Gear Grinders take third in year’s second mountain bike race

The Gear Grinders, Bainbridge Island’s high school and middle school mountain bike racing team, sent 41 riders to the second statewide competition of the season, The Battle at the Base, held on Joint Base Lewis–McChord trails, just outside Dupont, on Sunday, May 5.

The event is part of the four-race series of the Washington Student Cycling League, which operates mountain bike racing for girls and boys from grades 6 through 12.

The Bainbridge High School team finished third overall and placed four riders on the podium, with Kylie Turner finishing second in her category, Red Sheets finishing fifth in her category, Will Siebert finishing second in his category, and Mickie Wilkinson finishing fifth in his category.

The middle school teams placed three riders on the podium, with Jackson Stoehr, Milo Mcintosh and Jacob Spinak all taking fourth place in their categories.

The Gear Grinders had many other strong finishes overall, officials said, with two other riders (Xin Munson and Alden Lemon) finishing in sixth and seventh place, respectively, just shy of a spot on the podium.

Two injured riders couldn’t compete but spent their entire day at the race cheering on their teammates.

The team’s next race is the Roslyn Roundup on Sunday, May 19 in Roslyn.