El Paso Puzzler
Done with that!
Mike P, aka iMike, Beto and Paula (become an Aggressor?)ventured to El Paso for some mountain bike sufferfest on single speeds.
From Mountainflyer Magazine: Singlespeeders Cameron Brenneman (Sante Fe, NM) andBeto Villegas (Sierra Vista, AZ) blitzed the 1600′ Mundy’s Gap climb along with 40-49 winner Kenny Wehn (Colavita – Durango, CO) and 19-29 winner Sem Gallegos (Crazy Cat Cyclery – Austin, TX) close behind the lead threesome of Plews, Brown, and Chavez. On the west side of the Franklin range, Brown plowed through the infamous granite rock slide to regain the lead. At about mile 30, Plews regained contact and later took control up the final major climb of the day, a 350′ foot grind up a newly finished set of 12 switchbacks.
Plews, coming off double pneumonia just before the holidays, went on to take the win in 4:38 with Brown about four minutes back. Moving into 3rd position was Brenneman who pushed a 32×19 on his 29er. Villegas and Gallegos rounded out the top five. In the women’s race local Susanne Rasmussen took the win in 6:24 with single speeder Paula Bohte (Sierra Vista, AZ) coming through in second. Alex Castro (Bicycle Co.- El Paso, TX) was the top finisher in the shorter 35 mile men’s event and Diana Almeida (El Paso, TX) took the women’s 35 miler.
iMike would battle mechanicals but get it done nonetheless. Next up for iM: 24 hour, solo…
