John Tomac?

early
Profile picture for user early
Posts
10112
Joined
2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH, USA
early 4/25/2017 7:19pm
4/25/2017 7:19pm

When John was racing alot of road he put drop bars on his downhill bike because hebwas used to them...crazy!

At some point i remember Matthes had Eli on the phone and asked him if there was ever a time he was going to race mountain bikes instead of MX and he said no, it had always been moto. Dad probably knew there was no real money in mountain bikes.
Openwheel racer 4/25/2017 7:22pm
4/25/2017 7:22pm
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.
GuyB
Profile picture for user GuyB
Posts
35722
Joined
7/10/2006
Location
Aliso Viejo, CA, USA
GuyB 4/25/2017 8:23pm
4/25/2017 8:23pm
I shot this cover BITD.



Jbulz
Profile picture for user Jbulz
Posts
871
Joined
3/29/2016
Location
Ithaca, NY, USA
Jbulz 4/25/2017 8:25pm
4/25/2017 8:25pm
GuyB wrote:
I shot this cover BITD. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/04/25/190498/s1200_IMG_5851.jpg[/img]
I shot this cover BITD.



Wow, you can sure see the resemblance between Eli and his dad in that picture

The Shop

See All »
chuckie108
Profile picture for user chuckie108
Posts
835
Joined
2/8/2012
Location
Mira Loma, CA, USA
chuckie108 4/25/2017 9:13pm
4/25/2017 9:13pm
Johnny T is the only guy to win world cup rounds in both XC and DH- that will NEVER be done again. Bad mofo for sure!
friday10
Profile picture for user friday10
Posts
639
Joined
12/15/2009
Location
Northridge, CA, USA
friday10 4/25/2017 9:17pm
4/25/2017 9:17pm
Me and JT at the Sierra 7500 many moons ago.


Jspazz
Profile picture for user Jspazz
Posts
159
Joined
2/1/2015
Location
CA
Jspazz 4/25/2017 10:59pm
4/25/2017 10:59pm
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.
Anonymous (not verified)
Profile picture for user Anonymous
Profile picture for user Anonymous
Anonymous (not verified) 4/27/2017 8:35am
4/27/2017 8:35am Edited Date/Time 9/1/2026 6:11pm
Johnny T was the man back when mountain biking was way bigger than MX. In the 90s it was probably a mainstream sport with big dollars. How do you guys think him and Eli got to persue a mx career? With a big ranch and tracks and all that. That's cycling money. Hero status, Eli hasn't gotten close to what his dad did, yet.
TJ 755
Profile picture for user TJ 755
Posts
1893
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
North Bend, WA, USA
TJ 755 4/27/2017 8:52am
4/27/2017 8:52am
I was at one of the early NORBA nationals at Big bear around 87-88 and I will never forget how fast he came down that hill with that Tioga flex disc rear wheel making the weirdest warble sound you ever heard.
TJ 755
Profile picture for user TJ 755
Posts
1893
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
North Bend, WA, USA
TJ 755 4/27/2017 9:00am
4/27/2017 9:00am
looks alot like Eli in this pic

Ted722
Profile picture for user Ted722
Posts
4577
Joined
9/21/2011
Location
Sacramento, CA, USA
Ted722 4/27/2017 9:03am
4/27/2017 9:03am
^^...and these!


kburgie
Profile picture for user kburgie
Posts
223
Joined
5/28/2010
Location
USA
kburgie 4/27/2017 9:09am
4/27/2017 9:09am
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'm 31 and have followed MX since around 2000 (now I feel old). I've always known John Tomac as a mountain bike legend, but never witnessed his performances myself. Every time I see him referenced as such a bad dude it makes me wonder how many people really saw him, and how many are just repeating what they've heard. Does that make sense?
scootch
Profile picture for user scootch
Posts
625
Joined
1/24/2017
Location
Fort Worth, TX, USA
scootch 4/27/2017 9:12am
4/27/2017 9:12am
Give #tomactuesday on Instagram a scroll
dedi684
Profile picture for user dedi684
Posts
1389
Joined
8/21/2009
Location
Ravena, NY, USA
dedi684 4/27/2017 9:13am
4/27/2017 9:13am
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.
Eric Rupe? Damn I rode a Mongoose Eric Rupe would love to find one!
dedi684
Profile picture for user dedi684
Posts
1389
Joined
8/21/2009
Location
Ravena, NY, USA
dedi684 4/27/2017 9:13am
4/27/2017 9:13am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 9:14am
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.
.
huck
Profile picture for user huck
Posts
17050
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Mountain Home, AR, USA
huck 4/27/2017 9:25am
4/27/2017 9:25am
I was lined up for the Vet practice at the Branson 'national' one year. Next to me I see the back of the guys helmet and it said John Tomac. I struck up a conversation with him and we chatted for 20 minutes while waiting for our practice. I asked him if he rode mtn bikes much any more...and he said that his son's racing kept them pretty busy. Eli was on 50s at the time...and was in his first magazine a few weeks after that. When I got back to the pits, I told everybody about it...but nobody had heard of John.


