Bikes Decend Pikes Peak: One Rider Takes Shortcut

After the Hill Climb, getting back to the hotel was kind of a hassle. After looking around in vain for the press bus, I just decided to hitchhike. Jeff, the guy who picked me up, had blown the motor in his KTM about halfway to the summit—he didn’t seem bothered by it—and he filled me in on exactly what it takes to get registered to take a bike up Pikes Peak. Basically, it’s an invitation-only deal. You have to submit a resume detailing your racing experience to the officials—they like a mix of dirt track, road and motocross—and if they like what they see, you can compete. Since all the guys were expert riders, I don’t think any of them was too impressed by the guy who took a shortcut across the rocks when they left, but I still thought it was dope. Oh, and sorry about the 180-degree pan, I was standing on a sketchy rock and had to spin to keep my footing.