Jereme Noffke, intern for Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation took first place last weekend in the solo single speed category of the 24 Hours of Nine Mile Mountain Bike Race in Wausau, WI.
The 24-9 Race is the Midwest's largest 12- and 24-hour mountain bike race. Over 600 riders flocked to Nine Mile County Forest near Wausau, WI to take this challenge. Riders can choose the 12- or 24-hour option and can compete solo or as a 2-, 4- or 5-person team.
Jereme Noffke, an avid cyclist and experienced 12-hour competitor decided to take on the 24-hour solo challenge. "At 10:00 pm I thought I was done. I'd been riding for 12 hours and I was beat. This guy and I were going back and forth, he'd take the lead then I would. I'd read an article the week before saying if you don't' train for sleep deprivation your overall time in an endurance race is usually slower if you don't sleep, so I decided to nap. 40 minutes later I was back on the bike and felt awesome."
The nap seemed to work for Noffke as he logged 217 miles and edged Ted Tautges by 8 minutes to take first in the solo category and qualify for the World Solo 24 Hours of Adrenalin Championships in British Colombia this September.
All this he accomplished on a single speed. "When you're on the trail on a single speed all you have to think about is the trail, not what gear you're in. They've (single speeds) really put the fun back into riding for me. I use to be pretty serious about racing and if I did bad I'd be pretty upset. But now, win or lose, I can truly say I've had a great time."
The fun doesn't seem to have slowed him down. The "formerly serious" Noffke, who still races for the UW-Whitewater Cycling Team, surpassed his personal goal of 200 miles on his way to becoming the solo single speed champion.
To learn more about 24 Hours of Nine Mile visit www.teamsportsinc.com/249. For more info on Jereme Noffke contact jgammey@sportsinwisconsin.com.
Wisconsin Sports Development Corporation is a nonprofit sports management organization that helps develop sports tourism in Wisconsin and promotes positive lifestyles and physical fitness through amateur athletic events and health education programs. WSDC properties include the Badger State Games, the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame, Shape Up Wisconsin Kids, Lighten Up Wisconsin and the Fit Kids Challenge. WSDC is also the local host of Ironman Wisconsin.