A look back at the Deziels' mountain biking prowess

By C. Scott Holland

LEAMINGTON — Back in 1989, mountain biking was a relatively new sport. And in that year, one Leamington man, who had spent much of his life as a teen and adult involved in motocross racing, switched sports.

As he reached the age of 40, Chris Deziel realized he could no longer compete against kids who were half his age or younger. So he quit and adapted his skills to a similar sport.

He had begun mountain biking a few years prior and that had turned into a full time fitness hobby. Soon his wife, Karen joined him. “It’s a totally different kind of workout,” Chris said. “It’s a lot harder.”

As an added benefit, it was something that they both could do.

At the time, Karen noted, “He applied his motocross skills, which made it easy for him while I had never done things like jumping over logs with bikes. Chris enrolled me in a school in Vermont with professionals to teach me.”

Initially for both of them, it was just for fun, but soon it became a serious sport.

Much of the summer of 1989 was spent competing in torturous, difficult mountain bike competitions, one of which was the 1989 World Mountain Bike Championship held at Mammoth Mountain, California.

Tom Omstead, Sue Omstead, Karen Deziel and Chris Deziel out on the trails.

Photo courtesy of the Scott Holland Collection

A total of 120 men entered the event in the 30 years and older category and Chris placed 50th. In the women’s 26 and older category, Karen had a 9th place showing out of 31 entered. In the Kamikaze Downhill which was a race down the 11,000 ft. mountain as fast as possible, Chris finished 50th and Karen was 12th.

After 10 summer races, Karen captured first-place at an Addison Oaks, Michigan event.

Weekly practices took up about 14 hours, as well as traveling twice per week to Pontiac, Michigan to train on the ski slopes.

Locally, they had a 10-mile loop north of Talbot Road West and also used the Ridge hill and often had Tom and Sue Omstead along with them.

The Omsteads’ participation was purely for fun and the fitness.

Chris noted that there was a huge difference in real mountain bikes and the ones bought in local stores.

“The real mountain bikes have to endure the torture with thick tires for riding both on and off road, have straight handle bars and thicker frames,” he said. “There are also lower speeds for hill climbing and short mountain bikes built for durability, rough and difficult terrain.”

The Deziels admitted the sport can be dangerous and advised that the danger comes in not knowing how to handle and control the bike. There is need for safety equipment as well — proper helmets, gloves and eye wear.

“It’s a really great sport,” Karen said. “A wonderful form of fitness and lots of fun.”