Jeremy Benson
HOMETOWN | Milford, CT
BIO | I’d describe myself as a mountain biker. I’m out there primarily to have fun, but I really love pushing my limits of endurance. I’m also pretty competitive, so I enjoy doing a few races a year. Lately I’ve been enjoying gravel grinding and road biking a little more as well. I consider myself a goodwill ambassador for the sport and I hope to pass on my passion and knowledge of local trails to others so they can enjoy them as much as I do.
BIKE | Ibis Ripley LS
WHY DO YOU LOVE OLYMPIC BIKE SHOP? I’ve been coming to Olympic Bike Shop since 2001. I love the skilled mechanics and their ability to get repairs done promptly. I also like the great selection in the shop, and if they don’t have what you want they’re special order it for you.
FUN FACTS | I’m the published author of 2 guidebooks. Mountain Bike Tahoe and Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes: California. I also work for Outdoor Gear Lab, testing and reviewing mountain bike products.
Accomplishments
1st Place
Downieville All-Mtn World Championships
Men's Expert 31-40 | Racers compete in both the Point to Point Cross Country and the Downieville Downhill, on the SAME bike. Riders must choose their weapons wisely; a bike that climbs efficiently, descends with precision, and can handle a high-speed beat down for 46 miles on the way to victory
1st Place
Downieville Classic Cross Country
Men's Expert 31-40 | The Downieville Classic cross country race is one of the last remaining point-to-point bicycle races in the United States. The 29 mile course follows a rugged
1st Place
Downieville Classic DH
Men's Expert 31-40 | The Downieville Downhill is reserved for All-Mountain racers only, which means riders will have to earn their start time by completing the Point to Point Cross Country course the day before. Dropping 5,000 vertical feet in 15 miles from Packer Saddle to Downieville, the Downieville Downhill is the longest and most demanding downhill mountain bike race in the nation. This prestigious race course follows the paths of the Sunrise Trail, Butcher Ranch Trail, Third Divide Trail and First Divide Trail. It's big, it's bad and it's beautiful.
2nd Place
Lost and Found Gravel Grinder
Men's Expert 31-40 | The Lost & Found course features a perfect blend of pavement, dirt road, gravel road and historic railroad grade. Racers must choose their weapon wisely (road bike, cross bike or mountain bike). The route (Longest) is approximately 100 miles with 6,500' of elevation gain and is 80% dirt.
4th Place
Grinduro
Men's Expert 31-40 | Gravel Road Race + Mountain Bike-Style Enduro = one long loop of pavement and dirt, where finishing times aren’t based on overall loop time, but four timed segments (each roughly five-to-seven minutes).
2nd Place
Lost Sierra Triple Crown
Men's Expert 31-40 | The Lost & Found course features a perfect blend of pavement, dirt road, gravel road and historic railroad grade. Racers must choose their weapon wisely (road bike, cross bike or mountain bike). The route is ~100 miles with 7,000' of elevation gain and is 80% dirt.
2nd Place
Downieville Classic XC, DH and All-Mountain
Placed 2nd in all THREE races in the Expert Men 31-40 Category. The race includes a 26.5-mile cross country race and a 15-mile downhill with 5,000 vertical feet drop.
3rd Place, 12th Overall
Lost and Found Gravel Grinder 100-miles
Placed 3rd in the Expert Men 31-40 Category and 12th overall! Hosted in the wide-open and high North Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Lost and Found Gravel Grinder and Bike Ride is a grand adventure. This race includes a route that is approximately 106 miles with 8,100 vertical feet of elevation gain and is 80% dirt. Racers and riders from around the world are invited to lose themselves and find this two-wheeled paradise.
3rd Place, 9th Overall
Sagan Truckee Dirt Fondo
Placed 3rd in the Open Men 30-39 Category and 9th Overall! The Truckee Dirt Fondo is a competitive off-road bicycle race and family festival featuring the incredible dirt and gravel roads that lace their way throughout Tahoe National Forest. The race consists of three enhanced routes compared with the inaugural event, taking participants as high as 8,006 feet above sea level over Sardine Peak inside Tahoe National Forest.
5th Place
Grinduro
Placed 5th in the Men's 31-40 Category | Gravel Road Race + Mountain Bike-Style Enduro = one long loop of pavement and dirt, where finishing times aren’t based on overall loop time, but four timed segments (each roughly five-to-seven minutes).
2nd Place
Lost Sierra Triple Crown
Placed second in the Expert Men 31-40 Category. The Lost Sierra Triple Crown race series includes Lost and Found Gravel Grinder, Downieville Classic XC, and Grinduro. Racers must choose their weapon wisely (road bike, cross bike or mountain bike). The route is ~100 miles with 7,000' of elevation gain and is 80% dirt.
