Ear to the ground

“They should serve Pepto smoothies at the fair.”

– Local woman relfecitng on the lethal mix of carnival rides and midway food.

Mud, mud, mud

Living up to its reputation as one of the most challenging 100-mile mountain bike races in the country, the 5th annual Durango MTB took place last Saturday at Purgatory, amid frequent downpours and epic mud.

Riders from throughout the country competed for the chance to be crowned champ of either the 100-mile, 100k or 50k course, which took adantgae of some of the most grueling terrain in the San Juans.

 “The event brought pro mountain bikers in addition to weekend warriors,” said Race Director Will Newcomer.  “Fortunately, Mother Nature cooperated more this year than in year’s past with no rain at least during the start of the race.”

The 100-mile course, more than 6,000 feet per lap.  Held on, the course traversed some of the most spectacular scenery in Colorado.

In the Pro Men’s division for the 100 mile course, which covered more than 18,500 feet in elevation gain on singletrack, doubletrack and four-wheel drive roads, Durango’s own Greg Lewis took top honors,  finishing in 10 hours and 30 minutes. Second place went to teammate Miles Venzara, with a time of 11 hours and 3 minutes, and third place went to Kevin Riseborough, of Chandler, Ariz., who finished in a time of 11 hours and 13 minutes. Special kudos also go to the only singlespeeder to complete the 100 miles, Nathan Friedman.

“The MTB 100 is the definitive test of toughness and perseverance in mountain biking,” said Newcomer.  “No matter how you tackle those 100 miles or just push yourself through the shorter course, there’s nothing quite like it.  There’s a true sense of accomplishment for all competitors when they cross the finish line.”  

Alas, no one has broke the 9-hour record on the 100-mile course, despite the $500 cash bonus.

‘Z, Y, X ...’

Better take the bike this weekend. Or better yet, drink at home. A surprise sobriety checkpoint will be coming to a road near you this weekend, courtesy the Colorado State Patrol and Durango Police Department.

According to the State Patrol, last year in Colorado, 41 percent of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol, resulting in the deaths of 217 people – six of which occurred in La Plata County. Summertime is the deadliest time for alcohol-related crashes in Colorado, with 38 percent of fatal alcohol-related crashes occurring from June - September.

“This is fair warning for all motorists to make responsible choices by planning ahead and designating a sober driver or getting a ride home from a sober friend of family member,” said Captain Gini England of the Colorado State Patrol. “If you choose to drive after drinking, you will get caught and arrested.  on’t ruin your summer.”

 This weekend’s sobriety checkpoint is a prelude to a nationwide DUI crackdown that begins Aug. 17 and runs through Labor Day.