John Tomac?

Question
Profile picture for user Question
Posts
3139
Joined
6/26/2014
Location
FR
Question 4/27/2017 2:11pm
4/27/2017 2:11pm
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
I'm starting to show my age... I watched John at all the major East Coast mountain bike races when I was a kid. He was next...
I'm starting to show my age... I watched John at all the major East Coast mountain bike races when I was a kid. He was next level, like GuyB said, he was next level at every category he raced.

Here's a few iconic photos I remember:




Awesome add, Eli is looking like John a lot !!!

Back to topic:
John Tomac is one of the very few names that is still known here in France for non MTB or BMX guys, like Hoffmann and Mira, these sports was relatively mainstream in the 90's, on at least 1 out 5 main national channels.

Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

mach6972
Profile picture for user mach6972
Posts
335
Joined
3/14/2012
Location
Charlotte, NC US
mach6972 4/27/2017 2:32pm
4/27/2017 2:32pm
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

I may be wrong but don't think so..
Titan1
Profile picture for user Titan1
Posts
8987
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT US
Titan1 4/27/2017 2:32pm
4/27/2017 2:32pm
mach6972 wrote:
Around 1993 I was racing a Norba National Down Hill at Helen Georgia,my sister was with me and we were walking by Tomacs rig (coach or...
Around 1993 I was racing a Norba National Down Hill at Helen Georgia,my sister was with me and we were walking by Tomacs rig (coach or motor home) there was a tiny window toward there rear and my sister said, there's a baby crawling out the window ! We stood there and no one else was around,she yelled, he's climbing out!!! She ran behind the taped off area to the window which was to high for her to reach and he jumped out in her arms ! I think my sister was laughing and crying at the same time,like happy she caught him but scared the hell out of her. Her and I start walking toward the main door and here comes Mrs. Tomac busting out the door running toward us. My sister said to her,he was climbing out the window,no one was around and I stuck my arms up and he jumped. Mrs.Tomac said ahhhh thank you then grabbed little Tomes and ran him back in the rig. John was standing there like wtf just happened !
Hold up...you saved Eli Tomacs life when he was a toddler? Potentially the coolest thing I've ever read on this message board...
crowe176
Profile picture for user crowe176
Posts
6614
Joined
9/8/2006
Location
Spring Lake, MI US
crowe176 4/27/2017 2:37pm
4/27/2017 2:37pm
All I know is when I was a kid, I would have given anything to have a Tioga tension disc on my Rockhopper.

The Shop

See All »
51xc
Profile picture for user 51xc
Posts
2190
Joined
7/27/2015
Location
DE
51xc 4/27/2017 2:58pm
4/27/2017 2:58pm
Sixeightone wrote:
John Tomac is on of the MOST Decorated Cyclists on the face of this planet. He has won everything from Downhill championships on drop handlebar mountain...
John Tomac is on of the MOST Decorated Cyclists on the face of this planet. He has won everything from Downhill championships on drop handlebar mountain bikes, to stages in the Tour De France. He is THE guy. Even owned and operated his own brand for a while "Tomac Bikes". When I race mountain bikes back in the day he was always at the races, and always spent time to talk to me! When he Developed the KENDA Blue Groove Tire (2002/2003) I was one of the first people to have them! I bought them when he first released them at a NORBA national at Mount Snow and John himself mounted them on my bike! Total bad ass! I'm super glad that his son is taking after him, makes me like Eli that much more! I have some pictures at home I'll upload later of him racing!


