The 2011 Gathering of Overly Competitive People Summer Ride

[fourthmeal]

June 30, 2011



What happens when you get pro hillclimbers, pro freeriders, ride instructors, industry experts and a hillbilly with a camera together for a summer ride? Well, after three broke or bent sleds, buried trucks and getting off the mountain after sunset (in June), most would say that all hell breaks lose. But honestly, it was a pretty typical ride for these guys.

This year's ride was over June 30 and July 1, near Afton, WY. On Day One it rained. It hailed so badly that you swore your face was bleeding. It was so hot and sunny you wanted to to stick you head in a waterfall and sit in a dark closet for an hour to rest your eyeballs. And that was all within seven hours on the mountain.



July 1, 2011



Day 2 was high 80s and sun. Dust, mud, rivers, logs and snow. Riding bikes with this group is enough to make you take up knitting.

Most of the crew from the sled ride came back for the dirt ride. Plus a few new additions. The first half of the day was total hillclimbing carnage. Bikes looping out, the sound of cracking plastic ringing down the canyon, guys nearly being run over. And then, on the afternoon single-track mountain ride, things got interesting. Apparently taking fellow snowmobile competitors away from sleds and sticking them on bikes is like taking sticks away from fighting kids and handing them aluminum bats.




I'll keep posting pictures over the next several days. Stay tuned... Happy 4th.

[fourthmeal]

Dan Adams