This year the Teva Games Vail Pass Time Trial fell on Mike Janelle’s Birthday. Mike Janelle was a long time pro cyclist who, during his career, raced all kinds of different events. He was best known as a mountain bike racer but was also a member of a winning Race Across America Team and an accomplished road and Cyclocross racer. Mike died in his sleep of heart failure on November, 23, 2007. Mike’s Wife, Maribel, was pregnant with their first child when he died.

Mike was an amazing person. He was the kind of guy that made everything more fun. He is dearly missed at every race. So when I found out that the TT was on his birthday I knew I needed to do something. Without access to a chalkbot, I decided to spray paint 9 portraits of Mike on Vail Pass where the race would be.

Mike’s Team, Tokyo Joe’s, set up a website LiveLikeMike.Org to give friends and family a place to share their memories of Mike and also to raise some money to help Maribel and Mike Jr. For a $40 donation you can help out a friend in need and get some sweet gear.

I had a lot of friends tell me that seeing the painting of Mike helped them to push harder and stay in the big ring up the climb. Mike has given me a lot of inspiration a encourage all of us to Live Like Mike