Photos: Pinicon Punisher Enduro brings mountain bikers to Linn County

The event included a Night Jump Jam on Saturday and a timed downhill ride on Sunday.

Nov. 2, 2025 4:18 pm, Updated: Nov. 2, 2025 8:11 pm

Michelle Edwards, of North Liberty, competes during the Pinicon Punisher Enduro at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday. Event organizer Patrick Shannon, of Marion, said there were a total of 44 participants. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Organizer of the event, Patrick Shannon, of Marion, tells riders about the conditions on the trials during the Pinicon Punisher Enduro at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday. Shannon said this is the first enduro mountain bike race in Linn County. “This is different from most mountain bike races, so it’s mainly a downhill race. People are only timed when they are going down, and then they ride back up untimed. The ride back up is called a transfer, and the ride down is called a stage,” Shannon said. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Brian Valley, (left) of Cedar Rapids, talks to the organizer of the event, Patrick Shannon, of Marion, during the Night Jump Jam at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Saturday. Shannon said he decided to start hosting mountain bike races to help his son and local cyclists to build points on a national level. “My son started racing a few years ago. There was a lack of USA Cycling sanctioned races, so I really wanted to create more opportunities for local racers to actually get into USAC sanctioned races to help them build points on a national level, and they can get rankings,” Shannon said. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Brian Riley, of Cedar Rapids, cheers as he competes during the Pinicon Punisher Enduro at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday. Organizer of the event, Patrick Shannon, of Marion, said the course has there are six stages for beginners and eight for advanced racers. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Dylan Lamere, of Sioux City, competes during the Pinicon Punisher Enduro at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday. Organizer of the event, Patrick Shannon, of Marion, said this is the second race they’ve held at a Linn County property this year. (Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Vaughn Klopfenstein, of Cedar Rapids, competes during the Pinicon Punisher Enduro at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Klopfenstein said he’s been biking for about 3 months, and has enjoyed participating in the enduro mountain bike race.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

One of the competitors in the Pinicon Punisher Enduro races through the fifth stage course at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday, November 2, 2025.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

Oliver Miller, 14, of Wellman, competes during the Pinicon Punisher Enduro at Pinicon Ridge Gravity Park in Central City on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Miller came in first for the Jr. Boys category.(Elizabeth Wood/The Gazette)

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