John “Fuzzy” Mylne has earned a name for himself on the endurance racing circuit. The 34 year old single- speed racer had some impressive rides this year: 1st single-speed at the Sierra-Tahoe 100 (and 6th overall that day), he set a new course record at the Vision Quest, and he recently won the overall pro class (aboard a single-speed) at the 18th Annual Mount San Antonio College Fat Tire Classic in Southern California. While his results are noteworthy, it’s his whiskered face that makes him one of the more noticeable riders.
Smiling Fuzzy Face: There's no mistaking John "Fuzzy" Mylne for any other rider.
“Yeah, that’s where the nickname ‘Fuzzy’ comes from,” he explained. “I started growing it in ’96. I was working this job and the manager had just chewed me out for taking a day off for school. As I walked away he yelled ‘You need a haircut too.’ I gave my notice and never shaved again.” And why no mustache? “This is all that grew for the first few years,” he shrugged, “The mustache area was just patchy so I kept it cleaned up.” So despite the rumors, Fuzzy isn’t Amish, “Although I was in Ohio this year and passed some Amish in their buggies,” he related. “They looked very confused.”
Fuzzy opened some eyes at the Tahoe-Sierra 100 where he won the single-speed class and placed sixth overall among a field of endurance racing luminaries.
A LATE START
Age 34 is admittedly a bit late to be a newcomer in bike racing. But up
until a few years ago Fuzzy was just a casual rider, working at Yakima in
the Northern California town of Arcata. He was one of the faster locals,
but by no means the fastest. Of that he says, “The guys around Humboldt
are fast! Some could hang with pros. Really!” The difference between Fuzzy
and his former riding buddies is the decision he made when Yakima closed
the Arcata facility. “I didn’t want to follow the company to Oregon.
Instead I set a six-month goal for myself to make it as a mountain bike
racer; to dedicate myself to training, good nutrition and a good
structured program. Five months to the day I picked up my first real
sponsor; Team Sho-Air. They saw me at the Vision Quest—a really tough
55-miler in SoCal—and they were impressed with what I did on a rigid
single-speed behind their fastest rider on a geared full suspender.”
Fuzzy rode for Sho-Air in ’06 and ‘07 seasons and has been riding for Niner since mid-’08 and uses his Mercedes Sprinter van to tow Niner’s 25 foot trailer full of race bikes and demo bike to events, with his partner Kristina and their 15 month old son Ian along for the ride.
Home away from home. Fuzzy spends most of the racing season traveling in his Mercedes Sprinter Van.
“THAT’S FUZZY!”
Technically, Fuzzy is still an expert. “NORBA won’t give me a pro
upgrade,” he explained. “Most of my events are non-NORBA. The one NORBA event I did this year I finished 6th overall and beat most of the
four-rider teams. Still, no upgrade!”
Regardless of his official status with NORBA, Fuzzy’s performance at the
Tahoe-Sierra 100 served notice of his arrival as an endurance contender.
Fuzzy relates how in the first miles he found himself up with the leaders,
“One of them asked ‘What’s that single-speeder doing here?’ And Jeremiah Bishop said ‘That’s Fuzzy. Don’t worry about him He’s got the super cadence.’ So I’m thinking, ‘Okay. They know who I am. Cool! I think I’m a part of this group now.’” Perhaps it was the realization that inspired him to power away from that elite pack. “We hit the first climb and before I knew it I was off the front by myself. I kept that pace and it took two or three miles for them—Chris Eatough, Jeremiah Bishop, Jeff Shaw, Harlan Price, Tinker, Josh Tostado—to catch up to me. I hung with them for a while and then Harlan surged at the top of the climb and I was happy with my pace and let them go. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them on the next descent; I’d spin out my gear trying. From then on it was a solo day. I didn’t see anyone else. That was a great day! I’ve had better riding days this year, when I was feeling faster. But that was the first day that I got real recognition for riding fast, not for riding fast on a single-speed. It’s a new era for me, to be riding with the top guys.”
 Back in the Redwoods: Fuzzy lived in Humboldt County's town of Arcata for twelve years. Here he enjoys a ride back in his old stomping grounds.
WHAT NEXT? Next year he’ll rectify his resume’s lack of 24 hour race results. “I need to fix that. For me, doing a 24 hour, it’s kind of like when I was a runner and told myself that I’d never do a marathon. A 24 hour takes so much time—getting ready then recovering. Actually I’ve started the 24
Hours in the Old Pueblo twice. The first year I DNF'ed with a mechanical. This year it rained like crazy and I pulled out, cold and miserable.”
Regardless of his 24 hour plans, it’s in the 100-mile events where he plans
to make his mark in ’09. “Five hours into a race I’m just starting to feel
like I’m hammering. So eight hours or so, that’s perfect.” And Kristina
and Ian will be along as his own personal cheering section, “They got to
see most everything this year,” he said. “This life on the road, it’s a
lot of fun; being a professional mountain biker, I’m not sure exactly what
that means these days. There’s not really much money in the sport. But
it’s still great. I’ve made a lot of great friends and I’m loving every
minute of it. I wouldn’t give it up for anything!”
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