Coaching - 1984 to Current
Coaching Experience – Coach Brinton has privately coached more than 2,200 novice, recreational, and professional cyclists and mountain bikers for more than three decades. He is known as one of the pioneers of private coaching in the U.S., and his very first paid client was actor Kevin Costner in 1984.
He has developed dozens of racers who have won national championships, UCI pro races, world championships, and set national and world records. Although Coach Brinton is highly experienced as a racer and high-level coach, he takes great pride in and mostly works with novice and recreational riders.
As a racer, Brinton was known for being the most diversely skilled members of the US Cycling Team in the mid 1980's through early 1990's. Developing unique drills and teaching skills has always been a focal point of his coaching. This is specifically what contributes to his riders improving so quickly fast.
Not only has Brinton's racing career withstanding the test of time winning BMX races since 1977, Olympic Team in 1988, and 4x World Champion from 2013-2015, he is also a coach who leads by example, using the same pedaling mechanics, bike skills, and race strategies to remain internationally competitive.
Racing - 2012 to Current
2012 - Return to Track Racing After 24 Years – Since David Brinton's early retirement from pro racing in 1991, his primary focus has been coaching. Following a ten-year hiatus from racing on the road, and 24 years since racing on the Velodrome, this 45-year-old's comeback is a true testament to the effectiveness of his pedaling mechanics, technical skill, and race strategy.
Brinton's long-time coached rider, Joel Bertet asked him to join he and another teammate for the team sprint event at the masters state track championships. With three weeks to prepare, he reluctantly accepted. Fortunately they won gold, and then David won silver in the points race. Brinton also piloted a tandem for his coached rider, Stan Moore, who is blind. The duo won bronze at the masters national road championships 90+ tandem road race.
David Klipper asked him to be his partner for the madison at masters track nationals replacing Klipper's former parter, multiple world champion Sean Wallace. In 2011 David coached Klipper to a masters national 1k time trial championship and his girlfriend, Mindy Simmons, who won the masters world pursuit championships that same year.
David, Joel, and Klipper won gold in the master national championship team sprint. Later that afternoon Brinton and Klipper earned silver in the Madison. Two months later, David, Joel, and Klipper flew to Manchester, England to compete in the masters world track championships. The trio finished 7th in the team sprint. David then won bronze in the scratch race and 6th in the 750m time trial.
2013 - Worlds, Nationals, Elite States – At the "elite" state track championships Brinton won gold among the 18-29 year olds in the international omnium, and then he finished an impressive 7th overall at the elite national championships in the same event. At the masters national track championships, David won gold in the 1k time trial, scratch race, and team pursuit. Two months later, at the masters world championships, he won the world title and set a world record with his teammates in the 4-man team pursuit. He also earned bronze medals in the 3k individual pursuit and 10k scratch race.
2014 - Worlds, Nationals – Brinton got a little later start racing this year and skipped the state championships. At masters track nationals, he won gold medals in the 4k team pursuit and 10k scratch race. Two months later, at the masters world championships, he won the 10k scratch race and 4-man team pursuit, while establishing another world record.
2015 - Worlds, Nationals – In the individual pursuit at worlds, David beat his personal best time by three seconds posting a respectable 3:34.2 for 6th place. In the team pursuit, David and his teammates won gold, beating their own world record by more than three seconds. They finished the 3k team pursuit final in 3:20.7. David skipped master's nationals this year and instead used elite nationals to help prepare his legs for worlds.
Racing - 1981-1991 - Junior / Elite / Pro (Road & Track)
1981 - First Year Cycling - In 1981, 14-year-old David Brinton began road riding to increase his endurance as a bicycle motocross racer with the plan of eventually transitioning into cycling. From his very first road ride, he was hooked on cycling. As a first year cyclist, he won every race in his age category. His first year victories also included the 1982 Intermediate National Road and Track Omnium Championships (the only two events for the 12-14 category).
During his first year he also earned his Pro 1/2 license on the road and track. Remarkably, he finished 10th in a Pro 1/2 criterium at only 15 years old. The following year, he was invited to live at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and qualified for the junior World Championships, but unfortunately was too young to compete.
1984-1985 - Junior Worlds Team - David Brinton won the 120k junior world road trials and then placed 5th in the 1K at worlds that same year. During his first event he and his teammates finished a disappointing 6th in the 70k 4-man road team time trial. Their disappointing finish was in part due to one crash and two flat tires during the event.
The next day, he finished 11th in the 3k individual pursuit qualifying round. The following morning he was scheduled to race the 4th seeded East German and unfortunately lost by .02 of a second. David’s miscalculated attempt to save energy resulted in the loss of a medal and possible gold. He finished 9th with the 2nd fastest time setting a national record of 3:30.99 (sea-level, pre-aero bars).
