Bobby Lea

Bobby has devoted much of his riding attention to the track the past couple seasons. His efforts paid off with a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in Beijing. For 2009, he brings a renewed commitment to the road, as well as sprinting and lead-out abilities to OUCH Presented by Maxxis.

Date of Birth/Location:
October 17, 1983; Easton, MD

Height/ Weight: 6′2″ 170lbs

Current Residence: Mertztown, PA

Education (include years):
Bachelor’s in Business Management, Penn State, 2006

Years Racing: 15

Years as a Pro: 4

Previous Team(s)/Year(s):
Rite Aid, 2008
Toyota-United, 2006-07

Strengths on the bike:
Sprinting, criteriums, and single-day races without too much climbing

Strengths off the bike:
I tend to have a pretty positive outlook and good patience.

Family Status:
Single, but I have one cat (Dora), stepdad to a very high maintenance dog (Telle).

Favorite Movies:
I don’t have any specific movies that are always ready to go, but Old School, Talladega Nights, Superbad are some favorites.

Currently on my iPod:
I have quite an eclectic mix right now.  Pearl Jam, Mettalica, and Snow Patrol are great for warming up or giving it hell on the trainer.  Otherwise, I have some R.E.M, The Cure, Johnny Cash, Cowboy Junkies, Adele in the rotation.

Little known fact about Bobby:
My younger brother Syd has 6 gold medals in cycling over 3 Special Olympic World Summer Games.

Website/Blog:
http://www.twowheeltales.com/wordpress/?author=8

Palmares

Career Highlights:
2008 U.S. Olympian
Member, U.S. World Championship Track Team, 2005, 2006, 2008
National Madison Champion 2007
National Points Race Champion 2005
National NCCA Road Race Champion 2005
National Team Pursuit Champion 2003, 2004, 2005
National Pursuit Champion, 2003, 2004
National Kilometer Champion, 2003
30-Time NCCA National Track Champion
8-Time Elite National Track Champion
5-Time Junior National Track Champion
2-Time NCCA National Road Champion

Wins:

2008
1st Walkersville Road Race
1st Tour of Ephrata Stage 1
1st Tour of Ephrata Stage 2
1st Lower Providence Criterium
1st International Omnium Grand Prix
1st Fastest Man on Wheels Scratch Race

2007
1st U.S. National 40 Km Madison Championships
1st KNBT Festival of Speed Madison
1st Stage 3 Tour of Christiana
1st Leonardtown Criterium
1st McDowell Mountain Regional Park Circuit Race
1st Men’s 1 Mile Dash for Cash Heat #1

2006
1st Tour of Ohio
1st Tour of Ohio Stage 2
1st Tour of Ohio Stage 3
1st Hobart A grade Points Race; Hobart, TAS, Aus
1st St. Helens A Grade Scratch Race, Hobart, St. Helens, TAS, Aus
1st Rosebery Sprint Derby; Rosebery, TAS, Aus
1st Rosebery Elimination; Rosebery, TAS, Aus
1st Open de Nations UCI Scratch Race; Trexlertown, PA

2005
1st National Points Race Championship
1st National Team Pursuit Championship
1st National Espoir Pursuit Championship
1st NCCA National Road Omnium Championship
1st NCCA National Road Race Championship
1st Burnie International Spring Derby (Tasmania)
1st Turkey Hill Country Classic
1st Lower Providence Criterium
1st Weldradsport Woche Stage Race
1st NCCA National Track Championships (Individual Omnium, Team Omnium, Pursuit, 1 Kilometer, Team Pursuit, Italian Pursuit)

2004
1st Turkey Hill Country Classic
1st Bethlehem Criterium
1st Bethesda Grand Prix
1st National 4km Pursuit Championships (Elite and U23)
1st National Team Pursuit Championships
1st National U23 Points Race Championship
1st NCCA National Track Championships (Individual Omnium, Team Omnium, Pursuit, 1 Kilometer, Points race, Team Pursuit, Italian Pursuit, )

2003
1st Collegiate Eastern Regional
1st Trexlertown 1 Mile
1st U23 Pursuit Championships
1st National 1 Kilometer Time Trial Championship (Elite and U23
1st National 4km Pursuit Championship (Elite and U23)
1st National Team Pursuit Championship
1st National U23 Points Race Championship
1st NCCA National Track Championships (Omnium, Pursuit, 1 Kilometer, Points race, Team Pursuit)

