Looking Back Now: I think the Snow Mountain Bike race that I did in the X-games ranks up there as one of the top 10 of the gayest events that I’ve ever competed in. The whole race & event was goofy. But I couldn’t really complain too much seeing as it was still an all expense paid trip to a Southern California ski resort (Big Bear) for the weekend.
I remember this was where I met Shaun Palmer for the first time. Some dude was talking to me in the X-Games registration trailer. He knew my name, but I didn’t recognize him. Then as I was walking out, I was like “Yo, nice to talk with ya. What’s your name?” He said “Shaun Palmer.” Classic.
Photo: 65MPH in my underwear. The ESPN head honchos weren’t too psyched when I did my run in my own version of a “skinsuit.” At least they didn’t kick me out this time…
1997 - ESPN Winter X-Games Snow Mountain Bike Downhill. By Todd Lyons
Jul 03, 2008
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Actual Journal Entry February 1, 1997: I did my 2 “straight down” downhill runs in the morning. My top speed was 65.37 MPH. I got 19th place, but only the top 15 qualified. I was only 1.5 MPH away from qualifying. I did my runs in my underwear (my own skinsuit!) and that’s all I was wearing. I didn’t wear any pads except for my knee brace. Funny! The ESPN people got kind of mad at me. Oh wells. I went back to our condo & changed into normal clothes & then met up with Steve Peat (UK MTB pro) & others & went back up the mountain & watched some other events & drank some beer. At night, we went to a sports bar & watched the X-Games on TV & then to another bar with all of the athletes. These mountain bike people are kind of square. Definitely not as fun as the normal X-Games with all the BMXers.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.