Ernie Marenchin was born the same year as me. Grew up in the same area of Pennsylvania as me. We're also almost the same height... but that's where the similarities end definitively. He weighs almost a whole person less than me. He rides very much harder than me. But, you know, we've both ridden in Moab. So that's something!
It's hard to tell about these things, but I think Ernesto came to most peoples' notice in 2005 when he almost beat Chris Eatough for the 24 Hour World Championship in British Columbia.(I knew of him before that from the Speedgoat blog). He rode his first 24 hour solo race in 2001. That is 8 years he's been doing the ultra-length racing thing now. Think about that a second. That's a lot of miles in his legs. A whole lot. And that's just the races. He's spent lots of time behind the handlebars.
For a whole lot more information, and the most current update on what he's up to, I'm sure Ernesto would want me to point you to: http://sologoat.blogspot.com/
RK: What's Your Favorite Book? Why?
EM: "Lord of the Rings. I was drawn to it after watching a show about the making of the movies and learned Tolkien invented his own language for the elves. But, after reading the books and watching the movies about a dozen times each, I think what draws me back is the story of the impossible. These elves against all this evil & it seems impossible that they will make it. Same thing went through my head when I first thought of doing a 24 hour solo."
RK: What's your favorite place you've ever traveled?
EM: "Would have to be Terlingua, Texas - site of the Mas O Menos race which I am sad to hear is not going to happen in 2010. Very small little town in Texas in the middle of nowhere. So silent during the day and crystal clear skies during the night. Kind of nice to soak in all the little things in life that get drowned out by being around the masses."
RK: Do you have a hero? Who?
EM: Don't think I really have a hero, but I have a lot of people that I look up to, riders that I tried to mimic. John Stamstad, Nat Ross, Mark Hendershot, etc.
RK: Do you do things other than MTB? Hobbies we'd never guess?
EM: "No, not really. Used to ski some before I started racing endurance a lot, but now I don't really have too much time and skiing is not the safest hobby out there."
RK: Who helped you the most, to get where you are in this sport/industry/craft?
EM: "Would without a question say my family and wife. My father goes with me to all the big races and takes a lot of the pressures off of trying to figure out transportation, my fuel strategy, etc. And my wife is super cool with me riding the hours I need to ride - the best is when after I come after putting in a long day and she has dinner hot and ready."
"And Speedgoat - I feel like we have both grown over the years together. I am lucky to be riding for a shop that is as fanatical about cycling as I am."
RK: Tell us about your favorite bike you've ever owned... is it your current bike? (Not neccesarily raced, but the personal bike you connected with the most).
EM: "Favorite bike would have to be my first ever "race bike" which was a Panasonic Hot Tubes painted bike and was their highest end road bike with internal rear brake cable routing.
Nearly sold it a few times, but it kills me that I had it painted after the paint was starting to chip in a few places. Looking to get it repainted in authentic Panasonic Team colors at some point.
Also, it has become a pastime of mine to try and find one on ebay in great shape. I missed an auction on ebay a few years back because I had to work a long day - it was my same exact bike. "
No comments:
Post a Comment