Australians head to California for an epic 24hr battle

Australia has always represented well at 24hr Solo Worlds in the Single Speed category, with Brendan Den taking silvers in 2008 and 2009, Bellchambers took gold in 2010, there was no race in 2011, Matt ‘Mad Dog’ Powell took the WEMBO win in 2012 and Bellchambers took the WEMBO wins in 2013 & 2014.

It’s not like it’s a small class either, in 2010, 2013 and 2014 it was close to the biggest non elite category, drawing fields in the 30+ region and the biggest cheers on course.

This year 5 strong contenders are making the trip to the ‘ole US of A.

Brett ‘Jeebus’ Bellchambers, David ‘Poppy’ Speering, Michael ‘Timpy’ Timp, Scott ‘Marathon Man’ Nicholas and Steve ‘Big Man’ Tomczyk

We asked the current 24hr Solo Single Speed Champion, Brett Bellchambers, to give a run down on the contenders and talk about his own chances at WEMBO 2015 in Weaverville, California, USA on the 3^rd and 4^th of October.

Bellchambers chases JAson English in Scotlana

We’re a special bunch us Ssers, when I look at this list I see a bunch of good blokes that are now all good friends, all in our forties, with a family and work commitments, which I think just makes us more stubborn and committed. If you’re going to spend your own money and spend time away from family racing and getting fit, then you need to learn how to schedule and how to negotiate and how to juggle conflicting interests and financial situations, on to the contenders.

Let’s start with Dave ‘Poppy’ Speering. Dave is that little bloke with the goatee riding around on a duallie single speed that you wonder ‘what’s this bloke up to, he can’t be racing’, but there he is cutting out consistent lap after consistent lap. In the early days he was known for his ability to chuck a good dummy spit during the night of a 24hr Solo. These days he’s a force to be reckoned with, which he ably showed at the 2014 24hr Solo Nationals race at Mount Annan. It ended up being an amazing final two laps to that race, Dave wound it up in his favoured hot weather and mowed down the SS field, to win the SS title, the 40-44 title and finish 3^rd overall, something that hasn’t been done since the Padwan did it in 2011 at Stromlo.

David Speering at Mount Annan, Shimano GP 2014

Dave was pretty emotional afterwards, I know this as when I went to talk to him he was lost for words, and if you know Dave at all that is a pretty rare thing. Since then Dave has taken the confidence from this race and has grown in stature, he ground his way through the mud at the Bright 12hr earlier in the year to take 1^st place in Masters and 4^th out right on the SS, he backed this up with an impressive ride in QLD at the Oceania 24hr Solo champs with a win in the SS cat and 5^th outright. He’s also been racing all over NSW as part of the Evocites Enduro Series, currently holding down 3^rd in the Masters Category. Dave has had some weird bad luck with 24hr World Champs previously, so I’m wishing him the best of luck for this year. Dave has also stepped it up this year and gone from dad to grandad, making the rest of us look soft. Dave would like to thank his loyal sponsors – onyabikecanberra , Shotz Sports Nutrition, bikebox – Schwalbe and redwhiteapparel.

Next up Michael ‘Timpy’ Timp, I first remember meeting Timpy at WEMBO 2013 in Canberra. He came over and introduced himself, had a bit of chat and asked me what gearing I was going to run, then promptly ignored the info and ran a massive gear anyway, I’ve loved him ever since. Michael is heading to WEMBO as part of a self-confessed mid-life crisis, and questions his sanity on a regular basis for even making the decision to go. He’s scared about the 4km climb averaging 9% every lap, I told him that walking is OK. It seems to be a mid-life crisis to escape a somewhat busy year for him, with 4 daughters at home, a supportive wife that works full time, a weekend full of sport there’s not a lot of idle time, so he figured that March would be a good time to live the life of ‘The Block’ with a major renovation at home that has led to more sleep deprivation then the average 24hr solo. Michaels first 24hr solo was the 2013 WEMBO in Canberra, apparently gear choice did prove to be an issue and he blew a bit early in the race, with a whole bunch of helpful SSers telling him that his gear might have been a bit too big.

Thankfully he’s a quick learner and he returned to Stromlo in 2014 for the Scott and won the SS cat. Michael also had a great ride at the 2014 24hr Solo Nats at Mount Annan, I’m going to put Michael’s words here as I can’t write the passion of that race any better – “The Aussie championships were then held at Mt Annan in November 2014 in scorching 30 plus degree days. I love the heat and eventually caught Brett, his signature beard and his amazing ability to ride in the cold of Canberra without any warm clothing, was always going to work against him. That day I cried as I crossed the finish line with 2 of my daughters. I thought that I had won an Aussie championship and beaten a legend to do so! It wasn’t until 20 min after the race that my wife had convinced me that on my second last lap I had been passed by Dave Speering, that I had come in second.” That’s passion for you. Michael has been having great SS rides at the opening rounds of the RTE 7hr series taking the SS wins at James Estate and Awaba, he also pulled a solid 2^nd in a very competitive SS field at the Sydney 12hr this year. He’d like to thank his pit crew, wife Jodie and four daughters, though his entire pit crew won’t be travelling to WEMBO this year as 4 of them decided on a pool over a trip to the states. He’s also well looked after by Greg from twebikewheels for unbelievable customer service and passion for a quality product and he still loves riding his Focus Raven Carbon 29er.

