LOCAL LEGEND Brandon Le, the Most Interesting Man in the Parking Lot

Brandon Le, aka Dirty Drifts, is known in northeast Ohio, Southern California, and world-wide as one of the most likeable people you’ll ever meet. As far as mountain biking and snowboarding go, he’s literally been there and done that.

But he won’t tell you.

If the Rik and Egg and MCFlow know everybody there is to know in the mountain biking world, Brandon knows them and everyone else, too.

But he won’t brag about it.

Full Disclosure: I was……miffed at Brandon for awhile because, in a moment of classic Pops grumpiness, I blamed him for not taking care of my dog on a trip to Durango. He’s certainly put up with his share of my shit:

• That time in Whistler BC when I left him a slightly nasty voicemail because I thought he had shown up in town before me and wasn’t doing anything to find us a place to stay for the night. Turns out that he was actually still driving and that I had arrived in town first.
• That time he ordered a full greasy chicken dinner just before we were going to ride the classic Guacamole Trail in Hurricane, Utah.
• I could go on and on.

I’m sure he could, too. But he probably wouldn’t. After all, he’s dealt with tougher things in his life than some cranky old fuck being mad at him.

BUT…I could also go on and on about our adventures together:

• Brevard/Roanoke/Massanutten
• St. George/Hurricane
• Fernie/Nelson/Whistler, British Columbia then Bellingham, Washington
• a big Colorado loop with Cousin Dan
• more Colorado then up to Whitefish, Montana
• still more Colorado
• U.P. Michigan trip in there somewhere
• Plus all the other trips he’s been on with everybody else

A STORY:

Speaking of putting up with shit, there was that one time during the big Colorado loop with Cousin Dan when we were camped outside of Salida. We had previously ridden the trails at Nederland and Buffalo Springs, and we were getting an early start for our drive to Crested Butte, after having ridden the Monarch Crest CT section the day before. Now, this was The Notorious Yoshi’s first trip and everybody was learning. Before we left, I decided to pinch one off, and walked up into the hillside undergrowth. I didn’t realize Yoshi had followed me until about mid-performance. I knew, as responsible dog owner, that as a dog, Yosh might want to sample/luxuriate in what I had just deposited, so I shooshed him away and told him to go back to camp. Which I thought he did. Turns out that he waited for me to finish and walk away, and then he did what dogs do. Back at camp, Yoshi couldn’t be found, so Brandon called for him and he jumped into Brandon’s Tacoma and everybody started the drive toward Gunnison in their own vehicles. Not long into the drive, Brandon texted me that Yosh must have rolled in shit or something and he absolutely reeked. I thought for a few minutes before texting him back, and came to the following realizations: a) what Brandon was smelling was actually MY shit, and b) that telling him would just make the experience more unpleasant, so I decided to have a heart and spare him the horror. Needless to say, it was a long drive to Gunnison, with Brandon raging to Yosh about how bad he smelled and poor Yosh pressed as hard as he could up against the passenger door. I felt bad but fortunately, the incredible scenery distracted me. In Gunnison, Brandon took Yosh to a doggy boutique for a bath, and I toured the cool little downtown, stopping by Double Shot Coffee and Bike Shop (probably and unknowingly talking to one of the Gods of Mountain Biking, Jefe Branham, who works there).

All in all, I thought things turned out pretty well for everybody!

(Not sure how long I let that one go before I actually told Brandon the truth)

BUT…those trips are but a footnote in Brandon’s extensive journeys throughout the world. For example, I once sat in wonder as he and our friend Matt talked late into the night about navigating the cities of Southeast Asia.

Get this guy going sometime (if you can) about the places he’s been, the things he’s seen, the people he’s met. You’ll be amazed at an incredible life.

Without too many words, here’s a few “Best Of” lists and plenty of pictures to document the cool life of my friend Brandon Le:

Favorite Bikes:

#1: “I love my steel Ritchey hardtail”

#2: Ibis Ripmo

#3: “One of my first bikes, a Gary fisher superfly singlespeed that I raced the 2012 Mohican 100k on” 

Favorite trips:

#1 Solo trip to western Europe to snowboard in the Dolomites and Julien alps. Ended up staying for months.

#2 Canadian Whistler trip. That was awesome. The Canadian Rockies made me cry.  

#3 New Zealand for a month. Probably some of my fav trails I’ve ever ridden.

 

Allegedly, Brandon’s favorite songs from the 80s:

#1 Come on Eileen #2 Eye of the Tiger #3 Total Eclipse of the Heart

Favorite Cars:  

#1 1982 Porsche 911. Driving this in SoCal along the coast is a dream.  I love the 80s!

#2 My Toyota 4runner since it’s taken Me and Yosh to so many cool places. 

#3 1984 Datson truck 4×4 since crazy things happen in your first car.