Neal Kindree. KELLY SERVINSKI PHOTOS
Squamish Loc Neal Kindree wins final stage of BC Bike Race, Places third overall.
We hear a lot about home ice advantage in sports (although it didn’t help the Vancouver Canucks this year did it?) but does such a thing exist in Mountain Biking? Local rider Neal Kindree won the final stage of the 2011 BC Bike Race, held in Whistler, but he still isn’t sure.
“I knew the trail was really rocky with sharp boulders,” Neal says. “So I pumped my tires hard and was able to motor the descent and not worry about pinch flats. I made up two minutes that day, all on the downhill. Of course, I also had wins on the Sechelt and Powell River courses I had never seen before. Sometimes you just have good days.”
Victory!
Riding for Scott Bikes, Republic Bike Shop, and SRAM Neal took third overall in the BC Bike Race Epic Category, riding solo and grinding his way through 7 days and 420 kilometres of some of the best terrain the Coast Mountains have to offer.
“Day three was the toughest,” Neal says. “Day one is great, Day two you feel tired, and Day three is hard. Then it comes around, you almost get fitter and your body sheds unnecessary fat and tissues. You cycle, that is what you do every day so the body gets attuned. The top four guys were out-climbing me every day but on the trail down I was usually stronger. Once I figured out my where strengths and their weaknesses were I was able play my cards more wisely.”
This result, against some of the worlds best cross country riders, comes on the heels of another third-place finish last January in the 6-day Trans-Andes Challenge in Chile. Not too shabby considering Neal’s career was sidelined for two years due to a knee injury.
“That was tough,” says the 24-year-old. “I was getting paid to bike, was traveling with the national team and suddenly I lose my income and can’t be away doing what I wanted to do. It all just fell apart.”
Not one to wallow in self pity, Neal, who has lived in Squamish his whole life, rehabbed hard and took up rock climbing as part of the training process.
“Climbing was the first thing I was able to do that didn’t hurt,” he says. “It’s great because the quads are engaged and there is a mental aspect as well. I also started slack-lining which is great for balance and coordination. Also the meditative aspects and the focus have really helped me with my biking. A lot of time on a trail you need to be so focused and confident to be able to find speed without peddling. If you lose your train of thought it can all come crashing down pretty quick.”
The injury downtime also gave Neal a chance to reassess his equipment and he now rides with just single front gear, meaning that he is essentially competing and winning at an elite level while riding a ten-speed bike.
“When I started to race again I started to look at what was working for me and what wasn’t,” he says. “I got rid of my granny gear, then decided I didn’t need my mid range gear either. Now I don’t have that problem of shifting down up front and losing speed as I compensate by shifting at the back. I haven’t had any problems so far, as long as I am pinning it all the time it works for me.”
Neal's modification– one gear up front on his SPARK bike from Scott.
This has baffled even some of the most experienced riders but no one can argue with Neal’s results. This week Neal is off to the Canadian Nationals in Canmore and his results there will determine the rest of his season.
“I’ll come back home and do GearJammer for sure,” Neal says. “Maybe some Crankworx stuff. It’s always nice to be home in Squamish. Last year I was mountain biking, my parents were backcountry skiing, my brother was kite-boarding, my girlfriend was rockclimbing and my sister was out paddling. All on the same day, all within ten minutes of my front door. Every time I come home I realize I don’t really want to go away again.”
If that doesn’t sound like a definition of home court advantage I don’t know what does.
~ Feet Banks
Check out Neal’s Blog for updates on what he’s riding, where he’s riding it, and how hard he’s givin’er.
Neal
