Colorado native Nat Ross is one of the most decorated riders in the world of endurance mountain-bike racing. When he’s not winning solo endurance races across the globe, the affable 33-year-old is running Tough Guy Productions, a video company that is one of the most vocal champions for new-school telemark skiing and endurance bike racing.
What’s your best training technique?
It helps to start early in the winter and ride in gnarly conditions. It gets you tough. I do both hills and speed work to stay strong.
Most frightening moment?
I got hit by a car this summer. I was underneath a Corvette. There’s not much room underneath a Corvette. I’m very lucky to be alive. I had a concussion, a broken back, was paralyzed for a little while. I recovered in Craig (Hospital). Hit and run in Denver. It almost took away what I love.
How do you fight through mental fatigue?
Mental fatigue is 90 percent of endurance cycling. You have to have a strong core and commitment to what you are doing. I like to wind it up tight and don’t let it unravel.
What’s the sickest thing you’ve seen?
There’s a guy (Fred Wilkinson) here (at the 24-Hour Kona Global Series race outside Granby). He rode his bike pulling a Burley trailer with all his supplies and tools and gear from Utah to race this race solo. That’s pretty sick.
Who do you admire most?
John Stamstad. He’s the original solo endurance racer. I did my first solo 24-hour race in 1998, and he was doing way before that. Before there was a solo category, he entered a race (the 24 Hours of Canaan in 1996) as a team of four and competed solo. John Stamstad is the man.
Best advice?
Get your rest. Sleep and rest. (This answer could have something to do with the fact that it came at the end of a nearly 30-hour sleepless stint as both competitor and organizer of the 24-Hour Global Series race outside Granby.)
Any specific music that revs you up during a race?
I create specific mixes on my iPod for each race. Fast-paced stuff when I need it. I’m on my bike 30 hours a week. You’ve got to have something to listen to.
