When you lose the passion for something you once loved, it can be pretty difficult to get it back. This is what happened to XCO World Cup racer, Bradyn Lange. After seven years of racing, he fell out of love with his bike. But there was something that helped him in love all over again – and that was the Downieville Classic.

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For the race, he rode a Scott Spark RC with a full Shimano XTR setup and Fox 34 Step Cast fork]. He was running a 36-tooth chainring and a 10-51T cassette with a Stages Power Meter. As expected, the bike was outfitted with a Syncros Silverton 1.0 wheelset complete with WTB Ranger 2.25 tyres. 

A Reform Seymour saddle, 100m Fox Transfer dropper and 69cm Fraser IC SL bars with a -20 degree stem angle rounded off the build.

"Whether endurance events like Leadville or explosive XCC, it’s been fun to push myself and my training. I think I still have some time to figure out where I want to specialize, but for now, I enjoy racing.” - Bradyn Lange

Bradyn joined Scott in 2023 following some setbacks with his health and racing (not forgetting the pandemic). Given what he'd been through, he went into Downeville with no exceptions, coming away with a second place. It's safe to say the race helped to reignite his passion for racing, as this season has seen him take some solid results.

• instagram.com/bradyn.lange/

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