Next we have the man of mystery Scott ‘Marathon Man’ Nicholas. I know a lot of people have been googling Scott over the past year, and the comments have nothing to do with his ability to ride a SS fast and his impressive results over the past year. I’ve been told by those in the know that he has an impressively fast marathon time, along the lines of one of the fastest non-african times around. I witnessed this first hand last year when at the 90km mark of the Kowalski Classic on the 23 degree pinch when we finally jumped of the bikes, he just started running. I remember watching him disappear up the hill thinking to myself; well I won’t be running, maybe I’ll see him later, that didn’t happen and he rode off to a well-deserved win.

It’s been a bit of a strange last 24 months for Scott since he got into MTB and SSing, but the man comes with an athletic pedigree, so we know he’s mentally and physically tough. After two very different 24hr solo races at the back end of 2014, one where it didn’t go so well in the heat, he took what he learned and applied it to the next race where it rained, won SS, finished 2^nd overall and cranked out 390kms in the rain and mud. This led to a back issue that kept him of the bike for the start of the year, coming good in February to win the SS cat at the Otway Odyssey in a seriously quick time, and with his other mates from the surfcoastsinglespeeders won the SS team at the MONT 24hr. Scott has watched the 2013, 2014 via the internet and signed up for 2105 as soon as he knew it was near his old neck of the woods, growing up in Portland Oregon, 5 hours north of Weaverville and apparently perfect in October. Unlike the rest of us he knows exactly what he’s looking forward to in the USA – “eating legitimate Mexican burritos, powering through a box of Voodoo Donuts, drinking Rogue Ales and spending time with my wife and daughter after the race without an imminent bike ride.” Scott states he has simple goals for the WEMBO 24hr, enjoy the experience from start to finish and ride all 24 hours, after all the prep and looking forward to something for so long, the race is a reward for all the hard work and sacrifice. 24hr solo is too dumb a thing to do for it not to be fun (in theory), with this I would have to concur. As with the rest of us, family is important, Scott wants to give a big shout out to his wife for hanging around after 6 months of crazy training. He also wants it put on record that his family would have also chosen a pool over a trip to America, thankfully I never asked my family so I’ll never know! Scott is also well supported by baumcycles (his SS frames are things of beauty) and curvewheels .

Next, the one and only, Steve ‘Big Man” Tomczyk. You’ll know Steve if you see him, he’s bigger than me, he’s taller than me, at one point this year his beard was bigger than mine. Steve is also a family man and has been very busy with that this year along with trying to fit in riding, racing and organising other things. He’s known for a fast finish at a 12hr, a bit unknown at the 24hr distance. Last time I saw Steve was at the Sydney 12hr this year, he’d been out riding with his gravity enduro mates during the week, had a little lay down and damaged some ribs, yet there he was at the 12hr, setting up a food table, self-supported, and trying and finish the 12hr. Unfortunately the drop offs and log role overs got the better of him and he had to pull out. Steve is always an unknown quantity and on a good day with a bit of good luck goes like the clappers. He’d also like to thank a supportive wife and family.

That leaves me. 2014 was bit of a weird year, I’ve been beaten a few times, by three of the guys on this list. I managed to win a 3^rd 24hr Solo Singlespeed World Title in October, then I rode myself into the ground (literally) at the 24hr solo Nationals in November at Mt Annan and just missed a top 5 for the first time in 6 years or so. Since then I’ve regrouped and recovered and have had a good start to the 2015 year racing wise, had a health scare that required some face surgery and resulted in the beard being shaved off and then being snubbed on the bike path for the next month. I’ve been to some new places to ride and race, I’ve written articles and raced a 24hr in Townsville – now that’s a long way north – Timpy and Dave would love it there! The form is coming and I’m looking forward to the climb and cold in October. Let’s make no bones about it, I want to win 5 * 24hr solo singlespeed titles. I’m going to California to win and make it No 4, then heading to Rotorua to make it No 5. But don’t think for a moment that I underestimate the talent of any of the guys mentioned here, we’ve all committed, we’ve all trained, we’re all there for a reason. Then there are the local SSers that we don’t know, both in Cali and NZ. I’d love an Aussie to win the title in Cali, I’m not keen on the SS title being relinquished to another country. I’m heading over with my family and my mum and dad as well, this will be the first time I’ve ever travelled on a plane with either of them, I think the 7 berth motorhome we’ve rented is in for a fun time for 2 weeks! I have a random collection of product sponsors that make up Jeebus Racing. So thanks to the continued support of ninerbikes (USA), wtb (USA), groupesportif – RaceFace and EVOC, diymtb – X-Fusion Forks, yakima , ridemechanic , shimano .