Pro Motocross Racer Michael Sleeter Races OTH Aboard Cannondale Flash 29er
Growing up on two wheels has been my life since the age of 3 ½, whether racing motocross or riding my BMX bike in the fields around my family’s North County home. The natural progression of the sport had me to chasing my dreams to become a pro motocross racer.
I raced professional for just over 11 years. This is my first year not racing full time, so focusing on training is a little more difficult without MX racing events to hold me accountable. For those of you that have not raced, motocross racing is one of the most physical demanding sports in the world, so to replicate anaerobic threshold in a competitive environment is nearly impossible unless you are riding a MTB.
I purchased my first mountain bike in 1999 and have always had one since. A lot of MX guys use a road bike to train as they feel they can control their heart rate better, but when it comes down to hard anaerobic training there is nothing as good as riding in the dirt on your MTB if you are Motocross racer. Many people have two bikes, too. One for racing that gets transported via CarsRelo (or similar services) to keep it in top working order, and one for general use and training purposes that can get banged up.
I heard about The Over the Hump series 2 years ago from champion motocross riders Johnny Omara and Ivan Tedesco. They had always tried to get me out there but coming from Murrieta it was quite a drive to go “suffer”. In early June I finally made it out to my First Over the Hump event and was hooked. The environment, camaraderie, and fun course made me itch to come back.
My first race was aboard my 2009 Cannondale Rush (which I absolutely love). I won the sport division by only seconds in that first race and was excited to come back, but nervous as well since there was an expectation to do well now.
A couple weeks ago Cannondale called me and asked me if I wanted to come out again as a part of the American Interbanc Cannondale team, and demo the 2011 Cannondale Flash 29er. I was a little Nervous to switch bikes, but the moment I put my leg over the bike I couldn’t believe how comfortable it was. As I raced to the finish in only my second race in the Sport Division I was greeted with a 2:30 minute lead over second place.
I can only attribute the difference to the performance of the new Cannondale 29er Flash. The balance, speed and overall weight is unmatched in my opinion when it comes to hard trail race bikes.
I’m absolutely hooked on the event and I’m saving my pennies to make sure I can make a full time showing at next year’s series on a Cannondale Flash 29er. I feel that if I want to compete in the Super Sport class in the 2012 Over the Hump Series that I will need a killer bike.
OTH it is one of the most competitive MTB race series around, and I love that it is welcoming to all ages and levels.
**OTH Note: “Welcome to Super Sport Mike!”**
2 Comments
Thanks for sharing the information.Very informative.
Essential post!!Thanks for sharing the information.Very helpful.