Mountain Men on Wheels
The sole professional rider in the Volkswagen/Schwinn mountain bike racing team has some pretty lofty goals for the coming season. “We should all be placing in the top five (at every race),” says Gene Adams. “I have that much confidence in our team.”
That is no easy task, given the increasing competitiveness in mountian bike racing. In addition, two team members, Scott Daubert and Chris Bingham, will be competing against each other in the expert racing division. But that doesn’t bother Adams. “We have a real strong team all the way around,” he says. “If everyone can stay healthy, and not race too much and get burned out, we’ll do well.”
Teammate Scott Daubert is taking a year off from his full-time job to prepare for the season that started in Durango, Colo., May 25. Aside from readjusting his schedule for the upcoming season, he must also readjust his outlook on the sport. Gone are the days when sponsorship meant a T-shirt and a bike. Determined to be a successful pro rider, he’ll have to work harder than before. “It’s becoming more like a business,” he says. “It’s no longer just for fun.”
But that does not detract from the growing interest in recreational cycling or mountain bike racing’s expansion in the sports world, both racers feel. Adams say the sport is “consistently growing,” adding that the whole family can get involved with races for ten-year-olds, veterans and everyone in-between. “Here in the States it’s really large,” Daubert says of mountain bike racing’s fan base. “I think with European interest growing, it’s going to be really popular.”
The sport’s success can only bode well for Team Volkswagen/Schwinn. “I think the team is going to receive quite a bit of publicity,” Daubert says. The team coordinator, Kevin Jackson, says, “Mountain bike racing is destined to grow in the next two to four years,” echoing Daubert’s sentiment that European interest will be a boon to the sport. According to Jackson, athletes are coming to the States from Japan, Germany and Europe to compete. In Europe, biking’s popularity is comparable to football’s in the U.S.
Transport for the team comes in the way of two Volkswagen Vanagons and a Corrado. “What we really like about them (the Vanagons) is the room,” Jackson says. “There is plenty of room to relax and recuperate.” Adams concurs. “When you have four bike riders and their equipment, you find out real fast how well it’ll work out. And it’s worked out real well so far.”
Team member Tyler Kettenburg liked the Corrado so much, he bought one for himself, his first car purchase.
“He’s a Corrado man now,” Jackson says.
Volkswagen World Magazine