40th Anniversary of Firt Repack Race
10-26-16, 11:06 AM
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40th Anniversary of Firt Repack Race
October 21 marked the 40th anniversary of the day I went with a half-dozen friends to the top of a steep hill near Fairfax, to decide for all time who was the fastest downhill on one of our modified "klunkers." The event started something instead of ending anything.
Joe Breeze's son Tommy put out an Instagram announcing the ride at 9:00 a.m. After some discussion among ourselves we changed that to 10. The rangers who monitor our activity on social media didn't know about the change though, and a lonely officer was stationed at the top of Repack at 9, when nobody was there. We passed him on his way out as I approached with a couple of friends shortly before 10. We had the place to ourselves with no official presence.
Half the crew of 12 came on one-speed, coaster brake bikes, including former racers Otis Guy, Marc Vendetti, Jerry Heidenreich and Joe Breeze. I was the only one present who had taken part in the original race.
So we met at the top, hung around for half an hour and toasted the anniversary in traditional style, then sent Joe off first so he didn't ride up our backs. Riding full suspension and disc brakes I passed Otis Guy on a downhill for the first time in my life. See photos below of his smoking Morrow brake. There is a reason we called it "Repack."
For a few of us in attendance, our lives were changed forever by our experiences here, particularly me and Joe. This is the place that inspired us to improve the machinery from 40-year old plumbing to modern frame design. I have been down the hill so many times I know it better than I know my back yard. It is almost a meditation on the last 40 years when I ride there.
That evening the Marin Museum of Bicycling/MTB Hall of Fame threw a celebration of the anniversary, with beer and barbecue.
Overheated grease drips onto Otis Guy's rim
Smoke billows from a cooked coaster brake.
Otis Guy, Jerry Heidenreich and Joe Breeze compare one-speed bikes.
1979 Cook Brothers frame with Cook Brothers cranks.
Otis.
Joe Breeze's son Tommy put out an Instagram announcing the ride at 9:00 a.m. After some discussion among ourselves we changed that to 10. The rangers who monitor our activity on social media didn't know about the change though, and a lonely officer was stationed at the top of Repack at 9, when nobody was there. We passed him on his way out as I approached with a couple of friends shortly before 10. We had the place to ourselves with no official presence.
Half the crew of 12 came on one-speed, coaster brake bikes, including former racers Otis Guy, Marc Vendetti, Jerry Heidenreich and Joe Breeze. I was the only one present who had taken part in the original race.
So we met at the top, hung around for half an hour and toasted the anniversary in traditional style, then sent Joe off first so he didn't ride up our backs. Riding full suspension and disc brakes I passed Otis Guy on a downhill for the first time in my life. See photos below of his smoking Morrow brake. There is a reason we called it "Repack."
For a few of us in attendance, our lives were changed forever by our experiences here, particularly me and Joe. This is the place that inspired us to improve the machinery from 40-year old plumbing to modern frame design. I have been down the hill so many times I know it better than I know my back yard. It is almost a meditation on the last 40 years when I ride there.
That evening the Marin Museum of Bicycling/MTB Hall of Fame threw a celebration of the anniversary, with beer and barbecue.
Overheated grease drips onto Otis Guy's rim
Smoke billows from a cooked coaster brake.
Otis Guy, Jerry Heidenreich and Joe Breeze compare one-speed bikes.
1979 Cook Brothers frame with Cook Brothers cranks.
Otis.
10-26-16, 12:02 PM
#2
Woman make me faster
That's a really cool story, that over heated grease reminds me of the many stupid things I did as a kid. It can be a lot of fun remembering those old experiences, thanks for Shari g this.
10-26-16, 02:13 PM
#3
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You know you guys were all nuts, right? But thank heaven you were, because you gave the world something really cool. 
10-27-16, 05:20 AM
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Yeah, thanks Repack Rider! You guys are American cycling legends!
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