BTW, I passed John on the track.
doghouse
Profile picture for user doghouse
Posts
548
Joined
1/7/2017
Location
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
doghouse 4/27/2017 9:28am
4/27/2017 9:28am
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 know right?
doghouse
Profile picture for user doghouse
Posts
548
Joined
1/7/2017
Location
Virginia Beach, VA, USA
doghouse 4/27/2017 9:33am
4/27/2017 9:33am
kburgie wrote:
I'm 31 and have followed MX since around 2000 (now I feel old). I've always known John Tomac as a mountain bike legend, but never witnessed...
I'm 31 and have followed MX since around 2000 (now I feel old). I've always known John Tomac as a mountain bike legend, but never witnessed his performances myself. Every time I see him referenced as such a bad dude it makes me wonder how many people really saw him, and how many are just repeating what they've heard. Does that make sense?
Sure, definitely makes if you just started following either MX or MTB around the millennium.

I think most of us mid 30's and up actually remember him in real time, I started on MTB in elementary school as it was just beginning to ramp up in popularity. In high school it was a great time, really the golden era of MTBing as a sport, just so much development and progression. All the sick bikes that came out from Fisher and Yeti, Litespeed, FAT cycles, etc.. Tomac was larger than life, total animal on the bike.

Another hard charger was Missy Giove, she was from my hometown. Insane on downhills.

Pit Row

See All »
Anonymous (not verified)
Profile picture for user Anonymous
Profile picture for user Anonymous
Anonymous (not verified) 4/27/2017 10:00am
4/27/2017 10:00am Edited Date/Time 9/1/2026 6:11pm

This is a good one
TJMX947
Profile picture for user TJMX947
Posts
746
Joined
3/6/2017
Location
Indian Trail, NC, USA
TJMX947 4/27/2017 10:45am
4/27/2017 10:45am
I saw him riding his 29er the day after Red Bud in 2010. I was out in the camping area and he was just leisurely riding over by the woods, cowboy hat and all. Had my leg not been broken at the time I would have chased him down. Legend.
Bearuno
Profile picture for user Bearuno
Posts
5645
Joined
6/28/2014
Location
AU
Bearuno 4/27/2017 11:01am
4/27/2017 11:01am
early wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/04/25/190489/s1200_f8a67f9df7242311a23253f01af96f3e.jpg[/img] When John was racing alot of road he put drop bars on his downhill bike because hebwas used to them...crazy! At some point i remember...

When John was racing alot of road he put drop bars on his downhill bike because hebwas used to them...crazy!

At some point i remember Matthes had Eli on the phone and asked him if there was ever a time he was going to race mountain bikes instead of MX and he said no, it had always been moto. Dad probably knew there was no real money in mountain bikes.
No real money in Mountain Bikes?

How in hell do you think John Tomac got that Ranch etc in Colorado that Eli grew up on? Eli grew up with one hell of a lifestyle, through his Dad's earnings.

John Tomac was noted for being one of the canniest / financially turned on riders, in a time when there was a hell of a lot of money in MTBs. That money is what enticed him towards MTB from BMX. There still is plenty of money in MTB / Bicycling at the highest levels , but at one point, there was ridiculous money being paid to a hell of a lot of MTB riders, and then there was someone like JT - making serious, Serious money, and, deservedly so.
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2245
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
mx_563 4/27/2017 11:45am
4/27/2017 11:45am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 11:47am
I first heard of him when I was in College, in the 90s. Seemed like he was getting a lot of coverage in the fledgling mountain bike press at the time. And I wasn't even really into cycling. Didn't even own a bike at the time.

