Some might call Ariel Lindsley a throwback from mountain-bike racing’sgolden age, when riders split their time equally between the downhill andcross-country bikes. Others might call him the most versatile mountain-bikeracer in the country. Either way, Lindsley races as a pro in gravity andcross-country events, and the chops to duke it out with the nation’s bestriders in each.

Lindsley spent a good amount of 2007 racing on Colorado’sMountain States Cup, and also hit the brand new RockyMountain G3. The latter series brought the stage-race format todownhill racing: riders completed two downhill and one Super D runs overthe course of three days. Lindsley believes the challenging format providesthe kick in the butt that American downhillers need to step up to the sport’sinternational level.Velonews.com: Racing three individual gravity races in one weekend— how does that change your bike setup approach from a normal one-and-donedownhill weekend?Ariel Lindsley: I think the [Rocky Mountain G3] format forcesyou to make quicker decisions on your bike setup. As a downhiller, yoursetup is so important for each race — there’s a lot of tweaking that goesinto every downhill or Super D race you do. At a G3 you have to have yourequipment prepared for each race, but you don’t get to do a ton of practiceruns. You have to get everything dialed in really quickly.VN: Can you make it through the weekend with just one bike?AL: That’s debatable. The Super D is more downhill than traditionalSuper D races so you can get away with doing it on your downhill bike.A good seven-inch or six-inch bike could be good for that race.VN: How does the racing format change things for you physically?AL: It makes you ride downhill all weekend. Downhill isn’t justone run — you’re doing practice runs and walking the course. At a regulardownhill, you get your practice in and dial in your lines and then chill.At a [G3] there’s a lot of practice to be done on three courses. Physicallyat the end of the weekend everyone is really tired. Your hands and forearmsare shot, and your entire body is tired because downhilling is really physical.It’s hard work. You’re getting physically pushed in every way duringa run. You’re pedaling these big heavy bikes and accelerating them outof turns a lot. You do a Super D and you’re tired from that. Muscles getsore that most cross-country racers never even notice.VN: How does the added physical challenge change the racing?AL: The guy who wins is the most consistent rider over the threeraces, not just the guy who hangs it out there for one run. I think it’sgood — the guys who do the best are the fittest, most skilled guys. That’swhat the G3 brings out. But you look at all of the best guys in the world,guys like Sam Hill and Jared Graves, and they have great fitness — theycan maintain that level of intensity over a longer period of time. I thinkthat too many American gravity riders aren’t interested in doing anythingwith pedaling. I heard some guys mumbling and grumbling about the SuperD because you had to pedal so much. But in the long run that’s only goingto make American downhillers better. Everyone is so beat up and tired bythe end you can barely step up on the podium.You can read more about the Rocky Mountain G3 series in the upcomingVeloNews issue # 20.

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1300+ riders head to EAS 24-Hours of Moab
The country’s largest 24-hour mountain-bike race, the EAS-sponsored24-Hours of Moab, is set to kick off this weekend, October 13-14 in Moab,Utah. As of press time, 1367 riders were registered for the event.In 2006, a freak thunderstorm, flooding and near-freezing temperaturesforced riders off of their bikes after only eight hours of the 12th annualrace. Riders remounted at 9 a.m. only to have organizers vote not to startthe solo competition.Coloradan Nat Ross (Subaru-Gary Fisher) was ahead when the race wascalled, and took the victory ahead of fellow Coloradan Josh Tostado (Giant).
Ross and Tostado are back for 2007, and so is six-time 24-solo worldchampion Chris Eatough (Trek-Volkswagen). Eatough opted not to contestSeptember’s 24-Hours of Adrenaline world championships in Monterey, California,to instead focus his attention on the Moab race.The men’s solo race carries a prize purse worth $7100, with $3500 goingto the winner. For live updates from the race, go to www.grannygear.com.Rocky Mountain G3 Series concludes in New Mexico
The third round of the inaugural Rocky Mountain G3 gravity series concludedin Angel Fire, New Mexico, with Coloradans Kain Leonard and Lisa Myklaktaking wins in the pro division.The G3 events consist of a downhill and Super D race on Saturday followedby a longer downhill on Sunday. The rider with the fastest cumulative timethrough the three events wins.On Saturday, October 6 riders first tackled the Santa Cruz Alpha Downhill,with Leonard taking the win ahead of Todd Olsen, winner of the second G3round in Sol Vista, Colorado. Mykalk took a 22-second advantage over ArizonanJackie Harmony.The day’s second stage, the Maverick Bikes Beta Super D, it was againLeonard taking the win, this time ahead of Coloradan Nate Hills. Harmonycut 12 seconds out of Mykalk’s advantage by winning the women’s Super D.Leonard completed the sweep at Sunday’s Yeti Cycles World Cup downhill,which was held on the same course used for Angel Fire’s round of the UCIWorld Cup in 2005. For the overall win, Leonard pocketed $1500. Myklakagain bested Harmony and Coloradan Abby Hippely in the third stage, andtook home $900 in prize winnings.Bear Naked-Cannondale looking for riders
The Bear Naked-Cannondale professional and amateur mountain-bike racingteam is looking for riders to fill its 2008 roster. The team has sponsoredboth gravity and endurance racers since 1996, and helped launch the careersof Shonny Vanlandingham, Tom Danielson, Dara Marks-Marino, Amber Neben,Kashi Leuchs and Jimena Florit, among others.To apply, visit www.cannondale.com.