Less than three hours after his pursuit ride, he finished 5th in the 1k, setting another junior national record of 1:06.81. This record held for seven years, even with the introduction of aero bars. With one day to recover, he entered the 25k points race as the overwhelming favorite. While in second on points he was looking for the right moment to gain a lap. Caught off guard by a reckless move, he was crashed by another rider. A concussion and broken scapula prevented him from starting the 120k road race as team captain.
Eddie B: "Best ever field at junior worlds!"
"David Brinton had the highest placing of any American with a 5th in the Kilo.
Two punctures dampened the prospects for a win in the Team Time Trial.
Many countries brought 10-20 riders and the U.S. only brought seven."
--- VeloNews, August 23, 1985, by Geoff Drake
1986-1991 - Pro / U23 - Within seven years, David Brinton competed in 12 events at the pro, elite, and junior world championships on the road, track, and MTB. He earned five top-10 finishes and earned four national records. As a junior, elite, and pro he competed in or qualified for nearly every event offered at worlds from 1983-1991. David also represented the U.S. in numerous stage races throughout Eastern and Western Europe. Along the way he earned numerous top-10 finishes, and almost always the top American finisher. He competed alongside Tour champions and stage winners Lance Armstrong, Greg LeMond, Laurent Fignon, Davis Phinney, and former teammate Andy Hampsten.
Making the world’s road team during David’s first year U23 his main focus. But unfortunately he caught a bad cold at the wrong time. His only hope for worlds was the 1K on the track. In the trials, he defeated the flying 1k world record holder. At worlds he posted a time of 1:04.67 (2rd fastest American to date, pre-aero bars). At 5’10″ and 139 lbs few could understand how such a skinny 19-year-old could explode off the line so quickly and reach 38+ mph speeds. Many attribute this remarkable result to his highly developed pedaling mechanics and refined technique. He took great pride in his advantages as a racer. Now as coach, effectively helps other riders duplicate his advantages.
In 1987, David won gold and silver medals at the Pan American Games and competed in the elite world championships. He then won the individual and team pursuit events at the 1988 Olympic trials. Preparing for the trials, he won two major road races and the overall victory at the prestigious Tour of Bisbee Stage Race. Weeks later he won the final criterium at the International Redlands Classic and finished 3rd overall. This remarkable result was only 12 seconds behind the overall winner, Olympic gold medalist, Alexi Grewal. His winning streak continued with another overall victory at the Cincinnati Cyclebration Stage Race. The current U.S. Pro Road Champion finished 2nd.
Racing - 1990-1991 - Mountain Bike (Pro XC & DH)
In 1990, David Brinton was determined to regain top form after being struck down with Epstine-Bar. One recovered made the decision to then focus on racing mountain bikes, fueled by a generous sponsorship. After his first race in the expert category at the 1990 NORBA Nationals in Park City, Utah, he turned pro. Within a few races he was placing within the top 20 American riders. The highlight of his pro mountain bike career was competing in the first ever World Mountain Bike Championships in Durango, Colorado, in 1990.
Racing - 1977-1981 - Bicycle Motocross
At age six, David can recall getting goose bumps when he heard the national anthem and didn't know why. A few years later, he was watching the 1976 Olympic Games and realized he wanted to be an Olympian. He then began racing BMX (bicycle motocross) as a self-prescribed foundation toward achieving his Olympic dream. During the next four years he won over 100 trophies and performed shows throughout SoCal on a BMX freestyle team. He became known for jumping his bike higher and farther than all of his friends. At the time, he was the only cyclist racing at a national level with a BMX background. Mountain biking was not yet an competitive sport in the early to mid 80's.
Racing - 1991 - Retirement (From Elite & Pro Racing)
David Brinton retired from competition in 1991 at age 23. This is following four years of BMX and nine years competing at the highest level in road and track cycling. In addition, he devoted one full season to racing mountain bikes as a pro on the NORBA National Series. He had competed at the highest level for 15 years and accomplishing his childhood dream of becoming an Olympian. David was now ready to follow his other two passions coaching and stuntwork.
Hollywood Stuntman - 1985-2001
Becoming a stuntman seemed a natural transition for David. His excellent bike handling skills and ability to minimize injuries during crashes made for an easy transition into stuntwork. David’s first job as a stuntman was in January 1985 doubling Kevin Bacon for the movie Quicksilver. While competing David accepted stunt jobs and commercials, provided they did not conflict with his training or race performance. Over a span of 16 years he has been seen jumping cars, crashing, and performing other non-bicycle stunts in more than 80 TV shows, and commercials.
My Past Coaches - 1981-1991
David attributes his quick rise to the top to his first two coaches. European 6-Day racer, Rick Denman, helped him ride smarter and win races. National team coach, Klement Capliar, taught him the training methods used by the U.S. national team. Upon moving to the Olympic Training Center at age 16, he was coached by the legendary Eddie B. Other national team coaches were Craig Campbell, Jiri Mainus, and Walter Golebewsky. Each passed on valuable knowledge and tactics he continues to use and shares with his riders today.