2002
1st Memorial Hall Criterium Pennsylvania
1st NCAA Eastern Regional Division I Overall
1st Pinecone Classic (New Jersey)
1st National U23 4km Pursuit Championship
1st NCCA National Track Championships (Omnium, Pursuit, 1 Kilometer, Team Pursuit)

Other Major Results:

2008
2nd Madison World Cup #4, Copenhagen, Denmark (w/Colby Pearce)
2nd Tour of Ephrata GC, Ephrata, PA
2nd Grant’s Tomb Criterium, New York, NY
7th Omnium, UCI Track World Championships, Manchester, England
8th Fiorenzuola 6-Day

2007
2nd Stage 1 TTT International Tour de Toona
2nd Stage 4 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic
2nd Stage 6 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
2nd North Jersey Cycling Classic
2nd Madison Cup
2nd Independence Day Grand Prix
3rd U.S. National Points Race Championships
3rd Tour de Ephrata
5th Charm City Cyclocross
5th U.S. National Scratch Race Championships
7th Overall Tour of Christiana
8th USPRO Criterium Championship
9th Raleigh Downtown Criterium
10th Stage 1 Valley of the Sun Stage Race

2006
3rd  Boise Twilight Criterium
4th World Cup Round 4 Scratch Race
7th Stage 2 International Cycling Classic - Superweek
8th World Cup Round 4 Points Race
10th Stage 3 International Cycling Classic - Superweek
10th Stage 12 International Cycling Classic-Superweek

2005
2nd Elite National Madison Championships
2nd Tour de Moore (Southern Pines, NC)
2nd NCCA National Criterium Championships
6th Prologue Nature Valley Grand Prix (Minneapolis, MN)
6th Espoir National Road Championships
8th Espoir National Time Trial Championships
6th Team Pursuit, Sydney World Cup
6th Launceston International Madison
10th Univest Grand Prix

2003
2nd Stage 1 Rog Tour (Holland)
2nd Memorial Hall Criterium

In his own words

What were some of the notable highlights - and lowlights - of your 2008 Beijing Olympic experience?

That’s a loaded question. It’s hard to list one particular high or low point of the Games. Initially, the greatest part of my Olympic experience was the Opening Ceremonies. My Dad was a member of the 1964 Olympic Team, so walking into the Bird’s Nest during the Parade of Nations was very emotional. I thought nothing could top that until I stepped onto the track to start my first event.

I was prepared for the emotions that hit me as I entered the stadium during the Opening Ceremonies. But nothing could prepare me for what I experienced as my first Olympic competition began. It was an incredible feeling, as we rolled off the rail and listened for the gunshot signaling the start of the race, to realize I was watching my dream unfold right before my eyes. I thought I had myself under control, but as we rolled down the track, a sensation washed over me that I had not experienced before, and it took me quite by surprise. It was an overwhelming sense of joy and satisfaction, as I realized I had accomplished my lifelong goal of competing in the Olympics.

The low point of my Olympic experience is simple. Of course I felt let down by the USOC and USA Cycling by the air filtration mask debacle, but I didn’t let that ruin my Olympics. The low point for me was when I realized that the Olympics, the one event in the world that is supposed to be free from political agendas, are very much in the evil grip of the world of politics.

For the 2009 season, you return to full-time racing on the road, where you’ve had plenty of success, in particular during your college days. Is the move to the road in some part based on timing post-Olympics?

My move to the road is based on two primary goals. First and foremost is the desire to win a medal on the track at the London Olympics. Without the fitness gained only from many miles spent suffering on the road, I haven’t a prayer of being competitive for an Olympic medal on the track.

Secondly, I would like to make a career out of racing my bike, and it seems as though road racing is the place to do that.

What are your goals or expectations for the 2009 season?

My list of goals for the 2009 season is very short.  My personal ambitions this year lay with my teammates, and doing my best to get them across the line first.  This year is all about building fitness for me, so working hard to contribute to a team win is right up my alley.

How did you spend this off-season? What did your off-season training program look like, aside from perhaps occasionally shoveling snow?

