Mt Van Hoevenberg, New York — It’s been raining all morning in Upstate New York. Two riders make their way down Main Street, peeling out of Lake Placid and hooking a left over to the World Cup venue. The dripping rain and road spray from passing vehicles does not seem to bother them.
I’m glad that I’m in a dry vehicle. Before you get to Mt Van Hoevenberg, you first pass the ski jumps. Two towers poke out of the autumnal forest, a sign of the athletic infrastructure that attracts athletes and fans across a handful of sports and in all seasons.
Lake Placid hosted the 1980 Winter Olympic Games and continues to host national and international events. I’m here for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, the only round in the USA this year and the first time the circuit has visited Lake Placid.
After the rain abided, I ventured outside the media center and into the race paddock. Riders suited up and headed out onto the saturated course, mud the consistency of a chocolate milkshake. The course looks likely to dry out by race day, but riders don’t waste precious practice time (and must practice riding the course in all conditions).
Those that have been following this newsletter know what I like to write about—athletes, racing, news, and behind-the-scenes stories. That’s exactly what I plan on bringing you this week from Lake Placid, interviewing riders and staff face-to-face, smelling the loamy soil on course and witnessing the pain, glory, and everything in-between first-hand.
You may notice that there aren’t as many mountain bike publications as there used to be. I’m hoping to fix that, but it costs money. That’s why I’ve recently opened up paid subscriptions for Ryan MTB. For $10/month or $100/year, you’ll receive exclusive content about your favorite athletes and from the biggest events in off-road cycling. Paid subscribers get 2x articles per week at minimum. Free subscribers only get the 1 free article I post per week.
And yes, the most interesting and juicy details go to paid subscribers only.
What makes me special? I’ve been around the cycling world for about a decade, as a racer, participant, fan, and industry member. As a journalist, I’ve written for top cycling publications such as Velo (formerly VeloNews), CyclingTips (RIP), Escape Collective, Cyclingnews, and many more, writing about the sport’s top stories and characters.
I love the sports of mountain biking and gravel cycling, and I know there are more cool stories and compelling things happening on a daily basis than what the current media landscape shows us. That’s why I’ve spent the time starting Ryan MTB, and I hope you’ll join me.
Tomorrow I’m going to interview as many people as possible for stories that will appear here and elsewhere. Then the U23 short track races take place before the rest of the racing this weekend.
I’ll be here reporting on the action, and I don’t plan to stop anytime soon.