Another super awesome mountain bike guy who helps a lot with the TLD team is Brian Lopes! Him and Tomac used to be the guys when it came to dual slalom or 4x. Brian is a super nice guy too! I have his World Championship jersey signed to me hanging in my room! Those guys would spend all day talking to you! Didn't have to wait in line to see them either! They more often than not would go get dinner and beers with you too! Completely different industry, but so bad ass!
as far as I know he never competed at the tour de france but surely he didn't win a stage or multiple stages. he did more of the big monuments as far as I know and never won their either. he's still a bad ass tho...
doghouse
Profile picture for user doghouse
Posts
548
Joined
1/7/2017
Location
Virginia Beach, VA US
doghouse 4/27/2017 3:05pm
4/27/2017 3:05pm
Sixeightone wrote:
John Tomac is on of the MOST Decorated Cyclists on the face of this planet. He has won everything from Downhill championships on drop handlebar mountain...
John Tomac is on of the MOST Decorated Cyclists on the face of this planet. He has won everything from Downhill championships on drop handlebar mountain bikes, to stages in the Tour De France. He is THE guy. Even owned and operated his own brand for a while "Tomac Bikes". When I race mountain bikes back in the day he was always at the races, and always spent time to talk to me! When he Developed the KENDA Blue Groove Tire (2002/2003) I was one of the first people to have them! I bought them when he first released them at a NORBA national at Mount Snow and John himself mounted them on my bike! Total bad ass! I'm super glad that his son is taking after him, makes me like Eli that much more! I have some pictures at home I'll upload later of him racing!


Another super awesome mountain bike guy who helps a lot with the TLD team is Brian Lopes! Him and Tomac used to be the guys when it came to dual slalom or 4x. Brian is a super nice guy too! I have his World Championship jersey signed to me hanging in my room! Those guys would spend all day talking to you! Didn't have to wait in line to see them either! They more often than not would go get dinner and beers with you too! Completely different industry, but so bad ass!
51xc wrote:
as far as I know he never competed at the tour de france but surely he didn't win a stage or multiple stages. he did more...
as far as I know he never competed at the tour de france but surely he didn't win a stage or multiple stages. he did more of the big monuments as far as I know and never won their either. he's still a bad ass tho...
I don't think he raced the Tour, but he did do a Giro.
ob
Profile picture for user ob
Posts
1619
Joined
3/14/2010
Location
Carlsbad, CA US
ob 4/27/2017 3:06pm
4/27/2017 3:06pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 4:06pm
mach6972 wrote:
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike...
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

I may be wrong but don't think so..
Shawn Palmer, another Mt bike legend (And snowboarding, and skiing, etc) But I would say about as opposit from Tomac as you can get.
doghouse
Profile picture for user doghouse
Posts
548
Joined
1/7/2017
Location
Virginia Beach, VA US
doghouse 4/27/2017 3:09pm
4/27/2017 3:09pm
Firefly47 wrote:
In my eyes, Tomac and Steve Tilford were the 2 guys I looked up to coming up on XC bikes.
Ned Overend and Mike King were huge too.
doghouse
Profile picture for user doghouse
Posts
548
Joined
1/7/2017
Location
Virginia Beach, VA US
doghouse 4/27/2017 3:10pm
4/27/2017 3:10pm
mach6972 wrote:
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike...
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

I may be wrong but don't think so..
ob wrote:
Shawn Palmer, another Mt bike legend (And snowboarding, and skiing, etc) But I would say about as opposit from Tomac as you can get.
I always think of snowboarding first with Palmer.

Edit:Just saw your edit lol.
Hammer 663s
Profile picture for user Hammer 663s
Posts
2643
Joined
6/2/2016
Location
Forest Grove, OR US
Hammer 663s 4/27/2017 4:12pm
4/27/2017 4:12pm
mach6972 wrote:
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike...
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

I may be wrong but don't think so..
ob wrote:
Shawn Palmer, another Mt bike legend (And snowboarding, and skiing, etc) But I would say about as opposit from Tomac as you can get.
doghouse wrote:
I always think of snowboarding first with Palmer.

Edit:Just saw your edit lol.
Dang I haven't heard those names in years. I haven't raced MTB in a long time and had forgotten them. Remember that HUGE paper catalog that used to be the parts bible back in the late 80s? Before internet? Can't remember the name of it. I used to drool over that regularly.

I still have a mostly-original Girvin ProFlex 857 in the garage. Noleen shocks and all. Had the Amp B3 and B4s, Psycle Werks Wild Hare, and more. All gone now. Wish I still had them.

Hammer
acres951
Profile picture for user acres951
Posts
231
Joined
8/14/2016
Location
CA
acres951 4/27/2017 7:50pm
4/27/2017 7:50pm
Openwheel racer wrote:
I grew up racing BMX with John in MI. He was very strong and fast. Guy B would probably know for sure, but I believe he...
I grew up racing BMX with John in MI. He was very strong and fast. Guy B would probably know for sure, but I believe he had some connection with the Rupe brothers (BMX) maybe by marriage. They all got into Mountain Biking just as it was getting popular.
Huh, surprising he was married to a Rupe brother.

