diego to Tybee Island Georgia in 26 days, and the Grand Canyon Tour (2007).  Larry, having completed 10,000 PAC Tour miles, was inducted into the PAC Tours Hall of Fame in 2007.

                   Larry Gitman

Larry interviewed by Fox Sports at the
conclusion of the 2004 Shadow Tour, a
complete 2,111 mile replica of the
Tour de France, Jul 3-25, 2004.

La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, CA, Jul 25. 2004

Other rides include the fearsome Leadville 100K Vertical in 2003 and week 2 of the Arizona Desert Training Camp in 2004.  He also participated with his business partner, Jim Knight, in the inaugural Shadow Tour, a complete 2,111-mile replica of the Tour de France, in July 2004.

Larry, in addition to his authorship activities and his role as a Co-Founder and Managing Member of Shadow Tour LLC, continues to ride many miles regularly. He particularly enjoys climbing long and steep grades.  In October 2004 Larry again teamed up with Co-Founder Jim Knight, as "Team Yak" at the 21st Annual Furnace Creek 508 Mile race through Death Valley.  Larry battled a grueling overnight windstorm on a seven-hour ascent up and over Jubilee and Salsberry Passes, which contributed to a rare rookie team win and established a new Course Record for a 2-Man, 50+ Team, by over 30 minutes. 

At the 2005 Furnace Creek 508, Larry, along with Jim Knight, Mark Erwin, and Jim Woodman, again riding as Team Yak, established a Course Record for a 4-Man 50+ Team of 26 hours, 45 minutes.  In June 2007, Larry's "Team 60 Going Hard" 4-man 60+ team earned second place honors at RAAM, in a time faster than the prevous record.  The official finishing time for Team 60 Going Hard was 7 Days 3 Hours 11 Minutes.

In Oct 2010, Larry again raced the Furnace Creek 508.  This time as part of a 4-Man 60+ team including Ed Paul, Dennis Kasischke, and Bill Holland.  "Team Yak" rode a flawless race, winning their Division, and setting a new Course Record.  This was Larry's third participation at the Furnace Creek 508.  His teams have produced three 1st Place Division wins, establishing Course Records at each attempt.

In Jul 2011, Larry successfully completed the fearsome Triple Bypass ride which starts in Evergreen, CO and finishes in Avon, CO.  The ride covers 120 miles and has high mountain summits including Juniper Pass (11,140 ft), Loveland Pass (11,990 ft), and Swan Mt and Vail Pass (10,560 ft).

       Larry at 2005 Furnace Creek 508

Larry & Robin Gitman enjoying the 2007 RAAM post race banquet in Atlantic City,
New Jersey