2017 Downieville Classic: World-Class Racing, Family Spirit
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Once a year, the heart of California’s Lost Sierras beats with a pounding excitement. For a place with some 280 permanent residents, Downieville is a town that has learned to throw a major bash for visitors these three days every summer. In its 22 years, the event has grown from a hard-core race amongst friends into a destination festival experience for the whole family.
The weekend is about camping, getting into nature, enjoying the area’s famed former gold-mine trails, swimming in the river and reconnecting with old friends. For many families, a trip to Downieville is the annual summer vacation. The entire town gets involved for this familiar rush of annual visitors. It’s this vibe that brings racers and their families back time and again to this Lost Sierra Brigadoon.
Follow the rest of the story and photos at clif.downieville.pelotonmagazine.com.
Words: Bryan Yates
Images: Jordan Haggard/Crystal Haggard