Happy hump day. I figure we’re due for a Baja break and I want to talk about some history after posting up an old photo on FB of the Leadville trail 100 MTB race.
Leadville isn’t my thing, but it is a right of passage for all cyclists to want to attempt at some point in their cycling journey. I did Leadville twice. One of those years was 2005 apparently, thanks to Scot Banks. I thought it was 2004, but 2004 was when I won my National Championship title, single speed. The more I think of those years the more I realize and am relieved to have had them, and maybe more importantly, who I shared them with. Big Jonny, Rubelt, and many others who I would consider as original DC crew.
I would have done Leadville only once but I shit my pants on Columbine the first go, so Snake let me slide a waiver into his race entry again and I got in, riding his coattails for a second year. The event was big then, definitely nothing like what we’re seeing these days tho, with coverage and notoriety; but I guess we, with Wiens leading it in those years, and Snake absolutely digging the deepest I have ever seen a guy dig, to get second, (if I recall, many consecutive times) were making the history, as many have, for Leadville to become what it is today. It was an incredible privilege to be able to sit on the wheels of Dave and Jake and many others, for half the race. Snake raced leadville at the highest level for ten years, but Wiens was the man of the hour at the same time.
I would complete my second attempt in 8:28 and change. Good enough. I got the buckle and retired from leadville happily forever. I am a little unsure, but I think the boys at the front back then were running sub 7:20 times. Imagine that, and realize these days that Keegan Swenson is finishing around 5:50. Incredible advancements in everything. I digress.
In this pic, left to right in yellow, each: Dave Wiens, Snake, Big Jonny, yours truly.
