Gear Grinders ride at Battle of the Base

Published 9:08 am Sunday, May 11, 2014

TACOMA – The Bainbridge Island youth mountain bike racing team, the Gear Grinders, traveled to Joint Base Lewis-McChord Sunday, April 27 to compete in their third race of the season, the “Battle at the Base.”

Both high school and middle school teams competed.

The five-mile course favors technically proficient riders and boasts quick turns, sudden changes in direction, steep descents and a particularly punishing climb near the start. High school teams completed two laps, middle school riders completed one.

The top finishing rider on the high school team was Edward Wilson, who brought home 16th place.

Fellow high school team riders Albert Ragsdale and Dylan Kartner also did well.

Ragsdale finished in 21st place and Kartner in 23rd.

The middle school team fielded nine riders, including three first-timers: Sebastian Belkin, Weston Scott and Will Robertson.

Belkin took first place in the first race of his first season.

The other riders performed well also including Sebastian Hagman (sixth place), Connor Lacroix (24th), Tyler Pickett (25th), Mac Schelbert (29th), Max Hale (30th), Aidan Meidell (32nd), Scott (33rd) and Will Robertson (34th).