by Cole Coonce
Behind the wheel of his nitro-burning funny car, Whit Bazemore can reach 325 mph in just four seconds. But in 1996 a career-threatening crash forced Bazemore to ride at a much slower pace, as he peddled his way back to health on a stationary bicycle. “I had to learn how to walk again,” he says.
Many miles later, Bazemore took his new exercise routine to the road, where he caught the cycling bug-bad. Today, Bazemore, 40, spends as much time riding centuries-including Florida’s grueling Gator Hell Week in January-as he does tuning up at the drag strip; while barn stoning the country’s racetracks, he even eschews plane travel in order to cart his bikes in a motor home.
BICYCLING caught up with Bazemore on his cell phone as he cooled down from a century outside his hometown of Indianapolis.
You were last year’s points title runner-up in your funny car. How do you rate on two wheels?
I’m not a very good cyclist. My goal in cycling is to keep up with my friends. I am friends with Marty Nothstein, who won a gold medal on the track in the 2000 Olympics. He is a badass. Maybe you should be doing a story on him.
As soon as he straps himself into one of your time bombs masquerading as race cars and then gets on the bike.
Well, there’s that. What kind of thrill does pedaling at 20 mph have for you after turning a speed of 320?
It’s about pushing yourself. It’s not about speed; it’s about pain and suffering, and making yourself better.
Tell us about your bikes.
I have a custom titanium Seven Axiom, a Colnago Carbonissimo with an unpainted carbon-fiber monocoque frame and a Seven Odonata. My bikes are works of art and are treated as such. That is not to say I don’t ride them; last year’s total mileage was about 6,000.
Who is your favorite cyclist?
My wife, Michelle, She does track and road races with me,
What’s your most memorable bike ride?
There have been many… .I’ve done a lot of rides that were really hard for me. The worst one was last summer in Bend, Oregon. There is a loop that goes up to Mt. Bachelor, with beautiful forests and alpine lakes. It’s about 6,000 feet of climbing and 90-something miles. It was 100 degrees by noon. I was incredibly dehydrated. I made it to this juice bar and leaned my bike against a truck parked outside. I had five or six bottles of water and two or three smoothies and was unable to move for two hours. I didn’t care about the bike or anything.
Would you do it again?
Yes, this summer. Definitely.
What keeps you cycling?
You know: It’s a way of life.
