MOUNTAIN BIKING : As Speeds Increase, Concerns Do Too

Leigh Donovan of Orange considers herself a helmet freak. As one of the country’s best downhill mountain bike racers, she must take precautions while living on the edge. Most of her fellow competitors do, as well.

Dressed in ample layers of protective gear, cyclists at the Grundig World Cup downhill Saturday at the Snow Summit ski area looked like a fleet of neoprene-clad Mighty Morphin Rangers as they descended a precipitous course at speeds of more than 40 m.p.h.

Most made it through unscathed, but as downhill racing has evolved into a highly specialized segment of mountain biking--one that has become the entertainment focal point of any weekend competition--there has been pressure on the riders to go even faster.

That has left some wondering if promoters aren’t going a bit too fast themselves.

“Greed has taken over the whole sport,” said Donovan, who finished third in the women’s downhill behind winner Elke Brutsaert of Durango, Colo., and Regina Stiefl of Germany. “They’re looking for ways to make money; they’re not looking out for the riders.”

Donovan, 24, does not take many chances on the dusty, dirt courses. Others, while recognizing they are being pushed perhaps too far, have a more capricious attitude.

“That’s what viewers want to see,” said Jake Watson, 21, of Agoura Hills, who was unable to compete Saturday because he broke a finger after crashing into a metal fence at 30 m.p.h. two weeks ago at Mammoth Mountain.

“I’ll do what it takes. I don’t care what they put in front of me [for jumps]. It doesn’t matter what speed.”

Still, Watson and others were talking about the recreational rider who died after crashing at Mammoth and suffering massive head injuries. Such incidents might not be enough to encourage them to slow down, but it was a dose of reality.

“Full-face helmets should be mandatory for any racer,” Donovan said.

Tammy Jacques-Grewal, a cross-country cyclist from Carbondale, Colo., said the National Off-Road Bicycle Assn. (NORBA), should institute course standards for the downhill as well mandatory safety equipment.

“I could never think of going downhill,” she said.

Most cross-country riders don’t. Only John Tomac of Durango competes in each discipline successfully.

Tomac finished ninth Saturday, trailing the world’s leading downhillers. Mike King of Chula Vista won, followed by Brian Lopes of Mission Viejo and defending world champion Francois Gachet of France.

“Cross-country guys don’t have the attitude to go downhill 50 m.p.h.,” said Philip Milburn, executive director of NORBA.

Milburn said 90% of the downhill riders wear full-faced helmets, and most wear padding like motocross racers. He said officials are not concerned with their safety, but with that of amateurs who might try to emulate them.

“Design of the course is not an issue,” he said. “Racers will race what is given.”

But design of the bikes is, Donovan said, because the technology in the past year has surpassed the competitors’ skill level. She was referring to the latest advances in suspension or shock absorbers. Bikes now come equipped with twice the suspension of last year’s models. This offers smoother rides and even faster descents.

“The company tells you a week before the race they’ve got a prototype and they want you on it all season,” Donovan said. “If you don’t know how to use it, it could hurt you.”

Still, there are those such as Mercedes Gonzales of Mission Viejo who are unfazed by the dangers.

“It doesn’t bother me,” said Gonzales, 32, a recent convert from motocross, who finished fourth Saturday. “I like the speeds. I like the fear factor and the risk-taking.”