Couldn't resist.
GuyB
Profile picture for user GuyB
Posts
35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA US
GuyB 4/27/2017 9:20pm
4/27/2017 9:20pm
Okay, here are a couple vintage photos...one of John (I think it was in Mt. Snow, VT, at a NORBA National), and the other is John with a young tyke. Smile





Question
Profile picture for user Question
Posts
3139
Joined
6/26/2014
Location
FR
Question 4/28/2017 12:33am
4/28/2017 12:33am
mach6972 wrote:
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike...
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

I may be wrong but don't think so..
ob wrote:
Shawn Palmer, another Mt bike legend (And snowboarding, and skiing, etc) But I would say about as opposit from Tomac as you can get.
doghouse wrote:
I always think of snowboarding first with Palmer.

Edit:Just saw your edit lol.
Thanks to refresh my memory.

Awesome pics again!
NorCalRedRyder 4/28/2017 2:29am
4/28/2017 2:29am
mach6972 wrote:
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike...
Btw: i always forget 1 name, a legend too, a MTB or DH champ that also made the main in SX 125 with a PC bike. Anyone can help?

I may be wrong but don't think so..
ob wrote:
Shawn Palmer, another Mt bike legend (And snowboarding, and skiing, etc) But I would say about as opposit from Tomac as you can get.
Forgot about Palmer he was badass on anything. Got to party at his house in South Lake back in the day, guy was nuts but cool as shit. I've only seen tweakers with more energy than that him!
feelnjstfine
Profile picture for user feelnjstfine
Posts
207
Joined
8/9/2009
Location
Portland, OR US
feelnjstfine 4/28/2017 6:53am
4/28/2017 6:53am
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
Forgot about Palmer he was badass on anything. Got to party at his house in South Lake back in the day, guy was nuts but cool...
Forgot about Palmer he was badass on anything. Got to party at his house in South Lake back in the day, guy was nuts but cool as shit. I've only seen tweakers with more energy than that him!
Um, tweaker energy because he pretty much was one in those party days.

Pit Row

See All »
MX-LIFE.
Profile picture for user MX-LIFE.
Posts
566
Joined
9/30/2009
Location
Redford, MI US
MX-LIFE. 4/28/2017 7:07am
4/28/2017 7:07am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2017 7:10am
John Tomac is originally from Mi,I raced BMX with him back in the late 70's early 80's here in Mi and he later went on to race mountain bikes and the rest as they say is history he was killing the mountain bike scene! He was pretty good at racing BMX also! Lol
feelnjstfine
Profile picture for user feelnjstfine
Posts
207
Joined
8/9/2009
Location
Portland, OR US
feelnjstfine 4/28/2017 7:32am
4/28/2017 7:32am
MX-LIFE. wrote:
John Tomac is originally from Mi,I raced BMX with him back in the late 70's early 80's here in Mi and he later went on to...
John Tomac is originally from Mi,I raced BMX with him back in the late 70's early 80's here in Mi and he later went on to race mountain bikes and the rest as they say is history he was killing the mountain bike scene! He was pretty good at racing BMX also! Lol
Redford, you grow up there? My family is from there and my uncle owned Lola Valley Cycles in the 90's.
jeffro503
Profile picture for user jeffro503
Posts
27518
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR US
jeffro503 4/28/2017 8:28am
4/28/2017 8:28am
Whoa! This pic is so cool! Just looking at that kid , you know it's Eli. And his dad , even in the BMX circles everyone knew how much of a badass John was. Pretty sure those genes transferred right on over to Eli. Great pic GuyB!

JustPuttinAround 4/28/2017 8:45am
4/28/2017 8:45am
Jspazz wrote:
Thought the thread title was a joke at first, now realize I am old. To me there is Tomac, then there is Eli. Im sure there...
Thought the thread title was a joke at first, now realize I am old.

To me there is Tomac, then there is Eli.

