From BMX racing in the 1970's to Mountain Bike endurance racing in the 21st century and now Road Bike racing, Tinker Juarez has become one of the most enduring and popular figures in the bicycle sport. With his trademark dreadlocks, Tinker is also one the sport's most recognizable figures.

In his BMX heyday, Tinker was part of the dominant Mongoose team, and was crowned the original title of "King of the Skateparks." His tough work ethics and rigorous training schedule for BMX provided the perfect crossover to mountain bikes in 86. Although he claimed early fame in the BMX world, Tinker’s biggest accomplishment to this day is becoming one of the first two mountain bikers to represent the USA in the 1996 Olympics. He is a three-time U.S. National Champion, a two-time U.S. Olympian, a Pan Am Games Gold Medalist, and a World Championships Silver Medallist. Tinker was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2001.

Equally important, Tinker has been a wonderful ambassador to the sport for 20 years unmarred by either incident or controversy. Somewhat reserved by nature, Tinker will nonetheless always take time out to chat with fans or sign autographs. As a result, Tinker is still among the most popular competitors in mountain bike racing today. One only needs to hear the roar from the crowd when he’s called up to the starting line, or hear the cheers for Tinker from fans along the course, to understand how popular a figure he is.

On a larger scale, Tinker is also emblematic of the positive effect that mountain biking can have. After growing up poor in inner-city Los Angeles, Tinker used BMX and then mountain bike racing as his means of escape. Today, Tinker is an accomplished, successful athlete who has traveled the world, figuratively and literally, on his mountain bike.

At 43, Tinker won his seventh National Championship in 2004, winning the 24 Hour Solo category at Laguna Seca near Monterey, California. The win is Tinker's fourth consecutive national championship in the 24 hour solo category, to go with his three NORBA national cross-country titles. The ageless Juarez pedaled a total of 20 laps en route to victory.

Tinker Juarez, now 45 and into his 20th season of mountain bike racing, started off his 2005 campaign by successfully defending his title at the 12 Hours of Razorback in Riddick, Florida and ended the year with a win in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Last year (05), Tinker broke into the long distance road racing scene and has now qualified for the 2006 RAAM race (Race Across AMerica) by taking second place in the Furnace Creek 508, with a time under the old record.

BIO
David “Tinker” Juarez (USA)
DOB: March 4, 1961
Home Town: Downey, CA

Discipline: Cross-Country, Distance Road Racing
Trains: in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains
Height: 5’8" Weight: 140 lb.
Began Racing Mountain Bikes: 1986
Competitive Background: BMX
Hobbies: His Volvo 850 Turbo, motorcycle riding
How he got his nickname: Tinker says, "It came from way back, when I was riding as a kid. It just stuck with me."
Mom Rose says: “We used to say 'Stinker' when he was a baby, everybody thought we were saying 'Tinker.'
Favorite Race: Big Bear, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• 2005 Furnace Creek 508 mile road race, second place
• 2005 Presented with Cannondale's Icon Award
• Inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2001
• 3-Time NORBA National Cross-Country Champion (’98, ’95, ’94)
• Two-Time US Olympic Team Member (’96, ’00)
• 4-Time consecutive National Champion, 24 - hour solo category
• 2002 24 Hour National Champion
• 2001 NORBA National Champion, 24-Hour Solo Category
• 2000 NORBA Cross-Country, Mt. Snow - fifth place
• 2000 NORBA Cross-Country, Mammoth and Crystal Mountain - seventh place
• 2000 World Cup Cross-Country, Mazatlan - tenth place
• 1999 NORBA Short Track Overall - fifth place
• 1999 NORBA Cross-Country Overall - ninth place
• 1998 NCA Cross-Country Finals - first place
• 1998 NCS Cross-Country; Red Wing - second place
• 1998 Tour of the Rockies, Overall - third place
• 1995 Pan American Games - Gold Medal
• 1994 World Cross-Country Championships - Silver Medal
• 1993 Inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame
  

Full Resume for download upon request.