This off-season has been unlike an off season I have had to date. In the past, my off seasons have either entailed a full semester of school, or constant prep for a World Cup track event. It has been quite a change for me to be able to relax, and enjoy being at home. In the Mid-Atlantic we have a very good cyclocross calendar, so I raced a reasonably full schedule of ‘cross from October until December. I did take a solid four weeks off from racing and hard training, and I may have enjoyed the occasional beer or two with my new friends from Fifth Street Cross. For those of you that aren’t in the know, FSX is the best weekly ‘cross event in the country.

Who were/are your cycling mentors and/or influences?

I would have to say my parents and younger brother are and were my major cycling mentors and influences. My parents were racing for almost 15 years before I was born, so it’s their fault I’m doing this. And my brother is a very accomplished special needs cyclist (also holds his own as a cat. 4) who has a knack for keeping it all in perspective.

What was your first bike? When/how did you get it?

The first bike I remember had training wheels on it, and my parents bribed a kid with a trip to F.A.O Schwartz if he could teach me to ride without training wheels.  I have no idea what my first racing bike was, but it had 24″ wheels and was painted as a black KHS. It had toe clips and friction shifting; it wasn’t until I was a little older that I was able to upgrade to clipless pedals and indexed shifting. That was still pretty hot stuff back then, hardly worthy of a 10 year old aspiring racer.

What was your first win?

I think my first win was in the kid’s race at Tour de Moore some time around 1988, give or take a year. I don’t remember it too well though. The first win I really remember was the kid’s race in Point Pleasant, NJ around 1990. I had a bad start and came from way back to win it in the last 20 meters. Is that a sign I have been doing this for too long already?

What would you consider your finest moment on the bike?

I think depending on who you ask you may come up with different answers for this question. I think my best moment was my win at Olympic Trials this past season. If I didn’t win the trials, I wasn’t going to realize my dream of being an Olympian. To the surprise of many, I pulled it together and cranked out a time no one could come close to and thus accomplished my dream of competing in the Olympics.

What was your worst or most embarrassing moment on the bike?

There are two moments that come to mind. The first is when I was 11 or 12, and I lost to my younger brother in a handicap race on the track. It didn’t occur to me that ¾ of a lap would be really hard to make up in 2 laps.

The second was in 2005 at the New Jersey state track championships. I was competing in the match sprints, and my first round ride was against a rider who qualified just over a second slower than me in the 200 meter time trial. I jumped him pretty hard at about 250 to go and got quite a big gap. In an effort to conserve a little energy and also not be that guy who goes flat out when he is ¼ lap ahead on the final lap, I eased up a tried to cruise in. Maybe in a normal sprint event a person gapped by that much would have given up, but not this guy.  People started yelling and screaming about 50 meters before the line, just as I saw a shadow appearing over my right shoulder. I stood up and started sprinting again, but it was no use. I lost by a few centimeters and was out of the tournament.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on a bike ride?

There are so many strange things you come across while riding, it is hard to pick out, or for that matter remember, just one.  But, the one event that comes to mind happened in 2003 just outside of Greeneville, SC. I was on a training ride with a couple of friends, and as we rounded a corned two big, black dogs came running after us. Upon closer inspection I saw one dog, the faster of the two, was missing one of his front legs! His other three were operating just as if the fourth was in place, but in the spot where the leg should have been was just a huge muscle moving back and forth as if operating a phantom limb.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve done on a bike ride?

Off the top of my head I can’t recall any particularly strange thing I have done on a bike outside the realms of racing, training, commuting, or just screwing around as a kid.

What’s the one thing you’ve done on a ride (training or race) that you will absolutely never do again?

I plead the fifth.

When you’re not on your bike, what do you like to do?

I enjoy reading. I just finished reading “1,000 Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini, who may be more widely know as the author of “Kite Runner.” It was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it to anyone. I also enjoy the intricacies of roasting coffee. I bought my roaster about a year and a half ago, and have become completely addicted to the allure of tailoring the roast to my exact preferences.  The downside is it has turned me into a coffee snob, which makes it hard to find a suitable cup of coffee while on the road.

If you weren’t a professional cyclist, what would you be doing?

That is really hard to say since I have been involved with cycling all of my life. I imagine though that if I wasn’t a cyclist I would be involved with another sport at the elite level, such as rowing or speed skating.