Ned Overend started mountain biking in the early ’80s and was a pioneer in getting the sport recognised around the world through video and his aerobic endurance at altitude.
He went on to compete in all types of races and competitions, including Ironmans, and here talks to us about some of his most memorable successes.
Read on to find out more about the new craze of gravel road racing and what keeps Ned motivated to continue his advocacy for the sport he loves.
Could you tell us who got your started in mountain biking and where you first enjoyed the sport?
In 1983 I was living in Durango County and racing road bikes while working in a bike shop. I had raced motorcyles off road previously so when mountain bikes first started appearing in bike shops it was an opportunity to mix my road bike fitness with my motocross handling skills.
Photo Philip Beckman/PB Creative Photo. http://www.pbcreativephoto.com
When did things start to get serious and what is your first memory of a competition?
In 1984 mtn bike racing was growing fast, I raced the Pacific Suntour Series (five races on the West Coast, California, Oregon, Washington), won the overall and landed a small sponsorship deal with Schwinn.
Could you tell us more about your appearance in the world’s first mountain biking video, The Great Mountain Biking Video?
I don’t remember that specific video. I appeared in several race videos in the early days. I made a how-to video in the early ’90s called Performance Mountain Biking.
Could you tell us about your career in pro mountain biking and some of your biggest achievements?
I won the first UCI world championships in 1990
Three World Cup races in Europe. It’s always hard to win in Europe because of the large aggressive fields.
I’ve won the US cross country nationals six times.
I won the X-terra Mtn Bike Triathlon World Champs in ’98 and ’99.
I won the US single speed nationals in 2010.
I am the 2015 Fat Bike national champ (that’s a mountain bike on snow race).
I won the Omnium in the Ironhorse classic this year.
Click here to read more about Ned competing in the Iron Horse Classic.
Photo Philip Beckman/PB Creative Photo. http://www.pbcreativephoto.com
When did you make the move to endurance racing and what has some of your successes in that area of the sport been?
I generally race in events that are one to three hours long and only occasionally do races of four to five hours. I competed in a few Ironmans in the early eighties but I prefer to train hard for a couple hours as opposed to long endurance rides, swims and runs, so I wont be doing anymore Ironmans.
I started racing track and cross country running in high school and found I was better at the distance events.
Photo Philip Beckman/PB Creative Photo. http://www.pbcreativephoto.com
How are you currently spending your time and do you have any exciting projects on the go?
I work for Specialized Bicycles in sports marketing and product development. I race mountain bikes, road bikes, Cyclocross and now fat bikes on snow.
In a couple weeks I will be racing a gravel road race in Vermont. Gravel road racing is blowing up in the US and we want to be in touch with what the riders need for this sport.
Photo Philip Beckman/PB Creative Photo. http://www.pbcreativephoto.com
What is it that has kept you so passionate about mountain biking and how often are you currently riding?
I ride five to six days a week on a variety of bikes. I love the equipment and being part of developing performance product. Racing and riding hard is the best only way to evaluate our racing oriented product.
I’ve been careful not to over-train and am generally trying to take care of my body and I not do too many races.
I still get some results and am able to race at a pretty high level – that keeps me motivated.
