Smithers MINNEAPOLIS

The guys who invented the mountain bike wanted to ride off-road. They probably didn’t envision riding above the roads.

But that’s what will happen Feb. 8 in the Red Bull SkyRide, a mountain bike race through the skyways of downtown St. Paul.

The event is the brainchild of Adam Buck, a 21-year-old Minneapolis resident and mountain bike enthusiast.

Red Bull agreed to completely sponsor the event, including guaranteeing to repair any damage. That was enough to reassure St. Paul skyway building owners, who apparently see a little extreme-sport publicity as a good thing for downtown.

The bikers will start near Fhima’s LoTo restaurant in Galtier Plaza and finish at Xcel Energy Center, encountering steps, ramps, carpeting, slippery tile, a tunnel, more than 20 doorways and “many a janky turn,” according to Buck.

Bikers wanted to be able to ride down the flight of stairs linking the skyway to the tunnel that goes to Xcel Energy Center. But the race’s risk-assessment types will require a mandatory dismount and a bike portage at that point.

Fifty racers will start one at a time in a time-trial format, scheduled from about 7 to about 10 p.m.

Race marshals will be on hand to keep the doors open for the bikers and prevent collisions with pedestrians.

Buck said he test rode the 4,400-foot route in August. He estimates riders will be able to finish in about four minutes.

“It’s an absolute blast,” Buck said. “You never get the chance to ride in a building.”

He said the feeling of speed is enhanced when threading through a 14-foot-wide skyway.

It’s unfortunate that I will be out of town for this event, I would love to have seen it. You should not miss it.