Reviving The Racing Spirit
Back in the day (mid-late 90s) I embarked on a 2 wheel mission that would dominate my life and last almost 15 years. What started as a hobby and a way to feel freedom again turned into a deep-rooted passion and obsession. That mission was downhill mountain bike racing.
I was lucky to start with everyone else; on a slightly modified 3-inch cross-country bike with harsh rear suspension but fortunate enough to end a decade and a half of riding on an eight-inch travel machine that could descend a ski slope with ease.
Racing DH from the inception of the sport developed a tribal vibe.
My last race was in 2009 at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia. It was a rough year, suffering broken ribs twice and a divorce—time to hang it up.
Fast forward 14 years.
I have been riding dirtbikes for four years, with a few medium-distance adventures and an epic to Baja riding 22 days and 3K miles. Each season, the bike and gear get lighter, and the sessions get faster and faster.
Time to race.
You can 'feel' fast, but how do you really know? Sure, riding buddies will probably never tell you one way or another; they just fall behind in line, and the faster guys of the group naturally gravitate to lead. But is this a way to gauge speed and progress?
No!
You have to race. So, I did. On October 8th I entered the Bull Gulch Enduro in Texas Creek, Colorado, put on by the Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit (RMEC). An organization older than the hills and known for first-class races and circuits. Hell, they have three guys selected for ISDE this year. It's the only club in the country to send that many riders.
RMEC is top-notch.
Having spent 14 years on the race scene in DH MTB, I knew the drill. Rituals, checklists, rider prep, etc. Unfortunately, all that previous knowledge earned went right out the damn window. Racing Enduro MOTO and mountain bikes are totally different animals, and I was anxious to start the race and even more anxious to finish.
Looking back, a number of mistakes were made before and during the race. It's amazing what you can learn in such little time. But overall, the race left me wanting more, and finishing first in my class (50+ C) was a great way to reintroduce myself to racing, but this time with a twist: the Moto.
What I loved the most about the Bull Gulch Enduro was the scene and the riding. That's what we all want, right? Something about the quality of people attracted to racing and dirtbikes that's hard to beat. And you know, when you do a race, there's no getting lost, and the track should be top-notch. Bull Gulch had hill climbs, sand tracks, single tracks, steep descents, and lots of elevation change. Just perfect.
Now that the offseason is here, training in earnest has started for 2024. Had my fitness level been where it should have been, the race would have been even more enjoyable, and my overall position would have been way better than 150th. But there's next year.
I am counting the days.
Until next time,
Markus