Racing > Backbone Adventure Cycling

Team Bios

Bert Blanchette - California
Pro Singlespeed/CX/Super-D
Quoted as saying, "I am the greatest singlespeed racer of all time", Bert Blanchette is a modest and humble man wise well beyond his 50 years.




RACE RESULTS
06/28/2008 - Deer Valley National Presented by Subaru Gary Fish - Cross Country - Semi-Pro - 10th place
05/18/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - Cross Country - Pro/Semi-Pro - 3rd place
05/03/2008 - Idyllwild Spring Challenge - Cross Country - Semi-Pro 18th place
04/18/2008 - Sea Otter Classic-2008 MOUNTAIN - SUPER D - - 3rd place
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - SUPER D - 2nd place
03/29/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - Cross Country - Pro/Semi-Pro - Single Speed 5th
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - SUPER D - 2nd place
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - Cross Country - Semi-Pro - 15th place
2006 Super-D National Champion; Sonoma, California
2006 Super-D Gold Medal, Fontana National Championship Race
2006 Super-D 4th Place, Deer Valley National Championship Race
2007 Super-D Bronze Medal; Sea Otter Classic
2007 Semi Pro XC; Bronze Medal; Firestone National Championship Race/ Bronze Medal; Super-D
2007 Super-D Silver Medal; Fontana National Championship Race/ 5th Place Pro Singlespeed

Charles Libolt
Pro/Semi Pro DH
Taylor to his friends and many lovers, this speed freak dangles on the edge of sanity and reason, not to mention the most dangerous cliffs he can find... Quoted as saying, "F**K YOU!" this maniac is my kind of guy. me-ow!!




RACE RESULTS
06/22/2008 - MSC #4 - Wildflower Rush - Downhill - Semi-Pro - 10th
06/07/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - Downhill - Pro - 6th
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - Downhill - Semi-Pro - 21st
07/20/2008 - Cal State DH Race, Tahoe California - Downhill - Pro - 12th
2008 Southridge Winter Series - Downhill - Semi-Pro - 2nd overall
2008 Southridge Challenge= 4th place
Cal State #1 (Fontana)= 3rd place
Cal State #2 (Woodward)= 4th place
Cal State #3 (Fontana)= 2nd place

Vanessa Humic - California
Expert XC/SD/CX
Our tiny friend Vanessa is quoted as saying. "hey! I'm bigger than I look!" None of us quite know what she meant by that, but then she's so cute and sweet that we just smile and nod.




Learn all about Vanessa's sick sense of humor at: www.vanessahumic.blogspot.com

RACE RESULTS
07/13/2008 - Rim Nordic XC Series - Cross Country - Expert - 1st
06/07/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - SUPER D - 2nd
06/01/2008 - Big Bear Shoot Out #1 - Cross Country - Expert - 1st
05/18/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - SUPER D -2nd
05/18/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - Cross Country - Expert - 8th
05/03/2008 - Idyllwild Spring Challenge - Cross Country - Expert - 2nd
04/06/2008 - Nova National Stage Race NMBS #2 Presented by SOBE - Cross Country - Expert - 9th
04/04/2008 - Nova National Stage Race NMBS # 2 Presented by SOB - SUPER D - Expert -6th
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - SUPER D - 3rd
03/29/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - Cross Country -Expert-7th
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - Cross Country - Expert - 1st
1st Overall Rim Nordic Series
2nd Cal State Series
Top ten overall NMBS series

"Vegas Bob" Snyder - California
Expert XC/Road
Welcome to Vegas! Vegas Bob! He has the strength of 1 man, 3 wild hogs, and 12 small white lab rats. But don't be intimidated by this strapping stud. He's the same as you and me... well sort of. What happens in Vegas - stays in Vegas. Remember that. Check it out: www.bobisblogging.blogspot.com




RACE RESULTS
06/28/2008 - Deer Valley National Presented by Subaru Gary Fish - Cross Country - Expert - 7th
06/08/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - Cross Country - Expert - 1st
06/01/2008 - Big Bear Shoot Out #1 - Cross Country - Expert - 13th
05/18/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - Cross Country - Expert - 9th
05/03/2008 - Idyllwild Spring Challenge - Cross Country - Expert - 3rd
04/19/2008 - Sea Otter Classic-2008 MOUNTAIN - Short Track - Expert- 4th
04/06/2008 - Nova National Stage Race NMBS #2 Presented by SOBE - Cross Country - Expert - 16th
04/05/2008 - Nova National Stage Race NMBS #2 Presented by SOBE - Short Track - Expert - 7th
04/04/2008 - Nova National Stage Race NMBS # 2 Presented by SOB - SUPER D - Expert - 12th
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - Cross Country - Expert - 13th
6th Place, Firestone NMBS;
8th pl. Overall Cal State Series

Brant Hatton - California
Expert XC
Brant Hatton is the new guy. He's fast, hairy, and inked up more than a Fulsom Prison license plate stamper. He's scary to look at and scarier to race against. He makes me want to hand him my wallet. An ex US Marine, Brant will beat you, then do an about-face on your junk - Just because he can.



