m i k e b r e v o o r t

Yesterday was the 5th Winter Park race of the series. I felt much better than I had a few weeks ago. I placed 17th so I’m improving… ever so slowly though. The course was the longest of the series so far at 24 miles (though my GPS clocked it under 23) with 3,600 ft of climbing. I don’t even pretend to be a strong climber; I suffered and tried to open it up as much as I could on the downhills. There were only two extended downhill sections though; not enough to pull back all the spots I lost on the climbs. I must have passed over 20 people on the last downhill though. Erik came in just 30 seconds ahead of me, and I didn’t even see him pass, but apparently he did one of the times I dropped my chain on the first long climb.

Plesko blew my mind yesterday. He crashed HARD at ~30mph about eight or nine miles into the race, snapping his handlebars and getting cut up pretty good. His bars snapped at his left shifter so his grip and front brake lever were dangling. Hmmm…. this is where I would have packed it in. Chris however, kept on racing and finished, with no front brake and his left hand grasping the center of his bar. Did that blow your mind, because that just happened. Other feats of strength (a Festivus tradition) included Big Bill pacing 1st in Clydesdale and Marni placing 3rd.

Jeanie was off on her own doing the Indian Peaks DirtFest Triahlon which sounded like a disaster. The mountain bike course she categorized as “dangerous” and the trail run could barely be described as a “trail”. Apparently the course was just recently cut, but it wasn’t cut at all, instead a few people mashed down the tall grass and put directional signs in the forest. There were impalers (branches and sticks that can impale a rider) galore, some neck level. Anyway, she was pretty bummed. A few of the Xterra pros commented that it was the hardest course they’ve ever raced, even tougher than any of the Worlds courses.

Lastly, I’ve got to share these videos. I spent most of my formative years riding freestyle bikes until switching over to mountain bikes in 1994. I still have a 1988 Haro Master sitting in my garage that I take out to one of the local skateparks once or twice a year. Anyway, these Scotty Cranmer videos left me speechless (thanks Joe):