Sunday, October 11, 1998 -- Richwood
Mountain Color Mountain Bike Race

[Coverage/Recap w/Pics] [Results] [Pictures Set 1] [Pictures Set 2]

Getting started with the Mountain Color

It was a beautiful fall morning, a perfect setting for the 11th Annual Mountain Color Mountain Bike Race, in the Monongahela National Forest a few miles east of Richwood, WV. With the trees just beginning to show some of their autumn colors, the bikes gathered to challenge the scenic trails that were often covered with a layer of fallen leaves. The course began with a short three-mile loop that sent the riders out and up a service road before sending then back down the single-track to head back by the start finish. From here the riders continued down hill as they began the second eight-mile loop. This route continued down hill for a while before hitting a long slow climb on an old fire road. Eventually the path headed back onto single-track for several miles of mostly descents back to the finish. Expert and sport riders were required to do this eight-mile loop a second time.

The Mountain Color Man, Clinton Pinkert

In the field of riders, it was Expert racer Clinton Pinkert who showed everyone around the forest. Pinkert took the lead early and never looked back as he completed the 19-mile course in a time of 1:31. Drew Smithberger, who moved up from the Sport class to get his first taste of the Expert ranks, settled into second place and finished with a time of 1:39. In the Sport competition, also racing 19 miles, Afif Hanna came out on top with a finishing time of 1:51.

Of the racers doing the 11 mile version of the course, Junior Sport rider Brady Campbell rode a strong race to finish first in a time of just 56 minutes. It was nice to see the first four finishers in this group coming from four different classes. Second was Gus Hovanski (1:00), first Clydesdale, third was Pat Bryant (1:01), first Veteran, and fourth was Nick Walker (1:03) first Men's Beginner. Also completing a nice performance was Regina Carrico (1:29) who was the only woman with enough of an adventurous spirit to take on the challenge of the day's race.

Regina Carrico rides without a rival

Awards and refreshment were handed out after the race which included great sweat-shirts for all competitors and free entry fees for next year's Ballyhoo 'n Hullabaloo, Richwood's spring MTB race. Thanks go out to the Richwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the Gauley Ranger District, and all the volunteers. And of course it would not be possible without great sponsors like Four Seasons Outfitters and Adventure Sports, Country Lane Florists and Antiques, Cranberry Wilderness Outfitters, Fenwick Technologies, Inc., Moose Lodge 770, C & S Restaurant, Anthony's Gateway Restaurant & Lounge, State Farm Insurance, and The Richwood Furniture Company.