RACE RESULTS
06/08/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - Cross Country - Expert - 12th place
06/07/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - SUPER D - 2nd place
06/01/2008 - Big Bear Shoot Out #1 - Cross Country - Expert - 5th place
05/18/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - SUPER D - - Master - 2nd place
05/18/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - Cross Country - Expert - Master - 4th place
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - SUPER D - - Master - 1st place
03/29/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - Cross Country - Expert -16th place
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - SUPER D - - Master - 1st place
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - Cross Country - Expert - 12th place
09/09/2007 - Big Bear Shoot Out #2 - Cross Country - Expert - 1st place
08/27/2007 - Rim Nordic XC Series - Cross Country - Expert - 6th place
08/06/2007 - Rim Nordic XC Series - Cross Country - Expert - 1st place
07/16/2007 - Rim Nordic So Cal State #6 - Cross Country - Expert - 1st place
07/01/2007 - Big Bear Shoot Out #1 - Cross Country - Expert - 6th place
06/02/2007 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - Cross Country - Expert - 3rd place

Jeff "Tookie" Williams - Kentucky
24hr Solo XC
Jeff "Tookie" Williams gets his name from a So. Cal. gangster who got the chair. Jeff will "Tookie" your podium spot if you race endurance in the East. Then he will stop for fried chicken and gravy biscuits at Shoney's just to mock you. Keep it real, Tookie!



RACE RESULTS
2008 24 Hrs Of Burn, Asheville NC - Pro - 17th
2008 Wayne Ultra 100 - Pro - 16th
2007 12 Hrs of Deep South - Pro -1st place
Ryan Blanchette - California
Sport XC
"Baby-Bert" has grown up fast here at BAC. He's already married with seven kids, and has a mortgage and a Hummer. Not THAT Hummer you dirty pigs. His voice has changed, and his legs are all hairy now, but he's still super fast and we love this little cracker.

RACE RESULTS
06/29/2008 - Deer Valley National Presented by Subaru Gary Fish - Cross Country - Sport - 5th
06/08/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - Cross Country - Sport - 3rd
05/17/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - Cross Country - Sport - 6th
04/18/2008 - Sea Otter Classic-2008 MOUNTAIN - SUPER D - 12th
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - SUPER D - 2nd
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - Cross Country - Sport - 5th

Abel Vaca - California
Sport XC/DH
Orale vato! Abel Vaca-Nava-Guava-Java-Lava-Rico Suava is the fastest Messican in Pacoima. Packin' heat on every ride, he likes to watch old Charro movies, and hit things like a Pinata. Watch your bike - Abel may get a new ride for Christmas!



RACE RESULTS
2008 - Out due to injury

Jim Roff - Colorado
Colorado Team Manager
Jim Roff takes all the U-23 kids from Colorado and makes them Pro's. He has two of Tom Wehe's favorite ladies, Rhoda and Bri, and is a triple threat on race day. He's a DH, XC, and DS fiend who loves his micro-brew and his team. Check out Jims super hilarious blog site: www.theroffreport.blogspot.com



RACE RESULTS
07/13/2008 - MTN States Cup #5, Blast the Mass - Downhill - Expert - Master - DNP
06/22/2008 - MSC #4 - Wildflower Rush - Downhill - Expert - 12th

Matt Thome - California
Junior 14 & Under
Matt Thome is the newest addition to the Backbone family. He is Ryan Blanchette's wingman, and is super-fast baby-pro! Matt is a junior lifeguard in H.B., and a water polo player.....like anyone cares about anything but mountain biking..GAWD! Matt's dad, Mark lives out his dreams of being a Pro racer by living vicariously through his son, flogging him like a mule to finish well (not really). Welcome to the family!



RACE RESULTS
06/08/2008 - Santa Barbara Bicycle Festival - Cross Country - Sport - 2nd
06/01/2008 - Big Bear Shoot Out #1 - Cross Country - Sport - 2nd
05/17/2008 - Santa Ynez Valley National-NMBS #3 - Cross Country - Sport - 4th
03/30/2008 - Fontana National Presented by MAXXIS NMBS#1 - Cross Country - Sport - 4th
03/09/2008 - Bonelli Park - Cross Country - Sport - 3rd
5/20/2007 Lake Castaic XC NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 3rd
4/28/2007 Firestone Walker - Santa Ynez Valley Classic NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 3rd
4/22/2007 Sea Otter Classic NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 11th
3/31/2007 California State Series #1 NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 1st
7/15/2007 RIm Nordic XC NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 3rd
7/1/2007 Cal State Big Bear Shotout #1 NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 5th
6/24/2007 Rim Nordic #1 NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under 5th
6/2/2007 Elings Park XC- Cal State Series NORBA - Male Junior 14 & Under1st