Brasil ride 2011 is a 7 day mountain bike stage race starting Oct 23 to Chapada Diamantia National Park, Brasil.
The park is the size of the Netherlands and located in a remote part of Bahia state, a 7 hour bus ride from Salvador, Brazil. The ride has two base camps. The first is in Mucuge where the race starts and finishes. Stage 2 races to Rio de Contas where stages 3-6 are run. Mucuge is a thriving, old historic agricultural town. Rio de Contas is in the heart of the waterfall area of the national park.
Brian and I competed in the Brasil ride 6 day MTB stage race in 2010. We were lucky to win the mixed teams. Our win was rewarding yet it was a small part of the experience.
It was our first time competing as a team. Brian is faster than me and it took a bit to dial in our pace and effort.
The weather didn’t exactly cooperate and we experienced 6 straight days of rain. The wet added a dimension to the event that we hope doesn’t repeat this year. Our bikes and bodies truly only just made it in one piece to the finish.
I had one of the scariest crashes of my career sliding intoa tree stump with my neck. We wallowed in wet smelly clothes,sleeping gear, shoes, mud.
Yet along the way the Brasil ride organization was dialed and smooth. The food was incredible. We cycled and raced miles of amazing terrain, saw tarantulas, spectacular lizards, coiled snakes, coffee and mango trees, waterfalls, local people and villages. Or at least Brian did; I mainly saw his rear end and wheel through mud splattered glasses. 
It was an amazing experience and all year I’ve been itching to go back. Next week we rejoin Brasil ride 2011, meet up with friends from last year and start afresh for a 7 day MTB stage race. The competition is looking strong. Brian and I are again racing mixed team. We have our goals of defending our title.
We are excited to share the race with you. Brian and I race for Alpine Orthopeadic MTB team out of Gunnison/Crested Butte, Colorado. We are riding Breezer bikes, Sram, Mavic wheels. Using Hammer nutrition, Pearl Izumi shoes , Rudy Project helmets and eyewear.
About us: Brian is an Elite multisport athlete and mountain biker. Winner of the 2011 Growler event and the Crested Butte Classic 100. He is a many time USA triathlon team member, 2x USAT winter triathlon national champion and 2x winter Xterra World champion.
Jenny is an elite mountain biker and Xterra triathlete. She has moved her focus in 2011 to MTB endurance races, finishing 4th in the Leadville 100, winning team in the 2011 national 24hr championships and 2nd with teammate Kathy Sherwin in the 2011 Andalucía Mtb stage race. Her personal blog ix www.exterrajenny.com