So when Eli started getting some press as a Suzuki 80cc rider, I remember immediately thinking of John. Yeah, all the references to his glory and fame are legit.

EDIT: Wasn't John heavily involved in the development of the Mongoose BMX Cruiser line?
tp4
Profile picture for user tp4
Posts
638
Joined
2/2/2008
Location
USA
tp4 4/27/2017 11:57am
4/27/2017 11:57am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 11:58am
he loved moto..he came out and raced perris when Goat ran it...!
Hammer 663s
Profile picture for user Hammer 663s
Posts
3115
Joined
6/2/2016
Location
None, AE, USA
Hammer 663s 4/27/2017 12:42pm
4/27/2017 12:42pm
I raced against him once in Ottawa, Canada years ago at a regional event. I want to say 92 or 93. I was a pretty fast ~29 year old at that time. I forget how many times he lapped me. Kinda like at Hangtown when the Enticknap Bros would go out in the open session. Embarrassing. No idea why he was even racing something that small - appearance fee maybe, or maybe there was another bigger race nearby. He was the MAN then in cross country. Like Missy Giove was with Women's Downhill MTB.

Hammer 663s
-eagle-
Profile picture for user -eagle-
Posts
1610
Joined
5/9/2008
Location
ZW
-eagle- 4/27/2017 1:00pm
4/27/2017 1:00pm
This little gem too:

JOHN TOMAC. Cortez, CO
2001: Vet B/C Plus 30

Source: Vet B Champ
Firefly47
Profile picture for user Firefly47
Posts
597
Joined
8/26/2015
Location
Fayetteville, GA, USA
Firefly47 4/27/2017 1:10pm
4/27/2017 1:10pm
In my eyes, Tomac and Steve Tilford were the 2 guys I looked up to coming up on XC bikes.
Moto_Geek
Profile picture for user Moto_Geek
Posts
1826
Joined
6/26/2007
Location
Golden, CO, USA
Moto_Geek 4/27/2017 1:33pm
4/27/2017 1:33pm
I just want an invitation for ride day at his mx track in Cortez..
mach6972
Profile picture for user mach6972
Posts
331
Joined
3/14/2012
Location
Charlotte, NC, USA
mach6972 4/27/2017 1:40pm
4/27/2017 1:40pm
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 !
early
Profile picture for user early
Posts
10112
Joined
2/13/2013
Location
University Heights, OH, USA
early 4/27/2017 1:57pm
4/27/2017 1:57pm
early wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/04/25/190489/s1200_f8a67f9df7242311a23253f01af96f3e.jpg[/img] When John was racing alot of road he put drop bars on his downhill bike because hebwas used to them...crazy! At some point i remember...

When John was racing alot of road he put drop bars on his downhill bike because hebwas used to them...crazy!

At some point i remember Matthes had Eli on the phone and asked him if there was ever a time he was going to race mountain bikes instead of MX and he said no, it had always been moto. Dad probably knew there was no real money in mountain bikes.
Bearuno wrote:
No real money in Mountain Bikes? How in hell do you think John Tomac got that Ranch etc in Colorado that Eli grew up on? Eli...
No real money in Mountain Bikes?

How in hell do you think John Tomac got that Ranch etc in Colorado that Eli grew up on? Eli grew up with one hell of a lifestyle, through his Dad's earnings.

John Tomac was noted for being one of the canniest / financially turned on riders, in a time when there was a hell of a lot of money in MTBs. That money is what enticed him towards MTB from BMX. There still is plenty of money in MTB / Bicycling at the highest levels , but at one point, there was ridiculous money being paid to a hell of a lot of MTB riders, and then there was someone like JT - making serious, Serious money, and, deservedly so.
Im not saying John didnt make good money at the time in mountain biking. Im saying that John didnt push his son to follow in his footsteps because he knew what the atmoshpere in cycling was with doping and money for pros being tight.

We complain alot about how much pro mx pays which is low compared to traditional sports or top level car racing, but if you compare it to other outdoor recreation sports which it more closely resembles the pay for the top guys is pretty good.
Sixeightone
Profile picture for user Sixeightone
Posts
362
Joined
3/8/2014
Location
Central, CT, USA
Sixeightone 4/27/2017 2:10pm
4/27/2017 2:10pm Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 2:16pm
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!

Post a reply to: John Tomac?