Team MotionBased

From the Gold Rush 150 years ago to today, not much has changed in Downieville. Most of those who arrive with visions of glory end up shattered instead. For those who endured the Gold Rush, a few came out rich while others fought for their lives. Today, while not so severe, the Downieville XC and DH races echo some of the same themes. The Jamis/MotionBased crew arrived firing on 1/2 their cylinders. Dave, who later would find a respiratory infection to blame, was laid out, and he had some of his top form going for this race. Olivier arrived a week early to recon the course on his XAM, feeling that the bike and the conditions were favoring a personal best for the All-Mountain Pro competition. Shadey had opted out due to familial obligations, but his kiwi spirit was there anyway. Kenny was about to put together a stellar weekend. The thing about Downieville, at least for mountain bikers, is that it is never kind. It is a brutal place. The environment is hot and dusty, the trails are packed with sharp-edged, embedded, tire-shredding rocks, and the consequences for failure are often severe. Aside from the climb on the XC, there is hardly a moment when a rider can let down their guard; even if the trail is smooth, there may be a 30 foot cliff only inches away. You can lose sleep thinking about it. Of course when you are focused it is possible to push the limits of speed, traction, and one's cardiovascular system in the elusive pursuit of Sierra Gold. But to put it all together requires a combination of focus, talent, equipment, and luck. Add to that some more luck. And new tires. Having never flatted in the two previous years at the race (and never in all of the rides done in the area), Olivier used all of his hard earned karma points to pierce his tires, as well as his results, with four flats in two days of racing. 3 flat tires in the XC took him out of contention for the All Mountain Pro comp. A flat tire early in the DH spelled DNF: never a good thing. With the time spent in preparation for this event it is simply a disappointment to fall, well, flat. Kenny pulled things together for two days to finish 4th in the All-Mountain Pro competition.