Im sure there is nothing that Aldon has on JT. Shows this year.
I was racing at Mammoth one year in the late 90's and Eli showed up on his RM and was making noise in the mini classes. There was talk in the pits was about how he was THEE John Tomac's kid...not a big mountain bike guy, but even I knew what that meant....
mach6972
Profile picture for user mach6972
Posts
335
Joined
3/14/2012
Location
Charlotte, NC US
mach6972 4/28/2017 10:30am
4/28/2017 10:30am
Dirty Britches wrote:
Speaking of mountain bike legends. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/04/28/191128/s1200_sammy.jpg[/img]
Speaking of mountain bike legends.



Tinker Juarez bleach his hair?
mach6972
Profile picture for user mach6972
Posts
335
Joined
3/14/2012
Location
Charlotte, NC US
mach6972 4/28/2017 10:41am
4/28/2017 10:41am
mach6972 wrote:
Around 1993 I was racing a Norba National Down Hill at Helen Georgia,my sister was with me and we were walking by Tomacs rig (coach or...
Around 1993 I was racing a Norba National Down Hill at Helen Georgia,my sister was with me and we were walking by Tomacs rig (coach or motor home) there was a tiny window toward there rear and my sister said, there's a baby crawling out the window ! We stood there and no one else was around,she yelled, he's climbing out!!! She ran behind the taped off area to the window which was to high for her to reach and he jumped out in her arms ! I think my sister was laughing and crying at the same time,like happy she caught him but scared the hell out of her. Her and I start walking toward the main door and here comes Mrs. Tomac busting out the door running toward us. My sister said to her,he was climbing out the window,no one was around and I stuck my arms up and he jumped. Mrs.Tomac said ahhhh thank you then grabbed little Tomes and ran him back in the rig. John was standing there like wtf just happened !
Titan1 wrote:
Hold up...you saved Eli Tomacs life when he was a toddler? Potentially the coolest thing I've ever read on this message board...
well he was going head first thats for sure ! no hesitation either,he wasn't looking out the window thinking about it he was coming out ! lol
GrapeApe
Profile picture for user GrapeApe
Posts
7750
Joined
6/7/2010
Location
Mc Kinney, TX US
Fantasy
1569th
GrapeApe 4/28/2017 10:50am
4/28/2017 10:50am
I think Eli's bars are wider than John's. Crazy how narrow we ran our bars in the 90's.
ayearinmx
Profile picture for user ayearinmx
Posts
2760
Joined
3/5/2007
Location
GB
ayearinmx 4/28/2017 11:35am
4/28/2017 11:35am
Uplift spaces are opened up 3 months out and they usually go pretty fast... But there are a lot of spaces and they seem to be getting more mini buses each time i go... Well worth a MTB trip to south Wales though... Bunch of really awesome trail centres all close.
In fact Wales is one of the best MTB countries in the world imho and I've ridden a fair number of places.
Roscoe33
Profile picture for user Roscoe33
Posts
942
Joined
12/10/2009
Location
London CA
Roscoe33 4/28/2017 11:59am
4/28/2017 11:59am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2017 1:26pm
I used to own a Eddy Mercykx U.S postal team bicycle that was made to measure for John Tomac to race the Tour De France on for the climbing sections.

The story I heard was that he got kicked out of the tour before it started by doing a wheelie for the French crowd.

When your father has heart rate less your age and measures success on elevation feet climbed each day it's no wonder Eli is doing well.
Real Mr. K.I.A. 4/28/2017 1:25pm
4/28/2017 1:25pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2017 1:40pm
Whoever mentioned Palmer...Palmer made Mountain Biking cool by not only winning, ALOT, but by bringing the whole motocross look to the sport. He also kept good company.

Same with Skiing and Boardercross. Smoking the best of the best in moto stuff instead of goofy round helmets.

Nobody has won more types of different sports than Palmer at the Highest level.
Snowboards, Skiiing, Mountain Bikes, Car racing. And competitive at a crap load of other sports also at the highest level.
As mentioned, he made a main in SX.

That's why USA today called him the worlds greatest athlete, which ultimately Penthouse ran an article about it also.








https://youtu.be/AmYM-O9PEps

Post a reply to: John Tomac?