Nebraska Cycling News

With the 2008 mountain bike racing season upon us, it is always good to learn a little about the folks you will be lining up against. Since the Maskenthine XC Classic is the season opener this year, we spoke with Maskenthine Trail Steward Todd Jochum to get to know him a little better. Here is what we learned.

What is your name and how old are you?

Todd Jochum, 33 years old

Tell me a little about your family?

My wife Tina and three monsters, Kaitlinn (12), Malachi (8) and Tanner (2.5) Then there’s the Siamese cat Nala, my old geezer JD (14 year old mutt) and Bailey the 3 year old Mastiff (over grown pain in the butt).

What club or team do you belong to?

Elkhorn Valley Cycling powered by Monster

What shop do you call “home”?

Cleveland Bike and Sport, Norfolk

How many years have you been riding?

I rode bikes from preschool until I procured a drivers license and then…I started riding in the fall of 2006.

What kind of racing experience do you have?

Three mountain bike races in 2007 and most of the local Norfolk 2007 race series

What is in your riding stable right now?

Road bike: 2007 KHS Flite Team

Mountain bike: a 2006 Trek Fuel EX frame with very few stock parts left… I’m a gear geek!

Why did you start riding again?

I had been lifting weights heavily since high school, until my back, knees and shoulders began to bother me to the point where I could no longer lift in a way I was content with. I needed a way to help my body transition away from being “TUBBY” but running aggravated everything. I started riding my old mountain bike for exercise, an old Trek 830 I’d had for a while complete with kid seat.  From there I fell in love with bikes all over again, the freedom and fun.  I worked the night shift at the time so I rode when I was done working and at night on my days off, just buzzing around town in the dark like a kid again. I decided to go to Maskenthine Lake one evening and ride the old horse trail, I had no idea there was an actual MTB trail there. I remember my first trip on the old original trail.  It took forever to get around that thing in the granny gear.  But I had a blast, so after I had become able to ride an entire lap without stopping I started seeing if I could ride it faster than the last time.  I’ve always been on the competitive side, and needed something to replace the weight training. Then it just turned into a passion again: I found myself day dreaming about riding my bike, anxiously waiting to ride, to think, to be at peace in mind but in battle physically.  I now refer to my bike rides as therapy, group therapy if it’s with other people.  Makes me remember when I was a kid.

What got you started racing?

I met the EVCC guys one day at the Trail while they were working on it. I think it was Steve, Jon and Tim.  Anyway I started helping and got to know them, quite an interesting group of fellows, good guys and fun to be around as they all shared the same passion I now had for cycling.  They talked about the races they had there. I could never make it to race, but could usually swing by to watch.  It looked fun so I bought a trainer for the winter so I could hopefully get into shape for next year and try this race thing.  The EVCC race team had indoor training sessions through the winter and I showed up one night and asked if I could play too. They let me and that was that.  Although come spring I did get dropped before the group left the city limits, but I stuck with it and now here I am.  I tried my first race in 2007 at the Metro Series opener and loved it.  I’m hooked and that’s all there is to it.

Any goals for the 2008 season?

Have fun and do well. By the end of the season I hope to be planning on making the jump to the sport class in the Psycowpath Series for 2009. 

What is the biggest race you are planning to do in next couple years?

I hope to go to the Dakota 50 this year, but after the Metro 12 hour last year was so much fun, I found really like the Team Endurance events. I’d like to get into those and maybe even do a solo run at some endurance events, we’ll see.  I also like road riding too and have an odd need to do a Tri!

Which wheel size will be around in five years: 26” - 29r – 650?

The 26”

What is your next bike purchase going to be?

You realize I’ll be worthless for a week dreaming about this one.  I don’t know!  A mountain bike for sure but I just don’t know which.

What is your “dream bike”?

All of them!  But the thought of a carbon Racer X comes to mind alot!

Dream bike vacation?

I WANT TO GO TO MOAB via Colorado, then a cycling trip through Europe with my wife Tina.

Why do you help with building and the Maskenthine trails?

If I’m going to ride it a lot and consider it my home trail, I should have to work on it, it’s only fair!  It kind of helps assure that there will be a place for others to fall in love with mountain biking around Norfolk, somewhere where you actually can use the bike for what it is able to do and get a sense of what mountain biking is about. Besides I like that sort of stuff, creating things.

What have you done so far with the trail and what are the plans for the future?

Shine up what we have so far and then expand.  We’ve got additional single track and man-made technical sections in mind and a lot of space to use.  My overall goal is to help create a place that people want to come to and ride, people from the rocket ship fast pros to the, I just got my first mountain bike and want to try it out people.  A place to bring their family’s to for a weekend or just an evening.  Maskenthine has so much to offer aside from riding, camp grounds, swimming, fishing, play grounds etc.  It just makes a great place to be and hang out at.  You can ride hard all day and then kick back at night with the camp fire and good company. 

Your outlook for racing in Nebraska in the years to come?

That’s up to us and how we run the races.  Last year I was scared to death at my first race, but the smiles and atmosphere of the event really helped.  If we continue to put on events where the atmosphere is inviting and welcoming to new riders and there are categories centered on having fun and not winning I think the sport will grow.  Same goes for the kids that want to try racing, lets have fun first!  You never know what the new kid on the department store special will be like in a couple of years if he keeps riding and racing, maybe right there with the rest of us, maybe in a world championship race!  From my experience us racers, with our fancy bikes and racing kits are extremely intimidating to the new racers.  So is lining up with them.  Being able to ride with other beginners and have fun and then watch the big boys race is the way to go, and it gives the beginners that want to move up to the serious categories something to shoot for and a place for those with no time to train like you have to or just don’t want to be that serious, a place to be and still race.

Why should racers drive to Norfolk for the Maskenthine XC Classic?

Maskenthine is a little jewel in the rough that is just beginning to mature.  Its fun, a challenge and it’s only going to get better.  We won’t have the heat of last year so there’s a plus right there.  Sounds like the schwag will be good!  For those that are running for series points you can’t let your rival get a jump on you because you didn’t want to drive a little ways can you?  Heck, some of the points last year were close enough: missing one race would have made a difference.  And best of all, come hang with buddies and have fun.  Its race season!