They say one is the loneliest number, but for Tony Smith of San Diego, one is just how he likes it. The 27-year old, northern Idaho native, and former University of Nebraska distance runner, likes it to be one man, on one mountain, with one gear, pulling away from the competition. Smith is preparing for the Solo 24 Hours of Adrenaline World Championships in Whistler, BC, on September 4th and 5th. He will be competing in the Solo Single Speed division, and will arrive in Whistler as one of the favorites to win.
As impressive as his race resume is, it's even more impressive how quickly it has built up. Smith started single speed racing at a 24-hour race event in Southern California this past April, where he had two of the top 15 fastest laps overall while racing on a relay team. Afterwards Smith wanted to see what he could do solo and went to the 24 Hour National Championships at Laguna Seca. There he beat the single speed field handily and finished 3rd overall, actually tying the 2nd place rider for laps completed. In his first 24-hour solo race, he was the National Champion!
"I like single speed racing because it keeps it honest. You have to be a better rider to do it," Smith said.
Smith kept it honest, and soon after he went to race the Brian Head Epic 100, where he finished 2nd on his new Kelly Bike Ro Sham Bo two-niner single speed.
Smith's last test before the World Championships was the 12 Hours at the Summit Event, where he finished 2nd overall to Tinker Juarez, actually finishing with the same number of laps as Juarez.
If the recent successes are any indication, Smith may find himself enjoying the loneliness of being number one soon enough.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim Vance was a teammate of Tony's when they were on the cross country and track teams at the University of Nebraska. Jim was the first to move to San Diego from Indianapolis to train for the Olympic Trials in the steeplechase, only to get sidetracked into mountain biking in 2001. After graduating Tony had returned to northern Idaho. The competitive urge was too strong though, and he soon decided to team up with Jim once again. In May of 2003 Tony moved down to San Diego to race on the road.
Like Tony, Jim's athletic performances just took off once the two started training together again. Jim turned to triathlons in June of 2003, and has quickly become one of the top amateur triathletes in the US, hoping to be the first amateur to pull the double of National Amateur Champion for both road and off-road. The Tri Nationals are next month, September 18th in Shreveport, LA, followed by the XTERRA Nationals in Tahoe on the 26th.
Besides being a best training partner and great friend, Tony works for B&L Bike & Sports and Bike 101 in Solana Beach, which also sponsors the two.
Says Jim, "Ours is a great story of two guys who came to San Diego from Nebraska track, and now are getting the job done both on the road and off. Two weekends ago at Snow Summit was a big one for our household, as Tony took 2nd to Tinker, and I took 9th overall at my first XTERRA Championship event." The XTERRA was also in Big Bear and Jim finished top amateur by almost 10 minutes, beating most of the pro field in the process.
The photos are of Tony's Kelly Bike 29er, the single speed that he's proving to be the world's fastest. In the other Tony picks up the National Championship in his first try. Check out Jim Vance's website at www.geocities.com/jimvancesd/ if for nothing else but to read his poetry.
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